Chapter 825: Discussion

Li Jiangqian had waited for over a day when Cui Jueyin entered the hall quickly. He seemed to have calmed down. After bowing, he regained his composed demeanor and reported, "Patriarch, the Second Young Master has arrived outside the hall."

"Please invite him in."

Li Jiangqian assented. Cui Jueyin immediately withdrew, and after a short while, a person came in from outside the hall.

This person was dressed in plain cloth clothes and simple boots, with only a sword at his waist. His attire was unadorned. He had already reached the late Qi Condensation stage, and his brows showed a relaxed tranquility, as if he were a rogue cultivator who had emerged from a temple. He bowed before Li Jiangqian and respectfully said, "Greetings, Patriarch!"

Over the years, Li Jianglong had governed Funan, making it stable and prosperous. There had not been a single disturbance from rogue cultivators or demonic cultivators. Not only had he kept the volatile situation north of the river from affecting them, resolving the Li clan's northern troubles, but the spiritual resources he brought in were also substantial. He could be said to be exceptionally competent.

He and his third brother, Li Jiangxia, had stabilized both sides amidst the departures of Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei. Had it not been for the three brothers in the family, there would have been countless more troubles.

Li Jiangqian smiled, glanced at him, and gently waved his hand. The guards on both sides immediately withdrew. The main and side doors of the great hall were closed, and the magical lamps shone brightly. Only the two of them remained in the hall. Li Jiangqian's smile faded, and he quickly descended from his seat to help Li Jianglong up.

He said thoughtfully, "The reason I asked you, my second brother, to return this time is to relinquish the Funan territory."

There was no need to elaborate on how much effort Li Jianglong had invested in the Funan territory. He was almost destabilized by this single sentence. After collecting himself slightly, he frowned and asked, "Patriarch, are you implying...?"

Li Jiangqian replied, "A True Monarch is going to reincarnate north of the river, in the land of Sanxi."

Li Jianglong stared blankly at him.

Li Jiangqian shook his head and said, "It's a True Monarch from a Northern Upper Sect; Zhang Duanyan of the Golden Feather Sect personally delivered the decree."

After these three sentences, Li Jianglong's composure was completely shattered. His pupils dilated, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. After a few breaths, he finally asked, "Chu Yi from back then?"

"Precisely." Li Jiangqian affirmed, then led him to the table. He spread out a map on the table and generally explained the Golden Feather Sect's order. Li Jianglong's expression became solemn, and he said, "If this matter isn't handled properly, it could affect millions of people and lead to the destruction of clans."

Li Jiangqian nodded in response, "Second brother, you understand Funan best. The tricky part is figuring out the situation and how to disentangle ourselves cleanly."

Li Jianglong pondered for a moment, examining the map, and said, "When the Floating Cloud Grotto was destroyed, the common people were plundered by both grottoes and have not yet recovered. Our clan's governance in the Floating Cloud region revolves around spiritual fields and spiritual veins, mostly guarded by cultivators from other areas, so disengagement isn't difficult... Once we withdraw, the sparse local population won't be able to produce many cultivators. It would be an isolated area, and self-governance would become an issue."

"If our clan abandons this territory, the Duxian Dao will also abandon Midong. In Midong, numerous aristocratic families are deeply entrenched, and many immortal sects from both south and north of the river have planted their people there. The area is densely populated, so they will surely quickly annex Funan."

The Midong region was difficult to govern due to two fundamental issues: First, the aristocratic families had vast populations. Second, various sects admitted direct descendants into their ranks, supporting local factions to acquire spiritual resources from north of the river at low prices or through forceful means. Li Jiangqian naturally understood this and asked, "Given your understanding of the region north of the river, how do you expect the situation in Midong to develop? Will these aristocratic families receive the news?"

Li Jianglong pondered, "They certainly won't. All the sects will withdraw their hands. The reason these local factions are what they are is their vast and extensive lineage, permeating every aspect of the region, and their family lines are endless and enduring, leading to a mix of good and bad elements. While they are indeed difficult to eradicate, they will also be unable to extricate themselves. Even if some family members are cultivating in immortal sects... they will be lightly crippled or, in severe cases, charged and executed."

Li Jiangqian considered, "I think there are disadvantages to eradicating them completely. What if this clan declines from now on, and fate unexpectedly falls upon this place? That would cause problems. Since it was said to go towards Qilu, then let it go towards Qilu. What we should fear most are the northern powers. The immortal sects will sever ties cleanly, but not too ruthlessly; they will always leave a way out."

Li Jianglong looked at his elder brother's expression and replied, "My apologies, I didn't consider thoroughly. Then there's no need for formal condemnation; simply causing them harm will suffice. If something goes wrong one day, we can just push out a scapegoat. Since they're not heading south, it's also easier to deal with."

"That's the logic."

The two brothers stared at the map. Li Jianglong mused, "Funan isn't heavily entangled, but there are a few local clan cultivators who are difficult to manage. However, excuses are easy to find. We can grant them spiritual resources and release them, then inform them in advance that our clan is withdrawing and the Duxian Dao is approaching. They will then flee with their entire families."

"There are also a few cultivators who have indulged locally and had children; these can be considered rogue cultivators north of the river. We'll take them along with their entire villages, leaving nothing behind, not even a dog or a duck."

The Li clan had many cultivators from north of the river; fortunately, most were rogue cultivators, making them easy to handle. Li Jiangqian secretly nodded, but then a soft sound from the hall door made him stop speaking. Qu Bushi, looking utterly surprised, came to report from below: "Reporting to the Patriarch, that utterly shameless Duxian Dao... has sent a demonic guest elder to visit!"

Li Jiangqian frowned and asked, "So soon? That can't be right... How many people did Daoist Guan bring? Has the news not spread?"

Qu Bushi looked as if he had seen a ghost, almost biting his tongue. He hesitated, saying, "That demonic... ah... the Duxian Dao person... came alone. He appeared outside the prefecture... and asked someone to secretly convey his message... This old servant understood that this matter was no small feat and didn't let anyone see him."

Li Jiangqian breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Please have him come up through the side hall, so no one sees him."

Qu Bushi hastily withdrew. After about half an incense stick's time, a middle-aged man entered from outside the hall. He was originally dressed elegantly in white, but as he stepped into the hall, his appearance shifted to that of a man with high brows, deep-set eyes, a black Daoist robe, and a silk belt at his waist. Upon reaching the center of the hall, he wore a bitter expression and sighed, "Greetings, Patriarch!"

Li Jiangqian nodded slightly and said indifferently, "So, it is the Duxian Sect Master." It turned out to be Guan Gongxiao, the head of the Duxian Sect, himself!

Guan Gongxiao currently had no temper left. He was naturally good-tempered, so he wouldn't say much more. He shook his head and replied, "With this matter upon us, there are no longer any preconceptions between our two families. Our sect hastily arrived from overseas and has never encountered such a situation. I just received the order and immediately came to see the Patriarch."

The Duxian Dao's territory was even further north of Sanxi, making their situation infinitely more awkward compared to the Li clan's. Guan Gongxiao was naturally in a dire predicament. It wasn't just him; even the Xuanmiao Temple and Chengyun Sect were probably in no better state.

Li Jiangqian did not bother to argue with him at this moment. He simply asked, "Does your True Person have any orders?"

Guan Gongxiao silently shook his head, remained silent for a moment, then replied, "Our True Person has been in seclusion for many years and is not north of the river."

The absence of Ye Hui from north of the river was not something that needed to be concealed. All sects had Purple Palace cultivators who were frequently away. Especially for those without the prestige of a Sun Dao lineage, the fewer Purple Palace cultivators they had, the less likely they were to be permanently stationed in one place. True Person Xiao of the Xiao family had not returned to Jiangnan for many years, yet the Xiao family remained as stable as Mount Tai.

However, upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian's mind began to grasp the situation: 'No wonder this fellow came rushing over... So, their True Person is away in seclusion, and who knows how many years that seclusion will last? This matter is not simple. Perhaps Ye Hui will be in seclusion for ten years, and when he emerges, he'll find no one named Guan left in the Baiye region.'

'From this perspective, the Golden Feather Sect has essentially saved the Duxian Dao lineage.'

He then turned and gestured for Guan Gongxiao to sit beside him, introducing, "This is Jianglong, my younger brother."

Guan Gongxiao shook his head and said, "I have long heard of your brother's reputation. Wang He, who previously governed Midong, used to come complaining every other day, and later even made a scene, losing face."

The two brothers did not acknowledge his comment. Guan Gongxiao stood up and said, "My purpose here is, first, to clarify something with your esteemed clan."

He looked solemn and said seriously, "Our True Person has never harbored ill will towards your esteemed clan. Regarding the Changxiao matter, he did his utmost to mediate and secretly assist, hoping to preserve your clan as much as possible. Perhaps the Patriarch finds this absurd, but to speak frankly..."

"Even if it meant incurring your clan's resentment, our True Person wished that Changxiao would have one more blood feud, and he most certainly did not want to see your esteemed father harmed... Even if a fatal weakness was held in someone's grasp at the time, he struggled to give a secret warning, and that was the reason." He said in a low voice, "Regardless of the relationship between our two families, on the matter of the Changxiao Sect, our True Person earnestly hoped that both families would take the same stance."

Li Jiangqian remained silent for a moment. He was not Li Ximing himself and had no knowledge of the situation back then. The best approach was to make no statement, so he merely said, "This matter is beyond my scope to discuss; it can only be communicated by True Persons. For now, the current affairs are most pressing."

Guan Gongxiao sat down and nodded. Li Jiangqian continued, "Your esteemed sect must abandon Midong, but with so many factions, it won't be good in the end. First, there needs to be a leader, and everything will ultimately fall on him. Second, if there are some demons or monsters, it will give the True Monarch a satisfying experience, saving them from having to look elsewhere. Third... there also needs to be a reason for both of our parties to withdraw from this area, so we can tie up loose ends properly and not arouse suspicion."

Guan Gongxiao nodded and replied, "As for the demonic beasts, there's no rush. They will naturally emerge if a territory is left empty for a year or two. The Fanyun territory still has several demon generals, plenty to deal with. A leader is also easy to find; the world is full of greedy people. However, the third point is indeed a problem. The aristocratic families in Midong are not fools; if both parties withdraw simultaneously, they will quickly sense that something is amiss."

Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, "This isn't without a solution; we just need an excuse."

He sent an order via a formation. Qu Bushi immediately came in from outside. Seeing Guan Gongxiao seated beside them, and all three appearing to be in a harmonious atmosphere with smiles on their faces, he felt utterly shocked. He bowed and said, "Greetings, Patriarch, Young Master, and Sect Master."

Guan Gongxiao took a sip of tea and replied, "Sect Master? I am Guan Gongxiao from north of the river."

Guan Gongxiao hadn't even changed out of his Sect Master robes. But seeing all three smiling, Qu Bushi repeatedly nodded and apologized. Li Jiangqian paused slightly, then said, "Daoist Guan has brought news: there's a Hidden Seal of Legitimate Succession north of the river, rumored to be tied to a high-level cultivator's personal favor. The holder of this seal can establish a Dao lineage here, and it also involves a Purple Palace spiritual treasure. Even we and the Duxian Dao cannot stop them. You are to immediately send people to search for it. Dig three feet deep if you must, but find this item."

Guan Gongxiao smiled slightly and instructed, "I hear this rumor has spread like wildfire, revealed by a direct descendant of the Duxian Dao when he was drunk. That descendant has now been confined. There's no one in the Sanjiang region who doesn't know about it; those by the lake are already late to hear, so hurry up."

Qu Bushi was also an old hand in the Jiangbei region and had never heard of such a thing. Combining this with Li Jiangqian's previous hints, he understood and replied, "This old servant will certainly see this matter through!"

He hurriedly withdrew. Li Jiangqian then said, "Your esteemed sect should first engage in a conflict with our clan in Funan. We will withdraw our people, emptying the territory. On the other side, you will cross the river to fight, forcing your clan's forces to rush to assist from there. Both sides will confront each other, feigning a great battle."

"At this point, Funan will have been abandoned by our clan. All that's needed on this side is an ambitious Eastern Sea Foundation Establishment cultivator. Give him some sort of Hidden Seal Dao lineage's Sect Master token, with the Purple Palace cultivation path laid before him, how could he not be tempted? As long as he dares to try... our clan will immediately send congratulations. Your esteemed sect can then send the Midong aristocratic families south to offer their territory, and it will all fall into place."

Guan Gongxiao nodded repeatedly and replied, "Excellent idea, excellent idea! My sect has good connections in the Eastern Sea, and it's easy to gather information. We already have several suitable candidates."

Li Jiangqian nodded with a smile, finding Guan Gongxiao much more agreeable now, and replied, "Bringing in these ambitious individuals will depend on your esteemed sect."

As for spreading rumors and claiming the Duxian Dao's direct descendant was imprisoned, there was no need to say more; Guan Gongxiao would handle it himself. Li Jianglong pondered for a moment, still feeling somewhat uneasy, and looked at his elder brother, asking, "It's just that the True Person isn't here, so things might not proceed as we expect... If they obtain the token and are a bit too cautious, it could drag on and become troublesome."

Li Jiangqian shook his head and said slowly, "We don't need to worry about that... Someone will naturally ensure it happens. The rumors will certainly be more believable than the truth itself. One, two, or even more scapegoats will be welcomed by all."

Both men nodded in turn. Guan Gongxiao said, "Regardless, in my humble opinion, we might also need to find the North Jinjiang King."

At the mention of this dragon-kin's supporter, both men frowned. Li Jiangqian, appearing thoughtful, said, "He probably also intends to move. It's absolutely not advisable for him to remain here. We will handle this demon king's matter."

"Excellent!" Guan Gongxiao, smiling broadly, raised his cup to the two. The two Dao lineages, considered sworn enemies by the outside world, actually drank tea together like old friends. Guan Gongxiao said in a low voice, "We'll need to communicate frequently about this going forward. I may not be able to come often, as it risks exposing myself. I will send disciples, disguised, to deliver my messages, carrying a token. The same applies to the lake."

Li Jiangqian nodded. Both men disregarded the courtesy of seeing him off. They simply cupped their hands in salute. Guan Gongxiao stepped out the door. His appearance had already completely changed, and he was escorted away by a servant.

Li Jianglong watched him leave, his expression uncertain. Li Jiangqian also grew suspicious: 'During the unrest on the East Bank back then, the Duxian Dao did indeed visibly restrain themselves... Later, they even sent people to actively ease tensions and returned Protector An. I wonder how much truth there is to his words.'

His gaze fixed on the map on the table as he suddenly recalled: "Zhang Duanyan's words were a bit reserved. When he spoke of subordinate relationships, he didn't seem to mention the Duxian Dao... He mentioned things in order but bypassed this sect. The Duxian Dao lineage also doesn't begin with the character 'Xuan'..."