Walking by the Abyss on Thin Ice

Chapter 207 – Heart of desperation

Su Yun left the Eastern Capital Academy, feeling relieved and free from any constraints. He walked through the bustling streets of the city instead of riding in a carriage. In his spiritual world, his seventy-two heavenly realms rotated, and the twelve divine beasts were imprinted on the inner walls of his realms. On the outer walls, there were seven layers of scales, with three hundred and sixty imprints on the bottom layer, each representing a different divine beast.

Ying Ying flew around, helping him correct minor flaws in his cultivation technique. "Cultivate your spiritual consciousness and nourish your spirit. The most critical aspect of this realm is not how much your cultivation improves, but how much your spirit improves."

"Your twelve divine beasts include the great Kun to strengthen your form and the heavenly Peng to strengthen your will."

"The nine phoenixes have sharp eyesight."

"The fierce and unyielding beasts are not submissive."

"The white ze can recognize changes and dispel evil spirits."

"Zhu Yan Sheng has great strength, tempered strength, controls thunder and lightning like a thunder god, and treads on the great marsh."

"Fei Yi does not produce epidemics, and Xiang Liu can avoid all poisons. The ghost car and the divine ghosts are difficult to approach."

Su Yun began to integrate the new twelve divine beasts into his Honglu Shanbian technique. His entire spiritual world was like a huge copper furnace, and the walls of the furnace were imprinted with the twelve divine beasts. The spiritual energy from his seventy-two heavenly realms flowed into the furnace like charcoal, making the new twelve divine beasts clearer and more vivid.

"Tian Di copper furnace, refining the spirit. You are the one who controls the Kun and Peng, and everything is the transformation of yin and yang."

Ying Ying checked the forms of the twelve divine beasts and compared them to the various steps in his technique, constantly reminding him, "So the Tian Di copper furnace is not refining the twelve divine beasts or even the twenty-four divine beasts, but your spirit, your consciousness!"

With her guidance, Su Yun realized that the new twelve divine beasts in the Tian Di copper furnace were imprinted on his spirit, completing the final step of his Honglu Shanbian technique.

The twelve divine beasts, including the heavenly Peng, the great Kun, the nine phoenixes, and the fierce beasts, all completely entered his spirit, and his spirit projected as a divine power above his head. The large yellow bell rotated leisurely, and the walls of the bell were imprinted with the twelve divine beasts.

Divine power was the projection of the spirit, and the new twelve divine beasts were imprinted on his spirit, which projected as divine power and naturally imprinted the divine beasts.

Su Yun activated the Dao Gate Heavenly Eye to observe the changes in his spiritual world and make minor adjustments to his cultivation technique.

As he walked, Su Yun's steps became faster and his body became lighter. Unknowingly, he arrived at the eighth level of Mount Yu Huang, where many officials surrounded Qiu Shuijing, who was walking towards the imperial city. Qiu Shuijing seemed to sense something and turned around in surprise. His gaze passed through the crowd and fell on Su Yun.

Su Yun's aura continued to change with the changes in his cultivation technique, sometimes like a soaring Peng, sometimes like a giant Kun swimming in the sea, and sometimes like a thunder god treading on the great marsh. Various phenomena that ordinary people could not perceive appeared around him, which amazed Qiu Shuijing.Someone from the entourage stepped forward to stop Su Yun from approaching, but Qiu Shuijing waved his hand and smiled, "He is an old friend."

"Master Qiu!" Su Yun came before Qiu Shuijing and bowed in respect.

Qiu Shuijing returned the gesture and smiled, "You still came."

Su Yun smiled, "Master said that there is a wildness in my eyes, so you should know that I couldn't stay in Shuofang anymore. Any young man with a wild spirit would want to come to the capital and make a name for himself."

Qiu Shuijing laughed heartily.

Seeing his vigor, Su Yun's heart stirred and he asked, "Has Master Qiu been doing well in the capital these days?"

"Naturally," Qiu Shuijing said, his spirit soaring. "On the first day I arrived, the emperor announced that I was to be reinstated as the Tai Chang of the Heavenly Dao Academy, appointed as the Emperor's Teacher, in charge of the academy's officials such as the Tai Shi, Tai Yue, Tai Zhu, and Tai Zai. On the second day, the emperor also appointed me as the Zhi Jin Wu, in charge of the northern and southern armies and the imperial guards of the ten levels of the capital, with the entire military power of the capital in my hands."

Beside him, the Taishi official laughed and said, "His Majesty listens to everything that Master Qiu says. On the third day of Master's return to the capital, His Majesty appointed him as the Grand Secretary, in charge of the officials."

Su Yun bowed, "Congratulations, Master."

Qiu Shuijing laughed heartily, "I came to the capital this time to request the emperor to reform the people's livelihood. Su Yun, let's talk while we walk."

Su Yun walked with him side by side as Qiu Shuijing said, "Unlike Left Attendant, who always thinks of rebellion but cannot provide a way to govern, smashing everything but unable to build a better world, I will divide my plan into two steps. First, I will reduce the power of the feudal lords and the aristocracy, impose taxes to replenish the national treasury, and reclaim the lands of the major aristocratic families for the state. Second, I will start with education, using the money and wealth gained from reducing the power of the aristocracy to fund official schools. In this way, the people's livelihood will prosper, and in just a few years, the lower class will have many talents and skills, which can change the current weakness of the Yuan Shuo era."

"Master, does Emperor Di Ping support your plan to reduce the power of the aristocracy?" Su Yun asked, his heart slightly shaken.

"He wants to live forever, and apart from relying on Xue Qingfu and Xue Shengren, he must rely on me," Qiu Shuijing said with a smile. "Moreover, by reducing the power of the aristocracy and centralizing power in the hands of the emperor, his power is greater than before, and he has more resources at his disposal. Therefore, he must support me!"

Su Yun was silent for a moment and asked, "What about the aristocracy? Do they support you?"

"I want to weaken them, so why would they support me?" Qiu Shuijing laughed heartily.

At this moment, another carriage and horses arrived and slowly stopped. The one leading the ox cart was Bai Yuelou, who was surprised and delighted to see Su Yun. "Senior Brother!"

Xue Qingfu pushed open the carriage window, saw Su Yun and Qiu Shuijing, and got off the ox cart, saying with a smile, "Shuijing, please go ahead. I have something to discuss with Su Gongzi."

Qiu Shuijing nodded slightly and said to Su Yun, "I am in charge of the appointments of officials in the emperor's rewards for this time, so what official position do you want?"

Su Yun shook his head, "I haven't thought about it yet."Qiu Shuijing walked towards the palace and said, "Let me check first if there is a suitable position for you. Oh, right." He stopped and turned his head, "How about appointing you as the Junior Historian of the Supervisory Office?"

"What is the Supervisory Office for?" Su Yun wondered. He didn't want to ask directly, so he watched Qiu Shuijing walk into the imperial city. He then turned around and greeted Xue Qingfu, "Greetings to the Shuofang Saint."

Xue Qingfu laughed heartily and returned the greeting, "Master Su, you are too polite! We are peers, there's no need to be so formal." He straightened his body and looked at Qiu Shuijing's back, his eyes flickering, "Qiu Shuijing may be proud, but he has never been proud of me. After I entered the capital, the people of the Eastern Capital were in an uproar, shouting for the Saint and supporting me all the way to the top of Mount Yuhuang! The Emperor watched me from outside the Jinyuan Palace and heard the clamor of the people, so he immediately issued an edict to appoint me as a Saint."

"Congratulations," Su Yun said.

"On the second day, the Emperor appointed me as the Duke of Anshuo, which is rare for someone of a different surname. On the third day, the Emperor appointed me as the Grand Marshal, in charge of the military forces of the world. The Emperor's grace is vast," Xue Qingfu exclaimed.

"The Saint's achievements are amazing and worthy of praise," Su Yun admired.

Xue Qingfu glanced at him and smiled, "Your contributions are not small either, but unfortunately, you have hit the Emperor before, so you cannot hold high office. This time, Qiu Shuijing intends to reform, what do you think?"

Su Yun humbly asked, "I just arrived in the Eastern Capital, and I don't understand. Please enlighten me, Saint."

Xue Qingfu's smile disappeared, "Qiu Shuijing is not far from death."

Su Yun's heart skipped a beat.

Xue Qingfu continued calmly, "Offending all the aristocratic families in the world is not wise. Although I admire Qiu Shuijing and regard him as my opponent, I don't want to see him die like this."

Su Yun was stunned and asked, "Why does Emperor Ping support Mr. Qiu?"

"Because it is of great benefit to the Emperor and has no harm. If he can take over the aristocratic families' land for the Emperor, it would be the best. If not, pushing Qiu Shuijing out and beheading him is the only option," Xue Qingfu sighed. "I don't want my student to die like this, so I often speak for him in court, but he was too radical this time. What official position did he ask the Emperor to appoint you?"

"The Junior Historian of the Supervisory Office," Su Yun replied.

Xue Qingfu nodded and walked towards the imperial city, "The Junior Historian of the Supervisory Office is an official position for overseas study, responsible for taking students abroad. It seems that Qiu Shuijing has already decided to die with you if he fails. That's why he sent you away first."

Su Yun's heart trembled and he said, "Saint, please wait!"

Xue Qingfu stopped.

Su Yun approached him and whispered, "Mr. Qiu's purpose in returning to the capital this time is to reform, to benefit the people's livelihood, strengthen the Yuan Shuo, and resist foreign enemies. What is the Saint's purpose in returning to the capital this time?"

Xue Qingfu didn't move his body, but turned his head to look at Su Yun, and their eyes met.

Su Yun's heart trembled, and he seemed to see thousands of saints living behind countless masks. Underneath all those masks, which one was the real Xue Qingfu?

"My purpose is the same as Qiu Shuijing's," Xue Qingfu said.Xue Qingfu said calmly, "However, the path may be different. I am the Grand Marshal and have the authority to recommend you as the Deputy Historian of the Inspectorate along with Shui Jing. If you leave the capital immediately, you may be able to save your life!"

Su Yun watched him enter the imperial city before turning around and leaving.

Ying Ying said, "His true identity is Han Jun! Su Scholar, stop him!"

"Why?" Su Yun was puzzled.

Ying Ying sat on the big clock with a serious expression and said, "He just said that our goals are the same, but our paths are different. How many different paths are there besides Mr. Shui Jing's? There are only two, one is the rebellion led by Lao Piao and the Seven Great Families to overthrow the emperor. The other is to change the emperor but not the dynasty and become the emperor oneself! Xue Qingfu is obviously the latter."

Su Yun looked strange and turned around to walk towards Bai Yuelou, saying, "Who says we can't change the emperor? What's wrong with changing if we can do it well?"

Bai Yuelou hurriedly greeted him and bowed, saying with a smile, "Bai Yuelou pays respects to the senior brother of the Ge Wu Academy!"