Chapter 466: Chapter 466

However, in the next moment, Emperor Xuanwu couldn't help but dismiss this speculation.

The emperor was very clear about Zhou Si's capabilities; it was absolutely impossible for anyone to play tricks to such an extent right under his nose.

Then... thinking of the final possibility, the emperor's breathing instantly became rapid before the imperial desk.

With a *thump*, the person before the imperial desk abruptly stood up:

"Speak! Tell me in detail once again, truthfully and without omission, everything you saw that day!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The guard hurriedly lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Regardless of how agitated and impatient, or how doubtful and uneasy, the people outside the temple might feel in their hearts.

Inside the room, An Ning maintained her meditation posture from beginning to end, her entire body's spiritual energy continuously circulating, embodying the phrase "shutting out the noise of the outside world, single-mindedly focusing on grinding cultivation" to the fullest.

If not for the occasional flashes of spiritual light within the room at night and the faintly visible silhouette by the window, Zhou Si would have almost thought he'd been thoroughly fooled by some highly skilled individual.

The look of disbelief on Zhou Jibai's face, along with the faces of the guards behind him, grew even stronger.

Over these days, they had seen clearly that no outsider had truly entered the room.

That is to say... this... was this still human?

The guards couldn't help but exchange glances. However, compared to the disbelief of these outsiders, the people of Sifang County, including Magistrate Wang himself, who had personally witnessed the immortal master attaining the Dao, were much more composed.

After a brief moment of astonishment—wasn't this just fasting!

They even took the opportunity to cast a disdainful glance at the few "country bumpkins" who had come from outside!

Tsk, and they're from the capital! So lacking in knowledge! Not like us, who are the immortal master's genuine fellow villagers!

Although travel was difficult in ancient times, with arduous journeys and bumpy roads, the speed at which various extraordinary tales spread was not slow in the slightest. Especially when it involved such genuinely miraculous and supernatural events.

In short, while the people of Sifang County were still making pilgrimages day after day, coming to worship whenever they had time, it was visibly apparent that people from various prefecture cities coming to seek the Dao were also increasing in number.

"What? The im... imperial carriage!"

At noon, hearing the servant's report, Magistrate Wang, who had been comfortably napping on his couch, immediately scrambled up from the ground, instinctively straightening his somewhat crooked black gauze cap.

Since this imperial procession was undertaken under the pretext of inspecting waterways, traveling southward, Magistrate Wang had not received specific notification beforehand.

Although he had more or less some guesses in his heart, being caught off guard still caused him considerable panic.

Thus, by the time Magistrate Wang finished tidying himself up and hurriedly rushed to the ferry crossing, he saw the entire riverbank was already under a state of lockdown, with soldiers clad in crimson armor everywhere.

His legs went weak for a moment. After a hasty final adjustment, just as Magistrate Wang was about to step forward to pay his respects and offer to guide the way, he saw his superior had already stepped forward first:

"Your Majesty, as far as this humble official knows, the immortal master has not yet emerged from seclusion. I wonder if Your Majesty wishes this humble official to send someone to..."

He was answered by an exceptionally stern and authoritative rebuke from the present emperor:

"What nonsense! The immortal master is cultivating and entering the Dao. How can we casually disturb them?"

"This Zhen will wait personally within the temple..."

Thinking of the painting he had received several days prior, Emperor Xuanwu suddenly felt his entire body fill with strength.

Even to demonstrate sincerity, he forwent the imperial carriage now.

"Zhen will ascend personally!"

"This emperor is quite sincere!"

Watching the young emperor at the foot of the mountain, who resolutely refused the assistance of nearby palace servants and guards, insisting on climbing step by step, the system couldn't help but click its tongue appreciatively.

However, not long after, it grew somewhat curious again:

"By the way, Host, based on previous investigations, wasn't this emperor a non-believer in these things?"

To know how the first emperor of this dynasty met his end, the answer was actually quite simple:

He died from straightforwardly, bluntly, eating elixirs!

Otherwise, Daoism wouldn't have declined to its current state, nearly to the point of being unable to survive. However, clearly, did the subsequent two emperors learn their lesson? Naturally, they did.

But they stopped believing in Daoism and started believing in Buddha instead.

It's said one of them, thoroughly fooled, nearly saw through the vanity of the mortal world and became a monk. That was the current emperor's own father.

Thus, one of the first things this Emperor Xuanwu did upon ascending to the throne and grasping power was to revoke the various excessive preferential treatments previously granted to monks and Buddhism.

Of course, if Buddhism faced this, Daoism, which had literally poisoned an emperor to death, fared even worse.

"Originally thought this guy believed in three things: nothing, nothing, and nothing, only trusting the sword in his own hand!"

Taking another glance at the bright yellow figure still climbing step by step, the system couldn't help but click its tongue again.

Scanning the surroundings with her spiritual awareness and confirming no one was present, An Ning finally rose from her meditation, skillfully swallowing an elixir pill. In her heart, however, she was noncommittal:

"No matter how wise and rational, who throughout history, across the world, can resist the temptation of immortality?"

Especially someone who possesses absolute power.

"Oh, so that's the reason you deliberately left that painting before!"

The system couldn't help but have a sudden realization.

That's right, emperors, especially this one, won't even release the hawk without seeing the rabbit first.

An Ning raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Of course. An exalted master! Being summoned back and forth lacks prestige!"

Even for an emperor. Of course, the most important thing is:

"People always have inherent flaws. Things offered for free are never valued. Only what one pays a price for, what one strives and labors to obtain, has the qualification to sit at the table as an honored guest."

Thinking of the original body's earlier experiences, An Ning couldn't help but sigh softly.

To be honest, was the old Xiao family really that stupid?

Not necessarily. At least Old Master Xiao wasn't. He could even be called shrewd, regardless of his limited perspective.

Whether it was earlier, after learning the painting's value, repeatedly forbidding family members from revealing it.

Or later, even after having accumulated considerable wealth, he absolutely refused to show off excessive wealth in daily life.

Even the decisive abandonment of the original body in the previous life wasn't an unwise move.

With the Marquis's Household looming, once the value within the original body's paintings was exposed, it was no longer something an ordinary peasant family could withstand. Stubborn refusal would only anger the noble, and then not only the original body, but the entire large family behind her would be lost.

Conversely, by being willing to comply, apart from sacrificing a granddaughter they weren't close to anyway, they could gain a powerful backer for the family, a large sum of silver, and secure good futures for their two grandsons. No matter who you asked, at that time, there basically wouldn't have been a second choice for this transaction.

After all, who could have imagined someone would go so far?

Thus, regarding this decision, although the original body disliked it, apart from the chief culprit Xiao Dalang, she didn't harbor excessive resentment towards the others.

What truly chilled the original body's heart was these people's attitude.

"Because they thought the original body wouldn't mind, wouldn't get angry, was an obsessed simpleton whose world revolved only around painting, they couldn't even be bothered to put on a pretense?"

Their joy was plainly, unmistakably evident.

Just like the things belonging to the original body that were taken away time and again under various pretexts, and the disregard for her own wishes.

It was at that moment the original body completely severed her feelings for her family. Not sensitive or perceptive? A genius painter and poet?

An Ning couldn't help but sneer coldly.

"Oh, no wonder those formidable figures in ancient times always made their lord visit their thatched cottage three times before consenting to meet!"

So this is called prestige!

"By the way, Host, when do you plan to go out?"

"How about making this emperor wait another half month?"

She glanced at the few remaining fasting pills in the small bottle.

Hmm... forget it. One bottle is enough. Waiting another half month, she'd be sick of eating these pills!

Although fasting is indeed beneficial for cultivation.

Sigh, in these times, being an exalted master isn't that easy to pretend... ah, no, to be!