The Chu Kingdom in Its Twilight
The 27th day of the fifth month of the 352nd year of the Zhonghe era of the Great Chu Dynasty, which is also the 27th day of the fifth month of the first year of the new Great Yan.
A major event occurred within the Yan State: the newly enthroned Emperor Yan Xun, who had been on the throne for less than a year, abdicated, and the deposed Crown Yan Xun ascended the Crown Prince Yan. The news shocked the world.
According to official sources, Crown Prince Yan was able to ascend the throne because he proved his loyalty on the Sage Sovereign Terrace and gained the approval of previous King Yan. Seeing that the ancestral mandate could not be disobeyed, Prince Yan Xun voluntarily abdicated. The Sage Yan and Prime Minister Yuwen also expressed their support. Thus, Crown Prince Yan officially took over the Yan State and became the new King Yan of Yan.
However, according to rumors, before Crown Prince Yan testified to the emperor on the Sage Sovereign Terrace, he had already joined forces with the God of War Luan Feng of Yan State and led the 50,000 Luanfeng Army, which was originally stationed outside the Imperial Capital, to surround the Imperial Capital Sheer Force Yan Xun to abdicate.
Furthermore, it is said that Sage Yan was in the Imperial Capital at the time, and when faced with the coercion of Crown Prince Yan and the God of War Luan Feng Sage Yan's final choice was to stand by and watch.
It was precisely because Sage Yan stood by that Yan Xun completely lost the opportunity to resist, and was thus forced to abdicate and yield the throne to a more worthy successor.
Clearly, the general public tends to favor the second piece of gossip.
Throughout history, which ruler has ever willingly relinquished their power? This is a monarch, whose word can determine the life and death of millions. Who would be willing to give up such immense power?
The so-called willing abdication of Yan Xun was merely a veil used by the authorities to cover up scandals within the Yan State family.
Besides the change of kings in the Yan State, some discordant voices also emerged at the state banquet held by the Chu Kingdom.
During the state banquet, the envoys from Qin and Qi made sarcastic remarks about the Chu Kingdom family, expressing their contempt that their ancestors' tombs had been robbed yet they still had the mind to enjoy themselves and put on a show.
As the envoys from both countries uttered these words at the state banquet, news of the death of Emperor Chu the Conqueror and the theft of his tomb by the Mysterious Bookstore spread throughout the entire Azure Dragon Continent, making the Mysterious Bookstore famous overnight.
However, some people with ulterior motives couldn't help but speculate about the intentions of the envoys from Qin and Qi at the state banquet.
The Chu Kingdom is declining year by year, while the Qin State is growing stronger year by year. Qin Shi Huang is even more ambitious and wants to unify the Azure Dragon Continent.
The Qi State has always been Qin State's junior ally. Under these circumstances, the attitude of the envoys from both Qin and Qi may well be a bad sign.
What surprised everyone most was that King Chu Heng made no comment on this, seemingly not at all bothered that his ancestors' tombs had been dug up.
Regardless of King Chu Heng's motives, his indifferent attitude was a fact.
Under these circumstances, the prestige of the Chu Kingdom family plummeted to a new low.
"Chaos is coming." In the dean's office of the Zhenguan Academy, Saint Chu looked up at the sky and sighed softly.
"Teacher, why do you say that chaos is coming?" Yang Chengzhi stood behind Saint Chu and asked in confusion.
More than half a year has passed, and Yang Chengzhi has undergone earth-shattering changes. He has completely changed from his previous lazy and unambitious appearance to a handsome and dashing man. In particular, the confidence he exudes adds to his charm.
Yang Chengzhi has now become Feng Shen Ji at the Zhenguan Academy. Not only has his cultivation reached the Spirit Ancestor ninth stage, but he has also been noticed by the Vast Academy. When Vast Academy recruits new students in a while, he will go to the Vast Academy to study.
His future is limitless.
Upon hearing Yang Chengzhi's question, Saint Chu remained silent for a moment before saying, "Chengzhi, if you were to achieve a high level of cultivation at a time of crisis for the Chu Kingdom, would you use your cultivation to help the Chu Kingdom?"
Yang Chengzhi was taken aback, not quite understanding why Saint Chu would ask such a question. After thinking for a moment, Yang Chengzhi replied, "I am a citizen of the Chu Kingdom, and I have been deeply grateful for the country's nurturing. If Chu Kingdom were to face any difficulties one day, I would naturally be duty-bound to help."
Saint Chu nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face. However, the smile quickly vanished, and he sighed softly, saying, "If only all the cultivators of the Chu Kingdom could think like you."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chengzhi opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he held back.
"Say what you want to say, it's okay." Saint Chu knew what Yang Chengzhi doing without even turning around, so he said gently.
Yang Chengzhi nodded and said, "Actually, as people of the Chu Kingdom, whether ordinary citizens or cultivators, we all have a patriotic heart deep in our hearts. Half a year ago, I read a book called 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes.' Although it tells the story of chivalrous heroes similar to us cultivators, it also depicts the noble act of standing up for the country in times of crisis..."
"The Legend of the Condor Heroes? A book from the Mysterious Bookstore?" Saint Chu asked, frowning.
Yang Chengzhi nodded.
"Go on," Saint Chu said gently.
"However, patriotism alone cannot save the Chu Kingdom from its perilous state. In 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' the protagonist and many heroes stepped forward to resist foreign enemies when the country was in danger, but ultimately they could not prevent the country's demise."
"What are you trying to say?" Saint Chu asked, frowning.
Yang Chengzhi clasped his hands in a respectful bow and replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "The nation is corrupt; it is beyond our ability to turn the tide."
After Yang Chengzhi finished speaking, Saint Chu seemed to wilted a bit, quietly turning his back to Yang Chengzhi and remaining silent.
After a long silence, Saint Chu sighed, waved his hand, and said, "Go back and cultivate diligently, striving for a good ranking in the Vast Academy's freshman competition."
Yang Chengzhi nodded, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Teacher, this student takes his leave."
Saint Chu waved his hand, and Yang Chengzhi left as instructed. Only Saint Chu remained in the room, gazing at the starry sky outside the window, a hint of sadness showing in his weathered eyes.
He has lived for 3,500 years, during which time he has witnessed the rise of the Chu Kingdom to its peak and its current decline.
That feeling is beyond words.
Especially after becoming the Saint Chu, protecting the people of the country, the Saint Chu's sense of identity with the Chu Kingdom deepened; he was happy when Chu Kingdom prospered and sad when Chu Kingdom declined; he and the Chu Kingdom had become one.
"The nation is corrupt, the nation is corrupt!" Saint Chu looked up at the sky and murmured to himself.
"How can I save the Great Chu?" Saint Chu looked at the majestic palace, so solemn in the night.
Clearly, Saint Chu had no intention of abandoning the Chu Kingdom; he still wanted to use his abilities to save the declining Chu Kingdom.
"Alas, Qin Shi Huang was a man of great talent and ambition, Crown Prince Yan like his own children, King Qi Wen effectively, King Zhao Kang worked diligently to improve it; but looking at our Great Chu, King Chu Heng was incompetent, and his thirteen princes were all useless, not one of them could compare to him."
No one in the entire royal family was capable of shouldering the responsibility of saving the Chu Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Saint Chu felt utterly hopeless.
"No!" Suddenly, a glint of light flashed in Saint Chu's weathered eyes.
"There is one person who can definitely do it!"