Chapter 376: The five-time corpse-shedding method is different!

The Third Master spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of heaviness and disappointment: "You gained the Master's corpse-shedding method; we originally thought you would devour the corpse energy left behind by the Master and thoroughly end his influence on Great Qi through utilitarian learning. I didn't expect..."

His face was sorrowful, his voice low: "I didn't expect that you would still follow the Master's old path. You single-handedly created the nine great surnames, re-eliminating the Master's corpse-shedding method, and using the family surnames to intermarry, continuing the corpse energy."

Su Jing's expression was indifferent upon hearing this, neither confirming nor denying.

If the Third Master hadn't been trapped in the Academy for years without going out, he might have noticed this long ago.

Although what he did was secretive, some people among the nine great surnames had already noticed.

For example, the Xie Hong and Xie Ling brothers of the Xie family.

The two pillars of the Li family who guard the nation.

The nine great surnames were indeed created by him single-handedly; the rise of the noble families was merely a continuation of the corpse-shedding method.

The Third Master said, "As long as the nine great surnames do not wither, you can continue to shed your corpse."

"Even if the nine great surnames are destroyed, as long as future descendants rise again, you can shed your corpse again."

Su Jing merely sighed, "The Master's corpse-shedding method is too thorough. He injected the corpse energy into Great Qi, the Academy, and the Confucianism of the world."

"As long as Great Qi does not perish, the Academy does not fall, and Confucianism does not die, the Master will exist in the world forever. This is almost perfect; the sixth reincarnation of corpse-shedding is a method as stable as Mount Tai."

"Unfortunately..."

A trace of regret flashed in Su Jing's eyes: "Unfortunately, the Master met Second Senior Brother."

"Second Senior Brother's sword, nine swords in one, can sever all karmic connections."

This was also the reason why the four of them dared to join forces to kill the Master back then.

Among the three senior brothers of the Academy, the one Su Jing feared most was actually the Second Master.

He was the only one who could crack the corpse-shedding reincarnation method.

The one he feared least was the First Master, who lived a life of leisure, yet was most constrained, trapped by the Master in the first half of his life.

And trapped by himself in the second half.

On the fourth floor, the lamp light flickered, reflecting the complex expressions of the two.

"Second Senior Brother should have been the one with the most potential to ascend in these thousand years."

Second Senior Brother's sword was not taught by the Master.

It seemed to be born of heaven and earth.

Nine swords born from observing heaven and earth, each sword with its own character.

The Third Master sighed, echoing in the air, as if covering up this dusty past.

On the fourth floor, silence fell once more.

Su Jing looked through the window toward the direction of the Flower Banquet.

The grand event was nearing its end, with only the last three flower queens left to perform.

Once their performances ended, this lively feast would come to a close.

Su Jing's gaze turned to the water control, the river surface shimmering, reflecting the lights and moonlight, like a flowing galaxy, with painted boats competing, carrying songs and dances.

Su Jing suddenly turned his head, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness: "Above Bianjing today is truly lively, with quite a few familiar faces arriving."

"Even the demons of Deze Lake dare to show themselves; it truly is a case of the master being away, and the beasts becoming so presumptuous."

The Third Master remained silent after hearing this.

He naturally knew that today's Flower Banquet had gathered world-renowned Grandmasters, and even some reclusive experts had quietly appeared.

However, the Third Master changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of doubt.

"I am curious, why would you plan this Flower Banquet to raise funds for the Yellow River disaster relief? This doesn't seem like your style."

His gaze was deep, as if trying to see through Su Jing's thoughts: "With the intertwined roots of the nine great surnames, plus the current situation in Great Qi, if the world were in chaos, it would be more beneficial to your corpse-shedding method."

"In times of peace, the power of corpse-shedding is halved, and the tribulation energy of the world is the best nourishment for corpse-shedding. This is also the reason why the Master, despite suppressing the world back then, intentionally did not let Great Qi unify."

The Master's corpse-shedding method, although strange and cunning, could not escape the limits of heaven and earth.

The corpse-shedding method can only be performed six times in a lifetime, and each time, one must face the tribulation of human disaster.

The Master's previous corpse-sheddings were all like speculation.

He supported the Eternal Heaven in the north and secretly promoted the rise of the Buddhist kingdoms in the south, borrowing the power of war to avoid human disasters.

However, during the last corpse-shedding, the Master was arrogant, thinking he was invincible in the world.

He focused on the "Deze Lake" of the Dragon-Raising Pool, cultivating flood dragons, thinking it was foolproof, but ultimately died of human disaster—the four disciples joined forces to kill the Master, ending his corpse-shedding path.

Now, Su Jing is facing his first corpse-shedding, also needing to face the test of human disaster.

Among the nine great surnames, several are already restless, with undercurrents surging; whether Su Jing can safely pass this tribulation is unknown.

Su Jing smiled slightly upon hearing this, a trace of elusive light flashing in his eyes.

He did not answer directly, only saying lightly: "Senior Brother, some things are not necessarily as you think."

On the fourth floor, the brilliant light shone on the beaded curtain.

The noise outside the window gradually subsided.

Only the night wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness.

"The world is too influenced by Lu Chen, and too many people want to be heroes who save the world, to be great men in times of chaos."

"If the Yellow River issue is not resolved, I fear it won't be long before the world rebels, and various provinces will likely raise the banner of restoring Great Yan."

"At that time, if someone like 'treading the bones of officials on the heavenly street, burning the brocade ashes in the inner treasury' appears, how will the nine great surnames of Great Qi conduct themselves?"

Su Jing's tone was indifferent, "Wasn't the Great Tang of that year almost wiped out by that Li Heavenly King, leading to its collapse?"

Before Great Qi, there was Great Tang.

However, the decline of Great Tang was not directly ended by Great Qi, but was completely overturned by an insurgent army that breached the capital.

That Li Heavenly King was initially just a small salt peddler in the Hexi Circuit, but because of a gathering of righteousness, responders were like clouds across the world.

The righteous banner he raised read: "Entrusted by the Yan King in a dream, acting on behalf of heaven to punish the rebels."

Of course, there was also the secret support of the world-renowned sect—the Three Truths Sect.

The Third Master nodded slightly upon hearing this, his expression carrying a hint of emotion.

Lu Chen's life was truly legendary.

He established merit, virtue, and words throughout his life.

He established Great Yan, reformed laws and decrees, and finally wrote books, leaving behind the Three Truths Sect of Mount Zhongnan.

His thoughts had a profound influence, and even a thousand years after his passing, they are still praised by the world.

The world sacrifices to the Yan King on the festival after his passing.

Su Jing smiled: "Extending a glimmer of life for Great Qi is the best strategy."

The Third Master's gaze was steady, lost in thought.

The two waited in silence, saying no more.

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Yu Ke walked down the fourth floor slowly, his expression calm.

The lame old man at the door had a gloomy face; Xie Guan being able to walk down the fourth floor unscathed proved that he had retreated safely this time without being implicated.

The lame old man whispered: "Xie Guan, you truly have a big life!"

Yu Ke walked up to the lame old man and smiled slightly.

"It has disappointed you."

A flash of viciousness crossed the lame old man's eyes, and he lowered his voice to threaten: "I hope you will not step out of the Xie Fu threshold half a step in the future."

Yu Ke did not care about this at all, secretly pondering that even if he were not in Xie Fu, he still had the Academy to rely on and the masters to protect him, so he was naturally fearless.

What's more, Xie Guan's cultivation was progressing rapidly, a thousand miles a day.

Yu Ke glanced at the lame old man, gave a thumbs up, then slowly turned it downward, smiling.

"If you see me in the future, if you don't run, you are this."

The lame old man was stunned, then reacted, his face instantly turning livid, his fists clenched tight, his knuckles making "clucking" sounds from the force.

Xie Guan had already turned and left.

Leaving only the lame old man alone; although he hated Xie Guan to the bone, he felt that the current Xie Guan seemed a bit different from the cautious and confident Xie Guan at the carriage pavilion before.

A bit more... casual!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 377 =====