Chapter 925: Reviving Merits(1+1/2)

Jiang Huzhi's original intention must have been good; otherwise, he wouldn't have kept silent for so many years, holding his breath. Gao Fu genuinely owed some past favor; otherwise, as a venerable prince, there would be no need for him to subtly show goodwill to me, a descendant of the Wei-Li family, at such a sensitive juncture. There must be an element of helplessness, but someone in the north is certainly taking advantage of the situation...

Li Zhouwei waited quietly, his heart gradually settling.

However, Tinglan and Hou Fu are not fools. A hundred years ago, it might have been different, but now, Kui Qi's death has forced them to abandon their high-and-mighty attitudes. Trying to deal with them using old tricks... I'm afraid it won't be easy!

Indeed, after a short wait, the Void rippled, and a cascade of purple light flowed forth, revealing a woman in purple robes. With a beautiful face, delicate brows, and bright eyes, she bowed slightly and said softly, "Greetings, King Boliang."

Her demeanor was very respectful. The prince before her nodded slightly and replied, "Ah, it's Shuxiu. Congratulations on achieving divine power! Since you left Qidi, several elders of the formation arts there still miss you. They were very happy to hear news of you a few years ago, and the messages were sent all the way to my royal palace."

Li Zhouwei suddenly understood: 'This True Person Tinglan was originally from Qi! She was accepted as a disciple by True Person Zipei! Now, it seems she knew King Boliang long ago... and judging by her tone, unlike the cultivators of the Solar Dao, Tinglan might even have a lord-vassal relationship with Gao Fu!'

Then, True Person Tinglan blinked slightly and said in a low voice, "Your great kindness, Your Highness, Shuxiu holds deep gratitude for. Therefore, hearing of your arrival across the river today, I came specifically to welcome you. If I have caused any offense... please forgive me."

With a gentle gesture from her, the three stepped through the Void, landing on the cliff by the river. This spot overlooked a beach and the vast, surging river. A pavilion stood on the cliff, guarded by two attendants. As they settled into the pavilion, Li Zhouwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It must be said that Tinglan's arrival was timely. Only she could facilitate Gao Fu's arrival and prevent an awkward confrontation in the Void, especially considering the feelings of the Solar Dao lineage. The woman subtly took charge, seated herself in the pavilion, and began to brew tea, saying softly, "King Boliang, your journey south – has the matter been settled?"

Gao Fu, with his imposing stature, sat in the pavilion, looking truly majestic, and stroked his beard as he said, "Passable... The Huaijiang Dao was established by Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao. For all these years, one or two prefectures have merely existed nominally. With Duke Xu's sudden death, the capital always harbored intentions of conquest, but it has dragged on for so many years... Now, the three sects—Chengyun, Duxian, and Xuanmiao—all acknowledge Zhao Shuo and have been reformed into the Huaijiang Dao lineage. Fortunately, the matter was resolved easily, with not many casualties."

In fact, Gao Fu's journey south was a pacification strategy for the Three Immortal Sects, and also a result of internal disunity among the Buddhist cultivators and the joint restraint of various families. It was already a blessing in disguise. Tinglan held no great resentment towards Gao Fu, only whispering, "How are the three sects north of the river, particularly those from Xuanxie, officially designated?"

There seemed to be no north-south divide between them. Gao Fu naturally sipped his tea and said, "True Person Chang Yun of Chengyun Immortal Sect cultivates Geng Jin. Their lineage has now been verified as originating from ancient cultivation, belonging to Dou Xuan. True Person Yeh Hui of Duxian Dao lineage cultivates Du Wei, which is even clearer—undoubtedly of the Dou Xuan Dao lineage. As for True Person Sumian of Xuanmiao Temple..."

Gao Fu's expression turned solemn. He paused slightly before replying, "I know this True Person Sumian. Everyone in the mountains now says he took Qi Qiuxin overseas to choose a place for secluded cultivation, to help Qi Qiuxin break through to the Purple Palace realm. Even that statue of the grandmaster was taken, leaving only a handwritten letter." He said with a hint of amusement: "When Buddhism comes, join Buddhism; when Qi comes, join Qi. Should the Dao Gate perish, they will move to Gehu Peak."

Li Zhouwei secretly frowned. 'Sumian still has some tricks up his sleeve; at least he could predict so long ago that Gao Fu would come south to conclude matters...'

The saying 'when Qi comes, join Qi' refers to King Boliang being a King of Qi. However, there was once an Emperor of Qi whose end was not favorable, and the Gao family had no direct lineage or tradition with him. Thus, they naturally couldn't use 'Qi' directly, and instead adopted 'Boliang'. As for the so-called Gehu Peak, it was precisely the spiritual mountain formed from Chang Xi's demise! After all, Xuanmiao was a Profound Dao lineage, holding no biased stance between north and south. They even befriended many northern cultivators, and with their Purple Palace experts already abroad, no matter how much Xuanmiao Temple struggled, there wouldn't be truly dire consequences. The last retreat Sumian left for them was that mountain.

Li Zhouwei merely frowned, while Tinglan offered her thanks. Soon, a group of people ascended the cliff. Chen Yang came forward, holding a golden iron box, and said respectfully, "Greetings, True Persons!" Uncertain of King Boliang's attitude, the Li family's subordinates naturally wouldn't send direct descendants. Instead, they had Chen Yang approach and present the box, saying respectfully, "Jiang Huzhi passed away a few days ago. Before his death, he exhausted his cultivation to create seven talismans, dying from depletion of essence and vital energy. No significant omens accompanied his passing. Everything is now in this box."

Li Zhouwei first took it from him, his spiritual consciousness briefly sweeping over it during the short contact, then smoothly handed it to Gao Fu. King Boliang received the golden box, opened it gently, and inside lay seven golden talismans and a small letter. 'Golden Armor Profound Art Talisman.' Li Zhouwei had long known what was inside and was not surprised. Although the Golden Armor Profound Art Talisman was a Foundation Establishment talisman, it wasn't particularly extraordinary; it merely condensed a magical armor to defend against enemy spells.

Gao Fu, however, widened his pupils, choked silently, and put it away. His majestic eyes immediately closed, remaining shut for a long time. Finally, he looked at the will, which contained only eight characters: "Jiangnan is peaceful, fortunate to die well." She did not mention anything about the Gao family, yet she emphasized that she had died peacefully. King Boliang closed his eyes as he accepted it, bowing slightly, "Many thanks, young master!" After that single word of thanks, he said nothing more, passed into the Void, and disappeared.

Li Zhouwei bowed in farewell. Beside him, Tinglan lightly snapped her fingers, and a purple light barrier immediately enveloped the pavilion. She said softly, "Daoist Minghuang is indeed extraordinary!"

"Greetings, Senior." Li Zhouwei's eyes gleamed as he replied, "Thank you, Senior, for intervening!"

Upon hearing this, a chill rose in Tinglan's eyes. She closed them tightly and sighed deeply, "If I hadn't come, this would have been troublesome..." She seemed somewhat vexed, whispering, "I didn't know Senior Gao Xijiang was in your noble territory! Fortunately, your family handled it well, otherwise, I don't know how we would explain it now!"

Li Zhouwei's eyes deepened as he asked, "Does the Gao family have any divine power cultivators with the compound surname Shi Lou?" These words were profound, hitting directly at the crucial point. Li Zhouwei didn't understand the internal workings of the Gao family, but the will of Purple Palace cultivators was always absolute. Given that King Boliang clearly harbored old favors towards Wei-Li, if there were still opposing voices within the Gao family, there was only one possibility: those opposing voices also came from Purple Palace cultivators.

'Within the Gao family, there is one, or even more, Purple Palace cultivators who wish to restore the Shi Lou surname and sever ties with Wei. They likely used Jiang Huzhi's seniority as an excuse to demand his crossing of the river... This perfectly aligned with the north's need for discord, with both sides pressuring him, which led to King Boliang's journey south... If Gao Fu hadn't come in person, it would have been a Gao family member with the compound surname Shi Lou, and the situation would undoubtedly have become extremely ugly. That's why he had to come himself!'

Tinglan gazed at him for a moment and replied, "Precisely. Shi Louwei and Shi Lou Yingge are both members of the Gao family... For years, the Gao family has been entangled in matters concerning their service to Wei..." Being from Qidi, she naturally understood this matter well; otherwise, she wouldn't have rushed over. Now, her eyes held a cold glint as she whispered, "Senior Xijiang had a high reputation, and in his remaining years, his only wish was to meet a descendant of Wei... If the senior had died at your hands, or suffered any ill-treatment, the northern forces would likely have immediately sent Shi Lou Purple Palace cultivators to rush down and create a major disturbance, seizing the opportunity to sever the relationship between the Gao and Li families with a single stroke! But they waited and waited, and Jiang Huzhi remained safe and sound at your home, still with a breath of life, able to distinguish right from wrong, and leaving his final words. So, they had to settle for a secondary plan, forcing Gao Fu to come. On one hand, it was to sow discord, but on the other... this hidden piece was instead turned against King Boliang himself!"

She only spoke half of it, but Li Zhouwei understood, narrowing his eyes: "The northern families had just jointly schemed against the Buddhist cultivators and reaped the benefits, and now retaliation was immediately upon them, forcing King Boliang to cross the river. Yet, at this moment, no one was paying him any heed. The severity of the mutual scheming and harm within the North is evident!" In the current awkward situation of Wei-Li, King Boliang, an adopted prince of Zhao, already carried no small suspicion. Yet, he was remarkably polite towards Wei-Li... What's more, King Boliang Gao Fu was known for his benevolence and gratitude; he wouldn't even utter a single word like 'fellow Daoist'.

'And this King Boliang and Jiang Huzhi held no ill will towards my family; in fact, Jiang Huzhi's initial intention was merely to visit my home...'

Tinglan nodded gently and said softly, "Now, all along the Huaijiang Dao, rumors will surely spread about the Gao family's sympathy for Wei-Li. This is truly not a good thing for King Boliang."

Li Zhouwei stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the surging river below, remaining silent for a long time before saying softly, "King Boliang possesses great charisma. Having now persuaded the Three Immortal Sects, and with little malice towards the south, there are naturally many who wish to force him out! They cannot tolerate him for a moment."

True Person Tinglan sipped her tea in the pavilion, finally letting the matter drop, and asked, "Why is Zhaojing not here?" Li Zhouwei understood her meaning. Had they known the situation beforehand, it would naturally have been better for Li Ximing to come and welcome them. However, firstly, they were unaware of Gao Fu's journey south or its significance, making it difficult to prepare. Secondly... Li Ximing was also not present, so he said, "An elder wishes to find a spiritual flame and has already gone overseas. They won't be able to return anytime soon."

"Spiritual flame..." At Li Zhouwei's words, Tinglan was slightly puzzled and replied, "Is it for you... there's no need to be so urgent..." Li Zhouwei looked at her somewhat concerned expression, a thought stirring within him, and replied, "No, it's for an ancestral secret art that requires the Li Fire to be performed. Since it has been delayed, I thought of going out to seek some clues." Only then did Tinglan understand. She pondered and said, "Regarding Li Fire, Yue state explicitly has a portion in Heng Zhu's possession. As for Wu state, the Qing family also had some back then, but they are all arrogant and difficult to deal with, and spiritual flames are not easily traded like other items."

She spoke of Li Fire, but in reality, if his family acquired a spiritual flame, there was a high probability they could use the 'Runyang Method' to exchange for Li Fire. However, Li Zhouwei understood the value of the Runyang Method and would not easily reveal it, so he feigned disappointment and shook his head.

Tinglan, however, took it to heart, and said earnestly, "I previously mentioned the Southern Barbarian Lands to him; he could go and look there. I'll also make arrangements for him here and will inform you if I get any news." Li Zhouwei was somewhat surprised. He nodded, preparing to bid farewell, when Tinglan softly said, "These past few days... Zhu Gong's injuries have steadily worsened. Injury on top of injury is already troublesome, but a few days ago, her spiritual body also showed signs of collapse. For a while, she won't be curable. In the East Sea, Heng Xing was very displeased with her and refused to acknowledge her in the slightest. Hou Fu was asked to examine her a few days ago, and found her condition difficult to manage. This visit was originally to seek out Zhaojing."

Li Zhouwei frowned inwardly. He was not familiar with Zhu Gong, would not make decisions for Li Ximing, and was even less willing to interact much. He replied, "The elder won't be gone for too long. Once he returns, I will certainly inform him." Tinglan nodded silently and soon departed from the pavilion, leaving Li Zhouwei standing in the mountain breeze. The river surged below, with jagged rocks and rising white waves. It wasn't until the sunset that he exhaled deeply and murmured, "Who can truly be free!"

The Southern Barbarian Lands.

Mountains rose and fell, dense jungles teemed, birds soared, and hordes of demons roared. Ridge after ridge of demon lands, nation after nation of demons, pressed against each other. Li Ximing traversed tens of thousands of miles, first from Zhulu to the South Sea, then from the South Sea to Shahua, bypassing the Piao people's country, and flying all the way to the Myriad Demon Ridges bordering the Great West Plain.

Along this journey, carnage was rampant, blood stained the ground everywhere. Nearby were several Purple Palace nations, but upon reaching the deeper regions, indeed, demons reigned supreme, governing their countries with an iron fist. The indigenous people were gaunt and bony, like cattle or sheep, scurrying away with heads bowed, while the fat-headed, big-eared demons rode in high carriages, galloping past. There were many indigenous people here, but none spoke the Chinese language; they each used their own tongues. Their customs were also similar to those of demons; they didn't know how to use cups or chopsticks, eating only with their hands. Most practiced some form of Buddhist magic, but couldn't even be called monks.

Li Ximing took a brief look and understood: 'Buddhist Dharma is indeed effective; it allows people to peacefully await death, hoping for a better next life. These demon nations also like to use it.'

Looking at it this way, these indigenous people weren't living well either. In the north, commoners were everywhere, only seeking death, but at least they had land to cultivate. Here, however, all four regions were numb, begging for scraps from demons to survive—it was even worse than the north! Demons were not skilled in formation arts, and there was nothing to taboo in these places. Li Ximing journeyed through the Void and soon arrived at the so-called Xipo Kingdom.

This kingdom was grand and opulent, built around a tall mountain. Unlike the pavilions and courtyards of Jiangnan, high towers and bell towers were seen everywhere. Winds swayed precious trees, five-colored mists shimmered, and a thousand kinds of exotic flowers bloomed everywhere. Remarkably, hardly any human figures were seen; instead, various kinds of demons, all clad in garments, came and went, making it extremely lively. However, a thousand li outside this mountain, one would find hell: smoke and conflict everywhere, various demon tribes fiercely fighting each other, offering blood sacrifices to the central city-state.

'This place is already where demons enslave demons, with no human presence to be seen; it is a pure demon kingdom...'

Li Ximing descended on a ray of light. From within the magnificent pagoda, a pair of demon generals immediately rode the wind to greet him. After a glance, one demon bowed to him, gesturing for him to wait a moment, while the other immediately turned and called towards the dark, cavernous entrance of the pagoda. Inside the pagoda, bells rang loudly. Two rows of demon generals rushed out. Clouds rose into the sky, auspicious clouds enveloped the area, and from the depths of the pagoda came a loud cry, a chaotic roar in an unknown language: "Awooo..."

Then auspicious energy surged, and dazzling golden light emanated. A man flew out from within the pagoda, with white and red pupils, an insidious yet handsome face. He wore armor made of white bones and blood-colored silk, exuding a fearsome and terrifying aura. A pair of golden wings sprouted from his back, and he stepped on rising golden clouds, staring at Li Ximing. This demon exuded a majestic aura, accumulating auspicious light. In his hand, he held a resplendent long blade. He was at the early stage of Purple Palace cultivation, yet divine powers flowed through his eyes, and he trod on auspicious clouds, giving Li Ximing an extremely dangerous feeling. This demon was none other than the Great Sahaba King of Xipo Kingdom!

'Anyone who can fight their way to prominence in the depths of the Southern Barbarian Lands and establish their own demon kingdom is not weak. This is vastly different from the East Sea and South Sea where dragon kin hold supreme positions. This one is not only of noble lineage but is likely very formidable in combat!'

Li Ximing glanced, assessed his spiritual body, then cupped his hands slightly and replied, "I am Zhaojing, from Moonview Lake." The demon was slightly startled, then came to a sudden realization. When he spoke, it was surprisingly standard Mandarin, even with a Jiangnan accent: "Ah, so it's a fellow Daoist! Please, come in!" Li Ximing was secretly astonished. However, the demon seemed well-versed in Jiangnan customs; he did not invite Li Ximing into the pagoda, but instead pointed to a colorful small building over a pond, smiling, "I did not know of True Person's esteemed presence; please forgive my offense!"