Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 331 Makes His Majesty feel that this humble Taoist is too easy to get along with!
The palace doors were tightly shut, and only two people remained inside. The space was so quiet that the faint sound of candlelight burning could be heard.

Chen Zhan's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Zhu Yijun to hear clearly, and not a sound could be heard outside the hall.

"Buddha's Relic!"

As soon as those four words were spoken, the old emperor Zhu Yijun's eyes changed instantly, his previously expectant expression now showing scrutiny and suspicion.

He had never mentioned the relic to anyone before, so the fact that this Taoist in green robes asked for it so readily inevitably made people wonder about his motives.

Chen Zhan didn't care at all, and his expression remained indifferent.

The initiative was already in his hands. Wang An was dead, and no one could fulfill the promises made earlier. Zhu Yijun had no choice but to trust him.

Moreover, he had already used his methods to let Zhu Yijun personally verify the effects, and it was true that his health was gradually improving. If he still could not gain the other party's trust after all this, then it could only be said that Zhu Yijun deserved to die, and even a god could not save him.

Zhu Yijun's eyes flickered several times before he quickly understood the reason behind it.

Although he still had doubts about Chen Zhan's identity, this was his last hope for prolonging his life and revitalizing the Ming Dynasty, and there was no reason for him to give up.

He composed himself, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a mixture of urgency and cautious probing:

"The Daoist is indeed a master, knowing the wondrous uses of relics. But I wonder if the Daoist can activate this Buddha Essence Relic?"

Chen Zhan nodded slowly, his tone firm and decisive: "Activating the relic is not difficult. But if it is to prolong His Majesty's life, Wang An cannot do it, but I can."

These words were spoken very bluntly, and Zhu Yijun understood them clearly, his breathing immediately becoming heavier.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Very well, since I have placed my trust in the Taoist priest, I will trust those I employ. Come forth!"

Zhu Yijun moved a few steps to the inner hall's library, flicked a mechanism, and a hidden compartment appeared on the library with a clicking sound.

Inside was a jade box, which glowed with a soft green light during the day.

Chen Zhan sensed with his divine sense that it was actually blocked by the green box.

Zhu Yijun said, "This jade box was found in the ruins of the Demonic Sect a hundred years ago. It can block detection, but we don't know what material it is made of."

Chen Zhan nodded slightly. No wonder he couldn't sense the relic's location during his several visits to the palace.

The other relic, after being invaded by his blood and qi, could be sensed even from a hundred miles away.

Zhu Yijun stepped forward and opened the jade box. The jade box was very complicated, and it took him a lot of effort to unravel the intricate mechanisms.

The moment the box was opened, a wisp of shimmering white light emanated from it. Unlike the usual blood-red light that bursts forth when a relic is activated, this one quietly contained a relic the size of an infant's fist, pure white and exuding a restrained warmth.

Chen Zhan glanced at it and understood.

This relic is enchanted by a restriction, which suppresses the essence and blood within, making it appear peaceful and preventing its power from being drawn out.

Once the restriction is broken, it will reveal its true nature, filled with blood and light.

He nodded slowly, his fingertips twitching slightly, and a gentle internal force was released, like invisible threads pulling the relic.

The luminous white relic seemed to possess a spirit, slowly rising from the jade box and steadily landing in his palm.

Zhu Yijun stood to the side, unconsciously slowing his breathing, but he couldn't help feeling nervous.

He pondered to himself, if this Taoist priest were to go back on his word, and he was all alone, could Xu Long outside the hall stop him?
But we have no grudge against each other, so why would he want to harm me?

This thought flashed through his mind only briefly, but he dared not show it on his face, instead forcing a smile:
"Master, I have had this relic for some time now, and despite my best efforts to study it, I cannot figure it out. It is impervious to water and fire, and even the infusion of internal energy has no effect whatsoever."

“His Majesty has no choice. There are special restrictions suppressing this relic.” Chen Zhan chuckled lightly, his tone calm.

"Can the Taoist priest break this?" Zhu Yijun asked hastily, his eyes full of expectation.

Chen Zhan remained silent, only nodding slightly. A faint red aura appeared in his palm and sank into the relic.

The moment the Qi and blood enter the body, the restriction breaks instantly.

The relic in his palm suddenly flew into the air, spinning faster and faster. The shimmering white light around him quickly faded, replaced by a soaring crimson light.

In an instant, the hall was bathed in a crimson glow.

Zhu Yijun stood there, looking at the strange phenomenon before him, a look of surprise and doubt on his face. He subconsciously stopped in his tracks, not daring to make a sound to disturb the view.

Without uttering a single word, Chen Zhan activated the Qi and blood in his palm once more, using his own Qi and blood as a guide to draw upon the essence contained within the relic.

With a soft hum, the spinning relic suddenly stopped.

A wisp of red mist slowly diffused from inside the relic, carrying a rich yet not sluggish aura of vital energy.

"Your Majesty, open your mouth."

Chen Zhan had barely finished speaking when Zhu Yijun was given no time to react on his own.

With a slight movement of his fingertips, an invisible force struck Zhu Yijun precisely between his jaws, causing his jaw to go numb and his mouth to involuntarily open.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Zhan pointed with his finger.
The wisp of red mist seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, rushing straight into Zhu Yijun's open mouth.

Zhu Yijun felt a warm current slide down his throat into his body, instantly spreading to his limbs and bones, and the previous feeling of sluggishness in his body dissipated by most of it.

The old emperor had not cultivated to the Innate Realm, and his acupoints were not yet open, so he could not withstand the direct initiation method.

Although Chen Zhan's method of transferring essence was slightly wasteful, it was the safest approach.

Moreover, this relic contains the essence and blood of several monks at the Tongxuan realm. It is enormous in size, and even if it is damaged, it is more than enough to supply ten Zhu Yijuns.

As his qi and blood flowed, Chen Zhan's mind stirred slightly.

He could clearly sense that this relic was completely different from other relics he had encountered before.

Not only is the essence and blood contained within more abundant, but there also seems to be something else hidden deep inside, faintly revealing a special aura.

The swirling red mist was continuously channeled into Zhu Yijun's body by Chen Zhan, circulating through his limbs and bones with the warm air currents.

The old emperor's initial shock and anger faded as Chen Zhan forcibly pried open his mouth, replaced by an undisguised delight that quickly transformed into pure enjoyment.

His eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and even his breathing became long and even.

Chen Zhan focused his strength at his fingertips, constantly sensing the level of red mist being infused.

The essence of this relic is too abundant. Zhu Yijun is just an ordinary person. If he continues to pour it into him, he will probably be overwhelmed by this power and die, which would be a loss.

After a short while, seeing that Zhu Yijun's complexion had become rosy and full, and that his originally hunched back had straightened up a bit, Chen Zhan immediately stopped.

Qi and blood suddenly flew out from the palm, forming an invisible barrier that precisely cut off the output of the relic's essence.

The relic, which had been spinning in mid-air, lost its pull and slowly fell back into Chen Zhan's palm. The bloody light around it gradually subsided, and it regained some of its warmth.

Zhu Yijun was still immersed in the ultimate enjoyment of being nourished by his vital essence.
Wherever that warm current passed, long-standing ailments melted away like ice and snow, and the old and withered bodies, like trees that had been parched for a long time and received sweet rain, gradually became moist and showed signs of vitality.

This deep-seated comfort was incredibly addictive to him, making him completely forget everything around him.

Suddenly, the warm red mist stopped abruptly, and the refreshing feeling was instantly interrupted.

Zhu Yijun was suddenly jolted awake from his reverie, his eyes snapping open as he looked around with a bewildered expression.

Upon seeing Chen Zhan clearly, he stepped forward eagerly, his voice filled with pleading: "What happened? Daoist Master, please continue! I want more!"

Chen Zhan frowned and said, "Your Majesty should first take a look at your body. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Your body has been weak for too long and cannot withstand strong tonics."

Zhu Yijun clenched his fist, took a few steps, took a deep breath, and felt his own state. He walked faster and faster, becoming more and more excited.

This kind of energy-boosting treatment is more addictive than anything else.

It's similar to enhancing the effects of exercising and strengthening the body by hundreds or thousands of times, allowing you to experience your body repairing and improving at a speed that is visible and tangible to the naked eye.

Even Chen Zhan himself was fascinated by this kind of improvement.

Each time you enhance your destiny, you must immerse yourself in it and feel the changes in your body.

At this time, the old emperor Zhu Yijun, or rather, he was no longer considered an old emperor. He was already over fifty years old, his health had been poor for many years, and he suffered from chronic illnesses, making him look old and frail.

But things are very different now.

In Chen Zhan's eyes, Zhu Yijun's hair, which was previously mostly white with some black strands, had now been reversed. Only a few white hairs occasionally adorned his black hair, making him striking but no longer appearing old.

His back, which had been hunched over from years of illness and old age, was now completely straight, his posture upright like a pine tree.

The biggest change was in his spirit; he was incredibly excited, his eyes were bright and piercing, and he looked radiant.

He exuded a vibrant energy, as if he had never been sick and was in the prime of his life.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"I feel twenty years younger, no, more than twenty years younger! I feel like I've returned to my prime, with the same body and spirit as when I first launched the three great campaigns, feeling like I was invincible and had the world at my fingertips."

Zhu Yijun was extremely excited, and his voice was so loud that it could be heard outside the hall. Xu Long and Shen Tong listened with some helplessness.

The two looked at each other.

They all felt that His Majesty had been utterly deceived by the wandering Taoist priest once again.

Fortunately, these wandering Taoist priests dared not do anything to the emperor, otherwise they would not be able to leave the imperial palace.

Zhu Yijun repeatedly rubbed his arms, feeling the surging energy within him. He then raised his hand to stroke the hair at his temples, touching mostly smooth, black hair, the previous signs of aging completely gone. This extreme transformation excited him greatly. He paced back and forth for a couple of steps before gradually calming down.

He looked up at Chen Zhan, who stood calmly to the side with a faint smile on his lips.

His eyes were full of approval and conviction, and his tone was earnest yet tinged with urgency:

"As expected of Daojun, you have kept your word. This supernatural power is truly the work of an immortal! I will rely on you more in the future. Daojun, please stay in the palace. Tonight, I wish to have a long talk with you by candlelight and discuss the important matters of the world together."

"Yes, I will appoint Daojun as the Imperial Advisor, so that he can advise me in the future and pacify Liaodong within a year!"

Having witnessed Chen Zhan's extraordinary abilities, Zhu Yijun naturally had full confidence in pacifying Liaodong within a year.

Chen Zhan chuckled upon hearing this and slowly shook his head: "There's no need for him to stay. Now that His Majesty has recovered, if he wants to pacify Liaodong, the most urgent task is to find a way to raise funds."

"Raising funds?"

The excitement on Zhu Yijun's face vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised embarrassment.

He suddenly remembered that a few days ago, in order to please the immortal in his dream, he had issued three edicts of self-reproach and exonerated Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang's army. The promised compensation for the fallen soldiers had not yet been paid out.

This promise was originally his pledge to seek immortality and enlightenment. Now that the immortals have "manifested their power" and he has recovered, the matter of the compensation has become a hot potato.

He sighed softly, his face showing difficulty.
The national treasury is already empty, barely enough to cover daily operations, let alone have enough money to pay huge sums of compensation.
Only his own imperial treasury still held some silver, but that little bit of savings was just a drop in the ocean compared to the pensions needed for the tens of thousands of fallen soldiers; it was simply not enough.

Chen Zhan naturally knew that the old emperor did not have any money, but while the national treasury was empty, someone else did.

"What does Your Majesty think of the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue over the years?"

"Well, there's no problem with tax payment. Although I don't attend court, I've read all the memorials from the three provinces and six ministries. All the taxes have been paid in full, except for Liaodong, where we can't collect them because it's been ravaged by the Later Jin rebels. There's nothing we can do about it."

Zhu Yijun was not a tyrant; he knew that Liaodong was in trouble.

"If taxes are paid in full, why is the national treasury empty?"

"Your Majesty, please don't say it's because of war. The three major campaigns did indeed consume a lot of money and grain, but it is far from exhausting the country's taxes over the years."

Chen Zhan was not polite at all and said directly, "Your Majesty should know how much tax revenue is used to support parasites every year."

"Alas, Imperial Preceptor, you are unaware that the imperial family and officials of the Ming Dynasty are not so easy to investigate."

Zhu Yijun was also in a dilemma. Of course he knew that the Zhu family had built up a foundation of more than two hundred years, with imperial relatives and nobles multiplying for dozens of generations. Each generation had to rely on the royal family for support, and the family had annexed land and sucked the blood of the people.

But this problem was something that emperors throughout history could not solve, and he had no way to solve it either.

They are all members of the imperial family, relatives of the emperor; they cannot be killed, and no evidence can be found in the investigation.

Chen Zhan smiled upon hearing this, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "Your Majesty is overthinking it. In this world, there is no one or nothing that money cannot influence."

"Does Your Majesty know how the common people describe the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

He changed the subject, glancing towards the direction outside the hall, and said softly.

Zhu Yijun shook his head blankly, then changed his words accordingly: "Please speak, Grand Preceptor."

"The ruthlessness of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot is described by a folk saying: 'They would squeeze a toad until it urinates.'"

Chen Zhan slowly uttered the vulgarity, his tone devoid of any mockery, but rather carrying a calm, factual air, "Does Your Majesty find this statement appropriate?"

These words were crude and blunt, and Zhu Yijun frowned slightly, but had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Though crude, it's not wrong. The secret police have always been ruthless in their actions; they'd scrape the ground three feet deep if they could do it."

He paused, his face showing difficulty: "But the Grand Preceptor also knows that the Imperial Guard usually deals with officials and common people. How dare they easily take action against imperial relatives, nobles and members of the imperial clan? These are all the flesh and blood of the Zhu family. If we touch them, the people of the world will criticize me."

"Your Majesty values ​​your reputation, that's easy to understand."

Chen Zhan took half a step forward, his voice lowered but clear: "This matter is entrusted to me, the Imperial Advisor. The credit for confiscating the wealth of the imperial family and nobles, replenishing the national treasury, and distributing pensions all belongs to His Majesty. It is His Majesty's act of showing compassion to the soldiers and turning the tide."

Zhu Yijun's eyes flickered, waiting for him to continue.

"As for the infamy,"

"Although His Majesty will ultimately have to bear some of the blame, it doesn't matter. At that time, he can simply claim to the outside world that he was bewitched by a demon."

Chen Zhan's tone was completely calm, as if he were talking about something insignificant.

"No, absolutely not! Among the imperial family and relatives, there are many of my dearest friends and family!" Zhu Yijun shook his head abruptly, showing hostility towards Chen Zhan's suggestion for the first time.

Chen Zhan, however, was not too surprised and gave a faint smile.

"I have made a mistake. Would Your Majesty like to know what it is?"

"what?"

"It makes His Majesty feel that I am too easy to get along with."

As soon as Chen Zhan finished speaking, the relic in his palm suddenly broke free of his control and flew into the air.

In an instant, a crimson light burst forth, sweeping out like wildfire and instantly engulfing Zhu Yijun.

The temperature inside the hall rose sharply, and the crimson light made Zhu Yijun's face turn blood red.

Countless fine red threads shot out from the relic, striking Zhu Yijun's vital points with precision like poison needles.

The old emperor's pupils constricted suddenly, filled with horror. He was about to cry for help when he found that his blood and qi were tightly bound, and he could not move his limbs or make a sound.

He stared intently at Chen Zhan, his eyes filled with fear and confusion, not understanding why this "national advisor" had suddenly launched an attack.

But the next moment, an even more terrifying scene appeared.

Under the entwining of crimson threads, wisps of red mist slowly emanated from his body. This red mist was the essence of the relic that had been transferred into his body earlier.

At this moment, they seemed to have come to life, breaking free from the shackles of their physical bodies, and rushing towards the relics in the air.

Zhu Yijun panicked completely.

His expression revealed a fear of death.

He could clearly feel his life slipping away rapidly, and his newly replenished energy and vitality were dissipating at a visible speed.

My limbs gradually became weak and sore, my once straight back hunched over again, the black hair at my temples turned gray at an alarming rate, the rosy complexion on my face faded, and wrinkles once again filled the depths of my face.

Chen Zhan stood there, his expression indifferent as ice, without uttering a word.

He condensed his energy at his fingertips, manipulating the relic to continuously draw upon the essence within Zhu Yijun's body.

Crimson light flowed within the hall, and the red mist formed from the essence flowed like streams into rivers and seas, all of which was absorbed by the relics.

A moment later, the red mist inside Zhu Yijun's body had completely dissipated.

With a thought, Chen Zhan abruptly withdrew his qi and blood, and the red light of the relic in the air gradually faded, transforming into a stream of light that flew back to his palm.

The moment the binding force dissipated, Zhu Yijun's body went limp, and he could no longer support himself, collapsing onto the bed beside him like a lump of mud.

His breath was weak, his eyes were cloudy, and he had reverted to his old, frail, and ailing state.

Chen Zhan even absorbed the essence from the previous two treatments.

The old emperor has returned to the state he was in a few days ago, bedridden and ill.

"Does Your Majesty still have any beloved relatives and friends?"

Chen Zhan's tone suggested that nothing had happened.

Zhu Yijun remained stunned for several minutes before realizing his current physical condition. He didn't even dare to utter the words "traitor" and immediately gave in.

"Imperial Advisor, I was wrong."

"Imperial family members! They deserve to die! They're sucking the blood of the Ming Dynasty, they deserve to die!"

"Grand Preceptor, I'm leaving everything to you. No problem, I have no objections whatsoever."

Zhu Yijun was so weak at this moment that he couldn't even shout out; his voice couldn't even carry out of the hall.

"Ah."

"Waist token, this is my waist token. Seeing this token is like seeing me in person. Imperial Preceptor, please keep it safe."

He struggled to pull out his waist token from his pocket, but he didn't even have the strength to hand it to Chen Zhan.

Chen Zhan reached out and snatched the golden waist token into his hand.

"Indeed, Your Majesty is wise."

Chen Zhan looked at his outstretched hand and knew what it meant. The relic flew out, and the blood mist returned one-tenth of it to him.

"Your Majesty, please hold on a little longer. The Ming Dynasty still needs you."

"Thank you so much, thank you so much, Imperial Preceptor."

Zhu Yijun spoke in a trembling voice. His body had indeed recovered somewhat, but he was even more terrified.

Chen Zhan can practically control birth, aging, sickness, and death! This ability is terrifying; it's impossible not to be utterly astonished.

(End of this chapter)