Chapter 120: Ancestor's Grand Examination

Qin Mu wondered, "Didn't Grand Master have this thought?"

The young Grand Master was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I did. Now keep your head on your shoulders and continue."

Qin Mu continued, "I've observed the actions of the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace. Some aspects align with the doctrines of our Sacred Cult, both being the Way of the Sages, benefiting the common people. If our Sacred Cult were to align with Eternal Peace, not only would we avoid decline like other sects, but we could also grow and flourish. This is my first point."

He paused, then continued, "The Imperial Preceptor's elementary schools, universities, and the Imperial College have significant flaws. These flaws won't be apparent in the short term, but they will certainly come to light within two or three hundred years."

The young Grand Master showed curiosity and asked, "What are these flaws?"

Qin Mu replied, "May I ask, Grand Master, what percentage of scholars in the Imperial College come from impoverished families?"

The young Grand Master smiled, clearly knowing what he was about to say, and replied, "Ten percent."

Qin Mu then asked, "In recent years, what percentage of young officials in Eternal Peace have graduated from the Imperial College?"

The young Grand Master stated, "Seventy-two percent are from the Imperial College. Other older officials come from various major sects, and some have risen through the ranks step by step."

"I predict that in two hundred years, all officials will come from the Imperial College, and among them, there will be virtually no one from humble backgrounds!"

Qin Mu watched his float sink, but did not rush to reel in. After a moment, he said, "In two hundred years, children of humble origins will remain impoverished throughout their lives, while children of wealthy families will remain prosperous. Public resentment, accumulated over time, will inevitably erupt. Wealthy aristocratic families will seize the opportunity to revolt and overthrow the government. At that point, it will be time for our Sacred Cult to unify the world. This unstoppable trend will be something no one can rival or block."

He reeled in his rod; a large fish was hooked, but its strength was immense. With a snap, the fishing line broke, and the large fish plunged back into the water, disappearing from sight.

The young Grand Master sneered, "You want to revolt and implicate our Sacred Cult in injustice? I should kill you!"

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Grand Master, please stop joking."

The young Grand Master was speechless. He also had a fish on his line, but it was a small one, which he reeled in with a single pull. "Alright, let's get serious," he said. "Two hundred years from now, you'll make the Sacred Cult into another Eternal Peace. What then? A war will cleanse the old aristocratic families, only for new ones to form two hundred years later, and someone else will come to overthrow the Sacred Cult's rule. How will you break this cycle?"

Qin Mu was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. "I haven't considered what happens two hundred years after that. Please enlighten me, Grand Master."

The young Grand Master broke off a willow branch, threaded the fish onto it, and stood up. "I can't see two hundred years into the future either. Young Cult Master, being able to foresee two hundred years at your age already makes you a qualified Cult Master. You've passed. My thoughts are different from yours; I'm thinking about the doctrines of our Sacred Cult."

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly as he looked at this young-looking elder.

The young Grand Master said leisurely, "The Way of the Sages is no different from the daily lives of common people. Anything divergent is heresy! To act according to one's nature, purely and spontaneously, that is the Way. When the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace rose to prominence, I perceived his grand ambitions. He came to me to seek guidance, and I told him this very line from the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture. What he is doing now is exactly that."

Qin Mu's spirit was deeply moved, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "Grand Master is truly wise; you are already a Sage. You wish to subtly transform Eternal Peace into the Sacred Cult. If Eternal Peace achieves the Way of the Sages, then Eternal Peace itself *is* the Heavenly Sacred Cult!"

The young Grand Master shook his head. "Neither Eternal Peace nor the Imperial Preceptor can fully embody the Way of the Sages, nor can I. As you said, in two hundred years, power and resources will be monopolized by aristocratic families, making the poor poorer and the rich richer. This is not the Way of the Sages taught by our Heavenly Sacred Cult. I wanted to influence the Imperial Preceptor and, through him, Eternal Peace, but it seems I have failed. I am old now, and this burden falls to you. All I can do to help you is to preside over things for a few years."

He carried the fish and his fishing rod. Qin Mu followed behind him, watching as the elder found a secluded hollow in the mountains. In what was considered the highest sacred place in the hearts of all people in Eternal Peace, he set up a pot, added water, lit a fire, descaled and gutted the fish, and then dropped it into the pot.

The young Grand Master watched the water in the pot, then took some seasonings from his sleeve and sprinkled them in. "In a few more months, I will resign from my position as Grand Libationer," he said. "I am old, and for these last few years, I wish to travel. There are many places in this world I haven't seen. The Sacred Cult is now entrusted to you. After resigning, I will preside over an enthronement ceremony. I want to personally witness you becoming the Cult Master of the Sacred Cult."

Qin Mu felt a bit awkward and asked, "I'm currently only at the Five Luminaries realm. Is it too early for me to take over the Sacred Cult now? It might be difficult to gain everyone's respect."

The young Grand Master motioned for him to sit. Qin Mu sat cross-legged in front of the pot, just like him, inhaling the aroma of the fish soup.

The young Grand Master explained, "The Sacred Cult is actually quite decentralized. The masters of the 360 halls are scattered across various regions, and our followers are spread throughout Eternal Peace. Even the elders and Heavenly Kings rarely gather. You can simply be a hands-off Cult Master. And if things truly go wrong, am I not still alive? While I am alive, no one will dare to harm you, not even the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace."

Qin Mu's heart stirred. He tentatively asked, "The Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace probably wants to control our Sacred Cult, doesn't he?"

"Of course, he does. But you can put his mind at ease."

The young Grand Master tasted the fish soup, decided it wasn't ready, and continued to add fuel to the fire. "You must understand, you are young and your cultivation is low, so he won't take you seriously yet. He'll think he can control you. If he can truly achieve the Way of the Sages, then letting him control you and the Sacred Cult is fine. But if he cannot, then you will take his place."

He spoke as if it were a trivial matter, yet what he discussed was nothing less than a monumental shift in dynastic power!

Qin Mu tasted the fish soup and found it incredibly fresh and delightful, exclaiming in admiration.

Suddenly, he remembered something and quickly said, "Grand Master, is the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture missing a cultivation method? I've been studying and comprehending it these past few days, but I haven't found a technique that unifies all the various methods within it."

The young Grand Master reached into the air and seemed to conjure two bowls and a spoon from nowhere. Qin Mu took the bowls and spoon and began to ladle out soup.

The young Grand Master's action of conjuring things from the air was a technique recorded in the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture, called the Five Ghosts Transportation Art, which allows one to secretly steal items from afar.

"The unifying cultivation method of the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture is only passed down to the Cult Master, from one Sacred Cult Master to the next," the young Grand Master said.

The young Grand Master sipped the fish soup and sighed contentedly. "All other content in the Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture can be spread, but only the Cult Master can practice the unifying cultivation method. When you are enthroned as the Sacred Cult Master, Li Tianxing will pass it on to you."

Qin Mu was startled. Wasn't the previous Cult Master, Li Tianxing, already dead?

From the young Grand Master's tone, it seemed as if Li Tianxing was still alive.

As he drank the fish soup, finding it increasingly refreshing, he quickly asked, "Grand Master, what kind of fish is this?"

The young Grand Master replied, "The essence of Nine Dragons gathers here, forming this lake, and these fish absorb the dragon qi. Hence, they are called Nine-Dragon Crucian Carp. These fish are all tough bones with little meat, suitable only for soup, but the soup is exceptionally delicious."

Qin Mu pondered, "Does Grand Master mean for me to be a Nine-Dragon Crucian Carp with a backbone of hard bones?"

The young Grand Master glared at him. "Are you overthinking it? What's wrong with being a human that you'd rather be a fish? Do you want to be made into soup? I was just craving fish soup, so I brought you here to have some."

Qin Mu felt deeply ashamed. It seemed the elder truly was just craving fish soup.

The two sat there, slowly savoring the fish soup, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Qin Mu picked up a fish bone and drew on the ground, sketching the cultivation diagram for the Six Harmonies realm of the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art. "Grand Master," he said, "I saw this cultivation diagram in Qingyang Hall, but there was no preceding section. May I ask if you have ever seen the earlier part of this diagram?"

The young Grand Master examined it closely and asked in surprise, "Why do you want the cultivation diagram for this technique? Do you recognize it?"

Qin Mu nodded. "This is the cultivation diagram for the Six Harmonies realm of the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art."

The young Grand Master's expression turned strange. "Even I didn't know this was the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art. Who told you?"

"The village chief told me."

The young Grand Master paused, then sighed with emotion. "That old fellow is indeed a bit more knowledgeable than me. I couldn't identify this technique or its name, but he could. He's truly formidable. So, this technique is called the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art. That old fellow truly has vast knowledge. I found this cultivation diagram in an ancient ruin, along with a few other fragmented diagrams. I saw the countless profound mysteries and extraordinary wonders within the diagram, so I memorized it and engraved it in Qingyang Hall. All the techniques in Qingyang Hall are incomplete fragments, with this diagram being the most significant."

He paused again. "Are you cultivating this technique?"

Qin Mu nodded. "I have been cultivating the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art since I was young."

The young Grand Master hesitated. "Logically, you should be cultivating our Sacred Cult's unifying cultivation method. However, that old fellow in your village must have his reasons for having you cultivate this Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art. Given his vast knowledge, and the fact that he didn't teach you his own techniques, it suggests that the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art is even superior to his. Good cultivation methods always share commonalities; you might consider cultivating both simultaneously, it could well aid your progress."

Qin Mu acknowledged this, saying, "I haven't found the earlier section of the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Art. Without a cultivation method for the Five Luminaries realm, I cannot continue my practice."