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Jiangzhe, Jinhua Mansion, North City.

On the wide road, a carriage slowly moved forward.

Though ordinary without the courtesy of a minister, a closer inspection of the carriage framework revealed an unusual refinement, especially the two horses pulling it, tall and agile as dragons, evidently noble steeds that could gallop a thousand miles with ease.

The coachman drove the horses at a slow pace, with the carriage so stable that it hardly shook.

Inside the carriage, two people sat opposite each other.

One was a young man, with eyebrows like sharp swords and bright stars for eyes, exuding an extraordinary elegance. Adorned in brocaded robes, his every movement was filled with an aristocratic air, and he seemed to have an innate authority that inspired awe.

The other person wore faded monk robes, with a clean-shaven head and features as if painted, quite androgynous in appearance, but he emitted a sense of virtuous dignity that was both awe-inspiring and compassionate, truly a great sage.

As they sat opposite each other, the young man was in no hurry to speak, instead he lifted the curtain and looked down with his eyes.

First, his gaze fell upon the road.

This road could be considered one for official travel; it was over fifty steps wide, exceptionally broad and flat, solid in its construction, not composed of regular stone and earth. No matter if it was treading horse hooves or rolling carriage wheels, the road sustained no damage.

The smoothness of the ride was partly due to the coachman’s skilled driving and the high quality of the horses and carriage, but it was also inseparable from the road itself.

The young man was certain that any carriage would glide smoothly on this road, even at high speed.

“The standard of this road is no less than that of an imperial thoroughfare, and the materials used are exceptional,”

the young man mused with a focused gaze, “Ordinary roads are paved with stone and earth, with rural areas typically having dirt paths and only counties in mansion territories boasting stone paved roads, yet none as expansive as this. Only the imperial highways have such specifications, and even those are not as firm as this surface. Could this be the legendary concrete?”

Upon hearing this, the monk smiled, “Your Highness is also aware of concrete?”

“Of course.”

The young man’s expression grew solemn, and he sighed softly, “In the governance of a country, poetry and books are esteemed above all, and the practices of workers and farmers are regarded as weird skills and side-path left ways. In the palace, I perused various texts, mostly sage’s articles, Confucian and legal scriptures, or Taoist and Buddhist canons. Practical studies like agriculture, craftsmanship, and medicine are seldom seen!”

Unchanged in expression, the monk continued to inquire, “Does Your Highness have an interest in the studies of workers, farmers, and the medical arts?”

“It’s not about liking them, but such practical knowledge would be a pity not to utilize,”

the young man sighed lightly, his voice distant, “The teachings of the Three Teaching Sect can lead to the practice of Divine Magic, not only for attaining Divine Skills but also for pursuing longevity and the hope of everlasting life. Thus, everyone in the world focuses on cultivation, Confucians pursue fame through literature, and Taoists and Buddhists engage in deep practice. Who would willingly spend their time and energy delving into those weird skills?”

“Indeed!”

The monk nodded and muttered, “Who would be willing?”

“Li Liuxian was willing.”

Taking over the conversation, the young man spoke gravely, “Guo Bei Academy accepts all kinds of students from across the world without discrimination, and has even established various disciplines such as agriculture, craftsmanship, and medicine. After decades of cultivation, it has now produced a group of great farmers and master craftsmen, as well as brilliant medical practitioners. This concrete is the creation of its engineering department.”

“With this material alone, North City, Jinhua Mansion, and even every city and county in Jiangzhe Province have constructed major roads. The smooth passage of carts and horses brings unparalleled convenience. The already wealthy land of Jiangnan, with such convenient transportation, not only enhances commercial exchanges but also continuously brings in a flow of resources into North City.”

“Moreover, it is rumored that the cost of this material is extremely low, suitable not only for paving roads but also for constructing tile-roofed houses and even buildings, and it can even be used for building cities and erecting walls with remarkable effects.”

“Ordinary city construction is usually a massive drain on resources, requiring not just a large workforce and imposing hard labor on the people but also consuming a great amount of materials. Stones have to be quarried from mountains and transported to cities for construction, then bound together with sticky rice mortar. Such a time-intensive and laborious process drains the lifeblood of the people to erect a city.”

“Hence, from ancient times, those who undertook such vast construction projects without reason have often been dim-witted and tyrannical rulers, heralding the beginning of a dynasty’s decline.”

“If this material is truly as cost-effective as rumored…”

Pausing, the young man’s gaze sharpened, “It could be considered a great asset of the nation, a cornerstone of the sovereign path!”

“Indeed!”

The monk nodded and then questioned further, “Does Your Highness wish to bring this asset into His own possession?”

The young man fell silent for a while before finally speaking, “If possible, I would like to offer it to my father, the Emperor.”

The monk shook his head, “I’m afraid His Majesty is not in the state of mind to concern himself with these matters at present.”

“Indeed.”

With a solemn expression, the young man spoke morosely, “The Emperor is aging, Divine Martial is no more, and he is gradually becoming more ineffectual.”

“It would be best to refrain from speaking such words, Your Highness,”

the monk cautioned with another headshake, “Through the ages, every emperor has longed for immortality. Although our current Emperor is extremely talented and strategic, no one can escape the common human desires. Your Highness should understand this.”

“I do understand, but…”

The young man lifted his head, “Emperors may be blessed with the nation’s destiny and looked up to by countless citizens, but with great power comes great responsibility. The accumulation of power from all the people into one person, with all its complexities, can also be a burden.”

“That is why emperors struggle to cultivate and find it even harder to extend their lives. Even when they consume Spirit Pills and marvelous medicines, the effects are minimal and may even incur the resentment of the people. If misgovernance and misconduct arise, public outrage could boil over, resulting in a backlash so powerful that the emperor could suddenly die a disastrous death, condemned by thousands, perishing without an ailment!”

“Knowing this, why does my father insist on defying nature’s course?”

“The Emperor’s life is bound to his empire, and to wish for longevity, one must govern well!”

“Yet my father pins his hopes on elixirs, isn’t that neglecting the fundamental and chasing after the superficial?”

As he spoke, the young man clenched his fist, pounding heavily on the windowsill, but it couldn’t relieve the frustration in his heart.

Hearing this, the monk only shook his head and remained silent.

Thirty years ago, the Great Chen Dynasty was in decline.

Back then, Emperor Ying Zong reigned over the land.

Ying Zong was known as such, but he was in fact an incompetent ruler, depraved and lawless, drawing the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. Disasters sprung up everywhere, and demonic beings roamed free, causing the people to suffer miserably and resentment to swell, accelerating the decline of the Great Chen Dynasty.

However, Emperor Ying Zong was oblivious, indulging in the pleasures of his harem all day long, to the extent that the people’s grievances boiled over, ultimately rebelling against the emperor and causing his violent death within the palace, bringing an end to his licentious life.

After the death of Ying Zong, the crown prince ascended the throne, becoming Emperor Xian Zong of the Great Chen.

Although Xian Zong was the son of Ying Zong, he was unlike his father. Gifted and intelligent from a young age, wise and divinely martial, upon ascending to the throne he received great assistance from Buddhism, purged the power ministers, beheaded the treacherous courtiers, reformed the court officials, wise and divinely martial, turned the tide, and astonishingly revitalized the state of Chen, ushering in an era of “Great Revival and Order.”

He was the mastermind behind the Great Revival of Chen.

However…

Since ancient times, beautiful women and famous generals were not allowed to show their whitened hair to the world.

Even with the status of an emperor, holding the power over the world, one could not defy the natural span of life.

Thirty years later, this capable and tactful ruler, wise and divinely martial, had also reached the ripe old age of seventy.

In this world, heaven and earth are scarce, and the lifespan of creatures is very short.

Unless one cultivates.

However, an emperor, entangled with the will of the people, finds it difficult to pursue cultivation.

The age of seventy is already approaching twilight.

The wise ruler gradually became confused and muddleheaded.

He began to believe in the effects of elixirs and pursued the Art of Longevity.

However, it is an iron rule that emperors cannot live forever.

Under the great terror of life and death, Xian Zong’s actions became increasingly foolhardy, and with the addition of many princes competing for succession and intensifying strife within the court, the world that had just stabilized for a few years was once again embroiled in turmoil, gradually leading to rebellion.

Furthermore, the demonic beings roamed with even greater intensity, surpassing the past.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the dynasty’s fateful cycle to repeat.

As a prince of the Chen Dynasty, Liang Xiao had repeatedly offered counsel, hoping his father the emperor could restore the country.

However, by now Emperor Xian Zong was nearly deranged, not only ignoring his advice but also banishing him from the capital city.

This left Liang Xiao deeply despairing, nearly without hope.

But his nature resilient, he did not give up but took his last hope to the lands of Jiangnan.

“I heard that in the county of North City, Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple, and its King Shifa, a Taoist True Man, expert in Thunder and Lightning true cultivation, can concoct elixirs such as the Youth-Retaining Pill, the Resurrection Pill, and the Life-Enhancing Pill, all possessing extraordinary effects. If I could acquire such a Spirit Pill and present it to my father, perhaps I could receive his forgiveness and return to the capital!”

“However…”

Liang Xiao’s eyes focused, and raising his head, he looked at the monk, “Grandmaster, do you think that King Shifa really lives up to his great reputation or fails to do so?”

The monk smiled and calmly said, “How could someone who established such a foundation be a fraud?”

“That’s true,” Liang Xiao replied and nodded, but felt an unexplainable restlessness.

The monk, seeing his state of mind, laughed and said, “Your Highness, are you worried about Li Liuxian?”

Liang Xiao remained silent for a while before finally nodding, frankly admitting, “Indeed!”

“Li Liuxian is known as the top scholar of the world, with an elegance and reputation so grand that for decades, looking across the world, there are none who could surpass him!”

“What’s more, it is said that amongst the luck and literary talent of the world, Li Liuxian alone occupies one out of eight parts, with the rest owing him twice that!”

“Clearly a man of high talents, thirty years ago he was the number one scholar known throughout the land, unmatched and renowned. Thirty years on, he became even more of a colossus in literature, a Grandmaster of his era.”

“He bears the title of the Four Sages and Four Excellences in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. His poetry, calligraphy, painting, zither playing, chess strategies, and even his novels and short stories, have spread throughout the world, known to all!”

“With such high esteem and intense literary charm, even Great Scholars pale in comparison!”

After a series of exclamations, Liang Xiao lowered his head, his heart filled with concern.

“Yet this man acts willfully and unrestrainedly, with great ambitions hidden within!”

“Fifteen years ago, during my father’s golden age, he heard of his fame, and just as the imperial exam was being held, he issued an edict specifically calling him to the capital for the test!”

“But he paid it no heed, neither accepting the decree nor showing himself, leaving the eunuch who announced the decree no choice but to return with it unopened. This infuriated my father who raged that night, yet in the end, it came to nothing, and he did not hold Li Liuxian accountable.”

Having said this, Liang Xiao raised his head and looked at the monk, “Grandmaster, do you know why?”

The monk smiled and calmly replied, “Because by then he had already established his influence, his wings fully grown; even His Majesty dared not lightly decree his arrest.”

“Indeed!” Liang Xiao nodded, his voice tinged with a wry smile, “This man has opened an academy in North City, teaching without discrimination, widely accepting students, and has innovated practices like cultivating Cultural Qi in farming, craftsmanship, and medicine. Throughout the counties of Jinhua and even the wider Jiangzhe Province, he promotes agricultural endeavors, enjoying yearly favorable weather and abundant harvests.”

“With this as capital, he reinvests in development, not only making the Guo Bei Academy grow larger each day but also expanding the trading companies and escort agencies under his wing. They operate throughout the north and the south, traveling to all regions, earning a fortune daily, rich enough to rival nations. They also provide for the populace, nurturing citizens, enhancing the common good, building a system that thrives in a virtuous cycle, constantly innovating, steadily expanding!”

“To this day, the Guo Bei Academy has become the fifth largest in the world, and if one were to disregard accumulated potentiality and solely count the number of students, it might even be considered the largest academy in the world.”

“Li Liuxian, not only is he renowned throughout the world, but his influence also extends widely; he even has the demeanor of a Grandmaster, an All Age Mentor!”

“Moreover, he has extensive connections, with the entire literary world looking up to him, countless friends and an innumerable following. King Shifa of the Mingxiao Taoist Temple on Mount Jilei and those Taoist True Men of the Hundred Ghosts Forest’s Yin Mountain Mansion Taoist Temple, both deeply connected friends, are behind him, leveraging their status to back him up.”

“Even he himself has earned the title of Sword Immortal, in no way inferior to these two ways!”

“A character such as this, on such a foundation, what can even my father do about it?”

Liang Xiao let out a bitter laugh, raising his head, and directly asked the monk, “Grandmaster, do you think… will he rebel?”