Affairs of the Martial World, Traitors Within the Temple

"If Benefactor Chen is so inclined, you can directly donate to Dragon Arising Temple. Why give it to me alone?"

Jiang Changsheng asked, his eyes fixed on Chen Li.

Chen Li was stunned. Although he had already experienced this child's unusual maturity, he was still taken aback. He shook his head and chuckled, "What status does Dragon Arising Temple hold? How could I possibly befriend them on my own? It's not proper etiquette, and it's even less genuine. I simply want to befriend the little Taoist priest. You are so skilled in martial arts at such a young age. You will surely be a leader in the martial world in the future, perhaps even a Martial Arts Top Scorer, serving the imperial court."

He was the top scorer in the imperial examination last year. Because of his background, there was public discussion, but books are important for inheritance and are mostly controlled by aristocratic families. How could commoners pass the examination better than aristocratic families? This year, the emperor specially promoted dual top scorers, one for literary and one for martial arts.

The cost of martial arts in this world is not high. There are many sects that accept people, but learning martial arts requires talent, and so does studying. Relatively speaking, it is easier for commoners to succeed in martial arts.

Dragon Arising Temple is a Taoist temple personally appointed by the emperor. The Chen family dare not directly befriend Qingxu Taoist Priest, as it would easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Jiang Changsheng felt that his words made sense. In this world, simply hiding is not a stable way to live. On the contrary, befriending some powerful people is also beneficial.

More importantly, although Jiang Changsheng accepted his fate, he was not convinced. He had to find a way to kill the fake crown prince, and the powerful people behind him could not be let go either.

He reviewed his memories from twelve years ago and found that there was indeed no Chen surname among the powerful people he had heard of.

Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "Then I will accept it. I, a small Taoist priest, cannot slight the face of your Top Scorer."

Chen Li smiled, not feeling mocked. As long as the other party accepted it, it was a good start.

The reason why he was so enthusiastic was also influenced by his family. The Chen family desperately needed powerful martial artists. They had won over many martial artists, but they were all swayed by interests. Jiang Changsheng was different. He was still young, and as long as he was given resources, he would eventually be loyal to the Chen family.

Chen Li began to talk about the murder case. It turned out that Xue Hai wanted to assassinate him, but he had been staying with Qingxu Taoist Priest, seeking Taoist techniques. Xue Hai was seen by the deceased acting suspiciously. Out of the mentality that officials are greater than merchants, he interrogated Xue Hai. Xue Hai was annoyed and killed him. As for Jiang Changsheng, he was completely framed. It turned out that Xue Hai had seen Jiang Changsheng practicing leg techniques from afar at night.

Jiang Changsheng recalled that he did have a feeling of being spied on, but it was fleeting. He did not really see the other party, so he did not take it to heart.

"I was too inexperienced and was led astray by Xue Hai's words. I even thought I was smart and saw through the truth," Chen Li sighed, looking quite ashamed.

Jiang Changsheng saw that he could admit his mistakes and changed his impression of him. He then curiously asked, "Why did Xue Hai want to kill you?"

Chen Li glanced at Qing Ku. Qing Ku was stunned, then sensibly retreated and closed the door.

"This matter involves the previous dynasty. My Chen family was originally an official of the previous dynasty, but later we realized our mistakes and returned. Xue Hai is a remnant of the previous dynasty. Killing me is just to frame the current dynasty, so that those aristocratic families who surrendered will realize that the imperial court is not friendly to the families who came over from the previous dynasty. Unfortunately, he failed," Chen Li said helplessly.

The Chen family was really aggrieved, awkward in the current dynasty, and had to face the revenge of the previous dynasty.

Jiang Changsheng did not sympathize. Who told you to be the first Top Scorer? The leading bird gets shot.

Standing in Xue Hai's position, it was understandable. Traitors are more hateful than enemies.

Chen Li did not say too much about the disputes in the imperial court, knowing that Jiang Changsheng had never left the mountain. He talked about interesting things in the martial world.

The Martial Arts Grandmaster fought the Eight Great Sects alone, shaking the martial world.

The Divine Monk was injured subduing demons and was poisoned to death by a waiter at the Black Inn.

The Holy Maiden of Profound Sound Pavilion had her boudoir infiltrated by the Theft Saint, who stole her property.

The Ghost Eye Evil King was captured by the imperial court and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Jiang Changsheng listened with great interest to such things.

Chen Li also popularized the levels of martial artists to him, from low to high being Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, and True Origin Realm. Being able to use True Qi in the body to attack enemies in a martial arts manner is considered to have entered the True Origin Realm. Xue Hai was a True Origin Realm expert, having practiced martial arts for nearly twenty years.

Jiang Changsheng compared himself and felt that it was not difficult for him to kill Xue Hai. Thanks to the Dao Follows Nature Skill, having only completed the second level, the True Qi in his body was enough for him to squander Shadow Leg and Nine Seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps.

Cultivating immortality is still stronger.

A full half hour passed before Chen Li finally left.

Jiang Changsheng gazed at the secret manual on the table, lost in thought.

Could there be poison on this manual?

Spring passed and autumn arrived. Several months had gone by since Chen Li's departure. The leaves on Dragon Arising Temple gradually turned yellow, and Jiang Changsheng's days returned to normal. The disciples no longer harbored curiosity towards him, and his fellow disciple Qing Ku rarely disturbed him, solely because Qing Ku was also immersed in martial arts, unable to extricate himself.

If there was a change, the biggest change was that Jiang Changsheng could now openly practice his skills during the day. His true qi was constantly increasing, and he had initially mastered the Vajra Howl. As for the Qi Finger, he had not yet practiced it.

He wanted to fully master the Vajra Howl before practicing the Qi Finger.

Chen Li never came again, and after the murder case, Qingxu Taoist Priest did not meet with Jiang Changsheng alone either.

On this day.

Jiang Changsheng finally reached the third level of the Dao Follows Nature Skill, and his senses greatly improved. He could even hear the sounds of mosquitoes a hundred zhang away, and he could clearly hear the breathing of other disciples. This feeling was extremely wonderful.

His own true qi did not increase, but he clearly felt that the true qi was changing slightly, perhaps a trend towards transforming into spiritual energy.

Several hours later, he came to the courtyard. The disciples had not yet returned to the courtyard and were still listening to the Dao in the Dao Hall. He began to practice the Vajra Howl.

To practice the Vajra Howl, there was no need to open his throat and roar. He only needed to open the hidden meridians in his throat. When the true qi resonated, he could judge the power of the roar. In the past, those hidden meridians were difficult to activate, but after the breakthrough of the skill, he found that the process of true qi pouring into the hidden meridians became smooth, and there was no longer the pain of the past.

Jiang Changsheng was very happy. As expected, the skill was the foundation, and he would still have to spend most of his time on the skill in the future.

In the evening, Qing Ku returned to the house.

"Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother plans to take fifteen disciples down the mountain for training. He specifically asked me to ask you if you are willing to go?" Qing Ku asked excitedly.

Almost all of these disciples were orphans, and each training session would bring back a new batch of disciples.

After coming to the mountain, Qing Ku had never been down the mountain. He was curious about everything down the mountain. He had heard from the guests that a prosperous age was coming, and there was no longer any war in the world.

Jiang Changsheng shook his head and said, "I won't go."

Qing Ku persuaded him a few more times, but he just wouldn't go, so Qing Ku could only give up.

Go down the mountain?

Impossible!

Unless his own martial power was already invincible in the world, Jiang Changsheng would not go down the mountain. Dragon Arising Temple was in the capital, and those dignitaries who coveted him must still be watching.

After all, if his identity was exposed, he would be beheaded. If the True Dragon was furious, no matter how big the official was, he would have to step down.

In these years, the emperor had purged factions, and countless founding heroes had died.

The next morning, Second Senior Brother Meng Qiuhe took a group of disciples down the mountain, including Qing Ku. Jiang Changsheng did not go to see them off, but practiced his skills in front of the Dao Bell Tower, facing the scorching sun.

It was not until night that Jiang Changsheng was about to get up.

[In the twelfth year of Kaiyuan, a traitor persuaded Second Senior Brother to lure you down the mountain. You refused, thus avoiding a murderous disaster and obtaining a survival reward - the miscellaneous skill 'Alchemy'.]

Seeing this prompt, Jiang Changsheng was stunned and almost spat out a curse word.

A traitor?

Is there a spy within Dragon Arising Temple?

First, exclude Second Senior Brother Meng Qiuhe. When Jiang Changsheng was two years old, he was almost accidentally killed by the martial arts-practicing Eldest Senior Brother, and it was Meng Qiuhe who saved him. Moreover, this time Meng Qiuhe was persuaded to do it.

Wait!

Could it be Eldest Senior Brother?

Was that incident two years ago not an accident, but intentional?

Jiang Changsheng began to think about who usually looked at him strangely, who was possible, even Qing Ku was suspected by him.

He thought for a long time, but he couldn't figure it out.

However, he could be sure that there would be danger going down the mountain, but within the temple, as long as Qingxu Taoist Priest was still there, the traitor would not dare to act recklessly.

What Jiang Changsheng needs to do now is to work hard to grow and hide his strength.

Last time's murder, he only showed his talent for martial arts and attracted the traitor's actions. The Shadow Leg, Vajra Howl, and Dao Follows Nature Skill must not be displayed.

Fortunately, he rarely shows off on weekdays.

Jiang Changsheng got up and walked towards his courtyard. The disciples greeted him along the way, and he responded with a smile, then silently judged them.

He had refused to go down the mountain, so the traitor should still be on the mountain.

These people are all possible!

The autumn leaves in Dragon Arising Temple were covered with white snow. After nearly a hundred cycles of the sun and moon, the white snow melted, and the new spring arrived.

In the thirteenth year of Kaiyuan, Jiang Changsheng was thirteen years old.

This year, the emperor went mad and began to pursue immortality, widely recruiting capable people and strangers from all over the world to make elixirs for him.

"How can there be immortals in this world? Those evil spirits are just transformed from monsters. His Majesty is ignoring the court for the sake of immortality. Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is naturally intelligent, reads the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly, and has begun to help deal with some government affairs."

Chen Li said with emotion, full of praise for the Crown Prince in his words.

Jiang Changsheng's expression remained unchanged, but he felt a little unhappy in his heart.

To be able to take power at the age of thirteen, this little brat has some ability.

Jiang Changsheng asked curiously, "Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince so outstanding? Can you tell me about him?"

Chen Li smiled and said, "Of course, speaking of which, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can be considered to have a rough fate. Before he was born, he was designated as the Crown Prince by His Majesty. To be the Crown Prince before birth is unique in history. However, after the Empress gave birth to the Crown Prince, she fell seriously ill and was in a coma for several months before waking up. After waking up, she lost her mind and said that the Crown Prince was not her son. Without the love of his mother, and with the birth of other princes, the Crown Prince can be said to have tasted the warmth and coldness of human relationships in the palace. Even His Majesty once treated him coldly, but fortunately, he is naturally intelligent, recognizes a thousand characters at the age of three, and can compose poems at the age of five, and has won the favor of His Majesty."

Hearing this, Jiang Changsheng couldn't help but think of his mother in this life. In the womb, he often heard his mother talking to herself, saying how she would treat him well in the future, complaining about how reckless the emperor was, and so on.

He felt a little sad.

It turns out that in this world, besides bad people, there are also people who care about him.

Jiang Changsheng asked curiously, "How is the Empress now? Is she... still the Empress?"

Chen Li glared at him and said, "Of course, His Majesty and the Empress are so loving, thank God, now the Empress has recovered her health, and her relationship with the Crown Prince has been repaired. The country is peaceful and the people are safe, and a prosperous age is coming. The Empress has contributed to this."

Jiang Changsheng was speechless and felt slightly relieved in his heart.

In any case, she at least lived well.