Fantasy: Unparalleled Prince, Conquering the Heavens!-Chapter 760 - 754: Daoist Temple_1

Prison Guard.

Within a thousand-measure radius, no trace of living creatures could be found. Even the birds in the sky chose to detour around this area when passing through.

Suddenly, a black crow, flapping its wings reluctantly, flew into the Prison Guard without catching anyone's attention.

"Didn't I tell you to hide? Why have you returned to the Nine Provinces?"

In the dimly lit hall, Jia Xu sat in a high position, dressed in a black robe, seeming hidden in the darkness, making him difficult for others to perceive. He watched Black Nine before him, his gaze profound, revealing no emotion.

"My Lord, I have received an intelligence report from the Ice Wing Clan that must be relayed to the All Clans Hall. The content of this report concerns the Qin Dynasty!" Black Nine reported with his head lowered, not daring to meet Jia Xu's eyes.

"Let me see it!"

Jia Xu's expression changed slightly, and he grew serious.

The All Clans Hall was the supreme governing body of the Myriad Clans, ruling over all of them. Only intelligence of extreme importance could be relayed there. The fact that the Ice Wing Clan dared to transmit intelligence to the All Clans Hall fully demonstrated this report's importance. It might contain devious plots targeting the Qin Heavenly Court.

As the Master of the Hidden Guard, responsible for the Qin Dynasty's intelligence, he had to be prepared.

Black Nine looked up, glanced fearfully at Jia Xu, and then produced a peculiar stone that held the sealed intelligence.

"How do we open this?" Jia Xu carefully examined the unusual stone, studying it for a moment, but found no way to open it.

"I'm not sure. The Myriad Clans keep their methods for opening intelligence caches secret from us!" Black Nine shook his head and murmured.

Hearing that Black Nine also didn't know, Jia Xu was stumped.

Every profession has its experts! He was capable of scheming for the world or gathering intelligence. However, asking him to engage in such complex work as deciphering a formation would leave him completely at sea. It seems I'll have to visit the Taoist temple!

Jia Xu slowly stood up and walked towards the hall's exit. As he passed Black Nine, he said, "You hide in the Prison Guard for now. I'll be back shortly!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes, sir!" Black Nine replied. "However, I only have four hours. If it takes too long, the people from the Prince's Palace will discover me!"

Jia Xu nodded, quickened his pace, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

「Inside the Imperial Study!」

Xiao He, who had just returned from the Sky Sword Pavilion, was reporting.

Is the Heavenly Sword Immortal preparing to submit to the Qin Dynasty? On the imperial throne, Qin Wudao's brow twitched. Surprise warred with a flicker of joy. According to the system's habits, as his strength increased, new conquest targets would open up. For instance, the rewards the system currently offered for conquering a Minor Thousand World were useless to him. This phenomenon indicated that it was time to upgrade his conquest targets—for example, from conquering a Minor Thousand World to conquering an entire Starfield! After the Genius War, his thoughts had turned to unifying the Red Dragon Starfield. However, it was difficult for him to propose this, as the Heavenly Sword Immortal had helped the Qin Heavenly Court multiple times. He certainly couldn't resort to armed force and conquer the Sky Sword Pavilion, could he?

"Your Majesty, after receiving the inheritance, the Heavenly Sword Immortal immediately expressed his willingness to follow the Qin Dynasty's lead!" Xiao He sat in a nearby chair, smiling as he replied.

"Since that is the case, I'll trouble you, Minister Xiao, to make another trip. Bestow upon the Heavenly Sword Immortal the title of Third-Rank Worshipper of the Qin Dynasty. The Sky Sword Pavilion, under the court's administration, can recruit disciples and carry on its Daoist heritage!" Qin Wudao ordered.

A Third-Rank Worshipper was considered high-ranking in the Qin Heavenly Court, qualified to attend court assemblies and have an audience in the Imperial Palace. Only those with extraordinary talent or unique skills could become a Third-Rank Worshipper. From this perspective, the Heavenly Sword Immortal didn't quite meet the requirements.

However, during the early days of the Qin Dynasty's ascension, the Heavenly Sword Immortal had aided them multiple times. This was a great debt of gratitude, enough to bridge that gap.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Xiao He rose, bowed, and then turned to leave the Imperial Study.

Qin Wudao leaned back on the imperial throne, a weight lifted from his mind. He couldn't help but smile as he mused aloud, "Heavenly Sword Immortal, you protected the Qin for a time; We shall grant you an era of prosperity!"

With the Sky Sword Pavilion's submission and the expulsion of the Myriad Clans, only a few small factions remain in the Red Dragon Starfield. They pose no threat. It's time to unify the Red Dragon Starfield!

"Attendants! Summon Wang Jian for counsel!"

「Taoist Temple.」

It was situated on a sacred mountain outside the Imperial Capital. After Zuo Ci emerged, he immediately began to spread the teachings of Taoism, attracting many seekers of knowledge. Taoism thus became the second major school of thought after Confucianism.

「Ascension Path!」

This was a stone path leading directly from the foot of the mountain to its summit, comprised of fifty thousand steps, like a stone dragon coiled around the mountainside.

Countless Martial Artists, drawn by Taoism's fame, started from the mountain's base. Suppressing their immortal qi, they relied solely on their physical strength, ascending step by step under immense pressure, undertaking the long climb. The path possessed a spirit! For Martial Artists who were merely visiting, it was an ordinary stone path. But for those seeking to learn, it was a path to refine the heart and temper the body. With every step ascended, besides enduring immense physical pressure, they also had to pass tests of illusion. Only those whose physique and willpower were both up to standard had any hope of reaching the summit and becoming disciples of the great Taoist masters.

At that moment, a black figure, under the astonished gazes of countless climbers, streaked across the sky, disappearing into the depths of the sacred mountain and entering the Taoist Temple.

"This..."

"Weren't we told that entering the Taoist Temple requires passing the test of fifty thousand stone steps?"

"Why did that person fly straight in? Isn't he afraid of angering the Taoist masters?"

The crowd of Martial Artists was stunned, murmuring amongst themselves. In their hearts, the Taoist masters were reclusive, legendary figures. To fly directly in was an act of great disrespect.

"Angering the Taoists?" someone who recognized the newcomer interjected, his pupils constricting. He addressed the indignant crowd, "Do you believe he's someone even the Taoists wouldn't dare provoke?"

"How could that be?"

"Taoism is the second-greatest school of thought in the land! Even if a Confucian Sub-Sage were to visit, they would engage in discourse as equals!"

"Silence, you ignorant fool! Do not slander the great Taoist masters!" several aspiring disciples climbing the mountain retorted, glaring angrily.

"Haha," the man who had recognized the figure said with clear admiration, "That was Sir Jia, Master of the Qin Dynasty's Hidden Guard. He represents imperial authority! Never mind Taoist masters; even the Prime Minister at court would have to show him deference!"

Hearing this, the stone path fell silent. The discussions ceased.

All schools of thought in the world were subservient to the state, requiring the ruler's permission to propagate their teachings. While they enjoyed high reputations among the populace, everyone understood that the monarch was the state's sole master.

「Inside the Taoist Temple.」

"Taoist Zuo, I have a formation here that requires your skill to break!" Due to the pressing time, Jia Xu had barged straight to Zuo Ci. He produced the peculiar stone, his tone almost a command. Ordinarily, he would have been more courteous. But the situation was critical; he had to ensure the intelligence sealed within the peculiar stone was deciphered within four hours. Any personal considerations had to yield when national security was at stake.