Origin Paradise!

The Prince of Anbei said coldly, "Even if the whole thing is so stupid it's laughable, how can I believe it?"

The head of the Yan family remained silent. Sending a hundred riders to assassinate the princess was nothing short of a joke. But what if he deliberately failed to clear himself of any wrongdoing in the second attempt? Once suspicion arose, trust would crumble.

"Gentlemen, shall we continue with this meal?" the princess asked, turning around.

"I have caught a cold; I will apologize to Your Highness another day."

The head of the Yan family took his leave.

"I also caught a cold..."

"Please forgive me, Your Highness."

The civil officials took their leave one after another.

Seeing this, General Chen approached and whispered, "Your Highness, we can't kill this Yan fellow, but surely we can break one of his legs?"

The Prince of Anbei lowered his eyelids slightly. "The Grand Secretary has blocked the military pay and grain transport. What's the point of me kicking him ten times over? How can Yizhou in the north support 80,000 iron cavalry and 80,000 infantrymen? Can you fight a war without food? Daming Prefecture may seem prosperous, but it will fall into ruin in an instant. Besides, the Prince of Zhennan's navy can arrive any day or night. What if they strike at the heart of the enemy?"

General Chen gritted his teeth. If the 80,000 elite infantrymen were no longer maintained at their original fighting strength, they could quickly turn into hundreds of thousands of troops after being dispersed. Although he was not well-educated, he knew the principle that "one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers." But the prince was willing to submit to others.

"Your Highness is old."

“He was already old when the crown prince died.”

"But I still want to climb higher."

General Chen's eyes held a complex expression.

Chapter 117 The Withering and Flourishing Taoist Temple

Inside the Prince's Mansion, at Chengxuan Tower.

Four golden nanmu pillars run straight to the top of the building, surrounded by mortise and tenon joints of rafters and purlins, forming a whole. The roof is covered with glazed yellow tiles, creating a solemn and grand structure. From the top, one can overlook the tributary of the Jian River.

The building has four floors. The first floor contains 36,000 low-grade martial arts manuals, the second floor contains more than 7,000 mid-grade martial arts manuals, the third floor contains only 400 high-grade martial arts manuals, and the fourth floor contains only nine.

On the fourth floor, where only those with gold tokens are allowed to enter, scrolls and books are displayed on shelves, their surfaces covered in dust.

The shadowy figure retreated to a corner, and Jiang He browsed through the descriptions of these martial arts techniques one by one. They were all excellent skills corresponding to the Silver Grandmaster level.

The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Palm was created by a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster named Soul Daoist. It allows one to borrow the power of surrounding emotions and, after becoming a superior martial artist, can master the secret technique—the Endless Great Hatred Hand.

The Heaven and Earth Technique originates from the fundamental lineage of Tantric Buddhism. It borrows the energy of heaven and earth and is divided into three levels: Heavenly High and Earthly Thick. When the two are cultivated and combined, a secret technique is created—Decoction of Human Life. The Northern Barbarian Dragon City, the second largest city in the world, has already mastered this technique.

The Sutra of Withering and Flourishing, originating from the ancient Daoist practice of withering and flourishing, is divided into three levels: the first level is withering, the second level is flourishing, and the third level is a combined secret technique—Spring Breeze Brushing Dew, Withering and Flourishing Reversal.

Jiang He picked up the Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra. The entry requirements for this technique were not difficult, but it was a bit unusual. The first level, Withering, would reduce one's own state to a very weak level, thus making the true essence energy contain withered characteristics, which was most suitable for the elderly to cultivate.

The manual describes how the Daoist Ku Rong lost his family at the age of seventy and turned to cultivation to seek revenge. He started very late, but he saw through the great truths and made great strides all the way. At the age of one hundred, he became a Grandmaster and killed his enemies from top to bottom that very night.

The phrase "Spring breeze brushes the dew, withering and flourishing turn" is a secret technique created by Taoists who comprehended the cycle of life and death, the rise and fall of human affairs, and the great joys and sorrows.

In general, it's a cycle of flourishing and decay.

After a martial artist has mastered their cultivation, when using their true essence energy against an enemy, it will contain a withering quality; when using it against themselves, it will become healing energy.

After the secret technique hits an enemy, the enemy's healing will turn into self-harm, and the enemy's attacks on you will turn into healing. The duration is five minutes, but the cost is not low.

"Is this still martial arts?"

Jiang He was surprised by the essence of this technique. He guessed that the secret techniques of the Withering and Flourishing Heart Sutra also followed the theory of rank. Otherwise, he would dare to go and shoot someone at a level higher than Grandmaster to see how it was.

The problem with this technique is that once a young person begins practicing it, the withered state of the first level is difficult to overcome; they must cultivate to the second level of flourishing to return to normal.

Jiang He took out a Bloodstone, which contained an exceptionally rich life force that could even extend one's lifespan by ten days. This was something he obtained from the Lieden Library; there were a total of seventy-four such stones, which could be used to quickly get rid of the withered state. Furthermore, the rich life force met the second essential principle, which would also help accelerate the cultivation speed.

"I want this one."

The shadowy figure didn't speak about the selection process; even if a flower was chosen, it wouldn't concern him.

"The legacy left by the Grandmaster is written entirely with his will. Lord, simply affix the technique to your fontanelle. Once the transmission is complete, please leave Chengxuan Tower immediately."

Jiang He pressed the cultivation technique against his fontanelle, and the words of his will entered his mind.

Suddenly, a strong wind arose on the fourth floor of Chengxuan Building.

Dust billowed up, and the dark figure was startled and at a loss.

……

spiritual world.

Jiang He inexplicably found himself in a dilapidated Taoist temple.

All around was pitch black night, with only a campfire burning in sight.

Gradually, the words came together and shaped the form of a middle-aged Taoist priest.

He smiled gently and asked, "Any last wishes?"

“I can do it for you.”

"After all, your misfortune evokes my pity."

"I have only glimpsed a little of the mystery of life and death."

"The spring breeze and dew bring about the cycle of life and death; to put it simply, it's a matter of life and death."

"I am a Grandmaster, and I have forged a Silver Will. In a battle of spirits, you are no match for me. Besides, I am not dead at all; I am merely lying dormant in a withered state."

"You have come here to replace my withered self."

"I'll go outside and take Changrong's place."

Jiang He calmly sat down beside the fire and asked, "How does one become a Grandmaster?"

It seems like the other person hasn't communicated with anyone in a long time.

The Daoist Ku Rong exclaimed in admiration, "You showed great perseverance in the face of life and death. It's such a pity."

"To become a Grandmaster, three things must be met: Silver Energy, Silver Body, and Silver Will."

"If I don't learn the martial arts techniques, can I practice secret skills?" Jiang He asked again.

The Daoist Ku Rong replied, "It is possible, but it is very difficult, and it is the same for me."

One question after another was raised and then answered.

Then, the questions turned to details.

Ku Rong Daoist was getting impatient, but Jiang He said that this was his last wish.

It felt like a few days, yet also like half a month had passed.

With a cold face, the Daoist Ku Rong said, "I've lost my patience."

Jiang He remained silent, carefully pondering the cultivation experience. The fact that a grandmaster could answer any question was simply priceless.

Seeing that he was obsessed with martial arts, the Taoist Ku Rong stopped disturbing him and went to the outside world in his place.

……

Chengxuan Building, four floors.

As the Daoist Ku Rong descended from the spiritual world composed of martial arts texts into his body, he immediately heard the notification sound.

[Hint: An unknown spirit has possessed the player's body]

[Hint: Unknown spirit entity is linked to equipment slot]

[Note: Player has relinquished their position; connection successful]

[Hint: An unknown spirit has docked with the item pouch]

[Note: Player has relinquished their position; connection successful]

[WARNING! Unidentified spirit has misused the item pouch]

[WARNING! Unidentified spirits do not possess special usage rights to item pouches]

[Verdict: The unknown soul is sealed away, its thoughts and true spirit frozen, for a period of 100 eternal years.]

[Sentence: To be executed immediately]

"What kind of ghost are you?!"

The Daoist Ku Rong roared inwardly, but once the immediate decision was made, the supreme power of origin gave him no time to react.

An invisible and colorless vortex appeared, and the soul and true spirit of the withered and flourishing Taoist were sucked away.

Jiang He returned to her body.

The shadowy figure witnessed the entire process, observing the other person's expression shift from relief to arrogance, then to confusion and anger, and finally from pleading to calm.

The shadowy figure said cautiously, "My lord, just now..."

"Nothing happened." Jiang He's expression remained unchanged.

The martial arts manual was broken, but the knowledge flowed into his brain.

The shadowy figure lowered his head. "I'll take you back."

[Hint: You have acquired the Excellent-grade skill "Withered and Flourishing Taoist Temple"]

[Name: Kuru Rong Taoist Temple]

[Type: Psychological]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Effect ①: After the Taoist temple descends, targeted enemy units within a 50-meter radius will suffer 20 points of withering damage per second]

[Effect ②: Silver Will - After the Taoist temple descends, beings below the Silver rank will bear the burden of will.]

[Effect 3: After the Taoist temple descends, the user and any designated friendly units will recover 20 HP per second.]

[Effect 4: Grants immunity to mental disorders below the Silver rank, and provides 50% resistance to those of the same rank]

[Note: Activation consumes 1000 energy points per minute]

Chapter 118 Banquet

The night is as cold as water.

Led by the shadowy figure, Jiang He left Chengxuan Tower and went straight to Xiaowu Hall, where the banquet was being held.

Even from nearly a hundred paces away, Jiang He could already hear the commotion of the soldiers inside. The main hall was brightly lit, and in the shadows of the outer corridor, the axe-wielding guards of the Prince's Mansion stood like statues, while groups of maids would occasionally bring out dishes.

Upon seeing the young Earl enter the palace, the Prince of Anbei, seated in the main seat, waved to him.

"Come and sit down."

Dozens of tables were set up inside the hall, and almost all the commanders of the Anbei Governor's Office were present. At this moment, many people looked at that figure with envy or even jealousy. A guy who had just arrived from the south was sitting at the main table that very night. Moreover, in the end, his title was not earned by killing barbarians. This made the veteran generals feel inexplicable.

"The Prince of Anbei's mansion is beset by internal and external troubles, but its prestige in the army remains."

Jiang He thought to himself that he had seen the soldiers' reactions. His status as the Marquis of Pingluan gave him a high starting point, making it easy for him to obtain a grandmaster-level martial art like the Kuru Xin Jing. However, there were also some troubles. His appearance would affect the original power structure, so conflicts between the old and new forces were bound to erupt.

“You are now the military commander of Beihun City, and the deputy commander and military advisor escorting the caravan are both serving as local garrison commanders. I love my daughter dearly, and I hope you won’t feel it’s a burden,” the King of Anbei said with a smile.

At the main table, the four generals had different expressions. Their so-called love for their daughters was nothing more than a legitimate excuse. The fact that the deputy commander was appointed as a deputy general was a significant elevation in real power compared to the usual rules, second only to them, the generals of the military towns.

"We, as martial artists, should not shirk our responsibilities," Jiang He said politely, clasping his hands in a fist salute, though he was more interested in the food on the table.

"The food at Wudou Dao Palace is rather bland. I don't often get to eat this Dragon Beard and Phoenix Claw dish in the capital. I heard from the kitchen that the dragon whiskers are made from the whiskers of the Jian Shui Carp King, and the phoenix claws are a piece of meat from a ginseng chicken claw. Why don't you try it, Your Highness?" the princess said with a light laugh.

At the end of the main table, Prefect Zhu, who was able to sit there because of his merit in protecting the guard, secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. The Jian Shui carp has the effect of greatly replenishing qi and blood, and is popular among warriors, but it is rarely seen on the market. This kind of carp will fight with its own kind when it meets them. It takes dozens of them to gather together to cultivate a two-whiskered carp king. And the dish in front of us, with dragon whiskers like noodles, is only one of the main ingredients.

A fiery glint flashed in Prefect Zhu's eyes. This was the power he had always longed for. If the Prince's Mansion was like this, the power of the Forbidden City's Qiankun Palace was even more unimaginable.

"Stop, don't think about it anymore."

Prefect Zhu shivered.

Jiang He reached out and picked up a piece of dragon whisker with her chopsticks. It tasted incredibly sweet and fresh, as if a warm current flowed down her throat and she swallowed it. Vitality flowed into her limbs and bones, and her blood and qi immediately became active.

Just as the maid standing behind her was about to speak, the princess gave her a sharp look and warned her that there were specific ways to pick up, taste, and swallow this dish, but there was no need to worry about that now.

Seeing how kind the prince and princess were to the newcomer, General Chen couldn't help but frown and say:

"Lord Pingluan is new to this place and has lived in Yangzhou for a long time. He may not be used to the freshwater delicacies of the Jian River. His blood and energy are very active. It would be a waste if he didn't take some action. I have a strongman under my command who can help Lord Pinglu loosen his muscles. Lord Pinglu, please don't refuse my good intentions."

Everyone perked up, but General Chen's repeated phrases, "I'm new here" and "I've lived in Yangzhou for a long time," made many of the military officers from Yizhou feel uneasy, as the Duke of Pingluan was ultimately an outsider.