Chapter 276: Chapter 204: Golden Opportunity in Hand, the Ritual Saint Jade Hairpin, the Destiny of the Three Religions is All Mine

All this time.

Lu Mingyuan had always considered Wei the Ninth his final trump card.

He would never use him unless absolutely necessary.

Since Wei the Ninth had said he could act on his behalf once, he must be completely confident he could deal with a top-tier existence of the Upper Three Grades.

This was his only way to contend with the Upper Three Grades.

Lu Mingyuan had, in fact, just considered having Wei the Ninth kill his father, the Emperor. It would eliminate his greatest threat and resolve the immediate crisis.

But after careful consideration, he realized it was inappropriate. Publicly, his father, the Emperor, was still a wise and benevolent ruler. Only he, through his divinations, knew the Emperor’s true intentions and his deep scheming. Everyone else still believed his father was the brilliant and mighty Emperor of a golden age.

In fact, being brilliant and mighty was not at all in conflict with being deeply scheming. Both traits could exist in a single person.

For Emperor Yong’an to have come this far as the Emperor of Great Yan was a blessing in disguise; otherwise, the Great Yan Dynasty would have long since fallen into decline.

But to Lu Mingyuan, he was an unfathomable father, a formidable opponent, and a source of immense danger and trouble.

"Since you wish to understand, then I shall tell you."

A nostalgic look appeared on Wei the Ninth’s aged face as he began to speak, lost in his own thoughts.

"In my years in the Cold Palace, I have seen many an Emperor. Some were stubborn and self-willed, refusing all counsel, and ended up captured by the Northern Country after personally leading an expedition. Some were subservient to foreign tribes, yet played their imperial power games masterfully against their own Court officials. Some had mediocre Cultivation but were brilliant at governing the country. Some seized the throne by killing their fathers and brothers, playing out dramas of candlelight and axe shadows..."

"Every Emperor in the history of the Great Yan Dynasty has been one who distinguished himself from among the many princes, but Emperor Yong’an is a particularly special case."

Wei the Ninth smiled faintly and looked at Lu Mingyuan. "Are you aware that those on the Mountain who practice Cultivation, and the scholars who study rites and pursue knowledge, must all be kept in a cage, regardless of whether they are good or evil? They may be Immortals, they may be Saints, but they all need to be caged. They can seek to become Immortals and pursue eternal life—the Great Yan Dynasty will absolutely not interfere. In fact, it’s happy to see them succeed."

Lu Mingyuan nodded in understanding. "The Three Religions and the Court exist in a state of balance. A Dynasty must have its bottom line. At the very least, it must make those superior beings act within certain rules, not as they please. They can’t just move mountains and stir up waters in the mortal Dynasty based on personal whim."

Wei the Ninth said, "And your father was exactly such a person at the beginning. He saw through the bitter struggles of past dynasties to impose limits. He witnessed firsthand how a casual conflict between Immortals could result in the heaviest casualties among the unarmed commoners of the Dynasty. The reason the people within the Central Plains of Great Yan are willing to offer incense, worship the Taoist Immortals, and pay respect to all kinds of Cultivators is not just out of fear, but also a touch of envy."

"Your father, the Emperor, was deeply dissatisfied with all of this and vowed to overturn it all."

Lu Mingyuan frowned. "Indeed. Even if it’s a commoner from the lowest rungs of society who dies innocently in a squabble between Immortals, Great Yan must have the backbone and the power to demand justice for that person, who is no more than an ant in an Immortal’s eyes!"

Wei the Ninth smiled faintly, holding up two fingers pressed almost together. "The amount of justice Great Yan can demand now is considerable, but it’s limited to a place the size of the Central Divine Continent. While not a vast area, this achievement is precious. Compared to the dynasties outside the Central Plains—those nations that act as slaves and servants to the Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands—the difference is like heaven and earth."

However frustrating the matter was, Lu Mingyuan had little power to do anything about it. But that didn’t stop him from thinking.

’To some extent, my father has done a lot of good. At least he created a golden age for Great Yan.’

’If I weren’t his son, perhaps I wouldn’t be in so much trouble and danger.’

"Now that we’ve talked about your father’s character, it’s time to discuss his actions."

Wei the Ninth said leisurely.

"First, you must understand a concept, and that is Destiny."

"This thing, Destiny, is very vague and general. Different powers have different names for it. The Taoist Sect calls it Incense, the Buddhist Sect calls it Merit, and for the Confucian Temple, it is more about scholarly lineage and heritage. The Three Religions Immortal Forces are all vying for Destiny, as are the great dynasties, including Great Yan."

"An individual has Destiny, and so does a nation. A person’s potential for achievement is not a direct result of their Destiny, but it is closely connected. Without Destiny, one will face constant difficulties. Without good fortune, it’s hard for one’s Cultivation to advance. With Destiny, your efforts yield twice the result, your Cultivation journey is smooth and unhindered, and should you meet a benefactor, your progress will advance by leaps and bounds."

Lu Mingyuan recalled, "I remember you saying, Senior, that the reason you’re helping me is also related to Destiny?"

Wei the Ninth nodded. "That’s right. I did indeed mention it to you. My own Destiny has reached its limit, and I need to borrow yours to achieve a Breaking Realm."

Lu Mingyuan thought back to his own bottleneck at the Ninth Realm and could roughly understand where the bottleneck Wei the Ninth mentioned came from.

On their path of Cultivation, Cultivators will always encounter thresholds and chasms. These bottlenecks, aside from factors like Heart Demons and talent, also have an element of Destiny within them.

This thing called Destiny.

It doesn’t determine your lower limits, but it is absolutely necessary to break through the upper limits of your Cultivation.

Wei the Ninth continued to explain, "Similarly, how far a Dynasty can go also depends on Destiny. For tens of thousands of years, countless dynasties have risen and fallen. Since we are in the Central Plains World, we must look to the Celestial Mandate, which determines Destiny."

The region of the Central Divine Continent has been the land of the orthodox Celestial Mandate since ancient times. A Saint called it the ’Center of the Earth.’ In ancient times, it was called the Human Race Celestial Continent, the birthplace of the Saint Dao, and the land with the most abundant resources. It was only renamed after the Middle Ages.