The Literary Palace's Proclamation: A Statue for Xu Qingxiao, a Secret Maneuver, and Utter Malice [Bonus chapter for Most Innocent]
The Capital of Great Wei.
At the Literary Palace.
Seven Grand Confucians sat quietly inside the Literary Palace's main hall.
Sixteen Confucian Cultivators sat behind them.
They were all the innermost core of the Great Wei Literary Palace, its truly trusted confidants.
An old man occupied the seat at the head of the hall. He was very aged, yet his eyes held no trace of cloudiness.
He was a fourth-rank Confucian Cultivator of Great Wei, a Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian. He had reached that realm sixty years ago and remained there ever since.
One more step would make him a Half-Saint.
He would inherit Sage Zhu's Will. Unfortunately, that half-step had held him back for ninety years.
Confucian Cultivators had ordinary lifespans. Indeed, the early stages of any cultivation system did little for longevity. Even martial artists could, at most, strengthen their bodies and ward off illness before reaching the seventh rank.
Extending one's lifespan was difficult. Generally, a Grand Confucian lived around a hundred and twenty years. Practicing qi-nurturing techniques and taking spiritual medicines could extend that to a maximum of a hundred and fifty.
This Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian was already a hundred and thirty-nine. If he failed to break into the Sage Realm within ten years, his life would reach its end.
Inside the hall.
Everyone sat upright and solemn, like students.
"Grand Confucian Zhengming, news just arrived that when Xu Qingxiao established his intent, all manner of wondrous manifestations appeared. He received robes and the Heaven-and-Earth Jade Crown from heaven and earth, gaining their recognition."
"I fear this is no good news for us."
Someone spoke, recounting what had just happened.
Great Wei's Literary Palace had learned immediately that Xu Qingxiao had successfully clarified his intent. They had not known what followed until the news arrived.
Naturally, they