Mountain River Academy.

The accompanying Imperial Guards cleared the academy scholars along the way, entering directly into the Wuya Inn where Zhuge Longsu resided.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Wuya Inn."

Cold Eunuch spoke softly, lifting the curtain (door screen) to let Feng Jiwu step out of the chariot.

"Cold Eunuch, accompany me inside."

With that, Feng Jiwu entered the Wuya Inn with Cold Eunuch, while the guards took positions around.

Upon entering Wuya Inn, the first sight was the two engaged in a game of chess in the courtyard: Zhuge Longsu and Feng Qiwu. One was the person Feng Jiwu had come to see, and the other was his royal brother, the one coveting his Empress.

"Your Majesty." Feng Qiwu stood up and greeted him.

"Your Majesty has not visited the academy in years. What guidance do you seek today?"

Zhuge Longsu did not rise, remaining seated and studying the chessboard, evidently not welcoming them.

Feng Jiwu, after ascending the throne, secretly visited Mountain River Academy only once to see Feng Qiwu. Since then, he never stepped into the academy again.

His sudden visit today was by no means a friendly one.

This was Zhuge Longsu's intuition and his current thought.

Faced with such a disrespectful attitude, Cold Eunuch's expression grew severe, and he shouted sternly: "Insolence..."

"Cold Eunuch," Feng Jiwu interrupted, "Do not be disrespectful."

He took a few steps forward, sitting in the seat Feng Qiwu had just vacated, looking at Zhuge Longsu across from him, and said: "Dean Zhuge, you speak frankly, so I won't beat around the bush. I've come today for one thing only—"

"The Imperial Decree."

Feng Jiwu spoke expressionlessly: "Hand over the Imperial Decree, and I will leave at once without staying any longer."

"But Your Majesty, this is not what we initially agreed upon. The Imperial Decree was willingly entrusted to the academy by Your Majesty."

Zhuge Longsu did not lift his head, picking up a white piece and placing it slowly yet firmly on the board.

"What was in the past is in the past. Now is now. Dean Zhuge should understand this principle."

Feng Jiwu also picked up a black piece, continuing the unfinished game for Feng Qiwu.

Back then, he and Qing Yu did not have the strength to match Mountain River Academy. They managed to maintain a stable situation by making the other party apprehensive. As a price for this, Feng Jiwu handed over the Imperial Decree in exchange for the Emperor Martial Art.

But today, Feng Jiwu's side, or rather Qing Yu's side, has caught up in strength and no longer fears Mountain River Academy turning hostile. Thus, Feng Jiwu decided to renege on his agreement.

"Does Your Majesty intend to renege on your promise?"

The white piece landed on the board with a crisp sound, yet it seemed to land directly in Feng Jiwu's heart, silently questioning his breach of faith.

However, this questioning was too weak in Feng Jiwu's view, caught between two wills.

"Yes, I do intend to renege on my promise."

Feng Jiwu placed another piece, directly admitting his breach of faith.

He was no false gentleman; why fear questioning? As a competent emperor, reneging was just a basic maneuver.

"Dean, the era has changed. Now, Northern Zhou belongs to me."

Zhuge Longsu finally raised his head, looking directly into Feng Jiwu's eyes.

This once useless prince was no longer the timid person of the past, his aura of emperorship, even Zhuge Longsu could hardly contend against it.

After conquering a thousand miles of the grasslands, Feng Jiwu's strength had improved again. Just now, in a small skirmish during the game of chess, Feng Jiwu had taken precautions without leak and was unaffected, appearing calm and unfazed.

"Your Majesty is indeed not what you were before." Zhuge Longsu sighed softly.

The Emperor Martial Art is famously powerful, and Feng Jiwu, after several possessions by Qing Yu, gained many benefits from Qing Yu. Based on his current strength alone, he could indeed be considered rare in the world.

However, despite Feng Jiwu's strength, Zhuge Longsu was not without his trump cards.

"If outside the academy, I fear I am no match for Your Majesty. But within this academy..."

Zhuge Longsu picked up another piece, "Your Majesty might face a loss."

"The righteousness of the heavens and earth, variously manifests its shape. Below it becomes rivers and mountains, above it becomes sun and stars. In people it is called Vast Qi, forceful and filling the heavens and earth..."

Vast Qi rose to the sky, a mysterious voice echoed above the academy, reciting the text of Vast Qi. The Haoqi River like a jade belt surged through the sky, figures emerged from the river, loudly chanting the Song of Righteousness.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Zhuge Longsu placed a piece, and between heaven and earth, the Haoqi River stood firm.

"Interesting, this Haoqi River..." Feng Jiwu squinted slightly, as if seeing a familiar shadow in the Haoqi River.

"Dean Zhuge has extended the invitation, can I decline it?"

The Thousand-mile Country Landscape unfolded behind Feng Jiwu, with clouds and winds, rain, rugged mountains, and small paths in the mountains, woodcutters journeying. Its magnificent terrain and spectacular scenery stunned the mind.

Northern Zhou's thousand-mile country was all on this painting.

"You have students, the Haoqi River, and I have the thousand-mile country and the common people. Thinking this alone can make me retreat is far from enough."

With each piece placed like a mountain falling, the force of the thousand-mile country showed its weight. The imperial might that overwhelmed the world weakened the previously resounding Song of Righteousness.

One side used the power of the Haoqi River, while the other borrowed the might of the Thousand-mile Country Landscape. The chess game was not only about chess skills but also a clash of momentum.

In this back and forth, as pieces were placed down, the Haoqi River and the Thousand-mile Country Landscape each occupied half of the sky, resisting and contending with each other. Sometimes the east wind overwhelmed the west, and other times the west wind overwhelmed the east. Although the two did not physically clash, this confrontation of momentum and mental power revealed depth.

In such a stalemate, an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the game was drawing to a close.

Even with the aid of the Haoqi River, Zhuge Longsu ultimately could not compete with the force of the Thousand-mile Country Landscape. After all, this Mountain River Academy was on Northern Zhou's land, under Feng Jiwu's jurisdiction.

Thus, although he gained an advantage in the chess game, in the clash of momentum, he undoubtedly was slightly less.

The Map of the Thousand Rivers and Mountains gained the upper hand over the Haoqi River, and Feng Jiwu's momentum held the absolute advantage with victory in sight.

But at this moment, another figure emerged from the Haoqi River. High-crowned and broad-robed, carrying the elegance of a scholar and the righteousness of Vast Qi.

"Meng Shanhe."

Everyone who saw this figure had his name flash in their minds.

The Confucian Master, a renowned Supreme in the world, the founder of Mountain River Academy.

As this figure appeared, the Haoqi River surged in momentum, turning defeat into victory, and the Map of Thousand Rivers and Mountains was immediately suppressed beneath it.

"As expected..."

Feng Jiwu stood up abruptly, "The Haoqi River and the will of the Confucian Dao. You intend to imitate the Dragon Vein and create an eternal foundation for your Confucian school."

This familiar feeling was similar to the Human Dao Will that he felt every day. Feng Jiwu seemed to finally realize why Meng Shanhe had not shown up until now.

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