Chapter 1033: Northwest Changes

“It’s just that today… I am not at liberty to speak.”

Ning Wan paused, seeing Li Zhouwei in front of her raise an eyebrow. He rose from his seat and paced.

“I heard… that Master Ning offered dragon sinew to the Song Emperor.”

Ning Wan’s expression grew sorrowful as she replied, “That is true.”

Li Zhouwei suddenly turned his head and asked, “Which scion of the dragon race?”

Dragon sinew is one of the rarest treasures under heaven. Not only is it something no one today dares to use, but even holding it sends shivers down one’s spine, a truly dangerous item. Each dragon scion is accounted for; the absence of any one is immediately known. Ning Wan’s action not only pledged her loyalty to the Song Emperor but also slapped the dragon lineage squarely in the face before all under heaven! It was unprecedented, or at least, the first such act in this era! This was not merely her personal affair; it would have a profound impact on the relationship between the Underworld Ministry and the dragon lineage!

Ning Wan exhaled deeply and replied, “Bai Longtiao, Dongfang Ai.”

Li Zhouwei murmured, “How did you acquire it?”

Ning Wan shook her head, her voice slightly trembling: “It was left by the Realist… I was given guidance, and only then did I know what was in the box, and how to preserve my life.” The woman raised her eyebrows, gazing at him with soft yet powerful eyes, and gritted her teeth: “This is what His Lordship wants. If I didn’t give it… someone else would have taken it! What choice did I have…? Only by burning my bridges… could I find a glimmer of hope. From now on, the Ning clan can no longer enter the sea; we are bound to rise and fall with Great Song!”

Li Zhouwei stared at her intently, unsurprised. His only astonishment was regarding Master Yuan Su, the colors in his eyes constantly shifting: ‘Master Yuan Su… Is it truly just Master Yuan Su? Even if he possesses a spiritual treasure, he is still merely a cultivator with a single divine ability. Do dragons not have spiritual treasures? How could he slaughter a dragon!’ ‘Even if he could slaughter a dragon, why provoke the dragon lineage? Why push the Ning clan into such a predicament? Even if he could foresee this day, he didn’t have to take such a risk!’

Li Zhouwei was largely unconvinced and murmured, “What path did Dongfang Ai cultivate?”

Ning Wan closed her eyes and replied, “True Qi!”

This made Li Zhouwei quietly straighten up, turn back to the window, and ask one last question: “How was the dragon sinew used?”

Ning Wan glanced at him and said, “Tianwu has three magical treasures: first, the Wenwu Pingqing Zhi; second, the Fengzhen Ce Xuan Whip; and third, the Quanye Wu Seal. Among them, the Wenwu Pingqing Zhi is a special case, long since shattered and thus not worth mentioning. The Quanye Wu Seal and the Fengzhen Ce Xuan Whip were both inherited from his father, the Prince of Jiangling. Originally mundane objects, they ascended to immortality along with the Emperor and followed him beyond the heavens.” She said faintly, “The Quanye Wu Seal… the imperial lineage prepared it early on, refining it since King Yue pacified the realm. To this day, it has become an ultimate spiritual artifact. As for the Fengzhen Ce Xuan Whip…” She met Li Zhouwei’s gaze and said lightly, “It must be refined when the Emperor ascends the throne, and it requires this portion of dragon sinew.”

Li Zhouwei did not shy away, quietly saying, “Did Senior Yuan Su foresee this?”

Ning Wan’s pupils dilated slightly, clearly flustered, but she still lowered her head, staring at the teacup before her, and said faintly, “Perhaps it was guidance from an even more esteemed figure.”

Li Zhouwei remained silent for a moment, looking through the window at the distant celestial phenomena. Rolling clouds and thunder gathered on the horizon, surging and swirling, sweeping over the unmoving Xiping Mountain, transforming into a torrential downpour that poured down. Within the pouring rain, several faint white lights could be vaguely seen moving, seemingly streaks of light from escaping cultivators. As the dark clouds on the horizon enveloped them, Li Zhouwei withdrew his gaze and turned. Ning Wan still held her cup, head lowered, utterly silent.

In mere moments, a broad-shouldered, stout middle-aged man in bronze armor landed before the hall, knelt with a clang, and breathed heavily: “Reporting, Your Highness… Guyan Temple is besieged and has fallen! The enemy has advanced further and is now approaching Xiping Mountain!”

Li Zhouwei had his back to him and did not reply. Instead, he slowly lowered his head, seeing the Wei King’s Cloak, resplendent with divine light and distinct feather patterns, and the profound banner with a blue-purple base and black-gold patterns, folded on the table, their brilliance now even more dazzling.

Ning Wan stood up, picked up the jade tray holding the king’s cloak, and bowed, saying: “King Wei… please!”

Li Zhouwei picked up the cloak, gazed at her deeply without speaking, and with his other hand, took hold of the profound banner with its blue-purple base and black-gold patterns, giving it a gentle shake. *Swish…* In an instant, the profound banner unfurled, transforming into a large blue-purple battle standard. The Qilin pattern glowed brightly, magnificent and inviolable, while the pure black flagpole was grasped by Li Zhouwei, striking the ground with a clang. Without a closer look, he handed the royal banner to Li Zhouda, put on his cloak, and exited the hall, leaving behind a calm yet powerful command: “March to Guyan.”

***

Da Yuan Guangyin Mountain.

The golden hall glowed like lapis lazuli, with rows of lotus thrones arranged unevenly, leading down. Various golden statues stood amidst them, large and small, each holding golden artifacts. The lotus platforms at the highest point shone the brightest, where several Buddhist cultivators of varying builds and appearances were seated. They avoided eye contact, appearing wary. The Maha at the very top wore a simple gray robe, with purple colorful light flowing around him. His face was densely covered with eyes, scattered between his brows and on his cheeks, dark and darting everywhere, observing. This was none other than Zhuokong Maha Liangli, Zhelu.

The Kongwu Dao ultimately lacked foundation. Although he held the esteemed rank of Liangli, he had only reached the threshold of the Sixth Generation. His lineage also had no standing, so the group of eminent monks around him were unwilling to meet his gaze. Yet, his many eyes darted across his face, hard to avoid, making several Mahas almost twist their heads around.

In the middle of the grand hall, a pale pink golden lotus bloomed. Minghui Maha, propping his face with one hand, dozed, his eyes squinted as he observed his surroundings: ‘The world is truly declining… Landlords and rich men hold a meeting, and a compassionate dog takes the main seat.’ With the establishment of the Great Song, Jiangnan had become a tough nut to crack. Buddhist cultivators always preyed on the weak and feared the strong, so naturally, the Mahas of Da Yuan Guangyin Mountain averted their gazes. Only Minghui, confident, continued to doze.

Zhelu watched for a while, his gaze cold, and clasped his hands together: “Everyone… since the news from the north has arrived, we should go south.”

Silence filled the hall. Zhelu waited for a long time before finally asking: “Why are you all silent?”

A nearby golden lotus swayed, and the six-armed, four-footed Nuzi Maha looked up with raised eyebrows. Although Nuzi’s cultivation was far inferior to his, he came from the Great Desire lineage and was a trusted confidant of the Peacock, so his status was not low. He quietly said: “I wonder why Immortal Envoy Qi suddenly changed his mind and sent Gongsun Bei over? I don’t think such a fuss is necessary; our people are in an awkward position, neither able to go nor to stay…”

Zhelu, wary of Nuzi’s background, replied with a somewhat smiling expression: “That’s not something I can elaborate on… That Immortal Master Qi recently took in a disciple at Xiaoshi Mountain. He cherishes this disciple greatly. After bringing him to the mountain, he suddenly began issuing orders, changing the routes of several going south, specifically withdrawing Gongsun Bei and bringing treasures to the lake.”

“Disciple? Isn’t Xiaoshi Mountain within our Buddhist territory?” Nuzi frowned, asking in confusion. Zhelu then said faintly: “Heh, that person was originally from Jiangbei. After the turmoil, he became a young novice monk under our Dao. I never knew he possessed such talent, to be taken as a disciple by Zhixuan Xie!”

Although his words held no strangeness, his tone inevitably carried a hint of sourness… After all, to be forcefully taken in by Qi Lanyan, disregarding the rules, there must be something extraordinary about him. Such a person could also achieve great things in the Buddhist lands, so it was natural for there to be some displeasure, though unspoken.

Nuzi frowned, still puzzled. He prided himself on understanding Zhixuan Xie well. That group of Daoists always looked down on Buddhist cultivators, valuing karma and disliking cultivators who joined the Buddhist path, even discriminating against those who wavered between the two paths… So why would they be willing to take in a young novice monk? ‘There must be a problem… but there’s no need to delve deeper into this. After all, Lord Que is in seclusion; when he emerges, he’s sure to be a great figure. Why should I wade into this murky water? I’ll just protect myself and enjoy the benefits.’

But as soon as he fell silent, no one else paid Zhelu any mind. They looked at each other, none willing to speak.

Just then, with a flutter, someone stood up. He had a long horse-like face and a serious expression. It was Daixi Maha, from the Kongwu Dao himself, who quickly came to assist: “That Shanjia County is an extremely important place. My strength is weak, so it’s not convenient to delay. I will descend from the Zhuosha Tomb area and attack the wilderness!”

Minghui secretly chuckled, then suddenly spoke up, asking: “Bodhisattva Daixi… why aren’t you going to Wangyue Lake anymore? I see you bear a great deal of resentment!”

Daixi’s expression froze, and anger flickered in his eyes, but he restrained himself and said lightly: “My strength is insufficient, far inferior to my fellow cultivators, and I am not fit for such a heavy responsibility. Furthermore… at Wangyue Lake… General Gongsun will lead people there. I have a Jueyin foundation; if strong, it would be fine, but since I am weak, I would naturally be at a disadvantage against Mingyang—does Lotus Temple, which is well-versed in Daoist principles, not even understand this much?” He paused slightly, then sneered: “It seems there was no ‘milk’ at the banquet, making Bodhisattva Minghui unhappy!”

“Hmph!” Minghui naturally understood whom he was ridiculing, but slapping Jinlian’s face was slapping his own face, which enraged him. He immediately stood up from his seat and sneered: “What nonsense! Does Gongsun Bei’s presence mean Buddhist cultivators are no longer needed? Since Kongwu Dao is presiding, at least one person must show sincerity. If you don’t honor the Liangli, do you expect the venerable Liangli of Kongwu himself to personally go to the lake? How will the other locations be handled?”

His words were malicious and venomous, causing Daixi to fly into a rage and curse: “I gave you some respect… but you’ve become completely ungrateful! Who doesn’t know what you’re thinking? You just want us to test that White Qilin for you. Since you’re so determined to serve, why don’t *you* go!”

Minghui burst into laughter, his gaze resolute, a righteous aura appearing on his face. He kicked his lotus throne aside, leaped into the center of the hall, thrust his hips forward, and declared majestically: “Why should I not go!”

This earth-shattering declaration, like a character stepping onto a stage in a novel, stunned Daixi. For a moment, his mind went blank: ‘Huh? What kind of trick is this!’ The gathered high cultivators also looked on, exchanging glances.

But Minghui was far from finished. He patted his chest and declared loudly: “In the previous southward expeditions, my Lotus Temple was delayed by various matters and could not participate… Now, to show our utmost sincerity and devotion to the Great Yang Mountain Dao, we are willing to lead the charge! To spread the fundamental doctrines of our sacred path and save all beings under heaven from suffering!” He spoke tearfully and with profound righteousness, gritting his teeth: “I only hope Liangli will grant it!”

Most of those present knew what kind of person he was, so this performance was truly bizarre. Not a single person could utter a word, except for Lüe Jinlianmin, who was stationed there from the Great Mu Dharma Realm. He slightly lowered his head, a hint of emotion showing on his face: ‘Master Minghui is truly a good person… My venerable master did not trust the wrong person! Among the coastal areas, Wangyue Lake has the largest population; any casual attack could result in tens of thousands of casualties, yet he disregarded the danger and entered the fray himself…’ ‘Lotus Temple… Those ‘milk-sucking immortal monks’ and ‘barking vicious dog bodhisattvas,’ yet the disciples they teach are truly devoted to goodness… Lotus Temple clearly has its merits…’

This left Zhelu dumbfounded too; his many eyes stared fixedly at Minghui, momentarily unable to discern good from bad. Even more astounded was Mingxiang, who stood beside Minghui and was also a Maha from Lotus Temple. His large face was filled with horror: ‘My Lotus Temple? Me?’ ‘What is Junior Brother doing?! Did *I* agree to this?’

He had good reason to be afraid. This was a formal north-south national conflict, with no need for pretexts; immortals and Buddhist cultivators could all participate. Clan Qi was planning to take advantage of Great Song’s unstable footing to extend their influence… Gongsun Bei was going with a spiritual treasure, and King Wei would surely fight to the death. No one wanted to be bitten back by the White Qilin—even Nv Xiao couldn’t manage to reincarnate successfully!

Yet, just before setting off, his own venerable master had specifically instructed him to obey this junior brother in all matters. He could only force himself to remain calm, listening as Zhelu, also maintaining his expression, narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: “It is rare for Bodhisattva Minghui to show such sincere devotion. Then, Bodhisattva, please choose your personnel.”

The moment these words were spoken, Daixi immediately snapped out of his shock, his heart chilling. Sure enough, Minghui said gravely: “Everything must still follow Liangli’s instructions. Ultimately, we need a pivotal figure from our Kongwu Dao. I trouble Bodhisattva Daixi to go south together.”

Zhelu remained silent, quietly observing Daixi. The many eyes on his face shifted, and Daixi instantly understood, his heart filled with malice: ‘How ruthless…’ ‘He insists on dragging me into this… Fine… fine… The Li clan and I have a deep-seated enmity. If Li Zhouwei counterattacks… it will surely fall upon my head in the end! I don’t know where I provoked this beast!’

But he truly had no choice. He could only grit his teeth, descend from his seat, and bow to his own Liangli: “By your venerable holy command!”

Minghui ignored Daixi’s fierce glare, looked around, and spotted one or two “types” among the cultivators: one entirely clad in crimson, astride a red tiger; another with many eyes on his face—all figures from the Kongwu Dao. He pointed them all out until Zhelu’s expression subtly changed, then stopped abruptly and smiled: “Many thanks for Liangli’s permission!”

Zhelu smiled, many wrinkles rippling across his face, squeezed between his numerous eyelids, making him appear extremely terrifying. He said coldly: “General Gongsun and his people specifically brought the Xiguang Fenyi Treasure Platform, aiming for the Qilin’s demise. Bodhisattva Minghui has also brought many hands. This time, if you cannot suppress the Qilin and bring back some bloodline, be careful, for Great Yang Mountain will come to inquire!”