Chapter 1752: Guoling (II)

Li Ximing sighed inwardly and rose to his feet. Guo Nanwu immediately took the hint, bid farewell, and stepped into the great void to leave.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, felt secretly vexed, He has finally returned, but there is not much time left. I cannot afford any more delays... I asked Sima Yuanli about that [Bright Truth Harmonizing Divine Pill] long ago, but he brushed me off. Every one of those pills used is one fewer remaining. Unless I pay a painful price, he will never hand one over!

That was not his only concern. A deeper unease also weighed on him, Minghuang is in seclusion, but there are still plenty of people who want to test him. That Maha Guangchan across the river must be here because of my family. We absolutely have to prepare... Both sides are becoming increasingly ready. Within one or two years at most, conflict is bound to break out.

When he entered the Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance two years ago, Li Zhouwei had still been able to speak with him at length. A mere two years was nowhere near enough for Li Zhouwei to emerge from seclusion. He likely had not even spent much time truly attempting to break through his divine ability, so there was no possibility of him coming out now to lend assistance.

Even though I have attained a Fate Divine Ability, I must be all the more cautious. I need to help Zhouwei weather this stretch... Only then will we have time to catch our breath.

He had considered this long ago. Lowering his eyes slightly, he flicked his sleeve, revealing a golden scroll within. He had clearly been studying it for quite some time. Amid its profound runes, several large multicolored words stood out, [Wondrous Scroll of Divided Spirit and Variant Body].

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Wilderness.

Dim, illusory colors shrouded the mountain summit like an impenetrable shadow, concealing every trace beneath layers of black light. Within the great hall, darkness surged like a black sea.

A man sat upon the main seat above. Though his features were ordinary, profound lights wandered across the armor he wore. As he sat there quietly, another man entered the hall.

After years of being nourished without regard for cost by the [Empty Sleeve Profound Dao Powder], Daoist Master Qinghu, Sima Yuanli, now radiated brilliant divine ability light, clearly having cultivated it to the utmost. There were even faint fluctuations of aura from his Shenyang, suggesting that within the past year or two, he had attempted and failed to elevate his Immortal Foundation.

But what divine ability cultivator did not suffer several failures along the way? Sima Yuanli felt no regret. He was only glad that the timing had worked out well enough to even give him time to make a trip to the lands of Shu.

Now, as he stood before the hall, Yang Ruiyi immediately raised his eyes and asked, "How did that man surnamed Qing respond?"

His tone was far from courteous, and Sima Yuanli hurriedly replied, "General Qing agreed to march out from the lands of Shu and attack Longdi... But he flatly refuses to withdraw the troops stationed near Tongmo. He even... showed considerable disdain for my proposal that we work together toward the same goal."

Great Song enjoyed favorable terrain. Several mountain ranges almost completely severed the routes between Shu and Song, leaving only a few passages such as Mushroom Forest Plain and Tongmo Prefecture. Qing Jifang clearly had designs on them.

Yang Ruiyi's expression darkened, but he restrained himself and merely said, "If he refuses to withdraw, then so be it... Have the King of Yuyang remain in the realm. But what does he intend to do with the forces at Mushroom Forest Plain and Smoke Valley?"

Sima Yuanli was visibly embarrassed and hurriedly answered, "General Qing... General Qing said that his last clash with the King of Wei left him wanting more."

That was considerably more blatant. Yang Ruiyi was so angered that he laughed and asked, "What? He wants to kill Li Ximing to provoke the King of Wei? At any other time, perhaps, but at a moment like this, he would be deliberately making trouble for my Song court as well!"

Sima Yuanli quietly studied his expression. His voice dropped, and even the way he referred to Qing Jifang immediately changed. "I tried to reason with him as tactfully as I could, but Qing Jifang raised only one condition. He said that our Great Song has inherited too much of Martiality's power and has gathered nearly all the light of the Star of Cultivation and Martiality. Even when vacancies arise among the Profound Holders, the blessings of the celestial star cannot fall upon the lands of Shu. He hopes we will yield somewhat... and give them one more position..."

Yang Ruiyi tossed aside the vermilion brush in his hand, letting it strike the desk, and declared firmly, "That is absolutely impossible!"

Anger flickered in his eyes as he said sharply, "This was settled long ago. Each side gathers as much light as their own ability allows. Of the current Profound Holder positions, six belong to Song and one to Shu. My family's dynasty earned those positions through its own strength, so how could we possibly hand one over to them?!

"If Qing Jifang is so capable, then he can expand the celestial radiance himself and make the Star of Cultivation and Martiality shine even brighter. More positions would naturally become available to him, and both realms would benefit. What reason is there for me to surrender one of ours?!"

Sima Yuanli hurriedly lowered his head and, with some awkwardness, softened the other side's words as he relayed them, "Qing Jifang said... the Li Family is closely tied to the Golden Feather Sect and should originally have joined Shu State alongside the Golden Feather Sect, but our Great Song seized them first. By that reasoning, the King of Wei should also belong to Shu... In that case, if the light of Cultivation and Martiality were apportioned properly, it should be four positions for Song and three for Shu..."

Yang Ruiyi laughed in anger. "Absurd!"

With a rustle, he rolled up the wooden slip and tapped it against the desk, saying, "Who does Qing Jifang think he is? Everyone hates him; even dogs would shun him. You think the Golden Feather Sect would help him? They could not be happier that the Li Family joined us! If he had crossed Mount Xiping back then, just see whether Li Zhouwei would have fought him to the death! And he still dares bring up enfeoffment!"

Sima Yuanli could only keep his head lowered in silence. Yang Ruiyi also suppressed the anger on his face, clasped his hands behind his back, and said softly, "There is no need to pay attention to this. I doubt the Emperor of Shu will let him act recklessly. Still, they will probably send some troops to make trouble, hoping to push their borders a little farther east..."

Sima Yuanli quietly observed him and then raised his brows. "In that case, who should we leave at the lake? Should we ask the King of Wei to come out?"

Yang Ruiyi glanced at him, but ultimately shook his head and replied calmly, "There is no need for him. You just handle your own affairs. I will leave Daoist Master Tinglan behind to guard Mushroom Forest Plain, so the two sides can watch over and support each other."

Sima Yuanli's expression changed at once. He was responsible for the campaign against Shanji, and losing Tinglan would be like having one arm cut off.

Gritting his teeth, he replied, "But Shanji..."

Yang Ruiyi did not answer him. Instead, a thoughtful look appeared on his face as he asked, "If I remember correctly, that junior of your family... Sima Xunhui, he has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm by now, hasn't he?"

Sima Yuanli's expression changed immediately. He lowered his eyes with visible uncertainty and replied quietly, "Yes... the boy has some ability. He was once summoned by the Emperor of Song. He is the most promising one in the family... and was appointed a Deputy General."

The moment Yang Ruiyi heard that he had been summoned by the Emperor of Song, his original train of thought was disrupted. He frowned pensively and thought, In that case, it would be difficult for me to interfere.

He kept his eyes closed for a long while before suddenly speaking, "Daoist Master Xianyao of Guoling Peak has been close with your Sima Family for generations. Make a trip to Guoling Peak on my behalf and invite him to the Wilderness for a discussion."

Sima Yuanli hesitated and said, "He does not have much lifespan left..."

Yang Ruiyi narrowed his eyes and replied, "That is precisely why I want him."

Sima Yuanli hurriedly withdrew. Only then did Yang Ruiyi set down the wooden slip in his hand and quietly pace a few steps through the great hall.

The struggle between the dragons and the Compassion Dao at Unison Sea will eventually come to an end. The Compassion Dao will not be willing to suffer too many losses at sea. This battle must be fought. Even if I do not make a move, the north will...

He looked somewhat irritated as he pondered, I heard that Xiangxiong Kingdom has been setting up mountain furnaces on a massive scale to seek pills... They simply have no time to concern themselves with Shu State. Otherwise, they would never let that man surnamed Qing act so arrogantly... Every great figure is making plans of their own... In the face of the great currents of the world, who truly has room to maneuver?!