Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1322 The Opportunity for Military Conquest
Torrential rain.

Above the mountains and rivers, streams flowed freely, and one after another, divine powers manifested, rushing in all directions. Meanwhile, the enormous golden body was faintly projected into reality, and the colors on the horizon gradually drew closer.

These colorful lights hang in the sky, sometimes accompanied by bursts of singing and laughter, sometimes by golden light like a waterfall and lotus blossoms all over the ground, sometimes by rolling glass and colorful lights, coming from all directions, yet colliding with a loud crash in the sky, clearly separating into distinct parts.

All paths to Buddhahood!

"Empty pivot!"

Amidst the countless interplay of colorful lights, the black-robed monk stood with his two hands joined together in front of him, and his other hand respectfully held to his chest, cradling that single point of shimmering gold, his expression solemn.

But the shouts from the sky were like thunder:
"Kong Shu! You already have a great opportunity! Why compete with us... why..."

"Boom!"

Within the vast emptiness, the struggle between the Dharma forms caused the earth to collide continuously, emitting profound and mysterious sounds that resonated throughout the heavens and the earth, as if a fiery prison were shattering, clear and melodious.

But then they heard the black-robed monk's calm yet firm voice:

"How can something of ancient cultivation be tainted by your desires!"

The already ravaged void trembled once more, and the spiritual energy of the entire Jin region surged and fluctuated, transforming into countless clouds and winds, which were blocked by the majestic Taihang Mountains to the east.

"Boom!"

The colorful light illuminated the heavens and the earth, revealing the supernatural power not far away.

The leader, a rather elderly man, stroked his beard and smiled as he greeted the two as they emerged from the cave. He bowed respectfully from afar, and the exceptionally beautiful woman quickly returned the bow, saying:

"Greetings, Senior Chunshuo! I am deeply grateful for your help in the cave... I will remember it forever."

"No need!"

Chunshuo's smile deepened:
"Even without this old fellow, there were noble figures watching over us; it was just a coincidence."

Li Quewan and his sister were led forward by him. They saw the sky shimmering and golden light flowing above the mountain peak. Their King Wei and Tian Huo were already waiting not far away. There was also a person standing to one side, with flames raging around him. It was Tantai Jin who had come to greet them.

Li Jiangqian, who was standing to the side, raised his head and looked at Li Zhouwei. He didn't say anything, but everything was understood without being spoken.

'My father is right here; he must see things far more clearly than I do… The schemes involved… are truly too deep…'

His gaze lowered slightly, while Tian Huo glanced at Li Jiangqian, listening to Li Zhouwei say:

"We are waiting inside; are there any battles taking place outside?"

Tantai Jin replied:
"The situation was uneventful... There was a battle in Yuyang, and Western Shu took a piece or two of the land. Fortunately, it did not shake the foundation, and they retreated early on."

Li Zhouwei raised his eyebrows slightly.

Li Zhouwei had anticipated that there would be no major battle in Luoyang. After all, the Yin Si and the Yang family had no intention of advancing, and the supernatural powers left behind in Luoyang were more than sufficient. The Northern Shi had all been drawn to Dalingchuan. With Ye Hui and Chang Yun there, there was no chance of any trouble.

'Since Qingji has not come, they should naturally send troops to probe the lake... or perhaps take a piece or two from the Song Dynasty...'

After all, there are many powerful cultivators in Western Shu, and almost all of the Song Dynasty's top military forces are gathered in Dalingchuan. This is the time to make a difference...

Tian Huo, standing to the side, smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but that man surnamed Qing has been in seclusion ever since the great defeat at Guyan. He is seeking the help of the Great Master, but there is still no definite answer! This is not his achievement."

Upon hearing this, Li Que shook his head silently, while the young man in crimson robes smiled and said:

"I see—it's really not easy that Western Shu can finally achieve some merit while our General Qing is away."

Tian Huo laughed heartily without any restraint. After pausing for a while, he said:

"King Wei has other plans, so I will not trouble you any further."

Li Zhouwei smiled and said:
"Thank you, senior."

The two exchanged a smile, and then the two cultivators from the Golden Dao lineage rode away on the wind. Li Jiangqian quickly stepped forward and briefly explained what had happened between them:

"Father, this time the elders intervened, and my sister seized the spiritual treasure, which conveniently dispelled all those supernatural powers. We went along the palace and reaped a great harvest..."

Upon hearing Li Qinghong's news, a smile flashed in Li Zhouwei's eyes. His expression remained quite calm as he said:
“Que Wan”.

"Junior is here."

Li Zhouwei whispered:

"You have a spiritual treasure protecting you, so set off immediately for the lake. Stay there and refine the spiritual treasure and distribute the spiritual items... Let your great-uncle come out of seclusion, preferably across the river, and have the others head north to Tangdao Mountain to cultivate."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian showed a clear understanding, and Li Quewan nodded secretly, replying:
"Junior understands!"

A cold smile finally appeared in the King of Wei's golden eyes. He said:

"This time... I caught the Great Desire Path red-handed. That so-called Dharma Protector Maha Renshijia, I heard he was a capable henchman of Tian Langzhi, underestimated me too much, and being in the cave heaven, he couldn't guide the Buddha to the Pure Land, so I destroyed his Dharma body... If it weren't for Xiao Disa protecting his true spirit, he would have perished in the cave heaven immediately!"

Ren Shijia was also a renowned Buddhist master, but he unfortunately encountered Li Zhouwei. Not only did he lose his skills in the cave, but his small Buddhist cultivation was also broken by the "Red Arrow," so naturally he did not have a good ending.

He took a storage bag from his sleeve and tossed it into Li Quewan's hand, then changed the subject:
"Fortunately, he lost a lot of his wealth. I didn't do anything big in the cave. I just took a few supplies back with me. You can take them back with you."

Li Quewan respectfully agreed and then took his leave. Li Jiangqian then whispered:

"Father...we are now..."

"Wait."

Li Zhouwei raised his head and watched as the white light in the void rapidly approached, manifesting before him and instantly transforming into a man carrying a sword. His face was thin, but his eyes were bright. It was Tao Shitao!
Before he could speak, the King of Wei had already revealed something in his hand.

This object, no more than a hand's height, was a small building like white jade, with carved railings and jade steps, exquisitely beautiful, with hazy colors and fluttering curtains.

【The White Curtain of Old Dreams】!
“I have already taken away the Tao family’s possessions for you.”

The clan's most treasured possession, lost for many years, reappeared before his eyes. Tao Shitao's face flushed slightly for a moment. Before he could marvel at the other party's extraordinary abilities, he subconsciously raised his hands, but instead of taking it, he bowed and said:
"Thank you...King Wei!"

Li Zhouwei accepted the bow with composure and said:
"Now... both the [White Curtain Old Dream Pavilion] and the [Lacquer Cloud Branch] are in your hands, two supreme treasures of the Three Yin..."

"Tao Shitao!"

The King of Wei turned his head and stared at him:
"I entrust you with guarding Luoyang; you must not lose it!"

Tao Shitao raised his head for a moment and nodded solemnly:

"Shi Tao accepts the order."

……

The void was dark and gloomy, the bronze palace gates were tightly closed, and the light floated gently in the swirling energy. Only after a very long time could a faint sound be heard.

"crunch..."

Rays of light continued to travel along the boundary between the void and the mortal world. Within the collapsing cave, pink lotus-like light soared into the sky, a golden body burst forth from the earth, and the mountains and forests wept with joy, emitting soft sounds.

'The Way of Compassion.'

Sima Yuanli waited for a long time, his heart growing increasingly impatient. Looking at the ever-increasing radiance, his heart sank:
'I don't know what happened...it seems like a fight broke out on the river too...'

After being rescued by Li Zhouwei, Sima Yuanli naturally fled far away and hid in a corner of Dalingchuan for a while. When the sky collapsed and the earth cracked, he finally found a gap to emerge. But as soon as he stepped out of the cave, the radiant beauty of the female water in the vast void shocked him.

'Female Water? Murong Weidian has fallen?'

But with just one glance, Sima Yuanli immediately sensed something was wrong:

'The vast emptiness is like a stream valley, its pure essence flowing gently... How could such a phenomenon be created by supernatural powers!'

He was filled with terror and dared not think too much. He followed after it and only saw the swirling energy from afar. He waited for a long time before the main hall vanished like smoke, leaving only the man in black standing alone in the same spot.

Yang Ruiyi.

Sima Yuanli hurriedly stepped forward, gently raised his head, and his eyes froze.

Although General Yang did not consider himself a genius, he was usually as steady as Mount Tai. But now he seemed to have completely lost his composure. His face was paler than usual, and he stood there dejectedly with a gloomy expression.

"General...General?"

Sima Yuanli called out twice before waking the person in front of him. Yang Ruiyi raised her eyelids, saw the questioning look on his face, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Master Xiao... has fallen."

When Xiao Chuting was mentioned again, Yang Ruiyi's words became somewhat ambiguous, as if it were out of respect or taboo. He sighed softly and stepped forward.

Sima Yuanli sensed a unique charm in it, his heart pounding with uncertainty, yet he couldn't grasp its meaning at all. He could only follow closely behind the other person, saying:
"Just now when I came out of the cave, I saw Lord Han... She said... there was thunder."

These words made Yang Ruiyi turn to the side, open her mouth, then swallow her words, and lean forward, saying:
"This is not a matter of human affairs, and it is not for you or me to presume to discuss."

Sima Yuanli's heart sank, and he quickly lowered his head, repeatedly apologizing. He said no more and hurriedly followed, stepping out of the void. He saw that there was still light in the mountains and forests, and a rainbow was floating in the sky. A person was standing at the head of the group.

This person, who wields the bright sun, possesses extraordinary supernatural powers. Standing there, he gathers all the colors in the sky, and the Chongyang star between his brows flickers faintly, making him appear like a celestial being.

"So it was the King of Wei!"

Yang Ruiyi suddenly bumped into him, and even now, her eyes still held a mixture of amazement and disbelief. She whispered:

"King Wei's supernatural ability was truly a stroke of genius!"

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes flickered slightly as he replied:

"General, you flatter me. It was only a small contribution."

He wasn't being modest; when the matter of Dalingchuan was brought up, he actually had little interest in it.

While the power struggle in the Purple Mansion of Dalingchuan was full of ups and downs, he also played a decisive role, joining forces with Chi Buzhi to scheme against Changxiao, and Su Yan ultimately fell into his hands, seizing the Qixiang.

But no one expected the situation to develop to that point. After seeing the True Lords who had made repeated moves, the great battle seemed pale in comparison. What truly reflected in his heart, what made him wary and scrutinize, was the series of supreme positions that traversed the heavens and earth.

Seeing him gently shake his head, Yang Ruiyi seemed to understand as well, gave him a deep look, and said:
"I wonder... if the King of Wei has any other important matters to discuss?"

To his surprise, the King of Wei nodded quite naturally.

Yang Ruiyi was taken aback, and then saw Li Zhouwei say:
"I have come to borrow men from the General."

"Borrow someone?"

Yang Ruiyi paused, then subconsciously said:

"The fall of Dalingchuan and the great battle of supernatural powers have left many of you either wounded or still reeling from the shock..."

But he stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he listened to Li Zhouwei say:

"The General is right."

The King of Wei stepped forward and said:
"In the Dalingchuan, Tuoba Ci died at the Dragon's Mouth, and the profound Qi soared to the sky. Tuoba Qiye must have been grieving and looked north. The northern cultivators fought fiercely for spiritual treasures, and even Shan Yin, Zhuo Kui and his ilk used all their killing moves to seize resources without mercy. The other True Persons and their subordinates mostly fought in the cave heavens and were injured."

His golden eyes were calm yet fierce, gazing at the streaks of light that lit up the sky:

"The various Mahas seized the golden land, risking their lives in the process. Now that the Daling River has collapsed and Faxiang has intervened, they cannot spare any attention. Even if the outcome can be determined in a moment or two, they will inevitably suffer further injuries. Meanwhile, the various Shakya are fighting beside the Daotong, and Chiguang and Qianyan cannot spare their attention to go out."

Li Zhouwei lingered, and Tian Huo already knew what he was thinking—how could the dignified son of Changhuai, the great general of Western Shu who held sway over a region, allow others to know his whereabouts so easily? Li Zhouwei specifically asked him, and he specifically mentioned that Qingji was in seclusion, precisely to relieve Li Zhouwei of his worries!
"General, this is a golden opportunity. We can seize Xiangyu and take Qilu. With our troops approaching Yan territory, we cannot let this opportunity slip by."

Yang Ruiyi understood immediately, and a look of shock appeared on his face:

'He's waiting for me here... He didn't even go back to the lake to rest, he wants to go all out...'

The general, however, felt little excitement. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head and said:
"I'm afraid we'll have to wait for His Majesty's order!"

There's no other reason than that the profits weren't substantial enough.

The Great Song Dynasty has recovered its lost territories, reclaimed the Jianghuai region, and even captured Luoyang. What are those sects to the north? Lotus Temple and Xiuyue!

The Song Dynasty would naturally not touch Xiu Da, and if Jianghuai continued northward, the only option was Lianhua Temple... That was one of the Seven Ministers, an extremely tough nut to crack. Back then, taking Luoyang allowed the relocation of powerful families, but what about Lianhua Temple? Even if they managed to seize some land from this great lineage, it wouldn't amount to much.

The only way out is to head northeast from Luoxia and seize the Central Plains behind Lotus Temple, which was never part of the former Ning Kingdom's territory...

'They're almost at Baima Temple and Gujun! How much turmoil will they stir up?'

For Yang Ruiyi, this was a job that would offend people, but it didn't bring any benefits, so naturally she wasn't very interested.

But the King of Wei before him was not surprised. He simply gazed at Yang Ruiyi, a slow smile appearing on his lips, and said:

"Order?"

"Exactly..."

Whether Li Zhouwei was truly a white Qilin, or a white Qilin with four supernatural powers, this seemingly casual rhetorical question immediately made Yang Ruiyi take it seriously. He replied:
"Yang is in charge of all the cultivators. His duties are in the Jianghuai region. He can only cross the river to the north, and he cannot do so without the emperor's order."

The King of Wei simply chuckled and shook his head, saying:
"Then please wait a moment, General."

Yang Ruiyi quickly raised his head, as if he had realized something. Then he turned his head to the south and saw that the heavy aura carrying a bright white light spread out and manifested in the air.

It was a golden-based, white-patterned, radiant imperial decree of true qi!