"Ah, me?" Qian Xunji pointed at himself.
Seeing this, Murong Huai also felt that Qian Xunji was indeed a suitable candidate. Qian Xunji was about to take over as the Pope, and if he could go among the people and make firsthand observations now, the experience would be a valuable trial for him.
Qian Daoliu nodded and said:
"Right, Xunji. Huai'er makes a good point. I'd planned to send a few trusted men to investigate, but then I thought: hearing is believing, seeing is knowing.
"You're twenty-eight this year, aren't you? I'd wanted you to gain some experience anyway, and now we have the perfect opportunity. Go and train for two years. I'll use those two years to implement the new policies and pave the way for you. When you return, you'll be thirty and ready to succeed me as Pope."
After hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Qian Xunji thought it over, then nodded.
"All right, Father. I'll go see for myself what life is really like for the common people at the grassroots level."
Qian Daoliu nodded with satisfaction, then added:
"Oh, and don't leave just yet. In half a month, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's old sect master will celebrate his seventieth birthday. They sent an invitation. I'm swamped with affairs and need to enter seclusion soon, so take Huai'er and the others to the banquet in my place. Old Sect Master Ning and I have some history, so bring a generous gift. We mustn't neglect the proper courtesies."
"Yes, Father."
In the afternoon,
Murong Huai and Qian Xunji walked along the road. As they went, Qian Xunji asked:
"Huai'er, is the life of commoners really that different from ours?"
Murong Huai nodded. "It is. In the eyes of ordinary people, if even one person in their village awakens with just one level of innate Soul Power, the whole village sees that person as its hope, believing they'll become a Soul Master and rise to wealth and fame.
"But in reality, anyone with less than three levels of innate Soul Power barely counts for anything. The whole village may pool its resources to support a Soul Master, only for that person to be thrown away as cannon fodder in a single beast tide—or casually killed like an ant by some powerful passerby."
Hearing Murong Huai's words, Qian Xunji fell silent. It was true. People thought that becoming a Soul Master meant stepping into a higher world, never realizing that the world of Soul Masters was even more dangerous—a true dog-eat-dog world where the slightest mistake could mean death.
"Then... what kind of policies to benefit the people could change this situation?"
Qian Xunji looked at Murong Huai, but the latter shook his head.
"It's impossible. With Spirit Hall's current strength, no matter how many new policies it introduces, they'll only be a temporary fix that makes things worse in the long run."
"Why? The policies you just suggested, like providing relief through work... They're so good. Wouldn't they create a lot of room for growth once put into practice?" Qian Xunji couldn't understand and raised an objection.
"Alas, what we discussed just now was how things would unfold under normal circumstances... If things proceeded normally, the people of the continent really would grow more devoted to Spirit Hall, and the continent would prosper. But do you think the two great empires would allow that to happen?"
Qian Xunji froze. He truly hadn't considered that. How could the two great empires possibly let Spirit Hall become the sole dominant power?
"The policies themselves are fine, but, Senior Brother, what do you think the two great empires will do once Spirit Hall rolls them out?" Murong Huai posed another question.
Qian Xunji thought for a moment, then replied:
"Hmm... From what I know of the two empires, the Star Luo Empire is powerful, and it has no shortage of capable people who'll quickly see the benefits of these policies. But copying Spirit Hall outright would be humiliating, so they might make a few minor changes before introducing them.
"But the Heaven Dou Empire has a rigid aristocratic hierarchy and powerful clans everywhere. The high-ranking officials are ambitionless, while those with talent have no way to serve their country. They won't see how these policies benefit the Heaven Dou Empire. They'll only think that anything good for Spirit Hall must be stopped. If we truly want to put them into practice, it won't be easy..."
Murong Huai nodded at this, then continued:
"Exactly. Teacher must have noticed that just now. Actually, there's a way to solve all this. I just don't know whether you have the ambition—or the nerve—to do it."
"Oh? What way?"
Qian Xunji grew curious. "Oh? What way?"
Murong Huai beckoned for Qian Xunji to lower his head. When the latter did, Murong Huai leaned close to his ear and whispered something.
At the words, Qian Xunji's pupils contracted. His eyes filled with shock, and his heart began to race. For a long while, he couldn't recover.
Seeing this, Murong Huai scoffed. "Come on, Senior Brother. Look how scared you are!"
Qian Xunji came back to himself and retorted irritably, "What do you mean, scared? Do you have any idea how shocking what you just said was?!"
"Honestly, it's just..." Murong Huai was about to complain, but Qian Xunji clapped a hand over his mouth.
"My little ancestor, don't say another word!"
"Blegh, blegh... You're so salty!" Murong Huai pried Qian Xunji's hand away. That guy definitely hadn't washed his hands!
"Come on, all I'm asking is whether you have the ambition. If you do, your junior brother will help you. If you don't dare, then we can always leave it for the next generation!" Murong Huai said with a dismissive wave.
Qian Xunji said nothing. He just walked along in silence, and Murong Huai didn't press him, letting the cheerful young man take it in.
The two of them walked quietly along the street as the clouds gradually veiled the setting sun.
After a long while, Qian Xunji seemed to reach a decision and spoke up:
"What do I need to do?"
Murong Huai smiled. "Looks like Senior Brother has figured it out. But we can't rush this. One wrong step could doom us beyond redemption. To accomplish such a great feat, we'll need the support of sufficient power. We should start there: make the Seven Great Sects our foundation and bring the other sects of the land under our control.
"We should also undermine the two empires from within. Each empire has four vassal kingdoms. The empires themselves are too difficult to tackle, so we'll start with the kingdoms. Once the policies are in place and begin to show results, that will be the perfect moment.
"For now, we should start with the major sects. The Upper Three Sects lead the Seven Great Sects. If we win them over, the others will be much easier to handle."
"The Upper Three Sects... But their leaders are no ordinary people. They won't easily join another power. Spirit Hall will need to offer them something truly tempting." Qian Xunji shook his head. Winning over the various sects wouldn't be so simple.
Murong Huai smiled. "It'll be difficult, sure, but as long as we find an opening, we'll have a chance. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's old sect master's birthday is coming up, so we can use the occasion to win them over."
"Oh? How?" Qian Xunji asked curiously.
"Hehe, this mountain man has a plan." Murong Huai didn't answer directly. He simply bobbed his head, putting on the air of an otherworldly sage.
"Ow... What was that for?!"
Murong Huai suddenly winced and clutched his head. Qian Xunji had looked at him and bonked him right on the head, exasperation plain on his face.
"You little brat, putting on airs in front of your senior brother!"
"None of your business. Just wait and see!" Murong Huai said, tossing his head.
"Fine, fine. Then I'll wait for your good news."
Qian Xunji smiled, then looked up and continued walking. But something had changed in his eyes: the seed of ambition had taken root.
The sun sank in the west. This was no fading of a lone ray of light, but the dawn of another rising sun.
Before you continue