Chapter 575 245: Twin Dragons Competing for the Pearl, Soul Stealing Gourd

"Take a look."

After a brief silence, the owner of the voice resumed a calm demeanor, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth as he passed the silk scroll to the other two.

The room was filled with the curling scent of sandalwood, with one emperor, one scholar, and one bald man quietly sitting and savoring tea.

Though they gathered, the bald middle-aged man in a black robe occupied the main seat, while the other two, whether emperor or scholar, sat lower with subtly respectful expressions.

"Venerable one, though Chen Ping has risen miraculously, it has been a brief time, lacking foundation. In my opinion, there's no need to concern ourselves."

"Not only should we not concern ourselves, but we should also deploy forces from the south, directly attacking Nanli Yujing to seize legitimacy before advancing southward..."

"Your Majesty, this must not be."

Venerable Mingyu hadn't yet considered the gains and losses in Emperor Yuwen Mu's words.

The scholar beside him appeared somewhat anxious.

He too had seen the silk scroll.

Learning of the southern situation, as he looked at it, his expression had already changed significantly, unable to contain himself any longer as he abruptly interrupted Yuwen Mu's words, ignoring etiquette.

"Murong Aiqing, what thoughts do you have, please enlighten us. I am not one who cannot bear to hear advice."

Yuwen Mu wasn't upset at all.

Instead, he clapped lightly and laughed, seemingly joyful.

Seeing Yuwen Mu's demeanor, Beizhou Prime Minister Murong Qianshan silently cursed inwardly but maintained a composed expression. He glanced at Venerable Mingyu, who remained silent, before cupping his hands and laughing, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations indeed. With the demise of Venerable Yuxiao, Chen Ping's momentum is unstoppable. Your Majesty's great ambitions are nearly fulfilled."

"How do you mean?"

Yuwen Mu leaned forward slightly, his crown's tassels swaying lightly, revealing the gleam in his eyes.

Anyone would know that Murong Qianshan had a sharp eye and was true to his words. Beizhou was originally a Hu People dynasty, with its officials mostly rough and its uneasy populace constantly frightened. Under such circumstances, even the best governance strategy couldn't instill trust in the people.

Yet Murong Qianshan devised a single strategy, earning the trust of Beizhou's populace, uniting tribes for the assault on Nanli, encouraging citizens to embrace the new dynasty, forgetting their homeland.

Since Murong Qianshan assumed governance.

The Beizhou Dynasty excelled at rapidly absorbing the Southern Nanli people, amassing wealth and grain for the royal court, recruiting soldiers, thereby greatly increasing strength, reaching the Nanli Yujing's Three Prefectures area.

The military might threatened Yujing.

"In my humble opinion, I ask the venerable and His Majesty to discern clearly, Chen Ping's rapid rise indeed poses a colossal threat. However, there's one point that perhaps both of you haven't noticed. According to the silk report, Chen Ping has been training in the Fubo Island's Divine Martial inheritance, the Stinging Dragon Scripture."

"The Stinging Dragon Scripture, right, without it, he couldn't have advanced his cultivation so swiftly, managing to kill Yuxiao right after breaking through the Divine Martial Realm."

Venerable Mingyu chuckled abruptly, though the laugh was gentle and calm, it couldn't hide the subtle sense of loss within.

Venerable Yuxiao Qin Jiang's years of cultivation were no secret.

Even the old man who specialized in farming, secretly orchestrating plots at home, was well-known to have strong combat power understood by Venerable Mingyu.

Since Black Dragon Platform integrated intelligence forces from Black Lotus Island and Beizhou Barbarians, its strength skyrocketed, coupled with Grand Commander Shui Woyan's shrewdness and remarkable prowess.

Over the years, whether Great Zhou or Nanli, every major or minor piece of information would reach his ears, comprehensively.

Especially the distribution of masters and their individual inclinations, all under Black Dragon Platform's control.

Venerable Yuxiao, a master of four Divine Martial Layers, Thunder Second Realm, would still need effort from Venerable Mingyu himself to defeat.

Yet, such an experienced and cunning veteran in the Divine Martial was dead.

Think about how strong the young man, not yet eighteen, from the south, must be.

The prior shock wasn't fear over Chen Ping's current power causing possible losses.

It was his age that prompted thoughts of unsettling matters.

Being so strong at under eighteen, if given time to develop further, would he...

Absolutely terrifying to ponder further.

For the first time, Venerable Mingyu doubted whether his Black Lotus lineage's schemes could succeed, whether the Black Lotus could blossom?

Venerable Mingyu muttered "Stinging Dragon Scripture," suddenly pausing in his speech.

"Mr. Murong means to say, fortune?"

He seemed to understand something.

"Exactly so."

Murong Qianshan eagerly nodded, seeing Yuwen Mu still confused, he calmly explained: "Your Majesty is not familiar with cultivation, lacking understanding of the Stinging Dragon Scripture Cultivation Method from Fubo Island. That is entirely normal."

The rumor states that while this cultivation technique possesses formidable combat power, it progresses extremely slowly."

Upon reaching this point, Murong Qianshan took a sip of tea, foregoing suspense: "If one follows this cultivation diligently, no matter how extraordinary Chen Ping's talent might be, he couldn't possibly reach the level of slaying Venerable Yuxiao in such a short time. Each realm is a lofty ascent, not something to be trifled with."

"Since he managed to slay Yuxiao, by whatever means, forcing the Supreme Elder of Shenxiao Sword Sect unable even to flee, one could estimate Chen Ping's cultivation has likely reached Triple Perfection, achieving the Stinging Dragon Dharma Body.