Chapter 73: Is There Transcendence?

At this moment, a guard from the Tianjin Guard walked briskly into the courtyard, bowed to Li Musheng, and said:

"Your Highness, Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites and the others have arrived. Shall we receive them now?"

Li Musheng's expression shifted as he recalled Emperor Yuanwu's arrangement of three teachers for him. He nodded immediately and said:

"Bring them here to see me. I have some matters to inquire of them."

Hearing this, the guard agreed, then prepared to bow and withdraw.

However, Li Musheng suddenly called him back, saying:

"After this is done, go find your Commander-in-Chief and have him come see me as well. I also have matters to ask him."

The guard was slightly stunned, but quickly nodded, turned, and departed briskly.

Not long after, the guard led three people into the courtyard.

"We greet the Eighth Imperial Prince!"

The three stood before Li Musheng and bowed in unison.

Li Musheng glanced at the three; their identities were not difficult to distinguish.

Zhang Song, Grand Academician of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was a middle-aged man over fifty, dressed in official robes, wearing a black gauze hat, with a refined, scholarly demeanor.

Guo Zhenang, the General of Wuan, wore ordinary clothes. He was tall and burly, with broad shoulders and a wide waist. His tiger-like eyes shone brightly, exuding a formidable, imposing aura that commanded respect without anger.

Master Xuan Yi, Vice Master of the Tianwu Tower, wore a bright yellow monk's robe draped diagonally over his shoulders. Though thin, his figure stood straight as a pine. His face was calm and serene as he continuously turned the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand.

"Please, all three of you, take a seat."

Li Musheng gestured for the three to sit, then looked particularly at Guo Zhenang.

This man's true qi was mighty and domineering; his Martial Realm cultivation was also quite respectable, not far from that of Master Xuan Yi.

As for Vice Minister Zhang Song of the Ministry of Rites, he too possessed Martial Realm cultivation, though not high—barely just entering the Pre-Heaven Realm.

At this moment, the three before him were likewise sizing up this Eighth Imperial Prince who had been lost among the common people for many years.

However, upon sensing not a trace of true qi within him, all three unconsciously frowned slightly.

After all, even a half-baked martial artist like a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites could cultivate the Martial Realm and become a Pre-Heaven expert.

Yet Li Musheng hadn't even reached the Pre-Heaven Realm; this was indeed somewhat hard to justify.

Of course, the three naturally would not reveal their thoughts.

Among them, General Guo Zhenang, noticing that Li Musheng seemed particularly focused on him, narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke first in a deep voice:

"Is Your Highness particularly interested in military affairs? This general has made some achievements in troop deployment and battle formations. I could impart my self-created 'Guo Family Military Strategy' in its entirety."

Li Musheng glanced at the other, waved his hand, and said:

"You misunderstand. I have no interest in that."

Then, he rubbed his chin, glanced around at the three, and said:

"To speak plainly, my standards are very high. Since the three of you have been ordered to teach me arts and learning, I would like to test whether you truly possess real talent."

Hearing this, Vice Minister Zhang Song and the others exchanged glances, their expressions showing surprise.

However, Zhang Song reacted quickly, immediately clasping his hands respectfully toward Li Musheng and saying:

"Your Highness's doubts are natural. We only wonder what Your Highness wishes to test us on?"

Li Musheng narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up a cup from the tea tray, poured tea for each of the three in turn, then slowly spoke:

"I wish to know: what are your views on the Martial Realm beyond the Heaven-and-Mortal Realm?"

Upon hearing this, the three, who had just lifted their fragrant tea to their lips, were stunned. They suddenly raised their eyes and looked at Li Musheng.

Seeing his calm expression, which did not seem like a joke, the three exchanged glances, staring at one another in silence, even forgetting to drink the tea in their hands.

At this moment, General Guo Zhenang was the first to set down his teacup, his expression clearly showing subtle displeasure.

You want to test us, yet you start by asking this? Who could possibly answer that?

Isn't this obviously deliberately making things difficult?

He himself hasn't even figured out the Heaven-and-Mortal Realm; how could he possibly concern himself with realms beyond Heaven-and-Mortal?

"Amitabha. Your Highness may not know: the path of the Martial Realm has only three Great Realms—Post-Heaven, Pre-Heaven, and Heaven-and-Mortal. Heaven-and-Mortal Rank One is the highest realm a martial artist can attain. Beyond that, there are no other realms."

Master Xuan Yi, Vice Master of the Tianwu Tower, shook his head and explained to Li Musheng.

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Zhang Song and Guo Zhenang also nodded, clearly affirming the truth of Master Xuan Yi's words.

Li Musheng, however, furrowed his brows, his gaze suspicious as he stared at the three, and said:

"Do you not know that beyond the Heaven-and-Mortal Realm, there truly exists a realm of Martial transcendence?"

Hearing this, the three were slightly stunned. They exchanged glances, then all shook their heads repeatedly.

Zhang Song set down his teacup and spoke:

"From childhood until now, I have read countless books. Although my Martial Realm cultivation is not high, I have still seen many texts regarding the path of the Martial Realm. I have truly never encountered the concept of transcendence."

Master Xuan Yi softly chanted a Buddhist mantra, then added:

"This monk is the same."

Li Musheng's face showed a thoughtful expression. He tapped the table with his hand, narrowed his eyes, and said:

"Are you certain?"

"Could it be that your knowledge is shallow? I once saw with my own eyes in an ancient text a clear record that someone had ascended to the realm of Martial transcendence a thousand years ago. It is only that in the past thousand years, the Martial Realm has gradually weakened, and no one has been able to reach this realm since."

Hearing this, Vice Minister Zhang Song's brows immediately knitted tightly. His face showed a thoughtful expression. After a while, he said:

"This official has read many ancient texts. May Your Highness inform us of the name of the ancient text you observed, so that this official may verify it?"

Li Musheng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"I recall the name of that ancient text was 'Record of the Martial History'. Its contents recorded much historical material on the Jianghu Martial Realm, as well as the deeds of many martial experts. It clearly appears to be an orthodox historical text."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song's face immediately showed an extremely strange expression. He looked at Li Musheng.

For a moment, he hesitated for quite a while before speaking:

"Your Highness may have misunderstood. As far as this humble official knows, what Your Highness saw was not some ancient text regarding martial arts history, but merely a fictional story fabricated by a person."

"The author of that fictional story bears the surname Wu and the given name Dao Shi. This is the fictional story he recorded, which is why it is called 'Record of Martial Arts History'."

Li Musheng:...

Guo Zhenang and Master Xuan Yi, who had just learned the truth, looked at Li Musheng with strange expressions on their faces.

They also seemed to have not expected that it was he who had combined the fictional story with reality to concoct a martial arts transcendence.

After remaining silent for a moment, Li Musheng stood up directly and suddenly turned around to leave without looking back.

When he walked over to the guards standing not far away, he coldly left behind a single sentence:

"Escort our guest out."

Immediately, he left only the back of his head for everyone to see.

Martial Arts History!

His parents were truly good at choosing names!

Li Musheng's heart was also drunk.

(End of this chapter)