Chapter 507

"This Immortal Martial Path is truly powerful."

The next day, early in the morning, Zhu Yuyan reduced another small mountain to ash, her eyes filled with awe.

Only after cultivating the Immortal Martial Path did she understand why this martial art carried the character "immortal."

The Devil's Strategy?

Even dogs won't cultivate it!

After successfully cultivating, Zhu Yuyan immediately emptied her family's treasury and had Wanwan sell it all.

"After decades of cultivation, you still haven't reached Grand Master—what's the point of this?"

"Wan'er, you were right not to kill Shi Long," Zhu Yuyan began reflecting on her disciple's past actions, checking for any missteps. "That Dao Jun, though we don't know if he's from the Dao Sect, won't hinder us from courting him. Even if he isn't from the Dao Sect, and has no affection for Shi Long, it doesn't matter."

"After all, we merely let Shi Long go—insignificant."

Wanwan nodded: "That's exactly what I thought."

Zhu Yuyan continued: "As for the Cihang Pure Chamber, let others in the group handle them—it's a good chance to show them favor. A good man needs three helpers; once you're in such an organization, we can't keep making enemies like we did before."

"Mm."

"As for the rest of the plan, Wan'er, you should cultivate good relations with the most famous beauties in the world."

Wanwan's eyes brightened: "What do you mean, Master?"

Zhu Yuyan smiled: "Isn't the Dao Jun quite fond of these so-called beauties? Then just send them his way. When it's done, who won't owe you a favor—the Dao Jun, or those beauties?"

"So I'm just a pimp now?" Wanwan was stunned.

Zhu Yuyan was speechless: "Aren't there plenty of our disciples in the Shengmen who work in brothels? Are you really bothered by being a pimp, Wan'er?"

"Uh…" Wanwan shook her head. "I just haven't quite processed it yet."

Members of the Demon Sect, ostracized by the White Path, mostly eke out a living in the lowest strata of society, with low status.

Among them, female disciples of the Demon Sect mostly engage in professions based on seduction.

Wanwan had long been aware of this.

"As for me, I'll clean up the Shengmen—expel all the useless, rotten branches so they don't tarnish your reputation in the group."

"After that, I'll gather martial arts from across the world to exchange for cultivation points for you."

"Master, you're so good at strategizing," Wanwan sighed. "If it were me, I'd have spent ages just thinking this through!"

Zhu Yuyan laughed: "Old ginger is always the spiciest."

Wanwan giggled: "Master, you're not old at all—you look just like a sixteen-year-old girl."

After chatting a while longer, Wanwan and Zhu Yuyan parted ways.

"Where should I go first?" Wanwan pondered Zhu Yuyan's plan. "Ah, right—find Shi Qingxuan. She still harbors resentment over her mother's death. Hehe, perfect—I can easily lure her in."

With a decision made, Wanwan headed straight for Shu.

…

The world of Sword Stained with Royal Blood.

"Can we trust the things in the chat group?"

Zhu Youjian sat upon the dragon throne, having pondered these questions more than once: "Will those loans really be safe?"

In short.

Zhu Youjian always had a feeling—there are always scheming peasants trying to harm me!

After three days of deliberation, Chongzhen finally made up his mind.

"Forget it—I'll borrow some points to buy Wu Gong and elixirs."

He opened the chat group, @ed people for a while, but no one responded.

Zhu Youjian: "What's going on? Why is no one responding to me?!"

Ying Zheng: "Laughing so hard—you only just figured this out?"

Ying Zheng #2: "Huang and the others are preparing a banquet in Dalaotian—they're too busy right now. Just wait."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "You should abdicate already—your personality lacks any imperial decisiveness."

Wang Chao: "Really? You needed days to decide this? With your pitiful wealth, who'd bother calculating?"

Zhu Youjian: "... What should I do now? Can anyone lend me some?"

Su Xiao: "I'm afraid your points will vanish."

Xiao Mai: "Huh, now that you mention it, this emperor's unreliable."

Ye Hei: "If it were Zhu Yuanzhang, I'd lend him."

Rem: "I have no points—my techniques were all gifts from my brother."

Xiao Sang: "Don't waste points recklessly—I'm afraid I won't get them back."

Zhu Youjian: "Do you all look down on me so much?!!"

Gajaburi: "It's complicated—you're basically on the same level as Akua in the group."

Zhu Youjian: "Akua?"

Zhu Youjian: "Wait—I just checked. You're treating me like a female lunatic?!"

Akua: "Blasphemy against the gods—may heaven strike you down!"

Zhu Youjian, thoroughly embarrassed, ended the chat and sank into gloom again: "I joined such a powerful organization—will I still lose my empire?"

Thinking this, his mood grew darker.

"Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess has returned."

"Jiu's back?" Zhu Youjian smiled faintly. "Bring Jiu here at once—let Father take a good look!"

"Father."

As he spoke, a petite, beautiful girl in a bright yellow imperial gown stepped in lightly.

"Ajiu, come here."

"Have you suffered out there?"

Zhu Meichuo shook her head: "I haven't suffered—I had people taking care of me!"

"How is the situation outside?" Zhu Youjian asked.

Zhu Meichuo fell silent, unsure how to begin.

After leaving the palace, she realized what the Great Ming looked like now—it was a complete mess.

The scholar-gentry and wealthy landowners seized land, leaving the common people with no means to survive; exchanging children for food had become commonplace, and even tree bark and grass roots had been eaten bare.

Smoke of war rose in all directions, and rebels ran rampant.

Beyond the passes, the Jurchens and Mongols watched with hungry eyes.

In short, the Great Ming had reached a critical juncture—internal troubles and external threats, too deep-rooted to reverse.

"Alas!" Zhu Youjian sighed. "Actually, Father already knows the state of affairs outside. For over a decade, I've exhausted myself—but still could not change the Great Ming's inevitable fall."

Having read the History of the Ming, Zhu Youjian was pessimistic about the world's changes.

As for seeking aid—he had offended so many people before; would anyone still come to his aid?

"Father, don't think like that!" Zhu Meichuo exclaimed. "If you think like that, who else can the Great Ming rely on?"

Zhu Youjian shook his head, waved his hand, and a copy of the History of the Ming landed on the desk.

"Ajiu, take a look."

"History of the Ming?" Zhu Meichuo froze. "Who dares write this now?"

Every dynasty had a Shi Guan, tasked with recording the deeds of emperors, generals, and major historical events.

But—to definitively close the book on history, compile it into a written chronicle, name a dynasty, and summarize its legacy—this was usually done only after the dynasty had fallen.

Writing the History of the Ming now is no different from treason—a curse upon the dynasty's demise.

"Just read it. I'll explain its origin later."

"Yes." Zhu Meichuo nodded, extended her jade-like fingers, opened the pages, and saw the delicate script: "Such tiny characters—such exquisite printing!"