The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 524 - 302 Prince Mansion’s Treasure Sale

Chapter 524: Chapter 302 Prince Mansion’s Treasure Sale

Everyone says Prince Wuchang’s treasure vault is forbidden ground, but Li Yan felt that from the moment one entered, danger lurked at every turn.

As they entered through a side gate, the Prince Mansion’s guards all carried muskets, among which two were the new model Divine Fire Guns.

Besides that, they also led a ferocious dog, enormous in size with pitch-black fur, of an unknown breed, its pairs of dark yellow eyes fixed intently on the group.

This must be the Prince Mansion’s defense squad.

Li Yan also noticed, beneath those walls, similar squads patrolling along the corners.

Working in conjunction with the sentinels on the watchtowers, they formed a tight defensive line.

Just this first barrier alone was enough to stop most intruders.

Apart from this, walking along the way, Li Yan could faintly sense other threats, but the only one he clearly saw was an ordinary old eunuch who crossed paths with them.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

In this world, the Mystical Sect possessed numerous wondrous spells and could pass down its legacy for thousands of years, but for the court to dominate the whole Divine State and have the royal authority over spiritual, it certainly was not without power.

The pugilistic world was merely a corner of the Divine State after all...

Just then, he saw a group of people on the far riverbank approaching their direction, led by none other than Prince Wuchang’s Princely Heir, followed by more than a dozen guards and eunuchs.

Hu Ming had already noticed and hurriedly stood up to greet him at the door.

Upon sighting the Princely Heir from afar, he put on a full smile and greeted with utmost respect, "This commoner pays his respects to the Princely Heir!"

The attitude was very low, even somewhat sycophantic.

Li Yan stepped out too, but remained largely silent, merely following the gesture of greeting without bending his waist.

"No need for formalities," said the Princely Heir with a smile as he raised his hand.

Li Yan scrutinized him in secret, having heard that this Heir, named Xiao Shixian, was obsessed with Martial Arts, now it seemed to be an understatement.

The Heir was enwrapped with Astral Bane Energy, carrying a certain fervent air, probably not just skilled in martial skills, but also in Martial Arts.

Young in age, but with a bearing well beyond his years, no wonder he was recognized as the obvious successor to Prince Wuchang.

Knowing full well that Prince Wuchang’s children were many.

He didn’t know, Xiao Shixian was sizing him up as well.

Originally, the Princely Heir had entertained the thought of bringing Li Yan to his side, after all, at a young age with no small potential, but seeing him refuse to bow, he immediately quelled that thought.

The pugilistic world had its own rules, and so did the court.

"The ability to bow and scrape before the mighty" sounds pleasant, but the price is an inability to assimilate into the rules.

Atop Gui Mountain lies the tomb of Mei Heng, a man of extraordinary talent, yet due to his arrogant nature, he insulted Cao Cao and looked down on Liu Biao. Not only failing to realize his ambitions but not even living past 26, he was killed for angering Huang Zu.

As Prince Wuchang said, Li Yan was just a man of the pugilistic world, they must have had their heads squeezed by doors to invite such a person over.

What they wanted were capable and diligent subordinates, not someone who would cause trouble for them, no matter their skill level.

Both parties had their own calculations after a brief exchange.

After the eunuchs brought in fresh tea, Princely Heir Xiao Shixian finally addressed Hu Ming with a smile, "Mr. Hu, I heard you come from the Jade Emperor Temple in Zezhou, a lineage of the Doumu Institute?"

"Indeed, Your Highness speaks the truth," Hu Ming promptly affirmed.

After listening, Xiao Shixian feigned curiosity, "The members of your Doumu Institute mostly serve in the Imperial Observatory, has His Majesty expressed intentions to revise the calendar?"

Hu Ming hesitated for a moment, "Indeed, that is the case."

To be honest, that was the very reason for their eagerness with the Observatory construction; setting the calendar was a matter of historical record.

For them, the chance to participate and exert more influence was more valuable than any treasures or money.

Hearing this, Xiao Shixian knit his brows, "Revising the calendar is an immense undertaking, the ’Shoushi Calendar’ of the Great Xing Dynasty was established not long ago, why the rush to revise it?"

"Your Highness might not be aware."

Hu Ming seemed to be prompted by some deep emotion, "During the Ancient Times, there was the Yellow Emperor’s calendar, followed by the Xia Calendar, Yin Calendar, Zhou Calendar, and methods like the sexagenary cycle and lunisolar were gradually perfected. This shows that the calendar needs to change with the times."

"For example, after the Qin unified the six states, they established the ’Zhuanyu Calendar’; come the Western Han Dynasty, it no longer aligned with the celestial phenomena, the solar terms were inaccuracies, thus Sima Qian and others were commanded to create the ’Tai Chu Calendar’ with twenty-four solar terms added..."

"With the precession of the equinoxes misaligned with the ecliptic, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Zu Chongzhi introduced ’precession’ and set the ’Da Ming Calendar’, which was more accurate. By the Tang Dynasty, due to inaccuracies in predicting solar eclipses, the monk Yi Xing established the ’Da Yan Calendar’..."

"During the Great Xing Dynasty, Guo Shoujing and others established the ’Shoushi Calendar’, although refined, since the opening of sea routes, overseas celestial observation techniques introduced by barbarian monks also have their merits."

"Thus, His Majesty’s intention is to incorporate the strengths of various sources and revise the calendar once more, to cope with the current situation..."

"I see,"

Princely Heir Xiao Shixian finally understood and nodded solemnly, "This endeavor will benefit generations to come, and naturally, Prince Wuchang’s Mansion must also contribute."

"I shall take it upon myself to present the immortal crystal storage to the Jade Emperor Temple and donate an additional one hundred thousand taels to expedite this matter."

Hu Ming was startled, rushing to his feet and bowing deeply, "Your Highness is magnanimous and your kindness overwhelms us. We shall pray for your wellbeing in our temple and when the Observatory is completed, we will erect a stele to honor your contribution."

Even though the Princely Heir conducted himself like an adult, upon hearing these words, he couldn’t help but curve his lips upward, "It is all my father’s doing."

The scene unfolding before him made Li Yan inwardly chuckle.

He had figured it out; Prince Wuchang had no real intention of selling, the Heir had asked knowingly, presenting the crystal was a way to forge a good relationship with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect and to establish a good reputation for himself.

This matter, in reality, was a performance by both sides.

He guessed that even without his intervention, this deal would have been concluded by other means; simply put, the Jade Emperor Temple would give the face, and Prince Wuchang’s Mansion would gladly play along.