Because the Exceptional Insight Attribute Trait brought by his 100 points of Comprehension allowed it, Lu Xingshi did not begin cultivating from the basics as before. Instead, after learning every martial art, he directly cultivated the "Kun Peng Devouring the World Spirit Classic."
As long as he cultivated the highest-quality "Kun Peng Devouring the World Spirit Classic," all subordinate martial arts, such as the "Wind Riding Art," "Ocean Suppressing Art," and the rest, would simultaneously gain fifty percent experience. His progress was therefore extremely fast.
The sight left Murong Xuan clicking his tongue in amazement. At one point, he even teased Lu Xingshi, saying that Lu Xingshi was the true Remnant of the Former Dynasty.
Ever since Murong Xuan had learned of his own identity, his attitude toward the Great Song Dynasty Court had changed somewhat. In particular, his reverence for imperial authority had greatly diminished.
Lu Xingshi, in turn, mocked Murong Xuan for being of Murong Imperial Clan blood and the like. Still, they only said such things when no one else was around on the road, never speaking recklessly in public lest they set themselves on fire.
North Sea, and one hundred points in Three-Dimensional Attributes... both point to a problem with this world. Lu Xingshi looked at the North Sea in his hand.
The nine +100 attributes on this Divine Weapon were completely out of place in this world. In contrast, the Break Force +1 on Desert Blade's Yellow Sand Heavy Saber was a normal value.
Could it be related to the Cave Heaven? Lu Xingshi could not help recalling what Murong Xuan had said about the Cave Heaven.
"What are you thinking about?" Murong Xuan saw Lu Xingshi staring blankly at the North Sea and asked in confusion. "Nothing. I was just thinking about some matters related to martial arts." Lu Xingshi did not voice his doubts. Even if he had, Murong Xuan would not have known the answer.
"Prince of Liao is dead." Murong Xuan did not dwell on it. He could no longer offer Lu Xingshi much help in cultivation, so he changed the subject. From beginning to end, there had been no news that Prince of Liao had purged the Emperor's entourage or rebelled. The matter had been handled quietly, which was why the official explanation was that he had accidentally fallen into the water, rather than being stripped of commoner status or publicly beheaded.
"What happened? Wasn't his army strong and his horses sturdy?" Lu Xingshi asked curiously.
He had considered that Prince of Liao might die, but he had never expected him to die now.
"That shouldn't be possible. How did he die?" Lu Xingshi muttered.
"He accidentally fell into the water." Murong Xuan spoke with a trace of mockery. "He was too hasty."
Prince of Liao had not been some weak prince incapable of even trussing a chicken. On the contrary, he was strong and powerfully built. Not only had he come from a military background, he had also roamed the martial world in his early years. Though he had grown lax over the years, he had once been a First-Rate Expert.
How could such a man possibly have accidentally fallen into the water? Someone could only have made a move against him.
"That person, then." Lu Xingshi thought of the Current Emperor.
"No, not him. The Current Emperor is benevolent." Murong Xuan denied Lu Xingshi's guess before adding, "It only means Prince of Liao infringed upon the interests of the civil officials."
"I know those scholars have their pens, but what gives them the power to make Prince of Liao accidentally fall into the water?" Lu Xingshi was puzzled.
Accidentally falling into the water was merely the public story. In reality, he had most likely been besieged and killed, or poisoned to death.
Lu Xingshi had held a favorable impression of Prince of Liao, especially because of how he had paid a thousand gold to buy horse bones.
"Words can kill, too." Murong Xuan did not know how they had accomplished it, but he understood the Current Emperor. The man truly was benevolent, which was why he was merely a puppet of the court officials, able only to write, paint, and pursue art in the Imperial Study every day.
And that was precisely the wise ruler in the eyes of all ministers.
Otherwise, how could Murong Xuan have been both teacher and friend to him? "So Prince of Liao really was purging the Emperor's entourage???" Lu Xingshi's train of thought turned, and he spotted the blind spot.
Murong Xuan sighed without speaking, but he tacitly admitted it.
The Current Emperor had supported this matter as well. Otherwise, how could it have gone so smoothly? Yet all ministers naturally opposed it. Unfortunately, the Emperor was powerless, and it had ultimately ended like this.
"Then how will Saibei be handled? Prince of Liao was its Pillar of the Sea." Lu Xingshi connected everything at once.
Because Prince of Liao had intended to purge the Emperor's entourage and eliminate those civil officials controlling the Imperial Court, Saibei had been cut off from its military pay for half a year.
In truth, the funds had been sent out. It was simply uncertain where they had ended up.
The fact that all of Saibei had been able to hold on was indeed largely thanks to Prince of Liao. His actions had flaws, but that did not mean he lacked ability or merit.
"The Barbarians were scared out of their wits by you. They probably will not dare return anytime soon. As for the other threats, none compare to the Barbarians. With Prince of Liao's Troops there, things will not descend into chaos in the short term."
"As long as matters are handled properly, and the people at court are recruited through conciliatory methods, they will not be able to overturn the heavens." Murong Xuan was, after all, a Yun Zhang Academician and possessed some political experience.
"But if the gentlemen insist on exterminating them root and branch, then wouldn't that be... completely screwed?" Lu Xingshi had never underestimated the intelligence of the grand ministers of the Great Song Dynasty Court, but neither had he overestimated them as gods.
They had dared cut off the pay of the border garrison soldiers and kill their highest commander. That man had even been the Emperor's son. What else would they not dare do? Would it not be better to uproot them all and replace them with their own people?
Over these past days, Lu Xingshi had also learned from Murong Xuan that factionalism within the court was severe, along with corruption, party struggles, and more. Yet they controlled public opinion well, and those in the martial world and outside the court had never realized the state of the Great Song Dynasty Court.
Every problem was caused by treacherous ministers deceiving the Emperor. It had nothing whatsoever to do with those pure and loyal officials.
As for who those treacherous ministers were, they were naturally the Eunuchs and the officials who had lost political struggles.
Eunuchs were the imperial claws and fangs, so naturally they had to be suppressed. As for officials who had lost their struggles, they either had no value left or were political enemies, so they naturally had to be dealt with.
Killing did not necessarily require a blade.
A few movements of the mouth and the pen were enough to ruin a person's reputation and have him hunted down.
The entire martial world was more like vicious dogs in the hands of the court's gentlemen. It should originally have belonged to the Imperial Court, but with power slipping from the throne's grasp, it had naturally fallen into the gentlemen's hands.
"This... they should not be that foolish, should they?" Murong Xuan's expression changed slightly.
"They probably will not be. But with civil officials controlling the military, I fear they will not use conciliatory methods to recruit them either." Lu Xingshi knew the gentlemen did not need an unruly border army that refused to obey. What they needed was a blade that would follow their every command.
"Whatever. Those not in the position should not concern themselves with its affairs. Even if they pierce the heavens, it has nothing to do with me."
Lu Xingshi came to his senses. What did this have to do with either of them? Murong Xuan had already resigned from his post as Yun Zhang Academician. Though it had been an honorary position, it was still a seat, so the process had moved quickly and his resignation had been approved directly.
"That is true. The Late Emperor, Your Majesty, and I have long since settled all debts between us." At that thought, Murong Xuan's expression relaxed. He had done so much dirty and exhausting work over the years, and Lu Xingshi had even preserved Tiange Pass. If they insisted on courting death and ruining things again, what could Murong Xuan possibly do?
He could not possibly ask Lu Xingshi to act again. Murong Xuan had no face to say such a thing. Besides, Lu Xingshi was his only disciple, and he had no desire to see Lu Xingshi dragged into these troubles.