vstars Chapter 86: Alliance
Chapter 86: Alliance
Upon hearing this, Qi Yu nearly choked on his tea and coughed twice to regain his composure.
"So, this princess is still in the dark?"
Ying Zichu helplessly spread his hands and shook his head, saying:
"That's just how Father is. He'll make a decision first, and as for Yingyu... someone will naturally handle that."
Qi Yu put down his teacup, suddenly feeling a headache.
Although he wasn't afraid of any temperamental princess, if the woman was unwilling to marry him, trouble would inevitably follow.
"So, in your opinion, how will your sister react?"
Ying Zichu pondered for a moment, then carefully said:
"Based on my understanding of her, she won't directly refuse her father's arrangement, but she will definitely try to meet you and personally assess your worth."
"How do we weigh it?"
"It's hard to say."
Ying Zichu shook his head and said:
"Perhaps it's a test of your cultivation, perhaps it's a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for you, or perhaps... they simply pretend they don't know anything about it and leave you hanging."
Qi Yu's lips twitched slightly, and he said helplessly:
"Are all the princesses of your Qin Kingdom this difficult to deal with?"
"It's not that the Qin princess is difficult to deal with, it's that my younger sister is exceptionally difficult to deal with."
Ying Zichu smiled wryly:
That's why I said you need to be mentally prepared.
Qi Yu was silent for a while, then sighed:
"Okay, I understand."
He stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and said:
"Now that the wedding arrangements are mostly finalized, I should go back and make some preparations. Goodbye."
Ying Zichu rose to see him off, and as he reached the door, he suddenly said:
"By the way, there's a small banquet in the palace in a few days. Father will be bringing Yingyu to attend. Do you... want to come?"
Qi Yu paused, turned back to look at Ying Zichu, and asked in surprise:
"Is this considered an early meeting?"
I guess so.
Ying Zichu said frankly:
"It's also to let you see the people in advance, so that if you really don't like them, you can still back out now."
Qi Yu laughed heartily and said:
"If I go back on my word now, your father will probably kick me out of Qin."
"That's not the case."
Ying Zichu also smiled, his expression calm as he said:
"But they certainly won't be very friendly."
"Okay, I will definitely keep my promise."
Qi Yu waved his hand and strode away.
…………
Three days later, in a side hall of the Qin Palace.
It was called a small banquet, but it was indeed not very large in scale.
There were only a dozen or so people present, including King Ji of Qin, Crown Prince Ying Zichu, a few important ministers, and their families.
As the Marquis of Changshou, Qi Zhengchu was naturally among those invited. However, he was unusually reserved today, sitting motionless at the table and not daring to touch his chopsticks.
Qi Yu sat beside his father, appearing completely at ease, his gaze subtly sweeping across the hall.
Then, he saw the young girl sitting below King Ji of Qin.
She wore a light gold palace dress, with exquisite features and a cool demeanor. She sat there upright, her gaze fixed straight ahead, revealing no emotion.
"Is she Ying Yu?"
Qi Yu glanced at it a few more times, thinking to himself:
"Ying Zichu wasn't lying, he really is good-looking."
Seemingly noticing his gaze, Ying Yu slightly turned her head and glanced in his direction.
Eyes facing each other.
Qi Yu smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.
Ying Yu withdrew her gaze expressionlessly, as if she hadn't seen anything.
Qi Yu didn't mind, picked up his wine glass, and slowly took a sip.
As the banquet began, King Ji of Qin raised his cup, and the ministers echoed his sentiments. Amidst the clinking of cups, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
After several rounds of drinks, King Ji of Qin suddenly laughed and said:
"Lord Changshou, your son is a man of exceptional talent and appearance. The more I look at him, the more I like him. May I ask what your son's hobbies are?"
Qi Zhengchu was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Qi Yu.
Qi Yu put down his wine cup, stood up and bowed. After a moment's thought, he chuckled and said:
"Your Majesty, aside from cultivating, I usually read books, enjoy tea, and occasionally play chess. I don't have any particular hobbies."
"Cultivation, reading, tea tasting, and chess playing."
King Ji of Qin repeated it, nodded, and smiled:
"She has a refined temperament."
He turned to look at Ying Yu and said:
"Yu'er, don't you also enjoy playing chess? Why don't you take advantage of today and play a game with the son of the Marquis of Changshou?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall immediately turned their gaze to Ying Yu.
Ying Yu narrowed her bright eyes slightly and chuckled softly:
"My father has given his order, and I dare not disobey."
The servants quickly set up the chessboard.
Qi Yu walked to the chessboard and sat down, looking at Ying Yu who was seated opposite him, and smiled:
"Princess, please go first."
Ying Yu glanced at him, took the black piece and made the first move, her moves swift and decisive, radiating a murderous aura.
Qi Yu smiled slightly, unhurriedly, thinking to himself:
"Little White, save me!"
A moment later, the white jade tortoise, far away in the mansion, sensed something and inquired:
"Didn't you go to a banquet? What happened?"
"I want to play chess with that princess. Quickly, bring me the chess manual."
So Qi Yu waited for a long time before making his move.
His playing style is completely different from Ying Yu's. He seems gentle and soft, but in fact he is cautious and cunning.
After twenty moves, Ying Yu's offensive was largely neutralized, and his brows furrowed slightly.
After thirty moves, she found herself in a passive position, her piece hovering in mid-air, unable to be placed.
"Princess, you have excellent chess skills," Qi Yu suddenly said, his tone sincere.
Ying Yu looked up at him, her eyes sharp and intense, and said in a deep voice:
Are you praising me or making fun of me?
"Of course it's a compliment."
Qi Yu smiled and said:
"The princess's chess moves are sharp and decisive. Ordinary people can't even last twenty moves. I only managed to block it by luck."
Ying Yu stared at him for a couple of moments, then suddenly put the chess piece back in the box and said calmly:
"I'm not going to stop."
Qi Yu was not surprised and stood up with a smile:
"Thank you for your concession."
The people in the hall looked at each other, some feeling that Ying Yu's temper was a bit inappropriate, but no one dared to say anything.
King Ji of Qin remained calm and laughed heartily:
"Yu'er, are you admitting defeat?"
"We didn't lose."
Ying Yu stood up, looked at Qi Yu, and said calmly:
"I just don't want to log off today."
After speaking, she bowed to King Ji of Qin and turned to leave her seat.
Qi Yu watched her retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips, thinking to himself:
"You think you're so easy to manipulate?"
…………
Two days later, Qi Yu was cultivating in the courtyard when the white jade turtle suddenly poked its head out from his collar, its little eyes darting around.
There's someone lurking outside, it looks like they're watching your house.
Qi Yu withdrew his cultivation technique, raised an eyebrow, and asked:
"Male or female?"
"The woman was young and dressed simply, but the fabric was of good quality."
The white jade tortoise smacked its lips and asked:
"Do you want to go out and take a look?"
Qi Yu nodded slightly, then stood up, walked to the door, and opened the courtyard gate.
Standing outside the door was Ying Yu.
This surprised Qi Yu, as he had not expected the princess to come to his door in person.
Qi Yu scrutinized him carefully.
Today she changed into a plain-colored long dress, and only wore a jade hairpin in her hair. She looked clean and refreshing, completely different from the person she was in the palace that day.
Qi Yu leaned against the doorframe and asked with a smile:
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Ying Yu glanced at him and said calmly:
"Just call me Ying Yu. The title 'Princess' sounds awkward."
Qi Yu nodded and turned to the side, saying:
"Alright, Miss Yingyu, please come in."
Ying Yu didn't stand on ceremony and stepped inside.
She stopped in the courtyard, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings before finally settling on the scroll on the stone table.
"Insights into the cultivation of Longevity Qi?"
"As the princess probably knows, I cultivate the [Longevity Qi] path."
Qi Yu walked over, rolled up the silk scroll, and placed it aside.
Ying Yu turned around, looked directly at Qi Yu, and went straight to the point:
"You know that your father wants to marry me to you, right?"
"Know."
"You agreed?"
"I agreed."
Ying Yu's gaze sharpened slightly as she asked:
"You agreed without even meeting me?"
"I've seen it."
Qi Yu smiled and said:
"Didn't we meet that day in the palace?"
"That doesn't count."
Ying Yu shook her head and said:
"That day in the palace, you were the son of the Marquis of Changshou, and I was a princess of Qin. We were both putting on airs, and we couldn't see each other's true nature."
Qi Yu looked at her with great interest and asked:
"So why has the princess come here today?"
"Look at what kind of person you are."
Ying Yu said frankly:
"If you are merely someone who relies on the family's legacy and is an opportunist, I will ask my father to rescind his order."
"What if you think I'm alright?"
"Then I will try... to accept this marriage."
Qi Yu leaned against the stone table, arms crossed, looked at Ying Yu, and smiled:
"So, what do you think of me now?"
Ying Yu did not answer immediately, but looked at Qi Yu seriously. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then swept over his Taoist robe, and finally landed on his calm eyes.
"Not bad."
Ying Yu walked to the chair, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and said:
"As you probably know, you cultivate [Longevity Qi] while I cultivate [Fortune Qi]. Our marriage is a preordained union."
"So as long as you're not too bad, I can accept you."
Among them, after Ying Yu learned that there was a cultivator practicing [Longevity Qi] within the Qin Kingdom, she had already foreseen this day.
Qi Yu walked over and sat down opposite Ying Yu, nodding slightly as he said:
"I'm so glad I caught the princess's eye."
Ying Yu's eyes flickered, and she nodded slightly, saying:
"I came to see you this time without my father's knowledge, and I cannot stay too long."
After saying that, she stood up, turned around and left.
Watching her departing figure, Qi Yu seemed lost in thought.
…………
The Dragon Palace of the East Sea.
After finishing his business in the Qi Refining Realm, Li Wu came here.
He went to meet with Master Tianxuan.
Inside the hall.
Tianxuan transformed into a dragon-headed, human-bodied figure, occupying the highest position. Li Wu entered the hall, cupped his hands, and said:
"Senior brother."
Tianxuan nodded slightly, then turned his hand and a white light appeared, revealing a jade slip. He held it up, and the jade slip flew into Li Wu's hand.
"This is the complete text of the Jade Pivot Edict on the Scripture of Extermination; you may take it."
Upon hearing this, Li Wu was immediately startled. The "Jade Pivot Edict of Extermination" he had purchased from the Jin Yue Sect's shop only contained the Qi Refining Chapter and the Foundation Building Chapter, and did not include the subsequent Purple Mansion Chapter.
Unexpectedly, Tianxuan got it.
This piqued Li Wu's curiosity, and he asked:
"Senior brother, how did you obtain this 'Jade Pivot Edict of Extermination Scripture'? Shouldn't the Golden Axe Sect not want me to develop supernatural powers?"
The Golden Yue Sect is also a real cannibalistic immortal sect.
Those few Purple Mansion True Persons alone possessed many supernatural abilities that they acquired by eating people.
Not to mention the disciples below.
Now, Tianxuan, who cultivates the [She Lei] technique, is already a True Person who has perfected all five methods, while Pei Xiyan has also reached the Foundation Establishment stage and is currently in seclusion. Perhaps it won't be long before he breaks through to the Purple Mansion stage.
Once Li Wu obtains the Purple Mansion chapter of the "Jade Pivot Edict on Extermination Scripture," he will have a chance to reach the Purple Mansion realm.
At that time, the three Purple Mansion True Persons of different lightning attributes will be able to summon the Jade Pivot Palace, which has long been absent from the world.
Once the Jade Pivot Palace appears in the world, it will inevitably cause great chaos, since there are far too many cultivators in the world today who rely on consuming human pills to improve their cultivation.
Whether it was unintentional or intentional.
The moment the Jade Pivot Palace appeared in the world, rewards and punishments were established.
Punishing cultivators who improve their cultivation by eating people will earn you merit points, which can be exchanged for cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, precious medicines, and more in the Jade Pivot Hall.
So Li Wu heard Tian Xuan say:
"With the opening of the Jade Pivot Hall, I will give Fellow Daoist Taixi a glimmer of hope for attaining the Golden Realm."
Is it the Golden Elixir...?
Li Wuwei nodded slightly. No wonder the Golden Axe Sect was willing to hand over the "Jade Pivot Edict for Extermination".
Tianxuan waved his hand and said:
"Now that you have the cultivation technique, go to the Thunder Pool and cultivate in peace, and strive to break through to the Purple Mansion realm as soon as possible."
Li Wuwei nodded slightly. He was now in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and his level was a right-level lightning-attribute spiritual object and lightning pool. It would not be possible to break through to the Purple Mansion stage in a short time.
Watching Li Wu's departing figure, Tian Xuan pondered in his heart:
"The Qin state has now gathered the three energies of fortune, longevity, and prosperity, but it will probably take at least twenty or thirty years for all of them to break through to the Purple Mansion realm."
"Twenty or thirty years... I'm afraid the Taoist traditions, Buddhist sects, and witchcraft sects of the four countries won't wait."
Tianxuan frowned, pondering how to buy more time.
In this era where True Lords have all gone to the outer realms or gone into seclusion to avoid the underworld, True Lords who have perfected the Five Laws are the top combat force.
"With the Five Laws perfected... perhaps I can make a trip to Mount Sanqing," Tianxuan murmured.
It remembered that when the [Tai Xu] Secret Realm was first established, the disciples of Sanqing Mountain did not participate.
Moreover, Mount Sanqing has strict rules and regulations, and its own alchemical practices prohibit the consumption of human elixirs.
"Moreover, the current leader of Sanqing Mountain, Fellow Daoist Shangqing, is upright and honest in his conduct. He is not only perfect in the Five Arts, but also a Sword Immortal."
In terms of sheer magical combat ability, he truly lives up to Tianxuan's reputation.
With this in mind, Tianxuan set off for Sanqing Mountain.
…………
Sanqingshan.
Shangqing suddenly sensed movement within the void, slowly opened his eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"Which fellow Daoist has come to visit?"
Having said that, he moved his mind and instantly vanished into the void.
Then they saw a cultivator with a dragon's head and a human body, surrounded by lightning.
There is only one Zifu Zhenren of the Lei Xiulong clan in the world today.
Shang Qing calmly looked at the person before him and said:
"Fellow Daoist Tianxuan, may I ask what brings you to my Sanqing Mountain today?"
Tianxuan said in a deep voice:
"I came here regarding matters concerning the Jade Pivot Palace."
Shang Qing's gaze sharpened, and after a moment of silence, he said:
"Fellow Daoist, please enter the mountain."
After saying this, the two of them fell into Shangqing's cave on Sanqing Mountain.
Shangqing looked at Tianxuan and asked:
"That old fox from the Golden Axe Sect actually gave you the 'Jade Pivot Edict for Extermination'?"
Tianxuan didn't hide anything and said:
"I promised him that once the Jade Pivot Palace opens, I will give him hope for gold."
Upon hearing this, Shangqing nodded in understanding and said:
"His place in the path of cultivation was already filled by his master and senior brothers, so he could only cultivate other lineages."
Having said that, Shangqing looked at Tianxuan and said:
"So, what brings you here today, fellow Daoist?"
Tianxuan said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoist Shangqing, the Jade Pivot Hall is about to open. At that time, rewards and punishments will be clearly defined throughout the world. Those cultivators who rely on consuming human pills to improve their cultivation will surely be punished. And there are far too many such people in this world."
"The four sects appear upright on the surface, but in reality, many of them feed on human pills. The Buddhist lineage, though claiming to be compassionate, probably only they themselves know how many sordid things are hidden in those ancient temples. As for the witchcraft lineage, which uses flesh and blood as a lure, there's no need to mention it."
"Once the Jade Pivot Palace appears, these people will surely join forces to counterattack. Although I have perfected the Five Laws, I cannot fight against so many. In the Qin Kingdom, the Three Qi of Fortune, Longevity and Prosperity are still in their growth stage. It will take at least twenty or thirty years for them to all enter the Purple Mansion."
"These past two or three decades have been the most dangerous period."
After listening quietly and pondering for a long time, the Supreme Pure Immortal slowly spoke:
"Our Sanqing Mountain has strict rules and does not consume human pills. You should know this, fellow Daoist. But do you really think I would lend a hand just because of this?"
Tianxuan nodded slightly and said:
"In this world, since Sanqing Mountain refuses to compromise its principles, it can only close its gates to avoid being influenced by other powerful families."
"But if the Jade Pivot Hall opens, Fellow Daoist can open the gates of the Three Pure Ones Mountain wide, release the disciples within, and gain merit to exchange for the many spiritual items of the [Pure Qi] path. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Tianxuan's words were indeed quite tempting.
After all, in this day and age, those who cultivate using traditional methods, like those at Sanqing Mountain, are indeed making slow progress.
Shang Qing sighed with emotion:
"Since the destruction of Thunder Palace and the seclusion of Jade Pivot Hall, the merits of cultivation have ceased. As a result, there are more and more cultivators who rely on human pills for cultivation. Their cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, while the disciples of Sanqing Mountain adhere to the precepts and their cultivation progresses slowly."
"At first, people respected the Sanqing Mountain sect for its upright and honest conduct. But gradually, when the cultivation level of the Human Elixir cultivators far surpassed that of our disciples, the winds of change shifted."
"They said that Sanqingshan is stuck in its old ways and out of touch with reality."
"They say that precepts are shackles, and rules are fetters."
"Later on, those powerful families that built their fortunes on the foundation of elixirs openly and secretly ostracized the disciples of my mountain."
"But as soon as the Jade Pivot Palace reappears in the world, everything will change drastically."
Tianxuan shook his head and said:
"In this world today, countless evil and demonic cultivators are being nurtured, and merit is everywhere. As long as the Jade Pivot Hall opens, it will be an opportunity for the disciples of Sanqing Mountain."
Upon hearing this, Shang Qing's gaze shifted slightly.
He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking:
"What you say, fellow Daoist, is indeed tempting, but how can we easily gamble the millennia-old foundation of Sanqing Mountain on a Jade Pivot Hall that has not yet been revealed to the world?"
Tianxuan sensed the relaxation in his words and smiled slightly:
"Why be so modest, Fellow Daoist Shangqing? You already have your own destiny in your heart; you just need someone to give you a push."
Shangqing remained noncommittal, got up and walked to the window of the cave, looking out at the distant Sanqing Peaks shrouded in clouds and mist.
Morning bells and evening drums, wisps of smoke rising from the air.
Those disciples who practiced diligently were either sweating profusely on the training ground, or painstakingly brewing medicinal herbs in the alchemy room, or engrossed in classical texts in the scripture pavilion.
They strictly adhered to the precepts and did not consume human pills, so their cultivation progress was more than ten times slower than that of the scions of noble families.
But they never gave up.
Shang Qing closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, there was a resolute look in his eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Tianxuan, I grant your request."
Shang Qing had long disliked those demonic sects, and now that he had sided with Lei Gong, it was as he wished.
Thinking of this, he looked up at Tianxuan and asked:
"Fellow Daoist Tianxuan, do you have any plans?"
Tianxuan nodded slightly and said:
"Both Zhen Lei and Shen Lei are cultivating in the East Sea, striving to break through to the Purple Mansion realm as soon as possible. Cultivators from other lineages will not dare to easily invade my Dragon Palace and Jade Forest Mountain."
"What I am worried about is the three vital energies of fortune, longevity, and prosperity in the Qin state, so I hope that fellow Daoists of Shangqing can take good care of it."
"Fortune, longevity, and prosperity? I understand." Shangqing nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.