Chapter 671: Eternal Joy and Floating Li

Chapter 671: The Eternal Floating Li

"In the entire Great Ming Empire, there are many forces that hold power in their hands. Yet for Huang Liang itself, these are merely temporary borrowings, causing it no harm. If those who borrow from it have conscience, and can bring more awareness into Huang Liang as repayment, benefiting both parties, then it is indeed a good thing."

Liu Jinxun said: "But there is one exception—only Zhang Xiege."

"The sword from Wudang Mountain that year did not kill him, but it completely shattered his courage. Thus, Zhang Xiege spent all his efforts to create what is called 'He Dao,' a method of technique aiming to achieve a different form of eternal life through this art, so that if Huang Liang does not perish, neither will he."

"Though Huang Liang cannot discern right from wrong, it can clearly distinguish between kin and stranger, friend and foe. Zhang Xiege's actions are akin to placing a chain collar upon it, attempting to usurp its place and turn the tables, which it naturally would not accept, and resistance is inevitable."

Yang Baize furrowed his brows tightly. Though he had not heard such words for the first time, the implication of Liu Jinxun's words, comparing Huang Liang to a person, still made him feel deeply uncomfortable.

In his view, Huang Liang was merely a man-made device, a product of the convergence of various sequence techniques and arts. How could it have human desires, or perceive kindness and hostility?

"What resistance can a dead object even offer?"

Liu Jinxun looked up at Yang Baize upon hearing this, seemingly understanding his inner thoughts.

Yet Liu Jinxun smiled lightly, not arguing with Yang Baize about whether Huang Liang was alive or dead, and continued: "Zhang Xiege chose to merge his own consciousness with Huang Liang, naturally also receiving influence from Huang Liang in return."

"So what he now sees in the eyes of Shi Dongqing is not merely a facade, but a sincere intention to end the conflict with his own life, willingly offering his body to the Dragon Tiger Department."

Absurd!

This was the sole thought in Yang Baize's mind after hearing these words.

He did not believe that the two mighty deities of the Sequence Two would so easily be deceived and misled by a dead object, losing their judgment.

Though he could not pinpoint exactly where the error lay, Yang Baize still felt that Liu Jinxun had not truly penetrated the matter, or perhaps he had viewed it too simply.

It was possible that the other party had not told him the whole truth.

Yang Baize pressed down the tangled thoughts in his heart, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a low voice.

"My lord, what is Shi Dongqing truly seeking by hopping back and forth between Confucianism, the Imperial Court, and Longhu Mountain?"

"What does Shi Dongqing want?"

In the half-space of the palace, the same scene from Floating Li City was projected.

Emperor Jiaqi's gaze lingered on the floating mountain peak in the image for a moment before continuing: "It is all for fame and gain."

"He wants to achieve the Second Sequence through 'rites and arts,' which naturally holds great importance within Confucianism. Now, not only within Confucianism, but throughout the entire empire, how many eyes are watching this 'the friend who dies for his friend' drama?"

"Shi Dongqing's recent display of magnanimity has completely undermined the rumors about his betrayal of the Spring and Autumn Meeting. How could a person who sincerely offers his life to repay kindness, seeking only to spare innocent people, have sold his own robes and treasures for personal gain?"

Emperor Jiaqi smiled with a long-suffering expression: "If Shi Dongqing can play this game out perfectly, he is only a step away from achieving the Second Sequence."

"To miss by a hair and be off by miles, Zhang Fengyue will not give him another chance to form a faction. In this gamble, Shi Dongqing is destined to lose everything."

At this point, the one responding was a man in his mid-forties, broad-faced and resolute, not easily angered.

"Huh?"

Jiaqi's voice tinkled, intrigued: "Why do you think so, Shi Qiang?"

"Shi Dongqing may wager his own life, but his actions are fundamentally just another improper scheme, contrary to the Confucian pursuit of order in 'rites and arts.'"

The man named Shi Qiang spoke quietly: "Besides, since he began abandoning the Spring and Autumn Meeting, he has been falling into Zhang Fengyue's schemes, one mistake leading to another. How could such a person ever have the qualifications to become the leader of a faction, let alone achieve sainthood through 'rites and arts'?"

"Then, according to your view, Shi Dongqing's desperate struggle will amount to nothing but a futile bucket filling water?"

Jiaqi's rhetorical question made Shi Qiang pause, then he blushed with shame: "I, your humble servant, am too weak-eyed to see any deeper meaning here. I humbly ask Your Majesty to enlighten me."

"You, you, always so fond of pretending to be foolish to win my favor."

Jiaqi shook his head and laughed: "You are the Grand Dispatch Master of the Third Sequence, having served the Imperial Court for years in managing the Honghu. How could you not see through Shi Dongqing's intentions? There's no need to pretend ignorance any longer."

"Your wisdom, your humility is beyond me."

Shi Qiang's face showed no trace of embarrassment at being exposed; instead, he quickly offered another flattery, bowing: "Though I understand Shi Dongqing's thoughts, I dare not believe he can escape Zhang Fengyue's schemes by feigning death with the aid of the Eastern Palace."

"Success is in the stars, failure is fate. Shi Dongqing's ability to accelerate events to this point is no accident. To speak plainly, I have actually been looking forward to his escape. As long as he lives, the factional struggles within Confucianism will continue, giving us opportunities to maneuver."

Jiaqi's words suddenly shifted, smiling: "But if he dies here, it matters little. After all, Shi Dongqing in this moment is not even a supporting character in Longhu Mountain."

"Your Majesty is right."

Shi Qiang bowed respectfully: "What is truly interesting now is what the Eastern Palace intends to do behind the scenes. Earlier, they were so resolute in standing with Longhu Mountain against Zhang Fengyue's New Forest faction. But how soon they began to crave striking at their backs—this lot of occultists are truly not to be trifled with."

"The Yin and Yang Sequence, the Eastern Palace"

In the wide sleeves of his yellow dragon robe, Emperor Jiaqi boomed: "A group of people who claim to be the sons of Huang Liang, how could they ignore their parents' pleas for help?"

"But if they truly gain control, the Huang Liang Sea would become the Yin and Yang Sequence's forbidden chain, and no other sequence would dare link into it so easily."

Shi Qiang furrowed his brows, his voice grave.

Setting aside other considerations, if Zhang Xiege's authority were stripped from the Eastern Palace, it would be a fatal blow to his Honghu.

Without Huang Liang's concealment, the difficulty of Honghu members hiding and infiltrating would suddenly surge.

"Never mind, you've played with Li Fuzhen by the coast for so long, it's time to let him show you his skills. Otherwise, this world has almost forgotten what true maneuvering in the Third Sequence is."

"I obey Your Majesty's command."

Shi Qiang's expression brightened, but then he seemed to recall something else, his face turning red with anger: "Only too bad that Li Jun that day did not show any sense, otherwise if we had used him as a blade to execute his head, I could have netted all the leaders of the Confucian factions in the coastal provinces within the span of ten days, wiping them out cleanly!"

"Who can still see such a person as a blade these days, one who gathers all the Qi of the Wudo into himself?"

Charging into Northern Zhili on horseback, Yan Wang cutting off the head of the gate, confronting six Taoist elites alone, tearing his face with the Imperial Court to avenge a group of dead men.

These events happened not long ago, each one still vivid in Zhu Yiyan's memory.

Though he too was dissatisfied with Li Jun's reckless cruelty, he could not help but admit that the saying 'one person can establish a fortune' was not flattery for Li Jun, but an objective description.

Shi Qiang did not agree, scornfully: "He is precisely Zhang Fengyue's 'Shuǎngyì' in his hands, a blade."

"Seems people misunderstand my master so thoroughly."

Zhu Yiyan sighed deeply: "When you hear 'Shuǎngyì,' you think of it as manipulation, deception, fooling, and manipulation to achieve goals. Yet you never considered that your master never treated people with base cunning and trickery?"

"Throughout the empire, who among those who served my master ever received warnings of the risks beforehand? Who ever did not receive his desired benefits afterward? All who spoke ill of him were merely people with insufficient hearts, devouring elephants like serpents."

The solemn words echoed through the palace.

Meanwhile, the projected image in the air was in full swing.

Shi Dongqing, desperate for death, forced Zhang Xiege, who had been steadily gaining the upper hand, to take on an unwanted burden, which Li Jun seized the opportunity to approach and assault.

Zhang Xiege, who had appeared as an immortal with a mountain collapsing before him yet maintaining his composure, now showed a few more human-like frustrations.

Yet Zhu Yiyan paid no attention to the martial arts and immortal's close combat, turning instead to gaze at the towering ceiling above and the night sky that would naturally dim at dusk.

"I know, Master, your 'Shu' lies in strategy, not in manipulating people."

Zhu Yiyan silently thought: "But Master, did you truly believe your student could not provide the answers you sought, and thus wanted him to help you reshape the heavens and the Dao?"

"What new heavens and earth, what rebuilding of the Dao? I no longer care about any of that. What I truly want to do now is make Longhu Mountain, make Zhang Xiege pay the price!"

In the vast depths of the Huang Liang Sea, Floating Li and Guang Ming stood face to face on the water's surface.

Beneath their feet, a sea creature resembling a giant turtle lay in slumber.

"Guang Ming, you need not come to persuade me today; I would have agreed to help the Eastern Palace anyway."

Looking at Guang Ming bowing respectfully before him, Floating Li waved his sleeve: "To speak truly, among the four mountains and one hall of the Dao sequence, I have always looked down upon you of Qingcheng Mountain. Though you are cultivators seeking the Dao, you reek of merchant-like greed and calculation, how can you bear such a demeanor?"

Guang Ming heard this and sighed bitterly: "Floating Li's teachings are what I've been taught."

“I don’t have the right to scold you.”

Floating Li shook his head: “It wasn’t until now that I truly began to understand how shallow and ignorant I had been all along. Of all the people in our circle—Qingcheng, Yongle, Ge Song, Mao Mountain—only you, Ling Guiming, truly deserve the title of ‘Patriarch.’”

“Don’t say such things, my friend. How often I’ve failed to protect the foundation of our sect!”

Ling Guiming’s expression grew solemn, his voice dropping to a whisper: “When the day comes that I step into the realm of the underworld, I fear the ancestors of Qingcheng Mountain will brand me a traitor who betrayed our sect.”

“They will understand the weight of your intentions.”

Floating Li smiled warmly: “If those old ones are truly obstinate and insist on assigning blame, I will not stand idly by. Even if they accuse me of meddling in affairs, I will make sure to restore that sense of justice for you, Ling Guiming!”

“Then I owe you a great debt here!”

The two exchanged a knowing smile, their faces calm and composed.

“You’ve gained Zhang Xi’s trust for the time being, but that old beast is deeply suspicious. Even his own kin still walk on eggshells in these mountains. You must be especially cautious.”

“Ling Guiming, remember this.”

Floating Li inhaled slowly, his robe glowing faintly with a jade-like radiance.

“Since ascending Dragon Tiger Mountain, I’ve often found myself recalling the scene back when we all gathered at Bai Yu Jing.”

Floating Li sighed wistfully: “Today, someone in your family ascended to become a earth immortal, tomorrow another earth immortal shifts his meditation seat further forward. Though it might just be to cover up some trivial nonsense and spark a commotion, it’s all the more jubilant, all the more prosperous.”

“Since you’ve brought it up, I can’t help but point out your shortcomings.”

Ling Guiming’s eyes clouded with memory, his voice tinged with resentment: “Back then, everyone sent disciples to challenge the foreign lands for that earth immortal’s seat—except you, Yongle Hall, who contributed nothing. Worse yet, your disciples even aided outsiders against us. That’s just plain wrong!”

“Hahaha, you have to blame that young fellow, Chen Qisheng. Our Ling family was defeated by his hands.”

“An old way of cultivation—of course we weren’t meant to walk the same path. What can I blame him for?”

“Ah, don’t say things like that. What if, in the end, we still have to rely on others to avenge us?”

Floating Li’s robe blazed with jade light, illuminating the dark ocean around him like a guiding beacon. The calm surface suddenly shrouded in a veil of mist.

“It’s time for you to leave. Otherwise, they’ll discover your presence.”

He gazed deeply into Ling Guiming’s eyes, bowing respectfully.

“My lord, do not forget our grudges!”

“By my life, I shall never forget!”

Ling Guiming’s expression was grave, his words ringing with solemn conviction. His figure slowly faded into the thickening mist on the water’s surface.

The heavy fog spread, rain poured from the heavens, as if the sea were about to boil.

The fog, impenetrable as a hand unable to grasp fingers, surged like tides, the waves rising and falling as though a mountain-sized creature approached rapidly.

Suddenly, two crimson lights flared above Floating Li.

A monstrous being with a human face and serpentine body emerged from the mist, bowing low over Floating Li, its breath thunderous.

“The nine lords of the Eastern Palace, the ‘Candle Dragon’ Divine Tread, have met Floating Li, Patriarch.”

The beast spoke with humble reverence.

“All this feigned affection can be spared.”

Floating Li sneered coldly: “For this occasion, consider it a kindness from me. Come, follow me.”

“Thank you, Patriarch Floating Li.”

The beast’s human face twitched into a slight smile, its body shrinking to the size of a fingertip, landing on Floating Li’s palm, transforming into a vivid tattoo.

Floating Li glanced around, his expression complex, then plunged into the sea, descending into the cave once belonging to Yongle Hall’s sect.