#1093 - Shaoyang

Hearing this, Minghui sighed and lamented, "Real Person, you don't understand, this dead end isn't truly death... Sometimes a dead end is a path to survival. If I don't die now, I'll truly perish later!"

Real Person Changyun was already shrewd, and upon hearing this, he made a judgment about Minghui's situation. He lowered his eyebrows, pondered, and hesitated, saying:

"If Fellow Daoist has such considerations... it's not like Shan Ji hasn't had Zifu cultivators from the Song Kingdom before. I heard you are ordered around daily; what difficulty is there in finding an opportunity to die!"

Minghui shook his head and said:

"Real Person, you don't understand. Xuan Yue now has Gongsun Bei and Qi Lanyan. Although they haven't taken action, they are closely watching me and Ting Lan fight. At most, I'll only suffer some injuries; there's no chance to seek death..."

"If you can't seek death and suffer so many injuries, wouldn't your chances of survival be even smaller when disaster strikes?"

Changyun nodded slightly. If there were any ways to escape, how could he know more than Minghui, a high-ranking Buddhist and Daoist cultivator? The other party must have something to ask of him, so he asked:

"If Mahākāśyapa needs my help, please speak plainly."

Minghui nodded as expected and said in a low voice:

"Years ago, I came south to this place at the request of the Great Mu Dharma Realm. Now that I can't escape, I naturally have to turn to them to resolve this tribulation. But after waiting and waiting, what came from the Great Mu Dharma Realm... was actually... [Guang Chan]..."

Mentioning [Guang Chan], Minghui's expression became somewhat gloomy. Changyun pondered and asked:

"Is that the descendant of Mingyang who took the seat of [Treasure Tooth Golden Land] after [Victorious Name Exhausting Light King]?"

Minghui stared at him blankly, seemingly surprised. Suddenly, he remembered that the person in front of him had already been to Zhixuan Pavilion and might have come into contact with many Buddhist cultivators. He nodded and said:

"It's him... The Great Mu Dharma Realm obtained the [Treasure Tooth Golden Land], expanding the Buddhist territory, and he has also become a favorite under the adults... It's precisely because he is unyielding in the [Treasure Tooth Golden Land] that he doesn't feel close to the [Great Mu Dharma Realm] and doesn't recognize their teachings... I simply can't talk to him!"

He showed some distress, and Changyun shook his head in a low voice:

"I see more than that... You are focused on self-preservation, and your temple doesn't want to participate in the fall of Mingyang. He came south for Bailin; how can you talk to each other? He probably wishes you would die in the hands of the South, dragging your temple into the water."

Seeing that he understood everything, Minghui didn't say much more and flattered him:

"Real Person has keen eyes... I am in the most difficult situation right now... Seeing Real Person coming south, I felt there was a turning point, hoping that after Real Person joins Qi Lanyan's command, not to mention getting me transferred over... at least helping out a little when fighting against the South."

He spoke emotionally, his tone fearful, and sighed:

"I only have Real Person to rely on!"

Changyun remained noncommittal and looked at him deeply.

'Now that the general trend is just beginning and the time hasn't arrived, Jiangbei looks solid as a rock, and the South can only defend and not attack. But human power has its limits. How can it compete with the adults' methods? When the True Qi continues to rise and Mingyang's foundation shakes more violently, Jiangbei will be difficult to defend. The adults have made arrangements early, and my opportunity will surely come...'

'But before that, I inevitably have to bow my head to Zhixuan Pavilion... Relying on me alone, I might be framed by Qi Lanyan. Lotus Temple has no intention of stirring up the world, only wanting to retreat to the North for support, which would be convenient...'

After pondering for a while, he stood up and said:

"You and I have been good friends for many years... I can help you with this matter, but I also have my own plans. This time, I'll save your life, but in the future, you'll have to yield to me a bit."

Both of them spoke as if they were very close, saying they were good friends for many years with deep friendship, but both knew each other's nature and knew that there was little pure friendship between Divine Power Zifu cultivators, especially since they belonged to different camps, and ultimately it was still an exchange of benefits.

Knowing each other well, Changyun was very straightforward, and Minghui was even more solemn, raising his hand and saying:

"If Fellow Daoist saves my life, with karma as a witness, how can I stand by and watch you die! Today, I swear to my [Great Compassion Joyful World Appearance] that there will be a generous reward in the future!"

"Generous reward..."

Changyun's expression was a little strange, and he shook his head and said:

"I don't quite dare to believe in your Buddhist cultivator's generous reward. Back then, the master of the Kongwu Dao failed to seek the Dao, and the various families took advantage of the situation to rob him. The Buddhist territory collapsed, and Zhelu fled from Longdao... receiving the grace of [Bianjia Gate]. When he became the master of Kongwu Dao, he hurriedly and forcibly converted the entire family... That's truly a generous reward..."

After all, Buddhist cultivators had a bad reputation, and this kind of thing often happened. Minghui was extremely embarrassed to hear this and cursed Zhelu, but Changyun didn't care:

'When the adults' plan comes to fruition and I reveal my identity, I won't worry about you not fulfilling your promise!'

But Minghui was also thinking in his heart:

'Master told me to find Changyun, so this guy must have good things in his hands, which can protect me at that time... After all this tossing and turning, if there's really no way to retreat, Master will also take action and find a way to disgust those two beasts...'

The two hit it off, each with their own thoughts. Minghui said in a low voice:

"I've thought about it for a long time. Once the North and South fight, the key lies in two people. First... is Yang Ruiyi, and second, is Li Zhouwei."

This monk usually looks carefree, but now his eyes are very clear:

"And I may have to fight Yang Ruiyi, and it's even possible that I'll be placed alone on Yang Ruiyi's inevitable path! And Fellow Daoist... is probably also related to Yang Ruiyi."

His expression was gloomy:

Changyun nodded slightly, settling the matter. Minghui then took out a jade slip from his sleeve, handed it to Changyun, and raised his eyebrows to look at him:

"This was brought by Real Person Qi."

Changyun raised his eyebrows, unlocked the jade slip, but found it empty under the inspection of his spiritual sense, with no words to be found. Only after unlocking the jade slip did he see a line of words written in ink on the bright white surface:

'Dividing land and granting fiefdoms lies in today. Hiding in the sect, how can you repay the emperor's grace?'

Changyun sneered in his heart:

'You, surnamed Qi, are also playing with fire. This "emperor" you're referring to is my family's True Lord! Very well, very well, today will be the time for you to be ridiculed. Wei Xuanyin is bound to attain the Dao. I'll have to see who will protect you.'

Minghui stared at the table silently, seeing the Real Person smile and say:

"Rare, rare, Real Person Qi is actually considering me, worrying that I will betray Lord Wei's trust!"

Minghui also didn't want to get involved in their disputes, so he agreed and didn't stay there any longer. After explaining the time limit for Changyun and the disciples of Chengyun to go south, he stepped into the void and left.

Changyun watched him leave, standing on the platform for a long time, pondering:

"Li Zhouwei is already at the Second Divine Power stage… This time, he treated Xuanxie too harshly. He won't be able to recover in five or six years… Qi Lanyan intends to delay the fall of Mingyang…"

Zhong Qian, who was beside him, looked complicated when he heard the news about the Li family, but he didn't answer. Changyun strolled on the platform, silent for a long time:

'When I saw Li Tongya back then, I only thought his fate was extraordinary. I never thought he was a direct descendant of Mingyang Wei. Now that I think about it, it makes sense. After all, the adult's plan is profound…'

'Emperor Wei… Emperor Wei…'

There are not a few people in the world who hope for Li Qianyuan's downfall. I don't know what the adult above is thinking, but in Changyun's opinion, it would be better if something went wrong with this matter:

'Luoxia's current power is too vast… So vast that it's suffocating us. If something goes wrong with this matter… I don't even ask that Li Qianyuan can regain his throne, even if he can just linger on for another one or two hundred years…'

'When the Wei Kingdom dominated the world, the adult was cultivating in the Gushen Mountain. The Wei soldiers entered the mountain, and the Wei Emperor met the adult once, leaving behind the treasure [Qingxin Stone]… The relationship between the Wei Kingdom and my Jinyi Shangqing was originally excellent…'

Later, Emperor Wei fell ill, and the adult transformed and descended to the lower realm, taking action to stir up the winds and clouds of the world, personally harming Emperor Qi. Even if it was for his own benefit, in Zhang Yun's view, it was already repaying the favor of that year. Otherwise, if Emperor Qi had truly attained Dao and was now helping Zhou to abuse, Li Qianyuan's situation would be even more miserable.

As for the massacre of Emperor Wei's bloodline in Guanzhong, Zhang Yun had also heard about it, but he didn't think much of it:

'They are going to die sooner or later anyway. What difference does it make who they die at the hands of… They are all True Lords, would they really care about the life and death of a few descendants?'

After thinking about it, he secretly stroked his beard:

'I think Qi Lanyan intends to put Li Zhouwei to death. This matter will not be easy to accomplish — the Seven Phases' power is vast, and there are many Dharma Aspects. They are still testing the waters. How can a small cultivator like him figure it out… I can just watch carefully from the side. The Seven Phases can't suppress their desire for the Mingyang disciples. When the time is right, I can use it…'

He pondered quietly in his heart:

'"True Qi" is of great help to the "Complete Core" path. Counting the world, there are few Divine Powers of the Complete Core… If the ancestor can succeed, my Jinyi lineage will at least have a bit more breathing room under the glow of Luoxia…'

'We still have to wait… The Complete Core True Lord of that year died in the East Sea, and the [Mysterious Complete Root] fell into the hands of Beijia. The adult had no choice but to compromise with the Dragon race…'

He stared straight at the desk, his expression calm:

'Now, no matter which family… can't afford to lose.'

……

Zhentao Prefecture.

The sea water surged, and the sky was dim.

Li Quewan stood worriedly on the shore, feeling the sea breeze blowing on her face, waiting and waiting, and began to hesitate in her heart.

'That Fuxun Demon King has already entered the formation. The strangeness on his body doesn't look like anything good. If someone is instructing him, I'm afraid Zhentao Prefecture will be lost…'

Li Quewan used the Immortal Mirror and found that the strange creature was still looking around, wandering around in the cave. In the field of vision of the immortal artifact, she could even see a layer of hazy golden light covering this thing, shining on the entire island, once deeply into the ground, occupying all the dead corners one by one.

It is because of this iridescent light that Li Quewan is still unable to confirm whether she is in the sight of that strange creature… which also makes her dare not crush the jade talisman.

'With the talisman seed, at least this thing can't see what I'm thinking, but once I crush the jade talisman, I can't say why… It will definitely attract attention…'

You must know that this thing is entrusted to a dignified Zifu cultivator, and Fuxun is even completely unaware. No matter how vigilant Li Quewan is, it is not an exaggeration. If Li Ximing did not also have the protection of an immortal artifact, she even vaguely worried that something would happen to Li Ximing if he came!

Li Quewan stood quietly for a long time before she vaguely saw a golden light appearing on the horizon. It arrived in front of her in the blink of an eye, revealing a real person in a white-gold Taoist robe with a spot of light on his brow. Who else could it be but Li Ximing!

Her first reaction was not joy, but worry. An excited expression appeared on her face, as if she was just a girl who hadn't seen her elder for many days. She rode the wind and immediately crossed the formation!

This action was quite natural, but it conveniently cut off Li Ximing's intention to continue moving forward.

But Li Ximing stayed here and did not enter the formation. He was already vigilant, so how could he move forward? He looked at her with a smile, his eyes not falling on the island, but his spiritual sense connected to the immortal artifact.

In an instant, the scene of the entire island appeared in front of him, and Li Ximing's heart suddenly jumped.

He first noticed Fuxun, who was in seclusion in the cave. The demon's golden lips and white teeth behind his head were strange and inexplicable. His eyes were tightly closed, and the light golden color surged out, almost submerging everything.

'What kind of demon is this…'

But just as he appeared on the island, those eyes suddenly opened, revealing pure white pupils, staring at Li Ximing with interest!

Li Ximing's heart trembled:

'He can perceive me from afar even through the Zifu Great Formation… This thing is too terrifying!'

At first glance, he thought it was some kind of Dharma body cultivated by the other party, or some kind of special injury, but with just this one look, Li Ximing's heart was already cold. He said very naturally:

"Has the Yuanbian True Person gone into seclusion!"

Li Quewan was very clever and nodded repeatedly. Li Ximing knew that this was not the place to talk, and immediately made up an excuse and smiled:

"This time I came out to visit Jiuqiu, so I'll take you there. I won't bother him, let's go!"

Li Ximing asked her to leave a note, casually took the girl's hand, and braced himself to ride the wind out, watching the pure white eyes slowly move, quietly watching in the direction he was leaving.

It wasn't until Li Ximing disappeared from sight that these eyes slowly moved back, and the light golden lips collided, and the vague murmur suddenly became clear:

"Ming… Yang… Li"

That lip was constantly twisted, and the lips seemed to be controlled by many different people, showing a very awkward arc, constantly colliding, gradually becoming skilled, and after a long time, it re-formed the shape of the mouth:

"Mingyang is useless… I want… Shaoyang…"

This sentence seemed like an instruction. Fuxun opened his eyes in an instant, subconsciously stood up, and immediately wanted to move forward, but when his hand touched the front of the cave, he woke up as if from a dream, but he couldn't detect any abnormality. He actually lowered his head, his eyes clear and calm, and said thoughtfully:

"That's right, although my injury is serious, if a 'Shaoyang' cultivator can take a look at it for me, it will definitely be better than me spending years in vain!"

Main characters in this chapter

—

Li Ximing [Early Zifu]