Chapter 285 - 178: A Series of Deadly Perils

Chapter 285: Chapter 178: A Series of Deadly Perils

Even to a True Master of the Sixth Realm, the Great Xia Dynasty would appear normal. Only the Little Ancestor of the Compassionate Palace, whose Destined Celestial Dao was exceptionally potent, could pierce through the vague disguise and see the abnormality beneath.

Lu Changyuan stroked the hilt of his sword, Broken Thought. "Let’s go to the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion and ask the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master."

He wasn’t asking if a "Cultivator" was interfering with the Great Xia Dynasty out of the blue. Rather, he wanted to confirm that whoever was meddling with Great Xia’s normal destiny was *not* a Cultivator.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master felt he was getting old.

And when one grew old, one was supposed to die, not cling shamelessly to life.

He’d enjoyed everything he was meant to enjoy.

Since he couldn’t achieve a breakthrough, he supposed this was it.

Right now, he thought he might actually be about to die, because he seemed to be seeing the deputy Token of the Daoist Sect.

In truth, he wasn’t certain. Back when he was still pursuing the Immortal Path, he had never been qualified to see such a Token; he had only heard its design described by others on occasion.

He’d heard that seeing this Token was no different from seeing Yama himself.

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master rubbed his eyes, then scrambled and stumbled over to Lu Changyuan. "An Immortal Master from the Daoist Sect has graced us with his presence! To what do I owe the honor?"

Lu Changyuan said with a sigh, "Stand up straight before you speak."

The moment the words left his lips, a jolt went through the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master’s body. As if yanked up by an invisible string, he instantly snapped ramrod straight.

His spine was as rigid as an iron bar, and even his chin was tilted up at a stiff angle. He had probably never stood so properly in his entire life.

Lu Changyuan waved his hand. ’I consider myself a fairly approachable person,’ he thought. ’Why does everyone, from this Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master to that Wang Dayun fellow, react like this?’

"I have a few questions for you."

"Please ask, please ask... Please, have a seat. Have a seat."

What could Lu Changyuan say? He glanced at Qiu Yuehan and Su Youwan. Seeing that neither woman was speaking, he had no choice but to sit down.

"The Great Xia has been at war for several years now, correct?"

"Yes, yes, that’s right. Mortals are so fond of war these days. The Great Yu, the Great Wei, they’re all fighting. Ai, this old bag of bones truly can’t understand it."

Lu Changyuan knew there were wars in the Mortal World, but he hadn’t realized so many dynasties were involved.

It was as if this whole group of Mortal Dynasties had made a pact to go to war at the exact same time.

"Do you know how many Mortal Dynasties are currently at war?"

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master paused for a moment. "At least a dozen or so. After all, once the new year passes and the spring snows melt, it’s the perfect time to start a campaign."

He was tactful enough not to ask Lu Changyuan why he was asking about this.

Lu Changyuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.

After a long moment, he spoke.

"Do you know why we’re here?"

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master gave a bitter smile. It reminded him of long ago, when his own master would use the same tone to ask him, ’Do you know what you did wrong?’

’How was he supposed to know? He had been minding his own business and following the rules.’

Lu Changyuan said coolly, "Someone is interfering with the destiny of Great Xia. Tell me everything you know. Otherwise, you can take a trip with me to the Daoist Sect."

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master jumped in fright.

’You’ve got to be kidding me.’

’Was the Daoist Sect some kind of tourist destination?’

’He’d die.’

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master said, his voice trembling, "Immortal Master, that’s impossible! I’ve been in the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion for nearly a hundred years. Great Xia’s recent wars... Immortal Master, I have never interfered in the wars of mortals."

He assumed Lu Changyuan suspected him of helping Great Xia, so he desperately tried to clear his name.

Lu Changyuan waved his hand. ’This old coot probably doesn’t have the guts anyway,’ he thought. "You defeated the Great Yue. Don’t you find that strange?"

You had just suppressed a rebellion, your frontline troops were short on rations, and your soldiers had been fighting one battle after another. And yet, Great Yue was still utterly defeated.

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master, only half-understanding, said, "Immortal Master, there is nothing unusual about the Dragon Vein, and I have never detected anyone else interfering with Great Xia’s destiny. As for conquering Great Yue... Immortal Master, I don’t understand warfare. Perhaps General Shi is just that brilliant."

’So the generals of Great Yue are made of paper? If they were really that incompetent, Great Yue would have been wiped out long ago, having been neighbors for so many years.’

Lu Changyuan then asked, "The Eldest Princess of the current imperial court—has she begun Cultivation?"

A torrent of words spilled from the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master: "No, no, absolutely not! I would never dare to defy the laws of the Daoist Sect! I have definitely not taught her any Heart Method, nor have I ever promised to guide her onto the Immortal Ascension Path."

Dharma must not be taught lightly, and this is even more true for Heart Methods.

Lu Changyuan looked toward the entrance of the Dragon-Seeking Pavilion and let out a soft chuckle.

"Never mind. Just pretend we were never here today."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master was stunned to find that the people before him had vanished.

In their place, a servant rushed in.

"Pavilion Master, the Eldest Princess requests an audience."

’No wonder the Immortal Master left.’

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master smoothed a crease on the front of his robe, stroked his long beard, and only then said in a measured voice, "Show the Eldest Princess in."

The door opened softly, and a graceful figure stepped into the pavilion.

Leng Xuanshuang was not in her usual elaborate court attire today. She wore a simple, dark cyan dress, her ink-black hair tied back plainly. A chilling, unapproachable aura of death clung to her.

"Your Highness, what brings you to my Dragon-Seeking Pavilion today?"

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master’s tone was normal as he raised a hand and gently pushed a teacup across the low table. A wisp of white steam curled up, blurring his vision.

Leng Xuanshuang did not immediately reach for the cup. Her voice was flat and devoid of emotion. "General Shi’s army has returned to the capital in triumph. The entire territory of Great Yue is now under our dynasty’s control. From now on, all tributes, military garrisons, and the appointment of officials will be dictated by the edicts from Luoyang."

The Seeking Dragon Pavilion Master sighed. "That is good to hear. In that case, what brings Your Highness to me?"

The people of Luoyang were all praising Leng Xuanshuang’s achievements. The Eldest Princess’s name was being celebrated in every street and alley.

For a time, Leng Xuanshuang’s name was even more renowned than that of the Emperor himself.

"Since Your Highness has already achieved such success and has come here specifically today, I presume it is not merely to share this good news with this old man?"