After You Broke Off the Engagement, I Broke Through Twelve Realms in a Single Day! - Chapter 21:

Chapter 21: Shouldering the Great Qing Empire

Chu Huanhuan skipped ahead and suddenly turned back, winking at Li Feng. Lowering her voice, she said, “Hey, Junior Brother Li, since you call me Senior Sister, I’ll give you a tip—don’t get fooled by Master!”

Li Feng was slightly stunned, “Senior Sister, what do you mean?”

Chu Huanhuan looked around, ensuring no one was watching, then leaned in mysteriously, a faint scent of peach blossoms wafting over. “That fortune-tied official position isn’t given for free. Once you accept the appointment, you’re bound to the national destiny of the Great Qing Empire. For at least five years, you can’t resign. If the Empire faces danger, you must come to its aid. Otherwise, if the national fortune declines, you will suffer backlash—at worst, death; at best, a collapse in cultivation.”

Li Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise but soon returned to calm. He hadn’t expected such a hidden drawback. That old fox Uncle Master Zhou was quite the trickster. However, whether the Great Qing Empire would still exist in five years was another matter. If the demons of Jiuyang Mountain weren’t eradicated, where could he even escape to? With lice all over, he wasn’t afraid of the itch. Li Feng wasn’t concerned with such trivialities. The priority was to improve his cultivation quickly and eliminate the demon sealed by the Jiuyang Divine Stone on Jiuyang Mountain.

“Why aren’t you surprised?” Chu Huanhuan tilted her head, “Master deliberately didn’t tell you about this drawback. Everyone knows his lifespan is near its end. He wants you to take over and protect the Great Qing Empire.”

Li Feng smiled faintly, “Thanks for the reminder, Senior Sister. However, since I’ve benefited from Jishang Academy, it’s only right that I contribute. It would be a waste not to accept the fortune-tied position.”

“Aiya, you!” Chu Huanhuan stomped her foot angrily at his indifferent attitude. “Do you know how terrifying the backlash is if the national fortune collapses? Dean Zhang… was hit by backlash, and his lifespan was drastically reduced. He has at most two years left! If it were me, I’d have quit long ago.”

“Senior Sister Huanhuan,” Li Feng gently interrupted, “I know what I’m doing.”

Li Feng recalled from his karmic memories that this very Senior Sister, who was now shouting about quitting, also perished at the hands of demons in the end. She never left Jishang Academy until her death. Moreover, she had another identity—she was Zhang Shouzheng’s daughter. But she had never forgiven him due to her mother’s death and refused to acknowledge him as her father.

Chu Huanhuan stared at him for a while, then suddenly giggled, “Alright, alright, I’ve warned you anyway. But… you’re quite interesting.”

While they talked, they arrived at the main hall of the Academy. On the plaza in front of the hall stood an old eunuch dressed in a purple-gold python robe, hands behind his back, with a team of golden-armored guards behind him. This old eunuch was also a Martial Emperor, though only at the 1st stage Martial Emperor Realm, and his bloodline was already withered, unlikely to improve further.

“The Academy’s instructors said the one who completed the third level of the Heaven and Man Record is Young Master Li. I didn’t believe it at first, but seeing you in person, I must say heaven favors the Great Qing Empire. At eighteen years old, already at the Martial Emperor Realm and mastering a spiritual-grade cultivation method—Young Master Li, you are truly a genius!”

Upon seeing Li Feng, the old eunuch’s expression shifted from shock to joy, showering him with praise. Jishang Academy was a pillar of strength the Great Qing Empire could rely on. The stronger the Academy, the more advantageous for the Emperor, and by extension, the eunuchs who survived under imperial power.

“You overpraise me,” Li Feng said modestly with a smile.

“Please accept the imperial edict, Young Master Li,” the old eunuch nodded and unrolled the decree.

“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees…”

The old eunuch’s sharp voice echoed across the plaza. The crowd knelt, but Li Feng only gave a slight bow to respectfully accept the edict. Upon reaching the Martial Emperor Realm, one was no longer required to kneel before the imperial decree—allowed to enter court without haste and not be addressed by name.

“…Bestow upon Li Feng the title of Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, Grandmaster of the National Academy, and Teacher of the Crown Prince. Grant ten thousand taels of gold, a heaven-grade treasured sword, and ten thousand pieces of spirit jade…”

The generosity of this reward widened Chu Huanhuan’s eyes. The Grandmaster of the National Academy was a high third-grade official position, overseeing all education in the Empire—a position of great honor. Being the Crown Prince’s teacher was even more significant, meaning Li Feng would instruct the future Emperor.

Li Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed Jishang Academy and the Emperor had long coordinated; there was no need for him to make requests—this fortune-tied position was bestowed directly.

After finishing the decree, the old eunuch smiled and handed it to Li Feng, “Lord Li, His Majesty thinks highly of you. Please enter the palace tomorrow at noon to express your gratitude.”

Li Feng respectfully accepted the decree, “I accept the decree.”

Once the old eunuch departed, the plaza erupted in excitement. The Academy’s disciples flocked over to congratulate him, looking at Li Feng with reverence.

“My heavens, Grandmaster of the National Academy! That’s a position scholars dream of!”

“Teacher of the Crown Prince… Senior Brother Li is about to rise to the top! From now on, all scholars will respect him, and even martial artists must lower their heads before him!”

“They say the Emperor also ordered a residence for Senior Brother Li in the capital and plans to bestow a princess upon him tomorrow!”

Amid the excited chatter, the little princess of the Great Qing Empire, Luo Qingxian, sneaked a glance at Li Feng and then fled, covering her blushing face. It was she who spread the news about the Emperor bestowing marriage to Li Feng. A man as stunning as Li Feng had even stirred her heart, prompting her to ask the Emperor for a marriage decree.

Li Feng, however, paid no attention to the chatter. The moment he received the imperial edict, he sensed a vast fortune descending upon him, causing the inner energy within him to circulate at twice its usual speed. His thoughts became clearer, and many previously obscure parts of the Heaven and Man Record suddenly made sense—this fortune-tied position was truly extraordinary!

With this fortune-tied position, plus Jishang Academy’s resources and the Emperor’s rewards, Li Feng was confident he could break through to the 9th stage Martial Emperor Realm and impact the Martial Venerable Realm within a year!

Chu Huanhuan squeezed beside him, tugging his sleeve, “Hey, you’re a big official now. How does it feel?”

“Not bad. My cultivation speed has improved a lot,” Li Feng said with a smile.

Chu Huanhuan observed him for a while and mumbled, “Let’s see if you get backlash. If your cultivation really speeds up by several times, I’ll try getting a fortune-tied position too.”

Clearly, she saw Li Feng as a test subject. And she made it sound easy—as if fortune-tied positions were something one could get at will! But considering she was Zhang Shouzheng’s daughter, Li Feng found it reasonable and could only shake his head and smile. Aside from the throne, there was nothing the Emperor wouldn’t grant Zhang Shouzheng. Without Zhang Shouzheng’s pressure stabilizing the world, the Great Qing Empire would have seen several Emperors and kings by now.

That night, while Li Feng was cultivating in his room, he heard the door open. He opened his eyes to see that Zhou Danxin had somehow entered silently.

“Uncle Master, visiting late at night, is there an urgent matter?” Li Feng stood and greeted him.

Zhou Danxin looked at him with a complicated expression, “Today… did Huanhuan tell you everything?”

Li Feng nodded, “Senior Sister speaks bluntly. She did tell me about the drawbacks of the fortune-tied position.”

“Then why…” Zhou Danxin hesitated.

“Uncle Master is asking why I still accepted?” Li Feng smiled faintly, “Because Jishang Academy has treated me well. I must repay kindness with loyalty. Besides, fortune-tied positions are rare. I consider it a windfall.”

Zhou Danxin sighed deeply, “You’re even more loyal and righteous than I thought. Yes, I did have selfish motives.”

“Now, with external threats and internal turmoil surrounding the Great Qing Empire, the four great sects scheming against each other, and your Master nearing his end, you are one of the only two who have cultivated the Heaven and Man Record to the third level and can use the [Mirror of Heaven and Man]. The Academy needs you to shoulder the Great Qing Empire.”