Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 235, Section 234: Retreating to Advance
"Li Cunxiao accepted disciples on behalf of his master?"

"Li Mucha receives the same treatment as an inner disciple?"

Li Siqi looked at Taiyi Zhenren sitting at the head of the table and Li Cunxiao standing to the side. Even though he had some idea of ​​what was happening, he still couldn't help but clench his fists when he heard it with his own ears.

Louguan Taoism and Qinglong Temple are renowned throughout the world, being among the most prestigious Buddhist and Taoist sects, and are recognized by the Qin Dynasty as the leading Buddhist and Taoist institutions.

Even a spot as a menial disciple is beyond the reach of ordinary respectable families, and the status of an inner disciple is enough to make the noble families of Xijing flock to your doorstep.

Even though the Qin Dynasty has declined, the two holy lands have inevitably been affected. The practice of privately exchanging gifts and favors is repeatedly prohibited but not stopped, though it is at most limited to the outer sects.

The quota for inner disciples is either determined by the outer sect's assessment or by the sect leader of each peak accepting disciples, which is an exception.

Now that Master Taiyi has asked Li Cunxiao to take on the role of his master in accepting disciples, it is clear that it is not because he himself has taken a liking to Li Mucha, but simply because he is looking after the disciple's relatives.

What Li Siqi cared about was not the spot for an inner disciple, but the old Taoist's attitude—when did his master, who was obsessed with alchemy and had an eccentric temperament, become so understanding?
Even I, who also came from the Li family of Longxi, had to pass the tests step by step before becoming a true disciple!
"What, what's the problem?"

Seeing Li Siqi remain silent, Taiyi Zhenren raised an eyebrow.

'Li Cunxiao was only of legal age, yet he had already achieved the Huangting perfection, truly a gifted individual.'

'But Li Mucha is still a greenhorn, and his martial arts training is far from complete; he has only just begun to develop his martial arts skills and energy.'

'What Master did was completely against the sect's rules; ultimately, it was just favoritism towards Li Cunxiao, to eliminate any worries he might have.'

"If you wish to take Li Mucha as your apprentice, then formally accept him; if not, then refrain from making such empty promises as accepting an apprentice on behalf of the master!"

Li Siqi seemed to see an indignant and passionate figure appear before him, and he felt an urge to speak his mind in one breath.

However, this impulse vanished instantly when Taiyi Zhenren's gaze fell upon him.

He forced a smile:
"The problem is that Li Mucha is still young. If he were to live with the other inner disciples, it might be inconvenient."

"I think we should not arrange a new courtyard for the time being. Let Junior Brother Li and his brother live together for now."

Ok?
Li Cunxiao glanced at his senior brother with some surprise, and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

Despite being rivals, Li Siqi was able to lie through his teeth in front of Taiyi Zhenren to avoid displeasing him.

This kind of forbearance is rare.

This is a formidable opponent.

"That makes sense," Master Taiyi nodded in satisfaction.

"I'll entrust Li Mucha's registration to you. Get it done as soon as possible."

"I will not trouble you, Master," Li Siqi said, turning to leave. Li Cunxiao quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying:

"Thank you for your help, senior brother. I will definitely come over for a few drinks another day when I have some free time."

"Junior brother, you're too kind."

Looking at his rival who was "smug and arrogant," Li Siqi gritted his teeth so hard they almost broke. He managed to squeeze out a sentence through his teeth, and without wanting to stay any longer, he quickly left Miaoyan Palace.

Once out of Taiyi and the other person's sight, his expression visibly darkened.

Upon returning to the secluded courtyard of the true lineage, Li Siqi could no longer contain himself:
"Absurd! Absurd!"

"What merit or ability does a mere child, whose talent has yet to be revealed, have to occupy the position of inner disciple?"

"Over the years, when members of the clan wanted to recommend disciples to join the clan, Master would ignore them. But when Li Cunxiao came, he made exceptions for them in every way!"

"Sometimes I really wonder whether I am a member of the Longxi Li clan, or whether Li Cunxiao is the real member of the Longxi Li clan!"

"Could it be that Li Cunxiao, like Li Qingtong, is Master's illegitimate child?"

There were no Louguan Taoist disciples serving in this small courtyard; instead, all the servants were house-born sons brought by Li Siqi from his clan, who were utterly loyal to the Longxi Li family.

Hearing these words, the maids were already trembling with fear, but just as Li Siqi was about to utter his last sentence, an elderly man dressed as a steward interrupted him in time:

"Young Master, be careful with your words!"

"It is not proper for a disciple to speak ill of his master. Your words are unbecoming of your status."

Li Siqi's eyes were filled with resentment, but as the senior disciple of Qinglong Peak for many years, his composure was not bad. He quickly adjusted his emotions and returned to his chair.

"The elder is right. As the senior disciple of Qinglong Peak, I should set an example for others and should never be disrespectful to our master, whether in words or in heart."

"But who is this Li Cunxiao? We don't know. How come Master has made exceptions for him time and time again? Elder, have you found any information about him?"

Sixty is called "qi" (耆), and seventy is called "lao" (老).

This old man, who looked like a steward, was a member of the Li family of Longxi for generations. What was even more remarkable was his talent in martial arts. He was also fortunate enough to live past seventy years old in the family guard position, where the casualty rate was extremely high, and was able to step into the Heavenly Ladder Realm.

As a true disciple of Louguan Taoism, Li Siqi was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding people in the Li clan of Longxi in this generation. Therefore, the clan specially sent this elder to protect him and manage his residence.

The elder shook his head upon hearing this, "It's difficult to investigate."

"Now that Huang Chao has occupied the Eastern Capital and blocked transportation, he has also cut off trade and communication between the Western Capital and Henan, Hebei and other places."

“In the past, a month would have been enough to travel between the two places, but now even the Zheng family of Xingyang has been forced to retreat by Zhu Quanzhong, let alone us who are far away in Huayin, where we are even more out of reach.”

Li Siqi felt disappointed upon hearing this, but he knew the elder was right. However, the more unknown the opponent was, the stronger his sense of crisis became.

Although Master Taiyi looked down on him in the past, he was the only true disciple of Azure Dragon Peak.

"Taiyi Zhenren's secular name is Li Yaoshi, and he is a member of the Li clan of Longxi." Such blood ties cannot be severed, and no matter what, Li Siqi will have a chance to aspire to the position of sect leader.

But then, out of nowhere, Li Cunxiao appeared.
“Elder, there’s no need to send anyone out to investigate. Besides his younger brother, Li Cunxiao has two other young men with him. They should have entered the outer sect. We can start by getting some information from them.”

"Gold, silver, beautiful women, elixirs, and magical treasures—just name your price! I don't believe these outsiders can resist the temptation and will try to find a flaw in Li Cunxiao's scheme!"

"This old servant understands," the elder replied.

Seeing that the little master was too tense, he comforted him:
"Young master, there's no need to be so hasty. Right now, which of the true disciples in the sect isn't at the Heavenly Ladder Realm?"

"Before one can ascend to the heavens in one step, there is still the realm of true form, and one must fight against inner demons. These are all hard work, and there is no shortcut."

“When Li Cunxiao entered the sect, he had reached the Huangting stage. Even if he was a genius, it would take him several years to reach the Zhenxing stage. Only then would he truly be considered a threat.”

"Even when Li Qingtong was favored by everyone, didn't he still fail at this hurdle?"

Upon hearing this, Li Siqi's tense face visibly relaxed.

Yes.

Li Cunxiao now enjoys absolute power in Louguan Daoist circles, but this is all due to the favoritism of Taiyi Zhenren.

The True Form trial is extremely dangerous; one step forward leads to heaven, while failure means death and annihilation. Back when Li Qingtong was favored, his arrogant and unruly nature caused him immense suffering. Only after Li Qingtong's death and Taiyi's loss of interest in taking on disciples did his life improve.

Back when I wasn't even a true disciple, I had already suffered so much. Now that I'm fully grown, why would I worry about a greenhorn who isn't even a true disciple?
"The elder is right; I was just worrying unnecessarily."

Li Siqi emerged from his slump and felt his mind broaden again.

"However, we must continue to probe and win over Ye Chengxiao and Wei He. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. For the position of sect leader of the Azure Dragon lineage, I must do everything in my power."

"Also, please have Elder personally handle the matter of Li Mucha's entry into the Daoist community, and while you're at it, please also select a few gifts to send over. The matter that Master instructed must be done well, so as not to give anyone cause for gossip."

"Yes."

Li Siqi inquired about some matters concerning the clan before getting up to leave and attend to the affairs of the Azure Dragon Pavilion.

As he said, one must go all out against competitors. To compete for the position of Azure Dragon Pavilion Master, one must not only consider the wishes of Taiyi Zhenren, but also the will of the people.

As long as everyone in the sect believes that they are the rightful heir, even if Taiyi forces Li Cunxiao to take the throne, the latter will only become a commander without troops.

Even if I can't become the head of the Azure Dragon Pavilion, I will never let Li Cunxiao have an easy time!
"Young master, please take care," the elder said, watching his young master leave from the doorway. Once the latter's figure disappeared, he beckoned to Li Siqi's guards, his respectful expression gradually turning cold.

“The servants overheard what you said, young master. If word gets out, it will damage your reputation.”

"Clean them up."

The guard clasped his hands in response, led the men into the courtyard, and closed the door.

Soon, screams and cries for help rang out, but they stopped abruptly before they could even travel out of the yard.

The old man waited quietly. Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again, and he went in, scrutinizing the room inch by inch.

Except for the soil behind the pond, which looked somewhat new, everything else looked exactly the same as before.

Only then did he show a satisfied smile.

"Prepare the gifts, and once the Taoist registration is completed, I will personally deliver them to Li Sanlang."

"The young master's affairs cannot afford to go wrong in the slightest."

"Li Siqi's steward personally delivered the ordination certificate to Li Cunxiao, and it is said that he also sent some rare and precious materials for cultivating one's Qi and Blood Realm."

"Now everyone in the sect is saying that Senior Uncle Taiyi is too biased and too harsh on the disciples who have served him for many years."

Guo Zhao sat on his heels with his back straight.

Across the table, Changsun Chi was intently brewing tea. In addition to tea leaves, the pot contained various spices such as scallions, ginger, dates, orange peel, dogwood, and mint.

In the North, there is no shortage of tea drinks, with salt, cheese, pepper, and ginger filling the mouth.

Tea brewed using this method can also be called "tea porridge," a flavor popular during the early years of Emperor Taizong of Qin's reign. It is quite different from the modern tea ceremony that emphasizes technique but uses pure ingredients.

However, Changsun Chi clearly preferred this flavor. After the tea was served, he took a sip first, looking quite content.

"Then what do you think?"

Guo Zhao, who was looking at the peculiarly flavored tea with a troubled expression, put down his teacup upon hearing this and said:
"I thought Li Siqi was using a strategy of retreat as a means of advancement."

"The rebels of the pseudo-Qi state have blocked transportation, making it difficult to gather information. Li Cunxiao's background is indeed unclear, but the fact that his senior uncle Taiyi has taken care of him many times shows that he has no one to support him."

“I went to see the certificate myself. This person is no more than twenty years old, yet he has already reached the Yellow Court Perfection stage. In fact, judging from Du Guanglei’s high regard for Li Cunxiao, he is very likely to have reached the Great Perfection stage.”

"With such a terrifying foundation, once he transcends his true form, he will likely ascend to the heavens in one step."

"In the future, Li Cunxiao will likely be hard to beat among the true disciples. Only Xue Tianyun will be able to contend with him."

"But the difficulty lies in the true form. The more the eight extraordinary meridians are opened, the harder it is to fight against the inner demons."

Guo Zhao shook his head. "Whether it will work out or not is still uncertain."

"You have a very high opinion of Li Cunxiao."

Changsun Chi was somewhat surprised; he knew his own disciple well.

Whether it's Guo Zhao, Cheng Ruoshui, or Li Siqi, they are all either from prominent families or descendants of dukes or princes, and they all have high and mighty views.

Not to mention that Guo Zhao's ancestors were the Prince of Fenyang, who recovered the two capitals and was hailed as having the merit of restoring the Qin Dynasty. He had always regarded Xue Tianyun, the eldest disciple of Yan Daotong, as his rival.

"Times have changed, and the nation is now in grave danger. As a descendant of a duke, I share the fate of the nation. If I cannot share the nation's burdens, what right do I have to be arrogant?"

Guo Zhao sighed, and Changsun Chi also fell silent upon hearing this, sighing for a long time.

"If you can remember the four words 'sharing the fate of the nation,' then your teachings will not have been in vain. However, the unrest in our country is not our fault."

"The separatist rule of regional military governors has a long history, and now it is too difficult to reverse."

"The fact that Zhu Quanzhong and Li Yisheng were granted titles, fiefdoms, and established their own governments clearly reveals their disloyalty. Appeasement will not save the Great Qin."

"In the current situation, nothing can be established without destruction. We must wipe out all these treacherous officials and villains before we can restore a bright and clear world to the land!"

These words were spoken with absolute certainty, and Guo Zhao felt all the slight dejection he had felt earlier being burned away by the passion in his heart.

"But to punish the disobedient, words alone are not enough, nor is Gao Xianggong's influence alone."

Changsun Chi's expression darkened. "Relying solely on the 'Taiqing Palace' as a spiritual treasure is not enough."

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Do you really think that Master Taiyi got the dragon boat?"

Such a commotion as the emergence of a secret realm could not possibly go unnoticed.

A month has passed, and now the news has spread to various parts of the world, and many people are eager to take action.

A single magical treasure is a sacred place, and in the current situation, it is an entry ticket to conquer the world.

When Emperor Taizong of Qin was able to conquer the world and even force the Louguan Temple to relocate, suppressing the world so that no one could stand out, in addition to his own dragon-like appearance and heaven-sun-like countenance, the assistance of the "Taiqing Palace" also played an indispensable role.

Of the several grandmasters present when the secret realm first appeared, Qin Fengquan was seriously injured and fled. Now, despite the frequent clashes between the pseudo-Qi and the imperial court, he has not made any moves, making him the least likely candidate.
The Zheng family of Xingyang has recently been driven to despair by Zhu Quanzhong, who intends to control the entire Henan Province. If Zheng Lang had Lingbao in his hands, he would not have to swallow his anger like this.

Not all military governors were grandmasters. For example, Qian Jumei, the lord of Jiangnan Road, had a high level of Xuan Guan cultivation, but he was clearly inferior to the holy land of Magu Mountain.

Yang Lingjun returned to Magu Mountain early. Recently, Yang Huayuan from Huainan sent troops south, but she did not show up. It is possible that another master from the sect went down the mountain to handle the situation.

"But I asked Zheng Lang before, and he said that Taiyi and that Cloth Bag Maitreya had already joined forces at that time."

"Unless Zheng Lang is lying to me, the two of them are the most likely to steal the spiritual treasure."

"Moreover, now that Taiyi has returned to the mountain, the whereabouts of the Cloth Bag Maitreya are unknown. There must be something fishy going on."

(End of this chapter)