Destiny is ashes

Chapter 1151 The Imperial Court
"Yuan Chengjun, I'm just asking you, did you fucking give the order? Answer yes or no, don't give me any more nonsense!"

"So what if it is? Xuan Guangge, don't take your anger out in court. You know the details very well. The modification contract is written clearly, and no one has ever been deliberately harmed. The craftsmanship is a bit rusty, but it definitely doesn't count as a crime."

Inside the Xuantian Palace, two men were hurling insults at each other in front of the throne, completely lacking in decorum. The latter, a seemingly refined middle-aged man, was more cunning and merely sneered: "You know that the Ascension Path is a newly emerging path, and risks are risks. My Yuan family is incompetent. If you're so capable, why don't you invite that Natural Master to come and guide us personally?"

Upon hearing such shameless remarks, Prince De's eyes widened in fury: "Yuan Chengjun, I'll fuck your mother!"

"Xuan Guangge, I have no interest in arguing with you, but I must remind you that my mother is also your second aunt. You'd better think twice before you speak!"

Inside the Xuantian Palace, Prince De and Yuan Chengjun, the head of the Yuan family, had a big argument, but the result was no resolution.

Although Cang Linzu was nominally imprisoned, he was actually isolated by Prince De in the deepest part of the heavily guarded imperial prison under a protective imprisonment arrangement, to prevent the Yuan family, who had suffered heavy losses, from retaliating.

The Yuan family didn't say much about it, because they knew that the full granary was just a pretext. Targeting him would only lower their own standards. They could afford to lose, as a great family with a history of ten thousand years, with only a dozen or so True Persons and a dozen or so airships.

The real focus is on An Jing, the naturalist who is about to arrive in Shenjing.

As for the so-called path to immortality and the so-called evidence, they are merely the prelude to the grand performance.

Just like now, the Yuan family openly admitted that they did indeed use the Feathered Dao to create 'human puppets'.

But so what?

Legally, his position is entirely justified. All refugees participating in the rehabilitation program signed voluntary contracts that clearly outlined the potential risks of this new path, much like how military training includes death quotas.

Regardless of whether those dying refugees would look at this thing carefully, even if they did, they would most likely choose death over becoming a plaything.

Even if Prince De obtained all the evidence from Cang Linzu, he still couldn't use it to bring down the Yuan family.

If it really collapses, who will become the core pillar of the Earth Vein Array? This thing is only effective for those with the blood of the Emperor and the Yuan family. If it's used by anyone else, it will really kill them. The Earth Vein Qi will burn their souls, and they will be burned away in a short time.

"The soldiers with full granaries are ultimately our own soldiers from Great Chen. Being imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison is already quite good. I don't think it's a disgrace... And the Yuan family has also learned their lesson. They don't have any underhanded tricks now. I think they are very polite."

Just as Prince De took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, Prince Zhong suddenly spoke up: "So, brother, there's no point in arguing about this anymore. Why don't we ask His Majesty what he thinks?"

"……Row."

The King wanted to speak, but he clenched his fists, calmed down, and looked at the young figure on the throne.

His anger stemmed from the fact that the Yuan family's actions completely contradicted His Majesty's wishes. His Majesty invited An Jing not only to cultivate a good relationship with the Heavenly Mandate and revive the old ways of the Heavenly Path Divine Sect and the Heavenly Mystery Mountain, but also to promote the Ascension Path and integrate it into the Heavenly Official System of the Great Chen Dynasty.
Although Prince De was previously a carefree prince, his imperial bloodline talent was already quite high. Moreover, after becoming the Prince of Zhen, he learned about many ancient secret texts and, through his comprehensive understanding, gained a perspective beyond that of ordinary people.

—The Celestial Official System and the Ascension Path are clearly a perfect match. Although he had never seen the situation in the Tianyuan Realm, based solely on the essence of the Ascension Path, the Prince of Virtue keenly perceived that, at the 'Ascension' stage alone, what Ascension cultivators needed was the support of a major power.

Independent practitioners of the Feathered Path will face immense difficulties. Unless they are true geniuses, they will likely only be able to progress to the Divine Treasury. Compared to other paths, they lack both resources and cultivation methods. Although An Jing has revealed the core ideas of the Feathered Path, the simplest 'general cultivation methods,' such as the 'Qi Condensation Technique,' 'Mind Purification Technique,' and 'Muscle and Bone Refining Method,' are all missing.

Most people in the world are dull-witted. Without the dissemination of simple introductory mental cultivation methods, there would be no large base of practitioners. Just like martial artists in the world, even if most folk martial artists are just country folks who only know a few punches and kicks, these few punches and kicks would never exist without the popularization of mental cultivation methods.

The path to ascension is missing this link... Even though An Jing himself personally taught the 'Blood Refining Method,' it's still too difficult. A simpler, more concise introductory cultivation method is needed. We can't expect everyone to be a genius or a cultured person who can read text fluently.

If not, then they can only rely on the support of powerful forces.

With materials, cultivation optimization, and power sources provided by powerful forces, the Heavenly Official system is a perfect, self-contained energy source. It can quickly transform a mortal into a Heavenly Official of the corresponding level, only lacking some cultivation in terms of 'skills' and 'physical body'.

But if you add the Ascension Path, and take into account the martial arts algorithm and physical enhancement built into the Ascension Path, then it would be perfect!
The imperial dynasty could easily create powerful celestial official puppets similar to the 'Twelve Golden Men,' 'Three Hundred and Sixty Star Officials,' and 'Three Thousand Golden Armored Divine Generals,' and then connect them to celestial official talismans. In this way, all future celestial officials would not need to go through the trouble of connecting and combining with talismans; instead, they could directly assume their duties with their divine souls. The imperial court has already prepared the divine body and divine power required for your daily work!

Moreover, in this way, it is not so troublesome to recover the cultivation level that the officials themselves have cultivated with the help of talismans, because the cultivation level cultivated with the divine body is more perfect and more extensive. After all, the divine body is perfectly suited to their path of cultivation, while most heavenly officials do not actually have much talent in their physical bodies.

This is perfect; just thinking about this possibility, the Prince of De couldn't help but sigh...

This is a shared array realm, a shared golden core, and a shared Dharma form!
The court that holds the source of these divine statues can undoubtedly forge a true 'Divine Court' that is even more powerful and has greater control than the former Imperial Court. The Great Chen Dynasty might even be able to shake off its current weakness and be reborn!

Not to mention…

The Prince of De closed his eyes.

He thought of Anjing.

—If we adopt the path of tranquility to transform Great Chen, then perhaps the wrath of that destiny will be somewhat appeased, and Great Chen will be allowed to continue?

“Mingjing is right beside him… The destruction of the Imperial Court is not a big deal. Mingjing also has imperial blood. If the old Great Chen is destroyed, the new Great Chen can be rebuilt, I think that’s possible.”

With this in mind, King De awaited the reply from Emperor Xuantian.

However, the young emperor on his throne spoke only calmly.

"Before the Mandate of Heaven arrives, the capital must remain stable, and no petty person or evil spirit shall be allowed to take advantage of the situation to cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Prince De looked up in astonishment.

(End of this chapter)