[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 18

Chapter 59 Where is the Evil Emperor? After
seeing Song Shidao off, Yuan Yueze chatted with Song Yuhua and Dugu Feng while waiting for the girl to wake up.
Upon seeing the sleeping girl in the inner room, Dugu Feng's sensitive jealousy flared up again, and Yuan Yueze had to explain in detail before her jealousy subsided somewhat.
When the girl woke up, it was already late.
Sitting at the table, Yuan Yueze carefully questioned the girl about her name, background, and future plans.
The girl was surprised to see two older sisters appear out of nowhere, one of whom was incredibly beautiful. Yuan Yueze, who had removed his thin mask, was also extremely handsome. Fortunately, she recognized him from his voice and clothing as the middle-aged man who had saved her at dusk. After a moment of stunned silence, she began to recount her story.
This girl was actually Xiao He'er.
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "Your real name is Yin Xiaoji, you have an older brother named Yin Xianhe, and you used to have two close friends, one named Xiao You and the other Xiao Qian, right?"
Xiao He'er stared at Yuan Yueze in disbelief, and Song Yuhua quickly explained to her. Little He'er exclaimed in disbelief, "So Big Brother is Yuan Yueze!"
Yuan Yueze nodded slightly, then discussed it with Song Yuhua and decided to temporarily send her to a stable place like Luoyang. It was better than her being a pickpocket in Xiangyang every day, barely making ends meet.
Upon hearing that she was to be sent away, Little He'er's expression immediately became unnatural.
Yuan Yueze comforted her, "I know about your background. The three of you escaped from the clutches of the Xiang family. After leaving Jiangdu, you wandered to Xiangyang, where you were taken in as goddaughters by the most outstanding courtesan in Xiangyang. You disguised yourself as a man and mingled on the streets, while the other two were trained to be talented women who performed but did not sell their bodies. Later, the courtesan retired and married. You and Xiao You stayed in Xiangyang, while the other went to Chang'an to try your luck."
Little He'er nodded numbly.
Yuan Yueze continued, "I have some things to take care of, so I must leave here as soon as possible. We can redeem your friend Xiao You later, and you can stay in Luoyang. Your other friend and your brother are still alive. I will do my best to find them and reunite you."
Xiao He'er was stunned at first, then her body trembled violently, tears welling in her eyes. She shook her head repeatedly, saying, "It's impossible! My brother was beaten to death long ago."
After a while of comforting, Xiao He'er calmed down. Yuan Yueze also felt that saying more would be pointless; they would understand everything when they met again.
Dugu Feng said hatefully from the side, "The Baling Gang is truly heinous; we will never let them go."
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "That's for sure, but right now, let's save them and leave this place first."
Xiao He'er nodded hurriedly.
Yuan Yueze disguised himself again and went out with Xiao He'er. After redeeming the alluring Xiao You, Yuan Yueze carefully put away the four women and left Xiangyang alone that night.
His primary target was Xiang Yutian's four villains. Only through them could Yuan Yueze possibly uncover the secrets of Xiang Yutian or the Holy Venerable.
However, unable to ascertain when the four villains would appear, and wary of the exact location of Qiyun Temple and the Demon-Subduing Cave, Yuan Yueze planned to first visit the pregnant Shang Qingya at the Pegasus Ranch, along with Lu Miaozi and Shang Xiuxun who were caring for her. He also hoped to learn about Xiang Yutian's past and the secrets of the Demon-Subduing Cave beneath Qiyun Temple from Lu Miaozi, since Lu Miaozi was the builder of the Demon-Subduing Cave. Upon arriving
at the Pegasus Ranch, Yuan Yueze presented the token. Soon after, Lu Miaozi and Shang Xiuxun came out to greet him, followed by the Twin Dragons. After entering
the Bird Garden and greeting Shang Qingya, Yuan Yueze, along with Lu Miaozi, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling, left Song Yuhua and the other women to accompany Shang Xiuxun. They then went outside and sat in a small pavilion to enjoy tea and conversation.
Yuan Yueze asked Kou Zhong, "How is your recovery going? When did you arrive here?"
Kou Zhong replied, "We recuperated in the mountain city for a while. After our injuries were fully healed, Brother Song said that if we were eager to acquire knowledge, we couldn't miss Master Lu. We arrived four days ago."
Every time he saw the Twin Dragons, they had changed considerably; their personalities had become more mature and stable, and their cultivation had become increasingly profound. In the original book, the Twin Dragons' success in the later stages was largely due to the "Longevity Manual" and other fortuitous encounters, but the various books and knowledge that Lu Miaozi entrusted to them before his death played the greatest role. This was especially evident when Kou Zhong commanded the army. Because of Yuan Yueze's arrival, the Twin Dragons only recently met Lu Miaozi, but this also indicated that their future was destined to be limitless.
Lu Miaozi praised, "These two lads are indeed unparalleled talents; their learning speed and aptitude are astonishing."
Yuan Yueze nodded: It seemed that Kou Zhong was destined to embark on the path of vying for supremacy, but he wasn't worried about such things. After explaining the purpose of his trip, he said, "Master Lu, could you tell me about Xiang Yutian, whom you know well? Also, what are your plans for the future?"
The latter part was naturally directed at the Twin Dragons.
Kou Zhong scratched his head and said, "I heard that the Liangdu area is very chaotic. We two want to study with the master for a while longer before going there to take a look."
Xu Ziling said irritably, "Going there to fish in troubled waters is the real deal."
Kou Zhong chuckled dryly, but before he could speak again, Lu Miaozi frowned and said, "I've known Yutian for almost sixty years, and thinking back, he's never mentioned anything related to the Great Ming Zunjiao or the Great Ming Shengzun."
Xu Ziling finally couldn't help but interject curiously, "Who exactly is Xiang Yutian? How come we've never heard of him? That title of 'Evil Emperor' is really impressive."
Lu Miaozi smiled and said, "These are all secrets of the Demonic Sect. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the doctrines of various schools of thought and religions debated, each with its own reasoning and legitimacy. There was no consensus on which was superior. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Hundred Schools of Thought were suppressed, and Confucianism and Buddhism and Taoism were exclusively honored. The marginalized sects gradually went astray, acting mysteriously and fiercely, slowly forming the Demonic Sect. The Demonic Sect is known for its..." One of the "Four Great Mysteries," the ten-volume *Heavenly Demon Strategy*, is considered the highest secret scripture. Members of the Demonic Sect pride themselves on upholding true feelings and nature, and despise hypocrites who spout benevolence, righteousness, and morality, and grandiosely preach Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Due to their fragmented nature and suppression by the rulers, the Demonic Sect quickly declined and split into two factions and six paths. The two factions are the Yin Gui Sect and the Hua Jian Sect, and the six paths are the Evil Extreme Path, the Extinction of Emotion Path, the True Transmission Path, the Heaven-Mending Path, the Heavenly Lotus Path, and the Demonic Appearance Path. The True Transmission Path further split into two, respectively... "It's the true teachings of the Dao Ancestor and the Laozi Temple. The sect leader of the Evil Extreme Path is known as the 'Evil Emperor,' and the thirteenth and last 'Evil Emperor' was Xiang Yutian. Apart from those in the Demonic Sect, very few people know about Yutian. In this world, I'm probably the only one who has ever seen him in person. More than thirty years ago, he retired and secretly cultivated the most secret and unfathomable technique of the Demonic Sect, the 'Great Demon Seed Technique of the Dao Heart,' which no one dared to practice. He later suffered a qi deviation and died."
Shuanglong listened with great interest.
Kou Zhong suddenly asked, "Compared to this 'Evil Emperor' and 'Empress of the Underworld,' which is stronger?"
Yuan Yueze knew he must be thinking about the scene he and Zhu Yuyan had staged a while ago, so he laughed and said, "Xiang Yutian is definitely more than a step above the Empress of the Underworld."
Kou Zhong made an exaggerated expression and was about to speak again when he saw Yuan Yueze frown and say in a deep voice, "Didn't Xiang Yutian rely on absorbing the primordial essence from the 'Evil Emperor's Relic' to cultivate the 'Great Demon Seed Technique of the Dao Heart'? I forgot to ask why the relic ended up in Master Lu's hands? And how did Master Lu confirm his death?"
Kou Zhong interjected, "What exactly is the 'Evil Emperor's Relic'?"
Yuan Yueze was amused by his repeated interruptions, but still patiently explained, "This is the most secret matter of the Demonic Sect, something even they themselves are strictly forbidden to mention. The 'Evil Emperor's Relic' was originally a burial object discovered by the first Evil Emperor, Xie Bo, in an ancient tomb dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, while searching for a set of silk manuscripts related to medicine. This tomb was located within the territory of the ancient Qi State. The tomb chamber was grand and magnificent, and the burial objects were extremely luxurious. The fact that there were as many as a hundred horses buried alive shows that even if the tomb's owner was not a king or general, he still held a very high position of power and influence.
Although Xie Bo was incompatible with the orthodox Confucianism of the time, leading to his cynicism and eccentric behavior, he was not an irredeemable evil person. He devoted himself to medicine, hoping to use his medical skills to unravel the mystery of the Demonic Sect's most mysterious classic, the 'Great Demon Seed Technique of the Dao Heart.'"
When Xie Bo discovered the 'Evil Emperor's Relic,' it was placed under the back of the tomb owner's neck, covered in bloodstains, and mottled with a crystalline appearance. Due to its translucent, crystalline nature, it was classified as citrine, though it differed significantly from any other citrine. What intrigued Xie Bo most was that this crystal sphere seemed to possess a strange power. Through long-term experimentation, Xie Bo made a startling discovery: the crystal sphere possessed the extraordinary property of absorbing and storing human essence and vital energy.
This discovery was truly remarkable. Within the demonic sects, various evil techniques and methods for absorbing the power of others had long been circulating. However… No matter how skilled the practitioner, absorbing another's true energy is only auxiliary or temporary. No one can truly and permanently possess someone else's decades of accumulated power and increase their own power dramatically and endlessly. Even if it were possible, due to the inherent differences in true energy, it would only be harmful, easily leading to the danger of qi deviation.
A more advanced method is through the art of male-female energy cultivation, absorbing the other's primordial yin and yang, but this is still only auxiliary and carries inherent risks; it is not the superior method. However, primordial essence is a completely different and mysterious matter.
Taoism speaks of the Three Origins, which in the heavens... The three lights of the sun, moon, and stars are the three essential elements of water, fire, and earth on earth, and the three substances of essence, energy, and spirit in humans. Refining essence into energy, refining energy into spirit, and refining spirit to return to emptiness constitute the entire Taoist cultivation process. Among the three elements of primordial essence, primordial energy, and primordial spirit, primordial essence is the foundation of everything; primordial energy and primordial spirit are obtained by cultivating and elevating primordial essence. Primordial energy and primordial spirit vary depending on the circumstances and methods of each cultivator, but primordial essence remains consistent.
This discovery overjoyed Xie Bo. After years of research, he finally created a method to infuse primordial essence into crystal spheres. At that time, he was not far from his ultimate return. Before his death, he poured all his primordial essence into the sphere and instructed his descendants to find a way to extract it. From then on, the sphere was named the 'Holy Emperor's Relic'.
This brought about the most troublesome problem for the two demonic sects and the most evil path among the six paths. A person as learned, insightful, and wise as Xie Bo was truly a once-in-a-century find. Although successive generations of inheritors had racked their brains and tried every possible method, they were like sitting on a mountain of treasure, yet could not share even a fraction of its benefits. Moreover, because they did not know the proper method, the relic continuously absorbed all sorts of harmful and harmless primordial energy, making the problem even more complex and difficult to solve.
However… Throughout history, all the "Evil Emperors," unless they died a violent death, inscribed their vital essence into relics before their passing, a practice chosen by the successive leaders of the Evil Path.
Due to various circumstances, researching how to extract the vital essence from relics became extremely dangerous; a single misstep could lead to demonic possession. Occasionally, someone would be able to extract beneficial vital energy from relics, indeed multiplying their power, a fact that fueled the relentless pursuit of successive generations. However, the method of extracting the vital essence from relics remained a mystery. Until Xiang Yutian, with his extraordinary talent, cultivated the "Dao Heart Demon Seed"... "It was only after Xie Bo suddenly comprehended the 'Refining Essence into Qi
Great Method' for extracting the essence of the relic that his dream was realized." Lu Miaozi interrupted him, saying, "I don't know exactly how Yutian cultivated the 'Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa' (Great Method of Planting Demons in the Dao Heart), but he only secluded himself for two years before encountering problems while cultivating it. Seeing that none of his four disciples were capable, he found me before his death, entrusted the relic to me, and told me about the 'Refining Essence into Qi Great Method' for extracting its essence. He instructed me to find capable individuals from other factions of the Demonic Sect and pass it on to the relic, so that unification could be achieved." The Demonic Path ended the centuries-long fragmentation and incessant infighting within the Demonic Sect. He then said he would die in the Demon-Subduing Cave beneath Qiyun Temple and left. Seeing that no one in the Demonic Sect was yet qualified to receive the relic, I secretly hid it within Yang Gong's Treasure Vault. Later, I told you the whereabouts of the 'Refining Essence into Qi Great Method' and the 'Evil Emperor's Relic.'
Xu Ziling asked curiously, "Did he choose his final resting place before he died?"
Lu Miaozi replied, "All religions, regardless of time or place, whether righteous or evil, have the concept of blessed lands and grotto-heavens, that is..." It is a place where the spiritual energy of the gods or demons they believe in gathers. The Demon-Subduing Cave is one of the blessed lands of the Demonic Sect. Fifty years ago, based on records in the Demonic Sect's scriptures, Yu Tian went through countless hardships to find a strange red rock mountain. After much searching, he finally discovered the location of the Demon-Subduing Cave underground. Later, he asked me to expand and renovate the natural labyrinth of the Demon-Subduing Cave to prevent internal strife among his disciples or invasion by external enemies. The Demon-Subduing Cave ultimately became his final resting place.
Yuan Yueze then asked, "So that means Master Lu didn't personally witness Xiang Yu Tian's death?"
Lu Miaozi nodded, puzzled.
Yuan Yueze repeatedly tapped his temples with his knuckles, closed his eyes, and leaned heavily back in his chair.
To others in this timeline, Xiang Yu Tian's death was not suspicious, because he was inherently too mysterious. However, for Yuan Yueze, Xiang Yutian's death was shrouded in mystery. If he combined the accounts from this timeline with those in *The Legend of the Borderlands*, Yuan Yueze gained some insight: Xiang Yutian had deceived everyone, including his lifelong friend Lu Miaozi. He wasn't actually dead; he had simply long ago grasped the meaning of life and death and could transcend time at any moment.
But this was currently only speculation; the best approach was to investigate personally.
After sharing his thoughts with Lu Miaozi, who was unfamiliar with *The Legend of the Borderlands*, Lu Miaozi was immediately alarmed and quickly explained the location of Qiyun Temple and all the mechanisms and secret passages within the Demon-Subduing Cave to Yuan Yueze in detail.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Yuan Yueze, after discussing with the women, decided to set off with only the persistent Dugu Feng. Song Yuhua stayed behind, caring for Shang Qingya with Shang Xiuxun while also sending a message to Luoyang, waiting for Shen Luoyan to send someone to fetch them and Xiao He'er to live in Luoyang.
The two dragons decided to stay with Lu Miaozi for a short while longer, simply bidding farewell to Yuan Yueze and promising to visit him in Luoyang sometime.
Feeling indebted to Dugu Feng, Yuan Yueze wanted to take her along to practice his lightness skill, but Dugu Feng hadn't refined her body, and her aura's depth and duration were no match for Yuan Yueze's. So, Yuan Yueze simply picked her up and sped eastward along the Yangtze River.
Along the way, they frequently encountered abandoned villages, desolate and scarred, which saddened Yuan Yueze. Following the shortest route suggested by Lu Miaozi, they traversed desolate mountains and valleys, traversing them with effortless ease.
It was late summer, early autumn, and the Yangtze River basin was still ablaze with flowers, a picturesque landscape. Vast forests of different species covered the hillsides and grasslands. Sika deer, golden monkeys, and various birds inhabited and bred, creating a scene full of natural wildness and vitality.
After traveling for five days and four nights without sleep, Yuan Yueze finally arrived at a small waterfall at the foot of Wansui Mountain in Xiuning County, Xin'an Prefecture, at noon.
Qiyun Temple was now almost within reach.
After setting Dugu Feng down, Yuan Yueze let out a long sigh and slumped weakly against a large rock beside the waterfall.
Dugu Feng quickly massaged his shoulders, apologetically whispering, "It's all Feng'er's fault for being so willful; otherwise, Big Brother wouldn't be so exhausted."
Yuan Yueze caught his breath and laughed loudly, "What's it to you? You can make it up to me properly in bed another day."
Dugu Feng was greatly embarrassed; after all, she was still a virgin.
Giving Yuan Yueze a disdainful look, Dugu Feng gazed at the strange mountain several miles away, its rocks a deep red like cinnabar, with countless bizarre peaks and cliffs, utterly mysterious and wondrous. Halfway up the mountain, a temple came into view. Pointing at the temple, he excitedly exclaimed, "Brother, that must be the Qiyun Temple that Master Lu mentioned, right?"
Yuan Yueze smiled and nodded.
Dugu Feng frowned slightly, resting her chin on her hand, and said, "I wonder if those four villains, You Niaojuan, have shown up yet?"
Yuan Yueze said helplessly, "How can we know if we don't go and see for ourselves?"
Dugu Feng nodded and said, "Brother, rest for a while, I'll go and take a look first."
Yuan Yueze was indeed very tired, so he agreed, "Remember to use your internal energy to conceal all your pores and don't let your aura leak out. Just take a quick look at the general outline of Qiyun Temple and then come back. Don't act rashly."
After Dugu Feng made a solemn promise, she flew towards the strange mountain.
Leaning against a large rock, feeling the refreshing breeze and the occasional spray of the waterfall on his face, Yuan Yueze thought to himself that in this era, everywhere was truly a paradise. Just like the rare and wonderful scenery before him, with its array of beautiful peaks, myriad phenomena, strange rocks, clear water flowing through them, waterfalls and colorful pools, all naturally formed, with the water changing and the rocks transforming, intertwining with a hundred colors under the sunlight, making it a sight that one could never tire of looking at. Listening to the melodious sound of the waterfall cascading into the clear pool, and watching the green grass and trees on the bank, the rippling water, and the vibrant colors, brimming with boundless vitality and a sense of prosperity, Yuan Yueze felt a sense of peace and tranquility.
His mind wandered, and sleepiness suddenly overcame him; Yuan Yueze slowly closed his eyes.
※※※※※ Time passed, and a cool breeze blew by, jolting Yuan Yueze awake.
It was already dusk. Dugu Feng had been gone for several hours and hadn't returned yet. A sudden sense of unease arose in Yuan Yueze's heart.
He stood up, looked around, and finding no clues, Yuan Yueze, having recovered most of his energy, gathered his strength and rushed towards the strange mountain.
Soon, Yuan Yueze arrived at the foot of the mountain, where a river meandered, and a bridge spanned it, connecting to the secluded path winding up the mountain. Crossing the stream, Yuan Yueze embarked on his ascent. With practiced speed, he reached the halfway point in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Beneath the branches of strangely shaped pines stood an octagonal pavilion. A small spring flowed gently on one side of the mountain, while the other side was a cliff edge, offering a panoramic view of the ever-changing, hazy sunset.
Yuan Yueze had no interest in admiring the scenery, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat, a strange and inexplicable feeling welling up within him, as if something or someone was calling to him.
He leaped into the pavilion, finding no trace of Dugu Feng's presence, and continued his ascent along the mountain path to the temple.
The narrow path suddenly widened, revealing a mountain stream winding its way through a dense forest of tall, robust camphor trees, its waters murmuring in the slanting rays of the setting sun. Most captivating of all were three small, uniquely shaped wooden bridges nestled among the trees, each juxtaposed against the others, forming a triangular bridge complex that sheltered the only forest path leading to the temple.
The mountain path turned, and suddenly another small pavilion appeared ahead, perched on the edge of a precipice, facing the vast, endless space beyond the mountains and the magnificent sunset. It broadened one's perspective from profound seclusion to a state of near-universal harmony. This dramatic change left Yuan Yueze deeply shaken.
Continuing his ascent, the path sloping deep into the mountains, passing through another dense forest, led to nearly a hundred stone steps leading directly to the temple gate. The plaque above the ancient temple gate was broken. Nestled on a slope, the stone steps were cracked and overgrown with weeds, clearly abandoned for some time, adding an eerie atmosphere in the twilight.
Yuan Yueze was both worried about the missing Dugu Feng and drawn by an inexplicable sense of unease. He took a deep breath and began to climb the steps.
At the bottom of the steps, the open temple door revealed a dark, decaying interior. Without hesitation, Yuan Yueze stepped over the threshold and entered the temple.
The last rays of the setting sun finally disappeared into the distant horizon beyond the temple. The desolate temple was shrouded in darkness. Yuan Yueze focused his gaze, surveying his surroundings. He saw the Bodhisattva statue on the altar was broken and peeling, covered in dust and grime. Nothing else was around; a desolate and cold atmosphere prevailed.
"Feng'er!"
The mystical feeling he had experienced outside the temple had now become a heavy burden. Yuan Yueze felt his heart pounding increasingly heavily, his breathing becoming increasingly difficult. He could only stand before the Bodhisattva statue, forcing himself to circulate his inner energy and shout loudly.
An echo resounded.
How could there be an echo in such a small temple?
The echo came from behind the niche. Yuan Yueze went around it and saw behind the niche a partially opened wall, revealing a stone staircase leading deep into the ground.
Yuan Yueze could guess that this was probably the Demon-Subduing Cave built by Lu Miaozi, and he deduced that Dugu Feng had entered the cave out of curiosity. Worried about her whereabouts, Yuan Yueze quickly recalled the route instructed by Lu Miaozi, swiftly leaping and dodging along the stone steps, twisting and turning as he descended.
In the blink of an eye, over a hundred steps were beneath his feet. Yuan Yueze stopped at a round cave clearly carved by hand, focusing his gaze on the entrance. Above the entrance were three large characters: "Subduing Demon Cave," with inscriptions on either side: "Spiritual Beauty Born of Nature" on the left and "Divine Craftsmanship Opens the Cave" on the right.
"Ahem!"
A faint, ethereal sound reached Yuan Yueze's ears from all directions.
Yuan Yueze felt his eardrums tingle, and the fear in his heart returned. He leaped back two zhang, forcibly suppressing his pounding heart, secretly gathering his strength, and focusing his gaze.
Suddenly, a majestic and unassuming figure, draped in a long cloak, appeared at the cave entrance, hands behind his back, gazing at the couplet at the entrance.
This meant that he had just stood side-by-side with Yuan Yueze!
But Yuan Yueze hadn't noticed his presence at all.
Was he human or a ghost?
Sensing the unfathomable depth of the other's strength, Yuan Yueze smiled and cupped his hands, saying loudly, "May I ask if you are Xiang Yutian, senior?"
The man slowly turned around.
In an instant, Yuan Yueze felt the entire world turn upside down, his chest tightness almost causing him to vomit blood.
This was merely a sensory sensation; someone with Yuan Yueze's cultivation level would understand that this was simply the spiritual aura emanating from the other party, drawn by the flow of energy.
In reality, the man had merely made an ordinary, unremarkable turn.
Focusing his mind, Yuan Yueze instantly calmed down and carefully observed the person before him.
The man appeared to be around thirty years old, with a striking and unusual appearance. His face was broad and long, his high forehead and upturned chin giving him a majestic air. His skin was translucent and shimmered with a dazzling luster. His eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all possessed a robust, sculpted quality, as if carved from granite. His long, narrow eyes sometimes sparkled with a lightning-like brilliance, sometimes held a mocking smile, revealing both a cynical nature and an arrogant disdain for the world.
He simply stood there, exuding an air of dominance and self-assurance. His broad shoulders and thick scapulae, the prominent lines of which strained his tight-fitting black suit, combined with his handsome features and physique, further enhanced his complex aura—a strangely eerie charm and an awe-inspiring elegance.
The man looked Yuan Yueze up and down with a half-smile. Yuan Yueze felt that his thin mask and clothes offered no protection whatsoever; his entire body, inside and out, was laid bare for the man's observation.
By the time Yuan Yueze mustered his strength again, the man had already withdrawn his gaze, leaving Yuan Yueze only to shake his head and smile helplessly.
A hint of approval flashed in his eyes. The man didn't reply, but instead paced back and forth within a few feet of the cave entrance, as if deep in thought. He finally stopped where he had started, turning to face Yuan Yueze, still lost in thought.
Yuan Yueze was greatly surprised. He had clearly seen every movement the man made, but his senses told him even more clearly that all these seemingly slow movements were completed in an instant.
After mastering advanced demonic techniques, mental attacks invariably possess this extreme contrast of speed and slowness, a stark interplay of time. Yuan Yueze had previously learned some essence of the Heavenly Demonic Arts from Shan Meixian, so some of his usual moves also carried this flavor. However, the man before him was clearly far superior to Yuan Yueze in both cultivation and application, which naturally surprised him.
Yuan Yueze was almost certain of this man's identity, but he didn't understand why the man was scrutinizing him, pacing back and forth in thought, and refusing to speak. The
more anxious he became, the more he lost ground in the mental confrontation.
Suddenly, his innate intuition told him that danger was imminent.
Yuan Yueze, his composure compromised by anxiety, felt everything around him vanish in an instant. A demonic aura suddenly filled the area, and a massive, invisible force pressed down on his chest, making it impossible for him to breathe.
The man seemed to be standing not far away, yet also appeared a few feet in front of Yuan Yueze, his eyes flashing with a strange light, as he delivered a punch straight to his chest.
This illusion of distance made Yuan Yueze's already disadvantaged situation even worse, and his mental state became uncontrollably turbulent.
Two invisible energies pulled and tore at Yuan Yueze in different directions, while strange noises filled his ears, like ghosts and spirits from the underworld chanting a requiem. Anyone with insufficient mental cultivation at this moment would surely be shaken and collapse without a fight.
Having personally experienced the opponent's extraordinary mental cultivation, Yuan Yueze suddenly closed his eyes, his mind instantly becoming as still as water.
Too late!
In the instant Yuan Yueze regained his composure, the man's seemingly slow but actually swift punch silently landed on his chest.
Yuan Yueze felt two opposing streams of true energy suddenly burst into his body, pulling and pressing relentlessly, leaving him bewildered and utterly unsure how to resist.
"Heh!"
Yuan Yueze chuckled, using his own vital energy as a guide to direct the other two streams of true energy towards his arms.
He was no longer as confident in his body's resilience as he had initially,
especially since his opponent was undoubtedly stronger than anyone before.
In a flash, the man calmly retreated, returning to his original position, staring intently at Yuan Yueze, as perfect as a statue for the world to worship.
Yuan Yueze was horrified.
Under the forceful pull of the two demonic energies within him, he realized his arms were disintegrating, instantly turning into countless particles of dust, falling apart.
Even more terrifying was that this painless disintegration showed no signs of abating, slowly progressing from his arms to his shoulders. No matter how he tried to resist, it was utterly ineffective.
Suddenly, a question he had never considered flashed through Yuan Yueze's mind:
"I will die!"

Chapter 60: Breaking and Rebuilding
at Zhongnan Mountain, Emperor's Peak.
Cihang Jingzhai.
At the end of a vast, open garden, a small pavilion sits on a precipitous cliff, extremely perilous. Below the pavilion lies a bottomless abyss, shrouded in mist, surrounded by peaks, the air thick with fog, making it almost impossible to distinguish the world from the heavens under the pale blue sky. Opposite, the peaks are sharply shaped, the cliffs sheer and rugged, a verdant expanse of green in late summer and early autumn, wildflowers in bloom, a scene of ethereal beauty. To the left, in the distance, a waterfall bursts forth from a jagged, precipitous peak, cascading hundreds of feet. The deafening roar of the rushing water forms a winding stream at the foot of the mountain. Exotic flowers and trees stand proudly along the stream, creating another breathtaking scene.
Fan Qinghui and Shi Feixuan sit cross-legged facing each other on a futon. With a
dignified and serene expression, her jade-like face as still as water, showing no sign of emotion, Fan Qinghui slowly turned the pages of a thick book. Between her and Shi Feixuan, there were a dozen other neatly arranged books.
Although Shi Feixuan's expression remained as calm and aloof as ever, a complex and unfathomable look occasionally flashed in her eyes.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Fan Qinghui put down the book in her hands, a warm smile appearing on her lips, and softly asked, "Feixuan, has this matter disturbed your Dao heart?"
A trace of bitterness finally flashed in Shi Feixuan's eyes. She nodded, then shook her head.
Fan Qinghui continued, "I have already received news of everything you just described, but it's not as detailed as if you told it yourself. Could you tell me in detail what caused your distress?"
Shi Feixuan, looking guilty, said softly, "This disciple, on my first trip down the mountain, not only lost the He Shi Bi jade, but also failed to seize the opportunity for unification and persuade Yuan Yueze to submit to the King of Qin. I have truly failed the teachings of my sect and the expectations of my master."
Fan Qinghui shook her head and chuckled, "You are still too young, and new to the world. You don't fully understand the dangers and treachery of the world. Everyone has a first time in their life; who can guarantee that everything will go perfectly?"
Then, she frowned slightly and sighed, "Your opponent this time was too formidable. Due to my initial miscalculation, I should also bear some responsibility."
She noticed that Shi Feixuan seemed still... Still troubled by the matter of the He Shi Bi jade, Fan Qinghui offered words of comfort: "Everything in the world has its own destiny. Rare artifacts like the He Shi Bi, whose mysteries have remained unsolved for millennia despite the tireless efforts of countless sages and saints, have their own predetermined fate, which cannot be forced. Our support for the King of Qin is sufficient; we only need to deliver the message. From now on, we will show it through our actions."
Shi Feixuan nodded, her gaze falling on the large stack of books. She said, "But… Master, aren't you curious about these books? It took me five days just to understand the first one. Many things written in them, such as 'matter is primary, spirit is secondary, the origin of heaven and earth is matter, and spirit is a product and reflection of matter,' seem strange, but upon closer examination, they make some sense."
Fan Qinghui shook her head, saying, "Fate is in one's own hands ." " Creation arises from the mind; all things in the world are manifestations. If the mind is unmoved, all things are unmoved; if the mind is unchanged, all things are unchanged."
A trace of confusion flashed in Shi Feixuan's eyes, but she still nodded and said softly, "There is no realm outside the mind, no wisdom to illuminate, no emptiness. It is Feixuan who is attached to appearances."
Fan Qinghui picked up a book and smiled, "This is not your fault, but there is one thing that is Feixuan's mistake. Look at the dates on this; they are later than now. This means that we are seeing things today that will only appear tomorrow or the day after. Don't you find it ridiculous and absurd?"
Shi Feixuan was stunned, and two faint blushes appeared on her pretty face. She said shyly, "Feixuan has only read the first book. I haven't read the one Master is holding."
Fan Qinghui said gently, "How does Feixuan evaluate Yuan Yueze?"
Shi Feixuan's eyebrows furrowed. After frowning for a long while, he said, "I have met him several times, but I cannot figure out his true nature or his depth. Sometimes he is righteous and awe-inspiring, sometimes slightly mad, sometimes eloquent, and sometimes incoherent. Moreover, he seems to have a strong prejudice against our Jingzhai."
Fan Qinghui said, "When I was in Lingnan, I glanced at him from afar a few times. At that time, I thought he was as simple-minded as a child. Who knew that he would suddenly rise to prominence and even gain control of Luoyang, one of the most important cities in the Central Plains. Now, thinking back, he is not only not simple-minded, but also extremely cunning and his schemes are absolutely terrifying."
Shi Feixuan interjected, "Does Master mean that all his past actions were just an act? But after the change of rulers, Luoyang has implemented various policies very comprehensively, and the people are secretly praising Shen Luoyan."
Fan Qinghui's composed face finally showed displeasure. She said calmly, "This is what he has to do. Anyone who comes to power must strive to win the hearts of the people. Yuan Yueze's methods of winning people's hearts are extraordinary. Moreover, from his departure from Lingnan to his reclusion, to his appearance in Luoyang when the political situation was turbulent, and then to his subtle manipulation of the two powerful figures, Wang Shichong and Li Mi, to their mutual destruction, while he profited from it all. Just from the fact that he had Shen Luoyan ambushed in the Wagang Army early on, one can guess how much thought and effort he put into defeating Li Mi and capturing Luoyang. Even pushing Shen Luoyan to the highest position was just a deceptive trick. You just said that he was in seclusion at home and wouldn't see any guests. Wasn't that just to make it easier for him to interfere behind Shen Luoyan's back? Plus, the books he gave you that record strange ideas, which are full of heretical and misleading thoughts, are all for the purpose of..." "It's to disturb your peace of mind. Winning hearts is the best strategy. Doesn't Fei Xuan understand these principles? According to you, this boy insists he's a member of the Demonic Sect. His deep scheming, treacherous, and selfish nature is exactly like that of the demonic monsters. As for the 'Evil Emperor' claim, there's absolutely no need to pay attention to it."
Seeing the unnatural look flash again in Shi Fei Xuan's eyes, Fan Qinghui's face darkened, and her voice turned cold: "Moreover, according to you, this person seems dissatisfied with our Buddhist sect. I fear that once his status in the hearts of the people rises to a certain level, he will become a second Tuoba Tao or Yuwen Yong, and the day of 'persecution' for our Buddhist sect may very well come again!"
From the Jin Dynasty onwards, the state, considering political, economic, military, and social stability factors, adopted policies of either support or restriction towards Buddhism based on its development at the time. With the increase in the number of Buddhist monks, the strengthening of their economic power, and the expansion of their influence across all social strata, conflicts arose with the feudal state and the secular landlord class. If the court, headed by the emperor, could not resolve conflicts peacefully, it would resort to extremely drastic measures.
Throughout history, there have been four instances of dynasties using force to suppress Buddhism as a whole, commonly known as the "Three Wu and One Zong Persecutions of Buddhism." The "Three Wu" refer to Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (Tuoba Tao), Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (Yuwen Yong), and Emperor Wuzong of Tang (Li Yan), while the "One Zong" refers to Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou (Chai Rong). "Persecution of Buddhism" means destroying Buddhist teachings, attacking Buddhism, and reducing the size of the Buddhist monastic community. Buddhist scriptures generally refer to this as "the persecution of the Dharma."
At this time, Buddhism had already experienced two nightmares. Upon hearing this, Fan Qinghui immediately awakened Shi Feixuan.
Shi Feixuan was startled and lowered her head, saying, "Master's teachings are correct. Feixuan has been troubled by karmic obstacles, and her mental state has deteriorated. Her cultivation is truly insufficient. I beg Master to allow Feixuan to return to the back mountain to cultivate her mind and calm her spirit."
Fan Qinghui smiled slightly and said, "If you cling to things out of control, you will inevitably go astray. Let things flow naturally, and your body will have no attachment or aversion. When the mind does not arise, all dharmas are without fault. Without fault, there is no dharma; without arising
, there is no mind. With Feixuan's understanding, do you still not understand?" Shi Feixuan's delicate body trembled, and her aura suddenly contracted and expanded. There was no longer any confusion in her beautiful eyes, but instead, they were filled with brilliance, radiating supreme wisdom. She nodded with a joyful expression. She said, "Disciple finally understands Master's good intentions. Currently, the Li Tang dynasty, dominating Guanzhong, possesses all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support, making it the best choice to end the chaos and unify the world quickly. Furthermore, the Prince of Qin is a man of great talent and ambition, universally loving and benevolent, and is destined to be a wise and capable ruler
, excelling in both civil and military affairs. For the sake of ending the suffering and loss of families for the people, Feixuan will wholeheartedly support the sect's decision and support the Li Tang and the Prince of Qin." The books Yuan Yueze had deliberately given her not only failed to change Shi Feixuan's mind but also strengthened her previous beliefs. If Yuan Yueze knew about this, it's hard to know whether he should laugh or cry.
Witnessing firsthand the improvement in Shi Feixuan's mental cultivation, Fan Qinghui nodded approvingly, saying, "In the struggle for supremacy, one cannot afford to be sentimental. However, Yuan Yueze is not only a member of the Demonic Sect, but also possesses an exceptionally deep and terrifying cunning. No matter how well he conceals his true intentions or how virtuous he appears on the surface, he cannot change the evil and selfishness deep within his bones and soul." She
then continued, "Feixuan should have a deeper understanding of the mantra 'Destruction before construction, decline before resurgence' in the *Cihang Sword Manual*, right?"
Shi Feixuan nodded, saying, "The Great Dao is vast, but destruction is easy, construction is difficult. Those who cannot withstand trials and tribulations will find it difficult to achieve greatness. I am truly grateful to have my master here today. " "Enlightenment and guidance,"
Fan Qinghui smiled. "A moment of foolishness extinguishes wisdom, a moment of wisdom gives birth to it. After this incident, Feixuan's 'telepathic connection' is flawless and has reached perfection. The next time she breaks through, she will enter the realm of 'sword heart clarity'! However, you still need to consolidate your mental cultivation. Go to the back mountain and meditate for a while. Your time is limited because the situation is unpredictable, and the people of the world need you."
Shi Feixuan said happily, "Disciple will definitely strive for the well-being of the people and live up to Master's expectations."
Watching Shi Feixuan's figure disappear, Fan Qinghui frowned and repeatedly flipped through the books on the ground.
Just then, a nun came to report that Master Liaokong of the 'Jingnian Zen Temple' requested an audience.
A heartwarming smile appeared on Fan Qinghui's lips, and she instructed the nun to invite Liaokong to see her.
Just as he was struck in the chest by the strange man's punch, attempting to force the opposing forces out through his arms but failing and injuring them, Yuan Yueze abruptly opened his eyes.
Panting heavily, drenched in cold sweat, with a terrible headache and seeing stars, Yuan Yueze calmed down and realized that less than a quarter of an hour had passed since he went to sleep. He was still sitting by the large rock near the small waterfall, and his body was completely unharmed.
For someone of his cultivation level, dreams were rare, let alone nightmares. But clearly, the dream he had just had was terrifying, incredibly realistic.
Yuan Yueze suddenly remembered Kuang Lei; the bizarre scene of attraction and resonance between the spirits and energy of masters resurfaced in his mind.
Could this dream, in some way, be similar to his previous encounter?
As he pondered, Dugu Feng's slender figure rushed over, landing beside Yuan Yueze to catch her breath. She said, "There's no one outside Qiyun Temple, and no signs of a fight."
Yuan Yueze recounted his dream to Dugu Feng, then pulled her, still looking astonished, to his feet, saying as they ran, "Let's go take a look."
The scenery and route along the way were exactly as Yuan Yueze had seen in his dream, leaving him secretly amazed.
The sun had already set, so Yuan Yueze grabbed a makeshift torch, lit it, and the two entered the dilapidated temple.
Dugu Feng, affected by the eerie and terrifying atmosphere, clung tightly to Yuan Yueze's arm, looking around nervously.
Upon reaching the Buddha niche, they opened the trapdoor according to their memory, revealing the entrance to the tunnel that had appeared in Yuan Yueze's dream. Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng exchanged a glance, nodded, then he hoisted Dugu Feng onto his back, torch in hand, and jumped down. The trapdoor closed automatically, leaving no trace.
After ascending over a hundred stone steps in the blink of an eye, the entrance to the Demon-Subduing Cave appeared, exactly as in his dream, except that the mysterious figure was absent.
Yuan Yueze had already released his aura to explore upon entering, but had not detected anything unusual.
After looking around for a while and still finding nothing, Yuan Yueze flew into the more mysterious and unpredictable space within the cave.
Illuminated by the torches, Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng found themselves in a strange world that resembled a beehive magnified a million times. In front of this giant cave were seven entrances, each connected to the next, with each cave extending deep downwards, winding left and right, a labyrinthine maze of interconnected caves, large caves leading to smaller ones.
As Yuan Yueze continued to look around, Dugu Feng breathed softly in his ear, "Brother, didn't Master Lu tell you how to navigate the maze?"
Nodding, Yuan Yueze teased, "Feng'er is usually the bravest, why are you acting like a delicate little girl today?"
Dugu Feng retorted, "It's all thanks to Brother!"
With a dry laugh, Yuan Yueze recalled the route taught by Lu Miaozi and entered one of the caves, which was about ten feet wide. Suddenly, he stopped and said, "There should be tens of millions of bats living down there. Feng'er, you must be very careful. If we disturb them, the situation will be dire."
Dugu Feng said softly, "It seems that Sister Qingxuan and those four villains haven't appeared yet, have they?"
Yuan Yueze said, "Qingxuan has promised not to get involved in this matter, but it's better to be careful. I'm going to extinguish the torch."
Dugu Feng nodded, and the torch was extinguished. Dugu Feng's vision suddenly went black, and then the area diagonally below gradually brightened, displaying a variety of colors, mainly white, accompanied by light yellow, brownish-yellow, earthy yellow, and malachite green. Although the light was dim, when she focused her eyes, she could see clearly, and she immediately felt much more at ease.
The cave stretched deep into the cavern, its walls covered with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and cave flowers. Some hung from the ceiling, others stood on the cave floor, or clung to the walls, displaying a myriad of shapes and forms, shimmering and sparkling. The two felt as if they had entered a bizarre, magnificent, and ethereal celestial mythical world. Even more remarkably, the cave didn't feel particularly stuffy; there were openings leading outwards, indicating it wasn't a sealed, dead cave.
After bending down and entering a small passage, their vision suddenly opened up, revealing a vast space as large as the temple above. Above, however, was a dense, dark mass—upside down, they realized it was filled with millions of bats hanging upside down, a sight that sent chills down their spines. Everything in the cave was proportionally larger than in other caves: massive columns, stalagmites, and flowstones created an intricate and complex landscape. The walls were covered with a dense profusion of flowers, needle-like or clustered, clinging to the various stone walls in clumps and bunches, like a tapestry of vibrant blossoms.
After gently supporting Dugu Feng's fragrant buttocks, Yuan Yueze whispered, "Don't be afraid. Once I release my energy, it will be enough to keep all the bats at bay."
Dugu Feng knew he couldn't calm his mind, so she transmitted her voice, "Let's go to that corner, brother, so you can think again about the secret passage and mechanisms Master Lu mentioned."
Yuan Yueze wondered how this place was designed; to design something so complex, Lu Miaozi was truly a genius.
Reaching a corner beside a huge stalactite pillar, Yuan Yueze set Dugu Feng down, frowning as he looked at the several-foot-wide space below, and whispered, "I feel there's more space below, it seems..."
"Boom!"
Before he could finish, a protruding rock pillar that Dugu Feng was leaning against was affected by an external force, and the ground beneath their feet suddenly cracked and collapsed.
In the instant they fell, Yuan Yueze barely managed to grab Dugu Feng, who cried out in alarm, in the darkness.
The cave had many sections, seemingly leading to a bottomless abyss. With nowhere to hold on, they plummeted downwards with the falling rocks.
Slamming against the uneven stone walls, Yuan Yueze used the momentum to propel himself further down, and the surrounding space began to widen noticeably. In the blink of an eye, they had fallen dozens of feet. The bottom of
the abyss loomed ever closer. Yuan Yueze held tightly to Dugu Feng, worried she wouldn't withstand the recoil, and took a deep breath, halting his movement about ten feet from the bottom.
Finally, they landed safely.
What appeared before them was an unbelievable sight.
They were in an enormous cavern, surrounded by piles of gold and silver jewels, rare treasures, books, and ancient texts—a magnificent spectacle, radiating light.
In the very center of the cavern sat a figure.
Upon closer inspection, this person was exactly the same as the one who had appeared in Yuan Yueze's dream! Strangely, the man had been engrossed in his book the whole time, and when he saw the man and woman falling from the sky, he only glanced up and smiled slightly.
Being casually swept over by that glance, Yuan Yueze felt as if all his strengths and weaknesses had been seen through. Stunned for a moment, he pulled the bewildered Dugu Feng to the man's side, cupping his hands and saying, "Sorry to bother you, we meet again."
The man exuded no imposing aura, only a faint smile, and gestured, "Sit."
Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng sat opposite him, eagerly asking, "My name is Yuan Yueze. May I ask if you are the 'Evil Emperor' Xiang Yutian?"
The elegant and unassuming man finally changed color.
※※※※※ Liao Kong and Fan Qinghui sat facing each other on futons in the small pavilion.
Liao Kong sighed, "Unexpectedly, a mistake has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The loss of the He Shi Bi isn't such a bad thing after all."
Fan Qinghui said calmly, "Now Li Shimin is under too much pressure from the Crown Prince's faction and the concubines' faction within his family. If Consort Xuan had really handed the He Shi Bi to him that day, he would have immediately become the target of everyone's criticism. He would not only have to face various external forces, but also face even greater pressure from the hostile forces within the Li Tang dynasty. He only needs to know that we support him."
Liao Kong nodded and said, "This humble monk..." For the past two months, I've been working tirelessly to maintain the Buddhist sect's influence in Luoyang. Yuan Yueze is too ruthless; he's been secretly suppressing our sect. Along the way, I heard news that after the great defeat of the Tang army, Xue Ju suddenly fell ill and died, and his son Xue Rengao succeeded him as Emperor of Qin, stationing troops in Zheshu City. Has the Master received this news?
Fan Qinghui's usually serene expression changed slightly, a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. She replied, "Brother Liaokong, you've worked hard. In the struggle for the orthodox lineage, we absolutely cannot lose to the heretical sects." A month and a half ago, Xue Ju personally led a large army to attack Jingzhou, plundering and pillaging along the way, advancing all the way to Binchuan and the vicinity of Qizhou, shaking Guanzhong. Li Yuan then appointed Li Shimin as the commander-in-chief of the western expedition, with Liu Wenjing and Yin Kaishan as his deputies, leading troops to confront Gaoshu. However, Li Shimin suddenly fell ill, leaving only Liu and Yin to command the army. Xue Ju used his elite light cavalry to outflank and attack from the rear, resulting in a fierce battle at Qianshuiyuan in Binzhou. As a result, the Tang army lost nearly half of its soldiers and generals, lost the city of Gaoshu, and Li Shimin was forced to retreat to Chang'an, where he raised an army in Jinyang. Afterwards, this was Li Shimin's first defeat. Xue Ju, on the other hand, was assassinated by Yang Xuyan, a "shadow assassin" sent by Li Shimin. Xue Ju's son, Xue Rengao, was even more skilled in martial arts than his father, and the general Zong Luohou was both intelligent and brave. Xue Rengao excelled at swift battles and deserved the praise of being a valiant general with fierce soldiers and a powerful army. However, Xue Rengao's biggest flaw was his arrogant nature, which caused him to clash with other generals. Xue Ju's death marked the beginning of the decline of the Western Qin army.
Liao Kong frowned and asked, "Why did Li Shimin suddenly become... " "Illness? And what's the situation in the war now?"
Fan Qinghui shook her head and said, "If the illness was just the official announcement, the truth is that Li Shimin was ambushed by an unknown expert on his way back to Guanzhong from Luoyang. He was severely injured and had not fully recovered. When he led the army west to resist the Qin army, he aggravated his injuries, which led to this defeat. The expert who launched the ambush was most likely sent by Liu Wuzhou. After Xue Ju's death, the Li clan began to ally with Li Gui, sending someone to Liangzhou to offer him amnesty. Li Gui readily agreed and was enfeoffed as the King of Liang, and was also given a portion of the land of the Western Qin Kingdom." After this worry subsided, Li Shimin, having recovered his health, once again led his troops on an expedition. Xue Rengao still held a significant advantage, first defeating Dou Gui, the Tang general in Qinzhou, then besieging the important town of Jingzhou, repeatedly defeating Tang generals. When he encountered Li Shimin's army, Xue Rengao's general Zong Luohou met him in battle. However, Li Shimin held firm and refused to engage. They had been locked in a stalemate for over ten days now. Once Xue Rengao's supplies ran out, defeat would be inevitable, and we need not worry about Li Shimin.”
After a pause, Fan Qinghui continued, “The situation in Guanzhong is even more complicated.” "Senior Brother Liaokong, do you have any insightful opinions?"
Liaokong replied, "The three forces of Dou Jiande, Xu Yuanlang, and Yuwen Shang are locked in a fierce battle, and none of them can suppress the other two, so we can leave them aside for now. Luoyang is in Yuan Yueze's hands, and he hasn't shown his face for a long time. Judging from his various policies of caring for the people and recruiting and training soldiers, his ambitions are evident. As for the Jiangdu area, the fighting has been intermittent, with Du Fuwei and Shen Lun besieging Li Zitong. But Jiangdu is surrounded by rivers and seas on three sides, with deep and wide harbors; how easy is it to besiege the city? Moreover, Li Zitong..." Tong had a large army stationed in Zhongli, another major city, which frequently launched surprise attacks on the besieging enemy via waterways. Therefore, after each successive siege, Du Fuwei and Shen Lun had to retreat to regroup and recover their strength; otherwise, how could Li Zitong have survived until today? In the south, Xiao Xian, with his top general Dong Jingzhen as commander, dispatched nearly 30,000 elite troops to garrison Yiling and requisitioned civilian boats, ready to cross the river north at any time. However, besides being wary of Du Fuwei, Xiao Xian also had to deal with Lin Shihong of Dongting Lake. Until the south was pacified, he could not fully commit to a northward campaign.
Fan Qinghui sighed, "At most, they can only be considered local warlords. If the Du and Shen armies could abandon their mutual suspicions and join forces to attack the city, Jiangdu would have already changed hands, and Luoyang would certainly not be as stable as it is now. Fortunately, some of Li Mi's remnants in the Wagang Army are extremely dissatisfied with Shen Luoyan's actions. Li Shimin has taken the opportunity to recruit tens of thousands of former Wagang Army troops led by Xu Shiji to surrender, and is now guarding the strategic city of Liyang. This will play a significant role in the future when the Li Tang army marches out of Guanzhong."
Liao Kong said, "Liyang is connected to the Jianghuai region in the south, Xiangluo in the west, and Youyan in the north. It has not only been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times, but more importantly, it completely separates Yuan Yueze and Dou Jiande. They cannot attack it, and they are itching to attack it. However... I am still worried about the actions of the Song Clan. Once Li Shimin marches out of Guanzhong, only Dou Jiande and Yuan Yueze can withstand him." "The forces behind Yuan Yueze are too complex. Although Feima Ranch has long declared its neutrality, the Song Clan remains a thorny issue."
Fan Qinghui's eyes flashed with bitterness as she spoke, "How to divide Dou Jiande and Yuan Yueze is something Li Shimin has long planned. As for the Song Clan, with the departure of Song Que, their influence has diminished considerably. Furthermore, the departure of Song Que's only son has further damaged their reputation. Song Zhi is far inferior to Song Que in every aspect, although everyone is certain he will send troops to aid Yuan Yueze at the right time. However, with their low influence, lack of capable generals, and soldiers who are ill-suited to the environment, the Song Clan, having never truly participated in the post-Sui struggle, can only ultimately resort to the same tactics Yang Jian used to gain power. Leveraging their advantageous geographical location, whoever becomes emperor will have to appease them with generous terms."
Liao Kong nodded.
Fan Qinghui continued, "Yuan Yueze is a vicious scheming fellow; he almost shook Feixuan's resolve. However, she also benefited from this misfortune, recovering from her setback and achieving another breakthrough in her cultivation. After Feixuan's mind stabilizes for a few days, I will send her down the mountain again. On one hand, she will persuade several forces in Jiangnan, located between Luoyang and Lingnan. If these forces unite to resist the Song Clan's northward advance, then the Song Clan will truly have no deterrent power. On the other hand, we will do our best to win over Sichuan and Chongqing to support the Tang Dynasty." After
Yang Guang's death, the Sui Dynasty collapsed. The leaders of the three major forces in Sichuan—Jie Hui, the "Martial Arts Judge" of Duzun Fort; Fan Zhuo, known as the "Gun King" of the Sichuan Gang; and Feng Zhen, the "Monkey King" of the Ba Alliance—held a meeting that would determine the fate of the people of Sichuan. They decided to retain the officials and political system inherited from the old Sui Dynasty, renaming Shu County as Yizhou to distinguish between the old and new. The three major forces would support the new government, neither seeking to become kings nor hegemons, but awaiting the appearance of a wise ruler. This matter was orchestrated by Xie Hui, demonstrating his keen insight. He knew that Sichuan, hampered by its rugged mountains and rivers, and its people, simple and self-sufficient, had a promising future but no chance of conquering the rest. Therefore, they simply established their own kingdom, awaiting the pacification of the Central Plains, and would continue to enjoy life under a good emperor.
Liao Kong asked, "Li Shimin invited Yuan Yueze to Chang'an as a guest. Is the story of the 'Yang Gong Treasure Vault' in Chang'an true or false? Are we confident we can prevent him from taking the treasure?"
Fan Qinghui smiled gently, "It should be true. Li Yuan has several mysterious servants who, when they followed the Rakshasa woman from Goryeo, discovered that she spread news of the treasure vault after leaving Chang'an. But Chang'an is so large; apart from those close to the Rakshasa woman, no one knows where the treasure is hidden. As for whether Yuan Yueze can take the treasure, we can only do our best to stop him." To transport them away, a large number of people are needed. If he only cares about himself, his selfish nature, which he has concealed for so long, will be immediately known to the world, and he will completely lose the qualification to contend for the world. "
A look of understanding flashed in Liao Kong's eyes. He glanced at the lower right of the cliff shrouded in clouds and mist and said, "Fei Xuan should have told the Master about the attack outside Luoyang City. Those strange people have mysterious origins. Would the Master like to go and ask them..."
Fan Qinghui's pupils shrank, and she decisively raised her hand and said, "Senior brother, don't say anything. Qinghui knows what to do." Liao Kong
smiled helplessly and nodded silently.

Chapter 061 Absurd History
The man carefully examined Yuan Yueze. A look of appreciation flashed in his ethereal eyes, which were completely otherworldly. Then his brows furrowed slightly.
Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng were both staring at him intently.
The man slowly spoke: "What is your relationship with Lu Miaozi?"
Although the answer was irrelevant, the meaning in his words was clear enough.
This man was most likely the last generation of 'Evil Emperor' Xiang Yutian.
Yuan Yueze hurriedly explained his relationship with Lu Miaozi.
The man listened and said calmly, "That's right, I am Xiang Yutian. But why do you doubt my continued existence? When I was putting on my act that day, I was certain that I had fooled everyone in the world."
Yuan Yueze didn't mind recounting his origins and his deduction from books that Xiang Yutian was still alive. He had no other concerns at the moment.
After a long explanation, even Xiang Yutian, with his current cultivation level, was stunned.
However, in just a moment, Xiang Yutian returned to normal, a smile appearing on his lips. He said, "Your origins are so miraculous that even with my limited knowledge, I dare not imagine them. No wonder you were so renowned throughout the world back then. When I used my spiritual power to engage in a 'divine battle' with you, I discovered that with your current cultivation level, you could not possibly transmit your voice across the entire land with internal force. It turns out there were so many things involved."
He paused, then added, "Do you think that after breaking through the void, I will reach the Upper Realm that your master mentioned?"
Seeing his relaxed expression, and considering Yuan Yueze's personal experience of the terrifying power of his cultivation, he could almost guess that Xiang Yutian's cultivation level had already reached the point where he could break through the void at any time. So he said, "Father-in-law Song asked me this question as well, but I couldn't answer it. Firstly, I have never been to the Upper Realm, and secondly, breaking through the void is such a mysterious thing that it is not something that someone who has not personally experienced it can answer." "This is just wild speculation."
Xiang Yutian nodded and sighed, "I've been in the mortal world for too long, and my cultivation has long since reached the Great Perfection realm. But I recall what a friend who had mastered the method to open the 'Immortal Gate' and personally witnessed someone passing through it said: what exactly is on the other side after passing through that gate—a blessed land or a hellish abyss? Nobody knows. Moreover, he also said that the 'Immortal Gate' is not like an ordinary gate, but a fleeting space. No matter how powerful you are, taking those he saw passing through the 'Immortal Gate' as an example, when you pass through it, your physical body will be reduced to ashes, leaving only the 'Yang Spirit' of Taoist legend, which can then reach the other side. But as for whether the other side is a blessed land, nobody knows, including him, because those who went there could not return to describe what it was like."
If the other side really is a hellish abyss, I might as well just enjoy my freedom in this world. "
Dugu Feng asked in surprise, "When a person's martial arts cultivation reaches its peak, can they see the 'Immortal Gate' that symbolizes the shattering of the void?"
She hadn't read "The Legend of the Borderlands" yet, hence her question.
Xiang Yutian nodded slightly, but then shook his head, saying with a self-deprecating tone, "This question is difficult to explain; I can't think of a way to answer it for the moment." Dugu
Feng was also pondering what the situation would be like after the shattering, but such questions, unless one had personally experienced them, could only be wild guesses.
Yuan Yueze saw that Xiang Yutian had already grasped the Great Dao, and his words and actions possessed a natural and refined demeanor. For example, regarding Dugu Feng's question, if it were asked of someone of status or reputation, even if they didn't know, they would stubbornly deny it or find an excuse, because it was a matter of face.
But everything in this world was, in Xiang Yutian's eyes at this moment, nothing but illusions and fleeting clouds, which was why he didn't care about the issue of face. Yuan Yueze then pointed to Dugu Feng and said, "If senior doesn't mind, I will address you as Elder Xiang, following Master Lu's lineage, and you can call me Xiao Ze. This is my fiancée, Dugu Feng; you can call her Feng'er." This was the first time Yuan
Yueze had spoken to someone with such respect, because Xiang Yutian, in front of him, exuded an inexplicable sense of warmth and familiarity, regardless of his demeanor or cultivation level.
Xiang Yutian nodded, and at the same time, his right hand swiftly gripped Yuan Yueze's shoulder.
Yuan Yueze instinctively tried to dodge, but found that Xiang Yutian was at least twice as fast as him. Slightly taken aback, Yuan Yueze relaxed. Putting aside whether Xiang Yutian would harm him or not, with Xiang Yutian's current cultivation level, he could easily kill Yuan Yueze however he wanted; there was no need for all that nonsense.
Dugu Feng was also startled. Just as she was about to draw her sword, she instantly realized that the two of them were no match for Xiang Yutian. So she quietly watched Yuan Yueze and Xiang Yutian relax their bodies and close their eyes.
Sure enough, an indescribable surge of true energy flowed into his body from his shoulder. Yuan Yueze focused his mind, and his state of mind instantly became incredibly clear.
Coordinating with Xiang Yutian's pure true energy, Yuan Yueze guided the energy with his mind, leading it from the Niwan Palace (upper dantian) down through his ears to the tip of his tongue, connecting with the Ren meridian. It then traveled along the center of his chest and abdomen to the Dantian (lower abdomen), through the perineum, through the Du meridian of the spine to the coccyx, the Jiaji point (between the spine and the occipital bone), and back to the Niwan Palace, completing a small circulation. Xiang
Yutian shouted, "Circulate the Great Circulation!"
The Small Circulation only circulates through the Ren and Du meridians, while the Great Circulation connects the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians.
Yuan Yueze followed his instructions. After thirty-six Great Circulations, he felt his internal energy become purer than ever before. Not only did it dissolve the temporarily unexpellable evil energy in his meridians, but it also drew out the impure primordial energy from his body with Xiang Yutian's true energy.
Dugu Feng stared blankly at Yuan Yueze, whose head was emitting extremely thin wisps of smoke.
Opening his eyes, Yuan Yueze suddenly felt very cold and couldn't help but shiver. His true energy circulated automatically for a cycle, and he found that although it had become extremely pure, it was far less abundant than before. However, as long as he continued to cultivate according to the improved method, his progress would not stagnate like it was now.
Yuan Yueze gave Xiang Yutian, whose face was slightly pale, a grateful smile and said, "Thank you for your help, Elder Xiang. Your health..."
Xiang Yutian recovered in an instant and smiled faintly, "I'm fine."
Dugu Feng asked curiously, "What did Elder Xiang do to my brother? Why does he look weaker than before?"
Xiang Yutian sighed, "I heard about your feud with Liu Yu a few years ago. At the time, I thought that demon had finally met his match. Who knew you would still fall for his magic? You were very cold just now, weren't you? It's natural to have that reaction after the cold, evil energy in your body was expelled."
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "Elder Xiang, could you tell me everything you know about that Holy Venerable? That's why I came to see you this time. This person is extremely cunning." "Point."
Xiang Yutian turned his gaze to the other side and sighed, "This person is not just extremely insidious, but extremely terrifying."
Dugu Feng said, "Could it be that even Elder Xiang is no match for him? Having seen Elder Xiang with my own eyes, Feng'er knows that there is absolutely no one in the world who can rival you. Even the Song Clan Chief and Master Fu, who fought in Lingnan that day, are far inferior to you."
Xiang Yutian smiled slightly and did not answer her, but slowly said, "After Liu Yu attacked Bianhuangji, I traveled to the Western Regions alone. Because I had already comprehended the method of extracting the primordial essence from the Holy Relic, I didn't even know how many years I could live. But my goal is not so simple. According to what you just said, you already know some things about the Holy Sect's highest mental cultivation method, the 'Dao Xin Seed Demon Great Method'." "Right?"
Yuan Yueze and the other nodded and said, "But it's still more authentic to hear Elder Xiang tell it himself."
Xiang Yutian said, "Whether it's the cultivation process of Buddhism, Taoism, or Demonism, from the beginning to the highest level, there are always ancient texts to refer to: for example, the 'Four Great Books' known to everyone in the world, only these can transcend life and death. The 'final step' to becoming an immortal, a Buddha, or a saint, or the method to open the 'Immortal Gate,' is not found in any texts. The Saintly Gate's 'Great Method of Planting Demons in the Heart of the Dao' is a great technique that was conceived out of thin air by exhausting all wisdom and human effort for this 'final step.'"
Dugu Feng interjected, "Didn't Elder Xiang say that you had a friend who could open the 'Immortal Gate'? Why do you say there's no record of it?"
Xiang Yutian smiled and said, "You girl always ask me extremely difficult questions." "Question."
After a pause, he solemnly continued, "Strictly speaking, the method my friend used wasn't pure martial arts. He was unintentionally influenced by some drugs, and inspired by the Taoist classic *Taiping Dongji Jing*, which teaches the method of unifying Heaven, Earth, and Heart to open the 'Immortal Gate,' he achieved the Breaking Through the Void realm using a slightly different approach. However, only I know the details, and he didn't write down his experience for posterity. What we're discussing now is the purest form of martial arts, without any other elements like drugs or tools."
Yuan Yueze and the other nodded, then continued to Yu Tian, "Calling *Daoxin Seed Demon Great Method* a martial art isn't entirely accurate. Strictly speaking, this mental cultivation method emphasizes spiritual power. Originally, the mental cultivation method..." The "Demon Seed Cultivation Technique" was divided into two volumes, which I personally destroyed over a hundred years ago. The first volume described how to cultivate a demon seed, while the second volume described how to fuse the demon seed with the Dao embryo. According to the "Demon Seed Cultivation Technique," there are two ways to cultivate this method: The first method is to find a person of exceptional talent, with a pure and clear Dao heart and a steadfast Zen mind, to serve as the "furnace" for cultivation. Using the "Soul Locking Technique" recorded in the second volume, the primordial spirits of both individuals are locked together, maintaining constant spiritual communication with the "furnace." Taking advantage of the moment when the other person's mind is exposed, a spiritual secret technique is used to penetrate deep into their mind, planting the demon seed and inducing a state of suspended animation. After undergoing various transformations, the person who served as the "furnace" will eventually die from exhaustion of essence and blood. The furnace perishes, and the seed is born. The one who planted the demon then absorbs the scattered three souls and seven spirits released when the "furnace" dies. The immense energy released is reborn, from nothing to something, transcending life and death, leaving the mortal realm and entering sainthood, thus the Great Law is formed. This method is called 'Entering the Path from the Demonic Realm'.
However, the problem lies in the fact that although the human mind has different levels and varying degrees of breadth, it is all in a state of unpredictability, with boundless scenery, like the infinite landscape of nature, sometimes sunny and calm, with sunshine and moonlight. At other times, it is dark and stormy, with thunder and lightning, and the seven emotions and six desires are unpredictable. Those who cultivate this Great Law are like boaters navigating a raging sea. If they are not careful, they will be struck by the raging tides of emotions and desires in the 'furnace,' and the boat will capsize and the person will die. At best, they will suffer demonic possession; at worst, they will be doomed to eternal damnation, with both body and soul destroyed. Therefore, throughout history, although many talented people have emerged, all those who have practiced this method have ended up in defeat and death.
The second method is completely the opposite: entering the demonic realm from the Path. It involves abandoning the person who planted the demonic seed and using the Great Law of Transferring the Soul to transfer the energy accumulated throughout one's life. The essence, energy, and spirit are transferred to the 'furnace' to complete it. However, the reason no one has ever dared to try this method is that no one is willing to make such a great sacrifice. Furthermore, 'furnaces' are extremely rare, and success is uncertain; ordinary people would never choose this method.
Having traveled the Western Regions for over thirty years, I finally realized that both methods were too dangerous. After much thought, I came up with a third method that no one had ever tried: to absorb the pure primordial essence from the Holy Relic again, using myself as a vessel to refine the Dao Embryo.”
At this point, Xiang Yutian paused slightly, a bitter smile flashing in his eyes, and said, “But after trying this method, I realized it was unsuitable. Perhaps someone with your extraordinary body could cultivate a Dao Embryo separately while possessing a complete demonic seed. As for me, I almost perished, my entire body turning into essence and blood.” Ultimately, he risked losing 70% of his power, along with the relic's essence, to save his life. Afterwards, he spent nearly twenty years recovering in the Western Turks, regaining only 60% of his original strength.
Yuan Yueze listened, secretly astonished. Xiang Yutian truly possessed both talent and courage. One must know that a fetus is something born of nature; how could it be cultivated through acquired methods? But since no one had ever had such an idea or experience before, it didn't mean Xiang Yutian's idea was necessarily wrong, just too unbelievable. More importantly, the danger of this third method was no less than the first two. The
Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique was truly too miraculous and bizarre.
Xiang Yutian continued, "Then I returned to the Central Plains, intending to find a quiet place to further ponder how to cultivate the Demon Seed Technique. While searching for a blessed land, one day I arrived at the capital, Jiankang. Indulging in a moment of gluttony, I secretly sneaked into the imperial kitchen at night. What I saw shocked me—damn it, there were at least forty dishes left over from the emperor's meals! Truly, 'one emperor's meal is enough food for a hundred people for years.'" Yuan
Yueze and the other man couldn't help but smile.
Dugu Feng was secretly amused by Xiang Yutian's mischievous nature. With his skills, it wouldn't be difficult for him to sneak into the palace and assassinate the emperor.
"I casually ate some delicious dishes when a child of about seven or eight years old sneaked into the imperial kitchen to steal some food. I hid in the shadows and used the sacred sect's secret technique, 'The Art of Observing Hearts and Judging People,' to take a look. I was immediately overjoyed. This child's heart was crystal clear, and his will was extremely strong. He would be the best 'furnace' to be nurtured in the future. At that time, I had been tormented by the Demon Seed Technique for decades, so I didn't think much and directly abducted the child from the palace."
As Xiang Yutian spoke, his expression changed from calm to somewhat helpless. "The child cried and made a fuss, saying that he was Crown Prince Liu Yu. I didn't let him go back, but instead took him with me. Although I, Xiang Yutian, am not from a prestigious family, when have I ever done such a despicable thing?"
Yuan Yueze and the other had already guessed that because he had been cultivating the Demon Seed Technique for seven or eight decades without any success and had been tormented too badly, his inner demons had arisen early. Once he saw a good 'furnace,' he didn't remember anything else. Moreover, Xiang Yutian was a person who did not follow the rules and disregarded all etiquette, so this behavior was not a big deal.
“Old Xiang, you can think about it from another angle. Historical records show that Liu Yu only lived to be a teenager. That must have been the successor Liu Yu found after the real Liu Yu mysteriously disappeared. In fact, your actions saved the real Liu Yu. The court in the late Southern Dynasty was too chaotic, with emperors changing every few years. If you hadn’t kidnapped him that day, he probably would have died in the palace infighting long ago!”
Yuan Yueze enlightened him, then continued, “But this is too absurd. We originally thought it was just someone with the same name, but who would have thought that the real ‘Deposed Emperor of the Later Song’ was still alive? It turns out our previous speculation was correct. But he was also a fool, because his father was not Liu Yu at all, but Li Dao’er.”
Xiang Yutian smiled slightly and then regained his composure, saying, “You don’t need to comfort me. I was the one who suffered losses by kidnapping him. ” "That's right. This boy became more composed after following me for two years. He rarely speaks, and doesn't even ask why I kidnapped him. Because I need his Dao heart to cultivate the Demon Seed Technique, I couldn't pass on the mental cultivation method of the 'Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique' to him. Instead, I passed on a few lines of the 'Sun and Moon Shining in the Sky Technique' that a friend had casually mentioned to me years ago. Who knew this boy would be so intelligent, able to apply what he learned to other situations, and actually fill in the entire set of lines, making it a mental cultivation method perfectly suited to him."
Yuan Yueze hurriedly smiled and said, "Elder Xiang, why don't you just pass on the set of lines from 'Sword Saint' Yan Fei to us as well?" Xiang Yutian was taken aback
, then laughed heartily, "I only heard him mention it once, and only said a few lines. We'll talk about this later."
Yuan Yueze nodded hurriedly, and Dugu Feng, the little 'martial arts fanatic,' was also very excited.
Xiang Yutian continued, “Our relationship has always been cold, but he knew he couldn’t escape. After connecting his primordial spirit with the ‘Soul-Locking Technique’ for over a decade, one night when he was twenty-four, I used the mental technique from the ‘Demon Seed Technique.’ But I failed at the last moment; just as the great technique was about to succeed, he broke free of my mental lock and escaped.”
Dugu Feng exclaimed in surprise, “He could escape Elder Xiang’s ‘Soul-Locking Technique’? How could Elder Xiang let him get away so easily?”
Xiang Yutian said, “That’s retribution. Looking back, I realize that he had been patiently enduring for over ten years; his will was strong, and he was secretly on guard. I, on the other hand, was too complacent and made a mistake. At that time, I…” If I had gone after him, it would have been easy to capture him, but he was practically crippled by then, and any movement would have greatly diminished my power. Ultimately, I chose to restore my strength. Sixty years passed, and the flaw in my technique caused by the surviving 'furnace' had been repaired by my calm and focused mind. I had completely forgotten about Liu Yu. One day, he suddenly appeared before me. I didn't know what martial arts he practiced, but he was already considered one of the top masters of his time. Surprisingly, he didn't mention anything about what happened back then. We didn't exchange a single word, fought, and he was defeated and fled. It wasn't until two years later that I discovered he had left a mark in my meridians that day, a mark that intersected with the demonic energy within me. Through telepathy, I was horrified to discover that an extremely similar evil aura was lurking somewhere, spying on my inner thoughts. Those two years coincided with the time when I was planning to take on several wicked disciples. I later suspected that this aura might have already discovered much of the content of the *Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa* (Great Method of Planting Demons in the Dao Heart) that I had passed on to my disciples. So I went into seclusion, and it took me over a month to expel that well-hidden evil aura. I then found this place and asked Miao Zi to build this temple for me, a place with a viewpoint above and a labyrinth below. After successfully teaching my disciples, I seemingly died from a qi deviation. I secretly searched for Liu Yu several times, and once, while in the Uyghur territory, I overheard him... Regarding his intention to seize the Central Plains, he was no match for me at the time, yet he still discovered I was eavesdropping and slipped away. I searched for him several more times afterward, but to no avail. For the next few decades, I rarely ventured out. This young man's cunning and wisdom have exceeded my imagination. Now that you are such extraordinary individuals, I can let him off the hook. After enjoying my time, I will also go and see what the other side of the void is like. Whether it's a celestial realm or a ghost realm, I will go and experience it.”
Dugu Feng finally understood why Xiang Yutian couldn't kill Liu Yu—because he was too cunning and treacherous, even someone like Xiang Yutian was outmaneuvered by him.
Yuan Yueze was shocked and exclaimed, "Then doesn't that mean he's been monitoring me from afar all along?"
Xiang Yutian shook his head and said, "This technique is somewhat similar to the 'Soul Searching Technique' I saw many years ago, but it's far superior. However, this method isn't perfect either. Based on my experience, I deduce that it requires a large amount of mental energy to use, which limits not only the time he can use it but also the number of times he can use it. And once he expends a lot of mental energy to spy on your mind and finds that you're fast asleep, he'll have lost everything."
Yuan Yueze thought back and realized that he hadn't really considered how to deal with Liu Yu in the past period. He had spent almost all his time trying to find out Liu Yu's whereabouts. But in the blink of an eye, he couldn't help but laugh and cry. It seemed that Xiang Yutian had never intended to let Liu Yu go. Now, because of his appearance, and because he had developed hatred for Liu Yu both publicly and privately, the final outcome would naturally have to wait for one side to lose. Xiang Yutian's casual remark just now made him believe that Yuan Yueze would definitely defeat Liu Yu.
Suddenly recalling the stories told by Wang Shichong and the Wu brothers, Yuan Yueze realized that what the Wu brothers said was true, and that he had been doubting them all along. He then recounted Wang Shichong and the Wu brothers' words to Xiang Yutian.
Xiang Yutian listened and pondered for a moment, then said, "I also went to Persia back then, but I couldn't speak the language and only saw Manichaean architecture. I never imagined that Liu Yu could combine the first half of the 'Demon Seed Technique' with Manichaean classics. He must have lived in Persia for those decades, learning the language and culture. Although I'm unwilling to accept it, I have to admit his talent is truly remarkable." He
then stretched and slowly began to speak: "The bright moon hangs in the sky, the clear night is boundless, the sun and moon are existence, the sky is non-existence, existence illuminates non-existence, brightness returns to the sun and moon... " "Darkness returns to emptiness, emptiness and reality shine together, formless and without appearance. Nothingness sets off existence, brightness is the emptiness, darkness is the sun and moon."
After Yuan Yueze and the other person memorized this, they asked, "There should be more, right?"
Xiang Yutian laughed, "I only heard these few sentences; you can figure out the rest yourself. Do you know why I explained the Demon Seeding Technique to you in such detail just now?"
Yuan Yueze scratched his face and said, "You're not going to pass it on to me, are you? Let me make it clear, I can't accept that; I have my own self-created method."
Seeing Yuan Yueze's smug expression, Xiang Yu... Tian Yi smiled wryly, then said irritably, "I destroyed the Great Law scroll. But it has always been regarded as the highest mental cultivation method among the Holy Sect's scriptures, and it must not be lost. From now on, it can only be passed down orally from generation to generation. Before my master passed away, he commanded me that regardless of whether I could cultivate the Great Law, I must pass on this mental cultivation method, otherwise I really would let the Great Law be lost. Now that I think about it, this method is something passed down from my sect, and I am even more unwilling to let such a treasure be destroyed in my hands, Xiang Yutian. It represents the Holy Sect's lineage, and if it ends with me, wouldn't I become..." "Sinners? I will pass on the upper and lower volumes of the cultivation method to those four wicked disciples respectively. Given their selfish nature, I doubt they will willingly come together to restore the Great Law, which means the Great Law will be lost in their hands. As for you, I feel extremely compatible with you. In these short few hours, it's equivalent to knowing someone for decades. Considering our relationship with Miao Zi, and your unreserved sharing of all your secrets and plans, if the Holy Sect can truly flourish in the future, our ancestors in the afterlife will surely be overjoyed."
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "I came out today to ask about your four disciples, but I didn't expect to meet Elder Xiang and learn a lot about Liu Yu. If Elder Xiang doesn't mind, I will personally kill your four disciples when they encounter me in the future to prevent them from harming others again."
Xiang Yutian smiled and nodded.
The relationships between people are so strange. Some people can spend decades together and still be complete strangers. Others can become bosom friends after only a short conversation. Yuan Yueze and Xiang Yutian were the latter.
A pair of friends with an age difference of over two hundred years.
Of course, their almost identical personalities also played a role.
Yuan Yueze understood that Xiang Yutian wasn't someone who blindly followed rules. Although he came from the Demonic Sect, he never considered himself a member of the Demonic Sect, and he had no interest in promoting the Holy Lineage or claiming 'holy grace over the world.' He was simply himself, and what mattered most to him was living freely and unrestrained. However, in Yuan Yueze's plan, the Demonic Sect's revival would only involve it appearing in the martial arts world as a legitimate sect, unable to participate in politics. No matter how uninterested Xiang Yutian was, upon hearing that the Holy Sect could be revived after nearly a thousand years of oppression, and with Yuan Yueze and his group acting on its behalf, how could he not happily nod in agreement?
Xiang Yutian transmitted the incantation and mental techniques to Yuan Yueze word by word, while Dugu Feng also diligently memorized them.
After a while, Xiang Yutian finished his story, and Yuan Yueze said, "I have already chosen the next master for the Demon Seed Technique, and I will certainly not disappoint Elder Xiang's expectations."
Dugu Feng smiled and said, "Elder Xiang, when do you plan to 'leave'? Feng'er still wants to see the 'real' scene of shattering the void with her own eyes."
Xiang Yutian chuckled and said, "I can leave at any time now, but I don't want to leave yet. Liu Yu has been a demon in my heart for many years, but now that he's gone, I suddenly feel the joy and meaning of life again. I want to go out and see how beautiful the famous mountains and rivers of the Central Plains are, and how much I cherish this mortal world. Besides, such a great event as shattering the void would be quite boring if it weren't made a little mysterious, wouldn't it?"
The three looked at each other and laughed together.
※※※※※ Ten days later.
Yuan Yueze, who had been chatting with Xiang Yutian to his heart's content, took his leave with Dugu Feng. Xiang Yutian also planned to go out for a walk. According to Xiang Yutian, this period should have been the time when the four villains reappeared in the martial world, but he hadn't noticed anyone coming. Yuan Yueze, during his short stay in the cave, also hadn't noticed any movement on the ground.
This trip was quite fruitful; he saw Xiang Yutian with his own eyes, confirming the news of his feigned death. He also learned a lot of martial arts knowledge from him, and with Xiang Yutian's help, he restored his internal energy to its purest state.
However, there were some things he wasn't used to.
First, what Yuan Yueze couldn't understand was that Xiang Yutian used the "Imprisoning God Technique" to temporarily seal some of Yuan Yueze's meridians damaged by Liu Yu's evil energy. Yuan Yueze also found that his mind could no longer connect normally to the spatial bracelet, even connecting to the one on his right hand was difficult. Xiang Yutian explained that this was a side effect of the "Imprisoning God Technique," and that it would automatically be lifted once the meridians responsible for the nervous system were fully restored. Yuan Yueze and Xiang Yutian were astonished; the effects of the Demon Seed Technique on the mental level had exceeded their imagination. He also realized that in the nearly 150 years of scheming and power struggles, Xiang Yutian had been extremely wary of Liu Yu, doing so to prevent even the slightest accident from happening.
Secondly, although his internal energy had decreased, his own cultivation could finally progress step by step.
After leaving the Chiyan Qishan Mountain, Yuan Yueze discussed with Dugu Feng about visiting Shi Qingxuan in Bashu, which would also provide an opportunity to gather information about Bashu's internal affairs.
Dugu Feng enjoyed traveling with Yuan Yueze and agreed without hesitation.
After traveling non-stop for five days and four nights, at dusk one day, Yuan Yueze carried the exhausted Dugu Feng to a county town in eastern Dabashan. Unable to continue, he had to find an inn to rest.
Since ancient times, the roads into Bashu have been known for their difficulty, as it is surrounded by mountains, with towering peaks and deep valleys. The great rivers flow like ribbons, converging into one another, creating a magnificent yet treacherous landscape. The journey into Sichuan involved traversing the winding mountain paths of the Dalou and Daba Mountains by land, and the perilous Three Gorges by water. Therefore, regardless of the chaos outside Sichuan, whoever could establish themselves as king within its borders, with its dense network of waterways and the self-flowing irrigation system of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, and its developed agriculture, could temporarily secure a stable existence, earning it the reputation of the "Land of Abundance."
Although the Shu region was predominantly Han Chinese, it was also home to over forty other ethnic minorities, including the Qiang and Yi, resulting in a rich local culture.
The county town Yuan Yueze and his companion planned to settle in was Shangyong City, north of the Dushui River in Fangling County. It was a major stop on the main route to Shu, and a half-day's journey west would take them into the mountainous region of the Daba Mountains. While nominally under the control of Zhu Can, the "Garuda King," the city was actually controlled by a combination of former Sui officials and local gangs. Thus, it was fortunate to escape the ravages of Zhu Can's Garuda army, suffering only limited exploitation. The gangs in Sichuan and the surrounding area all revered the "Sichuan Gang," one of the largest forces outside Duzun Fortress. Their leader, "Gun King" Fan Zhuo, was a highly skilled martial artist, adept with a long spear, and on par with "Martial Arts Judge" Xie Hui, enjoying great respect in the martial arts world.
After booking a superior room, Yuan Yueze stripped the still-sleeping Dugu Feng naked, wiped her down, and went downstairs to the lobby to get something to eat.
He wasn't worried about being recognized in public, as both he and Dugu Feng were wearing Lu Miaozi's ingeniously crafted thin film masks. Furthermore, his distinctive sword, which he had imitated Song Shidao with, was wrapped in thick cloth and tucked into his lower back.
He was almost completely exhausted; he was utterly worn out.
Especially carrying someone the whole way without a break, anyone else would have collapsed from exhaustion.
He plopped down, waiting for the waiter to prepare the food, and ordered a pot of strong liquor.
Just as he filled his wine glass, before even taking a sip, Yuan Yueze felt a sense of unease.
He instinctively glanced towards the entrance. At the tavern

entrance
, he saw five figures: one woman and four men.
The woman at the head of the group was dressed in white, her hair flowing over her shoulders. She was well-proportioned, graceful, with long, slender eyebrows, jade-like skin, and a beautiful face. She glanced around the tavern hall and led four burly men in blue robes with swords to a table in the northwest corner. The five of them sat down and ordered. Their
martial arts skills were only average, so Yuan Yueze only glanced at them briefly before beginning to sip his wine.
Before he had even finished his first glass, more than a dozen figures appeared at the entrance. Each of them wore white warrior attire, carried various weapons, had bulging temples, and their eyes held a fierce, menacing look. Some of the diners inside the tavern, upon being sized up by their gazes, immediately lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact.
Yuan Yueze glanced at the man and was startled.
The handsome middle-aged man at the head of the group seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen him before. While raising his wine cup, his eyes caught sight of the ingeniously designed soft steel whip wrapped around his waist, its joints linked several times. He immediately understood.
This was a highly difficult weapon to wield properly, a product of the Dongming Sect, renowned for its weapon craftsmanship. Yuan Yueze had heard about it from Shan Meixian several years ago when he was with the Dongming Sect, but he had completely forgotten the man's name—it had been four or five years ago. When Yuan Yueze aspired to pacify the world, he had somewhat regretted advising Shan Meixian to abandon the Dongming Sect. But initially, he was just a lazy, free-spirited person; how could he have foreseen the opportunities and changes in his thinking that would follow?
After Yuan Yueze and the women, including Shan Meixian, left the Dongming Sect, the sect returned to Ryukyu. Over the years, Yuan Yueze would occasionally think about the members of the single-lineage clan remaining within the Dongming Sect, wondering how the treacherous Shang Gong would deal with them. He also felt somewhat guilty, realizing that his attempt to show off his power that day might have caused many innocent people to suffer.
However, the Dongming Sect had always focused on arms trading and never directly intervened in the conflicts of the Central Plains. Shang Gong's retreat was a good sign. Although Yuan Yueze knew that he and Shang Gong had a blood feud over the killing of his son, and that Shang Gong would not easily let him go, the Dongming Sect had remained silent for years, causing Yuan Yueze to forget their existence. Today, seeing these Ryukyuans who had clearly changed into Central Plains clothing, he began to guess their purpose. While
Yuan Yueze was lost in thought, the white-clad man at the head of the group lingered on the white-clad woman sitting facing the entrance, even seeming somewhat distracted. Finally, he awkwardly withdrew his gaze under the white-clad woman's disapproving gaze. The group of more than ten people split into two tables and sat not far from the five people in white.
"What are you looking at?"
A furious shout suddenly rang out, and the tavern fell silent. Everyone in the hall turned to look in the direction from which the voice came.
Yuan Yueze also turned his head and looked over, only to see a burly man at the same table as the woman in white staring disapprovingly at the middle-aged man at a nearby table. He immediately understood: the group, likely connected to the Dongming Sect, seemed to have taken an interest in the woman in white, and her subordinates were naturally unhappy.
The middle-aged man stood up and cupped his hands, saying, "What do you say, brother? I was merely looking around the hall."
His tone turned cold, and the dozen or so men around him also glared fiercely, their hands on their weapons.
The atmosphere was tense; a conflict seemed inevitable.
The other customers immediately sensed the strange atmosphere and quickly paid their bills and left, even the waiters disappeared.
A cold glint flashed in the woman in white's eyes as she stood up and said coldly, "I am Zheng Shuming of the 'Yangtze River Alliance.' What brings you gentlemen here?"
Yuan Yueze nodded to himself; so it was her.
Zheng Shuming is the leader of the "Yangtze River Alliance," which unites more than ten large and small sects near the Yangtze River, including the Yichun Sect, Qingjiang Sect, Cangwu Sect, Jiangnan Society, Mingyang Gang, and Badong Sect. She is also the widow of Jiang Ba, the former leader of the Yangtze River Alliance. Originally, Jiang Ba should have died at the hands of Ba Feng Han, but Yuan Yueze heard from Zheng Shuming's close friend Song Yuhua a few months ago that Jiang Ba died at the hands of a relatively unknown swordsman from the south. At the time, Yuan Yueze was still marveling at how bizarre the matter was.
Zheng Shuming faced the dozen or so men who came with ill intentions with a humble attitude, having clearly seen the difference in strength between the two sides. She knew that her side could not possibly withstand them, so she first showed off her reputation to see if she could intimidate them. After all, the "Yangtze River Alliance" still had some prestige in this area, but the middle-aged man in the lead only showed a slight surprise before smiling faintly. A frivolous burly man behind him grunted, his expression full of disdain, seemingly not taking the "Yangtze River Alliance" seriously.
Zheng Shuming and the other four burly men immediately turned icy.
"Is this what they call 'lust at first sight'? Or 'bullying the weak'?"
Yuan Yueze sipped his strong liquor, speaking calmly. His voice, though soft, carried clearly to everyone in the hall. In this situation, he had to lend a hand. Although he didn't know Zheng Shuming before, as Song Yuhua's friend, Yuan Yueze felt obligated to help.
Everyone looked towards Yuan Yueze, who stood with his back to them, exuding an air of unwavering composure. No one could tell what his expression was. With no one else in the hall, Yuan Yueze seemed even more enigmatic.
The middle-aged man cupped his hands and said arrogantly, "Brother, you're too kind. May I have the honor of seeing your face?"
Yuan Yueze turned around.
Everyone saw that he was a rugged man in his thirties, with a strong, bronze face, a slight stubble, and a handsome physique, possessing an indescribable wildness. On the table sat a pot of wine and several small dishes, but the food appeared untouched; he was simply drinking alone, displaying the leisurely and self-satisfied demeanor of a master.
Zheng Shuming's beautiful eyes flashed with emotion, clearly shocked by Yuan Yueze's rugged and untamed appearance and physique. When Yuan Yueze's sharp, almost tangible gaze swept over the middle-aged man and his group, they all felt a chill run down their spines, secretly marveling at his prowess. They hadn't expected to encounter such a rare master, but they wondered who he was.
The middle-aged man's face darkened, and with a slight twitch of his fingers, four figures instantly lunged out from the left and right, their long swords flashing with cold light, attacking Yuan Yueze from different directions.
Yuan Yueze was also somewhat puzzled; his opponent dared to launch such a fierce attack without exchanging a few words. A strange smile crept onto his lips.
Four screams suddenly rang out, and the four flying figures, after advancing less than half a zhang, coughed up blood and retreated like lightning. As they fell to the ground, the group realized that each of them had a bamboo chopstick stuck in their forehead, dying instantly.
The middle-aged man was horrified; with his cultivation level, he hadn't even seen the other's movements. In fear, he let out a shout, feinted, crashed through the wall, and fled quickly.
Yuan Yueze sneered inwardly. It seemed he should send a message to Luoyang, informing Shan Meixian and the other women that they had begun investigating the Dongming Sect's activities.
Zheng Shuming, after a moment of stunned silence with the four burly men, recovered and instructed them to carry out and bury the corpses before walking towards Yuan Yueze.
Seeing her standing opposite him, before she could speak, Yuan Yueze called out, "Waiter, the troublemakers are gone. Bring a few more of your signature dishes." He
then gestured with a smile, "Please sit down."
Zheng Shuming sat down, her beautiful eyes shining. She curiously scrutinized Yuan Yueze for a long while before saying, "Thank you for your help, sir. May I ask your name? I hope I can repay your kindness someday."
Yuan Yueze poured a full glass of wine and handed it to her, saying, "Since we've met, it's fate. What does it matter what his name is? Please, Zheng Shuming."
Zheng Shuming was taken aback, then smiled slightly, took the glass, and drank it down in one gulp. A blush rose on each cheek, and the slightly tipsy charm of a mature young woman made her even more alluring.
The four burly men who had dealt with the corpses returned, scattering in the four corners, their eyes filled with respect as they looked at Yuan Yueze. The waiter came out, looked around, and seeing that the disaster was over, resumed business.
Yuan Yueze wasn't used to eating alone. With people standing nearby, he forcefully pulled the four burly men to sit down and drink, much to their surprise and delight.
Soon, the tavern became lively again. Yuan Yueze and his tablemates drank continuously, but remained silent, creating an awkward atmosphere as they all focused on eating and drinking.
Yuan Yueze naturally wanted to ask Zheng Shuming about her purpose in coming to Sichuan, but in this situation, it would undoubtedly put her in a difficult position, and she could easily give him any excuse. So he simply didn't ask anything and continued to ponder where he had seen the middle-aged man earlier.
Sensing a subtle yet noticeable fluctuation in the air, Yuan Yueze looked up and saw a person striding towards him. The lightness of the person's footsteps indicated that they were at least among the top-tier masters in terms of lightness skill. The person's clothing was somewhat incongruous; they wore a warrior's overcoat over a scholar's robe, and their hair was loose and draped over their shoulders. He was around thirty years old, with a rugged and wild appearance, and generally good looks. He sported a goatee, giving him a unique, unkempt charm.
The newcomer stood before the table, first glancing at Zheng Shuming, then at Yuan Yueze, a look of puzzlement flashing in his eyes. He laughed heartily, "I am Zheng Shiru from Henan. May I ask your name, brother?"
Yuan Yueze nodded, saying casually, "I have long heard of the name 'Zheng Shiru, the Madman of Henan,' and today I finally meet you. It is truly inconvenient for me to reveal my name; I hope Brother Zheng will forgive me. Please sit."
Zheng Shiru sat beside Zheng Shuming, deliberately moving closer, as if intentionally expressing their intimacy. Yuan Yueze couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, while Zheng Shuming felt rather embarrassed.
After hearing Zheng Shuming recount what had just happened, Zheng Shiru thanked Yuan Yueze with wine and began to fawn over Zheng Shuming, easing the atmosphere at the table considerably.
Suddenly, the hall fell silent, with only Zheng Shiru's voice echoing. Seeing everyone looking towards the tavern entrance, he turned and froze.
Standing at the entrance was a woman carrying a long sword. Tall and slender, she possessed an air of haughty superiority, her figure exquisitely beautiful and captivating. Her face was like a flower, her bright, dark eyes cold and piercing. She wore a crimson warrior's robe under a pure white cloak, which accentuated her snow-white skin, making her radiant and aloof. Even Zheng Shuming paled in comparison.
The woman seemed oblivious to the stares of the crowd, surveying the hall before finding an empty seat.
The long sword on her back was ancient and elegant, prompting Yuan Yueze to nod in silent admiration. It
took the crowd a while to recover and resume their eating and drinking. Then, on the second-floor stairs, another figure appeared, slender and graceful, with a straight waist and petite frame, carrying a sword. Everyone looked over and saw that the woman was dressed in an elaborate black samurai outfit, trimmed with black ribbons. She wore a red silk overcoat. While her face wasn't exceptionally beautiful, it possessed a cold, icy beauty accentuated by her overall aura. Even in stillness, her face seemed lively and captivating. She had a strange charm that initially seemed only youthful and pretty, but grew increasingly alluring with each glance.
This woman in black, compared to the strikingly beautiful woman in red, created a striking contrast, drawing many glances and inward admiration. Fortunately, many knew better than to mess with either woman; otherwise, another death might have occurred.
The woman in black gracefully descended the stairs and sat down beside Yuan Yueze, her manner rather ambiguous and intimate. A wave of disappointment washed over the crowd: she was already taken.
The woman in black was none other than Dugu Feng in disguise.
Dugu Feng approached Yuan Yueze, clasped her hands in a fist salute to the people at the table, and then pinched Yuan Yueze's waist with her small hand, as if complaining that he had stripped her naked.
Yuan Yueze, however, showed no reaction, his face cold as he continued to stare at the tavern entrance.
The people at the table followed his gaze and saw an old man enter through the door. He was about fifty years old, wearing a blue robe, with a goatee, wrinkles around his eyes and forehead, a hunched back, and a sorrowful expression. His slightly disheveled white hair, combined with his vigorous and dignified face, made him quite eye-catching. He also carried a weapon wrapped in thick cloth on his back, clearly a seasoned veteran of the martial arts world.
This old man only attracted the attention of three people: Yuan Yueze, Dugu Feng, and Zheng Shiru. The others merely glanced at him before continuing to enjoy their food and drink.
Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng, seeing the package on the man's back, knew it contained Song Shidao's entourage. However, the old man's build didn't quite match Song Shidao's; could the package be just a coincidence? When the old man saw Yuan Yueze and Dugu Feng, a fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes. Zheng Shiru, on the other hand, gave the old man a strange once-over, only looking away after he found a seat.
Yuan Yueze introduced Dugu Feng to the group, saying she was his younger sister without revealing her name. This left Zheng Shuming somewhat disappointed; after talking for so long, she still didn't know her name, yet she was very interested in her formidable strength.
Zheng Shiru said to Yuan Yueze, "Brother, please wait a moment. I'll take my leave for a moment ."
Yuan Yueze gestured for him to proceed.
Zheng Shiru, holding his wine cup, walked to the old man's seat and sat down, lowering his voice to ask, "What is your name, sir?"
The old man first let out a muffled snort, then paused for a moment when he looked at Zheng Shiru before asking in a deep voice, "Who is Zheng Hantang to you?"
Zheng Shiru was taken aback, then spoke in a clear voice, "Zheng Hantang is my father. It's not convenient to talk here; I'll pay my respects later."
The old man nodded.
Zheng Shiru glanced, seemingly casually, at the graceful back of the cold, beautiful woman not far away, then returned to Yuan Yueze's table with a happy expression.
The atmosphere in the hall was lively. Zheng Shiru had been keeping his voice down when speaking to the old man, so he wasn't worried about being overheard. However, Yuan Yueze had already focused his ears, concentrating only on the old man and Zheng Shiru. With the surrounding noise subsiding, Yuan Yueze naturally heard their conversation clearly.
After the food and wine were finished, everyone dispersed.
After walking with Dugu Feng for a long time, the two returned to the inn.
Yuan Yueze had been holding back for more than half a month, and Dugu Feng was even more eager for love, like dry wood meeting a raging fire.
Sitting by the window, watching the shy and blushing Dugu Feng melting in his arms during a passionate kiss, Yuan Yueze buried his face in her neck, took a deep breath, and said apologetically, "I'm truly ashamed that I've made Feng'er suffer for so long."
Dugu Feng was in a daze, her body burning hot, her face flushed, and her eyes filled with desire. Her slender fingers touched Yuan Yueze's lips, and she whispered, "Brother has things to do, how can Feng'er be willful?"
Yuan Yueze gently stroked her soft, boneless shoulders and said affectionately, "Feng'er, don't worry about practicing. Actually, what you lost was only your true energy. The techniques and experience are still in your mind. As long as you practice diligently, you can quickly recover to your current level, and then you can improve without limits."
A look of intoxication and excitement flashed in Dugu Feng's eyes. She tightened her arms, which were already wrapped around Yuan Yueze's neck, and nodded vigorously.
Yuan Yueze stood up, holding the alluring young girl in his arms, and walked to the bedside. He whispered in her delicate ear, "Feng'er, are you afraid?"
Having already learned much theoretical knowledge from her sisters, Dugu Feng had finally awaited this moment. Excitement and nervousness made her speechless; she could only shake her head.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yuan Yueze's large lips once again pressed against Dugu Feng's red lips. Their passion flowed like lava from a volcano, scorching their bodies and souls.
The two young bodies intertwined fiercely, their ears rubbing against each other.
Yuan Yueze pressed his lips against Dugu Feng's flushed face and softly recited: "There is a beautiful woman, whom I cannot forget once I see her. If I do not see her for a day, I am driven mad with longing. The phoenix flies gracefully, seeking its mate throughout the four seas. Alas, the beauty is not on the eastern wall."
Dugu Feng, her clothes almost completely removed, continued in a trembling voice: "I will use the zither to express my feelings, to write down my innermost thoughts. When will I be granted a meeting, to soothe my wandering heart? I wish to be worthy of her virtue, to walk hand in hand with her. If I cannot fly with her, I will perish. Oh!"
Her lips were once again sealed with his.
The bright moon outside the window seemed to be forced by the shameful scene inside the room, hiding behind the thin clouds, too shy to show its face.
On the embroidered bed, heavy breathing and soft moans resonated intensely. Dugu Feng, with her exceptional flexibility, was overwhelmed by rising desire and ecstatic pleasure. Her flawless body writhed violently in various alluring and seductive poses, crying out ecstatically, using all her strength and passion to meet Yuan Yueze's thrusts. The
sound of the phoenix flute filled the air, the jade pot shimmered, and a night of fish and dragon dance ensued.
Time passed, and Yuan Yueze suddenly trembled and stopped. Dugu Feng also let out a hoarse cry, her beautiful, alabaster-like body lying limply on top of Yuan Yueze.
Only the sound of their gradually calming breathing remained in the room.
After a long while, Yuan Yueze stroked Dugu Feng's rounded buttocks and laughed, "Feng'er's stamina is almost comparable to Luo Yan's, truly remarkable."
Dugu Feng squinted her eyes and said weakly, "I've secretly learned a lot!"
Yuan Yueze chuckled dryly, looking at Dugu Feng, who was enveloped in a faint halo, and said, "Feng'er, how do you feel? Your body has begun to refine."
Dugu Feng gasped softly, looking happily at her arms enveloped in the halo, closing her eyes contentedly, and hugging Yuan Yueze with all her might.
To the sound of Yuan Yueze humming a little tune, Dugu Feng, who had no strength left, drifted into a sweet dream.
It was still early, and the inn, which wasn't small, was brightly lit; many guests were still awake. Zheng Shiru appeared at the door of a room, glanced around a few times, and then darted inside.
In a large chair, the old man sat with a composed demeanor, staring coldly at Zheng Shiru.
Zheng Shiru stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Junior Zheng Shiru greets Elder Yue."
The old man coldly asked, "How did you recognize me?"
Zheng Shiru replied, "My father once described your appearance to me in detail, and based on your ability to recall my father's name, I was able to guess your identity: Yue Shan, the 'Overlord Blade' who was famous throughout northern Shaanxi forty years ago!"
Yue Shan coldly said, "I also noticed a resemblance between you and Han Tang, which is why I asked that question. How is Han Tang?"
Zheng Shiru said sadly, "My father spent his life managing the Yin Gui Sect's business and sourcing all kinds of necessities for them throughout the country. He passed away ten years ago. Senior, you certainly understand why he didn't have a peaceful end." Yue Shan's
eyes flashed with brilliance as he said, "Han Tang must be considering withdrawing, isn't he?"
Zheng Shiru said dejectedly, "That's exactly right, otherwise, how could my father have died so mysteriously! Elder Yue, today..." " Your return to the martial world is undoubtedly aimed at Song Que and Xi Ying. Why have you suddenly appeared in Chengdu, senior? Don't you know that Song Que has already shattered the void and disappeared, and Xi Ying has long been killed?"
Yue Shan said, "Does my nephew think that I only have Song Que and Xi Ying as enemies?"
Zheng Shiru asked in astonishment, "Could it be the Yin Gui Sect?"
Yue Shan sneered, "I have been in seclusion for decades, and the Great Art of Changing the Sun will soon be completed. How could I easily forget the hatred of the past? I have learned that several of the elder masters of the Yin Gui Sect are currently in Chengdu, including Zhu Yuyan's prized disciple, Wanwan. How could I easily give up this opportunity to wipe them all out?"
After speaking, his long, slender, snow-white hand, which was far beyond his years, lightly patted the weapon wrapped in thick cloth beside him. Suddenly, a strong white light shot out from the cloth, emitting a melodious soft sound, like the roar of a dragon in the heavens.
Zheng Shiru was dumbfounded.
Seeing the lingering doubt in his eyes, Yue Shan continued, "
I know what I'm doing, my dear nephew, please don't worry." After a pause, he added, "We are destined to meet. Today, I will impart to you the insights I've gained over these decades."
Zheng Shiru wondered if Yue Shan had truly mastered the "Sun-Changing Technique." His demeanor had changed drastically. The former Yue Shan was solitary and taciturn, and would never utter words like "destined to meet." His current behavior certainly seemed to be proof of mastering a divine skill passed down from India. So he respectfully said, "Please speak, Elder Yue. I will remember every word."
Yue Shan turned to look out the window, and after a long silence, slowly said, "Between heaven and earth, everything has its numbers, and all changes are rooted in the same principle. Numbers begin with one and end with one."
Zheng Shiru thought to himself, "Why has Yue Shan started studying the *I Ching* these past few decades?" He didn't dare show too much on his face, only exclaiming in surprise, "Numbers begin with one, this principle is simple and easy to understand, but ending with one is something that people can't understand at all."
A rare smile appeared at the corners of Yue Shan's wrinkled eyes as he calmly said, "The Great Derivation Number is fifty, its use is forty-nine. These two sentences are from the Appended Remarks of the Book of Changes. Diviners have always regarded them as methods for teaching divination, because divination uses fifty stems, and the method of calculation must divide by one, but they don't know that the principles of heaven and earth are all contained in these two sentences. Ancient sages and wise men..." Whenever matters of divination were discussed, due to the taboo against revealing heavenly secrets, he always evaded the topic. This was because the following phrase, "divided into two to represent the two," was the method of divination, leading people astray, unaware that the preceding two phrases contained the underlying principle, and the principle contained the application—the deepest meaning of divination.”
Zheng Shiru asked curiously, “I have also studied the *I Ching*, but I have never felt that these two phrases contained any secrets of heaven and earth. Please enlighten me, Elder Yue.”
Yue Shan calmly replied, “Fifty is the number of perfection; the number should be fifty.” At that time, all things in the world were in their proper place, without any movement. However, if one number is omitted, resulting in forty-nine, then an extra empty position is created. The other forty-nine numbers can then flow and change, endlessly transforming and being used in countless ways. The so-called "Dunjia" (遁甲) is about escaping this "one." The Hetu and Luoshu (河图洛书) are nothing more than the pre-heaven and post-heaven Bagua (八卦), from the pre-heaven to the post-heaven, the heavens and earth change positions, reversing the universe, and change begins. In the world, no matter what kind of knowledge, even martial arts or life, its highest realm lies in how to find this lost "one." With this "one," one can return to the perfect state before the separation of heaven and earth. This is the greatest discovery I made by studying the Book of Changes (易经) for decades while practicing the Sun-Changing Technique. This "lost one" or "escaped one" travels endlessly with heaven and earth, constantly flowing, and exists simultaneously in all things. Lao Tzu called it "Tao," and Shakyamuni called it "Buddha," which means enlightenment. Countless transformations and uses are contained within it.”
Zheng Shiru nodded repeatedly.
Yue Shan continued, “In martial arts, this is the most powerful mental technique. Like in a life-or-death duel, this ‘escaped one’ flows continuously with the moves. If you can accurately grasp it, you can decide your opponent's life or death. For the duelist themselves, the release of qi is the key, and the point where qi reaches its origin is the vital key to life and death. If this key is broken, even someone like Ning Daoqi will surely die. If true qi circulates throughout the body, this key also constantly shifts, just like this ‘escaped one’ changes with the heavens, then the enemy will have no way to grasp or break it.”
After a long while, Zheng Shiru slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, “Elder Yue is truly a brilliant genius, an unparalleled genius in martial arts!”
Yue Shan said, “Now, do you still doubt my identity?” Zheng Shiru was taken aback, then lowered his head awkwardly, saying, "
Elder Yue, please forgive my rudeness, but I have to be cautious. When I first heard Elder Yue describe my father based on my appearance, I was already mostly convinced. Now, hearing Elder Yue's unprecedented insight firsthand, I am utterly impressed and dare not doubt it any longer."
A sly glint flashed in Yue Shan's eyes as he said, "Do you intend to avenge Han Tang? I will certainly help you."
Zheng Shiru hurriedly waved his hand, "No, I haven't had any dealings with the Yin Gui Sect for three years. My father's death was indeed related to the Yin Gui Sect, but I must also face the consequences of my wrong path. Moreover, I alone cannot contend with such a powerful demonic sect. I understand Elder Yue's intentions." Zhu Yuyan Several years ago, I personally promised Shi Ru that I would no longer interfere in my life, and Shi Ru has been living a very comfortable life these past few years. However, if Elder Yue really wants to cause them trouble, I'm afraid it won't end well. Zhu Yuyan is like Elder Yue; she has also mastered the supreme realm of the Heavenly Demon Great Art, and her entire temperament has changed drastically. She is no longer evil and bloodthirsty, and is now revered as another martial arts grandmaster after Fu Cailin.
Yue Shan grunted, "Hmph, then please spread the news of my arrival to Chengdu, my nephew."
Zheng Shi Ru exclaimed in shock, "How can this be! Shi Ru knows that no one can stop Elder Yue's decision, but wouldn't that put us at a disadvantage before the battle even begins?"
Yue Shan sneered, "Sneaking around is not something this old man... " " What kind of style is this? My purpose is to lure out Zhu Yuyan and prove to her that the Sun-Changing Technique is definitely stronger than the Heavenly Demon Technique!"
No one knew Yue Shan's stubborn character better than Zheng Shiru, so he said dejectedly, "Alas, Shiru will definitely complete the task entrusted to him by Elder Yue."
Yue Shan then asked, "Nephew, what brings you to Chengdu this time?"
Zheng Shiru smiled bitterly, "This matter is difficult to explain in a few words. A friend is coming to Chengdu to handle some matters, and Shiru would like to lend a hand."
Yue Shan did not understand, and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, if you don't want to say, I won't ask any more questions. Go ahead, and we will meet again if fate allows. I must leave now."
Seeing his resolute expression, Zheng Shiru realized that he could not persuade him, and sighed helplessly before walking out of the room with difficulty.

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