Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1261 Qingfeng (1+12) (Bonus Chapter 23113 for "Hidden Dragon in Action")

The Imperial Palace of the Great Song Dynasty.

As dusk fell and the stars sank, a soft light shone upon the earth. Darkness surged in the void, and the faint sound of doors rattling could be heard. The bronze palace shone with a mysterious and wondrous light, its colors dazzling.

After an unknown amount of time, the palace doors slowly trembled and gradually opened. A plain-looking man in black stepped out, his supernatural powers surging. Standing before the palace, he appeared spirited and confident.

"The Ghost Under the Locust Tree...is complete!"

The Four Great Masters of Supernatural Powers!

This person is none other than Yang Ruiyi!
The "Huaiyin Ghost" is quite famous in the mortal world now, and Yang Ruiyi, who comes from the Yang family of the underworld, will naturally not underestimate it. He regards this technique as an important step for him to pass the rank of Can Zi!
'Its ancient name is "Mi Fang Shi," and it is a first-class supernatural power, but like "Bo Yu Yuan" and "Cang He Zhou," it is obscured and lacks brilliance due to the influence of its master...'

He was refreshed and his eyes were bright, but he did not slack off. He stepped out of the void and walked steadily towards the palace. Halfway there, he met a minor official waiting in front of the main hall. The official quietly said:

"Yang Ruiyi has come to see His Majesty. Please inform him of this."

The young servant recognized him immediately, knelt down with a thud, and exclaimed in surprise:

"General...General...Your Majesty...His Majesty has left Dragon Tail Road and summoned your subjects to the front garden..."

"Oh?"

Yang Ruiyi had just left the pass and was quite suspicious. He just nodded casually and walked slowly but quickly across the palace road that ran through the palace. He saw the water recede and the fire extinguished, and the golden plates clattering. He could vaguely see a pavilion with no guards on either side. Only the emperor stood in the pavilion with his hands behind his back.

Yang Ruiyi felt a pang of sadness.

Of course he knew where this place was... Yang Zhuo didn't often go out for fun, and even less often went to the front garden. When he did go, it was to see relatives and ministers. He was even less used to standing in the pavilion where "heaven and earth are covered, and there is no control on all sides".

There was only one exception.

'This is where I met with the King of Wei back then.'

'Who did you meet?'

Even though Yang Ruiyi had surpassed the rank of Canzi and become one of the most esteemed Great Masters in the world, he remained respectful and proper at this moment. Upon arriving at the pavilion, he bowed and said:

"Your subject Yang Ruiyi pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

The person in the pavilion turned around, glanced at him indifferently, and said:
"Congratulations, General!"

Yang Ruiyi quickly smiled respectfully and whispered:
"Your Majesty's divine might is boundless, and your subjects, revering your virtue, have thus transcended this profound threshold..."

"okay!"

His Majesty was clearly uninterested in these words, and waved his hand to interrupt him, saying:
"The 'Shaded Ghost'... Once this path is mastered, the 'Upper Witch' will have the potential, and you will be capable of handling things on your own!"

Yang Ruiyi nodded repeatedly and said very solemnly:

"Since I possess the treasure of 'Exiled Qi' and wield the light of 'True Qi,' and have even reached the Purple Realm, the likes of Tuoba Qiye and Gao Fu are nothing more than that. The only cultivators in the world who can truly defeat me are Wei Xuanyin and Tuoba Qitian."

Although Yang Ruiyi's talent for cultivation is not remarkable, his supernatural abilities and spiritual treasures are all top-notch. Back then, he was already able to resist a Grand Master when he mastered martial arts. Now that he has become a Grand Master and has the added advantage of martial arts, he is naturally powerful!

Emperor Song was not surprised by these words, and said with his hands behind his back:

"It's just in time for you to come out of seclusion."

"I wish to move the capital."

These four simple words struck Yang Ruiyi like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned. The great master was speechless for a moment, glancing blankly at the steps before him, then raising his head and saying in a hoarse voice:
"His Majesty said... to move the capital?"

The Song emperor took two steps, walked up to him, and finally smiled:
"Go to the ancient capital in the north, go to the riverbank."

The blankness in Yang Ruiyi's pupils deepened, then instantly transformed into horror, and she whispered:

"Your Majesty! The Northern Zhao is not to be underestimated! They have only beheaded Qi Lanyan! Once they reach the riverbank, what if the north launches a large-scale invasion southward and shakes the capital? A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall! Just now, who...who gave Your Majesty this idea? Your Majesty!"

His eyes sharpened instantly, and he said in a deep voice:
"This man must be a treacherous villain! He should be executed to uphold the law!"

Yang Ruiyi never expected that after he went into seclusion, the Song emperor would suddenly want to move the capital!
'Don't be fooled by Li Zhouwei's seemingly effortless and glorious slaying of Guang Chan and Qi Lanyan... it's not the same thing at all. The forces hidden beneath the surface in the north are unfathomable, far beyond what the Yang family can withstand!'

No matter what, Jiangnan is still the territory of the Underworld! No matter what happens, there will be adults to support us. But once we go north, if something happens and it ruins the important matter of true qi, even Judge Yang cannot bear the responsibility. The entire Yang family will be buried with them!
His voice trembled for a moment, but the person in front of him seemed very relaxed, smiling and shaking his head:
"This is my own thought, and has nothing to do with them... As for the people from earlier..."

"It's Li Jiangchun."

For once, the Song Emperor showed a playful side, saying:
"This is not an easy target to execute."

Upon hearing the name, Yang Ruiyi's eyes dimmed slightly, and she quickly regained her composure, saying softly:
"Your Majesty...which prefecture do you wish to move the capital to?"

Yang Zhuo stared at him quietly and said:
"Guzhou".

'Jingchuan County...'

Yang Ruiyi gradually began to understand.

This Guzhou is actually very special; even the character "Gu" is highly regarded in the Daoist tradition.

When Emperor Jianye established the first capital in the world, he sent Taishu Kuangyi to survey the land and enfeoff the feudal lords. This great man who attained enlightenment in ancient times drove a chariot, whipped it, and left red tracks wherever he went, driving around the city for three days and three nights.

These wheel tracks, one after another, marked out the land surrounding the capital. The large city built on top of them was called "Zhedu" or "Gucheng".

At that time, most places were called "Zhedu". Later, Yuanxia Zhenjun attained enlightenment. Because this great man's name was "Zhe", to avoid using his name, the latter name was gradually used, which became "Gucheng". Eventually, it developed into "Gujun".

As the only major city in the north at that time, Gu County gathered talents from all over the world. Whether it was the Wang family, who was the first disciple of Tongxuan, or the Jiang family of Douxuan, or even the Yang family, they all came from this county!
At that time, the Yang family's ancestor was a cultivator under the Sitianmen (a high-ranking official in the imperial court). Later, he traveled to the south and various families settled in the prefecture. The Yang family and the Liu family hit it off and naturally established Guzhou as well.

This Guzhou was the capital of the Chu state for nine generations and also the capital of the Yue state. It is now Jianmen Jingchuan County!

He breathed a faint sigh of relief.

'In that case...at least it's on the edge of Jiangnan.'

Yang Ruiyi's first thought was of the former capital, but it was Jiangling, the capital of Da Ning! If it fell into the Jianghuai region, it would be like handing over one's lifeline to others... If any side harbored disloyalty, it would be a huge threat to the very foundation of the country!

Even so, it doesn't mean that Yang Ruiyi is supportive.

He bowed sincerely and whispered:
"Your Majesty! The ambitions of the wolves in the north should not be underestimated. The Four Min are backed by the five-hundred-year foundation of the Immortal Sect and the future of our Yang family's nation. Surrounded by mountains, they can secure the country... Jingchuan, though an old prefecture, has no natural defenses. If the north falls into chaos, the chaos will be right before Your Majesty's eyes!"

"In all things, one must consider the possibility of defeat before victory. I dare not speak rashly, but with the capital in the south, the two banks are merely a place to maneuver freely, allowing for easy advance and retreat. With the capital in the north, one can only advance but not retreat, and I fear we may be targeted!"

Yang Zhuo listened quietly and smiled:
"The Jianghuai region has been pacified, and the Baihai region is not without mountains to defend. Guzhou is located at the border of the country, but it is the capital of Yue. Simin is deep in the mountains and is just a barbarian prefecture... The foundation of the Great Chu ancestors is in the south. How dare we abandon Lingqiu to take Guzhou? The old capital of the Great Song is in the north. How can we live in the deep mountains?"

This Song Dynasty emperor was elegant and composed, with a smile on his face, but his words were filled with a chilling aura:
"The Guzhou Cauldron... The Guzhou Cauldron, if it doesn't go to Guzhou, how can the cauldron be placed there? How can one rule the world by establishing his capital in Nanling?"

These words were so succinct that Yang Ruiyi was speechless. His heart sank into an abyss, and he felt a chill run down his spine, as if something invisible was watching him.

As the Song emperor, Yang Zhuo's every move was unusual, and some of his words, once spoken, had no room for reversal! Regardless of whether these words were in the Yang family's interest, Yang Ruiyi had no right to refute them!

He could only bow deeply and say respectfully:
"The Emperor's heart is very firm, and I will obey without question."

The person above was not surprised and said calmly:
"Now that you have left the pass, there is no need for anyone to know. There will be a time when I need you. However, now that Jiang Liang is no longer here, I am not at ease entrusting the matter of moving the capital to anyone. Do you have anyone to recommend?"

Yang Ruiyi instantly changed her mindset and said softly:
“The Marquis of Ping’an is loyal and conscientious, honest and humble. Cheng Jiuwen is good at managing local affairs and understands the big picture. The Marquis of Anyang is respectful and modest, treats his superiors with courtesy and his subordinates with harmony. They are capable of this important task.”

"Under the pretext of repairing the old palace and paying homage to the ancestors, three people will be sent to build the palace and sort out the spiritual energy of the land in preparation for any eventuality. Once the overall situation is settled and the time is right, the imperial palace will be moved north."

Clearly, this general was no fool, and immediately began to test the waters, to which the Song emperor calmly nodded.
“Rui Zao is of imperial lineage, Zhou Luo is of royal lineage, and Cheng Jiuwen is of county lineage. The region is harmonious, but we still lack a capable minister—let Sima Xun go there. He is eloquent, resourceful, and can be put to use.”

Yang Ruiyi bowed respectfully, a deeper understanding dawning on her mind.

'Li Zhouluo...Li Jiangchun...are likely related to the Li family...'

Yang Ruiyi waited for a while, and seeing the person in front of him casually wave his hand, he finally got up and left. As he walked out of the imperial palace, the respect on his face gradually turned into worry.

After much deliberation, he slowed his pace and stepped into the void. In just a moment, the bronze palace appeared and was displayed in the void.

Yang Ruiyi landed in front of the main hall, stared at the bronze door, and remained silent for a long time. After an unknown period of time, he finally pushed the door open and entered.

The hall was dark and empty. The bronze platform was devoid of any people, letters, or jade slips; only endless darkness remained.

No orders were given.

'No command...is also a command.'

Their silence was as silent as the darkness in the hall. Faced with the Song Emperor's so-called "acting on his own initiative," what could they do but remain silent?

Yang Ruiyi vaguely understood, staring quietly at the empty bronze platform:
'Only I…the Yang family bear this burden alone.'

……

The desert.

Inside the main hall, crimson flames raged, and the light of the fire spread out. A young man in crimson robes sat cross-legged in the center, his eyes closed, his hands clasped in front of his chest, and the color of the fire could be faintly seen through his fingers.

This iridescent light, like a layer of golden gauze, enveloped him, or like golden mist, drifted before his eyes, reflecting and illuminating various colors, revealing a majestic and righteous aura!

"Shunping Campaign!"

He opened his eyes and sighed softly:
"Finally... I've achieved the foundation for immortality!"

Without much thought, he decisively got up, set off on his fire, and headed towards Zhijing Mountain.

A raging fire burned in the mountains, and a golden alchemy furnace hung in the sky, with flames dancing at its bottom. The immortal on the stone platform had his hands forming a seal, seemingly manipulating the flames. But when Li Jiangqian got closer, a smile appeared in his eyes.

This 'Li Ximing' has red lips and white teeth, and although his eyes are slightly closed, there is a strange look about them.

[Divided Spirit/Alternate Body]!
On the other side of the jade pillar, Li Ximing slowly opened his eyes and looked at him with a smile:
"Changli is here!"

Li Jiangqian bowed and asked suspiciously:

"Where is Senior Ji'an?"

Li Ximing chuckled:

"When he saw my unique technique, he didn't want to watch too much, so he went down the mountain to wait for me. But he felt it wasn't good to just stay down there, so every now and then he built a platform on the shore to preach to his disciples, which was a way of making up for my lack of cultivation."

Even with his [Different Body and Divided Spirit], Li Ximing was still simply cultivating. Li Jiangqian nodded in agreement and said softly:

"This junior has come to... request a pill!"

Li Jiangqian already had a solid foundation, having absorbed spiritual energy for cultivation, yet it took him more than two years to complete his Immortal Foundation. This time was not short, especially considering the abundance of elixirs available. Most of the time spent cultivating his Purple Mansion was spent perfecting his Immortal Foundation and overcoming repeated failures.

'The Shunping Campaign is indeed not simple…'

However, achieving the perfect foundation of immortality is a long and arduous process. His cultivation speed is far inferior to that of his father, Li Zhouwei. Li Zhouwei may achieve it in three years, while it may take him more than five years. Under such time constraints, he appears even more constrained.

As a result, Li Jiangqian had to consider the issue of time.

'Even with the help of the talismanic energy, the remaining time to cultivate two supernatural powers still feels insufficient.'

His eyes were full of determination:

"I have come here now, daring to ask my great-uncle... for one [Empty Sleeve Mystic Powder] and one [Clarity of Truth and Harmony of Divine Power Pill]..."

For Li Ximing, the [Empty Sleeve Suspended Dao Powder] was nothing special. There was quite a lot left over from back then, and the Li family didn't use much of it, so there was still some left over. However, the [Mingzhen Heshen Pill] was quite valuable. He had exchanged three of them with Sima Yuanli.

But this Master Zhaojing was not surprised.

'After all, if you count the days, he's been at the Purple Mansion stage for almost twenty years!'

Twenty years!
Twenty years have passed, and Li Zhouwei has gone from the initial formation of the Purple Mansion to the perfection of the second supernatural power, and is now preparing to seek the third supernatural power!

Although Li Jiangqian had the potential to achieve the second supernatural power in terms of cultivation, resources, and even bloodline lineage, the upcoming great battle was unpredictable, and he simply could not afford to fail!
'And in the twenty years he's spent building his Purple Mansion, at least half of that time has been devoted to family affairs. Considering the need to shorten cultivation time and aid in achieving supernatural powers, this elixir is currently the most suitable for him!'

Li Ximing silently took out the jade box and said:

"This is exactly what we need! Those cultivators in the north should still have some. They'll naturally reap the rewards once they invade the north. Don't let the chance slip away just because you're trying to save one or two!"

Li Jiangqian nodded heavily, thanked him, and accepted the gift. Only then did he stand up, but as if sensing something, he raised his head and vaguely saw a crimson light shooting straight into the sky, with raging flames and a sound of shock and anger echoing through the void:

"Who's spying on me here?!"

But the man in the red robe had his hair and beard standing on end, the pale ends of his hair floating in the flames, like an old lion. His eyes shone with rays of light as he stared at the horizon.

It is indeed Ji'an!

Although Ji'an was preaching on the shore, more than 90% of his attention was still on the lake. He naturally knew that Li Jiangqian was coming and just glanced at him. But when he suddenly felt someone watching him, his shock and anger were truly fierce!
The two immortals in the mountains exchanged a glance, then looked up together. Just as Li Jiangqian's spiritual sense connected with Cha You, he heard a respectful but puzzled voice coming from the sky:
"I am Cui Jueyin of Qingfeng... Having achieved my supernatural powers, I have returned to the lake. May I ask who you are, senior...?"

Upon hearing this voice, Li Ximing was overjoyed and immediately stood up. Li Jiangqian's eyes also lit up with surprise. Connecting their spiritual senses, they indeed saw a golden and white intermingling pattern in the void, like a mysterious staircase, with a noble and elegant young man standing on top!

Cui Jueyin!
The two were both surprised and delighted, while Cui Jueyin of Taixu was truly puzzled.

He stayed in the Dragon Palace for a year and a half before coming out. Upon receiving the news, Lu Xu escorted him all the way to the sea. Without stopping for a moment, he hurriedly rushed to the lake. Once he entered the familiar territory, he naturally dared not rashly enter the Purple Mansion Formation. He immediately went to Zhijing Mountain to pay his respects to his master.

Unexpectedly, a Taoist master, seemingly a relative or friend of the Li family, was sitting at the foot of the mountain preaching. However, the moment he approached, the master's attitude changed drastically, as if he had stepped on the master's tail. Three beams of fiery divine power shone down, making the master feel a strong sense of threat.

Why did it have to come to this!

"Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!"

Fortunately, the standoff was only momentary. Li Ximing stepped out of the void first, standing between the two, and grabbed Cui Jueyin's hand. Overjoyed, he said:

"Jueyin...good lad!"

The Cui family has been a lineage of immortals for generations, with ancestors who were prominent officials. Their appearance and demeanor were all exceptional. Cui Jueyin was one of the best among them. Now that he had become a Purple Mansion, his demeanor was even more outstanding, like that of an immortal. A brush hung at his waist, which added to his refined and scholarly atmosphere.

When Cui Jueyin saw Li Ximing's face, his eyes instantly reddened. He was a grateful man; when he was young, he went far away from home and followed this master. Whether it was guidance or care, no one in the large Li family ever dared to make things difficult for him...

If Cui Jueyin held Li Zhouwei in the highest esteem, then her feelings for Li Ximing were truly those of an elder. She turned her head slightly and said in a hoarse voice:

"I have made this decision by virtue of your kindness and good fortune!"

Li Jiangqian deliberately lingered a step, arriving late. He smiled, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Cui Jueyin, then turned to look at Ji An and said solemnly:

"This is my guest retainer; I apologize for disturbing you, senior!"

"Don't dare."

Ji An quickly grasped the situation. Having spent many years overseas, he immediately recognized Cui Jueyin's name as belonging to the Cui clan of Chongzhou. A smile quickly spread across his face as he said:

"Cui... I was wondering what was missing from the King of Wei's side, it turns out it was Cui! My apologies!"

He didn't say much, just smiled meaningfully, and went down by the fire. Li Ximing was filled with emotion, not even having time to consider the feelings of this senior, and hurriedly invited Cui Jueyin in, sighing:
"With the successful completion of the decisive poem, King Wei is like a tiger with wings, gaining a trusted and capable minister!"

This is absolutely true. After all, it was a master-disciple relationship. Cui Jueyin was to Li Zhouwei as Li Jiangliang was to Yang Zhuo. They could be considered both ministers in the prince's residence and capable assistants. Their loyalty and ability were unmatched by others!
Cui Jueyin, however, dared not presume to accept the position and repeatedly declined. Taking a moment, he returned Li Jiangqian's bow and said:
"Congratulations, Your Highness!"

Li Jiangqian smiled and said:

"From now on, you should be called... Fellow Daoist Qingfeng!"

Cui Jueyin was clearly uncomfortable with this form of address, and with an awkward smile, explained:
“After I achieved this, the True Man of the State found the genealogy of the old Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion and traced the lineage according to the Dao, and found this character [Qing] for me.”

"So it was following the path of the [Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion]!"

Li Jiangqian nodded and sighed:

"With a clear and melodious voice, graceful posture, and the virtues of a gentleman combined with the talent of extravagance, this character 'Phoenix' should be chosen for use!"

Cui Jueyin looked rather ashamed and said:
"Sparrows are caught in nets, whales are trapped in traps—is this the way of a gentleman? The True Man and the King of Wei have entrusted themselves to each other with their hearts, and their recitation of this poem is nothing more than a way of repaying their kindness!"

Li Ximing also knew that Chongzhou was in a difficult situation, and even had a general idea of ​​the predicaments of these people. He silently shook his head, but Cui Jueyin did not bring up the matter of Chongzhou immediately. Instead, he carefully said:
"May I first see...King Wei?"

Li Ximing sighed:
"It's not the right time..."

Cui Jueyin astutely ended the conversation, nodding silently. Li Jiangqian smiled and said:
"It must be the 'Eternal Path'!"

"Exactly!"

Cui Jueyin bowed deeply, then a slight smile appeared on his face. He raised his eyebrows and said:

"The 'Changming Steps' are where the emperor embodies the principles of Heaven and Earth, and his subjects respectfully look up to him. As subjects, we have the merit of controlling the barbarians, selecting officials, quelling rebellions, and upholding the Ming Dynasty, so as to illuminate the heavenly scriptures and pay homage to the emperor."

He turned to Li Ximing and smiled:
"To be with the true man in 'the world is bright,' one must possess the virtues of a ruler and his subject!"

Li Ximing was quite interested. He pinched his fingers together slightly, and a rolling "Light of the Six Directions" appeared at his fingertips.

The Light of the Six Directions has the power to promote and advance cultivators, and can bless cultivators on the lake. However, this wondrous power is useless to cultivators in the Purple Mansion. Yet, as it dances on Li Ximing's fingertips, it has given him a faint, slight sensation.

The Light of the Six Directions can be connected with Li Ximing's "Visiting the Heavenly Gate". However, the golden-armored cultivator that is condensed is only a compassionate one, but it consumes two divine powers, which is really useless. He has never used it before, and he has used it more for the "Divided Soul and Different Body". But now, when he picked up this light, he actually felt a strange touch.

'It seems... to be connected to his 'Eternal Rank'...'

The Cui Jueyin before him was like a "Heavenly Gate" capable of containing the "Light of the Six Directions"!
He merely relaxed his grip slightly, and the power of the Six Directions Light in his palm seemed to be diminished. The young man, already smiling, began to unleash his divine power. The illusory figure behind him flashed away, and a radiant light appeared in his palm, with rolling purple flames. A white brick heavenly gate even faintly emerged.

Upon seeing this color, Li Jiangqian's expression immediately changed!

Although there are slight differences in their imposing presence and grandeur, they are already quite similar!
"Visiting the Heavenly Gate?!"

This was the first divine power he had ever achieved! Li Ximing was so familiar with it that he couldn't believe it and was momentarily stunned.

"Exactly!"

Cui Jueyin nodded with a hopeful smile on his face:
"As long as the True Man leaves me a wisp of the Six Harmonies Light, and both of us remain in the void without being separated, I will be able to borrow the True Man's Six Breaths of Divine Power at the crucial moment!"

There was a hint of regret in his eyes:

"With my current level of supernatural powers, it only takes six breaths, and the borrowed supernatural power is only about 50-60% of its original strength... But when my supernatural powers become more advanced, there should be significant improvement..."

The mountains remained silent.

Li Ximing stood frozen in place, while Li Jiangqian stared blankly at his palm.

'Grand Uncle's supernatural powers are only at fifty or sixty percent, and even if they suddenly appeared from him, it wouldn't be enough to decide a major battle... But if... the future is...'

'Is it Father—a white Qilin with perfect supernatural powers and mastery of all five arts?'