Chapter 40

Among them, some who couldn't hold their composure.

Their eyes bulged as if they could devour someone!

'Truly worthy of being the Divine Strategist! With just a few words, he's managed to sow discord between this servant and them.'

Noticing the gazes of the crowd.

Cao Zhengchun's face showed not the slightest change.

In his heart, however, he silently offered a word of praise.

Compared to the Shanzhuang.

The Eastern Depot's reputation within the Great Ming jianghu could not be faulted for being called utterly notorious.

Once their identity was pointed out like this.

They would naturally face the crowd's rejection.

However, regarding this, Cao Zhengchun did not care in the slightest.

He gave a light chuckle and said blandly.

"I have long heard of Zhang Zhenren's great name. His Majesty, upon learning of Zhang Zhenren's birthday, specially sent this servant to offer congratulations. What, does the Divine Strategist have an objection?"

"You!" Zhu Wushi was momentarily at a loss for words.

The killing intent in his eyes nearly burst forth!

But constrained by his status and the situation at hand.

In the end, he could only forcefully suppress the fury in his heart.

He gave a cold snort and turned his head away.

Seeing this.

Cao Zhengchun smiled smugly.

He reached out and lifted the red cloth on the tray held by the Eunuch attendant beside him.

Under the watchful eyes of all, he respectfully picked up the imperial edict.

He cleared his throat twice and, with a solemn expression, announced in a shrill voice.

【By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Though I have long dwelled within the halls of state, I have long heard of Zhang Zhenren's great name. On this day of his birthday, I specially send these congratulations, bestowing two stalks of thousand-year spiritual herbs!】

【Additionally, I appoint Zhang Zhenren as the National Preceptor of the Great Ming Imperial Court, wielding power second to none and above ten thousand men; and I appoint Wu Dangpai as the State Religion, to oversee all Jianghuge Sect! Thus decreed!】

Before the words had finished falling.

The entire venue instantly fell utterly silent—so quiet that a pin drop could be heard!

At this moment.

Whether it was the crowd of unaffiliated cultivators who had come to watch the excitement, or the people from the Gedamen Sect who had come to offer congratulations.

Upon hearing this edict.

All fell into silence, their expressions each different.

Even the atmosphere gradually became subtly strange!

'Damn it! This brat actually didn't hesitate to spend such a fortune!!'

Zhu Wushi's gaze turned cold.

While furious in his heart, he also felt a creeping pressure.

He knew perfectly well what the young Emperor was thinking.

This was also why he had been willing to use a five-hundred-year spiritual herb as a congratulatory gift!

On one hand, it was to win over Zhang Sanfeng.

On the other hand, it also served as a safeguard.

Even if he couldn't win the man over, it could still make him choose neutrality in the struggle between himself and the young Emperor.

But now that these thousand-year spiritual herbs had appeared—and two stalks at that.

Which was superior and which inferior could be seen at a glance.

He couldn't help but worry!

But what he didn't know was.

As the foremost of the Wu Dangqixia, and likewise the host of this birthday celebration, Song Yuanqiao.

Upon hearing the contents of the edict, his heart was equally filled with complexity and inner turmoil.

Who wouldn't like thousand-year spiritual herbs?

But once he chose to accept the edict, it would implicitly mean taking sides.

Although this would somewhat offend Zhu Wushi, for Wu Dang, it wasn't entirely unbearable.

But the key issue was.

The latter part of the edict also stated overseeing all Jianghuge Sect of Great Ming!

Could such words be accepted carelessly?

Especially in front of the representatives of all these Gedamen Sect of Great Ming.

It was practically no different from placing Wu Dang on a rack to be roasted over fire!

Although he had confidence in his own Master and Wu Dang.

But he, Song Yuanqiao, was no fool.

To make enemies of all the Jianghumen Sect of Great Ming.

No matter how strong Wu Dang was, it couldn't withstand the truth that two fists were no match for four hands!

But if he didn't accept it.

It would be tantamount to slapping the Emperor's face in front of all the Gedamen Sect of Great Ming!

For a moment.

Song Yuanqiao was caught in a bind — accepting it would be wrong, refusing it would be wrong.

The man had fallen into an impossible dilemma.

So anxious that beads of cold sweat had seeped out across his forehead.

However.

Cao Zhengchun seemed not to have noticed any of it.

Smiling cheerfully, he held the imperial edict out toward him.

"Song Daxia, from now on we're all one family — please take good care of us."

"Ah, this..." Song Yuanqiao was briefly stunned.

Feeling countless gazes on his back like needles.

The man looked utterly at a loss.

Not knowing what to do.

Fortunately.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma.

Zhang Zhenren's voice drifted down lightly from the mountain.

It was not loud, yet it reached the ears of every person present with perfect clarity.

"Please convey this on my behalf, Eunuch Cao — tell His Majesty this old Daoist thanks him for his kind intentions."

"But this old Daoist's heart is set on pursuing the martial Dao; as for National Preceptor or whatever, kindly forget it. In the future, should there be any need, Wu Dang will not shirk its duty."

At these words.

The expressions of the crowd all shifted at once, each reacting differently.

For the rogue cultivators.

Regardless of the outcome, one thing was clear — five words: Zhang Zhenren is awesome!

As for Cao Zhengchun, his gaze darkened, his heart brimming with quiet displeasure.

The smile that had been piled on his face had vanished without a trace, no one knew when.

He wanted to flare up.

But, mindful of Zhang Zhenren's strength and the watchful eyes of the many sects present.

In the end he could only swallow the grievance back down and fall silent.

Compared with his fury.

The sect leaders of Gedamen Sect secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Even if Zhang Zhenren had accepted the edict, they would not have taken orders from Wu Dang in the future.