The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

"I do not deny that I do want to eliminate all evil in the world, but I also cannot deny that evil in the world can never be completely eliminated."

Jiang Ning admitted that he could not completely eradicate all evil in the world, because it could never be eradicated, whether in the past, present, or future. Evil could never be eradicated, and it would not change with the progress of mankind, because it resided in people's hearts.

Humans are not static; they are complex, diverse, and changeable. At some point in time, at some stage, or after encountering a major change in their environment, people will undergo new transformations. Perhaps a person was a good person for decades, but after experiencing a major change, they become completely corrupted, turning into a sinister and cruel individual who indiscriminately kills innocent people and ultimately becomes evil.

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback.

"You want me to help you, but history always repeats itself. Even the best system will eventually become outdated, and people will eventually die. Throughout history, there are countless examples of dynasties dying and their policies collapsing. After I die, no one will do what I did. Similarly, after you die, your descendants may not continue what you did. Even if your descendants wanted to, you were born in the palace, and you should understand that."

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Zhu Houzhao's heart sank.

After learning about Jiang Ning, he became very interested in him and hoped to win Jiang Ning over to work for him. However, he understood that someone like Jiang Ning would not submit to anyone unless he was completely persuaded. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao said many sharp things today in order to suppress Jiang Ning's thoughts, make Jiang Ning believe in his ideas and abilities, and make Jiang Ning work hard for what he wanted to do and become his right-hand man.

But Zhu Houzhao now understands that this is impossible, because the other party did not refute him and understood his point of view, but Jiangning remains the same.

He had just thought Jiang Ning's ideas were naive, but now he realized that Jiang Ning was not naive at all. The other party understood a lot, and his thinking was not limited. It was just that the other party believed that even the best system could decay, and even the best system could have people who were oppressed. Therefore, the other party preferred to use his own sword to carve out a bright and just world, because that was more in line with his expectations.

Thinking of this, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He understood that Jiang Ning would not be of any use to him.

"However, I don't reject your point of view, and I can help you."

Jiang Ning turned to look at Zhu Houzhao with a smile on his face.

"Although I still think your idea of ​​a world in harmony is very abstract, if such a day really comes in the future, I think I would be very willing to light up the darkness for that day, even if I don't live to see it. Success doesn't have to be achieved by me."

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning without saying a word.

After a while.

"Haha, hahaha, hahahaha."

Zhu Houzhao laughed heartily.

He had always found the other person interesting, and now he felt even more so.

"However, I still will not be a tool for you to kill."

"of course."

If Jiang Ning had agreed to his request before, Zhu Houzhao would have only treated Jiang Ning as a tool, an assassin. But now that Zhu Houzhao truly considers Jiang Ning a fellow traveler, he will not treat Jiang Ning as a tool.

Jiang Ning remained silent.

Zhu Houzhao looked at him and suddenly asked curiously.

"Brother Jiang, people in the martial arts world call you Ning Yama. I've heard you're currently the third-best martial artist on the righteous path, with very high skills. I'd like to see just how high they are. Could you let me witness it?"

Zhu Houzhao was really curious; he was very curious about just how powerful these martial arts masters were.

"You want to see it?"

Jiang Ning was surprised. "How do you intend to see it?"

Upon noticing that Jiang Ning's gaze was off, Zhu Houzhao waved his hands repeatedly.

"I don't mean to fight you. Don't you martial artists practice something called internal energy? Yes, internal energy. Can you show me how strong your internal energy is?"

"can."

Jiang Ning thought for a moment, nodded, and then drew the Zhenwu Sword from his waist.

He did not remove his sword when he entered the palace, and the eunuch who led him in did not say anything about not being allowed to carry a sword.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning draw his sword, the surrounding guards were greatly alarmed and tried to rush forward to protect the emperor, but Zhu Houzhao waved them away.

Jiang Ning poured his inner energy into the Zhenwu Sword, and the sword instantly emitted a chilling aura.

Jiang Ning glanced at the lake, then raised his sword and swung it. An enormous sword aura shot out from the sword, striking the center of the lake. The lake seemed to be cleaved in two, exploding into sprays of water that reached several meters high.

Zhu Houzhao was dumbfounded.

Chapter 549: True Martial Arts

Jiang Ning's move not only stunned Zhu Houzhao, but even the guards looked like they had seen a ghost.

Brother Jiang.

Zhu Houzhao looked solemnly at the lake surface, which had returned to calm, and then turned to look at Jiang Ning.

"Do all people in the martial arts world have such destructive power?"

Jiang Ning's move truly astonished Zhu Houzhao, to the point that he couldn't help but ask this question.

"That's not the case."

Jiang Ning smiled and sheathed his sword.

His words relieved Zhu Houzhao, who seemed to laugh at himself.

He was overthinking it. Jiang Ning's martial arts skills ranked third in the righteous path. He didn't represent the entire martial arts world because he was already at the top of the martial arts world. The people below him didn't have such terrifying power.

But Zhu Houzhao remembered another question and asked curiously, "Brother Jiang, your martial arts skills are among the best in the martial arts world. How many people do you think can do what you just did?"

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and shook his head.

"do not know."

Zhu Houzhao then asked, "Then how many people do you think can surpass you?"

Jiang Ning shook his head again: "I don't know."

"You don't even know this?"

Zhu Houzhao was surprised.

"Since you rank third on the righteous path, that means there are only two or three people in the martial arts world who are more powerful than you. How come you still don't know that?"

Jiang Ning truly did not know.

The world is so vast. Besides the well-known masters, how many other masters live in seclusion in the mountains and among the common people? To say nothing of others, there is Feng Qingyang living in seclusion on Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Hua. What about other places? Are there unknown, unparalleled masters living in seclusion as well?

Jiang Ning never underestimated himself, believing that he was still very weak. He was indeed very strong, but he was not arrogant either. He always understood that there was always someone better than him.

Arrogance and inferiority are both stumbling blocks to progress. Jiang Ning's only thought so far is to take one step at a time until he reaches the pinnacle and no one can surpass him.

Hearing Jiang Ning's thoughts, Zhu Houzhao didn't know what he was thinking.

How can a person who is neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, neither haughty in strength nor humble in weakness not succeed?

At this moment, many guards and eunuchs outside the garden came toward this side.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

The guards and eunuchs were terrified, thinking something had happened to Zhu Houzhao, and they were in complete chaos.

"Stop arguing, stop making a scene!"

Zhu Houzhao rebuked these people: "I have nothing to do, all of you may leave!"

The imperial power of Zhu Houzhao calmed them down, and they all agreed to leave.

At this moment, Zhu Houzhao looked curiously at the Zhenwu Sword at Jiang Ning's waist.

"Brother Jiang, why did your sword suddenly emit such a chilling aura just now?"

Jiang Ning explained, "It's a bit special; it becomes like this after I infuse it with internal energy."

"Oh?"

Zhu Houzhao became interested upon hearing this: "Could I borrow it to take a look?"

Jiang Ning did not refuse and took off the Zhenwu Sword for Zhu Houzhao to see.

Zhu Houzhao took the sword, drew it, and exclaimed in surprise.

"Zhenwu?"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning in surprise: "Brother Jiang, is this sword called Zhenwu?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

"How strange and bizarre!"

Zhu Houzhao clicked his tongue in amazement: "I heard that there is also a Zhenwu sword enshrined in Wudang Mountain. That sword is the personal sword of Zhang Zhenren, the founder of Wudang. It is regarded as the treasure of the Wudang sect. Brother Jiang, you also have a Zhenwu sword. That is really strange."

Jiang Ning asked, "Have you seen the Zhenwu Sword of Wudang?"

Zhu Houzhao shook his head.

"No, I just remembered something."

Zhu Houzhao returned the Zhenwu Sword and smiled at Jiang Ning, saying, "Speaking of Wudang Mountain, I am reminded of Emperor Taizong Wen."

The Emperor Taizong Wen mentioned by Zhu Houzhao is Zhu Di.

"When Emperor Taizong Wen had not yet ascended the throne, he was constantly suppressed and persecuted by Emperor Jianwen. Later, Emperor Taizong Wen had no choice but to raise an army to resist, which led to the Jingnan Campaign."

Zhu Houzhao and Jiang Ning left the lake and continued walking in the palace. As they walked, Zhu Houzhao recounted this period of history.

"After Emperor Taizong raised his army, he was as if divinely aided, and fought all the way to the capital to completely reverse the situation and seize the throne. This led to the five expeditions to the Mongolian Plateau, the seven voyages to the Western Ocean, and the establishment of the Yongle Emperor, who became the Yongle Emperor of the prosperous era."

When Zhu Di, his ancestor, was mentioned, Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up. He had great respect and admiration for this ancestor.

Jiang Ning nodded silently.

"I got so excited that I started to go off on a tangent."

Zhu Houzhao laughed and changed the subject again: "When Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he announced to the world that the True Martial Emperor had secretly helped him and protected him on his way to the throne. Therefore, he bestowed upon the True Martial Emperor the title of You Sheng Zhen Jun. Later, temples were built in the capital and Wudang Mountain."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning and smiled, "Brother Jiang, do you know why Emperor Taizong built the Zhenwu Emperor Temple on Wudang Mountain?"

Jiang Ning said, "It is said that Zhenwu the Great is the incarnation of Emperor Zhuanxu in ancient times, and the place where Wudang Mountain is located was the ancient Chu State. Emperor Zhuanxu was the patriarch of the Chu State. Zhenwu the Great is also enshrined on Wudang Mountain, and the Wudang Sect is also a major Taoist sect. That's why Emperor Taizong built the Zhenwu the Great Temple on Wudang Mountain."

Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Brother Jiang is very knowledgeable. Indeed, Emperor Taizong chose Wudang Mountain as the site for the sacrificial ceremony for this very reason."

Jiang Ning nodded.

Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Speaking of the Wudang Sect, I've heard that it's a major sect in the martial arts world. Their current leader is called Chongxu, and he seems to be quite powerful. Have you met him, Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Ning nodded. "You've also met Daoist Chongxu?"

Zhu Houzhao laughed: "No, I did see him a few times when my father was alive."