Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1323 Thoughts
The light of true qi surged forth, illuminating the man's simple and unadorned face, making his eyes sparkle. Yang Ruiyi composed himself, took a step back, and as if surging into boundless expansive qi, darkness descended, and the bronze palace slammed shut, isolating everything from the outside world.

The golden scroll unfurled with a whoosh, revealing flowing platinum characters, accompanied by a grand and majestic sound.

"The True Yang of Xiuwu has issued an edict... I, having inherited military achievements, received the title of Immortal Lord, and established the Mysterious Chamber. I am obligated to serve you, and amidst the clash of swords and spears, you are truly my divine minister. Wei is my ally, and through my might and virtue, I have quelled rebellion and brought order... Now, relying on divine favor, I dare to employ divine punishment, and hereby issue this proclamation as a sign... I hereby order the use of the Three Rivers and Two Lands... to coordinate the orthodox and unorthodox methods, and to unite as one..."

Yang Ruiyi listened respectfully, accepted the order, and sighed inwardly.

'Indeed…indeed…'

This imperial edict from the Song emperor didn't appoint any generals or bestow any magical treasures; it simply meant one thing—that Yang Ruiyi be stationed in the Three Rivers region, mobilize his supernatural powers, and provide full assistance.

When Yang Zhuo moved the capital, Yang Ruiyi was deeply moved. This current situation, though sudden, was entirely predictable. What could he do but obey? The general bowed and said:

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

Li Zhouwei said:

"Don't dare."

Yang Ruiyi's support was a crucial condition for Li Zhouwei's northern campaign. The King of Wei nodded slightly, without delay, and said:

"The Lotus Temple has been quite peaceful these past few years, and its chief disciple is engaged in a major battle in Jin. At the moment, it has no time to attend to other matters. I would like to ask the general to lead his men a hundred miles to the east to garrison and provide support for us."

This did not surprise Yang Ruiyi. If Luoyang is now the foothold of the Great Song in the north, this place is rather awkward. To the north lies the Badger County of Dalingchuan, where various Buddhist sects are fighting, to the west lies the Guanzhong Plain in the heart of the Great Zhao, and to the south lies the Tangdao Mountain of the Great Song. At present, the only place that can be reached is the northeast.

'Passing north of Lianhua Temple, heading northeast along the Taihang Mountains…'

Li Zhouwei was well aware of the potential dangers of being intercepted by Lotus Temple and Da Mu Fajie, which would block those heading north. Without hesitation, he left Yang Ruiyi to guard the area.
Yang Ruiyi understood his meaning and said:
"We can put Fellow Daoist Cheng of Jianghuai aside for now, and I will guard the rear for the King of Wei."

Li Zhouwei's gaze flickered slightly as he looked up at him and said:
"First, we'll travel north along the Taihang Mountains, passing through various prefectures. Below the Xiang Mountains are the prefectures of Dangyin and Guangping. If we conquer them, we can continue north to reach [Wei Prefecture]..."

His words echoed throughout the underworld. Upon hearing the words "Wei Commandery," Yang Ruiyi's expression subtly changed. He paused very slightly, and a dark map had already been unfolded between them. He immediately said:

“East of Wei Commandery, around Gu Commandery, starting from Juancheng, to the foot of Dayang Mountain in the Dongping Desert of ancient Qi, is the last sacred land of Northern Zhao. When the Zhao emperor attacked all the way to this place, he set up a road called the Dongyan Road.”

He whispered:

“The Dongyan Road back then was much larger than it is now. Later, the Yan Kingdom recovered and prospered again with the Zhongxuan Emperor’s Edict, which was a collaboration between Emperor Xuan of Yan and the Cibei Dao. They invaded the south several times, so the border was pushed from Bazhou to Liaocheng. It was not until the Dayu Dao established itself in the Dongping Desert that the situation eased.”

Yang Ruiyi gave a brief explanation, saying:

"King Wei...what territory do you wish to seize?"

Before Li Zhouwei could reply, he had already raised his head, his expression solemn:
"The states of Yan and Zhao seem to be at peace, but upon closer examination... the long border is not under the control of the Great Zhao; the Jin region is blocked by the Great Mu Fajie; in the north of Qi and Yan, there are the Da Yu Dao and Gao family; and in the Central Plains, there are the Gu Jun aristocratic families..."

"Wei Commandery is already within sight of Yan State. If the King of Wei were to advance north from Wei Commandery, he would be cutting through Northern Zhao and standing between the two states, which is a grave taboo... Moreover, these are matters of great importance..."

Li Zhouwei smiled and said:
"General, you are overthinking it. While it is certainly impressive to break through the Northern Zhao, it is not the right time to conquer Wei County."

Li Zhouwei was also a veteran of countless battles, so how could he have fought his way to the area between Yan and Zhao, only to find himself trapped in the cracks between the Compassionate Ones, the Great Desires, and the Gu County? Although he disdained the Yan Xiu, he did not underestimate them—the figure of that woman with perfected supernatural powers still flickered in his mind.

'Murong Weidian is indeed the foremost immortal in the Yan Kingdom, extremely capable. His compassionate path is deeply hidden; now is definitely not the time to fight them.'

He said softly:

"I will only take Dangyin and Guangping counties, then turn east and attack Juancheng, the gateway city."

Yang Ruiyi certainly had her concerns and didn't want to cause trouble, but Li Zhouwei also had his own concerns. The many changes in the world made him very worried.

'One Luoxia is not enough. Whether it's accumulating momentum or plundering resources to achieve the Mingyang dynasty's goals, we must go further... But as Yang Ruiyi said, the rest are all part of the Great Dao's lineage...'

The disorganized state of Northern Zhao stemmed from the division among various powers, which once greatly helped him maneuver within them. However, as he truly ventured deeper into the north, everything changed.

The only place that could be considered easy to seize, Luoyang, has already been divided up. Even though Li Zhouwei has already established his power, the remaining forces, whether it be the Great Desire Path, the Compassion Path, or even the White Horse Temple and Dayang Mountain, will never bow down to him. Li Zhouwei cannot destroy mountains and temples in front of the Dharma Minister. The Song people's help is always limited, and the Yang family has already shown their intention to withdraw. Even if Li Zhouwei can suppress the enemy chieftain, he will be all alone. How can he possibly defend the four borders?
In this light, the extremely complex background of the Gu County aristocratic family becomes crucial!

'Although Gu County is deeply entrenched, it has submitted to various dynasties and served the emperors. Ultimately, it is a larger Luoyang aristocratic family. Since the Tao family can help me, they will surely bow down when the time comes…'

If Li Zhouwei wants to establish himself in the Central Plains, he must not fall into a situation where he cannot stand alone. He also cannot conjure up so many Purple Mansions out of thin air. The support of these great families represents the support of the Northern Immortal Path, and he must not let it go.

It was precisely for this reason that he released Jiang and Lü during the Battle of Luoyang.

"One is Gu County, and the other is the Gao family. These two are forces we can win over. Once we secure control over the Eastern Yanzhou region, we'll have the power to join the Song Dynasty in controlling the Lotus Temple and seizing most of Zhao State's territory outside the Great Wall. Only with the Jianghuai region as our backing can we truly achieve stability!"

'In this process, the Seven Phases cannot stand idly by. Once they have a free hand, they will inevitably intervene. Every minute and second is extremely precious now, and we cannot afford to be negligent.'

Li Zhouwei was reluctant to return to Wangyue Lake, precisely because he understood that this opportunity was fleeting.

'not to mention…'

He lowered his head and looked at the dark map spread out on the table, with the winding river beneath the two purplish-black characters for "Juancheng".

Jishui.

'Perfectly situated, on the Ji River…'

……

The sky was shimmering with golden light, and the world was bathed in a warm glow. Although the sun was not visible, layers of soft light poured down, enveloping the entire sky in a gentle golden hue, a sight to behold.

Bathed in this soft light, the mountains of varying sizes rise and fall on the ground, and the shimmering mist permeates the mountains. Faintly visible are pale blue steps winding through the mountains, reaching straight up into the clouds.

At the highest peak stands a vast Taoist platform, with steps topped by two mysterious stone tablets, one on the left and one on the right, exuding a profound and noble aura and ethereal beauty.

One book:
【Today's Control of Erxuan Dao】

Another book:
[Reinventing the Azure Sky]

A green plaque hangs in the sky:

【Xuan Yuan You Yi】

Strands of true fire followed the path and gathered before the mountain. The man in golden robes ascended the steps, bowed deeply before the blue plaque, and performed the nine-kowtow ceremony before hearing him speak:

"Under the Jin-Yi rail, Tianque Zhang Jiaoyi."

This person was none other than Tian Que!
He traveled from the Great Ling Heaven, weary from his journey, seemingly without a moment's rest, and arrived at this grotto-heaven. Only then did his surging divine power subside and return to calm.

His voice echoed in the ethereal white mist, resounding for a while. The character 'gold' flickered in the mysterious trace of [Re-transformation of Azure Gold Heaven]. Tian Que performed another grand ceremony and then entered the Mysterious Platform.

The mountain and river features are still visible on this platform, with faint traces of undulating bluestone. Several pine trees have been planted there, their needles shimmering, golden and snowy, whistling in the mountain wind.

The green steps wind upwards, shrouded in white mist, and one after another, the Daoist altars begin to appear, their colors varying in different shades of blue, red, gold, or white.

Tian Que stepped in, glanced around, and the silence on the platform immediately broke. The person above could no longer contain himself, and his voice was deep:
"Tianque..."

Tian Que's expression flickered slightly, and he said softly:

"The True Lord has visited Dalingchuan."

In an instant, all the energy in the mountain condensed, and supernatural powers alternated. After a moment of silence, as if the rumors had been confirmed, someone said:

"I heard that Judge Yang has also made a move, and there are rain clouds gathering in the East China Sea. I'm afraid..."

In an instant, the mountain was filled with turbulent winds and clouds. A golden light swept in, traversing the air and carrying mist as it descended the steps. This caused all those with supernatural powers to rise from their seats and respectfully say:

"Greetings, Daozi!"

But in the air was a golden body, shimmering with mysterious light, draped in flowing golden robes. Even with a blank face, it still exuded an undeniable aura. It paused in mid-air, looked at Tian Que, and said softly:
"Jiao Yi, how is the King of Wei?"

Tian Que's expression was complex. Finally, he bowed deeply and said respectfully:
"The Four Supernatural Powers."

Upon hearing this, many supernatural beings were speechless, but the golden-bodied one was not surprised. Instead, his tone was tinged with regret as he said:
"Is he really Bai Qilin—what do you think of his strength?"

Tian Que pondered for a moment and said:

“He has already achieved the ‘Emperor Guanyuan’ level, possessing the unique style of the Mingyang Emperor, and has many spiritual treasures. If he were to fight me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to defeat him easily.”

The blank face of the golden-bodied figure stared at him for a moment, then said softly:
"If this drags on, you might not be his match."

Tian Que hesitated, then turned away, his voice growing softer:
"His supernatural powers have been fully developed, and he has surpassed the Purple Realm too early, which has put us in a difficult position."

Tianque replied:

"With such a golden opportunity, he must first take the Central Plains... The Dharma Image of Lotus Temple has not appeared for a long time, so he will not disturb him. Li Zhouwei is ambitious and will not give up without testing Gu County."

The golden statue paused slightly before replying.
"The situation is probably different now than before."

These words silenced the mountain, all eyes fixed on the Daoist's physical form, their supernatural powers frozen as they listened to his soft, ethereal voice:
"Tianxia is closer to becoming a Golden Immortal."

These words were so powerful that they seemed to freeze the wind in the mountains. Even those inside the cave felt a chill run down their spines, unable to speak. Even Tian Que lowered his head, staring at the ground, and remained silent.

"Actually, thinking about it, it's not surprising..."

But the figure outside only paced slowly, its blank face gazing at the sky:

"Back then, when the Heavenly Dao was in its primordial state, those who were born with Dao embryos were not yet considered first-rate in the world. There were still Xuanzhu Immortal Lords above them. Then came the pursuit of the Dao, the proof of the Dao, and finally, when there was no further progress, they all perished and left this world..."

"Later, there was no more Heavenly Dao. Later generations only had the substance of Immortal Lords, but not the name of Immortal Lords. So the immortals took the meaning of Great Luo Perfection from the likes of Liangzhi and Taihua, and were called Golden Immortals. They were also people who listened to the Dao in front of the Venerable One and witnessed the mystery. They also attained the fruit position in vain. It is not surprising that this day will come."

He lowered his head, a hint of sadness in his voice:
"I'm afraid... the day Mingyang dies will be the day he ascends to the throne."

Therefore, the meaning behind his words became ambiguous.

"Li Zhouwei's matter will likely require careful consideration from many people."

Only then did they hear an aged voice from within the mist, saying bitterly:

"It's one thing to not be surprised, but it's quite another to actually succeed. Back then, at least that one followed the Azure Profound Path and was subject to constraints, not interfering in the heavens. Now... now..."

But then another voice of advice was heard:
"While the lord is indeed domineering... his detachment is still a profound understanding of the Dao, at least not a mere illusion... Xue Linqing said that Emperor Wei is 'conquering the world and the universe,' and that he aspires to be an Immortal Emperor... Why is there no one in the world willing to help him? He is 'walking on the edge of danger,' and if one day he truly escapes... it won't just be a new Dao embryo's journey halted; what terrifying consequences will follow..."

But the mountains were silent, seemingly desolate, and everyone felt uneasy. Then, suddenly, the mountain spirits spoke, saying:
"It might not be wise to let him cultivate too quickly!"

He did not name names, but all the cultivators in the mountain understood his meaning, and whispers arose among them:
"This white Qilin—if it were to truly unleash its fury, it would be far more than just someone who has cultivated too quickly. I think the people of the world already have the desire to eliminate it."

"But he's already passed the Purple Realm! What if... he really succeeds? Tianxia wouldn't place the Golden Immortal opportunity on him. What's the point of eliminating him or not? He'll achieve enlightenment sooner or later anyway, and having another True Lord Mingyang... should actually be a good thing..."

"How could Tianxia's divine might have been displayed unintentionally?"

A whisper echoed across the sky, finally causing the golden statue to turn around:
"There's no need to dwell on this matter!"

His tone suddenly turned icy:
"[Emperor Mingyang will be executed], this is the decree you received from the immortals, whispered and personally bestowed by the patriarch, how could it be wrong! In this world... anyone who wants to get rid of Li Zhouwei must first get past me, Jin Yi."

"As for practicing too quickly."

He stepped forward, his faceless features scanning his surroundings, and said:
"Whether it's three supernatural powers or four supernatural powers, it's essentially the same. Li Zhouwei isn't stupid; how could he not be able to control the situation properly?"

All the cultivators responded in unison, and then listened to the Daoist's instructions:

"You need not worry too much about the cultivation process. Just keep an eye on the moves. Zhong Qian has been using his supernatural powers for some time now. Although we have prepared medicine for him and you don't need to worry about the path, it shouldn't be this slow... If he misses the appointed time, it will be beyond your ability to bear the consequences."