Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1483 Loyal Marquis
Qi region.

Qi is a vast and open land overlooking the Yangtze and Huai Rivers. The Qi land that Emperor Zhao promised to the Gao family was incomplete, with many dangerous places removed, but the people were still numerous and bustling. Many rogue cultivators with purple abodes came from this place, and even the Sun Dao lineage from the south often came here to recruit disciples.

This was Li Jiangqian's first time in Qi. He first concealed his identity and wandered around the countryside. He found that the place was very prosperous, the people were open-minded, everyone valued martial arts, and there was a chivalrous spirit in all four directions.

'No wonder there are so many independent cultivators in Qi. They live in seclusion, amass wealth among the people, and govern the region without relying on their sects. These cultivators naturally become independent cultivators... Many cultivators from the north are hiding in Qi...'

This man in crimson robes was relaxed and natural, like a king, attracting the attention of women around him. He smiled naturally and walked leisurely through the crowd, heading straight for the royal capital in the very center of Qi.

Upon reaching the magnificent palace, Li Jiangqian did not use his supernatural powers. Instead, he sent someone to announce his arrival. Soon, a cultivator came over, looking up with his nose in the air, only to be terrified at first glance. A commotion erupted inside. Shortly after, a handsome True Immortal emerged. He glanced at Li Jiangqian and immediately recognized him, exclaiming in surprise:
"So it's Your Highness..."

Although he remained outwardly calm, he was terrified inside. He summoned someone to report back while leading the man in. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the man had already reached the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm!
Gao Fangjing was not surprised, but sighed. Mingyang believed in the way of father and son. With Li Zhouwei gaining power, the benefits would naturally fall on him, the eldest son. Gao Fangjing's cultivation was only at the second level of supernatural powers, which was even worse than his!
The man became even more polite and said:
"My name is Gao Fangjing... I was unaware that you are a descendant of the Emperor..."

Li Jiangqian smiled calmly and said:
"You're welcome."

In just a few words, Gao Fangjing's awkwardness almost completely disappeared. He led him to sit down in the palace and said with a smile:

"This is my first time meeting Your Highness. You truly possess the appearance of a celestial being! It's quite interesting, actually. Back when I traveled south to the secret realm, I once met an elder of the imperial lineage, a member of the Xuan generation named Feng. He was truly a figure of immense respect!"

'Seriously?!'

Li Jiangqian's heart stirred slightly, and he began to calculate:

'Gao Fu did indeed travel south back then, and Gao Fangjing's talent isn't particularly high... If he could enter An Huaitian's secret realm, it's indeed possible that he might have fought against the senior...'

If we were to nitpick like that, Gao Fangjing could even be considered Li Xuanfeng's peer. But even if he had a few more lives, he would never dare to call himself that. He could only lower his head and address him as an elder.

This is just a reminiscing session," Gao Fangjing said with a smile.

"Your Highness, what brings you here today...?"

Li Jiangqian said calmly without hesitation:

"We've come to find King Bolie."

Gao Fangjing's expression froze slightly. He didn't immediately get up, nor did he react excessively. Instead, he said softly:
"If Your Highness has any instructions... you can discuss them with Fang Jing first. The King has been in seclusion for a long time, so I'm afraid we cannot act rashly..."

Li Jiangqian's golden eyes were fixed on him, emanating an invisible, terrifying pressure. He continued to smile, saying only:
"You can't make that decision."

Gao Fangjing showed no anger; instead, some of his suspicions had been confirmed, and he remained silent. Meanwhile, a figure slowly stepped out from the palace, looking down at him.

This man was wearing a robe, had a long face, a slightly gloomy expression, and remained silent.

It's a building!

But the young man before him didn't even glance at him. He had already stood up, hands behind his back, pacing through the palace, and said calmly:

"You are...a member of Louying Pavilion?"

The split within the Gao clan had been rumored for some time. One was the highly respected King Bolie, and the other was his successor, renowned throughout Qi for his genius. Lou Yingge not only publicly reverted to the Lou surname but also went so far as to destroy his Dharma body at the hands of the White Qilin…

In response to his question, Gao Fangjing smiled and said:

"My surname is Gao, and I am originally from the Gao family."

Clearly, out of concern for the fate of the entire Gao family, Gao Fangjing did not want to side with Mingyang—the Gao family had too many marks on them. They were the ones who helped to overthrow the Great Qi, and even once raised the banner of Wei. They had no prominent backing. If they followed Qilin again, when the reckoning came, they could not easily sever ties like the group of high-ranking families in Gujun!
But Li Jiangqian showed no mercy whatsoever. He had come all the way here knowing that the other party had nowhere to go, and laughed:
"Fellow Daoist, do you know... why I came here alone without a word?"

Gao Fangjing lowered his brows and, without the slightest hesitation, said:
"It's nothing more than getting the king to secretly respond!"

"Not bad!"

Li Jiangqian smiled and said:
"That's why you can only take me to see Gao Fu. If things escalate, even a single supernatural power can cover the sky and alert him, and you'll lose the initiative..."

Gao Fangjing remained silent.

Li Jiangqian is right. Gao Fu is, after all, the master of Qi. Li Jiangqian is now a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator. If he causes trouble, it is impossible not to alarm this Great Master. Then things will get ugly!

He stared intently for a long time, and finally, Lou Yingge above spoke, his voice extremely low:
"The King of Wei is now unrivaled in the north and south, with countless true men under his command. The Gao family has served for a thousand years, but now they are exhausted and only wish for a moment to catch their breath... Is it really impossible?"

Li Jiangqian laughed and said:
"That barbarian! What does the Gao family have to do with your Lou family? Besides, if it weren't for the favor I did for the King of Bolie back then, I would never have come to your damned Qi territory—you can stay out of it if you want, just wait for Mingyang to flatten the Bolie Kingdom!"

Lou Yingge's expression grew increasingly gloomy. His injuries had fully healed, but the scorching sunlight of that year still seemed to linger on his body.

He has been a genius since childhood. Even if he intended to stop, he never thought he would be beaten so badly by a second-level master. But now that master has become a great master. How could Lou Yingge be his opponent?

Facing this prince, he refrained from further argument, simply returning the greeting and saying:
"I will definitely bring it."

The immortal turned around, passed through the blazing path of true fire, stepped on the dazzling golden light, and traversed into that mysterious realm, finally seeing that high and mighty throne.

The middle-aged man sat upright on it, gazing at him quietly with calm eyes.

This man was dressed in imposing robes, like armor and a gown, his upper body snow-white and his lower body bright red, with a pure black cloak draped over his shoulders. His figure was already graceful and slender, yet he also possessed a magnificent beard and thick whiskers. Even among those with supernatural powers, his bearing was first-rate, and anyone who saw him would secretly marvel at him.

'What a benevolent king!'

It was indeed a high-ranking official.

Judging from his expression, Lou Yingge understood that the King of Bolie must have been listening carefully. He gritted his teeth, unsure whether to hate or sigh, and simply said:
"Kings!"

Gao Fu nodded slightly, a hint of excitement in his eyes, and said:

"I've been waiting for him for a long time."

Lou Yingge was so angry upon hearing this that he almost burst out laughing.

These years have not been easy for him. First, he was defeated by that Qilin, which greatly diminished his prestige. Second, the achievements of that King of Wei have become increasingly great, to the point that everyone in Qi admires him!

All cultivators in the world admire strength, and now, which man wouldn't praise this King of Wei? The Gao family deeply missed Wei, and upon hearing of his achievements, they were filled with admiration and had high expectations for this young king, even having the illusion of the former Emperor Wei.

For Lou Yingge, what was even more despairing was his own position—ever since his defeat at the hands of that King of Wei, his hatred for Mingyang had become an act of resentment. The chivalrous spirit of Qi was strong, and he also had the heroic spirit brought from the south, so he would absolutely not tolerate this flaw.

But to him, it was as if everyone in the carriage was whipping themselves, wanting to rush into the abyss, while he alone was like a charade trying to stop boiling water, helpless and frustrated.

He finally let out a long breath and said calmly:

"If Your Majesty insists on surrendering to Wei, please allow me to lead the Shilou tribe northward into the desert and return to our ancestral land."

Gao Fu was not surprised. He stood up and said:
"That's why he sent Li Jiangqian—just him alone, so that you could leave with dignity."

Lou Yingge's expression changed slightly. He raised his chin and looked at the high-ranking official above him, saying:
"If he comes, you will die without a burial place, how could you possibly escape? But... if you want to leave, go to the ends of the earth... if you go to the north, you will only fall back into the clutches of the Murong family."

Lou Yingge had not expected the other party to be so resolute. He looked up angrily, only to see the King of Bolie gently stop him from speaking, saying:

“Come with me now. After we have paid our respects to our ancestors, if you still wish to leave, I will not stop you.”

Gao Fu stepped forward and walked along the passageway between the halls. Before long, flames roared and golden light lingered, and a hall was vaguely revealed.

The doors were tightly shut, and a heavy atmosphere hung in the air.

Following closely behind was Lou Yingge, whose eyes flickered slightly. He bowed to Gao Fu in front of him and respectfully pushed open the door.

The hall was filled with the vibrant colors of incense, and rows of memorial tablets, all belonging to the ancestors of the Gao family, were displayed there. Golden light flowed through them, and at the highest point was a golden window, through which the sun shone brightly, and inside was a suit of armor.

This armor is lined with a mysterious light, and the armor is decorated with patterns of cicadas and beasts, with deep red and deep black interspersed among them. The surrounding area is decorated with mysterious patterns like gardenias, which shimmer among the patterns of qilin. The shape is ferocious and majestic.

On the vermilion window sill, slightly below the armor, lay a palm-sized gold bracelet, adorned with shimmering patterns. Though clearly a supreme treasure, it paled in comparison to the armor.

On the vermilion table below, several incense burners were placed, and an open jade box was placed on top of it, with seven talismans gleaming with a faint golden light.

Surprisingly, this was only a Foundation Establishment level talisman.

Lou Yingge stared silently at the jade box, then, as if realizing something, Gao Fu spoke up, his voice deep and resonant:
"This is the armor of the Crown Prince of Wei."

As he spoke, the dense light within him trembled slightly, as if it were about to burst forth at any moment, its brilliance blending together.

"Back then, our ancestor Gao Chongyang received a title from the Wei state and was stationed in the Yan region. He received the treasure of Chongtai, which enabled him to grow powerful. He remained loyal until the fall of Wei, when he perished, and the Gao family bloodline was almost completely wiped out..."

"But his son, Gao Hun, led the remnants of his army westward, across the southern desert, until they settled in Longdi, where they gathered tribes. He served as a general for the Crown Prince during his uprising, fighting his way to his death... Thus, Longwei was destroyed, the remnants of his army were besieged at the Tao River, and the Crown Prince also perished. The Crown Prince pointed to Gao Hun's son, Gao Chongyang's grandson, the still young Gao Jun, and handed him armor, saying: 'Three hundred thousand troops have all perished at the Tao River. The situation is hopeless. The rebels are pleased with the barbarians. You take my head and the royal robes and lead the people back to Qi. You will not lose your position as a king.' Then he committed suicide."

Gao Fu paused slightly, recalling the history of that time. Even as a descendant a thousand years later, he felt immense sorrow at this moment. He closed his eyes and said:
"The hearts of the people of Wei have not been lost. Emperor Qi slaughtered Wei descendants in Guanzhong and burned their books three times. The whole world pitied them. The immortals also greatly hated Qi. Emperor Qi finally repented and not only treated them as kings and marquises, but also allowed the Gao family to return with their clothes and worship them with the incense of Wei. Our ancestor Gao Jun returned to his homeland and gathered the Shilou tribe. When Emperor Qi died, Jun's army was strong. He immediately raised an army and started a rebellion, letting the Tuoba clan enter Guanzhong. Later, he entered Qi and became a local lord."

"When the Great Liang was established, the Tuoba clan regarded Wei as the legitimate dynasty and Qi as a treacherous and illegitimate one. The Gao clan then submitted and was granted the title of Marquis of the Founding State for their first merit. They were given the title of [Siyang] and remained in Qi territory to worship Wei. Even in times of rise and fall... when Liang was destroyed, the Gao clan continued to use the banner of the Great Wei."

"Amidst the chaos of war, relying on this banner, with the Yong King in the north as their ally and the Ning Kingdom in the south as their protector, the Zhao Emperor repeatedly campaigned against them, praising the Gao family's loyalty as exceeding a thousand years. Therefore, they were enfeoffed as Bo Lie, which in the Di language means 'loyal and valiant'..."

Gao Fu spoke in a somber tone, his expression indifferent:
“When I was six years old and began my cultivation, my aunt brought me here. Upon seeing this garment, she said: ‘People say that the Gao family has lasted for a thousand years and still favors the Wei dynasty, but this is not true. Rather, it is the Gao family that favors the Wei dynasty, and thus it has lasted for a thousand years.’”

Mentioning Gao Xijiang and Jiang Huzi, who perished by Wangyue Lake, King Bolie's gaze returned to the box, looking at the glittering golden talismans lying in the river, and he said softly:

"My aunt quietly went south without saying a word, and silently perished on the lake. The only things she left behind were these seven [Golden Armor Mystic Art Talismans]."

Tears streamed down the middle-aged man's face, his eyes filled with coldness, as he said:

“I know… what she meant… armor! Armor… without golden armor, how can there be profound skills? If I don’t repay this kindness, how can I, Gao Fu, become a lowly and treacherous person!”

King Bolie turned his head, stared calmly at his most outstanding junior over the years, and said:

“You say you are protecting the clan, and I agree. But the life of the Crown Prince and this royal armor are the reasons why the clan has been preserved until now. Since Mingyang fell, this royal armor needs to be returned by someone, and that person can only be me—King Gao Fu of Bolie.”

"The throne and wealth that I acquired in the past will ultimately be returned to the King of Wei by me."

Lou Yingge stared blankly, opening his mouth several times as if he wanted to advise the great master before him to stop dwelling on those favors in vain, but he ultimately couldn't bring himself to say such words.

The immortal took one last look at the memorial tablets filling the hall, then bowed his head heavily. Seemingly having given up, he touched the long sword at his waist, and surprisingly, laughed, saying:
"His Majesty's mind is made up; how can the camp persuade him any further? He should charge into battle to repay his ancestors' kindness. If he dies in this great undertaking, it will be a perfect end to my old grudge of being ungrateful..."