met free Chapter 123 The Situation is Excellent
Chapter 123 The Situation is Excellent
Chapter 123 The Situation is Excellent
Zhao Mengxi, accompanied by Ling'er, arrived at Huanzhu Tower as agreed. All ready, you will proceed together to the Zhao family.
[Upon arriving at the Zhao family, just as before, you directly met Zhao Mengxi's father, Zhao Zhouhui. This time, you only used a fake human skin to alter your appearance, without deliberately concealing your true strength.]
Seeing that you were in your early twenties and at the ninth level of Qi Refining, Zhao Zhouhui immediately became warmer towards you and was no longer as cold towards you as he was during the last simulation.
The two of you were having a pleasant conversation, and Zhao Mengxi, who hadn't detected your true cultivation level, looked completely bewildered.
You and Zhao Zhouhui took your seats as host and guest, exchanged pleasantries, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Zhao Zhouhui's words were full of flattery and attempts to win you over.
You handled the situation appropriately, neither overly humble nor arrogant, and your words were perfectly measured.
During the conversation, Zhao Zhouhui began to subtly inquire about your background, and you immediately demonstrated your superb communication skills and ability to respond.
Whether by cleverly changing the subject, being vague, or responding with rhetorical questions, they managed to keep this shrewd Zhao family head in cahoots for a long time. Apart from confirming that you have a powerful background and an amazing lineage, they did not obtain any substantial or specific information.
This only strengthened Zhao Zhouhui's conviction that your identity was likely more complex than it appeared. His eagerness and attention deepened further.
After exchanging pleasantries, you took the initiative to request a meeting with Zhao Wuyi, saying you had important matters to discuss. Both Zhao Zhouhui and Zhao Mengxi were taken aback. Zhao Zhouhui, of course, couldn't agree immediately and inquired about your intentions.
You only said that this matter was too complicated to go into detail. You insisted on speaking with Zhao Wuyi in person.
After weighing his options, Zhao Zhouhui asked you to wait a moment while he went to consult the patriarch, and then hurriedly left.
[After a while, Zhao Zhouhui returned and said that the ancestor had agreed to see you. The two of you went to the ancestral land, leaving Zhao Mengxi completely bewildered and standing there in a daze. She realized that things had developed in a way that was completely beyond her expectations.]
Upon arriving at the ancestral land, you enter Zhao Wuyi's cave, a place of exceptional beauty and unique charm.
You venture deeper into the area, and in a secluded bamboo pavilion, you once again encounter the gaunt-faced patriarch of the Zhao family, Zhao Wuyi. He is playing chess alone, black and white pieces scattered across the board.
When Zhao Wuyi saw you arrive, he asked who you represented. You replied that you represented your master. Upon hearing this, the entire cave fell into a deathly silence, but you remained tall and fearless.
Seeing his silence, you immediately pointed out the Zhengyang Immortal Sect, the royal family, and the Metal element. Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuyi finally showed a change of heart, and he asked what your purpose was.
You said you wanted the metal element, and he looked enlightened. After some conversation, you presented your terms for cooperation.
You helped the Zhao family stabilize the situation and prevent their family fortune from being excessively depleted by that Heaven-Stealing Array. In return, the Zhao family must make concessions on the matter of gold.
Zhao Wuyi's eyes flickered as he weighed the pros and cons. Cooperating with the Pavilion Master of Tingyu Pavilion was undoubtedly like seeking a tiger's skin—extremely risky.
However, with the Zhao family currently divided internally and surrounded by powerful enemies, especially the potential pressure from the royal family and the Zhengyang Immortal Sect, he is indeed struggling to cope alone.
If the Pavilion Master of Listening to the Rain can truly alleviate some of the pressure, it would be a tremendous boon for the Zhao family.
Ultimately, Zhao Wuyi agreed to your cooperation and assured you that he only sought to protect the Zhao family and had no interest in Jin Xing.
[You know perfectly well that a mere Purple Mansion cultivator could not possibly be so frank. You both understand this implicitly. You use this opportunity to subtly probe him about the royal family's plans and Zhao Jingci's reasons for favoring the royal family.]
He didn't answer you; instead, he asked you, "Master of Tingyu Pavilion, to what extent can you do this?"
You already have a plan in mind, but instead of answering directly, you only say that Golden Core True Monarchs have their own battlefields, and Purple Mansion True Persons have their own chess games. Some levels of this game are beyond our comprehension.
These words seemed to have some effect on Zhao Wuyi. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly, revealing a long-buried secret of the Zhao family, which was also the root cause of Zhao Jingci's bias towards the royal family.
When Zhao Jingci was young, he and Li Wuyai, who was then the crown prince, both fell in love with the same woman.
The two fought openly and covertly for several years, and finally, Li Wuyai took advantage of Zhao Jingci's seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion realm and forcibly married the woman.
Upon exiting the pass, Zhao Jingci flew into a rage and immediately rushed towards the imperial city. However, Li Wuyai had already ascended the throne, and he returned empty-handed, only able to watch his beloved woman lying in Li Wuyai's arms.
Several hundred years passed in this way. About twenty years ago, the woman finally became pregnant with the emperor's child, who was Li Xuance.
The woman died in childbirth, her life cut short. Before her death, she only asked Zhao Jingci not to bring his hatred for Li Wuyai to Li Xuance.
From that moment on, Zhao Jingci seemed to have completely changed. He poured all his guilt, longing, and unfulfilled feelings for that woman into Li Xuance, treating him as his own son and caring for him with utmost tenderness.
Now, for Li Xuance's sake, they are even going so far as to harm the Zhao family.
After hearing this story of love and hate spanning hundreds of years, you are filled with emotion.
Cultivators have long lifespans, but their emotions are not necessarily weak, especially those involving Daoist conviction, obsessions, and regrets. Once these emotions become obsessive, the harm can be even greater.
You can only curse inwardly, "A dignified Purple Mansion True Person is nothing but a stubborn, ultimate sycophant."
As for Li Wuyai having a son only after several hundred years, it is not particularly rare in the cultivation world.
The higher one's cultivation level, the greater the leap in life stage, and the more exponentially the difficulty of conceiving offspring; it's common to go a hundred years without children.
[Zhao Wuyi began asking about Tingyu Pavilion's plans; you know he was trying to get information from you. Unfortunately, you didn't know much, so you could only give vague answers, dragging in the Zhengyang Immortal Sect and the royal family.]
[Zhao Wuyi was skeptical of your words. You only said that the Zhengyang Immortal Sect was also preparing to take action against the Zhao family, and warned them to be on guard, as you already had a backup plan.]
[In this process, you also learned about the royal family's plans, which are the same as the information you obtained during the last simulation: Ling'er is the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, and is inherently connected to the Zhao family through karma.]
[Using special means to manipulate the clan's destiny, igniting that golden essence, and then transferring it to Li Xuance. You nodded knowingly, then asked, "If that's the case, why arrange a marriage between Zhao Mengxi and the royal family?"]
Zhao Wuyi only said that it was a desperate measure he used to cover his tracks. But you don't believe that. You didn't mention that Zhao Mengxi had someone else behind her.
[After the conversation, you left the ancestral land and returned with Zhao Zhouhui. He was curious about what you and Zhao Wuyi had discussed, but you remained silent.]
Looking at the Zhao family patriarch, you felt a pang of pity for him. The two patriarchs had differing intentions, and even his own daughter was siding with outsiders.
[You were treated as an honored guest, and Ling'er's situation was far superior to Gan Fen's. Upon returning to your residence, you immediately began studying the "True Explanation of Swordsmanship," wasting not a single moment.]
Three days later, the banquet hosted by the Zhao family patriarch begins. You slowly rise and use the teleportation array to reach the outer perimeter, where you await Qin Xiyue and Han Feiyu. By this time, you have returned to your true form.
Time passed, and more and more guests arrived. You were the first to be greeted by Qin Xiyue. She was still dressed in white, her demeanor as serene and aloof as the moon, her air otherworldly. Somewhat frustratingly, Jun Luoyu was closely following her. This genius of the Qingchi Immortal Sect looked at you with undisguised hostility.
You stepped forward and nodded slightly to Qin Xiyue. She gave you a look, indicating that everything was prepared according to plan. Jun Luoyu, however, stepped forward, seemingly trying to separate Qin Xiyue from you.
Qin Xiyue didn't even glance at him, simply standing beside him. A hint of annoyance flashed in Jun Luoyu's eyes.
You observe coldly, and recalling the Qin family incident, you vaguely sense that the Three Sects and the Six Schools may be at odds, and you begin to make your plans.
You intend to pass on the news of the Golden Nature and the earth-shattering fact that the Zhengyang Immortal Sect may be able to use this opportunity to prove the Golden Core again to the Sanyi Sect through Han Feiyu.
The enemy of my enemy, even if not a friend, can at least become an ally to divert enemy fire.
Seeing that Qin Xiyue was ignoring him, Jun Luoyu turned his anger on you, his eyes turning cold, as if he wanted to attack you in secret.
You sneered inwardly, no longer concealing your true feelings, and suddenly released the aura of your ninth level of Qi Refining cultivation.
Although it was only a fleeting moment, the immense spiritual pressure caused Jun Luoyu to tremble as if struck by lightning. The color drained from his face instantly, and his eyes were filled with horror.
He's only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, so how could he remain calm in the face of the pressure from someone at the ninth level of Qi Refining? He pointed at you, his lips trembling, and finally stormed off, looking disheveled.
After waiting for a long time, you finally met Han Feiyu. He was very excited to see you. After exchanging pleasantries, you asked Han Feiyu where Jiang Yixi was. He then led you to Jiang Yixi.
You gestured to Qin Xiyue with your eyes to set up an array to prevent spying, and then informed the two of this earth-shattering news.
Upon learning that the Zhengyang Immortal Sect intended to cultivate the Golden Core again, the two men became grave and immediately relayed the news back to their sect.
The way Jiang Yixi looked at you was also very different. Both of them exclaimed in surprise at your true identity, which was so extraordinary.
The Sanyi Sect quickly replied, stating that your credibility was greatly enhanced due to your status as a Golden Core True Disciple.
Jiang Yanxu said he would inform the other five sect leaders to make a trip to the Zhengyang Immortal Sect, and he would also send someone to assist you.
You inwardly sighed at how favorable the situation seemed, and then followed Qin Xiyue and the others into the Zhao family compound. You didn't intend to let anyone else know your true identity as Huanzhulou, since your disguise had already been exposed to Zhao Wuyi.
It's all just for show. At the same time, you're curious what Li Xuance will do to you if he doesn't use the fake persona to conceal his true nature.
Your appearance caused a huge uproar. Many people hate you to the core for your identity as a true disciple of Tingyu Pavilion. You only revealed your Qi Refining Level 9 cultivation, yet no one dared to act rashly.
Han Feiyu, Jiang Yixi, and the others standing nearby were also extremely shocked. Just a few months ago at the Qin clan, you were only at the early stage of Qi Refining, and now you've already reached the ninth level. They all marveled at how your cultivation seemed to transcend time.
Upon arriving at the core area of the Zhao family, Li Xuanwei was utterly shocked to see you. He still remembered the scene of ascending the Dao Sect's Heavenly Path with you.
Just then, Li Xuance walked over. Seeing you standing with Li Xuanwei, his face was extremely gloomy. You felt that chilling killing intent again.
A chill ran through you. You immediately realized that Li Xuance's killing intent wasn't directed at your appearance, but rather at something within you that he couldn't detect as long as you concealed it with a fake human skin.
Having confirmed the intelligence, you feel much more at ease. Now you simply wait for the arrival of reinforcements from the Sanyi Sect to distract Zhao Jingci, so you can interrogate Li Xuance and extract a confession about his hostility towards you.
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