Chapter 724: Plundering
Chapter 724: Plundering
Great Zhou.
Imperial Study.
Fang Xing sat behind his desk, dressed in imperial regalia, a stern look on his face. He gazed down at a young man standing before him.
"Crown Prince... What matter brings you here?"
He asked casually.
"Father... It's about the Forest Zhang Clan."
The young man, dressed in a dragon robe, bowed respectfully. "The case has been thoroughly investigated, but the Ministry of Justice has struggled to reach a decision, delaying it until today... I humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment."
His demeanor was one of utmost respect, for his father's authority was immense.
This emperor had ascended the throne at nine, removed powerful ministers at eleven, and placed the empress dowager under house arrest. He had ruled for thirty-six years, during which time all officials and noble families had bowed to his will. It was whispered in private that no emperor in history had ever wielded power as deftly as he.
Even as Crown Prince, he remained on edge.
'This True Immortal Realm and its Transcendent Realm are truly dull... and here I am, forced to be an emperor once again.'
Fang Xing, sitting behind the imperial desk, yawned out of sheer boredom.
Since Pangu Wu's ascension, he had set a plan for enjoyment and adventure.
As an Eternity, he would remain free and unbound until the river of time dried up and collapsed.
Thus, he had spent billions of years in leisure, slowly dividing his Eternity mark to plunder the transcendent legacies.
The Realm Spirit, though powerful, could not stand against the might of the Gate of All Heavens. Bound by the rules, it could only be plundered time and time again...
"Forest Zhang Clan? Is this trivial matter something you need to bring to me, Crown Prince?"
Fang Xing snorted, though he did not show anger, his imperial presence alone made the Crown Prince break out in a cold sweat.
The Forest Zhang Clan was a medium-sized landowner near the capital, known for its scholarly lineage. The clan had always adhered to its ancestral teachings, rarely splitting apart, and had survived by sticking together.
However, with so many people, all sorts of troublemakers emerged. One of the Zhang Clan's sons had a grudge against the matriarch, suffering abuse from a young age, which left him crippled and unable to escape through the imperial examinations.
In a moment of desperation, he fled to the capital, Jingzhou, claiming he intended to rebel. He even carved a jade seal and hid a dragon robe...
Now, with clear evidence, the case was undeniable.
According to Great Zhou law, rebellion meant the extermination of nine generations of the clan!
Jingzhou had no choice but to imprison the nine generations of the Zhang Clan, despite their cries of injustice, for the law was clear.
The rebellious son admitted that he had done it to seek revenge.
The case had spread, causing widespread debate in both the court and the country, but remained unresolved.
Now that the Crown Prince had taken on a role in the government, overseeing the Ministry of Justice, he found himself overwhelmed by various lobbies and petitions.
Today, he had no choice but to seek the emperor's judgment.
"Crown Prince, what do you think?"
Fang Xing asked.
"The rebellious son deserves death, but the other clan members are innocent. Perhaps, Father, you could grant them a pardon?"
"If so, what of the law?"
Fang Xing sneered. "You seem to favor the scholars too much. The books of Confucianism can be read by officials and other princes, but not by the emperor or the Crown Prince. As an emperor, one must learn the art of governance and the strategy of slaying the dragon. Why? Because when grace comes from above, the people are moved to tears... If you show mercy now, will the Zhang Clan thank you, or will they thank the officials of the Ministry of Justice?"
The Crown Prince was taken aback. "This..."
"The law must be enforced, but at the execution grounds, I will grant the Zhang Clan a special pardon... This way, the grudge falls on the lower officials, while the grace comes from above, which is the way to govern."
Fang Xing shook his head and sneered again. "The Zhang Clan, which produced such a son, clearly has a flawed family ethos. This legal ordeal will bankrupt them. After this, the clan will fall, which is for the best..."
Seeing the Crown Prince's look of pity, he shook his head. "Those who are pitiful often have their own faults. Besides... what does it matter if a minor clan like the Zhangs falls or dies? If they are innocent but punished by the law, they may harbor resentment, rendering them useless in the future. Family ruin and personal tragedy are fitting..."
"Why are you, as the Crown Prince, focused on such trivial matters?"
"Trivial?" The Crown Prince was confused.
Fang Xing continued, "Life and death, punishment and reward, are the prerogatives of the emperor. If a mistake is made, so be it... For the empire, the wrongful death of a clan or a lineage is insignificant. You, Crown Prince, should look beyond a minor clan whose ancestors never rose higher than fourth or fifth rank, yet have deep connections through marriage."
"Over these past days, how many officials have come forward, some with righteous intentions, some with ulterior motives, and others to stir up factional strife and political disputes? How many are secretly trying to trip you up and mock you?"
He sneered and tossed a memorial onto the desk.
The Crown Prince read a few lines and broke out in a cold sweat. 'So Father deliberately delayed this case, allowing the debate to continue, to lure out the snakes and catch them in a net...'
"Heh... Even a minor case can be filled with intrigue, let alone a major one like this." Fang Xing said, "The so-called law and ancestral rules are merely paper cages. A ruler must adapt to the times and circumstances... What the people consider important is often trivial. Everyone can be replaced, including officials. Crown Prince, what can you achieve through this matter?"
The Crown Prince was taken aback, seemingly never having considered the question.
Seeing this, Fang Xing couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Although he had already chosen the best candidate, this Crown Prince still fell short of his ideal political figure.
However, it wasn't all bad. People always grow with time, more experience, better platforms, and more trials. With enough of these, he wouldn't end up as a ruler who could be easily manipulated by his ministers.
'Why do most founding heroes often come from the same region or county?'
'Because the world is a makeshift troupe. Conquering and governing the realm doesn't actually require extraordinary talent... Even mediocre officials and high-ranking ministers are just that. As long as they aren't naturally foolish and have a decent aptitude, with the right cultivation, experience, and training, they can make the system work. The earliest followers of the founding emperor get the first opportunities, and it's like rolling a snowball... It appears as if a single county is brimming with talent.'
'This is also a survivor bias. Those who joined the cause early were naturally from the local region... Many died in the struggles for power, but some always survived, making it seem like the area is blessed with exceptional individuals.'
'And there are those true geniuses who don't need experience, can handle things on their first try, and stand out...'
Though the Crown Prince wasn't a genius, he could still grow with more setbacks.
The key was for the emperor to distinguish between teaching imperial strategy and hiring Confucian scholars to preach loyalty and filial piety, which could be counterproductive.
Of course, some emperors weren't unaware of this, but they feared that the Crown Prince might learn the art of slaying dragons and come after them.
Moreover, Confucianism was beneficial for consolidating rule and maintaining a veneer of righteousness, so they often turned a blind eye.
Thus, the conflict between emperors and Crown Princes was essentially unsolvable.
But for Fang Xing, he had no fear of the Crown Prince, allowing him to handle the situation with greater ease and composure.
...
Several decades passed in the blink of an eye.
The Great Zhou Emperor passed away.
"Realm Spirit... we meet again."
Inside the Transcendent Realm.
Fang Xing smiled as he greeted the Realm Spirit, which appeared as a cloud of mist.
The Realm Spirit remained silent, seemingly exasperated.
By rule, it had to test any cultivator entering the realm.
But who would have thought that someone would use the Gate of All Heavens to repeatedly exploit this?
It remained silent, merely waving its hand, and two enormous golden scrolls unfurled in the sky.
Countless golden characters condensed, forming:
Mental Fortitude List
1. Fang Xing!
2. Ye Weixian!
3. Wando Liu!
...
Available Treasures and Legacies:
1. The Nine Transformations of the Dawn Phoenix Secret Art, complete with cultivation resources...
2. None
3. None
...
"Only this Secret Art is left, and they don't restock it..."
Fang Xing complained, "I'll take this one then."
He had visited this realm many times, nearly depleting all the transcendent legacies.
Boom!
As he made his choice, a complex and profound Secret Art appeared in his mind—The Nine Transformations of the Dawn Phoenix!
In addition, a storage ring floated in the air, which he took into his hand.
"Hmm... With these, I can at least help other Eternal Existences to condense a few transcendent traits..."
Fang Xing chuckled, his form vanishing, "Realm Spirit, I've been a bit of a bother... Until we meet again..."
He had no intention of returning to this realm unless something unexpected happened.
...
In the Great Xia Universe.
On an entertainment planet.
"Hmm... The design of this planet is quite impressive. It's worth exploring..."
Fang Xing observed the planet, a smile playing on his lips.
The entertainment industry of the Blue Star Civilization was highly advanced, even offering 'time travel services.'
Specifically, they transformed a planet or even a star system into an ancient or modern environment.
Then, wealthy individuals could choose to either physically descend or transfer their consciousness into a clone to embark on a new adventure.
Generally, the stronger one was, the weaker the clone they chose for the adventure, and they might even seal their memories.
This way, they could enjoy being the chosen one, leading a clan to rise, finding treasures by leaping off cliffs, and having celestial maidens and demonesses eagerly throw themselves at them...
Initially, these planets were designed to train the mental fortitude of the powerful and their offspring.
But later, they became a luxury game for interstellar tycoons.
After all, compared to the completely virtual Astral Universe, 'reality' was a higher form of enjoyment.
Fang Xing had spent billions of years exploring all the planets and scenarios, even customizing countless scripts to fully enjoy the experience.
"Hmm?"
"Is the Transcendent Realm in the True Immortal World already stripped bare?"
He extended his hand, pulling a storage ring from the void and nodded, "Next... I'll head to the Transcendent Realm in the Faro World..."
(End of Chapter)
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