The bronze mirror’s body shimmered with pale green ripples of light. And these lights gradually occupied the empty space within the mirror body originally left by the Qi Fortune rating text.
The pale green light converged like flowing water.
Undergoing subtle changes.
Gradually, a twisted little snake appeared.
Its snake eyes were cold and deep, and on the forehead of the snake’s head, there was an almost imperceptible bulge.
At the same time, wisps of black air twined around the snake’s body, interlacing with its scales.
Xu Qing’s mind delved into it, receiving the message from the little snake.
"A Qi Fortune transforming snake that vaguely resembles a dragon.
"However, the black air has also increased a lot."
Xu Qing observed that the black air on the Qi Fortune Little Snake had increased compared to before, but his current Qi Fortune was far from comparable to the past, so he was still relatively effective in suppressing the black air.
Xu Qing understood that with the change of identity and status, the goodwill and malice from those around him would increase geometrically.
Accepting the contamination of a nation, accepting the nation’s portent of doom, in reality, are the responsibilities and risks that one must bear after a rise in status.
The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, and in reality, the risks are greater as well.
The challenges faced will be even more severe than before.
"Now my Qi Fortune has transformed the snake, having a bit of an unruly dragon-like vibe. Heroes emerge from the locality, called snakes and pythons; sweeping across the world, they can transform into dragons."
"It seems I have passed the county examination; such a transformation of Qi Fortune, I wonder whether it’s Five Classics Leader or Top Scorer. Moreover, my passing of the county examination this time is essentially different from other Scholars. I am like a local snake that rooted its place early on, with my own base, thus relatively independent, leading to this kind of ’serpent’ change in my Qi Fortune."
Ordinary Scholars, after passing the examination, then receive aid from other local gentry and powers, which is how they establish their own family wealth; or they are nurtured by their families early on, so even after becoming Scholars, they still cannot escape their clan, only attaining a higher status.
Xu Qing is different; he had his own foundation before becoming a Scholar.
Using the language of conquest, this is called rightful ownership of a country.
He belongs to the truly pioneering generation.
Whether in terms of influence or independence, he is not comparable to ordinary Scholars or Scholars at all.
If we were to talk about the greatest external force, that would be the bronze mirror.
Yet the bronze mirror has long been inseparable from him.
As for Magistrate He, Master Wu, Feng Xifeng, in the end, it’s about mutual benefits; Xu Qing borrowed momentum, not directly receiving favors from others.
Previously, Xu Qing could not do without their clout, and they also resolved their own difficulties through Xu Qing’s planning.
Those who follow the heavens will be at ease; those who defy them will labor.
Going with the flow indeed makes things much easier.
But the journey of life is always winding and complex.
Sometimes, you really can only act against the trend.
That is when it tests one’s own strength.
In the worldly society, many heroes, when they have great power, are honored guests in the Governor’s Mansion; once they lose power, they scatter like monkeys when a tree falls, even a clerk can manipulate them.
This is a problem with the foundation’s roots.
Success depends on people, naturally, failure comes from reliance on people.
"Cao Yun, millions of Cao workers depend on it for their livelihood."
A simple sentence reveals how to make the Court fear and secure oneself.
"I still need to continue accumulating my own momentum."
Xu Qing is very clear; obtaining the title of Scholar essentially means he’s officially an official.
To revoke his status, it must pass through repeated scrutiny by the Ministry of Rites.
Anything that involves the Officials and requires a longer and stricter process is no trivial matter.
Like the case of Yang Naiwu and Little Bai Cabbage from his previous life, it caused such a stir, and aside from various reasons, another reason is Yang Naiwu’s Scholar status.
Just stripping Yang Naiwu of his Scholar title took a great deal of effort, allowing time for the situation to ferment.
If he were an ordinary person, the matter would be settled in a few days, and there would be no chance for overturning the case or delays.
After examining his own transformation of Qi Fortune, Xu Qing casually recited a verse:
"Traveling is hard, traveling is hard, with so many diverging paths, where is the end now?
The strong wind and crashing waves will subside at times, hang the sails straight to sail the deep seas!"
The Immortal Poet’s poetry is always refreshing and hits right in the heart.
Xu Qing sighed deeply.
Although the Qi Fortune transformation did not extend his life, his courage to face unknown dangers certainly grew.
He knew in his heart, according to the bronze mirror’s evaluation, he wouldn’t live long.
It was not an issue with his own body.
But rather, a terrible disaster would ultimately descend upon him, judge his fate, and end his future.
Perhaps it’s a calamity of this body, or perhaps it’s the calamity of the "Outer Heaven Demon" in the eyes of the bronze mirror.
Regardless of which it is, he will face it head-on.
"Nobody can judge me." Xu Qing clenched his fists tightly.
He would never submit.
Because after experiencing various incidents, he could no longer accept submitting to any judgment of fate; he could only accept that fate was in his hands, and he would exert all effort and resistance for it, until death.
What strengthens the will is experience, the past, the heavy blows in life.
"Anxiety can build a nation, leisure can lead to one’s downfall."
"Born in distress, die in comfort."
When young, Xu Qing did not take Mencius all that seriously; now in his heart, he agrees with many of Mencius’s teachings.
Confucius spoke of becoming benevolent, Mencius spoke of seeking justice.
Saints have the historical limits of saints, no one is perfect. Later generations can critique and comment, but they should also respect the shining contributions they made in the course of history.
Xu Qing came to the courtyard, beneath the Parasol Tree, continuously executing the Eight Diagram Wandering Palm.
With his practice, he felt an undeniable sense of "justice".