blueteamnovel Chapter 41 - Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Martial Dynasty
Chapter 41 - Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Martial Dynasty
Chapter 41: Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Martial Dynasty
Nanjing, Imperial Palace
“Are we certain about this?”
Seated on the imperial throne, Zhu Yuanzhang sounded excited.
“Your Majesty!”
“My subordinate, a first-tier secret agent of the Tian (天) rank, was present at Wudang Mountain. He personally witnessed Zhang Sanfeng, restored to youthful vigour, gravely injure Pu Zhi with nothing but a cold snort!”
[“Tian” (天): Means “heaven,” “sky,” or “divine,” symbolizing the highest level, celestial authority, or supreme achievement.]
Zhu Wushi bowed deeply, his tone deferential as he addressed the emperor.
Zhu Wushi, Zhu Yuanzhang’s nephew, had risen to prominence thanks to his exceptional martial talent and the emperor’s deliberate cultivation. By the age of thirty, Zhu Wushi had already attained the status of an Earthly Immortal (陆地神仙). Despite his immense power, Zhu Wushi was acutely aware of his uncle’s fearsome capabilities, and he dared not harbour disloyal thoughts.@@@@
As soon as Duan Tianya returned to the Dragon-Guard Manor (护龙山庄) with news of the events at Wudang, Zhu Wushi hastened to the palace to report.
[Dragon-Guard Manor (护龙山庄): A secret intelligence and enforcement agency serving the Ming Dynasty, responsible for protecting the imperial family and executing covert missions.]
“Excellent! Hahaha...”
“Who would have thought? After Ying Zheng, our Great Ming Dynasty has also discovered an immortal inheritance!”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s laughter echoed through the hall, brimming with joy.
Though Zhu Yuanzhang admired his nephew’s prowess, he harboured no illusions about Zhang Sanfeng’s power. Open conflict was unthinkable.
“Understood, Your Majesty!” Zhu Wushi bowed again, a sense of relief washing over him.
As long as negotiation was the plan, he was confident in fulfilling the emperor’s wishes—or, at the very least, leaving Wudang Mountain unscathed.
....................................................................................................................
After Zhu Wushi exited the hall, Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back, his expression a mixture of pride and regret.
“What a pity,” he murmured. “Such talent, and yet not of my direct lineage.”
Among his descendants, even the most gifted—Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Prince of Yan Zhu Di—had only reached the Heavenly Phenomenon Grandmaster level. In Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes, that was far from sufficient.
The emperor’s path to power had begun with nothing but a begging bowl, yet he had risen to create one of the greatest empires in history. His martial might had long since surpassed that of ordinary mortals.
The title of Martial Emperor (武帝) wasn’t mere flattery. Decades before founding the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang had already reached the Earthly Immortal realm.
Even in his later years, his strength remained unparalleled. Were it not for Zhang Sanfeng’s newfound ascension, Zhu Yuanzhang would have confidently regarded himself as the apex of the Five Dynasties.
“Still,” he sighed, “who would have thought Zhang Sanfeng would surpass me first?”
But Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze sharpened.
“No matter. Once I acquire the immortal inheritance, I will surpass him yet.”
“After all, sects are but sects. How can a mere martial faction compare to the might of an empire?”
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