A Strategic Easing

Tian Fen's cultivation level is quite incredible.

The fact that this level of cultivation was achieved under the guidance of the Empress Dowager makes it even more unbelievable.

No renowned teacher can guarantee that a cultivator will definitely reach the Divine Ability Realm.

If even the Divine Ability Realm cannot be guaranteed, there is no need to mention the Sole Self Realm and the True Self Realm.

But Tian Fen succeeded nonetheless.

Such cases even include Yi Shuo, who had attained the Divine Ability Realm.

This was not only something that amazed Zhang Xuezhou; the new emperor undoubtedly felt a bit of regret. Even though he was only one step away from the Sole Self Realm, he still felt a sense of uncertainty and fear.

"When I followed the Buddha Son Shigong, I heard some great cultivators explain the Sole Self Realm. Compared to the Realm of the Divine Ability Realm, which evolves into one's own path, the Sole Self Realm of Selflessness is the middle stage of the latter three realms, where one firmly establishes one's own path. Only by being extremely firm in one's self and running wildly along one's own cultivation direction can one possibly break through this realm!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Xuezhou's communication with the new emperor wasn't just about telling stories to the very end; instead, he would expand upon the content of the narration to engage in discussions.

Amidst the changing power dynamics of the Three Realms, he and the new emperor also discussed cultivation.

The new emperor instructed Zhang Xuezhou to cultivate a closer relationship with the Empress Dowager at Changxin Palace, while Zhang Xuezhou advised the wavering emperor to uphold his beliefs.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't understand Tian Fen's cultivation reaching its peak, nor could he study it, but he could ask Yi Shuo for information and then visit the Empress Dowager to try and figure out the mystery behind it.

Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation experience did not originate from himself, but from the discussions between the Emperor and Empress. His own situation is not reliable, but the Emperor had seen and guided many cultivators throughout his long life, and the experience he gained was universal and applicable.

In the real world of ancient society, emperors held power, and the level of their cultivation and strength did not have much of an impact. However, this is a world of demons, immortals, gods, and humans, where emperors truly need hard power to back them up.

The Empress Dowager of Changxin Palace, through the efforts of Tian Fen and others, created a powerful support system in a different sense, which also helped to reunite the court and give it a voice.

Only strength can unite people's hearts. The new emperor's hiding is beneficial to his own safety, but the inability to demonstrate his strength to the outside world also has some drawbacks.

Zhang Xuezhou understood the new emperor's anxieties: he wanted to be safe, thus using his own weakness to clearly distinguish between his ministers and dangerous elements, while also trying to control the power of the court.

But nothing is ever perfect. Not only was the new emperor like this, but Zhang Xuezhou was not spared either. This even included top-level cultivators such as the Emperor, the Jade Emperor, the Empress, Zhenyuan, Randeng, and Tathagata, as well as the deceased Empress Dowager and others.

Zhang Xuezhou has met many people, and none of them are perfect.

It is precisely because of the various shortcomings in their lives that they are able to overcome these shortcomings and move forward.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that this was the real way everyone acted, and there was nothing he could do about outliers like Tian Fen.

In short, Tian Fen is a very small minority; most people in the world are like him.

"I have little contact with Western schools of thought, please continue!"

"You also accompanied the Buddha Son Shigong to Kunlun and the Immortal Court?"

"I really envy you!"

As the explanations continued, the new emperor felt as if he were listening to a story, the content of which seemed to form a painting before him, on which all sorts of people, gods, demons, and immortals appeared one after another.

Zhang Xuezhou talked about many things, including many familiar aspects of the new emperor, as well as many things that differed from what he knew.

Of what the new emperor knew, Western Kunlun was an ancient power that was distant, ancient, and gradually disappearing; the Western Sect was a top-tier academic school that occupied Xiniuhezhou; the Immortal Court was a venomous snake hidden in the shadows; and the forces involved, such as the Yedie River Holy Land, were large, unfathomable schools of thought.

Some of these statements are identical to Zhang Xuezhou's account, while others contradict Zhang Xuezhou.

"If the Kunlun Heavenly Court regains control of the cultivator forces outside the imperial court, then the Empress Dowager's strategy of sending Tang Meng to open up the western barbarian regions of Yelang, Bo, Qiong, Zuo, Ya, and Mang was completely wrong!"

In the current court's strategy, the court maintains a stable confrontation with large states such as Xiong State, while using trade and conquest to gradually erode the Western Yi regions and states that were once controlled by the ancient Heavenly Court, and to continuously reclaim areas that were lost in the past. This includes containing Jiangdu State and Huainan State, forcing these two vassal states near the southern region to continuously supply strategic materials, and making an example of Nanyue State and Minyue State as a warning to others.

If what Zhang Xuezhou said is true, this is a direct attack on the Kunlun Heavenly Court, and it has made the Kunlun gods truly understand what it means to be forgotten once someone leaves.

This strategy hadn't been in place for very long, and the new emperor took a deep breath.

He wasn't afraid that Zhang Xuezhou was lying; he was afraid that what Zhang Xuezhou said was true.

Even if the probability is only one or two in ten, the consequences could be severe.

Zhang Xuezhou's words obviously don't carry weight with others, the new emperor can't verify them, he can't use them to persuade the Empress Dowager, and he has no power to stop the Empress Dowager's military strategy.

"How can I reconcile these conflicts and prevent them from escalating in the future?" the new emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, I know nothing about military affairs!"

Zhang Xuezhou spoke frankly, only recounting what he had seen and heard. As for how the new emperor would arrange and adjust things, that was the new emperor's business.

"You're eloquent and persuasive; you'll surely be able to get along with Tang Meng and thus ease the pace of the war," the new emperor sighed. "It's a pity your cultivation has too many drawbacks, and your body is also inconvenient!"

"Your Majesty has many capable people around you, and they should all be able to get things done," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Wei Qing is preoccupied with managing the Northern Army but lacks the time and resources; Han Yan, lacking combat experience, is also preoccupied with important matters; Sang Hongyang has gone to the border to trade with the Xiong State; Gongsun Ao is incompetent; Gongsun He, holding the position of Grand Master of the Palace, cannot leave without permission; Mei Gao possesses literary talent but lacks practical ability; Wuqiu Shouwang is obsessed with chess and lacks interpersonal skills; Zhuang Zhu is trapped in Kuaiji by his mother; Zhufu Yan is too straightforward and finds it difficult to get along with Tang Meng; Xu Le and Yan An..."

The new emperor murmured.

Among his many close advisors, only Zhang Xuezhou lived a carefree life; the others had all been assigned tasks.

Even the court entertainer Li Sheren was assigned to collect information on the Confucian School school of thought in Chang'an City, leaving virtually no one idle.

As for some prominent figures and officials, they cannot be arranged by the new emperor at will. These people would not only not go to Bashu to oppose Tang Meng, but they would probably immediately become fraternal and humble with Tang Meng, making it difficult for them to complete the tasks entrusted to them by the new emperor.

"Are there no missing people on your end?"

The new emperor muttered to himself, glancing at Zhang Xuezhou from time to time, seemingly trying to persuade Zhang Xuezhou to go to Bashu.

In the past, Zhang Xuezhou could go wherever he wanted, especially since he had the familiar Prefect Wen Weng in the Bashu region. But right now, he was relying on the Demon-Revealing Mirror of the Dou family in his backyard for protection, so how could he possibly go to a place like Bashu?

Seeing that the new emperor seemed to have some intention of making him do chores, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but ask him about it.

After repeated questioning and reminders, the new emperor finally remembered that there was a Sima Xiangru in Chang'an City who was lying paralyzed and not doing any work.

Regardless of whether Sima Xiangru's eyesight was poor or clear, the other party had to get up and get to work.