One sentence at a time. Emperor Chongming finally felt regret. The proclamation was not sharp at all; it was just plain words. However, as these words were spoken, they struck directly at Emperor Chongming’s heart.
If only he hadn’t overlooked that green-robed small official back then, and had not casually thrown the blame on this young man... Perhaps, perhaps, today’s outcome would be different.
He was aware of the corruption case in the Taipu Temple. It was easy to talk about the accumulated evils of the National Dynasty. However, if he really said it out of his own mouth, wouldn’t it mean that he was admitting his inability to rule and the impending collapse of the dynasty? As a result, he hinted to Han Sui to have the Taipu Temple find a scapegoat to take the blame.
"I am not wrong! It is the fault of the officials!"
Emperor Chongming tore apart his cowardly thoughts.
He was the ruler of a country; what did it matter to ask an official of commoner background to shoulder some responsibility? People have different social standings. Without the grace of the Imperial Court’s examinations, how could Xu Xing become an official? Not only did he not repay the kindness of his ruler, but he also intended a rebellion when he felt a slight grievance. Such a person was a chaotic minister and thief, and he deserved to die a hundred or even a thousand times.
"You keep saying that I have wronged you, but how have I wronged you?"
"Are your hands clean?"
"You also took bribes in private. You are just a corrupt official. It’s reasonable and legal for me to put you in the Sky Prison."
Emperor Chongming sneered, exposing Xu Xing’s shortcomings.
The Book of Impermanence of the Night Patrol Department’s Tiqi recorded the secrets of all civil and military officers. After Xu Xing started the rebellion under the banner of King Xing Tian, he had the Night Patrol Department investigate Xu Xing and found out that Xu Xing was also a corrupt official.
Since he was a corrupt official, he deserved to die!
"One is red when near vermilion, and black when near ink..."
"A weed growing among hemp stands upright without support; white sand mixed with mud becomes black along with it."
"The Emperor is sagacious, personally setting an example of good governance; we minor officials are naturally honest..."
Xu Xing remained calm and quoted what he had once said to Chang Ji in prison.
"Of all the thieves in the world, the royal family ranks first."
"Guanxi Road suffered a great drought, and you allocated 3,000 taels. Princess Anren had her grand wedding, and you allocated 300,000 taels."
"Why can the royal family enjoy the provisions from the common people of the realm without any talk of integrity and incorruptibility, while we officials must abide by the law, not be corrupt, and not take bribes?"
He smiled and said again, "The ruler is a thief of the people; my embezzlement of silver was an act to aid the people!"
Although he had been selected as an official through an examination of miscellaneous subjects, his literary erudition was not something Emperor Chongming, who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, could compare to.
Calling white black and black white was an easy task for him. Moreover, in these matters, he was inherently in the right.
Emperor Chongming pointed at Xu Xing below the city wall, trembling with anger.
He is obviously a corrupt official, a thief... Yet he insists on carrying the banner of righteousness, claiming to console the people and punish the wicked.
He once again looked at Ye Jeming, who had flown back to the sky above the city, and begged, "I implore the immortal to protect the Song Family Dynasty, and not let it fall into this scoundrel’s hands."
But Ye Jeming just glanced deeply at Emperor Chongming, said nothing, and departed in a streak of light.
With the grey-robed old monk present, he couldn’t kill Xu Xing. On the contrary, he had been wounded in one arm by Xu Xing, losing face. If it weren’t for Emperor Chongming being a descendant of Song Dao, he would have vented his anger on Emperor Chongming.
The indifference of the immortals completely shattered the confidence of the Imperial Court’s defenders.
If there were no immortals helping them, they might still have some will to resist. But now, not only had the immortal left, but he had also been injured in the arm by King Xing Tian before his departure.
The Righteous Army, on the other hand, had the support of the grey-robed old monk.
In addition, Xu Xing’s proclamation was well-written and resonated strongly with them.
This rotten dynasty deserves to die! Civil officials indulge in massive corruption, while military officials also, one by one, suck the soldiers’ blood... Many of us soldiers guarding the city have had our family property seized by generals, becoming their private slaves. Even our own wives have to be offered to the generals for their amusement from time to time. It seemed unnecessary to guard the city for such scum, right?
Of course, this was also because the Siming Mountain Righteous Army’s momentum was too overwhelming. They lost the will to resist and didn’t dare to fight desperately, so various reasons to avoid combat flooded their minds.
The verbal conflict between the two sides ended.
Xu Xing ordered the Righteous Army to attack the city and invited the grey-robed old monk to take the high seat in his command tent.
He was more concerned about seeking immortality than capturing Shenjing. If only I had two qing of land in Shenjing... I wouldn’t have come to this point.
He sighed and took the initiative to start the conversation.
No one was born a rebel. If it weren’t for the harsh punishment in the Sky Prison, the direct punishment of Flaying Grass, he might have become a ’law-abiding citizen’ after leaving prison, rather than taking the path of rebellion.
"The Heavenly King is right."
The grey-robed old monk took his seat, nodded slightly, and said, "This old monk has heard of the Heavenly King’s benevolence. You spared the King of Sorrow, even allowing him to retain command of his troops, who are known as the ’Silent Cavalry.’ Your treatment of your former wife is similarly admirable—your South Garden’s Lost Love and deep affection for your old flame are enough to bring tears to one’s eyes..."
Xuanji Temple was willing to invest in Xu Xing for several reasons. First, Xu Xing was a Bright King Body with immortal potential. Second, Xu Xing’s momentum was established; he was only a few steps away from becoming a Human King and enjoying the Dragon Pulse of the entire nation. Third, Xu Xing had a good reputation for being loyal and righteous.
Even the most vicious people would rather befriend good people than bad ones.
"Master, you are too kind," Xu Xing habitually responded humbly.
At this moment, he was also secretly relieved. Thankfully, he had long known that immortals existed in this world. Otherwise, if he had treated it as a mortal world and followed the [Righteous Thief] Fate, he would have eventually died. Betraying his sworn brother and abandoning righteousness, only to be decapitated by Ye Jeming’s sword...
"I wonder where Master and that immortal from the Imperial Court hail from?"
After chatting for a while, Xu Xing brought up the main topic.
Even though he knew of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s existence, by common sense, he was currently just a rebel leader in the mortal world. He had fortuitously obtained a cultivation method and cultivated to the Innate Realm, but he hadn’t yet reached the level to contact an Immortal Sect...
"He and I both come from an Immortal Sect..."
"This Immortal Sect is called the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, a major sect in East Huangzhou..."
The grey-robed old monk’s face showed a complex expression as he continued, "Does the Heavenly King know why Fengxi Country is called Fengxi Country? It is because, compared to East Huangzhou, this country is merely a nation beside the Fengxi River. Although vast, it is but a corner of the mortal world."
The great secrets of the world were gradually unveiled by his words.
It turned out that both the Flying Feather Immortal Palace and other Immortal Sects adhered to the principle of non-interference between immortal and mortal beings.
The Immortal Palace cedes control of the mortal world to allow mortal luck to accumulate for the birth of a Human King. Once a Human King is established, they gain the fortune to forge a supreme Immortal Base and become a rare Human King physique in the world.
Song Dao, the Grand Ancestor of Fengxi Country, was a Human King physique!
The Human King physique absorbs mundane Dragon Pulses, can harmonize the Dragon and Tiger Breath, and condense a First-Class Dragon and Tiger Dao Pill.
"Immortal Sect legends say this Human King physique has other mysteries..."
"Not only in cultivation."
"However, with my level of cultivation, I cannot perceive much more."
The grey-robed old monk sighed.
Although he had joined the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, he had only achieved a lower-grade Immortal Base, with no hope of Condensing Pills. Thus, he was trapped in this mundane corner, unable to witness the vaster world of cultivating immortality.
"Human King physique?"
"I wonder if there is a higher physical constitution above the Human King physique?" Xu Xing’s heart stirred, and he asked.
His Bright Yellow Destiny [Official Thief] was already considered the mark of a Human King in the eyes of the grey-robed old monk. And now, his Emperor Purple Fate [Thief Who Stole the Dragon] was even more noble than [Official Thief]. Perhaps before his Dragon Luck transformed into an Immortal Base, he could condense an even higher Immortal Green Destiny!