Chapter 146: Journey to the Kong Family's Secret Realm

On that day atop Dongshan's highest peak, nearly every citizen who had personally witnessed Fang Xun sacrifice himself in the line of duty came pouring into the city.

In an instant, Fang Xun's memorial shrine was surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Standing before the grief-stricken masses once again, Li Shun passionately recited the memorial oration in full.

After offering incense, he quietly stepped aside, allowing the mourners to pay their respects as the sound of weeping shook the heavens.

When he saw Kong Zhao and Zhao Cheng arrive together, he immediately knew they had come to see him about something.

Once the memorial ceremony concluded, the three of them headed to the Dongshan Magistrate Office.

With a wave of his hand, Kong Zhao cast a sealing art that isolated the room from all outside eavesdropping.

The moment Zhao Cheng spoke, he revealed Yin Fengshuo's fate.

"Yin Fengshuo has been stripped of his position as Prefect of Guling Commandery, thrown into the death row prison, and sentenced to execution after the autumn assizes."

Li Shun looked somewhat surprised.

"He was actually sentenced to death? I thought the worst he would face was being stripped of his official status and reduced to a commoner."

Zhao Cheng nodded slightly.

"Your memorial oration certainly stirred public outrage and added fuel to the flames, but at most, that would only have been enough to convict him of dereliction of duty. What truly sealed his fate was his collusion with the descendant of the Jun Clan."

"He really was connected to the Jun Clan? I assumed someone had framed him."

Li Shun was genuinely surprised.

Zhao Cheng chuckled.

"Whether he truly was or not hardly matters. After enduring a round of severe torture, he confessed anyway. The truth is, someone in the imperial court needed a scapegoat."

"May I ask, Martial Uncle, what you mean by that?"

"The disaster of the Heavenly Dao Severance Qi that erupted in Guling Commandery had very little to do with any so-called descendant of the Jun Clan. That was merely a smokescreen. The true source of the disaster was the connection between the commandery's earth veins and the Heavenly Dao Severance Sea. Do you still remember the ancient well in Dongshan Town?"

Li Shun nodded.

"Of course."

Zhao Cheng continued, "The truth is, this hidden danger had already been discovered when Imperial Mausoleum was first constructed. At the time, the overseers secretly reported it to their superiors. However, the threat posed by the Heavenly Dao Severance Sea was still insignificant back then, so the higher authorities simply ordered them to suppress it by constructing that well as a seal."

"Afterward, Imperial Mausoleum Commandery became isolated from Great Qian. Thanks to that seal, everything remained peaceful for several centuries. Who could have imagined that the moment the commandery rejoined Great Qian, such a catastrophe would erupt?"

"And the person who issued the order to construct that sealing well back then... is none other than the current Right Chancellor. Of course, at that time, he had yet to attain the office of Chancellor and was merely the Director of the Department of State Affairs."

"As the investigation continued layer by layer, it eventually reached the Right Chancellor himself. Naturally, that was where it had to stop. After all, who in the imperial court would dare impeach the Right Chancellor?"

"However, since this disaster had already become known throughout the realm, the imperial court still had to give the people an explanation."

"And so..."

Zhao Cheng sighed softly, shaking his head.

Li Shun immediately recalled what the officials from the Directorate of Celestial Observation had said during their investigation.

"So, the so-called traces left behind by remnants of the former nations existed simply because the well was constructed during the founding years of the dynasty, and the craftsmen and laborers responsible for building it happened to be former citizens of the conquered nations?"

Li Shun pondered thoughtfully.

Zhao Cheng smiled.

"After His Majesty unified the realm, it would have been impossible to exterminate all the subjects of the former nations. In fact, during the first hundred years after the dynasty's founding, most of the common people still considered themselves citizens of their former states. Their speech, customs, and daily lives all retained traces of the old nations."

"It was only after generations passed that those distinctions gradually faded away."

Although Li Shun felt there might still be hidden truths behind the matter, he no longer wished to pursue them.

Since the Great Qian court had already decided to close the case, there was little point digging any deeper.

After all, Yin Fengshuo had already been thrown into the death row prison, the mastermind behind the tribulation had perished, and Fang Xun had successfully received a shrine where the people could offer sacrifices in his honor.

The original objectives had all been accomplished.

"I came here today for another matter."

After finishing their discussion of the aftermath of the Imperial Mausoleum incident, Zhao Cheng finally turned to the true purpose of his visit.

"You've already advanced into the Primal Simplicity realm. Back when Junior Brother Fang accepted you as his direct disciple, he personally petitioned Martial Uncle Dong. At the time, Martial Uncle declared that if you could reach the Primal Simplicity realm within a year, you would be granted an exception and accepted as a core disciple."

"I truly never expected your progress to be this astonishing. In barely half a year, you've already fulfilled that requirement."

Li Shun replied modestly, "If I hadn't encountered another fortunate opportunity within the sealed earth of the Imperial Mausoleum, there is no way this disciple could have advanced so quickly."

"According to tradition, the ceremony acknowledging a core disciple should be personally conducted by your master, who would bring you to the Sacred Capital to pay respects to Martial Uncle. Unfortunately... your master has already passed away."

"Furthermore, there is an important matter that requires your attention immediately. Therefore, your formal core disciple ceremony will have to be postponed. Once you've completed this task, you can head directly to the Sacred Capital."

As Zhao Cheng spoke, he deliberately glanced toward Kong Zhao beside him.

Because of the Fangcun space, Li Shun had no desire to travel to the Sacred Capital so soon.

However, he was extremely interested in the important matter Zhao Cheng had mentioned.

Zhao Cheng did not keep him in suspense.

"In two years, a major event will take place."

"The greatest talents from the Hundred Schools will gather together. Only cultivators below the Grotto Mystic Realm may participate."

"Our Confucian School has been allocated three participants."

"This is an enormous opportunity. Anyone who returns successfully will possess the potential to step directly into the Creation realm and instantly become one of the core figures of their respective schools."

"Originally, your master was one of the three selected candidates."

"Now that he has unfortunately passed away, that position has become vacant."

Zhao Cheng looked directly at Li Shun.

"The elders of the sect intend for you to take your master's place."

"However, you've only cultivated for a short time and your foundation remains shallow. This decision has already caused considerable dissatisfaction among the other branches of the Confucian School."

"Therefore, the elders require you to forcefully advance into the Spirit Resonance realm within the next two years."

Li Shun frowned slightly.

"To go from the Primal Simplicity realm to the Spirit Resonance realm in only two years is indeed asking the impossible."

"Especially because of the Three Breakthrough Trials. They're mysterious and elusive, and extremely difficult for ordinary cultivators to overcome."

"That is why, after much discussion, the elders have decided to give you a helping hand."

At that moment, Kong Zhao took over.

"My Kong Family possesses a Grotto Heaven blessed land. Cultivating in seclusion there allows one to ignore the shackles of the Three Breakthrough Trials. As long as you possess sufficient cultivation resources, you can force your way into the next realm within a short period."

Li Shun's heart trembled.

"Such a miraculous place actually exists in this world?"

Kong Zhao smiled.

"It isn't nearly as incredible as you imagine. Otherwise, our Kong Family would never have been able to keep possession of this blessed land."

"It is true that it allows one to bypass the Three Breakthrough Trials, but it comes with many severe restrictions."

"First, the Grotto Heaven is extremely small. At most, it can accommodate cultivators up to the Spirit Resonance realm. If anyone above the Spirit Resonance realm attempts to force their way inside, the entire pocket world will be unable to withstand the pressure and will collapse on its own."

"Second, the so-called Three Breakthrough Trials are actually Heaven's examination of a cultivator's aptitude and state of mind."

"Although special methods can be used to evade them once, Heaven's judgment does not simply disappear."

"Instead, it accumulates and doubles during the Heaven, Earth, and Human Trials of your next major realm."

"You may succeed through clever means this time, but when the time comes to break through your next major realm, the difficulty will increase dramatically."

"For that reason, our Grotto Heaven has always been suitable only for cultivators below the Spirit Resonance realm who are nearing the end of their lifespan and wish to stake everything on one final gamble."

"However, if Junior Brother can successfully participate in that grand gathering of the Hundred Schools, then before reaching the Creation realm, you likely won't have to worry about another major breakthrough."

"In that case, you need not concern yourself with the long-term consequences of cultivating inside the Grotto Heaven."

Kong Zhao patiently finished his explanation.

Now that matters had been laid out so clearly, Li Shun naturally understood what they meant.

Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded.

"Many thanks to the sect for its generous support. This disciple is willing to go."

Seeing him agree so readily, Zhao Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

"Even with unlimited cultivation resources, fully completing the Primal Simplicity realm within two years is by no means an easy task."

"Take care of everything here in Dongshan as quickly as possible and set out without delay."

Zhao Cheng instructed him seriously.

"One more thing."

"The Kong Family's Grotto Heaven is strictly forbidden to outsiders. The sect has already paid an enormous price to secure your entry."

"This time, you should not bring anyone else with you."

He added one final reminder.