Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Before the scandal of the Yangzhou salt smuggling case had completely subsided, four gold-embossed invitations were delivered to the gatekeeper of the Wu Prince's Mansion.

The invitations were delivered by four young people dressed in different styles.

Or they might be immortal disciples dressed in blue Taoist robes, carrying long swords, with an otherworldly air about them.

Or perhaps it's a young man dressed in snow-white robes, with a Kunlun jade pendant hanging from his waist, and an arrogant expression.

Or perhaps a bald monk in a gray robe, holding prayer beads, eyes downcast and seemingly lost in thought.

There was also a swordsman dressed in a short outfit typical of Sichuan, with a soft sword wrapped around his waist, and eyes as sharp as knives.

Butler Fu took the invitation, his hand trembling slightly. It wasn't that he was unfamiliar with the world, but the covers of these four letters were respectively printed with the thunder pattern of Longhu Mountain, the sword seal of Shu Mountain, the cloud seal of Kunlun, and the lotus platform of Putuo.

This is not a letter; it is the face of four great mountains.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen, while I report to you," Uncle Fu bowed.

The Taoist priest in blue nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."

Uncle Fu carried the invitation and jogged into the inner courtyard. Zhu Li was watching Guanyin Nu practice archery in the courtyard. She had brought a cow horn bow from the grasslands, which could hit the eye of a copper coin from fifty paces away.

"Your Highness...Your Highness!" Uncle Fu gasped for breath.

Zhu Hui turned around and asked, "Uncle Fu, what's wrong...?"

"Invitations...four invitations...from the four major sects..." Uncle Fu handed over the invitations.

Zhu Hui took it, examined it from all angles, scratched his head, and said, "What is this drawing? I don't recognize many characters."

Guanyin Nu put down her bow and walked over. She took the invitation and glanced at it. Her expression changed slightly. She said, "Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain, the Sword Saint of Shu Mountain, the Holy Mother of Kunlun, and the Abbot of Putuo Guanyin Temple... Husband, this is a joint invitation from the leaders of the four major sects in the world."

"An invitation? Is it for me to have dinner?" Zhu Li asked.

The leaders of the four major sects have come to invite us to dinner; it must be quite a feast!

"I'm afraid... it's not that simple. When I was on the grasslands, my uncle told me that the cultivation sects in the Central Plains were aloof from the world, and even the emperors of the previous dynasty had to give them some respect."

"Their simultaneous posts must mean something big has happened," Guanyinnu said, frowning.

Zhu Hui said "Oh," and stuffed the invitation back into Uncle Fu's hand, saying, "Send it to my elder brother. I don't know anything about these things."

Uncle Fu acknowledged and withdrew.

Looking at her husband's simple-minded appearance, Guanyin Nu suddenly laughed: "Aren't you afraid they're here to cause trouble?"

"Looking for trouble? Do they want to cause trouble for my axe?" Zhu Hui blinked.

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Guanyin Nu was momentarily at a loss for words.

That's true. In the face of absolute power, sects and cultivation methods seem to be insignificant.

……

When the invitation was delivered to the Crown Prince's Palace, Zhu Biao was reviewing memorials regarding the Yangzhou case.

Upon seeing the four invitations, he put down his pen and smiled.

"I finally couldn't sit still any longer."

Lady Chang brought in tea and, seeing the situation, asked, "Your Highness, what is it?"

"The four major sects want to negotiate with the imperial court. Look at their polite wording, saying things like they have long admired the imperial power and are willing to go to the capital to discuss cultivation and the secular world."

After examining it closely, Chang said softly, "Is this... about self-governance?"

"It's not just about autonomy; it's about wanting to be above the law."

Zhu Biao picked up his teacup, blew on the steam, and continued, "For thousands of years, these sects have occupied famous mountains and rivers, paid no taxes, and disobeyed the law. When their disciples committed crimes, they would hide at the sect gates, and the government would not dare to pursue them."

"That's how it was in the previous dynasty. My Great Ming Dynasty has been established for ten years, and they've been watching and observing for ten years. Now that they see the internal reforms are almost complete, it's their turn."

"So, how does Your Highness intend to deal with this?"

"The solution...invite them in and have a proper talk," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

His smile was gentle, but his eyes held no warmth.

……

The next morning, the court session was held in the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Biao presented four invitations in court, causing an uproar among the officials.

The civil officials whispered among themselves, while the military officers looked at each other in bewilderment.

Longhu Mountain, Shushan Mountain, Kunlun Mountain, and Putuo Mountain are considered abodes of immortals in folk culture, but they are sensitive topics in the imperial court.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the four great sects have come together. We should treat them with the highest national honors to demonstrate the grandeur of our Ming Dynasty."

The Minister of Justice retorted, "What kind of country are they? They've just seized a mountain and declared themselves kings; they should have been dealt with long ago!"

The Minister of Works interjected: "Gentlemen, the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain have been bestowed titles by imperial decree throughout the ages, so there is a historical connection between them..."

"That was the previous dynasty! Our Great Ming Dynasty hasn't officially recognized it yet!" The Minister of War shouted.

The court was in an uproar.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, listening expressionlessly.

After the argument had subsided, he finally spoke up, "Biao'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, I believe that since they have sent invitations, we should invite them. The court has its own rules, and the clan should also abide by them."

Guests are welcome, but guests should follow the host's lead.

His words were perfectly watertight.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Very well, as the Crown Prince has suggested, issue an edict to invite the four sect leaders to the capital. We will meet them in the Fengtian Hall."

The imperial edict was issued that very day.

It was done with an urgent dispatch, with four messengers rushing to their respective destinations.

When the news spread, Yingtian Prefecture was in an uproar.

In teahouses and taverns, the people were talking about it.

"Have you heard? The leaders of the four major sects are coming together!"

"What's going on here? A martial arts competition?"

"What's with this martial arts contest? They're obviously here to demand special privileges! These cultivators are never obedient!"

"Disobedience... His Highness the King of Wu is here! One swing of his axe and even a mountain would collapse!"

"That's true..."

"..."

Inside the Wu Prince's residence, Zhu Hui was also surrounded by this news.

First, her adoptive father, Zheng Dazhu, heard about it and rushed back from the manor outside the city, looking worried: "Li'er, I heard that these sects can fly over rooftops and kill people without leaving a trace. You must be careful."

"Father, I can fly, and my axe is invisible," Zhu Hui said honestly.

Zheng Dazhu choked.

Then several younger brothers came over, wanting to see their second brother fight those guys.

Finally, Zhu Biao came in person, bringing a stack of documents.

"Second brother, take a look at the true nature of the four major sects."

Zhu Hui opened it; inside were detailed intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhang Yuchu, the contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, is sixty-three years old. His Taoist cultivation is said to have reached the late stage of the fourth realm, the Nascent Soul realm. He can summon wind and rain, and the lightning in his palm can split stone tablets.

He had three thousand disciples, occupied an area of ​​eight hundred li around Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, built one hundred and twenty Taoist temples, owned countless fields, and did not pay grain taxes.

Shushan, Sword Saint Dugu Sheng, fifty-eight years old, is a master of swordsmanship, and legend has it that he can cleave a river with a single sword strike. His cultivation level is also at the fourth realm, the Nascent Soul realm.

The Shushan Sword Sect has eight hundred disciples, each with exceptional swordsmanship. They occupy seven sacred mountains in Shu, and illegally mine the mineral veins within the mountains to forge and sell swords.

Kunlun, the Holy Mother Yaoguang Fairy, is a Nascent Soul cultivator whose age is unknown but who appears to be around thirty. She specializes in Kunlun Immortal Arts and can fly on a sword and create soldiers from beans.

The Kunlun Sect has 500 disciples, all of whom are women. They occupy the three main peaks of the Kunlun Mountains, cultivate spiritual herbs, and refine pills that are extremely rare and valuable.

Master Huiming, the abbot of Guanyin Temple in Putuo, is seventy years old. He is deeply versed in Buddhism and is said to have opened his divine eye, which allows him to see past and present lives and his cultivation level, which is the fourth stage of Bodhi.

The disciples of Mount Putuo numbered 1,200, half monks and half nuns, occupying Mount Putuo Island in the East China Sea. The incense was burning brightly, and believers were spread all over the Jiangnan region.

Cultivation is divided into five realms, and the fourth realm is considered to be the strongest on the surface.

As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang practiced both Buddhism and martial arts. His martial arts cultivation had reached the fifth realm, the Divine Power Realm, and his Buddhist cultivation had also reached the fifth realm, the Nirvana Realm.

This is why Zhu Yuanzhang was so powerful.

After reading it, Zhu Hui looked up and asked, "Big brother, are they very rich?"

Zhu Biao chuckled: "Second brother, the point isn't the money, it's that they don't obey the law."

"Oh... if they're disobedient, a beating will make them obedient," Zhu Li said.

"That's true, but we have to be careful about how we do it. They're not bandits; they're a sect with a thousand-year history and a high reputation among the people."

"If we attack directly, the people will think the court is domineering. We have to make them accept it for themselves," Zhu Biao said, putting away the documents.

"How do you recognize it?"

"First, try diplomacy, then resort to force. Invite them here to talk... if they can't reach an agreement, then you can take action," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Hui nodded and said, "Understood. I'll take a look first, and if it's not good enough, I'll cut it down."

Guanyin's servant, listening nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Brother, are their cultivation levels very high?"

Zhu Biao looked at her and said gently, "Sister-in-law, there are monsters in this world, and naturally there are also cultivators. Taoist magic, sword energy, immortal arts, Buddhist teachings, and Confucianism all exist in reality."

but…"

He paused for a moment and then said, "No matter how powerful the magic is, it's all just paper in front of my second brother's axe."

His second brother is invincible...

These words were spoken calmly, yet they exuded absolute confidence.

Looking at her husband's simple and honest face, Guanyin Nu suddenly realized that the person she had married might be even more extraordinary than she had imagined.