Chapter 330: Chapter 53: Full of Mischief
"The Dao Tree within that Cave Heaven Blessed Land should be a Second Grade Daoist Artifact."
Jiang Li directly dropped a bombshell, "This tree bears eighteen fruits that act like three-month-old infants. The Fourth Prince called them Ginsengfruit. I once consumed a Ginsengfruit, which increased my lifespan by five hundred years. Even using the Ginsengfruit as an aid, I laid a trap and killed the Southern Heavenly Department Director, Zuo Zhao, and severely injured the Fourth Prince."
"The Fourth Prince fled and was killed by Lawless Freedom."
This bombshell was indeed powerful, even Zhong Shenxiu’s face turned wooden.
Although it had been suspected that the Fourth Prince’s death was related to Jiang Li, no matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t imagine that one of these two fifth-rank powers was killed by Jiang Li, who also put in great strength.
However, after the brief shock, their attention was unconsciously drawn to the Ginsengfruit.
Jiang Li had mentioned something similar to Xiang Huaiyi before, but what was different this time was that Jiang Li’s description had a slight embellishment.
—Using the Ginsengfruit as an aid...
The inherent impression caused everyone to unconsciously amplify the role of the Ginsengfruit.
Just as the Fourth Prince let his guard down because he thought Jiang Li had exhausted all his cards, Zhong Shenxiu, Yan Hanqing, and others also had a fixed impression, subconsciously thinking that for a Sixth Grade to kill a Fifth Grade, one must rely on Fourth Grade Killing Moves.
The art of speech, inherent impressions, and the covert push of the Heart Demon Secret Sword, even Zhong Shenxiu’s thoughts unknowingly developed a bias.
His Mental State was firm, something that not even a Fifth Rank could match, but if he himself thought in that direction, then even the most steadfast Mental State could not avoid being led astray.
Being steadfast and single-minded is not the same thing.
Ginsengfruit, produced by a Second Grade Daoist Artifact, can extend life by five hundred years, even allowing a Sixth Rank to kill a Fifth Rank, and also severely injured another Fifth Rank. If the Fourth Prince was indeed killed by Lawless Freedom, then he must have been severely injured and on the brink of death, nearly incapable of resistance.
Because the strength shown by Lawless Freedom was also Sixth Rank, not Fifth Rank.
As for the talk of designing an assassination, that’s the norm. Even relying on a Fourth Grade Killing Move, wanting a Sixth Rank to kill a Fifth Rank also requires timing and ingenuity. If Jiang Li claimed that he used the Ginsengfruit to display divine prowess, killing Zuo Zhao outright and dealing a direct heavy blow to the Fourth Prince, that would be somewhat too much, making it hard to believe.
This way of phrasing it was just right.
Thus, extending from this statement comes another idea.
—If Ginsengfruit has such divine effects, can it extend the life of a Third Grade?
For example... that one.
Jiang Li’s descriptions made everyone further speculate in their minds.
"Eighteen Ginsengfruits, the Fourth Prince obtained three, later falling into the hands of Lawless Freedom. I got four, and as for the rest..."
Jiang Li slightly smiled, pointing upwards, "Heavenly mechanisms must not be disclosed."
With that said, it was already enough.
The whereabouts of the remaining Ginsengfruits seemed unspoken, yet spoken. The specific whereabouts could be imagined by others, or they could continue to inquire from Jiang Li.
But this inquiry had to wait until next time and could not take place within the Divine Capital.
Mentioning certain existences in the Divine Capital, given Jiang Li’s Realm, it’s very likely to be directly sensed.
"I understand, by tomorrow at most, I will give Brother Jiang a response," Yan Hanqing was the first to speak.
Zhong Shenxiu then pondered briefly and directly said, "After a meeting in Yong Province, I have been wanting to debate teachings with Brother Jiang once more. Please come to the Imperial College tomorrow, fulfilling my wish. At that time, I will certainly welcome you."
"Please."
After saying so, he bowed and then left with Ming Yang.
He directly invited Jiang Li...
The two from the Mo Sect felt like they had lost, but with their identities, they couldn’t make decisions on behalf of the whole Mo Sect.
"Please."
In the end, Yan Hanqing could only say "please" and hastily left with his junior sister.
Jiang Li watched the two parties depart, a subtle smile on his face, sitting lazily in his wheelchair, his hands caressing the incense burner, "It seems the Imperial College also tends to believe in no eternal rulers under heaven."
As for the Mo Sect, since the Mo Sect Master had not shown up, it wasn’t easy to say.
"The order of Great Zhou has been operating for eight hundred years, the Jiang family lineage has been stable, naturally there are those unwilling to break this order."
The voice of Tianxuan lingered in his ears, "Flowing water does not spoil, nor does a functioning hinge rot. Great Zhou prioritizes stability, but within this stability, there is also movement. Due to the existence of the Sect, commoners can become Cultivators, and because of the court, commoners can become officials."
"Although the existence of the noble families keeps tightening the paths for ascension, if one were to carefully investigate, one would find in these families both rise and fall, some prospering and others perishing. Within the officialdom, there are also officials who rise and fall."
"The Five Layered City Districts of the Divine Capital represent the five classes of Great Zhou, but within these classes, it is not always static but flows and changes like water."
Jiang Li’s pupils slightly constricted.
The innermost layer of the Divine Capital’s Five Layered City Districts, which is the palace, represents the class of the Emperor.
Tianxuan’s words were undoubtedly saying that even the Emperor is part of this flowing cycle.
The five classes are always flowing, whether it’s the commoners or the Emperor, commoners spend decades in life and death, so does the Emperor, keeping Great Zhou fresh like flowing water, like a functioning hinge that does not rot.
The Emperor wanted eternal life, which inevitably meant disrupting the established order, thus inviting backlash.
Although the Imperial College derived its influence from the Emperor and revered Confucianism exclusively, it too was a part of the Great Zhou realm order, loyal to the title of Emperor, not just one particular Emperor. Not all graduates from the Imperial College might wish to see an immortal monarch disrupt the order that had been maintained for eight hundred years.
It was still too early to assert the College’s stance based on a brief conversation and a few conjectures.
Additionally, scholars from the Imperial College hailed from all over the land and filled both the court and field, so their views were not necessarily aligned.
"I should still visit the Imperial College," Jiang Li whispered.
"The Great Sacrificial Officer there shouldn’t act against someone young like you, but we should still be cautious of the unforeseen. I will accompany you," Tianxuan added.
A visit to the Imperial College, to probe its tendencies and also potentially visit the Huanzhu Building.
"The Imperial College will likely oppose or remain neutral to the idea of immortality. If they oppose it, that’s naturally the best outcome; if they’re neutral..."
Jiang Li flashed a sly smile, "From the moment Zhong Shenxiu and Ming Yang visited me, the neutrality of the Imperial College has already begun to waver."
At present, the Great Sacrificial Officer was not in the Imperial City, suggesting that there was a good chance he didn’t know that the Emperor’s life-extending plan was nearing its conclusion.
Under these circumstances, the visit from someone at the Imperial College could prompt the Emperor to make certain assumptions, couldn’t it?
When Jiang Li goes to the Imperial College tomorrow, it might lead the Emperor to another misunderstanding.
Though the Divine Capital seemed calm, the tension was palpable. The Emperor would remain vigilant against any disturbance until he consumed the Immortality Elixir.
Today’s meeting hosted by Jiang Li was far from inconsequential.
If the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer was truly uninformed, the Emperor would surely take action upon realizing today’s visit.
"Ever since you developed the Heart Demon Secret Sword by forging your own path, you have become increasingly cunning," Tianxuan commented, both in praise and slightly reproachful.
Jiang Li had discussed today’s hosting with Tianxuan, but the delivery was all Jiang Li’s own doing.
Being able to lace his words with various traps while still appearing sincere to others...
It really was a waste that he did not choose to accept the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit.
With his compatibility with the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit, he could possibly advance through the fifth rank quicker than others at the sixth.
However, Jiang Li did not regret it.
Could the mere Three Corpses compare to the Great Grandmaster Zhuang Zhou?
...
...
"Your Majesty, there is a report from Wan Dingtian of the Southern Heavenly Department."
A red-robed eunuch bowed low, presenting two memorials.
The Southern Heavenly Department had a chief and two deputy chiefs. One deputy chief, who was more of a figurehead famously known for his connections including Jiang Li’s good older brother, generally stayed out of the department’s affairs.
The other was Wan Dingtian, a trusted aide of Princess Ji Lingguang.
With Ji Lingguang traveling to Yong Province, Wan Dingtian was left in charge of overseeing all matters big and small at the Southern Heavenly Department’s headquarters.
However, this deputy chief’s role seemed somewhat intricate.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Seated on the dragon throne representing the ultimate authority, the aging Emperor Zhou constantly coughed and gasped for air as he received the memorials and opened one.
The memorial details the inquiry into Jiang Li by Xiang Huaiyi and Feng Zheng, including Xiang Huaiyi’s assessment.
As for the other...
The Emperor opened it, glanced over, and his expression darkened slightly.
"There is a madman who flaunts the law and assassinated a prince, committing a heinous crime. Instruct the Southern Heavenly Department to capture this lawless felon alive or dead."
As the Emperor spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the memorial in his hand, "Also, inform the Zong Zheng that the Jiang family’s child has spoken and acted outrageously. Within the Treasure Extreme Cave Heaven, he severely injured the Fourth Prince, indirectly leading to his death at the hands of this lawless individual. He needs to be reprimanded."
Upon hearing this, the red-robed eunuch acknowledged with a "Yes," and pulled out a blank imperial decree to write the order for apprehending the lawless individual.
The other order wasn’t an official edict but a directive, and since it involved members of the Ji Family, it wasn’t made official.
Yet, for some reason, the Emperor seemed to place more importance on the latter command.
This, however, was not for a eunuch to ponder over.
After the imperial decree was drafted, it was reviewed and stamped with the Emperor’s private seal, then dispatched to the Southern Heavenly Department.
Subsequently, the red-robed eunuch personally visited the Zong Zheng Residence, met the current Zong Zheng, and conveyed the Emperor’s directive.
"The Jiang family’s child? Is it the widely talked-about Jiang Li recently?"
Looking equally aged but with a straight posture and a persistent aura, the Zong Zheng furrowed his brow upon hearing this, "People from the Jiang family are indeed inherently defiant, daring to attack a prince. No matter how inappropriate Cheng Yuan the child might be, it wasn’t Jiang’s place to act."
"Please report back to the Emperor; I will surely reprimand the Jiang family’s child and ensure he pays a price."