Chapter 580: An Uninvited Guest

Before long, Dugu Qiubai, a generation's Sword God, finally learned from the mouths of the common folk that a great upheaval had occurred in the world.

The Jin Kingdom, the Song Kingdom, the Ming Kingdom, the Mongol Yuan, Tibet, the Dali Kingdom, and others.

Without exception, they had all been annihilated by this Great Ming Empire.

"Why does this Great Ming Empire possess such formidable strength? How could they destroy so many nations within a single year?" Dugu Qiubai asked the commoner before him, his face filled with confusion.

Hearing this, the man froze for a moment before replying, "Young hero, where have you come from? How can you not even know this?"

"The reason the Great Ming Empire was able to unify the world in just one short year is because they possess modernized armaments. Furthermore, the cultivation of the Great Ming Imperial Grandson is peerless under heaven."

"Looking across the land, the martial arts masters of every nation are no match for the Great Ming Imperial Grandson."

As the commoner's words fell, Dugu Qiubai's face was written with doubt and incomprehension.

He could not believe that such a powerful master existed in this world.

Thus,

Dugu Qiubai immediately pressed further, "What is the surname and name of this Great Ming Imperial Grandson? Who exactly is he? Please, inform this humble one."

Clearly, upon hearing Dugu Qiubai's words, the commoners looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Even more onlookers began to gather.

A child of about seven or eight years old explained to Dugu Qiubai, "The Great Ming Imperial Grandson's surname is naturally Zhu! As for his true name, no one knows."

"Anyway, the Great Ming Imperial Grandson is incredibly powerful. It is said that even Bodhidharma of the Shaolin Temple was defeated by him!"

The child's face was filled with adoration for Zhu Ying.

At this moment, for Dugu Qiubai, his eyes were filled with panic and shock.

He hurriedly continued to question the child, "What did you just say? The Great Ming Imperial Grandson actually killed Bodhidharma of the Shaolin Temple?"

"How is that possible?"

Clearly, in Dugu Qiubai's mind, Bodhidharma's strength was terrifying; even he could not guarantee he could kill such a man.

Dugu Qiubai continued to lament, "If I remember correctly, Bodhidharma was a martial arts expert at the Half-Step Gangqi Realm. How could he have been killed by the Great Ming Imperial Grandson?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Seeing Dugu Qiubai question Zhu Ying's strength, the child immediately spoke up in defense of Zhu Ying.

"You are so interesting. I told you, the Great Ming Imperial Grandson is invincible; no one can be his match."

"Bodhidharma naturally wasn't worthy of being the Imperial Grandson's opponent."

"So what if he was at the Half-Step Gangqi Realm? Don't you know? The Great Ming Imperial Grandson is already in the Gangqi Realm!"

After saying this, the child wore a proud expression.

As for Dugu Qiubai, his mental state had already collapsed.

He had practiced bitterly for over a hundred years, yet his realm still lingered at the Half-Step Gangqi stage. But now, a terrifying Gangqi Realm martial arts expert had actually appeared in this world!

This undoubtedly made Dugu Qiubai feel that his previous cultivation had been utterly worthless.

A massive sense of frustration surged into his heart.

At the same time, Dugu Qiubai felt an urgent desire to personally clash with this Great Ming Imperial Grandson!

Dugu Qiubai firmly believed that if he could defeat the Great Ming Imperial Grandson, he could naturally inherit the Gangqi within the grandson's body, thereby breaking through to the Gangqi Realm himself.

At this thought, a look of madness flickered in Dugu Qiubai's eyes.

Dugu Qiubai continued to say to the crowd, "Where is the Great Ming Imperial Grandson now? I shall destroy him personally."

However,

After Dugu Qiubai finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter.

"You think you can destroy the Great Ming Imperial Grandson? You must be joking."

"Exactly. Destroy the Great Ming Imperial Grandson? Look at yourself first."

"The Great Ming Imperial Grandson is in the capital of Mingzhou. Go find him quickly. Just remember to find someone to collect your corpse!"

Faced with the crowd's mockery, Dugu Qiubai did not show anger. Instead, he cupped his hands toward them and then headed toward the capital of Mingzhou.

...

A few days later.

In the Comprehensive Martial Arts World, within the capital of the Great Ming Empire.

Zhu Ying once again convened a court assembly with the civil and military officials to discuss the development of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World.

Upon the dragon throne,

Zhu Ying spoke coldly to the officials before him with a sharp gaze, "Everyone, speak. To what stage has the development of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World reached? Also, tell me what the demands of the people in this world are."

Although Zhu Ying was an absolute powerhouse of the Gangqi Realm, he had not forgotten his identity as the Great Ming Imperial Grandson.

Therefore, in addition to his daily cultivation, he naturally cared about the livelihoods of the people and matters of state.

As Zhu Ying's voice fell,

An official from the Ministry of Revenue was the first to step forward.

The man first cupped his hands toward Zhu Ying and then reported, "Reporting to His Imperial Grandson, within this past month, the development of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World has been quite rapid."

"Currently, the Great Ming Empire has opened over 20 railway lines throughout the entire empire. Furthermore, civilian facilities in various provinces have been completed, including road repairs, street lamps, and electrical facilities."

After the official finished, Zhu Ying's face showed a hint of satisfaction. He knew very well that constructing the Comprehensive Martial Arts World so rapidly in such a short time was no easy feat.

Zhu Ying said slowly, "Very good. All ministries should learn from the Ministry of Revenue. Now that the Great Ming Empire has unified the world, we must treat the people well and strive to raise the quality of life in the Comprehensive Martial Arts World to match that of the Main World."

As Zhu Ying finished, all the officials shouted in unison, "Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"

An official from the Ministry of Works also stepped forward to report on matters regarding his department.

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Ministry of Works has not been idle during this period. Currently, the Ministry has helped the people of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World build many harvesters and means of transportation."

"Although the prices are high, they are still being snapped up by the people."

Afterward, the Ministries of Rites, Justice, and Personnel all reported their respective achievements to Zhu Ying.

However, once all the officials had finished, Zhu Ying's expression suddenly turned heavy.

Because he suddenly realized that everything the officials had said were good things; not a single bad thing had been mentioned.

This, instead, aroused Zhu Ying's suspicion.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhu Ying spoke to the crowd in an icy tone, "I have heard so much from you, yet why haven't I heard a single bad thing?"

"Is it possible that the people of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World have no grievances?"

"Or perhaps, the people have no dissatisfaction with the imperial court?" Clearly, as Zhu Ying spoke these words, the officials in the hall showed visible signs of tension.

After they exchanged glances, the official from the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward again and said respectfully to Zhu Ying, "Reporting to Your Highness, the people of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World do indeed have certain dissatisfactions."

"Because of the recent wars between various nations and our Great Ming, the previous regimes had frantically requisitioned grain from the people, causing the food supplies in many households to run dry."

"Currently, some people indeed cannot afford to eat. However, this matter is unrelated to our Great Ming Empire, as it was not our empire that requisitioned their grain and fodder."

Clearly, when the official informed Zhu Ying of the difficulties the people were facing, a trace of dissatisfaction appeared on Zhu Ying's face.

"You should have told me this sooner!"

"Remember from now on, do not only report the good and hide the bad. I want to know the true thoughts of the people. Do you understand?"

In an instant, the civil and military officials in the hall knelt before Zhu Ying and responded in unison, "Your servants obey!"

Immediately, Zhu Ying spoke to the crowd again, "Since the people of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World are facing food issues, resolve them at once!"

"Immediately distribute high-quality grain seeds to the people. Additionally, organic fertilizers shall also be given to them for free."

"At the same time, hurry to build irrigation facilities."

"Furthermore, use the spatial portals to transport large quantities of grain and fodder from the Main World to the Comprehensive Martial Arts World to be distributed to the people for free."

"In short, one sentence: we must never let the people of the Comprehensive Martial Arts World lose heart."

To be fair, Zhu Ying was indeed an excellent monarch. Although his current position was merely that of an Imperial Grandson, in reality, he had become the decision-maker for the entire Great Ming Empire.

When it came to treating the people, one could say Zhu Ying was not stingy at all.

Soon after Zhu Ying finished speaking, the various ministries took action.

Before long, the Great Ming Empire began opening its granaries throughout the Comprehensive Martial Arts World to help the people through their hardships.

And just then,

The arrival of an uninvited guest shattered the existing tranquility!

This person was none other than the Sword Saint, Dugu Qiubai.

When Dugu Qiubai arrived in the capital of the Great Ming Empire, he was instantly and deeply shocked by the sight before him.

Skyscrapers he had never seen before rose from the ground, there were asphalt-paved roads, and lights that could glow at night!

These sights almost made Dugu Qiubai feel as if he had entered a brand-new world.

Was this truly the capital of the Great Ming Empire?

How could it have become like this?

Was this an illusion?

At that moment, Dugu Qiubai was lost in doubt.

And right then, he witnessed with his own eyes the government distributing grain to the people for free.

Furthermore, through his powerful True Qi, Dugu Qiubai heard the praises of the people for the Great Ming Empire from nearby.

"This Great Ming Imperial Grandson is truly too good. He actually distributes seeds for free and even opens the granaries. Our previous emperors were never this good to the people."

"Yes, yes, it's all thanks to the Great Ming Imperial Grandson defeating the former Emperor of the Ming Kingdom. Otherwise, we would still be living in misery."

"Have you heard? Not only are they distributing high-quality grain seeds, but they are also giving us fertilizer. Although I don't know what fertilizer is, I heard it makes the crops grow more lushly."

"Long live the Great Ming Imperial Grandson! He is not only highly skilled in martial arts but also loves the people like his own children."

...

When Dugu Qiubai heard the people's evaluation of Zhu Ying, his inner emotions were incredibly complex.

Originally, Dugu Qiubai believed that the Great Ming Empire's ability to unify the world in just one year, combined with the fact that the Imperial Grandson had bloodied the entire Shaolin Temple and wiped out the martial arts masters of various nations, meant that the Imperial Grandson was a tyrant.

In Dugu Qiubai's subconscious, the Great Ming Imperial Grandson was a tyrant.

But now, everything indicated that Zhu Ying was not a tyrant, but rather a sage-king! A wise ruler!

"Regardless of how this man treats the people, I must kill him this time."

"Only by doing so can I enter the Gangqi Realm."

Dugu Qiubai muttered to himself.

To be honest, Dugu Qiubai was already somewhat bordering on cultivation deviation. In order to enter the Gangqi Realm as quickly as possible, he would use any means necessary.

Suddenly,

A dense surge of True Qi erupted wildly from Dugu Qiubai's body, and then, this massive amount of True Qi charged directly toward the skyscrapers in the capital.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

In an instant, the skyscrapers that the Ministry of Works had worked so hard to build were destroyed by Dugu Qiubai!

...

Not long after, within the Imperial Palace of the capital.

As the Commander of the Guards, Liu Lei, suddenly rushed into the Grandson's Manor.

"Reporting to Your Highness, something terrible has happened! A powerful martial arts expert has suddenly appeared in the capital!"

"He has begun to frantically destroy the facilities and skyscrapers within the city!"

"Although the Imperial Guards have attacked him, they do not seem to be a match for this martial arts expert!"

When Commander Liu Lei hurriedly informed Zhu Ying of the current situation, Zhu Ying was actually quite calm.

Because from the very first day he entered the Comprehensive Martial Arts World, Zhu Ying had known that there would certainly be Half-Step Gangqi Realm experts in this world.

And these experts generally would not appear.

The reason Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk had appeared was mainly because Zhu Ying had sent people to destroy the Shaolin Temple and massacre all its disciples!

That was why Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk were disturbed, causing them to rush to the capital to fight Zhu Ying.

However, aside from the Sweeping Monk and Bodhidharma, Zhu Ying had not encountered any other Half-Step Gangqi Realm experts even after unifying the entire Comprehensive Martial Arts World.

But Zhu Ying had always known that these Half-Step Gangqi Realm experts would surely appear one day.

He just hadn't expected it to be so soon.

"Immediately inform my Imperial Grandfather and my father, and tell them both to come and witness a great battle."

"I shall personally destroy this martial arts expert."

After Zhu Ying finished speaking, he instantly vanished from the Imperial Palace.

Meanwhile, in the capital.

Dugu Qiubai continued his frantic destruction using various precious swords.

Before long, almost the entire capital had turned into ruins.

"Hmph, is this Great Ming Imperial Grandson still not coming out? In that case, I shall charge into the Imperial Palace myself."

The main reason Dugu Qiubai had made such a commotion was to lure Zhu Ying out. However, seeing that Zhu Ying was taking his time to appear, he naturally lost his patience.

Thus, Dugu Qiubai decided to storm the Imperial Palace alone to kill Zhu Ying with his own hands.

But just then, Dugu Qiubai suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The reason was simple: at this moment, he sensed an extremely dense presence of Gangqi.