Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1269 (similar) (Bonus chapter for 2 Alliance members)
Liangchuan Mountain.

Liangchuan Mountain is a majestic mountain range located in the west of the Central Plains. It can be seen from Mianchi.

In ancient times, there was a mountain called Guchao Mountain, which stretched into the Jin region and deep into the north, serving as a natural barrier. It was here that the immortal Shexian attained enlightenment. In one night, Guchao Mountain collapsed, dropping a thousand feet, which severed the communication between the southern counties of Jin and the Central Plains. Only a small part of the mountain tail of Guchao remained, which is the location of the Liangxiangtai, left behind by the "Zuoyuan Zhenjun". It was thus preserved and became the location of the present-day "Liangchuan".

As time passed, Liang Xiangtai eventually disappeared, and the place gradually lost its reputation among the heroes of the world. It fell into the hands of General Ju Huanyin of the Great Zhao Dynasty, whose son went into the mountains to cultivate Taoism and became famous for a time.

Now it's all in vain!

The great formation had been activated to its limit, and colorful light was surging. On the high platform, several cultivators were guarding the night sky, looking towards the south. The faint red light that had been flickering on the horizon had faded, and there was no sign of anything unusual.

The leader frowned, gazing into the distance with obvious worry, and said:

"Xiangxiang has been attacked; it's likely that trouble has broken out in the south!"

"What kind of supernatural power is this?"

The man in blue beside him had a gloomy expression and looked extremely worried. He paced back and forth on the stage, asking hurriedly. The man on the other side wiped his brows, seemingly casting a spell. After watching for a while, he said:
"There is a sinister aura and a murderous intent, as well as flying sand, making it difficult to discern."

The man in blue grew increasingly anxious:

"Lord Ju! My brother is still in seclusion, what should we do!"

After he finished speaking, everyone around him fell silent. The leader immediately turned around and reassured them:

"Brother Wei, please calm down. The fighting will stop soon. It's probably just someone testing the waters. On the contrary, the enemy's main force is the Divine Intervention Army in the east!"

This man surnamed Ju was highly respected, and upon hearing his words, the two men immediately showed signs of agreement and admiration. However, the man in blue was not so quick to relax and hurriedly said:
"Is there any news from the two immortals? Has the jade talisman on the mountain responded?"

The man surnamed Ju seemed to have anticipated this question and was prepared, saying:

“Brother Wei has been in seclusion for a long time… Although the three generals are nominally stationed here, General Shenwu has long since returned to his fiefdom, and the other two generals have always been stationed in Xiangxiang. They must have gone to support the east now. As for the jade talisman…”

After all, everyone in Luoyang is one family. While there might be some private disagreements among the families, on the surface they are all on very good terms, and intermarriages are common. He hesitated for a moment, then, without holding back, said:

“I have already responded, so I activated the great formation to guard against the enemy chieftain.”

He understood why the other person was so worried, and whispered:
"Brother Wei, please calm down. Has anyone sent word from your clan?"

The monk in blue robes sighed deeply:
"No news at all!"

Jia Zan, as the leader of the Purple Mansion, personally presented the formation. Cui Jueyin and Cheng Qian quietly entered the formations of the two families. Controlling this group of Foundation Establishment cultivators was a piece of cake, so naturally there was no news at all!
As the group was discussing, a burst of colorful light suddenly descended from outside the formation, transforming into an old man with half-white hair and beard. His gaze was gloomy and dangerous, and his supernatural power, accompanied by a wave of sound, swept into the formation!
"Activate the formation immediately!"

'Master Jia!'

If his elder brother Wei Dangshan was the future of the Jia and Wei families, then Jia Zan was the current pillar of the Jia and Wei families. Upon seeing him, the blue-robed cultivator felt reassured and overjoyed. However, he was also puzzled as to why the cultivator had come from so far away. Anxious, he hurriedly said:
"Open the formation!"

But he had only taken half a step when he was stopped by the cultivator surnamed Ju beside him. This middle-aged man was much calmer than him, though his face showed surprise and uncertainty. He said:

Why is Master Jia here?

"Where can't supernatural powers go!"

The blue-robed cultivator kept pulling him, causing panic among the surrounding cultivators. The middle-aged man, both surprised and suspicious, said urgently:

"Brother Wei, wait! Behind Liangchuan lies Yinling, where three members of the Tao family possess supernatural powers. The enemy only made a brief appearance in the south. Even if Xiangxiang falls in an instant, they are only approaching Yinling. Why would they need to come all the way here?"

The man in blue was already extremely displeased by being pulled, and when he heard the man's words implying that he was questioning his own master, he flew into a rage and roared:
"Ju Liangwang! How dare you!"

The loud noise startled everyone on the stage, causing a commotion. Before Ju Liangwang could react, the supernatural being outside seemed to have some doubts and whispered:
"Ok?"

No matter how powerful a supernatural ability is, it is still a supernatural ability. To put it bluntly, just this change in tone was enough to make most of the people in the formation weak in the knees, and anxious eyes turned to Ju Liangwang.

Ju Liangwang, however, forcibly pulled back the Wei family members beside him, pressed down on the array platform, and whispered:
"The South is in chaos. Your divine powers are extraordinary, and we juniors cannot distinguish the real from the fake. We fear we may fall victim to the enemy's wondrous transformations. We beg you, Master, to reveal your secrets..."

"Humph!"

Jia Zan never expected anyone would dare to stop him, but he recognized the person from the voice:
'Ju Liangwang... is also Yu Xi's grandson-in-law... no wonder he dared to stop me!'

He wasn't surprised, but felt as if the gaze behind him was a sharp sword pressed against his back, ready to pierce him through at any moment. He gritted his teeth and said:
"Wei Jianjiang! What are you good for?!"

These words resounded like thunder across the mountain. The tone was utterly familiar. The blue-robed cultivator trembled, grabbing Ju Liangwang's hand instead, his eyes blazing with fury, and said:

"Ju Liangwang...you're insane! Who could possibly get in without going around the Tao family! How did the Southern supernatural powers know my name!"

Before the words were finished, the young man who had used his pupil technique also stepped forward and eagerly echoed:
"Master, outside is 'Zhi Li Xing'... that's the Jia family's territory..."

The other two also came to persuade him, appearing quite frightened. Ju Liangwang was momentarily speechless, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. The jade talisman in his sleeve kept flashing, slowly emitting a warm sensation, which kept him stubbornly unmoved. He whispered:

"The jade talisman has been lit! General Jiang will arrive shortly. Please wait a moment, Master Jia. If there is any mistake, I will personally apologize to you!"

These words terrified Jia Zan.

'General Jiang?! Which General Jiang?!'

'Jiang Fuwang? He's here? Or is it... Jiang Yan!'

But Jia Zan didn't have time to think too much. No matter which General Jiang it was, how could he and Li Zhouwei, who had come from so far away, trust anyone in their current state? It couldn't possibly be that he, Jia Zan, had escorted Li Zhouwei to Liangchuan Mountain!
His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with murderous intent:
"Liangwang! Li Zhouwei has already breached Xiangxiang, severely wounding two generals, and has pursued me all the way here. The Tao family is colluding with the south, sitting back and watching the tigers fight... cough cough..."

"If you don't let me in, the situation in Luoxia will be ruined by you!"

Upon hearing this, an uproar erupted on the high platform. Wei Jianjiang's expression changed completely. Without hesitation, he activated his magic and struck Ju Liangwang with a palm. The middle-aged man was still in shock and never expected that the people around him would suddenly attack. He spat out a mouthful of blood in an instant. Wei Jianjiang had already taken over the position and pushed the array point!
In that brief moment of relaxation, the void reconnected for a split second, and the magical scenery outside the great formation vanished. Ju Liangwang hurriedly scrambled to his feet, carefully examining the figure to confirm it was indeed the Jia family's True Person, before bowing down again, not daring to raise his head, and said:

"You are guilty!"

The high platform was extremely quiet. The old man's gaze was deep and unfathomable. He ignored everyone present, but instead, he lifted his sleeve, took out the great array token from Ju Liangwang's body, stepped forward, and pressed his supernatural power onto the high platform. In an instant, a crimson color enveloped it!
A loud explosion resounded in the sky, and a faint brownish-yellow substance rapidly approached. All the cultivators looked up, and a fleeting look of surprise appeared in Ju Liangwang's eyes:

"Lord Jiang has arrived!"

It was Jiang Fuwang!
Jia Zan also raised his head, his eyes filled with astonishment and complex emotions.

"I see!"

'Jiang Fuwang…'

General Jiang was injured by Li Zhouwei and never saw Tao Shi again. After finally escaping, his first reaction was not to flee to another prefecture or to support any side, but to head north to seize Liangchuan Mountain!
'Jiang Fuwang is a seasoned general with many years of experience; how could he not see the situation? Seeing no reinforcements arrive and witnessing Li Zhouwei making no attempt to conceal his intentions, his gaze bright and clear, heading towards Yinling, he understood that the Tao family had long harbored resentment towards the various factions and must have already secretly surrendered to the Song!'

Even if he is injured, even if the Tao family has colluded with the south, as long as he can hold this place and wait for reinforcements, the Song Dynasty will definitely not be able to conquer it in a short time, and Luoyang can retain the possibility of being recovered!

Jiang Fuwang then secretly traveled through the void, bypassed Yinling, and came to guard Liangchuan Mountain.

Without reservation, this arrangement by the direct descendant of the Jiang family demonstrated a great sense of the big picture, as well as decisiveness and courage. It was similar to Li Zhouwei's vision, and he immediately understood where the initiative lay in this great battle in Luoyang!

'From beginning to end, the King of Wei and Jiang Fuwang... both kept their eyes fixed on the same spot!'

Luoxia is rich and prosperous, while Taixu is winding and complex. Jiang Fuwang traveled through Taixu, while Li Zhouwei openly and honestly crossed Yinling and went to the present world!

This not only sowed discord between Jiang Fuwang and Tao Shi, but also put Li Zhouwei in an invincible position—the seriously injured Jiang Fuwang could never openly walk into the real world, and Li Zhouwei would definitely arrive at Liangchuan Mountain much earlier than him!
'A calculated scheme...'

In that instant, Ju Liangwang realized that he had lost control of his body. Every cultivator on the platform was unable to move and could only watch helplessly as the [Mysterious Rain Water Spirit Array] of Liangchuan Mountain rapidly operated, its azure light shining out and stopping the point of light in mid-air!
"puff!"

Liang Chuanshan's grand formation was formidable. The rapidly approaching light was abruptly interrupted, and the faint sound of vomiting blood could be heard. A man's figure fell out, his figure only flickering in the mortal world for a moment before bursting out with bloody light. Without hesitation, he changed direction and sped eastward!

In an instant, silence fell over the platform. Ju Liangwang's eyes dimmed, his face turned pale, and he gasped for breath, saying with a last glimmer of hope:

"Master Jia..."

Jia Zan's steps were slightly heavy, but he completely ignored him, let alone turned around. The master took a step back, bowed deeply, and said:

"King Wei..."

As soon as the words "King of Wei" were uttered, Wei Jianjiang's expression changed as well. Under the stunned gazes of the cultivators on the stage, the young man in black gradually revealed his figure on the stage, the unicorn pattern on his face slowly fading as he quietly looked at everyone.

To everyone's surprise, Jia Zan's voice was sincere this week:

"Thank you, King Wei!"

Not bad.

Could a beam of spiritual light really do anything to Jiang Fuwang? Even if he is seriously injured, he is definitely not someone that can be taken down by a beam of light. Jia Zan's actions are not meant to harm him, but rather to warn him!
Once Jiang Fuwang gets close enough to enter the formation, he will be facing Li Zhouwei, who will be lying in wait!

'This is what truly endangers lives!'

As for Jia Zan, after losing all face for his family, he will be deeply shamed by all families, in addition to offending the entire Jiang clan of Gu County and Jiang Yan, who is on the verge of becoming a great master!
'Even if we surrender, we must still act with discretion!'

Jia Zan could be shameless and surrender in the face of such a powerful trend. Both Luoyang and Gu County could understand this. Objectively speaking, which family in Luoyang wouldn't surrender? It's just a matter of speed and decorum... To put it bluntly, for so many years, aristocratic families have always surrendered to whichever dynasty came to kill them!

It's terrible that we've already tricked everyone and created a great illusion, but we've also gained a reputation for luring and killing Jiang Fuwang.
That's why Jia Zan was so anxious.

Now, at least Jia Shi still retains some dignity. Jia Zan, kneeling on the ground, is genuinely covered in cold sweat, and even feels a sense of disorientation.

'How many years has it been? Life in Luoyang has been comfortable and carefree; how many years has it been since we've faced such hardship? No wonder the South experiences such dramatic rises and falls every year; in such a situation, which family wouldn't experience sudden ups and downs!'

Those golden eyes held only a smile as they glanced at him indifferently.

Li Zhouwei also had no intention of killing Jiang Fuwang.

He never forgot why he came, and he understood even more clearly that his purpose was to win a quick victory and seize the greatest benefits—Li Zhouwei was going back to seclusion, and taking these passes was to ensure that the Song Dynasty could defend this place and minimize casualties!
Whether it's Lü Fu or Jiang Fuwang, they both involve the powerful families of Gu County outside the situation. It's satisfying to kill them now, but once they return to the lake, who will be able to handle the situation in Luoyang?
'Besides, I can't waste my time here... I might as well use this opportunity to temporarily win this person over...'

He said quietly:
"Que Wan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure appeared beside him like a ghost. Li Quewan stepped out, the water around him rippled, and the sinister old demon appeared, scrutinizing everyone.

How these two followed behind him was beyond Jia Zan's ability to investigate. He had experienced too much shock and could only remain silent. Seeing her cold expression and the way she made a hand seal and pointed it at the array platform, Jia Zan immediately and wisely released his supernatural power and took a step back.

Seeing that Li Quewan had seized control of Liangchuan Mountain, the King of Wei finally rose. The night grew even darker. He glanced at the kneeling figure and said softly:

"I have already given Jia Zhenren dignity. If he disappoints me, he must repay with his life."

"My subordinate understands!"

Jia Zan bowed deeply and remained standing for a long time. The person before him had vanished, and only the woman's soft voice remained:
"I am unfamiliar with this place, but Liangchuan is the key—I need Senior Jia's guidance!"

"Don't dare!"

Jia Zan stood up and finally turned around. The Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him lowered their heads and dared not look at him. Only Ju Liangwang stared blankly at Jia Zan, looking at him in disbelief.

His longsword remained limply planted on the ground. He tried to raise it several times, but was forced back by the gaze of this real man. Jia Zan said coldly:

"The day the formation breaks will be the day we perish and our two families are scattered."

Ju Liangwang was a clever man; he understood the meaning of the person before him, and finally sighed softly, knelt down, and said:
"Since Liang Chuan has descended quietly, Mianchi will certainly not have noticed. If General Jiang withdraws, he will definitely go to Mianchi for help. If you can intercept this person in Huan County, you can gain several days of fighting opportunity!"

Jia Zan's expression was uncertain; he stood with his hands behind his back and said in a low voice:

"He's learned his lesson and is no longer easy to deal with!"

Li Quewan listened quietly, his hands behind his back subtly calculating. Though his expression remained impassive, a vague doubt arose in his heart:

'Jiang Fuwang... seems to be hiding something; I couldn't have predicted this person...'

……

The capital of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

The night was deep, and the crows cried mournfully. The palace seemed cold and desolate. The pale golden pavilions shimmered with a faint light, and in the depths of the palace, the lights still flickered, and music played intermittently.

In the dim light, one could vaguely see the characters on the plaque high above, fluttering as if outlined in metal:
【Kanping Hall】.

This palace was personally supervised by Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao and is located next to the Palace of Supreme Merit. In the past, he and his generals discussed the matter of conquering the enemy here, which was a great honor. Later, after the emperor's death, it became a place to imprison the deposed emperor and the ancestral temple. For several generations afterward, the Zhao emperors enjoyed themselves in this palace, which turned into a place for singing and dancing.

Amidst drifting clouds and ethereal melodies, a middle-aged man sat slumped on the golden throne at the head of the table.

This man had a rather bold appearance, but his eyes were glazed over, his expression was frivolous, and he was slumped down, which made him seem dissolute. He had already taken off his imposing clothes and was only wearing a white robe when he sat in the main seat.

It is the current Emperor Zhao, whose father is Qi Wan.

Since the fall of Emperor Zhaowu, the Great Zhao lost its imperial authority early on. The Three Offices of the Great Zhao were disbanded, and the imperial power collapsed. The golden "Shen Kui" placed on the main beam of the main hall of the Palace of Supreme Merit was personally presented by Zhao Lizong to Yuan Shi of the Great Mu Dharma Realm, thus creating the later "Golden Body Thunder Sound Leak-Free Dharma Form".

This Dharma Master went to live in the Sandalwood Grove, leaving only the Zhao Emperors, generation after generation, in this empty box, silently watching the song and dance before them.

Just like his father, Qi Wan.

The emperor, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, quietly observed everything before him.

"It's often said that Emperor Gong of Wei was pitiful and lamentable, but it would have been better if he had died a quick and painless death. At least then people would feel awe, respect, and even hatred when they mention the Great Wei and its emperor."

'Not a joke.'

In a hazy state of consciousness, the violent clanging of armor rang out, powerful and clear. The armored general strode into the hall, causing the palace ladies on either side to stumble and fall in panic, creating chaos.

Father Qi Wan remained drunk on the throne.

Xiang Liheng coldly strode across the wine and liquor in the hall, walked straight to the main seat, gave a forced bow, and said:

"Your Majesty, your ministers request your presence!"

The father's snoring was loud as thunder.

Xiang Liheng was not surprised. He reached out, picked up the golden cup placed beside the throne, and casually splashed it on his father Qi Wan's face, coldly saying:

"His Majesty."

Father Qi Wan suddenly woke up. He looked around in confusion and saw an iron hand grabbing his back and lifting him up like a chick.

Xiang Liheng was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, while the Emperor of Great Zhao and his father Qi Wan were only at the Qi Refining stage.

It's ridiculous. When his father, Qi Wan, was the crown prince, he completed the sixth cycle of cultivation at the age of twelve, but no one remembered him as the crown prince. It wasn't until he was sixteen that he cried to his father, Emperor Zhao Ai, Qi Wan, and this drunken father remembered the matter. He found a guard and had him barely extract a portion of the spiritual energy.

This is his father's family—the emperor who sat between the legs of a Buddhist monk.

Xiang Liheng forcibly lifted him up and threw him to the ground, only then did they hear the general's cold voice:
"Your Majesty! We will keep the Princes of the Purple Palace waiting for a long time."

"It's not time for court yet..."

Father Qi Wan then drunkenly put on his clothes and staggered outside. The light shining from the entrance of the main hall was so dazzling that he couldn't help but shake his head.

But soon it became dark. The imperial palace of the Great Zhao was always dark. Father Qi leaned weakly against the throne behind the curtain, feeling the chill that once again penetrated to his bones. After sitting for a while, he suddenly realized that no one in the entire hall was speaking.

He opened his eyes and found that the monks were hanging high, some chanting sutras with their hands clasped together, others drinking wine, while only a few cultivators knelt silently in the main hall.

"Your Majesty! The King of Wei...has captured Xiangxiang!"

The voice echoed in the hall, its tone so polite it sounded like good news. Father Qi, oblivious to the situation, shook his head and said:
"I...do not recall ever being granted the title of King of Wei..."

A woman's laughter came from the side. Zong Chang said:

"Your Majesty, it is the Prince of Wei of the Great Song Dynasty!"

Father Qi Wan seemed to have regained consciousness and said:

"Oh...it's what the leader said...Wei Nie..."

Zong Chang laughed even louder.

"it is good…"

The monk sitting to the side instantly darkened his expression, seemingly never expecting that this ant-like creature could disgust him at this moment. He glanced gloomily at the curtain and then said:

Where are Jiang and Lü?

The people below said:

"He has vanished without a trace. Master Lü Fu...it seems he has been suppressed by the King of Wei!"

These words were extremely powerful, silencing everyone. Jiang Tou Shou, enraged, laughed and said:

"There are at least two powerful Purple Mansion Formations; if they can't win, they can retreat. They're descendants of the Lü family, yet they've been suppressed like this! It's truly... a disgrace..."

He was about to speak when he caught Zong Chang's gaze, and ultimately shut his mouth, saying:
"Now the puppet Song army has split into three routes to attack various places, and Tuoba Qiye has been tied down—has there been any news from Lianhua Temple?"

The spot belonging to the Path of Good Joy was completely empty, and not only that, none of the other paths dared to raise their heads!

If the various monks had a strong interest in heading south during the Jianghuai conflict, now that the two major battles at Baixiang Valley and Xianhu have ended, their desire to head south has plummeted... let alone resist the cultivators from the south!

For Buddhist practitioners, the benefits are limited to a few things: either guiding others to practice or guiding the general public, or expanding the Buddhist community. At the very least, they can pick up a few promising students and bring them back with them.

What kind of place is Kolok?
'Going there and risking your life in vain, you can neither convert cultivators nor help the people of Luoyang to attain enlightenment. There's absolutely no chance of expanding the Buddhist community... Even if you encounter some promising talents, because they belong to those few aristocratic families, bringing even one back is as difficult as climbing to the heavens!'

Even Da Yudao, who was always enthusiastic about southern affairs, lowered his head and sneered. Lue Jin, who had gone south with Fa Chang in the past and had some camaraderie with Ming Hui, immediately said upon seeing this:
"I heard that Ye Hui has taken his men there. Shanledao suffered heavy losses back then and has not yet recovered its strength. I'm afraid they can't spare any more men to come!"

'Bullshit, his house is the best place to hide!'

Jiang Toushou was fairly friendly to him, and seeing him silently speaking up for Shan Ledao, he was too lazy to say much, only saying:

"We cannot stand idly by while things fall in Luoyang. Please, Your Excellency, go to Liangchuan first."

Slightly lowering his head, he said:
"With the loss of Jindi, things have been quite awkward for the Daozhong area these past few years, and they probably can't spare many people."

Jiang Toushou didn't answer him, but turned his head and said:
"Zanmen is not easy to lose, but the land outside Zanmen cannot be given up so easily. Each family should send some people—so I don't have to do the selection!"

Zong Chang sat upright to the side, somewhat gloating, and said:

"General Gongsun absolutely must go!"

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Bei, who had been standing in the corner as if he hadn't existed, suddenly changed his expression. He stepped forward, his eyes filled with displeasure, and said:
"Fellow Daoist Zong is sitting here so comfortably, while he sends us out to meet the enemy!"

The Gongsun family has no powerful backers. Gongsun Bei has always kept a low profile in Zhao Tingzhong's eyes. If it were a few years ago, Zong Chang would have asked him to go out and face the enemy, and he would have gritted his teeth and gone out. But what is the situation now?
'Li Zhouwei even killed Qi Lanyan! I have a long-standing grudge against him; if I go out rashly, I will surely lose my life!'

Ultimately, he was outmatched and only managed to retort to Zong Chang before turning to the head of the river and whispering:
"I'm afraid only a Grand Master can lead the team to stop this scoundrel!"

Without the Zhixuan Pavilion, Jiang Toushou was well aware of how weak Zhao Ting's cohesion was. Faced with Gongsun Bei's overtures, he nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying only:
"Since Tuoba Qiye is tied up, is there any news about Master Chiguang? Isn't he currently cultivating at Mianchi? Let's invite him to Liangchuan Mountain!"

"Then you should ask the Tuoba clan..."

After asking around, Jiang Tou felt a chill run down his spine.

'The Yang family chose the perfect time... Jiang Yan is in seclusion, and a surprise attack along the way could leave Luoyang vulnerable. Once they lose the initiative, how much strength will they have left to take it back...'

'It's just protecting Liangchuan Mountain!'

A dark cloud gradually settled over him.
"The Tao family has long been dissatisfied. If we were prepared, we could have used them to fight back. But now that they've been brought to our doorstep, they probably don't have the will to resist for long. But Boye... we can't afford to lose it!"

He understood this clearly. The Song Dynasty was gradually becoming stronger. Xiangxiang bordered both the Song and Shu kingdoms. If they captured Boye, there was still a possibility of joining forces with Shu. If Boye was also lost, the two sides could only coordinate their attacks in the future!
He understood why he was in this position; he stood up grimly, finally making up his mind, and said:
"I'll bring some men and go with you!"

Upon hearing this, even Zong Chang turned to look at him, while Gongsun Bei seemed relieved, letting out a long sigh of joy, and said:

"In this way, we will surely be able to stop this thief!"

Jiang Toushou's expression was grim. He glanced around at the various families in the hall, especially at the empty seats of the Compassion and Benevolence families, and gritted his teeth, saying:
"You think you can just hide from me by not coming? You wish! Do you really think my Great Sheep Mountain is just for show?"

All the cultivators below lowered their heads, unwilling to answer him. Jiang, the leader, grew even angrier and sneered:
"Just wait and see—if the White Qilin kills Maha and destroys the temple one day, don't blame me, Great Sheep Mountain, for not doing my best!"

……

The mountain range, originating from Yunyi, gradually flattens out, with temples scattered throughout and numerous tenant farmers. After passing through vast fields, the mountain range begins to undulate in the distance, its golden splendor enhanced by twinkling lights and ethereal white mist, resembling a fairyland. Above, three characters are inscribed:

Lotus Temple

This place has always been bright and ever-burning, with lights burning all day long. On the stone platform, eminent monks preach, creating a lively atmosphere. However, as dark clouds on the horizon continue to approach, this temple, which has been free from the ravages of war for many years, is now in disarray. People are whispering and chanting scriptures in deep concentration, creating an atmosphere of unease.

The monk on the high place was tall and thin, with his hands clasped together and his gaze fixed on the distance, watching the dark clouds that kept spreading across the sky, looking on with a sense of doubt and uncertainty.

Beside him stood a young novice monk, quite handsome and with an extraordinary bearing. Together they gazed south, occasionally catching glimpses of light peeking through the dark clouds, looking rather hesitant.

The tall, thin monk frowned and said:

"If it weren't for Master's seclusion and cultivation, how could these people be here swaggering around like this!"

The young novice said:

"Senior Brother, please calm down... I don't think they're after us. It's best if Tuoba Qiye is caught off guard..."

"Minghui...you're wrong, I'm afraid of Mingmeng!"

The head disciple of Lotus Temple, Mingzang, sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the clouds, seemingly ready to strike at any moment, and said:
"His cultivation level is still low, and his mortal energy is terrifying. If something happens to him, how can I explain it to my master!"

This young novice monk was none other than Minghui, who had escaped with his life in the great battle years ago!

Shanledao's methods were quite sophisticated; he now clearly appeared to have risen from the ashes, though his injuries from years ago were too severe, leaving him still looking very weak. Even with his changed appearance, his furtive, secretive demeanor remained. Hearing his senior brother's words, he inwardly smiled bitterly.
"Senior brother, even if Master weren't in seclusion, he'd still be standing here like us... If we flew out and bumped into Li Zhouwei, should we fight or not?"

He advised:
"The letter Master left before going into seclusion said not to cause trouble, for fear that others might use our schemes to interfere with Master... Senior Brother, you must not act rashly—I think they are just testing us, otherwise why would they send these two early-stage Purple Mansion Realm female cultivators?"

In the end, it was these words that persuaded Mingzang. His expression was complicated, and he could only focus on being ready to rescue at any time. Minghui, however, was looking around furtively. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly sensed something, calculated carefully, and was suddenly startled.

The senior brother next to them also turned around, only to see a golden light appear out of thin air in front of them, gradually condensing into a talisman with clear patterns and golden light.

'An order from Big Sheep Mountain!'

Even though both of them held those people in contempt, Mount Dayang was, after all, established by the people of the Sandalwood Forest, and was nominally a place of common respect for both Buddhist and Taoist practitioners. In particular, the order that came from the Buddhist monks could not be easily disobeyed unless it was personally given by someone of considerable power.

The two bowed together, and then they saw golden light gradually falling. Mingzang listened intently, and after a long while, he frowned and said:

"Luoxia?!"

Minghui's expression changed even faster, and she was terrified—this was an order to send her senior brother Mingzang to Luoyang!

Mingzang is no ordinary person! As the chief disciple of Lotus Temple, he has been through six lifetimes and is preparing to break through to the seventh lifetime. As the chief disciple of Lotus Temple, in principle, Dayang Mountain would not directly mobilize him or disturb his cultivation. Instead, he would be invited to the mountain for a detailed discussion!

He exclaimed in horror:
"They did this intentionally while Master was away!"

Mingzang's gaze darkened, and he remained silent for a moment. Minghui, who had been relaxed and carefree just moments before, instantly realized something:

'Since they're attacking Zhao, the King of Wei must be here. Since he's nowhere to be seen, he's most likely gone to Luoyang!'

If Jinlian hadn't gone into seclusion, there would naturally have been room for maneuver. But just as the north couldn't have guessed that the Song Dynasty would launch a northern expedition at this time, Jinlian also couldn't have imagined that Li Zhouwei would attack Luoyang at this time—naturally, he was using this time to perfect his Dharma body!

Minghui froze for a moment, then her gaze finally shifted to her senior brother, and she secretly grieved:

'Senior brother… the lives of everyone in our temple are in your hands!'