Chapter 206 - 150: Celestial Ladder
Chapter 206: Chapter 150: Celestial Ladder
If she hadn’t paid much attention to the South City project before, she was certainly taking it seriously now.
She asked, "Yuan, how do you propose the Imperial Court makes silver here?"
"Build more restaurants and places for entertainment. In the future, these Academy Palace disciples will be the biggest consumers. However, the Imperial Court doesn’t need to get involved directly. It just needs to collect taxes.
Take half of all commercial taxes in South City, and everyone here will still make a good profit," Lu Yuan said, raising an eyebrow.
The Xiao Clan pondered for a moment, then mused, "Are you still planning to buy more land?"
"Of course. After I make silver from selling the houses, I’ll keep buying land and then keep selling houses. That’s the only way to fully develop all of South City.
Population and silver will come knocking on our door automatically," Lu Yuan said.
"Alright. I’ll notify the Government Office not to sell any of the land in South City easily. They’ll wait for you to buy it. You can handle all the planning here as well.
The restaurants, and everything else, will be under your management. The Imperial Court will only be responsible for collecting taxes," the Xiao Clan said cheerfully.
’After all, Lu Yuan will be family sooner or later. It’s much better to let one of our own earn the silver.’
Lu Yuan didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately said, "Leave it to me. You can rest assured I will develop South City well."
As they spoke, the group arrived at the training ground.
About a hundred youths were standing in the field, receiving instruction from Wei Yong.
Each of them held a Secret Manual.
Wei Yong said in a cold voice, "Remember this. These Secret Manuals are for you to study alone. You are absolutely forbidden from spreading them after you leave. Otherwise, the Academy Palace will clean house."
"Yes, Teacher," the students replied respectfully.
In truth, Wei Yong’s words were merely a warning.
To truly learn a Cultivation Technique, one needed more than just the Secret Manual. Someone also had to open your acupoints. Otherwise, even with a Secret Manual, practicing recklessly would lead to cultivation deviation.
This was a feature unique to Third-Grade Cultivation Skills and above, designed specifically to prevent the techniques from being leaked.
The acupoint-opening method was different for every Cultivation Technique.
Lu Yuan had a system and could skip this step, but others could not.
At this time, several thousand people were watching from outside the field. They were there to see the acupoint-opening process, as only this could prove that the Academy Palace was genuinely teaching a Third-Grade Cultivation Skill.
After Wei Yong finished speaking, he led a group of men forward. These were the men Lu Yuan had brought back from the Celestial King Stronghold.
Each man took a youth into the training field to open their acupoints.
Many tents had been set up here to prevent the method from being leaked. Although the probability was small, Wei Yong was very cautious and still chose the safer option, which pleased Lu Yuan.
’The rough man from before is finally starting to mature.’
For a time, the sounds of CRACKLING and POPPING, along with the pained cries of the youths, echoed across the field.
However, the wealthy merchants who had bought the houses weren’t angry at all. Watching their sons being manipulated until they shrieked and squalled, they instead looked thrilled.
’Acupoint opening! It really is a Third-Grade Cultivation Skill.’
At this, the Xiao Clan couldn’t help but glance at Lu Yuan. "A Third-Grade Cultivation Skill... You’re truly generous."
"Heh, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The establishment of the Academy Palace is a form of progress for the entire world. It gives more people a path to cultivation.
Actually, it has an even more important function," Lu Yuan said, lowering his voice.
The Xiao Clan turned to look at him. "What is it?"
"Breaking the monopoly of the nobility. In the past, the upper echelons of the Imperial Court were almost all nobles because they controlled the most Cultivation Techniques. The Imperial Court had no choice but to use them. But now, things are different.
At the very least, more people can cultivate now. Given enough time, they will form a power in the Imperial Court that is far from weak, one that can contend with the nobility and make the Imperial Court more stable." Lu Yuan’s words made the Xiao Clan’s eyes light up.
’How lucky I am,’ she couldn’t help but think, ’to have met Lu Yuan back then, and for him to have developed feelings for my daughter.’
’A man like him would quickly distinguish himself no matter where he went.’
’I can just imagine what this place will look like in a few decades.’
The heavy snow had stopped today, but the weather had grown even colder.
The Xiao Clan said, "Regarding what you said yesterday, I’ve already had a decree issued. Of the twelve Vassal Towns, six have been enfeoffed. The others have been left alone.
Let’s see how things go in a few days. If it’s truly successful, the situation for my Northern Barbarians should ease considerably."
"Yes. The main goal is to eliminate the Shengman and the Ancient Barbarians. If we can control these two factions, the Northern Barbarians’ strength will skyrocket in a short time, increasing two- or threefold.
At that point, we won’t have to worry about the other powers in the world," Lu Yuan said.
His eyes shone with determination.
’Since I’ve come to this world, I might as well become the strongest. If unifying the world is the only way to ascend to immortality, then I’ll give unifying this world a try.’
’In truth, this wasn’t just his idea; it was the dream of every emperor. Yet for thousands of years, none had succeeded.’
And just as they were speaking, a figure approached. It was the commander of the Observatory. His strength was immense; Lu Yuan guessed he was above the Divine Essence realm, but he couldn’t determine his specific cultivation level.
Upon reaching the Xiao Clan’s side and noticing Lu Yuan was also there, he first froze for a second, then showed a hint of hesitation.
"What happened? Just say it. There are no outsiders here," the Xiao Clan said softly.
"The Celestial Ladder Cliff has been discovered in the East Sea. Experts from all the major powers are rushing there." The words reached the Xiao Clan’s ears.
She couldn’t help but look at Lu Yuan. "Yuan, are you interested?"
A glint flashed in Lu Yuan’s eyes. He knew of the Celestial Ladder Cliff. It was a place for experts at the Gathering Pill realm and below to test their potential. The higher one climbed the ladder, the greater their potential was proven to be.
It was said that in ancient times, anyone who reached the top would receive a reward from the heavens: a Celestial Totem.
It could better stimulate one’s latent potential.
And make their physical body nearly perfect.
However, the time of the Celestial Ladder’s appearance was never fixed, so many people never got the chance to try.
After all, if your cultivation level was too high, you missed the opportunity. Only those at the Gathering Pill realm and below were eligible.
"I want to go! I’ve never been to the East Sea before," Xiao Hua cried out.
Lu Yuan couldn’t help but smile. "Alright. If you want to go, we’ll go together."
"Good. I’ll have the Grand Minister of Rites and experts from the Prajna Temple accompany you, so you don’t need to worry about your safety. You must perform well this time.
Not only must you bring glory to my Northern Barbarians, but you must also show the world how blind Dayong was to force out a talent like you.
If you ask me, the Yong Emperor’s eyes are truly blind," the Xiao Clan said coolly.
Her tone was laced with anger, clearly indignant on Lu Yuan’s behalf.
"Alright. I’ll be sure to put on a good show and really rub it in their faces," Lu Yuan chuckled. He could feel the Xiao Clan’s care and affection for him.
At the same time, a flicker of curiosity crossed his eyes. ’I wonder who Dayong will send this time.’
「At that very moment, in Dayong’s Crown Prince’s Mansion.」
The Seventh Prince glanced at the group of Noble Disciples below him. "You are all young and brilliant talents. With the appearance of the Celestial Ladder, I plan to lead a trip there myself. Who wishes to go?"
He said with a light chuckle.
These people were not on the same level as the likes of Zhao Yu and Zhang Zhe. Take Zhao Yu’s elder brother, Zhao Feng, for example. At a young age, his cultivation had already reached the Great Success stage of Void Manipulation, and he might even be at the brink of Perfection.
The Seventh Prince had high hopes for his potential.
If he could identify some individuals with immense potential on this trip, it would help him know who to focus on cultivating.
After all, while Dayong was wealthy, resources were still tight. They couldn’t be squandered carelessly.
Hearing the Seventh Prince’s words...
Everyone stood up and declared, "We will go with you!"
They understood in their hearts that if they went and their talent was proven, they would surely earn the Crown Prince’s favor in the future. Thus, they didn’t hesitate.
Now that the choice of Crown Prince was settled, there was no longer a need to pick sides.
Assisting the Seventh Prince was, of course, the best choice for these disciples from the great noble families.
After receiving their reply, the Crown Prince beamed. "Excellent. We shall depart in two days."
Meanwhile, after taking the Xiao mother and daughter on a tour around the South City Academy, Lu Yuan escorted them back to the palace and then returned to his own mansion.
By now, a full day had passed. The sky outside was gloomy and had begun to darken.
Lu Yuan sat in the seat of honor, sipping tea brought by a maidservant. He looked down with a chuckle at the waiting Cai Chong and asked, "What were today’s earnings?"
He knew that they must have sold far more houses today than yesterday, since the local wealthy merchants of the Northern Barbarians had finally made their move.
If this was a success, the silver they earned today would be enough for the next phase of operations. It could also be used to fund the Celestial King Stronghold—which was crucial to his greatest goal.
Within two years, he wanted the Celestial King Stronghold to be strong enough to contend with the Imperial Guard.