Chapter Sixty-Two: Master of the World

One could say that this was the very foundation, something that could not tolerate even the slightest harm! Yet, in his heart, Wang Zhenling agreed with Mr. Feng’s opinion. If one wished to reap rich rewards, how could it be possible without encountering some danger? However, given his own status, Wang Zhenling did not dare to voice such thoughts, lest he be accused of unfilial conduct, of disregarding the safety of his ancestors in the lower realm.

So he could only say, “This matter must be reported to the clan for a decision.”

Both Chen Buzhi and Mr. Feng were delighted, knowing that Wang Zhenling had tacitly agreed. Now it all depended on whether the Wang clan of Xiatu was willing to risk everything for the position of City God.

Sure enough, the very next day, word arrived from the Wang family expressing agreement with the plan and their willingness to cooperate with Chen Buzhi’s actions.

Chen Buzhi was overjoyed and made even greater promises to Wang Zhenling, assuring him that the Wang family of Danling would surely benefit greatly once the matter was accomplished.

Wang Zhenling responded humbly, thinking to himself that now the entire Wang clan of Danling had truly boarded the same ship as the Chen family of the river.

As he entertained these thoughts, he was summoned back to the clan in Jiaode Alley.

Initially, Wang Zhenling believed that, given the gravity of the matter and its implications for the future of the Wang clan, the family would summon him back for a thorough discussion. Even Chen Buzhi and the others had thought so, subtly making many more promises to Wang Zhenling, urging him to persuade his clan.

In the past, the Wang family of Danling was merely cooperating with him, not truly pledging allegiance. But this time, opposing the City God would be of an entirely different significance.

However, the first words spoken by the clan leader Wang An left Wang Zhenling stunned: “Did the Martial Envoy agree to grant you entry to the Hongdu Academy? And what are your own thoughts on this?”

Wang Zhenling had never heard of the Martial Envoy. But the promise of entrance to the Hongdu Academy—wasn’t that something the envoy of Chengtian Dao had offered him? How did the clan leader know?

“In recent years, Chengtian Dao has enjoyed the emperor’s favor, and our Wang family has had some dealings with them...” The clan leader spoke lightly, but the words struck Wang Zhenling like a revelation, causing him to grasp many things all at once.

“No wonder the envoy from Chengtian Dao trusted me so readily, without the slightest worry that I might go back on my word...”

A mix of shock and fear welled up in his heart. Thinking further, he realized that sects like Chengtian Dao, with their immense power across regions, could not possibly operate without the cooperation of local noble clans.

This much, Wang Zhenling had long understood. But he never imagined that his own Wang family of Danling would be entangled with Chengtian Dao. This was truly beyond his expectations.

“Clan leader, isn’t there something rather sinister about Chengtian Dao?” Wang Zhenling chose his words with care.

“You mean, will Chengtian Dao eventually rebel again and implicate our family?” Clan leader Wang An bluntly spoke the words Wang Zhenling had left unsaid.

“Yes, more than a decade ago, Chengtian Dao did rebel...” Besides, in Wang Zhenling’s eyes, there were serious issues with Chengtian Dao! It was even possible that they were connected to those who had traversed time!

“It’s good that you’ve considered these things,” Wang An praised him. “But don’t worry... Hmph, even the current emperor, the high officials, and the palace eunuchs all venerate Chengtian Dao. Why should we fear having dealings with them? Do you think we are the only family involved?”

Wang Zhenling was startled. If that was the case, entanglements between the noble clans and Chengtian Dao must already be commonplace.

“Have you heard the saying, ‘When the virtue of fire comes to an end, the successor will be from the land and ascend to greatness’?”

Wang Zhenling, of course, had heard it. Though the authorities dismissed such words as mere rumors, as a scholar he knew these were authentic apocalyptic prophecies.

The Celestial Emperor governs with a loose hand, and beneath him, the five imperial lords take turns ruling the world. The current dynasty was established on the virtue of fire, descended from the Fire Emperor’s lineage. However, according to the covenant of the Five Emperors, the destiny of this dynasty would last only five centuries. At most, another twenty or thirty years remained before a change of dynasty.

With earth overcoming fire, the next ruling house would be descended from the Earth Emperor, establishing a dynasty founded on the virtue of earth.

All this was recorded in those apocalyptic texts—books forbidden by the imperial court and inaccessible to common folk. Yet families like the Wangs preserved a few copies, which Wang Zhenling had read.

Wang Zhenling was no fool. The clan leader had explained things so plainly that he understood: “Are you saying, clan leader, that the emperor is unwilling to accept this fate?”

Wang An did not even lift his eyelids. “If you were in his place, would you accept it?”

Wang Zhenling was silent.

That was the way of things. The cycle of the Five Emperors was an iron law, defied by none—not even the current emperor, descendant of the Fire Emperor. To break the cycle, to end the rule of the Five Emperors and make the dynasty eternal, what could be done?

One could only seek outside forces capable of contending with the Five Emperors, or even the Celestial Emperor himself!

At this thought, Wang Zhenling was suddenly shocked: “The emperor is playing with fire!”

“Exactly. The emperor is playing with fire. But what are people like us to do?” Wang An replied.

Wang Zhenling remained silent. This was a matter of taking sides. Yet for clans like the Wangs, there was hardly any power to choose a side. Everyone knew that the imperial court’s chances were slim. But could one defy the emperor and side with the Celestial Court? The Celestial Court was far removed, impossible to approach. And the imperial court? Could it not destroy your entire family in an instant?

That was the reality. If one did not wish to be exterminated immediately, one could only board the emperor’s pirate ship.

But great families had their own survival wisdom, allowing them to endure for centuries, through dynasties. Naturally, they had ways of coping with such situations.

The answer: hedge their bets.

A single clan—one branch aligned with the court, another with the Celestial Court. In the end, no matter who won or lost, some part of the family would survive.

It was just like in Wang Zhenling’s previous life: during World War II, some of the French surrendered to the Axis, some joined the Allies. Or during the Three Kingdoms, the Zhuge family served all sides: Zhuge Jin was a Grand General in Wu, ennobled as Marquis of Xuancheng; Zhuge Liang was Chancellor in Shu, titled Marquis of Loyalty and Valor; Zhuge Dan was Grand General of the East in Wei, made Marquis of Gaoping...

Examples abounded!

In short, great families never put all their eggs in one basket.

At this moment, Wang Zhenling faced two choices—he had to decide which side to join. Clearly, others in the family would take the opposite path.

This choice was of critical importance. The clan might have a way out, but if he chose wrong, there would be no escape for him!

“The Chen family of the river are descendants of the Yellow Emperor. According to the prophecies, it is the present Great Dynasty that rules the world,” clan leader Wang An said calmly.