Chapter 586: Chapter 534: Threat from Taoist Academy, The Emperor’s Concern

After twenty years of development, the Taoist Academy has grown into a colossal entity, with countless powerful figures emerging from its ranks. Some of these individuals roam the world on their own, some establish their own forces, and others join other factions.

Although Pei Xuanjing did not control their comings and goings, they were connected through a commonly recognized identity; they all identified themselves as disciples of Pei Xuanjing. Even in the absence of any actual teacher-student relationship, this did not mean that they didn’t acknowledge the kindness of Pei Xuanjing. This connection resulted in the formation of a vast network throughout the entire world.

For the current Great Ming Divine Dynasty, the threat from the Taoist Academy superseded that of many alliances and forces. Despite having fewer powerful individuals, their sheer number was eliciting concern in many within the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.

However, it was odd that the emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty paid little attention to the growth of the Taoist Academy. He seemingly did not mind their elevation within the Divine Dynasty.

Even stranger was the emperor’s decision to retreat and hand over the management of the court affairs to the elders and officials after receiving news of the return of certain forces from the Sky Wasteland after thirty years. Only matters of utmost importance warranted interrupting the emperor’s retreat. Counting, it had been twenty years since the emperor last attended court.

However, even after twenty years of not attending court, the control over the affairs of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty was still firmly in the hands of the emperor. No one could challenge his position.

By holding the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, the emperor controlled the fate of all the subjects. No one could go against his will.

“What does Master Pei have planned?” Zhu Houji wondered, seeking answers from Mr. Wu, “Could you help clear my doubts?”

Zhu Houji did not particularly concern himself with the Taoist Academy’s growing influence. As long as Pei Xuanjing did not attempt an uprising, there was no threat regardless of the academy’s strength.

He was more interested in understanding what Pei Xuanjing planned behind the spread of the Taoist Academy.

As the ruler of the Divine Dynasty, he had a keen perception of everything happening in the world. He strongly felt that the focus of the Taoist Academy was not its disciples but the statues of Pei Xuanjing that it erected.

Over the years, statues of Pei Xuanjing sprung up across the land, outnumbering those in temples built by the emperor.

Further, the emperor, who had personally visited the Taoist Academy, could sense spiritual consciousness attached to the statues of Pei Xuanjing in the academy. It was this spiritual consciousness that was driving everything within the academy.

In the last twenty years, countless subsidiary academies were established, and the contribution points system advanced by Pei Xuanjing was widely accepted by the martial artists of the world. More importantly, it allowed Pei Xuanjing to spread his spiritual consciousness everywhere.

“These spiritual consciousnesses interconnected, forming a gigantic web that enveloped the world.” And that was what the emperor feared the most.

Despite Mr. Wu knowing Pei Xuanjing from the start, their interaction over the years was infrequent, mainly limited to occasional exchanges related to cultivation.

Zhu Houji, the emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, on the other hand, had a close association with Mr. Wu, as if they had reached some agreement.

In the decades when Zhu Houji refrained from holding court, many senior officials found it difficult to see him. However, Mr. Wu could easily come and go from the secluded palace, which went a long way to prove the depth of their association.

“Indeed, with these subsidiary academies scattered across the world, this grandmaster can dispatch an incarnation at will, utilizing these figures,” Mr. Wu’s eyes filled with astonishment.

If he was initially uncertain about Pei Xuanjing’s sprawling network, witnessing the tangible incarnation kill a cultivator at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm using his spiritual consciousness and power from the faith of incense fire solidified his awe for Pei Xuanjing.

Even with his extensive knowledge about the techniques of incarnation, he had never imagined the potential of this technique being actualized to such an extent. It was nothing short of remarkable.

He turned to the emperor, “Grandmaster Pei’s ingenious method is truly unheard of. Based on my memory, even the top tier External Incarnation technique has its limitations, and no one has managed to use it as Grandmaster Pei has.”

Mr. Wu found that the longer he spent in the company of Pei Xuanjing, the more mysterious he appeared, evoking his curiosity.

“It seems like Master Pei is a divine being sent down from the heavens. Ever since his emergence, he has continued to prosper, and nobody has ever been able to stop him,” Zhu Houji sighed.

Being a cultivator on the Path of Spirit Refining, controllinng the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, and occupying the most powerful divine position of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, he should have been the most formidable person in the world. But, when compared to his Master Pei, he felt a sense of inadequacy.

On pondering over Pei Xuanjing’s rise to power, he had weathered countless crises and deadly circumstances since stepping out of the small border town but eventually managed to emerge unscathed. He had also reaped substantial gains, making it feel like he was divinely assisted.

Startled, Mr. Wu replied, “Legend has it that when a significant era is about to begin, a child chosen by the Heavenly Mandate is born. The one with profound Qi Luck, favored by the heavens, prospers in every endeavor…”

Although he didn’t finish his statement, the implication was clear to Zhu Houji.

“Perhaps, we may need Master Pei’s assistance to weather the storm that the Great Ming Divine Dynasty will face in ten years,” Zhu Houji sighed.

After ten years, with the return of ancient forces, the ones facing the most significant threats would not be other powerful entities, but his Great Ming Divine Dynasty, apart from Pei Xuanjing, the most powerful entity in the world.

The Divine Dynasty, which hadn’t appeared in thousands of years, is imminent. There’s no telling what attitude those ancient forces will take.

Will they acknowledge the position of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty?

Probably not that easy.

In the final analysis, whether the Great Ming Divine Dynasty is eligible to maintain its position in the upcoming situations will require further testing.