Chapter 888: Chapter 882: Affairs Of The World
Since the Li Clan was collaborating with the Eternal Immortal Sect, they naturally had to report it to their direct superiors.
“Hahaha! I never expected the Li Clan would secure the assistance of the Eternal Immortal Sect. This is excellent!”
After laughing heartily, Commander Wu Neng spoke warmly to Li Chang’an.
“Chang’an, this official did not intentionally exclude you earlier. It is simply that the entire court knows of the Li Clan’s unwavering loyalty.
That Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems is no ordinary place. If members of the Li Clan were to perish in vain during the investigation, my heart would not be at ease.”
The representatives of the three major powers wore strange expressions.
Decades had passed, yet the total number of words Wu Neng had spoken to Li Chang’an in all that time did not amount to as many as he had spoken today alone.
“Chang’an understands. I thank the Lord Commander for his concern.” Li Chang’an cupped his hands and bowed.
Wu Neng waved his hand.
“Since that is the case, the four of your factions should discuss this thoroughly.
Locating the headquarters of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems was not easy; there must be no mistakes.”
“Yes!”
The group dispersed.
However, once the meeting concluded, the other three paid no attention to Li Chang’an.
Li Chang’an caught a glimpse of the dissatisfaction in their eyes; he simply listened to the rough outline of the plan before politely excusing himself.
“Hmph, the Li Clan is truly greedy. They have even set their sights on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems—a place we have spent years searching for—and brought in outside help to carve up the benefits with us!”
Heavenly Lord Ning An narrowed his eyes slightly.
“The Eternal Immortal Sect… that hidden power occupying the Westfall Prefecture with a legacy of eighty thousand years.
They have existed for so long, yet are they not still suppressed by the Human Emperor.
The Lord Commander is truly absurd. Our very existence is meant to suppress these hidden powers, yet he actually allowed the Eternal Immortal Sect to join us.”
Zhangsun Buhuo shook his head.
“The Li Clan cooperating with a hidden power is actually quite ordinary.
The matter of the Three Corpses is far from trivial; anyone would want to get involved.
I imagine that over the years, hidden powers have approached you two for cooperation as well.
As for the Commander, he will not care who helps us.
As long as the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems is taken down, the benefits he receives will not be diminished in the slightest.”
“We still need to work together with full effort.”
Fang Yunyu’s expression was grave.
“If we truly uncover Mahayana secrets or opportunities for Body Integration from the Three Corpses…”
The three exchanged a glance.
For years, their bitter search for the Three Corpses had been for nothing but these two things.
Every faction hoped to produce more experts or obtain the foundation of a mighty power.
It had been fine when the Li Clan showed no interest all these years, but now that they had brought along the Eternal Immortal Sect, it was no different from fighting over food at the same table.
Heavenly Lord Ning An snorted coldly.
“The Eternal Immortal Sect has been active in the world for three hundred years. They had best not let us find any evidence of their crimes, or we will make them pay a heavy price!”
…..
Eternal Immortal Sect.
Sect Master He Hao held two sound transmission stones in his hand.
Heavenly Lord Ning An had sent a message proposing secret cooperation with him.
The Zhangsun Clan, meanwhile, was attempting to arrange a marriage alliance with the Eternal Immortal Sect.
Li Chuyuan, who was in the middle of asking his Master for guidance, saw the two transmission stones and looked puzzled.
“Master, are these sound transmission stones from the Zhangsun Clan and the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary?
Rumor has it that for the past ten thousand years, they have been the three strongest powers standing openly in the mortal world.
They are also members of the Immortal Suppression Department. How could they…”
He remembered clearly that when his Master visited the Li family, he had promised to help the Li family stand as equals against these three powers.
“How could the affairs of the world ever be so simple?”
He Hao noticed the confusion in Li Chuyuan’s eyes and smiled.
“For powers like ours that possess Body Integration experts, no one knows what hidden trump cards the others hold, and everyone desires to ascend to a higher level.
The three major powers cooperate with one another, yet not a single one of them is willing to let a partner they have worked with for years rise even a foot higher than themselves.
Such are the affairs of the world, and such are the people of the world; it is merely human nature.”
Li Chuyuan furrowed his brows.
Having stayed by his Master’s side in the Eternal Immortal Sect all these years, his horizons had indeed been broadened.
“Disciple understands. Master’s cooperation with the Li Clan is merely a stepping stone.
While Master intends to stand as an equal against the three major powers, you can also cooperate with them in secret at the same time.”
Hearing this, He Hao frowned slightly and waved his hand.
“Go down and cultivate; these are major affairs you need not concern yourself with.
You are nearly eighty years old now. If you can break through to the Nine-Nine Nascent Soul before you reach one hundred, then, given your aptitude, stepping into the Void Refining realm in the future will not be an issue.”
“Yes, this disciple understands!”
After withdrawing.
Li Chuyuan sat cross-legged, but his mind was restless.
He frowned incessantly, yet there was also a glint of joy in his eyes.
“Master is using my Li Clan as a stepping stone to join the struggle for the Three Corpses, while simultaneously holding secret talks with the two major powers.
He did not hide such a major event from me. I suppose I ought to send a message to report this to the clan… but what if this is a test from Master?”
Taking a deep breath, Li Chuyuan closed his eyes to compose his mind for cultivation, letting out a long sigh.
“Occupying only the Azure Cloud Prefecture, they ultimately lack a Body Integration expert.
Their vision and realm are inferior to the Master’s, and they are still being played in the palm of these Body Integration forces.
Why should I wade into this muddy water?
With my aptitude, entering the Void Refining realm and seeking a path to Body Integration is the true way.”
Li Family Main Hall.
Li Xinnian tapped his finger lightly against the tabletop.
Clad in black robes, Li Yunbing’s gaze was like a deep pool.
“Xinnian, you did well to cooperate with the Eternal Immortal Sect and bring them into the fold.
My Li Clan and the Eternal Immortal Sect are neighbors; there is no need to create a rift between us over a minor matter like the Three Corpses.
We must still give He Hao that much face.”
“Moreover, without the Eternal Immortal Sect, my Li Clan would not even have the opportunity to compete.”
“As for the Eternal Immortal Sect’s claim that they will help the Li Clan stand as equals against the three major powers, you must absolutely not take that as truth.
In years past, did Old Daoist Pu Ci not follow the Li Clan’s lead? Yet later, did he not revere the Zhao Clan as supreme? Did he not sway from side to side?”
Li Xinnian hurriedly nodded. “This child will bear it in mind.”
Seated in the position of honor, Li Yaozu’s face was filled with interest.
“King Yu cares so deeply about Ling Tian’s Three Corpses, and the Immortal Suppression Department has spent so many years investigating this matter.
Now that they have finally located the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, a great battle is imminent.
Has Chang’an sent back word on how this battle is to be fought? Whom will the Eternal Immortal Sect send, and how many of our people should we bring?”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The long swords inside the sword box on the table clashed against one another, as if reprimanding Li Yaozu for his combative nature.
Li Xinnian replied,
“Grandfather held discussions in the Imperial Capital.
The interior of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems is incomparably eerie and filled with formations everywhere.
There are eight known Void Refining experts there.
Therefore, regarding the four factions, each is to send three Void Refining experts.
However, since our Li Clan is cooperating with the Eternal Immortal Sect, our two sides will jointly dispatch a total of five people.
As for the rest, each faction will send over fifty cultivators at the Divinity Transformation and Nascent Soul stages to storm the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.”
“As for those at the Body Integration realm, they will compete in secret.”
“However, the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems is a matter of grave importance. I fear they may secretly dispatch additional personnel. If there truly is a heavy treasure…”
Everyone in the hall frowned. If such a treasure truly existed, the various factions would have no choice but to guard against one another.
Whether it be an opportunity to reach the Body Integration realm or a secret regarding the Mahayana stage, the temptation was great enough for anything to happen!
“Our Li Clan is sending two people. Who shall go?”
Li Yaozu asked the question, having already stood up abruptly.
The others then exchanged glances.
Li Yaotie, Li Yaoqing, Li Yunlin, and Li Yunbing stood up one after another!
……
Inside a tavern in Merit City.
The Martial Emperor, Supreme Elder Pu Ci, and Zhuo Linlin were drinking together.
They glanced over at Fairy Hongxiu, who was standing before a calligraphy and painting shop, admiring a scroll painted by Dongfang Xuan.
Supreme Elder Pu Ci wore a look of nostalgia.
“New generation replaces the old. Back then, among the three great Immortal Sects of the Duravia Trade Prefecture, the old Palace Master of the Perennis Immortal Palace wielded the Perennis Immortal Palace Platform.
Neither Ming Daozi nor I dared to contend with him. Now, Ming Daozi’s legacy has been passed to Supreme Elder Yunlin, and Fairy Hongxiu is strong enough to guard a region on her own. Only this old man remains.”
“Heh, of the two Void Refining experts in my Eternal Sun Prefecture, Old Daoist Baimei died early. Tsk, tsk.”
A trace of lingering fear flashed through the Martial Emperor’s eyes.
“Otherwise, I was truly afraid that he and that disciple of his would have eaten me alive. However…”
As he spoke, a look of astonishment flickered in the Martial Emperor’s eyes.
“That master and disciple pair truly left behind a massive foundation.”
The three of them looked in unison toward the Li Clan’s encampment.
One after another, figures leaped into the sky, treading upon the void as they moved.
……
The plain was boundless and teeming with greenery.
Birds and beasts ran and soared; warblers flew amidst the tall grass.
There were even farmers on the ground herding cattle and sheep, singing folk songs.
A cultivator in black robes landed.
In the blink of an eye, a black formation surfaced on the ground, and just as quickly, the cultivator vanished without a trace.
The Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
It was a place where heaven and earth were overturned—a majestic, towering mountain standing inverted, buried a thousand meters underground.
From the foot of the mountain to its summit, there were structures resembling ancient temples.
Spiritual Qi, mixed with the black Qi of the dead and various other Spiritual powers, swirled in the air above.
Even the vegetation here was stained with blood, corrupted and twisted.
Cultivators emerged ceaselessly from the earth.
With each return, they brought a sealed cage containing terrified mortals, cultivators, demon beasts, or fiends, delivering them to the temples.
Winding channels snaked through the mountain, with blood flowing along their courses.
In some places, the blood had already coagulated, while at the foot of the mountain, it gradually gathered into a river of blood.
The skeletal remains of humans and beasts were scattered everywhere.
Inside an abandoned temple.
A handsome man was squatting on the altar, trembling as he hugged a Buddha statue that looked just as shattered as his own expression.
“Big Brother, Tianqi, we’ve been here for eight years. When can we go home? I… I’m not afraid, I just miss home.”
“Look at you, what a wuss!” Li Tianqi, who was also clad in black robes, spoke with exasperation, as if disappointed that iron would not turn into steel.
“If you just treat this place as your home, wouldn’t you be home already?”
“How… how can I treat this place as home?” Li Tianming’s expression was one of distress.
“This is the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems. There isn’t a single normal person here!
They aren’t human; they don’t regard human life as anything at all.
They… they even butcher humans and demon beasts like livestock, and they torture people.
They are simply animals!”
Unlike Li Tianqi, Li Tianyi was clad in a set of purple robes.
The two of them paid no attention to Li Tianming’s nagging, merely rolling their eyes in response.
“Big Brother, what… what are you doing?”
Li Tianyi was seen dragging a cage in from the outside.
Inside was a demon beast.
He used a formation to suspend and immobilize the beast in mid-air before proceeding to dissect it.
The bloody scene made Li Tianming feel nauseous.
Li Tianyi frowned.
“It took no small effort to work my way up to wearing this purple robe. I now hold the status of an Elder within the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
Naturally, I must mimic their behavior and conduct research diligently. Otherwise, if our cover is blown, we will all suffer the consequences.”
With a casual wave of his hand, the Profound Seals Talisman activated.
One by one, figures of seniors emerged from the talisman and began to dissect the demon beast.
Li Tianqi spoke in a solemn voice,
“The Old Ancestor has sent a message.
The three major powers of the Immortal Suppression Department and the Eternal Immortal Sect have already located the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
It seems they do possess some skill after all. Within ten years, they will complete their preparations and inevitably move against the Mountain.
This means we have only ten years to explore the true secrets of this place and find the location of Three Corpses.”
Li Tianyi gritted his teeth in fury.
“To hell with the ‘three major powers’!
To hell with the ‘Eternal Immortal Sect’!
Why do they have to come and cause trouble for us out of nowhere?
They are nothing but a bunch of incompetent fools who can’t accomplish anything but are experts at ruining everything!”
Inside the ancient temple.
Li Tianming was trembling.
A group of old seniors, along with Li Tianyi and Li Tianming, were marveling at a bizarre demon beast locked in a cage.
The beast possessed the body of a snake, the legs of a dog, the tail of a turtle, the head of a fish, and the wings of an eagle.
“I feel like we could still attach a pair of ox horns to its head.”
Someone spoke up, and the eyes of the group of old men instantly lit up.
They were flipping through a worn, ancient tome:
“The Scripture of Corpse Transformation”
—
Donate on Ko-fi ➡️ [] ⬅️
Get Early Access to 90 Chapters: Search for “Dark Tea” on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!