Chapter 1135: Planning Ahead

The vibrant, ever-shifting light on the mountaintop mingled with sunlight filtering down, dappling the white flowers. Li Jiangliang remained silent, his head bowed, prostrate on the ground.

Truth be told, Li Jiangliang was reluctant to speak these words. While Yang Tianyou was deeply concerned, Li Jiangliang didn't believe his father would genuinely interfere with Shaoyang's affairs. However, after extensive discussions with his wife, Li Jiangliang finally relented.

He had deliberated for a long time, and a thought secretly formed in his mind: Regardless of the Yang family's stance, or the significance of the current situation, or how various factions discuss it, his role was to ensure that Tingzhou was kept as informed as possible about Shaoyang's affairs.

Thus, using the pretext of an official order, he disclosed everything he knew. Upon hearing his father's question, he raised his head and replied: "Son, I personally believe the eminent figures are not concerned, but Tianyou and the Great General inevitably harbor more anxieties."

Li Zhouwei understood immediately that his son had a profound grasp of the Netherworld but a limited understanding of Tingzhou, leading to a misjudgment. Since the Yuanfu was backing him, it was indeed true that the prominent figures were not worried. However, Yang Ruiyi herself held no real power, and Yang Tianyou even less so; her presence here was merely to act as a proxy, delivering a single message. The statement about 'the adults handling everything appropriately' was, in fact, an acknowledgment of Yuanfu's discernment. The Yang family had either gained benefits or found their affairs proceeding more smoothly, prompting them to offer this specific praise.

He secretly sneered, though on his face he merely nodded, then raised his cup and replied: "Just tell them that I'm embroiled in battle in Jiangbei, and my strength largely relies on the might of the exiled."

Li Jiangliang paused, raising an eyebrow with a hint of concern, but refrained from further questions, simply replying: "Your son has noted it."

With the cup of tea finished, their official business concluded. Li Jiangliang resumed his seat, and Li Zhouwei watched him silently, his expression having softened somewhat. "You have no children. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Li Jiangliang, however, fell into contemplation, his brows furrowed, obscuring the expression in his eyes. He then raised his brows and said: "Father, Jiangliang appreciates your kind intentions, but your son and Tianyou share a profound understanding and have no desire to take concubines. As for adoption…" He paused, then said gravely: "My brothers also don't have many heirs. As for other branches, since they don't possess golden eyes, there's no need to even consider them. The Zhou dynasty had multiple successions, and the Chu chose to relocate several times, so there's no need to be overly concerned with strict purity of lineage."

These were, in fact, not pleasant words, yet he uttered them quite naturally, his brows still lowered. Li Zhouwei gazed at him, then set down his cup and said: "Those of you born with golden eyes are all intelligent and astute. I have consistently refrained from interfering. You and your three brothers are not of the same ilk. Should you achieve something, the Yang clan will likely not be parsimonious with a position for you."

Li Jiangliang's expression turned complex upon hearing this. He lowered his head and replied: "Father, you worry too much… My brothers…"

Li Zhouwei, however, rose and said: "Since you've come to the lake, I suspect there's more than just this matter."

Li Jiangliang quickly nodded, rising to his feet as he said: "The Sovereign has bestowed spiritual artifacts, transported by carts stretching for several miles, as a reward for Tingzhou. Furthermore…" He lowered his head and continued: "The Cheng clan of Jianmen has submitted a memorial, stating that after many years, the Sword Scroll has once again revealed a name – Jiang Chun’s – and this news will soon spread across the land. The Sovereign commanded me to travel here and summon Jiang Chun to the capital."

Li Zhouwei’s tone was unreadable as he said: "This King knew this matter was unavoidable, but I did not anticipate this particular method—it is indeed ingenious."

Li Jiangliang, not daring to exhale audibly, simply poured him tea. "Uncle Zhou Luo also misses him terribly."

However, his father seemed uninterested and merely waved his hand dismissively: "Go see the elder master."

Li Jiangliang bowed deeply, then retreated, still facing his father. As he reached the courtyard and was about to descend the mountain, he saw the elder raise his golden eyes, their hue becoming increasingly somber. He said: "You and Zhou Luo must watch him carefully for me. If any issues arise in the imperial capital, I will personally go to Yang Zhuo and demand his return."

"Yes, sir…"

The young man hurried away under his father’s gaze. Only then did silence settle over the mountain, yet it was immediately broken by footsteps. A bright form leaped out, landing amidst the peaks, a young man with a sword on his back. He carried himself with an unrestrained air, a smile on his face, and bowed, saying: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Jiang Chun has emerged from seclusion."

Li Zhouwei sighed inwardly, then nodded with a smile. Li Jiangchun had already risen and chuckled: "It is because my esteemed uncle is presiding over Tingzhou that this junior could cultivate with peace of mind."

Li Zhouwei shook his head and said: "Your elder brother has been in seclusion for a long time, and I cannot leave this place for an extended period. West Shu has a history of misdeeds; if they resort to old tricks again, even though Jiang Qian’s foundation is solid, such disturbances are detrimental. Moreover… the province might still experience a period of turmoil."

Li Jiangchun nodded imperceptibly in response: "At this particular juncture, they are unlikely to take it seriously."

Clearly, Li Jiangchun was referring to the effectiveness of the talisman seed in consolidating divine abilities. From the perspective of other clans, Li Jiangqian had only been in seclusion for eight or nine years, likely not yet reaching a critical point! Yet, Li Jiangchun himself estimated it would be a matter of only one or two more years.

Li Zhouwei, however, harbored different thoughts and fell into contemplation. Li Jiangchun then stated solemnly: "This junior has one more crucial matter to report!"

Li Zhouwei raised his brows and looked over. As the junior revealed his palm, fragments of azure light soared, wavering in his hand, and a sharp, cutting aura emanated forth. Li Zhouwei praised: "What splendid sword intent!" He could distinctly feel the disruptive quality of this sword intent; though faint and subtle, its caliber was exceptionally high, possessing an inherent essence that seemed to target life itself.

Li Jiangchun, however, hesitated slightly, then revealed his other hand. In its palm, another vibrant, phantom light astonishingly emerged, swirling with the nimble grace of a sparrow.

The Crescent Sword Essence!

Before he could speak further, the King of Wei’s eyes blazed, and he stood up, staring at the sword intent and sword essence before him. After a moment of contemplation, he murmured: "How did you accomplish this?"

Li Jiangchun dared not be negligent; he meticulously recounted everything, then presented the greenish-white sword with both hands before Li Zhouwei.

Li Zhouwei lowered his gaze, studying the azure ruler, and remained silent for a long time. Li Ximing had once expressed considerable worry when discussing the origins of this spiritual sword, even recalling Li Xijun’s exact words about believing there was a legacy within the blade. The True Monarch’s thoughts on the matter were thus: To establish an immortal foundation and verify one's intent, founding a sword dao lineage—how could such a feat be achieved by a mere mortal? Perhaps the ancestors were celestial beings who, against their will, descended to incarnate in the lower realms. When Xijun spoke of sword immortals, perhaps this was what he truly meant.

This caused Li Zhouwei to sigh faintly in his heart. He did not press further regarding the sword intent’s origin, instead saying in a deep voice: "Is it truly possible… two distinct sword intents?"

As Li Jiangchun hesitated, then nodded, a figure instantly flashed into the mind of the golden-eyed youth: It was the True Monarch of Shangyuan from long ago! Even when that True Monarch was still in the Purple Mansion realm, his renown for wielding two sword intents echoed throughout Jiangnan! Whenever the mastery of multiple sword intents was mentioned, he was invariably brought up! Once sword intent is grasped, each person’s manifestation is unique and irreplicable. Even Wang Xun, who visited the Li family years ago—a distinguished descendant of a True Monarch of their time—when discussing two sword intents, claimed that even 'our True Monarch' had never witnessed such a feat! Regardless, Jiang Chun's current anomaly must be connected to the heavens. If that is the case, how did the True Monarch of Shangyuan acquire his sword intent?

Before he could fully process these thoughts, a greater concern surged into his mind: If others were to witness this… the trouble it could cause was unfathomable…

Li Zhouwei said gravely: "Since Qingxiang has manifested, from now on you shall employ this particular sword intent and sword essence. The original one need not be activated; simply continue to refine it in secret…"

The junior bowed and said with concern: "I only fear the Sword Scroll!"

The Sword Scroll of the Wanyu Sword Gate could react to sword intents from various sources, discerning them from thousands of miles away. How could Li Jiangchun not take this into account? Li Zhouwei’s brow furrowed in thought as he said: "Logically, with the talisman seed within you, such objects shouldn't be able to detect you. However, given the Sword Scroll’s consistent success, I surmise its sensitivity is based on sword intents that manifest within the Great Void… and even that has its limits."

"I will keep a close eye on this matter. When the time is right, I will visit the Sword Gate… to also probe into the matter of sword intent. Meanwhile, you must continue to advance your cultivation!"

Li Jiangchun nodded gravely, and Li Zhouwei said with a hint of regret: "It’s simply that we can no longer placate the Song Emperor."

Li Jiangchun understood his meaning instantly. Instead of worrying, his face lit up with delight, and he chuckled: "This junior has been looking forward to this for a long time! Our ancestors pacified the Shanyue, eliminated the Mahakaya, unified one lake, and decimated various Buddhist groups. My esteemed uncle, during his foundation establishment, wielded a halberd and gained renown across both banks, with no one from the Three Sects and Seven Gates daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. I, too, must confront the talented heroes of this world!"

Li Zhouwei smiled and said: "That’s not the ideal time to choose adversaries. Duke Xiangping contended with the Shanyue kings and marquises, Duke Tongya with the Yu family father and son, and my great-grandfather from the collateral lineage dealt with the eighteen Buddhist masters. My own talent is shallow, so I could only find opponents like Situ Mo and Guan Gongxiao. Yet, their methods were certainly those of temporary paragons." A look of regret crossed his face, and he sighed with lament: "But in today’s Jiangnan, there is no one truly deserving of being called a formidable talent. The Daoists of the immortal sects and the direct descendants of the Netherworld have all yet to emerge… I fear not even the imperial princes are worthy opponents for you!"

Lotus Temple.

The land lay shrouded in the hazy night. Mountain ranges undulated, faintly revealing specks of golden light. A colossal Buddhist statue stood amidst the mountains, appearing particularly imposing under the grey-black sky. Inside the temple, golden lights intertwined. The milky-white substance in the pond continuously churned, appearing exceptionally pristine under the faint candlelight. A monk was immersed within it, his shaven head resting in the arms of the woman behind him. His expression was somber, and he remained silent for a long time.

After an unknown duration, a young novice monk approached the platform, his face etched with distress. He knelt before the pond and said: "Master… the date has been changed!"

These words caused the monk, who was already vexed in the pond, to straighten up and curse: "You, you, you… what kind of stunt is this! I understand now. Logically, you haven’t fully recovered from your grave injuries, so how could you trust him? And to go overseas to meet him… now you’ve made them suspicious, haven’t you!"

As he spoke, Minghui slapped himself on the mouth, regretting: "This matter… it was my oversight, not something I specifically ordered… Communicating with overseas is troublesome for us. I entrusted someone from Yinzhou, instructing them to crush a jade talisman if there was news, and I would arrive a month later… Now I forgot to add a crucial instruction, and who would have thought he’d set a direct meeting time…"

Hearing this, Jinlian’s expression softened slightly, and he sighed: "I believe this time he’s most likely inquiring about the Great Void Seeking Dao Disk… This item is insignificant in itself, but for Kongwudao, it is extremely valuable… This matter won’t be easy to handle." He lowered his brows and said: "I think… you should let your senior brother go!"

Minghui immediately grew anxious, saying: "Is this appropriate?!"

Jinlian gritted his teeth and replied: "What’s inappropriate about it! Do you dare to speak forcefully to Li Ximing? I barely even dare! Last time you met the King of Wei, he already detected something was amiss, and you still dare to go this time… Do you take them for fools?! It so happens… your senior brother Ming Meng was a Daoist in his previous incarnation. He and Ming Xiang are biological brothers. After the last incident, your senior brother Ming Xiang already harbored suspicions. Once Ming Meng returns and mentions this, Ming Xiang will naturally view our previous actions more favorably!"

Minghui’s eyes lit up. He nodded repeatedly, effusively flattering him: "Brilliant! Master is truly brilliant!"

"Bah!" Though a smile played on Jinlian’s face, he spat and cursed: "Worthless!"

Minghui merely chuckled and assented. He had been taken in by the Lotus Temple since childhood. Jinlian often subjected him to beatings and scoldings, yet when it came to protecting his own, he never retreated an inch. Knowing his master’s temperament, he quickly said: "But this Great Void Seeking Dao Disk… should we acquire it… or not?"

Jinlian’s expression immediately turned grim, and he said: "The Great Desire Dao intends to move south. Once they arrive, Kongwudao will certainly follow. Your senior brother is already in Jiangnan, so how can we remain uninvolved? This item, to call it useless is true, and to call it important is also true; it’s merely a pursuit of their Dao. The question is simply whether or not to let it fall back into Kongwudao’s possession." He said in a sinister tone: "If the Great Desire Dao weren't involved in this matter, I would have wished for Zhelu to acquire it, thus fueling his ambition. But now he can no longer stir up any significant trouble, and it would only serve to aid our adversaries if it fell into his hands."

"If it falls into the hands of the Great Desire Dao, it would be even worse… Zhelu, in his pursuit of this item, would undoubtedly yield and compromise, perhaps even ceasing his minor subversive actions… Wouldn’t that merely create more trouble for the master?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, and quickly made a decision, saying: "Ming Meng!"

This place was inherently connected to the Buddhist lands. In merely an instant, light shimmered, and a young monk stepped through the air, kneeling with a soft thud before them. He said respectfully: "Greetings, Master."

Jinlian nodded slightly and said ominously: "The Great Void Seeking Dao Disk from the Liang era is currently in the hands of the King of Wei. Some unknown Northern Buddhist secretly enticed a rogue cultivator with a hefty bribe to acquire it from him. This matter concerns significant interests of Kongwudao. Go meet Zhaojing on behalf of your junior brother."

Ming Meng raised his eyebrows, then said gravely: "Are you instructing this disciple to retrieve this item?"

"No." Jinlian shook his head and replied: "Acquiring this item would not only be extremely costly, but it would also entangle us in the affairs of Great Desire and Kongwu. At that point, they would surely scheme against you, drawing you southward, all to compel me to hand over this item… But once it’s surrendered, Kongwu’s power will significantly increase, and in turn, he will offend the King of Wei… You will then be caught between the north and south, undoubtedly facing mortal peril! Wouldn’t that be causing a grand commotion only to cast yourselves into a fiery furnace?"

Jinlian spoke with a mixture of truth and fabrication, which made Ming Meng’s eyes light up. He nodded repeatedly and exclaimed with admiration: "To be able to cultivate under Master’s tutelage is truly the fortune of this life!"

Jinlian couldn't be bothered with him, simply saying: "You are simply to explain candidly, clarify the entire situation, and impress upon them that no matter who comes, he must not hand it over… This will count as doing him a favor, and hopefully, the King of Wei’s men will spare your lives!"

Ming Meng assented repeatedly and departed. Jinlian settled back into the milky pond, contemplating his arrangements, while Minghui, his face alight with admiration, turned and said: "Master is truly Master; this skill of specious argument… I have much to learn from it! To be able to cultivate under Master’s tutelage is truly the fortune of this life!"

Jinlian cast a glance at him and merely sighed: "Now, when the King of Wei is mentioned, Mahakayas like Ming Meng are all eagerly seeking to avoid direct confrontation… It’s evident that Guangchan’s death has truly terrified them out of their wits!"

At the mention of this, Minghui too was rendered speechless. "Guangchan was someone whom the master clearly intended to protect… yet he died so decisively, it was practically a public humiliation for the master. Everyone claims Qi Lanyan’s resolve crumbled, and he readily surrendered half of Jiangbei… but they forget the hesitation and trepidation of figures like Zhelu… not a single one among them wasn’t afraid!"

"Now that I think about it, you and I have truly stumbled upon a great opportunity… If it weren’t for the master’s appreciation, it would be your senior brother who perished today! And it would be you and I, cowering in the temple, filled with apprehension!"