Chapter 165: Seizing His Sword (Two-in-One)
Yaoshan Academy was founded by the Confucian sage Xie Qian on Yaoshan 1,300 years ago when the Wei Dynasty was founded.
It is divided into four parts: Discipline Court, Wenhua Court, Tiangong Court, and Jingshi Court.
Yaoshan is located in the south of the Yangtze River, not in the Central Plains. The original intention was to stay away from the imperial power and political center and seek a quiet environment where one could concentrate on reading the books of sages.
At the beginning of its establishment, the minds of the disciples of the academy were still very pure. Reading was just reading. If they were too much influenced by worldly power, they would naturally not be able to read the books. With their minds full of fame, wealth and power, how could they see the true meaning of the books?
Learning literary and martial arts and serving the emperor is not their pursuit.
But as a "holy land" for scholars all over the world, its reputation is getting louder and louder, and its prestige is naturally like a tall building rising from the ground, which cannot be stopped.
Around Yaoshan Mountain, 1,300 years ago, there was only the elegant scenery of beautiful mountains and clear waters. But now, it is filled with all kinds of so-called "historical sites", with various buildings, towers and steles every five steps, which is a feast for the eyes.
There is an endless stream of people coming to pay their respects, and countless people are walking in front of the door.
Only the mountains hundreds of miles around the central academy still have a sense of tranquility.
But just looking at the academy itself, there are tall archways granted by the emperor in front of the gate, which are filled with the names of the top scholars who have emerged in the past 1,300 years. There are more than a hundred of them, densely packed.
The magnificent atmosphere and the literary spirit are like clouds. It is clear that the academy today has long lost its original purity, and the tranquility that people yearn for is gone forever.
Among them, Gu Yuandao's name is naturally included.
However, when he became the top scorer in the imperial examination, he was still called "Zhang Yuandao", so the name written on the archway was also "Zhang Yuandao".
Before, it was not clear who was the real prince and who was the fake prince. Without an imperial decree from above, the academy could not arbitrarily modify the handwritten inscription of Emperor Yong'an on the imperial gift.
Now, Gu Fangchen has become the prince again. The situation in the court is unpredictable and no one dares to change it.
It's a bit ironic that "Zhang Yuandao" is left here in such an awkward position...
The changes in the academy are closely related to two things.
First, for thousands of years, many children from aristocratic families in Jiangnan have been proud to study at Yaoshan Academy.
Over time, the interests of the aristocratic families and the academies became intertwined and difficult to separate.
Even the head of the Jingshi Academy in the academy is named Dugu.
The second reason is the court's active approach and solicitation. After the intervention of the aristocratic families, except for some noble students in Wenhua Academy, the academy no longer excluded "merchants and imperial families."
Since the court values them so much, they naturally work harder.
Nowadays, most of the people in the court are students of the academy, which is the result of the combined effect of two aspects.
However, the academy is not ignorant of avoiding suspicion.
Disciples of the academy who serve as officials in the court generally do not exceed the fourth rank of cultivation, and the fifth rank is already the limit.
If one's cultivation is too high and there is no very necessary government affairs at the moment, he will choose to resign and return to the academy to teach.
Emperor Yong'an would usually only try to retain him symbolically.
Just like now, there are several great scholars on this stone platform.
This stone platform is located in the back mountain of the academy, in the center of the cold pool with a waterfall. It is engraved with the eight characters "Enlighten your mind and be wise, be of one heart and one mind", which were written by the "Book Fairy" Bu Cangtai.
This Bu Cangtai is as famous as Li Wangji. The two of them, together with the "painting fairy" Zhen Mingshi, are known as the "three wonders of poetry, calligraphy and painting" of the academy.
It is where several great scholars from the academy usually meet to discuss matters.
In the academy, there are eight people who can be called great scholars, and all of them are of the third rank.
At this moment, three people gathered.
The head monk of the Vinaya Academy is Meng Shouzheng.
The head of Wenhua Academy is Liu Wenqing.
The head of the Jingshi Academy is Dugu Yu.
In addition, there was the acting dean when the "Confucian Sage" was in seclusion - "Heart Sage" Lu Mingyuan, who was a second-grade cultivator.
There are two saints in charge of Yao Mountain. This is the only case among all the immortal sects.
Going further up, it is the Wei Dynasty court.
Originally, there should have been a seat on this stone platform reserved for the head of Tiangong Academy.
But this chief had just been hit on the head by Xie Qian because he colluded with the Demon Cult and helped to build the "Dragons and Snakes Rising from the Land" formation. Only his soul was locked up in the map of mountains and rivers, and he sat at the same table with Gu Yuandao.
Meng Shouzheng spoke first and said:
"I've followed the clues and found out that the Institute of Technology is colluding with the Demon Cult..."
He showed a helpless expression:
"Someone from the 'Gong' sect infiltrated the Tiangong Academy and brought the concept and some blueprints of the 'Dragon Snake Landing' formation to these fools. They then helped perfect it."
Meng Shouzheng was stunned when he investigated. The people from Gongdao really did nothing. They even entered the college through reasonable and legal assessments.
With the help of Tiangong Institute, a "cooperation" was reached right under their noses.
It can be said that he truly understands the concept of "darkness under the lamp".
The only problem was that the chief monk failed to notice the purpose of the formation and the identity of the person who worked on it.
But Tiangong Academy...is originally a group of people who are obsessed with the art of engineering, the art of formations, and the art of divination. They know nothing about the ways of the world, so it is really difficult to expect them to judge people.
This is probably the reason why Xie Qian gave a light punishment and a severe warning to the head of Tiangong Academy.
——When they reach the divine realm like them, the physical body is no longer important. Even if the physical body dies, they can just pick up any other body and put it in. It is simply a means of transportation and is dispensable.
A soul that exists for a long time will hardly die. If it is still supported by the power of faith, it can still be reunited even if it is broken up.
Xie Qian locked up the head monk of Tiangong Academy just to make him reflect on his mistakes.
The ones who were truly colluding with the Demon Cult were a group of people within Wenhua Academy.
In cooperation with the "righteous" sect, in order to seize a dragon vein under Jiange, he did not hesitate to abandon the entire four southwestern sects and almost stirred up a riot.
Now all of these people have been beheaded, which can be regarded as an explanation to the court.
Liu Wenqing had his eyes closed at this moment, fiddling with a string of sandalwood beads in his hand, and remained silent.
Lu Mingyuan sighed:
"Tell the Jingshi Academy to send a few people to the Tiangong Academy to review this matter. This matter is not handled properly and is really too hasty."
The head of Wenhua Academy suddenly opened his eyes and said calmly:
"I think if it succeeds, it won't be too hasty."
Meng Shouzheng turned to look at him, his face solemn, and said:
"Could it be that Brother Liu has also been bewitched by the Demon Cult? If Donglong Lake is opened, countless people in the four southwestern regions will be displaced and countless casualties will occur. Isn't that too hasty?"
Dugu Yu narrowed his eyes and said:
"If there truly were a world of great harmony, and the cycle of heaven and earth ceased, these people would not have died."
"If Wenhua Academy succeeds, the progress of collecting dragon veins will be greatly advanced. Perhaps before these people die, we can enter the world of great harmony."
"Brother Liu, what you said is true."
Meng Shouzheng was startled, his pupils constricted, and he asked:
"But what if it fails?"
Dugu Yu snorted coldly:
"Master, your seclusion is to prevent failure. With the same sky throughout eternity, there is no possibility of failure."
“It’s just how long the process takes.”
"If there's a way to shorten the time, why not do it? If it weren't for Gu Fangchen's mischief, we would have two dragon veins in our hands now!"
He waved his hand.
A magnificent mountain and river suddenly appeared on the stone platform, filled with spiritual energy, and its aura was similar to that of the [Seventy-Two Peaks Towering Sword].
It is another abandoned dragon vein of the previous dynasty.
Meng Shouzheng said in a deep voice:
"Even if you're teaming up with the Demon Cult? Aren't you afraid of courting disaster?"
As the head of the Discipline Institute, he was known for his old-fashioned character and believed in propriety, law and discipline. Naturally, he felt that this statement was self-deception and that the method of disregarding the lives of the people was even more evil.
Even if the purpose is right, people will become corrupt if they do this.
At that time, it would be easy to fall into the devil's bewitching tricks and be used by the devil in turn.
Liu Wenqing said calmly:
"The so-called Demonic Cult is nothing more than a group of scoundrels still plotting to take the throne. How can they possibly understand our great vision of an eternal and boundless world of great harmony?"
"We're standing at different heights, so how can we say we're trying to get the skin of a tiger? We're just treating them as chess pieces. They play a role based on where they land, that's all."
Meng Shouzheng's expression became increasingly heavy. He felt it was absurd to hear such completely crazy words.
But he opened his mouth, looked at Liu Wenqing with a calm expression on his left, then looked at Dugu Yu with cold eyes on his right, and suddenly realized that something was wrong!
Meng Shouzheng stood up suddenly, his face changed:
"you……"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly flew up and flew out of the stone platform.
But immediately, he felt a huge pressure. The illusory earth veins and mountains and rivers suddenly turned into a huge cage, pressing him back.
"Bang!"
Meng Shouzheng was seriously injured and spit out a mouthful of blood when he fell to the ground. Then he saw the spiritual patterns flashing on the stone platform.
Obviously, a formation that matched the earth veins had been set up on this stone platform long ago in order to imprison him here.
Meng Shouzheng raised his head and looked at the "Heart Saint" Lu Mingyuan, and said in disbelief:
"Have you known about this from the beginning?"
"Just to get the leyline, you're directly cooperating with the Demon Cult? You're absolutely crazy! If the Master knew about this, how would you cope?"
Lu Mingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, floating in the air. His eyes remained unchanged. He smiled and said lightly:
"Meng Shouzheng, the Master has already been here."
Meng Shouzheng was struck by lightning.
That’s right, the Master has been here.
The result he gave was to kill a group of people from Wenhua Academy, and then drag the "bewitched" head of Tiangong Academy and Gu Yuandao into the map of mountains and rivers to reflect on their mistakes.
They will be released in a few months at most.
These are the backbones of the academy. How could the teacher not know what they think, what they do?
But it was obvious that the Master had no intention of punishing them.
Instead, he gave a result to the court... The only difference was whether it was made public or not.
In other words, the Master was also aware of this and condoned their actions!
Liu Wenqing shook his head and said:
"Brother Meng, we are comrades, friends, not enemies. I don't want to fight you, but I ask you to think carefully about what to do next."
Dugu Yu said coldly:
"Why bother saying more? He's too pedantic. Didn't he try it many times before without any results? Otherwise, how could it have come to this?"
"If he can't figure it out, will we keep him locked up like this with the dragon vein?"
According to his thinking, even if he killed Meng Shouzheng directly, it would not be excessive to promote one of his own people to the position.
Anyway, as long as "eternal unity" can be achieved, Meng Shouzheng and they will be able to meet again in the world of great harmony!
Lu Mingyuan shook his head and scolded:
"Huai Jin is being extreme!"
Meng Shouzheng listened to what they said with a dull look in his eyes. He felt that his colleagues had gone crazy and were not speaking human language.
But then, Lu Mingyuan waved his hand, and the formation restriction on the stone platform blocked the sound, making him unable to hear anything.
Liu Wenqing frowned and said:
"The sword in Gu Fangchen's hand was refined from the earth vein. Right now, the entire earth vein has been extracted and turned into a part of the sword. If it is not taken back, the five dragon veins will be missing the most crucial one."
"But right now, he's a rising star favored by Emperor Yong'an. How can we make a move in Huangtian City?"
Dugu Yu said calmly:
"Don't worry, Gu Yuye will help us."
"He has already found out from the groom that Gu Fangchen is not his son. But it was the Demon Cult that swapped Gu Fangchen and Gu Yuandao."
"In other words, if Gu Fangchen can't prove his origins, then he can only be from the Demonic Cult. Even if we let public opinion take over, he will still be suspected and cannot be reused."
"Ning Caiyong gave birth in Gusu Road, and the groom was also from Gusu. If he wants to find out about his background, he has to come to Gusu!"
Liu Wenqing's brows relaxed:
"He was able to suppress the seven sects of the southwest simply because of the power of the divine sword. His own strength is nothing more than that."
"By then, once we've seized his sword and the earth veins, we'll naturally be able to kill his men."
Lu Mingyuan nodded:
"Wait until he reaches Gusu, seize his sword, and kill him."
…
Xiao Yinghao was a little surprised by Gu Fangchen's calm reaction. She narrowed her eyes and said:
"You seemed to have anticipated this?"
Gu Fangchen blinked his eyes and said seriously:
"I heard that the groom was coarse and ugly, and I felt from the beginning that I couldn't be his son."
Xiao Ying looked at his confident words, stood up, turned her head to look at Gu Fangchen's face under the light, snorted and said:
"That's true..."
Gu Fangchen took this as a compliment.
However, if he wasn't so good-looking, the princess probably wouldn't have let him, a man pretending to be a prince consort, go along with it, but would have directly chopped him off...
The eldest princess had just broken into a sweat, so she took another shower, put on her clothes, and came out from behind the screen.
Then I saw Gu Fangchen writing and drawing on a piece of paper.
She narrowed her eyes and asked doubtfully:
"What are you doing?"
Gu Fangchen picked up the paper and blew on it:
"Thank you, Princess, for tipping me off. As a reward... I'll give you a gift."
Xiao Yinghao took the paper, his pupils constricted:
"The Qingman army's deployment map?"
————
ps: My head hurts so much, I'll merge the two into one and continue to update tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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