As shrewd old foxes in the court, how could Gu Ji and others fail to see through such actions?
Even more so, the Emperor's actions this time, were not just the intentions of the Emperor alone, but represented the collective will of them all.
"Hehe." Gu Ji chuckled but remained silent, not giving any response.
Such matters are to be carried out secretly without a word, even if Pei Xuanjing sees through it, he will not admit it.
Pei Xuanjing didn't mind this, he said: "Mr. Gu, do me a favour and pass on a message. I'll accept the power of this incense faith. In the future, my share of this faith power should not be missed by a single strand."
When he spoke the last sentence, Pei Xuanjing's expression was stern, implying a non-negotiable request.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing suddenly so serious made Gu Ji inwardly curse aloud
Such value placed on the power of incense faith means that it is likely much more important than they originally conceived.
However, now that things have come to this point, what's done is done, and they have no choice but to go along with this. He can only nod in agreement: "Rest assured! "
"I hope so." Pei Xuanjing smiled. His smile was filled with mystery.
Having achieved his goal, Gu Ji didn't linger. His matters were numerous, thus he had no time to delay.
Besides, even in his leisure time, he wanted to seize the moment to refine his divine position, not waste time in needless embarrassment.
Watching Gu Ji's departing figure, the smile on Pei Xuanjing's face grew even brighter.
If there was a way to describe his feelings at the moment, it would be akin to him being sleepy and someone providing a pillow.
Normally, refining such a divine position could indeed help in his cultivation, but it was easy to be influenced by the karma of Heaven and Earth. Hence, Pei Xuanjing has been constantly seeking ways to reduce this influence.
He wanted to imitate the way the gods grasped their authority according to his own previous life's experiences, and create his own divine artifact to control the divine position.
However, while he thought of this solution, he had no clue as of yet as to what materials could be used to achieve it.
But the news brought by Gu Ji just now sparked realization in Pei Xuanjing. Incense faith is the most significant sustenance for the gods. Although he could not absorb it to prevent being tainted, he could collect it as a main raw material in creating divine artifacts.
He remembered that in legends, the power of the incense faith was something of a cure-all, suitable for all purposes. It could very well become the main material for his divine artifact. As the power of the faith continues to grow, it would allow his divine artifact to constantly evolve and become more powerful.
How could this not make Pei Xuanjing happy?
After this momentary departure from seclusion, Pei Xuanjing dealt with a few tasks and again entered seclusion. As he continued to refine the Taoism rhythmatist within the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, he also studied the martial arts techniques obtained from various major forces.
"Arhat Divine Skill", "Dragon-subduing and Elephant-taming Skill", "Bodhi Heart Method", "Bodhi Sword Skill"; "Iron Corpse Skill", "Separation Fire Divine Skill", "Supreme Void Profound Skill", "Heavenly Demon Palm", "Blood Shadow Demon"; "Pure Yang Cultivation Skill", "Turtle Breath Great Method", "Five Thunder Palm", "Innate Skill"…
Various top-notch martial arts, semi-lost techniques, and even lost techniques originating from Buddha, Tao, and Demon factions are now randomly placed in Pei Xuanjing's secret chamber, available for him to peruse.
These were all martial art techniques that Pei Xuanjing had traded from various factions. When the Daoist Academy is established, he will put them there. Any student or instructor of the Daoist Academy will be able to exchange the corresponding martial arts techniques for practice with just contribution points.
In this period, Pei Xuanjing studied these martial arts techniques, and with his understanding at the Spirit Realm level, he was able to get a clearer understanding of these techniques.
He extracted their strengths, examined their weaknesses, and used these insights to modify his Shenxiao Heaven's Intention and Shenxiao Mysterious Skill.
Even though only a short half a year had passed, Pei Xuanjing made large strides. He made many adjustments to his Shenxiao Heaven's Intention and Shenxiao Mysterious Skill.
Now, His Shenxiao Heaven's Intention and Shenxiao Mysterious Skill have undergone great changes compared to half a year ago when he had allowed Zhao Baiyang and others to watch freely. They have become more suitable for Pei Xuanjing and even more comprehensive.
Of course, Pei Xuanjing, having examined the Thunder Method martial arts of Dragon Tiger Mountain, also improved his Shenxiao Thunder Palm once more.
Previously, such martial arts techniques could no longer keep up with his increased strength. However, this round of examination boosted its power even further, which can now be considered as a Spirit Realm martial arts skill.
As time went by, although Pei Xuanjing was in seclusion, the development of the world did not stop.
Especially the Great Ming, which elevated to a Divine Dynasty, encompassed vast territories, suppressed the world, reigned supreme, the people prospered, the climate yielded good harvest and the people lived in peace.
Of course, for the common folks, their lives are more stable. But for martial artists worldwide, the world has become more tumultuous, leaving them dumbfounded.
In the original Daming World, numerous major factions occupied the top of the food chain. They occupied 90% of the world's interests. Even though there were conflicts amongst each other, the benefits hardly ever dripped down to the bottom-layer martial artists.
When Emperor Wuzong was assassinated, was it truly because Zhao Baiyang conspired with some evil practitioners? However, concerning this plot, were the powerful figures of those major factions truly oblivious?
Precisely because Emperor Wuzong had ordered the compilation of the Martial Classics to be spread across the world, more common people had obtained methods for cultivation, setting them on the road of cultivation, and increased the number of people who competed for stints at cultivation resources, infringing on their interests, which led to that assassination.
Over countless years, numerous emperors have tried to meddle with the interests of these monopoly forces, but they ended up either dead or instigating chaos throughout their realms, leading to the disintegration of their empires.
Emperor Wuzong was not the first to be assassinated, nor will he be the last.
Of course, these are things that were taken for granted by the various high-ranking forces. They have been using these tactics for thousands of years to deter anyone who wants to meddle with their interests, hence maintaining their long-lasting hold on power.
However, no one anticipated that someone like Pei Xuanjing would appear, someone who, although in control of a major force, was still determined to break this monopoly.
Although Pei Xuanjing took over the name of the Shenxiao Sect and was recognized as their member by them, this powerful figure did not protect them; instead, he became their gravedigger. His series of actions made the control of these major forces wobble instead of becoming more robust.
Ever since the rise of Pei Xuanjing, during the Great Morning Meeting at the Imperial City, he broke the monopolistic control of the Great Ming royal family and thereby wrested some of the powers that previously belonged to the Great Ming royal family and the imperial court. It can be said that he created an opening for various forces worldwide.
Afterward, Pei Xuanjing teamed up with various forces of the Taoist School, broke the seal of Heaven and Earth, revived the Heaven and Earth once again, paving the way for the global martial artists.
In the subsequent battle outside the border, several factions were promoted to the Divine Position by the Divine Dynasty…
Each of these events undoubtedly gained them the favor of these great powers, as the interests gained by these large forces were significantly more than those earned by ordinary martial artists.
However, there are two sides to everything. Despite them reaping substantial benefits from the events promoted by Pei Xuanjing, these incidents led to both worldly martial artists and the Great Ming imperial court gaining even more.
Take for example the Military City that Pei Xuanjing gifted to the global martial artists outside the border. After the promotion of Great Ming to the Divine Dynasty, with the increasing strength of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, they would naturally strive to suppress various forces again. It's an inevitable trend, absolutely irreversible.
Why would the Great Ming Divine Dynasty support Pei Xuanjing's proposal to establish the Taoist Academy this time? Because the Great Ming Divine Dynasty understands that it would be the ultimate beneficiary. With countless martial artists rising without any background, their dependence on these large forces would reduce, and there would be more people to replace them.
"Ever since the appearance of Grandmaster Pei, while we seemingly gained more benefits, the actual proportion we hold in the world has been reduced."
This was an evaluation made by a wise person in a great power about everything that Pei Xuanjing had done.
Pei Xuanjing is indeed aware of this, but he doesn't care a whit. He knows that there are even more outrageous statements made when he plans to establish the Taoist Academy and teach all skills to the global martial artists.
"What does Pei Xuanjing want to do? This is undermining our foundations. Now that Pei Xuanjing has successfully cultivated, he might not care about us, but does he disregard his Shenxiao Sect as well?"
Although they seemed to be scared by Pei Xuanjing's deterrence, countless offensive words came out behind his back. To say the least, this move by Pei Xuanjing almost caused a number of furious conservative vested interest holders, which left them indignant.
Everyone with a sane mind knows that if Pei Xuanjing's plan is pushed forward, their advantages would be continuously chopped down in the future, and they will have to stand on the same start line as the martial artists of ordinary origin. This is almost unbearable for them.
Pei Xuanjing's use of Divine Positions to exchange skills and his push to establish the Taoist Academy looked quite smooth. However, numerous open and hidden battles took place behind the scenes. If not for his power being substantial enough to suppress the world, he probably would have met the same fate as his previous life – being shot in the back 27 times and then accursed for "going berserk" and dying.
Bai Xiaosheng, who always looked down on these people, could not help but advise Pei Xuanjing against popular anger: "It's better to slow down the push for this matter. If forcing it, those people cannot deal with you, but posing a threat to the disciples of Shenxiao Sect and Taoist School who carry out the plan is very likely."
After all, although Pei Xuanjing is strong enough to resist them, he is not alone. He has the backing of the Shenxiao Sect and the Taoist School, and he needs people to execute these plans.
These people dare not take action against Pei Xuanjing, but if they are cornered, they would probably act against the disciples who carry out Pei Xuanjing's plans. Even Pei Xuanjing cannot fully look after everyone, and he cannot do everything by himself.
"Time does not wait, if they dare to act, then don't blame me for being ruthless." Pei Xuanjing decisively rejected Bai Xiaosheng's proposal at that time.
He understands that any reform will inevitably provoke a series of conservative opposition. Those established interest groups will do anything crazy to protect their interests.
For all this, Pei Xuanjing has made preparations in his heart, and is ready to carry out with iron-blooded hands.
It is about his path to Becoming Immortal and his plan, he does not allow anyone to hamper his plans. Even if he does not like killing people, if someone acts recklessly, then don't blame him for being ruthlessly harsh.
"The path to trascendence is unpredictable, and any opportunity to increase the chances should not be missed. Someone always has to make sacrifices in this world. So, for the sake of our great cause to Becoming Immortal, we have to make these great powers suffer a bit longer." Pei Xuanjing seriously said to Bai Xiaosheng and others at that time, "Just do what needs to be done and let me bear the burden."
Pei Xuanjing's plan must be carried out. For his plans, these great forces had to make some sacrifices. When that day comes, Pei Xuanjing, not being a bridge burner, should naturally have something to gain as well.
Of course, if these people act recklessly, Pei Xuanjing wouldn't mind making them pay more.
Don't even mention that they could incite ordinary martial artists to riot. If they really went rogue and caused chaos, Pei Xuanjing would show them who held the true power by stepping on their bones in the Heavenly Street, staged a peasant uprising, and then redistributed their land.
When it came to these types of tactics, Pei Xuanjing has seen more and understood more than they do.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing's determination, Bai Xiaosheng and others could only stop persuading him. After all, Pei Xuanjing was not wrong, either these great powers bear the burden, or the ordinary martial artists worldwide have to suffer.
However, if they oppressed the global martial artists too much, it's easy to cause big trouble, so it's better to make these great powers suffer. After all, it's easier to make them pay.
Even so, Pei Xuanjing became more cautious, such as in selecting people for the Taoist Academy, a task that a first-grade martial artist could do, but he dispatched Deng Zhong, a Spirit Realm powerhouse, to execute it personally.
In a nutshell, although Pei Xuanjing was still in closed-door practice, the series of plans and actions he initiated undoubtedly led to a fierce Internal Competition among the world's martial artists.
No one wants to admit their inferiority, especially those martial artists of ordinary origin. Most of them just thought that they were not better than the disciples of the great powers, only because the latter had better skills to practice, better teachers to instruct, and enjoyed more resources.
They thought that if they put themselves in the same position, they would perform even better.
Previously, such thoughts of theirs were sneered at by the children of these great powers, mocking them for wishful thinking.
But now, when the news of Pei Xuanjing establishing the Taoist Academy spread all over the world, countless ordinary martial artists went crazy. The dreams that they originally could only encounter in dreams were now happening in reality.
No one does not want to stand out, especially for those who lack opportunities. Once they see an opportunity, they become desperate to seize it, regardless of everything.
Thus, when the news about the Taoist Academy spread, the martial artists of the world began the first wave of internal competition. They started to move towards Tiandu, wanting to seize this opportunity and leap like carps crossing the dragon gate, riding on the wind.
"There are countless strong people in the world, but the only one who truly values us ordinary folk is the State Mentor."
"Yeah, if not for Grandmaster Pei, how could we impoverished martial artists have our moment to shine?"
"I heard that Grandmaster Pei was the one who compiled the Martial Classics that we study."
"Although some say that many strong people died during the Grandmaster's rise, weren't they seeking their own demise?"
"Grandmaster Pei establishing the Taoist Academy has opened a door for us ordinary people to climb up, an act of great virtue, almost comparable to the sages of ancient times."
"If I could join the Taoist Academy, then the Grandmaster would be my benefactor. I would go through fire and water for him, repaying him even with my life."
Today, what attracts people's most attention is neither the promotion of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty nor the enfeoffments of divine positions, but the matter of Pei Xuanjing founding the Taoist Academy.
The ordinary martial artists actually understand this. Whether the Great Ming Divine Dynasty is promoted or divine positions are enfeoffed, what does it matter to them? They are merely being trampled on, living as workhorses for others, and have no chance to shine.
Can they be excused from paying taxes and offering tributes just because the Great Ming Divine Dynasty has advanced? Can it offer them any kind of title?
Therefore, they really don't pay much attention to these matters. Instead, it is Pei Xuanjing's announcement to establish the Taoist Academy and allow all martial artists to apply, with the potential to be selected, that attracts their attention.
Who is Pei Xuanjing? He is today's State Mentor of Great Ming, and the first man without a doubt. If you can join the academy he founded, it is no different from changing your destiny.
As a result, the reputation of Pei Xuanjing has soared among all people, and he has become a figure of great virtue and benevolence, comparable to the sages of ancient times, and the great saviour of ordinary martial artists.
Even the past deeds of Pei Xuanjing were brought up by the people, praised and celebrated. Initially, Pei Xuanjing's contribution to the compilation of the Martial Classics in the Martial Academy was not significant, it was trivial.
However, in the current situation, he has been praised by countless martial artists. They believe that the compilation of the Martial Classics was led by him and that he is the greatest contributor.
At such a result, Pei Xuanjing can't help but laugh and cry. Even if he denies, these martial artists still think that Pei Xuanjing is just being modest. It doesn't dampen their enthusiasm, but instead, makes them admire Pei Xuanjing even more.
Yu Qing, a twenty-seven-year-old Seventh-grade Martial Artist, is one such person.
As an ordinary person, Yu Qing, like most of the countless martial artists in the world, comes from an ordinary martial artist family. His father only became a Ninth-grade martial artist by relying on the Martial Classics, which led to some improvement in their family's living conditions.
Unfortunately, before he could grow up, his parents were killed due to a martial grudge, leaving only him who luckily survived.
Although he had some martial arts talents under the age of ten, he couldn't afford the expensive resources for martial studies, and couldn't exchange for cultivation skills.
He could only cultivate with the most basic method – the Martial Classics. Later on, he accidentally ingested a spiritual medicine in a forbidden blessed land and became a martial artist. After taking revenge for his parents, he aimlessly happened to encounter an army expedition outside the border. He went with the army as a hired martial artist to fight and earn cultivation resources.
However, it's not easy for an independent practitioner like him to survive outside the border. Even if they manage to kill a demonic beast, they are still subject to exploitation by the big forces. There's little left for them in the end.
Even after spending several years outside the border, his hard work merely sustains his survival, with barely any resources left for cultivation.
However, everything began to change when Grandmaster Pei arrived. Grandmaster Pei proactively handed over a Military City, governed by the Taoist School, to the martial artists of the world.
As such, their oppression decreased, their lives became richer, and their daily share of the profits from hunting demonic beasts was no longer taken from them.
In Yu Qing's heart, Grandmaster Pei is a good person. He is compassionate and benevolent, the legendary saint. Grandmaster Pei's existence gives hope to ordinary martial artists like them and shows them the way forward.
And now, Grandmaster Pei is going to establish a Taoist Academy, willing to teach martial arts to all martial artists, providing everybody a chance to cultivate. His respect for Grandmaster Pei has therefore reached a peak.
"Establishing the Taoist Academy and teaching skills to all martial artists, what a great act of virtue!" Yu Qing sighed in his heart.
He silently vowed to strive for a place in the Taoist Academy, to enter the Academy, and to receive guidance from Grandmaster Pei.
He does not dare to hope to become a disciple, he merely hopes to do something in gratitude for Grandmaster Pei's kindness.
Yu Qing looked around. There were many martial artists like him, rushing towards Tiandu in a disheveled state. They mostly came from humble backgrounds, and almost all of them have received favors from Grandmaster Pei.
Deng Zhong has been very busy for some time. As one of the few strong warriors in the Spirit Realm of the Shenxiao Sect, if he wished, he wouldn't need to be so busy, he could just focus on cultivating in seclusion.
However, since it was something the Sect Leader personally ordered, he naturally wouldn't refuse and was quite serious about handling these matters, ensuring there wasn't the slightest mistake.
One day, he had just returned to Tiandu after visiting the suburbs and was about to return to the Taoist Temple to report to the Sect Leader about recent affairs. Unexpectedly, he ran into Daoist Xuanming from the Baiyun Temple.
"Daoist Deng, please stay." Daoist Xuanming called him.
"Greetings to the Taoist Priest." Deng Zhong nodded and asked, "Does the Taoist Priest need something?"
Daoist Xuanming nodded, glanced around, and said in a low voice, "Daoist Deng, please follow me."
He led Deng Zhong a few steps away and said, "Today, I would like to ask you for a favor."
Deng Zhong was puzzled and asked, "May I know what it is, Taoist Priest?"
Daoist Xuanming smiled, then whispered, "It's this. I have an old friend who has…"
Hearing Daoist Xuanming's words, Deng Zhong thought to himself: Just as I thought.
Daoist Xuanming has an old friend who was his old companion when he traveled the world. Although this friend has passed away, he left a child. Daoist Xuanming wanted to get a place in the Taoist Academy for this child.
"Doesn't the Taoist Priest have some places? Why do you need to find me?" Deng Zhong asked in confusion.