The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

Because the Southeast Gentlemen admired Xu Liushou, they supported him in building a palace for the old Emperor in Yingtian Prefecture and agreed to donate money.

But agreeing is one thing; in actual execution, there are bound to be shortcuts.

For example, the promised grain was replaced with low-quality old seeds. When questioned, it was said that those sent by Xu Liushou to receive the goods had embezzled them.

Though this statement is more or less true.

As for manpower, those sent were elderly, sick, or disabled.

Xu Liushou, being the Saint of the age, couldn't just send them back.

Although the construction schedule was tight.

The people below still had their methods.

Rushed work naturally means poorer quality.

If long-term maintenance issues aren't considered, putting up a quickly visible facade isn't wrong.

Each family's gentry calculated and found the actual expenses weren't so large.

The biggest problem was that Xu Liushou had revived, meaning everyone would again live under Xu Liushou's shadow, and had to figure out how to cope with the old Emperor's further grasp over the South, which was the most fatal issue.

However, deceiving those above while covering up below was everyone's skillful craft. No matter how difficult world affairs were, there was always a way if one was willing to think it through.

As the Southeast Gentlemen were discussing strategies, another earth-shattering news broke out.

After returning to his hometown, the Emperor went to Taihe Mountain.

On Taihe Mountain, wizards from the grassland, Eastern Barbarians, Tubo, Southwest, and other various Great Yu Dynasty's opposing forces sent their experts to carry out an assassination attempt against the old Emperor.

The scale and the number of Martial Saints involved in this battle were no less than the great battle at Changbai Mountain.

The key was, this battle took place in the core of the Great Yu Dynasty, very close to the old Emperor's hometown.

The experts sent by various forces to assassinate approached the Emperor's compound far too easily.

It can be said that in this assassination, the participants weren't only from outside forces; there were also internal traitors...

This battle was unprecedentedly fierce, and it exposed the secret forces in the Emperor's hands.

Shadow Guards!

This was the first time the world's experts realized how powerful the martial arts forces the Emperor had. Seven Shadow Guards could form a formation to contend with a Martial Arts Grandmaster, and this time the old Emperor dispatched a hundred Shadow Guards.

Additionally, an old eunuch from the Imperial Palace demonstrated Martial Saint-level strength.

When did he become a Martial Saint?

There were no previous signs at all.

Yet according to rumors, the old Emperor had secretly refined many powerful elixirs.

The result of this battle was that the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint suffered heavy injuries and although he managed to escape, he wouldn't recover anytime soon and it influenced the global situation.

Furthermore, Grassland Martial Saint Fu Xuan paid the price of an arm to escape.

As for assassins sent by other forces, none survived, all perished on Taihe Mountain.

…

…

"Great Yu's Dual Saints, old eunuch, over a hundred Shadow Guards…" Duke Wei received this news with a fearful expression.

This assassination attempt against the Emperor seemed on the surface to be an action by opposing forces surrounding the Great Yu Dynasty, but the fact that these people could safely reach Taihe Mountain, bypassing the examinations and defenses outside, was because there were internal traitors.

Unexpectedly, this internal and external combined assassination attempt ended in a crushing defeat.

The martial arts power in the Emperor's hands was beyond everyone's imagination.

Moreover, the Changbai Mountain battle had already drained a lot of the core martial arts forces of the Great Yu Dynasty's territories.

These people, actually, most were supported by local powerful nobles.

It can be said that the Changbai Mountain battle and Taihe Mountain battle greatly consumed the forces of reactionary elements internals and externals to the Great Yu Dynasty.

After this battle, the old Emperor's prestige was soaring like never before.

At least visibly, there was temporarily no force openly capable of opposing the old Emperor.

Unless Xu Gongming publicly fell out with the old Emperor.

But this was practically impossible.

Because the old Emperor also wished to enhance the nation's power.

And Xu Qing wielded power for doing things, not for lingering in power.

At least for now, everything Xu Qing did looked more like being a brick for the Great Yu Dynasty, being moved to wherever needed.

For a moment, amidst the shock of local forces in the world, many filed their annual reports early, celebrating the coming of the new year with the old Emperor.

Even the Martial Saint Xiong Chan from the Great Zen Temple offered his own blood-written Tao Te Ching, wishing Your Majesty a long and prosperous life!

…

…

Great Zen Temple, Xiong Chan looked relieved.

Fortunately, he kept an eye on the movements in South Zhili and found out about Xu Qing's revival just before taking action.

Xu Qing's revival completely disrupted his plan.

More so, Xiong Chan doubted from his heart that this was a scheme jointly set up by Xu Qing and the old Emperor.

Xiong Chan, being meticulous, withdrew immediately upon sensing something was amiss.

If he acted this time, on the surface it was three Martial Saints against Great Yu's Dual Saints, the advantage was with him!

Actually, there was an old eunuch in the Imperial Palace.

Even if Xiong Chan went, it would be three against three.

Not to mention the Imperial Palace had three Martial Arts Grandmaster-level experts, especially the top palace expert Zhao Changrong, who had already touched the threshold of Martial Saint, reaching the level before Xiong Chan's breakthrough to Martial Saint.

Additionally, with over a hundred Shadow Guards, this force was incredibly formidable.

Even if Xiong Chan went, it wouldn't change the final outcome, instead, it would put the Great Zen Temple in an extremely difficult position.

When he led the world's experts to Changbai Mountain to annihilate the old demon of Black Mountain, he had ulterior motives, aiming to drain local forces and thus elevate the Great Zen Temple's status in the worldly society.

Yet unexpectedly, he ended up making wedding clothes for the Court.

"Xu Gongming, this was also part of your plan, wasn't it?"

It was precisely because Wenqu Star and Mars took the lead that all the Daoist sects with grudges against the old demon of Black Mountain were willing to contribute manpower and resources. And Xu Qing's performance in this battle was too dazzling, truly embodying self-sacrifice for righteousness.

Even if he were to rise from the dead now, it would be difficult for the sects across the land to harbor resentment against Xu Qing.

So, after the event, where does the resentment lie?

Xiong Chan knew very well that under the strong influence of the old Emperor, all the sects would inevitably vent their grievances on the Great Zen Temple.

This was beyond doubt.

Red-haired Yan Kong, hearing about these matters nearby, had a twitch on his face.

It was that familiar feeling.

Anytime someone opposed Xu Qing, something bad would occur.

And although it seemed surprising, post-event analysis would reveal it to be reasonable after all.

Xu Qing, this person, had too many tricks, impossible to guard against them all.

The strength revealed by the old Emperor this time also shocked everyone.

He truly is an old insidious character.

Earlier, the old Emperor consumed vast resources on Alchemy, and everyone laughed at him. No one expected the old Emperor to truly succeed.

All those Shadow Guards grew by consuming the old Emperor's elixirs, their loyalty beyond question.

In reality, upon careful analysis, with the resources the old Emperor had at his disposal, even a pig cultivating Alchemy for decades would achieve something. After all, for an Alchemist, the most crucial isn't even talent but experience.

The old Emperor's experience now might be the peak throughout the ages.

Prior to this, everyone was trapped in a cognitive bias.

One has to admit, the old Emperor was indeed cunning, for the elixirs he bestowed upon the Ministers were all defective.

He would rather let foreign ministers ridicule him than reveal his true capabilities.

Leaving the Imperial Palace and building the West Garden were all to secretly accumulate strength.

…

…

"Xu Gongming has doomed the world!" The Wang Family Head nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

After this battle, the old Emperor became the biggest winner. Imperial power reached its most prosperous stage since the Great Yu's Grand Ancestor and Chengzu.

Looking back, without Xu Qing clearing obstacles for the old Emperor and attracting the attention of the noble families in recent years, the old Emperor's power would have been exposed during Zhang Tai'a's reforms. Otherwise, it would have been tough to implement the reforms.

Once exposed, naturally, everyone would have gone to great lengths to resist, not allowing the old Emperor to amass such power as he has now.

But because Xu Qing caused so many incidents, everyone subconsciously overlooked the hidden old insidious character behind the curtain.

It's as if the world was being played for fools!

…

…

As the news spread, the Southeast Gentlemen became entirely docile.

While they might cut corners in future construction, building the Palace this time had to be done with sincerity.

Regarding Taihe Mountain, many people knew internally how many were involved, and it could not withstand investigation.

Once uncovered, it would be the crime of extermination of nine generations.

At this time, who would gamble with their family wealth and life?

For a while, Yingtian Prefecture became particularly busy and lively, dispelling much of the winter chill.

…

…

Back in Jiangning Prefecture, Xu Qing had already returned home.

Here, it was almost an independent kingdom.

Xu Qing and Feng Wu were discussing matters in the study.

"The power in Your Majesty's hands is even more terrifying than I imagined." Xu Qing finally had a glimpse of the old Emperor's trump card.

The Great Yu's Dual Saints, the eunuch old ancestor, the presence of three Martial Saints, were like the Sea Stabilizing Needle.

Coupled with the three Martial Arts Grandmasters of the inner palace, and over a hundred Shadow Guards.

This force could instantaneously crush any opposing faction within the current world.

Its deterrent power was akin to nuclear weapons from Xu Qing's previous life.

In fact, if not for Xu Qing, the old Emperor would never have managed to accumulate such a force.

Not to mention, just the expenses of over a hundred Shadow Guards and their pension would be astronomical. Without Xu Qing generating funds, even if the old Emperor trained them, he couldn't sustain them.

Xu Qing had to admit, the old Emperor was indeed extraordinary; he had pretended to be mystical for so many years that he effectively realized cultivation through deception!

He had nothing much to fear.

If there were any fears, Prince Yu would be more frightened than him.

In truth, thinking about it, Xu Qing also sympathized with Prince Yu. As the Crown Prince, having such an Emperor as a fate was truly unfortunate.

Luckily, Prince Yu wasn't the official Crown Prince; otherwise, he'd eventually break the record for the longest-serving Crown Prince.

"Husband, now that Your Majesty's strength is so formidable, wouldn't it cause us..." Feng Wu expressed some worry.

Xu Qing smiled, "I'm a partner in interests with Your Majesty. Unless Your Majesty goes mad, he would only rely on me even more."

Because the current strength of the old Emperor was too overwhelming, causing tremors among all the various forces, the pressure he faced was unprecedented.

At such a time, the old Emperor would rely on Xu Qing more than ever to share the pressure and continue to boost the national power.

Besides, Xu Qing had to admire Xiong Chan's cunning; he didn't take the bait.

It seemed that Brother Xiong Chan was always paying attention, knowing that after Xu Qing's resurrection, he abandoned his previous plans immediately.

In truth, Xu Qing also gave Xiong Chan an opportunity.

Brother was righteous and didn't sell him out at Changbai Mountain, so Xu Qing naturally reciprocated the favor.

Otherwise, he could have entirely waited until things settled on the old Emperor's end before revealing himself.