Chapter 1082: Chapter 71: Sensation at Kunyuan Academy, Zhao Xing’s Grand Entrance!
But the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerate’s bones were no longer purple; they had turned white.
His entire body of purple bones, except for the head with a hint of purple, had been mortgaged.
The Red Bone Venerable Sage calculated the debt for him, "Starting today, begin artifact refining; Senior Brother, you need to refine for five hundred years to pay off the debt and redeem your Purple Bone Battle Body."
"Senior Brother, if you delay further, you might not have more than ten years to live after clearing the debt."
"Ahhhh!" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerate roared in frustration, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the Array.
...
Dao Yuan Continent, Kunyuan Academy, Kunshan.
This was Meng Kun’s residence, and at this moment, he was incredibly troubled.
"Changqing, look, look now, this scoundrel Qin Shanyue is dredging up old scores again!" Meng Kun held a document in his hand, shaking with anger.
"I know, I’ve seen it." Gu Changqing sighed, "There’s nothing you can do. You were a bit impulsive at the time, Zhao Xing held that title for over twenty years, but it was essentially a token position, you can’t entirely blame him."
"You, how can you say something in his defense!" Meng Kun angrily threw the document on the ground.
It was an internal impeachment letter.
Qin Shanyue, the vice dean of the Xuantu Institute, was accusing Meng Kun of political inaction and abuse of private authority.
Why did this happen? Because Kunyuan Academy was also reaching the time for succession.
The dean of Kunyuan Academy, Xuan Yuan Qingtian, similarly wouldn’t outlive Emperor Jing.
Since the 15th year of Da Zhi, Xuan Yuan Qingtian perceived his own exact time of death and began the selection process for a successor.
The five major institutes of Kunyuan Academy—the Ksitigarbha Institute, Spirit Mountain Institute, Xuantu Institute, Earth Palace Institute, Kunyuan Institute—represented various internal factions.
With the start of the selection, the competition also commenced.
Qin Shanyue, the vice dean of Xuantu Institute, was also one of the strong candidates.
The criteria for selecting a successor were all similar, usually spell cultivation, classical annotations, political achievements, and personal morality.
For now, it didn’t involve the Great Taoism Competition; it only addressed flaws in political achievements and personal morality.
Today’s impeachment document by Qin Shanyue included mistakes and waste in the spell project led by Meng Kun.
During the rebellion of Prince Liang, Meng Kun asked the Saint to intervene, utilizing the Earth Piercing Divine Ship and Ten Thousand Mountains, as well as excavating the Ancient Earth Tunnel, to rescue Zhao Xing, which was again brought to light.
Qin Shanyue was very crafty; he didn’t oppose Meng Kun rescuing Zhao Xing, as that was already settled.
He opposed Meng Kun’s reckless actions that caused resource waste.
If you had already gone to the fief of Prince Liang to capture people, why further excavate the Ancient Earth Tunnel?
Far too many resources were wasted; you’re not suitable to lead work. If I were in charge, this and that would’ve happened.
Additionally, he also thinks that Meng Kun tried his utmost to please Zhao Xing but ended up with nothing after twenty years, using it as a point of attack.
Zhao Xing still holds the position of Dean at the Ksitigarbha Institute, essentially acting as Meng Kun’s deputy.
Yet, after these twenty years, has Zhao Dashengzi produced any studies of the Earth Advantage Sect?
The Heavenly Time Sect and Self Sect have been continuously productive, and are very impressive!
Meng Kun, did you warm a cold seat with a hot face?
Meng Kun, you lack virtue and talent!
In short, Qin Shanyue cursed quite harshly.
This made Old Meng very miserable in recent years, unable to sleep properly.
"Sigh!"
"Qin Shanyue, he really has a sharp tongue." Meng Kun sighed, "Changqing, what should I do?"
"I don’t know either." Gu Changqing shook his head, "Qin Shanyue nurtured a Spirit Mountain, ranking 109th among the Spirit Mountains in the world."
"Managed the construction work of Hokkaido for twenty years during Da Zhi, and he has unearthed and recommended many talents, showing remarkable performance in the Blessed Land..."
Meng Kun interrupted irritably, "Is there nothing I excel at compared to him?"
Gu Changqing nodded, "There is."
"What?" Meng Kun’s eyes lit up.
"Your family background is better than his."
"..." Meng Kun was instantly deflated again, "What use is that? If family background mattered, my grandfather would’ve passed down the dean position to my father, instead of Xuan Yuan Qingtian!"
"Ugh." Meng Kun felt deeply gloomy at this moment.
However, just then, a figure swiftly flew into the Kunshan Palace.
The visitor was Meng Li, the guardian priest of Hai Shan Mausoleum, and Meng Kun’s cousin.
"Brother, brother, Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao..."
"What are you shouting about! Speak properly, you’re an adult now, why so flustered and disorganized?" Meng Kun was feeling frustrated.
"I, I, big news! Great news!" Meng Li was trembling with excitement.
Gu Changqing, being more composed, immediately realized something: "Meng Li, is there news from the divine temple? Has Zhao Xing emerged from the Dragon Court Ancient Land?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Meng Li nodded vigorously!
"What’s the great news you’re talking about?"
"Zhao Xing has returned to the capital, received imperial rewards, appointed to the Imperial Palace, tasked with Military Realm inspections, granted a million acres of land, and promoted twelve ranks!"
"Promoted to the third official rank, and appointed as the Mountain Nourishing Envoy at the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land!"
"What?" Gu Changqing was stunned, "Isn’t the reward too generous? What exactly did he do?"
"He brought back the Shennong Hoe!" Meng Li finally managed to say.
But Meng Kun and Gu Changqing were momentarily unable to react.
"What Shennong Hoe, you’re not talking about the Kunyuan Divine Hoe, are you?" Gu Changqing’s mouth gaped open.
"Exactly!" Meng Li said, "Duke Divine Might has already set off from Fengjing, and grandfather sent a message from the underworld, telling us to prepare quickly for the Earth God Artifact’s grand ceremony... Brother, say something!"
Meng Kun, trembling, raised his finger nervously: "You, you, you, are you talking about, Kun Kun Kun..."
Meng Li grasped his finger: "Yes! It’s the Kunyuan Divine Hoe! You didn’t hear wrong!"
"Oh dear Earth Prince grandfather, this..." Meng Kun finally snapped out of the overwhelming joy.
He panted heavily and said: "Quick, quick, go make arrangements! Bring out all the ceremonial instruments, and get all the ceremony ships moving!"
"Old Gu, go call the Saint, we’ll leave the palace... no! We’ll go to the eastern side of Dao Yuan Continent to welcome him!"
The three of them shouted excitedly as they rushed out of Kunshan, and at that moment, the entire Kunyuan Academy was in an uproar.
...
In the 20th year of Da Zhi, at the beginning of August, Zhao Xing’s procession arrived at the border of Dao Yuan Continent, ’Purple Stone County’.
As soon as they entered the territory, they saw the sky covered with ceremonial ships, and warships waiting ahead, a dense crowd stretching endlessly.
Eighteen thousand mountains floated in the sky, looming amidst the clouds.
Above Purple Stone County’s skies, the path of clouds was gilded in gold and jade, with ceremonial ships filled with various trees on the first layer of cloud path.
On the second layer of the cloud path, Mechanical Beasts stood side by side, appearing mighty and extraordinary.
The third layer blossomed with a hundred flowers in competition, showcasing their beauty.
The fourth layer saw mythical beasts galloping, pulling carts filled with ceremonial items.
On the fifth layer, a row of bright red drums was being struck by strong men in armor.
The sixth layer had arranged chime stones and bells, where musicians in vestment robes played melodiously.
On the seventh layer, Meng Kun stood with his people, neatly aligned, with treasure-level Divine Artifacts shining brilliantly behind them as they welcomed.
Each layer of the cloud path was impeccably flat, almost seeming like a celestial road, and the clouds flowed dynamically.
In the sea of clouds, dragons rolled over, scattering golden light.
Such a spectacle had not been witnessed in millennia!
"My goodness, has Kunyuan Academy mobilized all the dancers, musicians, Tuquan Palace, and Chenghua Bureau from Dao Yuan Continent?"
"Have the treasure-level Divine Artifacts of the Five Great Institutes all been brought out?"
"Old Meng, can you still go on?"
Zhao Xing understood and was greatly amazed.
As for the two trusted aides beside him, Cao Qianyue and Li Muwan, they were stunned, even forgetting to eat, subconsciously tidying their appearance.
"Dunlie, quick, check my clothes, are they right?"
"Uh, I think there’s something dirty on your clothes."
"Ah! Get it fixed quickly!"
Standing on the Wuyao Warship, the accompanying Duke Wei, Jinwu Commander Yang Xiongying, Luo Hou King, Princess You Ruo, and other court dignitaries also watched with great interest.
Even Grand Minister of Agriculture Li Boqian felt a little jealous.
"How novel, the wealth I’ve inquired about many times as Grand Minister of Agriculture was just unveiled like this this time."
"Zhao Xing is merely a third-ranking Spirit Mountain Envoy, yet this reception is grander than even mine as Grand Minister of Agriculture!"
PS: Fourteen thousand words, asking for double monthly tickets!