Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1332 Second Assistant
The sky was still dark when Qiao Wenliu and Ye Hui huddled together and talked for a while, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. Before they knew it, quite some time had passed, and the situation seemed increasingly unclear.

"Both Yan and Gu County are formidable enemies. We are weak. If the King of Wei wants to advance, he will be fighting against two powerful enemies while being weak himself, which is extremely difficult..."

Ye Hui frowned, and before he could say anything more, Qiao Wenliu suddenly raised his head, his eyes sparkling with light, connecting with the great formation, and a scene appeared: a supernatural being came from outside the county, looking hurried, driving a blue carriage.

"Sima Yuanli has arrived!"

Ye Hui chuckled, but Qiao Wenliu remained uninterested.

Ye Hui gave him a glimpse into the South's strength, but no matter how he assessed it, it was still a different story. Even resisting the Yan state was difficult, let alone conquering Gu County. With his life and fortune on the front lines, he naturally became suspicious.

'I have sincerely offered my assistance; does the King of Wei not believe me...?'

Upon discovering that the person who arrived was merely a second-level "Zhengmu," he became even less inclined to greet him personally. Instead, he activated a formation and sent someone to welcome him.

This Master Qinghu, however, acted quite naturally, arriving at the main hall in an instant. Stepping inside, upon seeing Ye Hui, his expression turned slightly colder, but they exchanged greetings and Daoist titles with Master Qiao. Not daring to delay, he simply said:
"Two real people! Great news!"

"Oh?"

Qiao Wenliu rarely raised his eyelids, his eyes fixed on him, while Ye Hui looked on with great interest. Sima Yuanli smiled and said:
"Master Chang Yun is incredibly powerful. He attacked unexpectedly, causing the garrison of the Guangping prefecture to abandon their formation and flee. Guangping has been captured! He even managed to subdue that rogue cultivator in the city... Now Master Yu and Master Liu have arrived, and the rear is secure!"

He sighed and said:
"Unfortunately, this commotion was too great, and Wei Commandery was captured by the Yan general, Liang Jushi..."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Qiao Wenliu's eyes.

Sima Yuanli was new to the area and unaware of the situation, but how could this local expert not know? The formidable Guangping Formation was comparable to the passes of Yun and Pu, and that so-called "True Man" was not the King of Wei, so how could he have acted so quickly? He understood immediately after a quick mental calculation.

"Gujun has clearly abandoned Guangping, handing over this strategic pass to us, leaving us to the north to confront the Yan Kingdom, preventing us from supporting each other from both ends... If it weren't for King Wei's preemptive plan, and Xun Tiao, who was guarding that place and was a kind man who didn't want this sacred land to become a Buddhist barbaric territory, abandoning the city beforehand, Guangping would have had a long battle to fight!"

So he sneered and said:
"That bunch of smug, self-righteous people from Gujun have always been hypocritical. Weijun has been colluding with the north for many years, so losing it is no big deal. But Guangping and the others dare not easily give it up. If it falls into our hands, and one day we lose to Yan, and the hundreds of thousands of people in the city believe in the truth, who will bear the consequences? Fellow Daoist Qinghu is too smug!"

Sima Yuanli was no fool. After a quick calculation, he understood the current situation. His smile faded, replaced by a more cautious expression. He then heard Ye Hui rise, bow, and say:

"King Wei!"

Sure enough, a burst of light shone into the main hall, and the young man in black robes stepped in. His golden eyes were bright, like Mount Taishi, suppressing all directions and calming the restless atmosphere in the main hall.

Upon seeing him appear, Sima Yuanli breathed a slight sigh of relief, bowed, and transmitted his supernatural powers:
"Reporting to King Wei, His Majesty has mobilized troops, dispatching Master Lin to lead the Zhuchixuan army northward, from the Jianghuai region, up the route from the General's encampment, directly to Juancheng..."

'Wei Ting's forces... also led by Master Zhaojing, will arrive in Dangyin soon.'

The convergence of these two forces involved almost the entire southern region, leaving only Chen Yin, Ning Wan, Ting Lan, and a small group of guards to watch over the area, demonstrating their intentions.

Once these two armies enter Dangyin together, the Yan Kingdom will be unable to spare any resources. Even if Li Zhouwei is not present, the chances of holding this place are extremely high!

'It's a pity... If a great master were leading the charge, not only would they be able to defend this place, but they could also launch a counterattack on Gu County without any problem.'

The Song court still had that one swordsman they hadn't mobilized. If he could go north with Li Zhouwei, the passes of Yun and Pu would be easily breached...

'Unfortunately, the Jianghuai region is vulnerable. This sword immortal, as the biggest trump card guarding the Jianghuai region and a key pawn who has even reached a tacit understanding with multiple forces, is unlikely to go north…'

Li Zhouwei's thoughts were racing. Sima Yuanli paused for a moment and said:

'In the south… there were many complaints, and some even said that the King of Wei was too aggressive in his military campaigns… so the emperor banished him to the southern frontier.'

The King of Wei nodded, understanding the situation perfectly.

Clearly, this second wave of reinforcements was a new order from the Song Emperor, once again bypassing the Yang family, inevitably causing them some confusion and dissatisfaction. He didn't say much, but asked:

Has Master Liu arrived yet?

Sima Yuanli nodded.

"He and Master Yu were waiting outside."

Li Zhouwei felt a little relieved, turned to look at Qiao Wenliu, and quietly said:
"Master Qiao, please wait a moment. The rest of you should leave first."

In an instant, all supernatural powers dissipated, and the palace doors slammed shut. Qiao Wenliu was slightly taken aback, then bowed and said:

"King Wei, what is this...?"

The young man flicked his robe and sat upright in the main seat, smiling as he looked at him and said:
"At this critical juncture, it would be appropriate to leave Master Qiao to guard Juancheng. However, considering Master Qiao's earnest intentions yesterday, and since you have the ambition to make a name for yourself, would you be willing to travel east?"

"Eastward?"

Qiao Wenliu's expression froze for a moment, several thoughts surging into his mind, and he immediately had his answer:
'They must be trying to bypass the pass to escape!'

Logically speaking, Qiao Wenliu's foundation is in Juancheng. Although the Qiao family is not small, Qiao Wenliu is only close to a few people, which is secondary. However, the great formation, spiritual roots and cave dwellings in this county are all valuable items!

'Especially… the beautiful young lady of a certain family…'

If even one of these beauties were to fall, Qiao Wenliu would be furious. Losing Juancheng would not only result in countless casualties, but he would also have the trouble of finding a territory under his control to house all these women…

But Li Zhouwei's intentions had already been revealed, making Qiao Wenliu eager to make a move.

'Being beaten in Juancheng is extremely humiliating, and what benefits could one possibly gain? How can it compare to a feint attack in one direction, allowing one to make a fortune alongside this King of Wei!'

More importantly, the King of Wei wasn't asking him about his current choices; he was clearly pointing him towards a path for the future!

After careful consideration, he said:

"The King of Wei treats me with sincerity; how could I, Qiao, disobey his command!"

He raised his hand, bowed, and sighed:

"However... there is one request I have for the King of Wei..."

Li Zhouwei smiled and said:
"But what about your Qiao family's direct descendants?"

This guess is certainly accurate. After all, while formations are valuable, they are merely a source of profit. As long as the gains in the east are substantial enough, they can compensate for the losses. However, once a person dies, they are truly dead. Naturally, they must be moved first to relieve their worries!

Qiao Wenliu chuckled and said carefully:
"Not only...not only, but I have eighty-nine beautiful concubines, each one a treasure. I request that Prince Wei make arrangements for them—no need to send them too far, just find a considerate...nearby place, so that when I return victorious, I can go and appease the hearts of the people..."

Li Zhouwei chuckled and shook his head.

After all, the pressure of staying behind here is great, so he should not send too many people, but rather select them carefully.

"Going east is a detour, fraught with danger, and there's no turning back. If anything goes wrong, we could easily find ourselves in peril..."

Among all cultivators, in terms of self-preservation, Yu Xi, who is in the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm and cultivates the female water, is undoubtedly the best. However, while he is good at self-preservation, he is not good at offensive warfare. If there were any major battles, he would probably be unable to handle them.

'Without Qiao Wenliu, things would be quite difficult now. But this man's 'Lesser Yin' supernatural power is formidable; he can retreat to protect himself and advance to kill enemies. His cultivation is also high, making him an extremely suitable candidate!'

In addition, this man was greedy for wealth and quite daring. He already had Juancheng, as well as his sons and concubines, in his own hands, which added an extra layer of security to his journey eastward.

In addition, Li Zhouwei had also considered the second candidate early on.

With the loss of a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, Juancheng is now quite vulnerable. Naturally, they cannot afford to take away powerful figures like Ye Hui and Chang Yun, who can hold their own against Grandmasters. The second candidate should primarily be an assistant…

'This person must possess the ability to protect themselves and retreat in a major battle, as well as the exquisite means to assist from the sidelines, ideally influencing the Great Master.'

A name immediately comes to mind.

Liu Changdie!
This Senior Liu is the most trustworthy one of our own. He has also cultivated the "Kujin" and "Qijin" lineages, which have long been lost in the modern world. As for the wonders of these lineages, even Master Gujun would probably be completely clueless!

'And in his hand... he also possesses a [Mysterious Treasury Request Certificate].'

This Daoku Jinlingbao is incredibly powerful. Back then, it even helped Liu Changdie escape unscathed from the combined attack of two Sixth Incarnations of Maha. Isn't it the most suitable candidate?
'His [Mysterious Treasury Request Letter] is quite wondrous. He and Que Wan have studied it, and he says it can influence spiritual artifacts, giving me an edge. Although I haven't used it in these few battles, it shouldn't be bad…'

He had calculated everything in his mind, and laughed:

"Let's go, Master Qiao!"

Qiao Wenliu smiled and bowed, then they all went outside the main hall. All their supernatural powers were present. The Prince of Wei glanced at the assembled cultivators and said softly:
"Jiangqian!"

The man in the crimson robe calmly stepped forward and, upon seeing his father, said:
"You will lead the defense of this place and hold it with all your might... for at least... ten days."

Facing a group of supernatural beings, Li Jiangqian showed no fear, bowed, nodded, and smiled:

"I will ensure Father's safety!"

Li Zhouwei then summoned Sima Yuanli and Ye Hui, his tone becoming more solemn as he said:
"Changli is young, so I will trouble the two masters to do their best in this matter."

Ye Hui, as always, remained calm and returned the greeting with a smile, while Sima Yuanli appeared quite ashamed, sighed deeply, and said earnestly:
"King Wei saved my life, how could I not repay you! Please, King Wei, do not worry. Even if I have to use all my trump cards today, I will defend Juancheng for you!"

……

Lotus Temple.

The temple was resplendent in gold, with layers of candles shimmering in the night, their crimson tears flowing down the golden steps like blood and tears.

Facing the main hall, incense smoke billowed, and milky white milk rippled in the pool, reflecting the image of a young man on the bank. He had red lips and white teeth and paced back and forth by the pool, holding paper and pen in his hand, looking very anxious.

His gaze swept over the writing in his hand.

'I have cultivated myself for many years, yet I have been repeatedly deceived by that Jiang family… Today, I am deeply grateful for Heaven's grace, and I only hope that the Qilin will be established. The entire Lotus Temple will certainly look to the future and offer our sincere congratulations… on the success of King Wei…'

He added a few words, then erased them in frustration, scratching his head and cheeks, until he heard footsteps below. Ming Meng Mohe quickly stepped inside, his face full of thought, and said:

"Junior brother..."

Seeing his junior brother scratching his head in bewilderment, he seemed to have anticipated this and chuckled:

"This was written to the King of Wei!"

Minghui shook her head and sighed:

"I'm just thinking about it."

Ming Mengdao:
"I think you're more than just thinking about it."

Minghui cursed inwardly, but outwardly only sighed:

“What my senior brother said is right, but the North-South conflict has been going on for so long, and nothing like this has ever happened before. I can’t start this, and it’s not appropriate to send this letter out either! It’s just the two of us here, and I can’t consult with anyone else…”

Apart from Minghui and Mingmeng, the rest of the Mahakas from Lotus Temple went to Dalingchuan, led by their master Jinlian, and went all out—their thoughts here are quite complicated!
Master Jinlian had this plan in mind:
"The King of Wei's power is growing, and his next move will undoubtedly be to covet the lands in the east, which will inevitably clash with my philosophy of 'enjoying the Way'... In that case, how can we sit idly by and wait for our doom?"

'Of course, we should get ahead of King Wei and cripple our own forces first! Otherwise, how will we escape!'

Shanle never gets involved in external conflicts like the North-South rivalry, but the Dalingchuan affair is an internal struggle, and Lianhua Temple has devoted a tremendous amount of energy to it!
Minghui had noticed Li Zhouwei's sudden move north, but the outcome of the battle on Dalingchuan was still uncertain, and neither Mingxiang nor his master Jinlian had returned. At such a great opportunity, he didn't even have anyone to talk to.

Ming Meng glanced at him, understanding his master's attitude towards the Prince of Wei, and then pondered:
"Sending the message might give Dayang Mountain a handle to use against us, so it's not wise to act rashly... Besides... Master has always been on good terms with the immortals, and although we have some friction with the Jiang family, we don't have any major enmity..."

Minghui sighed:

"My regret lies in my haste. I didn't expect the King of Wei to act so quickly. If I had thought about it... I would have already caused trouble with Gu County, instead of remaining inactive!"

Ming Meng found it slightly strange and said:

"Junior brother is taking this too seriously. We just shouldn't provoke him... it shouldn't come to this..."

"Whoa!"

Minghui Dao

"He's a Grandmaster now! Senior Brother!"

Although this monk was full of wicked intentions, he analyzed the situation quite logically, saying only:

"Gu County has been dealt with. Who's next? As long as Gao Fu doesn't die, the Gao family will definitely not turn against him. They might even be used by him. When that happens, we'll be caught between Wei and Song. If we don't make some good connections now, who knows what will happen to us!"

Ming Meng frowned immediately, and his expression changed drastically as he looked at the letter his junior brother handed him.

Ming Meng, who had been relentlessly attacking Jiang Shou in court, thought his attitude was already obsequious enough. However, after reading his junior brother's letter, he was utterly astonished and realized what true flattery really meant. He couldn't help but exclaim:
The way you wrote this letter makes it sound like you've also been given the surname Li!

Minghui shook her head repeatedly, but inwardly she began to complain:

'How could it not be? Your master's surname is also Li, so everyone in Lotus Temple, including the barley in the temple's fields, should be surnamed Li…'