Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Ming Dynasty.

Endless Sea of Learning Academy.

"As expected, the Supreme Academic Master is Rank 1 on the Confucian Immortal Ranking!"

Cai Yan wore an expression that said it was only natural.

Within the entire Endless Sea of Learning Academy, the one with the most authority was, of course, His Majesty the Emperor.

Second only to him, without question, was the Supreme Academic Master.

Although even she, a Mythical Realm Confucian Immortal, had only met the Supreme Academic Master a few times.

The Supreme Academic Master rarely involved himself in daily affairs.

Yet throughout the Endless Sea of Learning Academy, there were truly few who dared to disobey his orders.

Even the Scholar Master and Mister Yangming were under the Supreme Academic Master's jurisdiction.

However, generally speaking, the Supreme Academic Master seldom showed himself, and that was the truth.

In fact, even the Scholar Master had rarely appeared in recent years.

Most of the academy's matters had been overseen by Wang Yangming.

And various high-level members were responsible for specific affairs.

The Supreme Academic Master was more focused on outlining the larger strategy and deterring external forces.

"That goes without saying. One could say the entire Endless Sea of Learning Academy was built with the Supreme Academic Master assisting His Majesty."

"Even the Scholar Master and Mister Yangming only joined afterward."

"Still, I never imagined the Supreme Academic Master had reached the Great Perfection God Demon Realm."

"His strength is in no way inferior to His Majesty's."

Li Qingzhao also nodded in agreement.

"Such a pity the Confucian Immortal Ranking did not reveal the Supreme Academic Master's true identity. I'm genuinely curious!"

"Even the Scholar Master's identity was exposed!"

"The first time we met the Supreme Academic Master, he introduced himself by that name."

"Not just us. Even the Scholar Master and Mister Yangming call him that."

"Even when His Majesty refers to him, it is always by the title Supreme Academic Master."

"Perhaps by now, the name Supreme Academic Master has entirely replaced his real name."

Inside the Endless Sea of Learning Academy, not only were Cai Yan and Li Qingzhao filled with speculation.

Even other teachers and students were discussing it among themselves.

Shock, fear, reverence, calmness, joy...

All kinds of emotions surfaced.

However, regardless of anything else, from this day on, the prestige of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy under the Ming Dynasty would be unshakable by any power.

==========

Ming Imperial Harem.

Empress Chambers.

"The Supreme Academic Master is actually the Great Perfection God Demon Realm?!"

"How could this be?"

"If he were to harbor ill intentions toward His Majesty or the entire Ming Dynasty, wouldn't that be a massive disaster?"

Gazing at the ranking glowing in the sky, the Empress felt no joy over the Supreme Academic Master.

Her first reaction was wariness and suspicion.

"Your Highness, we have been unable to find any information regarding the Supreme Academic Master."

"Everything about him before the founding of Endless Sea of Learning Academy appears to have been erased."

"This must have been done under His Majesty's orders."

"Should we continue investigating the Supreme Academic Master's true identity?"

Shangguan Wan'er asked solemnly.

"Continue the investigation, but do it discreetly!"

In this world, the only one she truly loved and trusted was Zhu Houzhao.

As for anyone else, even a Great Perfection God Demon Realm cultivator like the Supreme Academic Master, she dared not be careless.

As the Empress, she needed to constantly look out for any possible weaknesses.

No one could be allowed to threaten His Majesty.

Even though she believed the Supreme Academic Master likely posed no threat to His Majesty, it was better to be cautious.

"From now on, intensify the investigation of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy."

Since His Majesty had entrusted her with part of his authority, she had to serve him well.

The realm of Ming Dynasty belonged to His Majesty, and so too would the future rulership over the Nine Provinces.

She must clear away all potential threats to His Majesty.

Even if her concerns were excessive, Zhu Houzhao, currently enjoying song and dance in the Imperial Garden, was still rather satisfied.

At the very least, marrying this Empress had not been in vain.

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

"Master Yuan, what is going on?"

"Who exactly is this Supreme Academic Master?"

"Why do we have no intelligence on him after all these years?"

"Great Perfection God Demon Realm!"

"And he chose to side with Zhu Houzhao back when he was still Crown Prince?"

"Why did he choose Zhu Houzhao?"

"That hedonistic fool of an Emperor, how is he qualified to be compared with me?"

A Great Perfection God Demon Realm willingly pledging allegiance, what kind of fortune was this?

If back in his days as a Prince, he had received the loyalty of such a cultivator, he would never have spent these years walking on eggshells.

Even the throne he had taken had come through bloodshed.

Could it be that Zhu Houzhao really was Heaven's favored child?

Li Shimin's eyes were filled with jealousy, resentment, and bitterness.

Had he possessed such a subordinate from the start, the Tang Dynasty today would have been ten or even a hundred times more powerful than the Ming Dynasty.

By now, perhaps the Sui Dynasty, the two Songs, and the Han Dynasty would all have fallen.

How could he still be suffering internal strife and external threats?

"Your Majesty, in this minister's view, the presence of the Supreme Academic Master in the Endless Sea of Learning Academy may not be entirely a good thing."

"Oh? Master Yuan, what do you mean?"

"Why, back then, did this Supreme Academic Master choose to side with Zhu Houzhao, who was only the Crown Prince?"

"Why not serve the previous Ming Emperor?"

Li Shimin paused, then his eyes lit up.

"A rare treasure worth investing in?"

"Could the Supreme Academic Master's intentions be like that of Lu Buwei from the ancient Qin Dynasty?"

"That might be possible. The relationship between the Supreme Academic Master and Zhu Houzhao may not be as harmonious as it appears on the surface."

"The Supreme Academic Master's actions may well have been motivated by personal gain."

"There are likely tremendous benefits involved."

"Given Zhu Houzhao's current power and influence, would he truly be content with splitting benefits with the Supreme Academic Master?"

"Eventually, there is bound to be conflict and resentment between them."

"Master Yuan, how likely is your speculation?"

Li Shimin's eyes burned with anticipation.

If the Supreme Academic Master turned against the Ming Emperor, their power would surely suffer a major blow.

Most importantly, the Tang Dynasty would have a chance.

If he could win over the Supreme Academic Master, Tang Dynasty's foundation would be solidified completely.

"Your Majesty, this is merely speculation. The probability is likely less than 30%."

"Perhaps with the Emperor's power, he has already brought the Supreme Academic Master fully under his control."

"Anything is possible."

"Zhu Houzhao of the Ming Dynasty hides his cards too deeply. His trump cards seem endless."

"The Supreme Academic Master may not be able to overcome him."

"Otherwise, why would the Supreme Academic Master of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy not interfere with its affairs?"

"That alone is quite suspicious!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel disappointed.

He had truly hoped that the Supreme Academic Master and Zhu Houzhao would become enemies.

If two tigers fought, he could profit as the fisherman.

"Master Yuan, regardless of the odds, we must not give up."

"Even if there's only a 10% chance, we must try."

"The benefits of a Great Perfection God Demon Realm are simply too great."

"I cannot ignore this."

"Not only me, I imagine the Emperors of the other dynasties are also restless now."

==========

Qin Imperial Palace.

Ying Zheng's face was dark, his hand clenched tightly around the Heaven Questioning Sword at his waist.

A domineering imperial aura radiated from him.

Below, several important ministers remained silent.

"Your Majesty, please punish this minister for failure in duty!"

"I have sent people into the Endless Sea of Learning Academy multiple times, but we've gained nothing of value and suffered heavy losses."

"We couldn't even gather any information about the Supreme Academic Master, not even about the Scholar Master!"

"Please punish this minister!"

"Zhang Han, is Endless Sea of Learning Academy truly that well-defended?"

"Yes, far more than I expected."

"Interesting. The tighter the defense, the more secrets must lie within."

"Very well. For now, this matter will be recorded. Keep sending people in."

"If one attempt fails, then try twice. If twice fails, try four times. Ten times. A hundred. A thousand!"

"Until we succeed!"

"I refuse to believe the Endless Sea of Learning Academy is more secure than my Imperial Palace!"

"Even my own palace has been breached multiple times. Can that mere Endless Sea of Learning Academy truly stymie you?"

Hearing Ying Zheng's furious roar, Zhang Han trembled, his face filled with fear.

He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

The Endless Sea of Learning Academy was more terrifying than the Qin Imperial Palace.

At the very least, the Qin Dynasty palace had no God Demon Realm cultivators.

And certainly not one at Great Perfection.

That was far too frightening.

He, a mere Great Grandmaster not even at the Land Immortal Realm, how could he possibly handle that?

But he could only think these things in his heart.

"Withdraw!"

"This minister obeys!"

Watching Zhang Han disappear, Ying Zheng's furious expression gradually returned to calm.

"Your Majesty, you were a bit harsh on General Zhang Han."

"With the current strength of the Shadow Secret Guard, no matter how many we send in, they're discovered instantly and killed."

At this moment, a refined man in his thirties wearing plain gray robes stepped forward.

"Is Endless Sea of Learning Academy really as terrifying as Zhang Han said?"

"It's worse than he said. His realm is too low to detect the deeper layers."

"I sent a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator from the Black Ice Platform to investigate."

"If only probing the outer perimeter, Endless Sea of Learning Academy simply issued a warning."

"But once he stepped into the inner perimeter, he was immediately surrounded and attacked."

"The Heavenly Human Realm agent barely escaped with serious injuries."

"Despite my efforts to heal him, he died from his wounds."

"He was killed by a powerful palm force that shattered his heart and meridians."

"The power was fierce. It definitely did not come from someone ranked on the Confucian Immortal Ranking."

"In other words, aside from Confucian Immortals, there are other Land Immortal Realm cultivators within the Endless Sea of Learning Academy."

"That place is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Its depths are immeasurable."

"There are definitely immense secrets hidden there."

The mysterious Black Ice Platform Leader reported his findings from recent investigations.

Both of their expressions grew extremely solemn.

"Tell me, should I continue sending people to investigate?"

"Or would it be a waste of effort?"

"Your Majesty, no matter the cost, we must uncover the secrets of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy."

"I believe the inner perimeter of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy hides many of the Ming Emperor's deepest secrets."

"Then tell me, what do you think the true relationship between the Supreme Academic Master and the Ming Emperor is?"

"Is it one of shared interests? Or a lord and vassal?"

Ying Zheng suddenly became very interested in this question.

The Black Ice Platform leader straightened his expression and said solemnly:

"Your Majesty, both are strong possibilities."

"However, there is one possibility we cannot ignore."

"This Supreme Academic Master of the Endless Sea of Learning Academy may actually be the Ming Emperor Zhu Houzhao in disguise."

"What? That's impossi–"

Ying Zheng's expression changed and he began to refute instinctively.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he froze.

That possibility might not be so far-fetched after all.

If true, then Endless Sea of Learning Academy would be under his total control.

With no restraints whatsoever.

"Minister, you must uncover the truth. Until we are absolutely certain, we shall assume that the Supreme Academic Master and the Ming Emperor are one and the same."

"Only then can we avoid being caught off guard by the Ming Dynasty in the future."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will continue the investigation."

"Soon, I will deliver a report that satisfies Your Majesty."

The Black Ice Platform leader spoke with utmost confidence.

Compared to the shadowy figure from before, this one was far superior in strength, aura, and intellect.

He was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.