Chapter 402 - 177: Heaven’s Murderous Intent, Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations (Seeking Subscriptions)_3

Words : 1367 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

No matter how much Xu Qing’s article twisted the truth, it ultimately portrayed the Emperor and the Grand Secretary splashing mud on the Kong Mansion. If they acknowledged it, wouldn’t that be the end of it? Once this rumor spread, scholars around the world would naturally empathize with the situation, feeling much like the proverb ’when the rabbit perishes, the fox grieves.’ Surely they couldn’t remain indifferent to this. Brilliant, truly brilliant! The clan elders each took their leave, ready to act according to Duke Yan Sheng’s instructions. This time, they were determined to shape public opinion. Xu Qing’s actions, naturally, could not be left at that. Afterwards, they must find a way to make Xu Gongming completely ostracized by the scholar community! But for the moment, this matter had to be set aside. Once Duke Yan Sheng saw the clan elders out, he immediately summoned a confidant. These old fools, that’s all they’re capable of. He was well aware that solving the current predicament would be extremely difficult. Stirring up public sentiment and garnering sympathy from scholars were only the first steps. He called for a confidant, wrote a secret letter, and had it sent to a General family in the Nine Borders with whom he was acquainted. He detailed the Grand Secretary’s embezzlement of Taicang silver meant for Navy training. This was originally the military pay for the soldiers of the Nine Borders, now diverted to fund the Navy. Moreover, the Navy was making a fortune under the guise of exterminating bandits. Provoking border Generals was just the second step. With winter growing colder, it was inevitable that the Golden Tent from the grassland would raid southward, and the situation in Liao Dong was very unstable as well. As long as border calamities arose, the Court would be left with no choice but to seek stability. Furthermore, he planned to contact the Eastern Yi people of Fusang Island. East Mountain Province was not too far from Fusang Island, and of course the Kong Mansion had business dealings with the Eastern Yi people. With border calamities and maritime disorder happening concurrently, the Court would be in utter shambles. Moreover, the havoc wrought by the pirates would severely impact Xu Qing’s endeavors. He was clear in his mind that once Xu Qing’s article was released, there was absolutely no chance of reconciliation with Yansheng Gong Mansion. "Xu Gongming is truly a man of deep scheming," Duke Yan Sheng muttered to himself as he arranged plans, and suddenly he understood the true purpose behind Xu Qing’s fiercely accusatory article. It was a declaration of allegiance! Now he realized that this was a declaration of allegiance Xu Qing was presenting to the Emperor; only by doing so, could Xu Qing fully estrange himself from the scholar community and put the Emperor at ease. The problem was, the Emperor wouldn’t live forever. But thinking back on how Xu Qing rose to power, this was actually the best choice. Making compromises on both sides truly didn’t suit someone like Xu Qing who rose from humble beginnings. He had also to rely on the Emperor’s support to firmly establish his roots in South Zhili. Without the Emperor’s trust, Xu Qing’s foundation could disperse as quickly as duckweed. "Xu Gongming, you may be clever, but an old emperor like him, once his days are numbered, will not leave you to harm his descendants," Duke Yan Sheng realized, seemingly foreseeing the inevitable downfall of Xu Qing. That’s the tragedy of the underdog – working tirelessly only for it to amount to nothing. He suddenly felt a great comfort in his heart. ... ... Since the publication of the Great Ming Newspaper article, Xu Qing shut himself in, refusing visitors, and practiced his Martial Arts diligently, activating the Star Power and connecting the Xuanwu Seven Stars. It seemed as if the person who wrote the scathing article about North Kong wasn’t Xu Qing, but someone else entirely. Connect the Xuanwu Seven Stars was an extremely painful process. Xu Qing silently endured the pain. Feng Wu, seeing his almost self-destructive Cultivation, couldn’t bear it and wanted to urge him to stop, but Xu Qing explained, "Strategems are but minor tricks. If one wants to find peace and assert one’s place in this turbulent world, one’s own power is of utmost importance." Without having accessed the Purple Mansion Primordial Sect, if he wanted to quickly improve his strength in the short term, he had to connect the Xuanwu Seven Stars and master the Three Yin Demon Slaying Saber. This would also give him the confidence to ascend Dragon Tiger Mountain. As for the Kong Mansion, Xu Qing had a surprise in store for them that would surely leave North Kong in a frenzied mess, embroiled in mud. ... ... At the time of the emergence of the Great Ming Newspaper, the Luo Sect Master received the reply letter written by Xu Qing through Su Lianqing. Opening the letter, the Luo Sect Master read it word by word, his expression growing more and more animated. Xu Qing’s response to him was simple – it was to give him a chance, the chance to cause a big commotion in the North. Because of North Kong’s annexation of lands and assimilation of populations, the oppression of tenants and house slaves in East Mountain Province had reached a point of boiling resentment. Due to the sanctity of North Kong and the deep-rooted influence of their ethics, there were few instances of rebellion among the tenants and house slaves under Kong Mansion’s rule. Once the revelation of North Kong’s barbarian ancestry was out, the biggest impact would not be in the scholar community, but among those tenants and house slaves in East Mountain Province. Once the sanctity of North Kong was tarnished, the long-repressed hatred of these people would find its breaking point. But it needed guidance. And the Luo Sect excelled at sparking fires out of such situations. The window of opportunity to ignite this situation was not large; only the Luo Sect, specialized insurgents, were capable of seizing it. Xu Qing also specially instructed the Luo Sect Master to make early contact with South Kong; once North Kong fell into turmoil, South Kong was the natural successor to replace Duke Yan Sheng. Forging a relationship with the new Duke Yan Sheng would be extremely beneficial to the cause of the Luo Sect. Even though the Luo Sect harbored great animosity towards Duke Yan Sheng’s family, Temporary forbearance and compromise in exchange for ultimate victory, obviously, would not be rejected by the Luo Sect Master. The key lay in the fact that it was just starting a fire; there was little risk involved, and if it succeeded, it would naturally satisfy the Luo Sect Master’s desire for insurgence. In such a critical moment, should a large-scale peasant revolt break out in North Kong’s territory, it could utterly condemn North Kong to a pillar of shame, rendering any attempt at shifting blame and slander incapable of hiding the stark reality unfolding. During this period, Xu Qing, through Su Lianqing and the Inner Factory, also collected incriminating evidence of North Kong’s merciless killings. In fact, the reality of the situation was even more absurd than he had imagined. These pieces of evidence didn’t even require deliberate collection; they were everywhere, shocking to witness. ... ... As Xu Qing gathered these proofs, the killing intent within him grew stronger, and he seemed to truly understand the essence of the Xuanwu Seven Stars. Xuanwu, the Exorciser of Demons! This night, the stars filled the sky, and the Northern Seven Constellations shone especially bright. Heaven initiates the killing intent, displacing stars, changing constellations! Xu Qing only felt the Gang Sha, drawn in from the starry heavens into his Divine Soul, wildly surging within him. Subsequently, within the Hidden Veins of the Xuanwu Seven Stars, the Star Official Acupoints that had yet to be connected began to light up one by one. "Heaven and Earth Mysterious Sect, the root of all Qi; broadly cultivated for billions of calamities, proving My Divine Powers." The essence of the Golden Light Spell echoed within his Sea of Consciousness, as if Qi commanded the heavens!

Chapter 402 - 177: Heaven’s Murderous Intent, Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations (Seeking Subscriptions)_3

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