This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 384 I am a loyal subject!

When Xiang Yuan asked Xiao Feng what his thoughts were, Xiao Feng hesitated and stammered. Xiao Ling, standing to the side, looked down at the ground, frowning in thought, as if wondering why there were no ants on the floor of the Ice Palace.

Seeing this, Xiang Yuan didn't waste any time and punched Xiao Feng in the face, giving him a black eyeshadow look.

“It’s not what you wanted to say. I forced you to say it. You’re not someone who’s afraid of death. You’re just trying to preserve the foundation of the Xiao family’s Grandmaster level.” Xiang Yuan said understandingly.

If only my brother had thrown that punch sooner, I would have been so worried.

After being hit by a powerful memory restoration technique, Xiao Feng's mind immediately cleared, and he spoke out about the clan's immature ideas.

First of all, the mastermind behind the scenes used incomprehensible methods and left behind very few useful clues. Whether it was the Dragon Locking Evil Formation, the kidnapping of Jiang Yingjun, or the murder of the royal family, they were all meticulously planned. The only reliable clue that the Xiao family of Shendu had was the Other Shore Gate.

Although the Other Shore Sect is one of the eight demonic sects with a name and a surname, all its members are ghost cultivators, making it difficult for living people to approach them. They are extremely mysterious, and even the Xiao family of the Divine Capital cannot find them.

The clue ends here.

If one plan fails, try another.

The mastermind behind the scenes murdered members of the royal family, preventing the new emperor from quickly ascending to the throne. They also spread rumors, attempting to leave the Western Chu state leaderless and plunge it into division and internal strife around the throne.

With the Northern Qi and Southern Jin eyeing the spoils, they would certainly seize the opportunity to grab a share.

These are things for later, so let's leave them aside for now and just look at the mastermind's actions in assassinating the emperor.

According to the Xiao clan's speculation, there are two possibilities for the mastermind's actions. The first is the open conspiracy mentioned earlier: everyone wants to be emperor, and the allure of power will inevitably lead to internal strife in Western Chu.

When Western Chu fell into chaos, Northern Qi and Southern Jin entered the fray, plunging the world into further turmoil. The effect was equivalent to the Dragon-Locking Evil Formation.

In this way, no matter who the new emperor is, his life will not last long.

The second possibility is that the mastermind behind the scenes has eliminated all the royal family members from the possibility of obtaining the divine artifact. From the list of many princes that has been spread, they have already selected one person and are secretly supporting him, intending to put a puppet on the throne.

The Xiao clan's immature idea was based on the second possibility: a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and a new emperor will inevitably ascend the throne. Whoever suddenly has a group of high-level thugs of unknown origin, whoever rises to prominence, is a puppet supported by the mastermind behind the scenes. Only by following the clues can they launch a counterattack.

"Ah this..."

Xiang Yuan was speechless after being outmaneuvered by the unreliable Xiao family. He said, "Who came up with this terrible idea? I suggest you investigate our ancestors. It's probably related to the mastermind behind it all."

Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling were both helpless, saying that it was an immature idea precisely because it was unreliable.

The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, so we are passively taking a beating. We don't even know where to fight back, so this is all we can do.

If there were a way, what kind person would joke about the throne!
Hearing the helplessness in the two brothers' words, Xiang Yuan saw the Xiao clan at a loss. He thought about it and realized that he wouldn't have any good ideas either. He could only take it one step at a time and wait for the mastermind behind the scenes to reveal their weakness.

"This can't go on forever. Northern Qi and Southern Jin will definitely take advantage of our misfortune, and the longer it drags on, the more turmoil will ensue in Western Chu, until it truly breaks apart," Xiang Yuan warned.

Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling nodded simultaneously. They exchanged a glance, and the former stepped forward, lowering his voice to say, "The clan is preparing to summon several princes on the list and have them enter the capital to inform them of this matter. They are to swiftly resolve the issue and determine who will become emperor, based on their abilities."

Who are the people behind you? Hurry up and show them off, or the throne will be out of your reach.

Xiang Yuan's eyelids twitched. According to this logic, the Zhao Prince's Mansion must have the most powerful background!
Leaving aside distant matters, within the territory of Western Chu alone, Xiao Lingyue can bring out the Peerless Palace. With a single call from him, the Yellow Springs Path will respond. With a little manipulation, the Sword Heart Sect can also lend a hand.

With a little persuasion from Yue Huanjiang and Ji Boli, Baiyun Manor and Tianwu Sect will also provide support in terms of public opinion.

With such a grand display, even if Xiao Yan didn't want to be emperor, he could only don the yellow robe and wail pitifully, "I am a loyal subject!"

Xiang Yuan didn't hide anything and told Xiao Yan about his family situation. He spread his hands helplessly and said, "The more children you have, the more connections you have. My father-in-law may not be good, but his child is really amazing. He doesn't have to do anything and can just lie down and touch the dragon throne."

It was definitely not an option not to fight. Xiao Yan was the Grand Administrator of Guanshan Road. With the old emperor dead and no one to inherit the throne, he was forced to establish a separatist regime. When the new emperor ascended the throne, how would he view this Prince Zhao?

A cup of wine to release military power?
Stop joking. Xiao Yan's surname is Xiao. He is not a retainer. He will only make the new emperor feel like he has a fishbone stuck in his throat, tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the reduction of the power of the princes day and night.

If the reduction continues, the Prince Zhao's mansion will definitely rebel.

Therefore, it's not a matter of fighting or not fighting at all. When Xiao Yan reached his position, he had no choice at all.

Upon hearing Xiang Yuan's words, Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling fell silent again. Xiao Feng scratched his head and said in a simple and honest manner, "Brother, could it be that the Prince Zhao's mansion is the mastermind behind this?"

boom!
With a punch thrown from afar, Xiao Feng's face became symmetrical, and his smoky makeup looked much better.

Xiang Yuan, suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, noticed that the dark circle around Xiao Feng's left eye was smaller than that around his right eye, so he punched him again, finally feeling relieved.

The Prince Zhao's residence was clearly not the mastermind behind it all. Xiao Yan certainly acted as a puppet, as Xiao Qian had to give his every penny. But under normal circumstances, the Prince Zhao's residence didn't even have a Grandmaster. What qualifications did they have to set up the Dragon-Locking Evil Array, and what right did they have to plot against the royal family?
You don't have the ability to know!

"Brother, I thought the atmosphere was a bit quiet, so I was just making a joke to lighten the mood. Why did you take it so seriously?"

Xiao Feng covered his bruise, a minor injury that would heal on its own in no time, but he dared not do so. Instead, he took the opportunity to play the victim and try to gain sympathy.

Xiang Yuan had no interest in paying attention to Xiao Feng. He frowned and said, "The Zhao Prince's lineage is simply too powerful. The other princes have no chance at all. My father-in-law will inevitably become the new emperor, and then..."

Xiang Yuan didn't say anything more, but looked at the late emperor lying on the freezer.

Xiao Yan was not the puppet the mastermind wanted; becoming emperor would only lead to his death.

"Unless we find out the mastermind's method of assassination..." Xiang Yuan murmured.

"Brother, do you have a solution?"

"No."

Xiang Yuan shook his head decisively, and then said, "But I can find someone to help me with some divination, and maybe they can figure something out."

"Who is this master?" Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling were immediately wide awake.

"It's nothing, just a few people at the Upper Three Realms, not any particularly powerful figures."

"..." x2
Xiao Feng turned to look at Xiao Ling, gritting his teeth and saying, "What did I tell you? Prince Zhao, Xiao Yan, has the appearance of a true dragon. It's you who keeps causing trouble and insists on making a fuss here."

Xiao Ling was speechless and gave the Tai'a sword in his hand a clang.

The national treasure is right in front of you, giving you a chance to rethink your words!
The Xiao family masters were all clowns, and Xiang Yuan was too lazy to talk to them. He looked at them intently and saw that Xiao Feng immediately backed down and dared not test the Tai'a Sword. He sighed with regret.

What's there to be afraid of? That sword is just average; it won't prevent me from becoming a hero again in eighteen years.

"I'll go ask around and see if there's anything that can be done. You two should stay here and not move around."

Xiang Yuan narrowed his eyes, pointed his fingers into a sword shape in the void, ignored the Ice Palace's restrictions, and teleported away in front of Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling.

Xiang Yuan immediately copied Bai Wuyan's superior method of teleporting, and after examining her primordial spirit several times, he quickly grasped its essence.

Xiang Yuan usually doesn't show off his little skills at this level, but he was in a hurry today, so he just showed off a little, leaving Xiao Feng and Xiao Ling looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What do you mean, brother? Do you insist that we two support Prince Zhao's Mansion?"

"Don't keep saying 'we' or 'we,' I've always supported Prince Zhao's Mansion."

"..." x2
Both remained silent. Although the Xiao family of the capital was a royal family, if you disregard the dragon throne, they were essentially a powerful clan, only with a larger share of tax revenue.

From the perspective of the scions of aristocratic families, it doesn't matter who the emperor is. As long as he is not obsessed with religion, is not a carpenter, is not a student studying abroad, and is not complacent, it doesn't matter who the emperor is. The key is the interests of the entire Xiao family.

An emperor's reign is only temporary, but the entire Xiao family's reign is forever.

Xiang Yuan's tendency to throw punches at the drop of a hat left the two men both dissatisfied and helpless.

What should we do? Should we really choose Xiao Yan, since he is the one destined for us?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Peerless Palace, a small grotto in the cold pool.

Xiang Yuan carefully moved through the space to arrive, looked around, and confirmed that Xiao Lingyue and Cheng Yuling had left before openly stepping inside.

Bai Wuyan had just seen her two disciples off when she looked up at Xiang Yuan and pointed her sword, ready to clean him up.

"Wait a moment!"

Xiang Yuan raised his hand to stop, saying that there were more important things to do today and that they could talk about getting the medicine later.

He explained his purpose: he wanted to consult Bai Wuyan's divination to find out the methods used by the mastermind behind the assassination, and if possible, also to find out the identity of the mastermind.

Bai Wuyan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, but did not refuse. She pointed a finger, breaking the ice, and let Xiang Yuan soak in it. She would slowly enjoy the medicine after she calculated the result.

Xiang Yuan obediently took off his clothes and jumped into the water to wait for the divination results.

If you need help, selling some blood isn't shameful.

Bai Wuyan stood in mid-air, her wide white sleeves fluttering without wind. A wisp of blazing white spiritual light gathered at her fingertips, invisible like a sword, drawing several mysterious trajectories in the void.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes sparkled like stars, as if she were deducing the secrets of heaven.

However, the moment the inspiration formed and began to take effect, it was as if it were being crushed by an invisible force, scattering into specks of residual light and disappearing.

"The person you're looking for already possesses cultivation at the upper three realms..."

Bai Wuyan's voice was as cold as frost, and she seemed to be struggling to find the answer: "The cultivators of the Upper Three Realms already possess the supernatural power to obscure the secrets of heaven. Who is he? I cannot calculate it." To be honest, Bai Wuyan was not proficient in divination. Her divination method was based on her transcendent cultivation, which allowed her to have a commanding view of all living beings. She would perform divination from top to bottom in a forceful manner, and naturally, she could calculate whatever she wanted.

But once she encounters an opponent of equal skill, she is helpless and can only protect herself and ensure that she is not outmaneuvered.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yuan felt a slight tightness in his heart, but it wasn't unexpected.

If someone lacks the cultivation of the three highest realms, and yet a mere Grandmaster dares to plot against the world, that would be utterly ridiculous.

He narrowed his eyes, still unwilling to give up: "Master Bai, you can't figure out that person's identity, nor the method of assassination...?"

Bai Wuyan probably felt underestimated, her eyes narrowed, and the void behind her twisted, revealing a huge white phoenix phantom.

The phoenix spreads its wings, shining like the sun at its zenith.

Her aura suddenly merged with heaven and earth, and the space around her crackled and trembled, as if forcibly tearing open some kind of barrier that concealed the secrets of heaven.

Click! !
An invisible backlash suddenly descended!

Bai Wuyan's face suddenly turned pale, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her lips, dripping down her chin and blooming into a glaring red on her white chest. She abruptly raised her head, her gaze sharp as a blade, staring fiercely towards the east.

Looking into the distance, to the east...

Southern Jin!

Is the mastermind behind this connected to the Southern Jin Dynasty?
"The White House?"

"..."

Bai Wuyan remained silent, her face quite grim as she stared disapprovingly at the bloodstains on her chest.

Judging from the situation, she still hadn't figured it out.

The next second, Bai Wuyan moved and stepped into the cold pool, pressing Xiang Yuan down to the bottom of the pool, where she obtained a private seat and replenished her blood.

The force with which she hugged Xiang Yuan's shoulders and back was considerable, and her nails began to scratch him again, as if she intended to get revenge on him.

Xiang Yuan came seeking divination, but gained nothing and was humiliated by the great evil. He exclaimed that he had made a bad deal. He had just grown up, how could he endure such humiliation? He tightly clenched his arms, and Bai Wuyan increased her strength, so he increased his strength as well.

Half a day later, Bai Wuyan floated out of the water. Because she had failed to use the proper divination method and had even suffered a backlash from being misled by the heavenly secrets, she was in a very bad mood. She sat cross-legged in the air and began to refine the external blood-replenishing medicine she had just absorbed.

He poked his head out of the water and blew a few bubbles. Seeing that Bai Wuyan ignored him, he sighed at how unpredictable her temper was.

He was so careful with the furnace before, and we were completely naked during the bath, but today there's nothing there...

Of course, Xiang Yuan didn't come away empty-handed. At least he learned that the mastermind was in the East, and even with Bai Wuyan's cultivation level, she couldn't figure out what vicious methods the other party had used.

He got up, dressed, and moved away.

Having found no answers in his search for Bai Wuyan, he could only go against his conscience and follow the path of his own conscience.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Northern Qi Dynasty.

Mingzhou, the Way of the Heart.

Xiang Yuan looked at Benxindao, which had no protective formation at all, with a serious expression. With the thought of visiting a grave, he climbed one step after another until he reached the thatched hut on the mountaintop.

The ancient trees in the courtyard are still standing.

A woman with perfectly shaped eyebrows and a flawless nose sat cross-legged on a futon under a tree. Sensing someone approaching from afar, she slowly opened her eyes.

Master Miaoqiong!

Are you really going to sit here forever and never return to the Purple Light Sect?
Xiang Yuan looked at the sect's most treasured artifact and stepped forward, saying, "Junior Sister Miaoqiong, is Master taking a break in the outhouse?"

Miaoqiong shook her head slightly and said, "This morning, Master said that if a demonic wind suddenly arrives, thieves will surely come. To prevent him from speaking carelessly, he went out to seek refuge."

Xiang Yuan: (_)
As expected of me, my aura arrived before I did, startling away even a master of the Upper Three Realms like that fool.

Xiang Yuan and Miao Qiong were not familiar with each other, having only exchanged a few photos. Seeing that Miao Qiong was deliberately avoiding him, Xiang Yuan had no interest in chatting with her and turned to leave.

Two minutes later, Xiang Yuan returned the way he came and saw Miao Qiong sitting under the tree like an NPC. He asked with a puzzled look, "Junior sister, before Master left, did he give you any instructions, such as if he could give you a brocade pouch when the Taoist Master came to ask for divination?"

"Have."

"Then why won't you tell me?" Xiang Yuan raised his voice.

“Master said that only by asking can you get the secret plan; if you don’t ask, then let it go,” Miaoqiong said calmly and truthfully.

"..."

Xiang Yuan rolled his eyes. Luckily, he was quick-witted and turned back halfway up the mountain, otherwise he would have been tricked by the dim-witted Benxin Dao again.

He didn't say anything, but stretched out his clean, white hand and placed it in front of Miaoqiong.

Miaoqiong took out a brocade pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Xiang Yuan.

The NPC completed the task, got up, put away the prayer mat, and returned to the thatched hut to cultivate.

Xiang Yuan ignored her, opened the brocade pouch, took out a note, and his pupils shrank upon seeing it.

Life and death book!
"Gudu!"

Xiang Yuan's throat went dry, and he subconsciously swallowed. What did the Book of Life and Death mean? The cause of death of the hundred or so members of the Xiao family, including the emperor, was related to the Book of Life and Death.
The mastermind behind the scenes holds the Book of Life and Death, and can erase the lifespan of anyone they dislike or steal their soul and spirit.

"Holy crap, what's the point of playing this game? They have connections!"

Xiang Yuan cursed and swore. The Qianyuan Realm was completely cut off from the heavens and the earth, and the concepts of the Heavenly Court and the Underworld had long since disappeared. Suddenly, a Book of Life and Death appeared, and anyone could be killed at will. The Xiao family of the Divine Capital should not resist. They should just wash their necks clean and wait for the mastermind behind the scenes to take their place.

Suddenly, Xiang Yuan realized something was wrong. If the mastermind really had a treasure like the Book of Life and Death that could kill invisibly, why would they go to the trouble of setting up three Dragon-Locking Formations?

There was no need to send three grandmasters to kidnap Jiang Yingjun and use such underhanded means to sow discord between the Western Chu and Northern Qi families.

The key point is that the three grandmasters' sneak attack failed, and they also lost the True Martial Emperor's Black Cauldron, which is practically giving it to the enemy.

"The Book of Life and Death is no ordinary object; its use is subject to certain conditions, and not just anyone is qualified to wield it..."

Xiang Yuan never doubted his foolish master's divination skills. If the old man said it was the Book of Life and Death, then it must be the Book of Life and Death. Based on the information he had, he speculated that the mastermind behind the scenes had no other choice but to use the Book of Life and Death.

Even if it's not a matter of trading one's life for another, mastering this thing will certainly come at a heavy price!

"Even so, I can't gamble with the lives of everyone in Prince Zhao's mansion. What if he's the reincarnation of Yama, the judge of the underworld, and can use the Book of Life and Death as soon as he sees it?"

Xiang Yuan muttered to himself, "It would have been better if I hadn't known about the Book of Life and Death. Knowing about it has made me even more hesitant, and my morale isn't as high as it was at the beginning."

Follow your heart.

As soon as Xiang Yuan finished speaking, the three characters 'Book of Life and Death' on the note suddenly changed, adding two more characters, making it five characters in total, which made his scalp tingle.

The Book of Life and Death of the Three Yin!
The Three Yin Book of Life and Death comes from the Yellow Springs Path in Southern Xinjiang. It is the exclusive technique of the Yellow Springs Left Envoy. The former Left Envoy Ling Guang and the current Left Envoy Xiang Wentian have both practiced it, and it has been passed down in the form of a portable hard drive.

A thick aura of scheming washed over him, making Xiang Yuan's eyelids twitch. If the Book of Life and Death in the Three Yin was the solution, then Xiao Yan was incredibly lucky; he was the only one in the world who could break it…

No, there's another Yin Palace at the Other Shore Gate. The former Left Envoy of the Yellow Springs, that old geezer, also knows the Three Yin Book of Life and Death.

Right!
Xiang Yuan's eyes gleamed as she looked at the note in her hand, her little mouth chattering, "What a magical note! Tell me, how do I use the Book of Life and Death to break its Thousand-Mile Soul-Catching ability?"

The magical note responded, one word after another flashing by. It controlled the true essence of the three yin energies and used yin energy to write the mantra of life and death reincarnation. Then, it was compared with the ancient mirror of reincarnation, which could protect the soul and spirit from being taken away by the Book of Life and Death.

Xiang Yuan was overjoyed, but subconsciously complained, "This is so troublesome. How much time will it take to curse every single one of the hundreds of people in the Prince Zhao's mansion?"

Unexpectedly, a simple complaint received a magical response with a note.

There's no need to curse them one by one. In the cycle of reincarnation, blood is the guide. If you want to protect the Zhaowang Mansion, start from the bloodline of this lineage and just curse Xiao Yan.

Xiangyuan: (一`一;)
What a humane note! Tell me, are you some kind of heartless old Taoist priest in disguise?

Having achieved his goal, Xiang Yuan accepted the note and the brocade pouch, then teleported straight to the Yellow Springs Path...

They stopped midway and changed course to the capital of Tai'an Prefecture in Northern Qi.

Since I'm already here, I'll greet my junior brother and hope he'll give me face and try not to take advantage of my vulnerability by launching a surprise attack on Western Chu from the border.

The possibility is very low. It involves the fate of the nation, and my senior brother's influence won't make a difference.

What if!
After all, according to his own conscience, his senior brother was no good, given how treacherous he was!
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

10,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)