Lu Mingyuan inspected the "Martial Fool" Fate Grid and discovered just how much it had changed.
Compared to the "Martial Artist" Fate Grid, it not only inherited the speed of cultivating the Martial Dao but also added a threefold efficiency for refining Martial Arts.
In other words, for the same Cultivation Technique, it might take others thirty years to reach Perfection, but he would only need ten. This was a significant increase in speed.
'It seems it's time to learn some more advanced Cultivation Techniques.'
Lu Mingyuan thought to himself.
He hadn't studied any Martial Arts before, only learning some simple Killing Skills, such as Fist Techniques and Saber Techniques. He believed that only by building a solid foundation could he learn advanced Cultivation Techniques, making the process twice as effective for half the effort.
It was like a tall tower—if the base wasn't solid, how could it be built ever higher?
Now, after being tempered through External Force, Inner Cultivation, and Washing Marrow, he finally had the qualifications to study advanced Martial Arts.
The "Martial Fool" Fate Grid made him realize that his Fate Grids could be promoted in rank, provided he maxed out their Refinement Levels.
There wasn't much else to say about this new Fate Grid.
It all boiled down to one thing.
Just grind it out.
Just as he was continuing to absorb the power of the Cyan Fierce Bull Demon Pill, more text appeared before his eyes.
[The Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, has died a miserable death in an alley of the Imperial City. His Dragon Fortune has dissipated.]
[Emperor Orange Fate Grid - Trapped Dragon in the Abyss, Refinement Level increased to 22%.]
[Refinement Level has reached 22%. Acquired trait "Dragon Raising Its Head" (Middle Level).]
"Dragon Raising Its Head (Middle Level): Every time you survive a disaster, you have a chance to obtain a purple Opportunity."
Seeing this, Lu Mingyuan's expression was one of utter astonishment, yet he seemed mentally prepared for it, as if it was within his expectations. "Lu Mingkong is dead? Miss Yun must have been the one who killed him."
"His death increased my Refinement Level by a full 10%?!"
That, on the other hand, surprised him even more.
Not only that, but the level of "Dragon Raising Its Head" was also promoted, changing from a blue Opportunity to a purple one!
Lu Mingyuan slowly pondered, stroking his chin. "Besides turning misfortune into fortune, can someone's death also increase the Refinement Level of 'Trapped Dragon in the Abyss'? Or is it because the person who died was Lu Mingkong?"
Suddenly, he realized something.
'Lu Mingkong's death is likely just the beginning.'
'If I just stay here in the Cold Palace while my brothers kill each other one by one, I'll be the biggest beneficiary.'
'Because as long as they die, I will gain an endless stream of benefits.'
'In other words, this Qingzhu Hall is my place of auspicious beginning!'
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the ground of the entire Great Yan Imperial Palace shook violently. The tremor came and went quickly, but the commotion it caused was not small. The Golden Carp Clear Pool in front of Qianyuan Hall rippled, ancient trees cast long shadows, and crows took flight, cawing.
Nearly everyone in the Imperial Palace, including Lu Mingyuan, was alarmed and bewildered, not understanding what had happened.
Above the towering city walls of the Great Yan Imperial Capital, a colossal, ethereal Dragon Shadow opened its eyes. Ferocious and immense, with its horns and whiskers drifting, it coiled around the Capital City, looking down upon thousands of miles.
However, almost no one could see this scene.
Only an elderly imperial uncle in the Imperial Clan Court, who was in charge of the archives, showed a trace of gravity on his otherwise calm and decrepit face.
"The Dragon Vein's qi is weakening. Someone must have met with a disaster."
This was the incarnation of Great Yan's National Fortune. The Great Yan Dynasty was aligned with the element of fire, and this was a Red-Eyed Golden Dragon.
An Emperor's every move was inextricably linked to the National Fortune.
The destiny of a dynasty, condensed within the Emperor in the Mortal World, gathered the faith of the masses. When it flourished, it bolstered the National Fortune, suppressed Demon Fiends, and brought about a prosperous era. When it declined, wars erupted, and the people could not live in peace.
Thus, if the ruler was wise and valiant and the people prospered, the age would be peaceful and prosperous.
If the ruler was fatuous and incompetent and the people suffered, corpses would litter the land for thousands of miles.
Great Yan's Fortune, which had been stable for sixty years, had actually been shaken today. The last time the Dragon Fortune had been shaken was a century ago, when the Emperor was weak and a treacherous minister had usurped all power.
The elderly imperial uncle looked in the direction the Red-Eyed Golden Dragon's eyes were facing and sighed.
"Your Majesty..."
...
However, most people in the Imperial Palace still didn't know what had happened, merely thinking it was an ordinary earthquake. Only a very small number of people foresaw something and quietly departed from the Imperial Palace, heading to various parts of the Imperial City.
「Inside Qingzhu Hall.」
Lu Mingyuan sat in his chair, continuously flipping through the Great Yan Atlas, and muttered, "The last earthquake in the Imperial City was a hundred years ago. What does this portend?"
He thought for a moment but couldn't find an answer.
He looked at the unresponsive Six-Yao Turtle Shell in his mind, and his heart settled slightly.
'Since there's no reaction, it must mean there's no danger.'
'There's no need to worry.'
'Forget it. Even if the sky falls, I have a bunch of "good brothers" to hold it up. It has nothing to do with me. I'll just practice my Martial Arts, eat well, drink well, and not worry about anything else.'
Lu Mingyuan thought to himself.
Then, he took out another stack of white Xuan paper and began to copy the "Paper-cutting Adult" Daoist Talisman from his mind.
He had just lifted his brush to make the first stroke when he remembered something and gave an order to Zi Yun.
"Go and search the Imperial Palace for any Martial Arts Techniques. Don't bring back anything easy to learn; I want the difficult ones. The best would be the kind that take a very long time to cultivate but are incredibly powerful once mastered. If you really can't find any, then go ask my mother for one."
Although Zi Yun didn't understand why the Sixth Prince would make such a strange request, she lowered her head and agreed.
"Yes, this servant will go at once."
...
「Shengjing Academy.」
A strikingly handsome young man riding a donkey stopped at the Academy's entrance. He had sword-like eyebrows as black as ink and a pair of bright, sincere eyes. He wore a blue Confucian Shirt that had been washed until it was faded. Though he was tall, he was very thin. His fine features contrasted sharply with his shabby clothes, giving him a rather forlorn appearance.
"So this is Shengjing Academy?"
The young man muttered to himself, his voice gentle and magnetic.
He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and announced in a clear voice:
"Chen Ke, a Scholar from Qinghe County, requests an audience with Elder Mr. Qi."
The gatehouse servant on duty at the Academy entrance replied indifferently, "Elder Mr. Qi is very busy. He has no time to see you."
Despite the rejection, Chen Ke remained polite. Still holding his salute, he said in a gentle voice, "I am a distant relative of Elder Mr. Qi. I also have a letter of recommendation from the Second Prince."
The gatehouse servant's eyes showed surprise. He doubtfully took the letter from the other man's hand.
It was only when he saw the large Jade Seal belonging to a Marquis that the servant's expression softened and his attitude improved significantly.
"Please wait a moment. I will go and announce you."
After just a short while, the servant returned and gestured with his hand.
"Follow me."
Chen Ke entered Shengjing Academy and looked left and right, seemingly quite satisfied with the magnificent scenery. He couldn't help but think:
'If I gain Elder Mr. Qi's patronage and achieve official rank but still fail to be put to great use, then the Chen Family will have truly fallen. I would be a disgrace to my ancestors.'
The two of them passed through the Academy's long corridors and clear pools, soon arriving at a place where a purple forest grew lushly.
A young man in a purple Python Robe appeared before them, and to his left stood an old man in a deep blue Confucian robe.
Chen Ke understood that the one on the left was the famous Qi Xingyan.
What he didn't understand, however, was why the person in the purple Python Robe was looking at him with such unfriendly eyes.
...