Most importantly, people discovered that Element Force was not contrary to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but rather they mutually enhanced and integrated with each other. For cultivators, Element Force could significantly strengthen their abilities; for armies, it could broadly enhance combat power for short periods; for a Kingdom’s territory, it could promote favorable weather and bountiful harvests—all serving great purposes.
Thus, the position of Imperial Advisor came into being.
Several books she skimmed explicitly mentioned that the Imperial Advisor’s most important responsibility was to manage the allocation of Element Force.
No matter how powerful Element Force became, it still had limits. If more was allocated to agricultural affairs, less would be available for military purposes; if more was given to one person, less would be available for others. The one who mediated this distribution and maintained balance among all parties was the Imperial Advisor.
Reading this, Feng Miaojun drew a slight breath, finally understanding how formidable Yun Ya and Mo Tijun truly were. Since humans learned to utilize Element Force, this invisible and intangible substance had become a Kingdom’s most precious treasure, easily determining the safety and survival of millions or tens of millions of people.
This introduced a second concept: State Fate.
Circumstances were ever-changing, and Kingdoms were no exception. Element Force might subtly begin to decline even at its peak, like raging oil in a pot; conversely, at the brink of destruction, it might suddenly revive like embers bursting into flame. The delicate management of Element Force is sometimes connected to the course of fate. If one could act by heaven’s will, the Kingdom would enjoy longevity and prosperity; if one moved against the current of the world, it might lead to continuous decline and irreversible ruin.
The book cited a well-known example: the Haoli Kingdom. Once it had stood at its zenith, seemingly indomitable and eternal, yet in its final years, it still descended into chaos, with the depletion of its Element Force spiraling beyond control.
The prevailing view of later generations was that its “allotted time had run out,” even attracting celestial demons to attack the city—these demons had been sealed away for so long, yet still came at the scent. And this “allotted time” referred to State Fate.
Reading this, Feng Miaojun couldn’t help but shake her head. How could one predict something like “heaven’s will”? Whether one followed or defied heaven’s will was merely a posthumous judgment. How could those immersed in the situation at the time—be they Kingdoms, rulers, Imperial Advisors, or common people—determine what actions truly aligned with “heaven’s will”?
This responsibility was too great and too testing for any person.
Since both benefits and drawbacks were equally terrifying, those who manipulated and controlled Element Force must have undergone meticulous selection, rigorous testing, and numerous restrictions. Additionally, when Imperial Advisors aligned themselves with heaven’s will, they often couldn’t avoid glimpsing celestial secrets, depleting their fortune and lifespan. Some scholars had calculated that among the more than one hundred Imperial Advisors who had appeared since the founding of the Haoli Kingdom, less than one-third had met peaceful ends.
Feng Miaojun recalled Yun Ya’s “heart ailment”—was that the price he had paid for the position of Imperial Advisor?
She lost track of time wandering through this sea of books until her eyes grew sore, and the magical beast finally reminded her: “You should leave now.”
Had five hours passed so quickly?
Feng Miaojun returned the books to their original positions and was about to turn back to her starting point when she noticed something different about distant shelves. She instinctively pointed: “Why are there no books on those shelves, only jade slips?”
“Those are jade tablets, Emperor Haoli’s collection. During the age of gods and demons, people recorded information and transmitted documents on jade tablets, which were incomparably more convenient than paper books and easier to preserve. Modern cultivators still use them.”
Feng Miaojun asked curiously: “May I take a look?”
“You may.” Since she had access to this place, she had viewing privileges, and the magical beast would not hinder her. “However, jade tablets must be viewed with divine consciousness. Without cultivation, you cannot read them.”
She walked over and tried to pick up one piece—a little-finger-sized jade ornament, lustrous and slightly warm to the touch. The jade quality alone was superior, worth a considerable sum at any auction house.
But the magical beast was right. In her hands, it was merely a piece of jade. No matter how she turned or pressed it, she couldn’t extract any useful information.
In the end, she could only sigh lightly and return it to its place. What a pity—if she could borrow the jade tablets, the magical beast wouldn’t know which pages she had read.
Before returning, she noticed something else that caught her gaze momentarily. But by then, the magical beast was already urging her repeatedly, so she could only take one more glance before hurrying back.
The red wooden desk at the center of all the bookshelves had disappeared, replaced by a row of pitch-black steps that seemed to lead underground.
She descended the stairs, moving from darkness into light, and found herself standing back in the cave, beyond the red line.
Looking back, the ground behind her—as large as half a football field—remained flat.
All was quiet, but she knew the magical beast “Expansion” was camouflaged nearby. This creature seemed ready to turn hostile at any moment; without feeding it again, she wouldn’t approach.
When she left the cave, the sky had already darkened.
After politely thanking Cao Dehuan, she went down the mountain to find her guards and return to the residence.
That evening, as clouds and sunset glow filled the sky, Prime Minister Li returned to his manor and remained in his study. His fourth son, Li Yuanpei, noticed the study was unlit and entered the darkness to find his father sitting by the window, silent.
“Father, are you still worried about Third Brother?”
Li Shilong remained wordless.
Since receiving his third son’s confidential letter, his heart had been in turmoil. That foolish boy, not knowing his limitations, had arbitrarily used the most important piece Li had placed at Mo Tijun’s side. Yet he had to admit that Li Yuanfa had seized an exceedingly rare opportunity—how often did Mo Tijun sustain injuries? And how slim were the chances of him being both seriously wounded and alone in a foreign country?
If missed, such an opportunity might never come again.
So despite cursing “reckless” countless times, he still eagerly awaited the outcome of this operation. Of course, his greatest concern remained his son’s safety.
Then, there was no further news.
Mo Tijun had returned, full of vigor, appearing completely unharmed; meanwhile, Li Yuanfa, who had planned to assassinate him, was nowhere to be found.
So, had Li Yuanfa made his move?
Li Yuanpei also tried to reassure his father: “Perhaps Third Brother assessed the situation and withdrew at the last moment, and the news simply hasn’t reached us yet?”
“It’s been so many days already.” Li’s voice was very low. “Today I learned two pieces of news from the palace. First, Wang Shihao failed and was killed by Mo Tijun!”
Li Yuanpei’s eyes widened immediately.
Wang Shihao was Mo Tijun’s third disciple, someone they had painstakingly planted near the Imperial Advisor early on, who had always been quite favored by Mo Tijun.
Now that Mo Tijun had killed him, it could only mean one thing—
Li Yuanfa had indeed made his move.
With Wang Shihao dead, what had happened to Li Yuanfa? Where was he? Would he meet the same fate?
Li Yuanpei’s throat tightened, but he quickly said: “Father, don’t worry. If Imperial Advisor Mo discovered Third Brother’s attempt against him, he wouldn’t directly take his life.”