Chapter 1381: The Dao Ancestor and the Buddha Ancestor (Fourth Update)
"Grandmaster Meng speaks too highly of me."
The old Daoist master chuckled. "The Yan Kang Kingdom is mostly frugal, unaccustomed to spending money lavishly. This small nation has just risen and habitually hoards its wealth. Wanting to make their riches flow away like water isn't difficult, is it? Just have the Heavenly Palace of Goods and Production continue minting money, minting more Heavenly Currency, and their wealth will naturally depreciate. How much Heavenly Currency to mint—isn't that up to the Heavenly Court to decide?"
Meng Yungui was caught between laughter and tears. "Teacher, the Heavenly Court can indeed mint more money, but this will only cause the Heavenly Currency to depreciate across all the various heavens, its value dropping lower and lower! Furthermore, this currency will ultimately flow back to the Primordial Realm, flowing into Yan Kang! In the end, when the poor of all the heavens and myriad realms can no longer survive, there will be only one path left."
His voice turned cold. "That is rebellion!"
"First, they will rebel against the gods of the heavens and myriad realms, against their rulers! The gods of the heavens and myriad realms are wealthy now, and their rulers are even wealthier. But when the heavens and myriad realms rise in rebellion in the future, if these gods and rulers don't join the revolt, they will be beheaded by the rebellious commoners! There is no second path!"
"And when the gods of the heavens and myriad realms rebel, and their rulers rebel, that is rebelling against the Heavenly Court!"
Meng Yungui sneered. "By then, if all the heavens and myriad realms revolt together, this wave will be enough to throw the Heavenly Court into chaos, spiraling out of control! Even if the Heavenly Court is powerful, can it slaughter every single rebel across all the heavens and myriad realms? At that point, with the people's fury boiling over, even the emperors will have no choice but to join the rebellion. If the Heavenly Venerables wish to maintain their rule, they will have to push someone out to be executed, to atone to the world!"
The old Daoist master of the Heavenly Court remained composed. "Grandmaster Meng, who do you think will be pushed out to be beheaded and atone to the world?"
"This person must be of extremely high status, at the very least a Heavenly Venerable. Or even…"
Meng Yungui couldn't help but shudder, his voice hoarse. "Or even possibly His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor himself!"
The old Daoist master said flatly, "Do you think the Ten Heavenly Venerables would be happy or sad if His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor were pushed out to be executed?"
Meng Yungui was stunned, and a deep fear suddenly arose in his heart.
The old Daoist master looked at him with a smile, speaking earnestly, "Grandmaster Meng, I know you hold your position and attend to its duties, but you still cannot see the current situation clearly. The Yan Kang Kingdom is the territory of the Heavenly Venerable Mu. He intends to establish a nation through minting currency, gathering the wealth of all heavens. But the Ten Heavenly Venerables are not necessarily opposed to this; they may even be indulging him. No matter how much wealth Yan Kang accumulates, its strength will never catch up to the Heavenly Court. When do you think Yan Kang will be able to force the heavens and myriad realms into rebellion?"
Meng Yungui said solemnly, "Within a hundred years."
"A hundred years? Too many. In my view, rebellion will come within fifty years."
The old Daoist master said calmly, "You are proficient in numerology, strategy, and calculation, but you have not yet reached the pinnacle. The Ten Heavenly Venerables cannot wait a hundred years. They hope to resolve the issue of the Heavenly Emperor and all the ancient gods within fifty years, clearing away all obstacles! As for Yan Kang, can it grow into a behemoth capable of contending with the Heavenly Court in fifty years?"
Meng Yungui opened his mouth but said nothing, then shook his head. "It cannot."
The old Daoist master continued, "Then after the Ten Heavenly Venerables depose the emperor, pacifying Yan Kang will take no effort at all."
Meng Yungui shuddered.
The old Daoist master smiled. "Grandmaster Meng, you must learn to gauge the intentions of your superiors. Turn a blind eye to this matter, and when the world changes in the future, you can be spared. You must understand that when the Ten Heavenly Venerables kill the Heavenly Emperor, they will also need some powerful figures to be sacrificed to the heavens. Do you want to become that sacrifice? The profession of Grandmaster is very dangerous. In history, those who have sat in your position have changed over a dozen times. Some Grandmasters died inexplicably."
Cold sweat dripped from Meng Yungui's forehead, and he dared not speak.
The old Daoist master patted him on the shoulder, turned, and walked out of the side hall, leaving Meng Yungui slumped dejectedly in his seat.
After a moment, the old Daoist master arrived at the main hall of the Jade Pool Retreat and bowed to an old Daoist. "Dao Ancestor."
That old Daoist was none other than the Dao Ancestor of the Daoist Sect. He was placing chess pieces and looked up leisurely. "Is it done?"
"Meng Yungui has deeply grasped the essence of Daoist numerology and has keen insight. He saw the general trend of the world over the next fifty years."
The old Daoist master of the Heavenly Court praised him. "However, I have made him understand the gravity of the situation. He will conceal this and not report it."
The Dao Ancestor placed a piece, smiling. "If he insists on reporting it, then we will have to ask the Great Monk to step in and wipe his memory clean."
Opposite him, playing chess with him, was precisely the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha, who chuckled. "Meng Yungui is a rare talent of the Daoist Sect, with the potential to become the foremost Grandmaster in the future. It is not surprising that he can see through the methods of the Heavenly Venerable Mu. If you are still not at ease, I can send him into a dream and make him forget this experience."
"That won't be necessary."
The Dao Ancestor stared at the chessboard, waiting for him to make his move, and smiled. "He understands the gravity of the situation and will not report it to the Ten Heavenly Venerables. Moreover, the Ten Heavenly Venerables do indeed harbor rebellious intentions. They are about to complete their cultivation of the Heavenly Court and have forged the divine artifact, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable. They certainly will not continue to prop up the Heavenly Emperor. They want to become the true Heavenly Emperors, and they also need a reason to eliminate the Heavenly Emperor, even if this Heavenly Emperor is merely a counterfeit."
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha stared at the chessboard. After a moment, he flicked his sleeve. "I lose, I lose! Your numerology is too strong; I cannot beat you!"
He looked around the main hall of the Jade Pool Retreat and sighed with emotion. "This was once the place where the Heavenly Venerable Mu taught the Imperial Heavenly Venerable's Dharma. Here, the Heavenly Venerable Mu spread the method of becoming a god throughout the world, establishing boundless merit. Yet now, few gods and demons come here to commemorate his achievements. It has become so desolate, leaving only the two of us old bones playing chess here."
The Dao Ancestor stood up and murmured, "I still remember the moment when the Heavenly Venerable Mu flicked my compass, and I still recall that divine finger to this day."
The Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha laughed. "I remember when he filled my alms bowl with spiritual pills. I begged for pills only for my cultivation, but he gave so many, not knowing I only needed two or three. So I directly gave him the Sutra of the Infinite Kalpa, only for his use, not teaching him the method. I wonder if he has now comprehended the Heavenly Palace of the Buddhist Path."
The two exchanged a smile.
At that moment, Qin Mu arrived at the Tsaofu Heavenly Palace via the Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge. Shi Qiluo greeted him, smiling. "Heavenly Venerable Mu, please stay. Would you care to have a brief chat in my palace?"
Qin Mu's expression changed drastically. He really did not want to be alone with him and was about to decline, but Shi Qiluo squeezed his mountain-like fist, his knuckles cracking loudly.
Qin Mu had no choice but to enter the heavenly palace with him. The two sat down, and Shi Qiluo sighed. "Heavenly Venerable Mu, this widow has been exposed. I'm afraid the Ten Heavenly Venerables all know my identity now."
Qin Mu couldn't help but laugh. "Empress Dowager, why do you call yourself 'this widow'?"
Shi Qiluo gave him a resentful glare and said sorrowfully, "My husband is dead, and my reincarnated husband has also been exiled by you all. Of course, I call myself 'this widow.' Heavenly Venerable Mu, you must think of a way for me, or else at this Heavenly Alliance Assembly, the Ten Heavenly Venerables will likely use me as a sacrificial blade!"
Qin Mu said seriously, "Although I am the Alliance Leader, I can barely protect myself. This time, I'm afraid even I will…"
Shi Qiluo grabbed his hand and shook it back and forth, nearly shaking him apart. "Help this widow, and I will give myself to you…"
"Stop right there!"
Qin Mu's face changed drastically, and he quickly said, "Let me think… I've got it! Let go of me first!"
—End of the month, asking for monthly votes! Brothers and sisters, the New Year is coming. If you have monthly votes, please cast them now. Zhai Zhu will be at the table to serve you during the New Year!~~