Chapter 276: Prophecy

Wu Country Royal Palace.

The sky was just beginning to lighten. In the Audience Hall, sandalwood smoke drifted through the air.

Below the imperial dais, four high-backed chairs of red sandalwood were arranged in two opposing pairs.

An elegant and handsome middle-aged man had already arrived. He wore a white official’s robe embroidered with a fierce tiger, his long, narrow eyes like a phoenix’s. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back. This was the Duke of Jing, Ning Dao Yuan.

Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the hall, growing closer.

Recognizing the approaching footsteps, Duke Jing turned and gave a slight nod.

“Lord Zhen.”

The newcomer wore a black python-skin robe, its corners embroidered with the unique runes of the Demon Suppression Bureau. His face was gaunt, his cheekbones high, and his eyes were half-closed, the sockets a faint, bruised gray.

This was the Duke of Zhen, Xiao Lie, master of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

At the Duke of Jing’s greeting, Xiao Lie merely nodded. Without a word, he moved to one of the high-backed chairs, sat, and folded his hands into his sleeves, closing his eyes to rest.

A short while later, a man strode in with great purpose. He was burly, with a back as broad as a tiger’s and a waist as thick as a bear’s. His eyes were like copper bells, and his very presence seemed to carry the stench of blood. A golden belt cinched his waist, and he wore official boots. This was the Duke of Ding, Yan Ce, who was in charge of the Demon-slaying Bureau.

“Your Highness has yet to arrive, and Lord Zhen is already seated?”

The Duke of Ding, Yan Ce, let his eyes dart around before chuckling.

The Duke of Zhen, Xiao Lie, remained perfectly still, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

「Three quarters past the Hour of the Rabbit.」

King Wu, Qin Shiyue, emerged from the rear hall, nodding to the three men below. “Be seated, Dukes,” the monarch said.

Only upon hearing this did the Duke of Jing and the Duke of Ding take their seats in turn.

“Has this old servant arrived late?”

A light cough sounded from outside.

The voice was distant at first, but in the blink of an eye, a white-haired old man appeared at the entrance of the great hall.

The old man looked ancient, yet his face was as rosy as a baby’s. He had an amiable smile and, with his white hair and youthful complexion, walked with a calm and perfectly steady gait as he ambled into the hall.

“Not at all. Please, sit, Duke Zhong.”

Qin Shiyue gave a light wave of the hand, seeming unconcerned.

This was the Duke of Zhong, Xu Jiang. He held the post of Grand Commandant, commanded the Capital City’s defenses, and was the supreme commander of the realm’s armed forces.

Only the Huben and Longxiang armies on the Xia State border were outside his command.

Duke of Zhong Xu Jiang bowed to Qin Shiyue, then clasped his hands in salute to the others on both sides before gathering his robes and sitting down.

The four Dukes seated here were among the most powerful and influential figures in the Wu Dynasty.

Duke Wei, Li Qingtian, who commanded the Imperial Guard, did not involve himself in politics and was not present.

But everyone knew that Duke Wei was responsible for King Wu’s safety and was somewhere within this very hall.

Of the Six Great Dukes of the Wu Dynasty, five were present, with only the Duke of Chen standing guard at the border.

Duke of Zhong Xu Jiang was the first to speak. “Your Highness, the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion is less than a month away. The Golden Platform in the Capital City has already been cast. In addition to True Masters of the Martial Dao from our Wu Dynasty, many others from across the Central Earth are arriving. It will surely be an unprecedented martial arts spectacle.”

“Mm.”

Qin Shiyue nodded slightly. “I hear that besides Martial Artists from our Wu Country, some have come from Shi Country, Mo Country, and even Shadow Country to participate in the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion. What are your thoughts, esteemed Dukes?”

Duke of Zhong Xu Jiang said, “Since the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion is open to all Martial Artists, the more True Masters of the Martial Dao who participate, the more prestigious the event. The Wu Dynasty’s reputation will only grow. This is a most fortunate turn of events.”

Duke Jing glanced at Qin Shiyue and said softly, “As I understand it, among the True Masters of the Martial Dao from Shi Country, there is a young genius named Shi Ang. He is not yet a hundred years old but has already cultivated a Golden Core Phenomenon.

“From Mo Country, there is one Mo Yuanting. He was previously unknown but has risen to prominence in recent years, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds. Among the younger generation in Mo Country, his reputation is immense, and he is hailed as Mo Country’s First True Master. Whether he has cultivated a Golden Core Phenomenon is unknown.”

“I have summoned you all precisely for this matter,” Qin Shiyue said gravely. “This Shi Ang and Mo Yuanting—does our dynasty have any young True Masters of the Martial Dao who can contend with them?”

Hearing this, the four Dukes below all fell silent.

Duke Jing said slowly, “My son has not yet cultivated a Golden Core Phenomenon, but he can give it a try. This is a contest between Martial Artists, after all. The outcome is only known after the fight.”

“Is Your Highness having regrets?” asked the Duke of Ding, Yan Ce.

Qin Shiyue did not answer, merely stating, “Let’s set aside Mo Yuanting for now. This Shi Ang comes with ill intent. He is undoubtedly after the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin.”

After the Desolate Emperor fell in battle, his legacy and various treasures were divided among the Ten Central Earth Countries.

Among them, the Ultimate Skill, the Eight Desolates Returning Essence Scripture, was obtained by Shi Country.

The Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin was obtained by the Late King.

Shi Country had always considered itself the true successor to the Desolate Emperor. They had most likely heard that the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin was a prize in the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion and sent Shi Ang to claim it.

Duke of Zhong Xu Jiang chuckled. “No matter. The Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin isn’t being given to the winner outright. The rules state that it is only temporarily entrusted to this person. If this person breaks through to the Nascent Soul Realm, or when the second Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion is held, the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin must naturally be returned.”

Qin Shiyue remained silent.

That might be true in theory, but if Shi Ang were to take the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin, whether it could be recovered was another question entirely.

Duke Jing mused, “If Your Highness is worried, we could simply add a rule that only Martial Artists from our dynasty may participate in this Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion.”

“Inappropriate,” Duke Zhong said with a slight shake of his head. “As I understand it, Shi Ang, Mo Yuanting, and the others are not participating as representatives of their countries. If we were to turn them away, it would be difficult to justify our actions to the other Martial Artists who have traveled from far and wide.”

“Heh…”

The Duke of Zhen, Xiao Lie, who had been silent with his eyes closed, suddenly let out a short laugh. He said faintly, “Adding rules at the last minute to exclude other Martial Artists… issuing an order in the morning and rescinding it by evening—wouldn’t that make us a laughingstock to the entire world?

“If we truly did that, this Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion would become the biggest joke in the Celestial lands!”

The Duke of Ding, Yan Ce, nodded. “That’s not wrong. ‘The Martial Dao’s peak, upon a Golden Platform will rise.’ Since the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion is open to all the world’s Martial Artists, our Wu Dynasty must have a broad enough heart. Only then can we be like the sea that accepts a hundred rivers and win the allegiance of the world.”

Qin Shiyue was silent for a moment before saying, “The three Dukes speak truly.”

In truth, the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion had been intended from the start to attract the world’s greatest talents, the prodigies of the Divine Land.

Even if an outsider took first place, it would not be a catastrophe.

But Shi Ang’s appearance had indeed taken Qin Shiyue by surprise.

True Masters of the Martial Dao who had cultivated a Golden Core Phenomenon were exceedingly rare, and all of them were over a hundred years old.

Without the accumulation of years of experience, it was almost impossible.

After all, for a True Master Golden Core with a lifespan of four to five hundred years, a hundred years old was incredibly young.

If Shi Ang had cultivated a Golden Core Phenomenon, then forget the Wu Dynasty—in the entire Celestial Divine Land, there were likely few True Masters of the Martial Dao under the age of one hundred who could be his match.

Duke Jing said, “Your Highness need not worry. Our dynasty venerates the Martial Dao, and it is full of hidden talents. Perhaps a martial genius is hidden somewhere, one who can compete with the likes of Shi Ang and Mo Yuanting and make a name for themselves at this Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion.”

Qin Shiyue nodded. “Do the Dukes have any other matters to discuss?”

Duke of Zhong Xu Jiang suddenly spoke up. “A prophecy has been circulating in the capital recently. I wonder if Your Highness is aware of it?”

“What is it?” Qin Shiyue asked.

Xu Jiang said slowly, “A beast on South Mountain, its name not ‘tiger’; it roars not in the woods, but lies alone on royal land.”

Hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Qin Shiyue’s beautiful eyes.