I Can Extract Divine Power

Chapter 392: Chapter 160: Blood Sword Dance Level 6

A single, simple word, yet it was filled with an unbreachable majesty, like a towering mountain one could never hope to surmount.

The door was pushed open slowly, and an old, white-haired eunuch holding a folded report quietly entered the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, the results of this internal examination are in."

Emperor Yunwu nodded, his expression impassive. "Leave it on the desk."

The old eunuch nodded and placed the report on Emperor Yunwu’s desk. Tucking his hands back into his sleeves, he then said, "Your Majesty, a rather interesting individual appeared this time. I thought you might be very interested in him."

Emperor Yunwu’s expression was as tranquil as a calm sea. "In what way is he interesting?" he asked coolly. "I’d like to know what in this world could possibly interest me."

"Especially since you, Eunuch Chen, have followed me through years of war on the battlefield, yet you still find something ’interesting.’"

Eunuch Chen smiled. "Your Majesty will understand once you read it."

The old eunuch’s name was Chen Yun.

Despite his aged appearance, he had few rivals within the Imperial Palace.

He was both Emperor Yunwu’s personal attendant and his final line of defense.

He had followed Emperor Yunwu through countless battles to establish the Great Zhou Country.

A rare trace of curiosity appeared on Emperor Yunwu’s face. He opened the report and began to read its contents, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

"’Shen Bai. Rose to prominence in Shengyun County, an incredibly remote little town. Specially recruited by Liu Wufeng. Subsequently, in Fenglin State, he foiled a conspiracy involving the Dark Hall, the Upper Evil Sect, the Wild Taoist Sect, and the Wild Buddha Sect.’" freewebnøvel.com

"’During the internal examination, he completely wiped out the Wild Taoist Sect and Wild Buddha Sect’s forces in Fenglin State. Interesting.’"

Emperor Yunwu murmured to himself as he read.

Eunuch Chen kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, his back hunched. He stared down at the square tiles on the floor, not saying a single word.

’Though he had conquered the world alongside Emperor Yunwu and served as his right-hand man, the saying ’to serve a king is to live with a tiger’ could not be more true.’

’Eunuch Chen knew very well that there were some things he should neither see nor meddle in.’

’It was said in the Jianghu that inside the Imperial Palace, he, Eunuch Chen, was Emperor Yunwu’s last line of defense, and that any assassination attempt would come to an abrupt end before him.’

’But only Eunuch Chen knew the truth: the final line of defense was Emperor Yunwu himself.’

Emperor Yunwu reached the halfway point and continued reading aloud. "’He took first place in the internal examination, uncovered the conspiracy of Xinhua Academy, defeated their prodigy Wang Tianxing against all odds, and saved the people of an entire state, averting a cataclysm in Yunxi State.’"

"Excellent! What a fine young talent!"

Emperor Yunwu closed the report, set it on the desk, and nodded. "For such a man to be born in the Great Zhou Country is a blessing for our nation."

This assessment might have sounded unremarkable, but coming from Emperor Yunwu, it was the highest possible praise.

Eunuch Chen nodded. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Despite his youth, he possesses the power of Overcoming Adversity and Attacking Upward. His mind and methods are remarkably mature, and he is utterly ruthless toward his enemies. He is truly an outstanding talent."

Emperor Yunwu picked up his tea and took a light sip. "Feng Zheng of Yunxi State nearly cost the lives of an entire state’s people over this incident. I was inclined to punish him, but since he discovered such a talent, I will pardon his crime."

The cataclysm had not yet occurred, but a breach had been made, and Emperor Yunwu was deeply displeased by it.

Eunuch Chen bowed. "Your Majesty is magnanimous. I am certain Lord Feng will take this lesson to heart. I wonder, then, how should Shen Bai be rewarded?"

Traditionally, Emperor Yunwu personally reviewed the results of the internal examination before they were sent down to the Observatory’s headquarters.

As for the rewards, Emperor Yunwu never stated them explicitly. Instead, the Observatory headquarters would determine and issue them based on the Emperor’s comments.

This was exactly how Emperor Yunwu wanted things; he wanted his subordinates to act on their own initiative, not to be constrained by his every word.

’He knew well that only by gathering the strengths of many and the wisdom of the crowd could the country be prosperous and its people live in peace.’

’If not for the chronic illness that plagued him, the Great Zhou Country would surely not be in such turmoil today.’

Emperor Yunwu tapped his fingers on the desk, the rhythmic TAP, TAP, TAP echoing through the study.

Eunuch Chen waited patiently.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Emperor Yunwu looked up. "I hear the Third Prince has gotten rather close to him."

Eunuch Chen replied, "The Third Prince and Shen Bai get along very well. But His Highness has been very astute; he hasn’t actively tried to recruit Shen Bai, but has instead approached him as a genuine friend."

Emperor Yunwu chuckled. "My third son’s approach certainly won’t arouse any aversion in Shen Bai. I’m afraid my other two sons have already made their moves."

Eunuch Chen said nothing, but a curious look appeared in his eyes.

Emperor Yunwu stood up, flicked his sleeves, and clasped his hands behind his back. "I have permitted this struggle among the Royal Family," he said slowly. "I need a successor who can bear the weight of this nation. If all they do is scramble over Shen Bai, it will only make them seem petty."

"My assessment of Shen Bai is as I just stated: he is a man who can shape the future of the Great Zhou Country."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Chen’s eyes widened. "Your Majesty, that is an evaluation as high as the heavens. If the other two Princes were to hear it, I fear they would fight even more fiercely over him."

"They wouldn’t dare," Emperor Yunwu said, turning his head. "The higher my assessment, the less they dare to act recklessly. A lower assessment, on the other hand, would only encourage them to stir up trouble."

"Then, Your Majesty... do you truly hold Shen Bai in such high regard?" Eunuch Chen asked.

"He can Overcome Adversity and Attack Upward, and his mind and methods are both first-rate. If I don’t value him, who should I value?"

Emperor Yunwu walked to the window, pushed it open, and gazed at the distant white clouds.