Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 282 291 A Lifelong Matter
Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Xuanba)

Inside the room of the Prince of Fenyang's mansion, a layer of shimmering blue true energy sealed off all the doors and windows, so that even if someone were slaughtering a pig inside, not a sound could be heard.

Master Taiyi pondered his disciple's experiences since entering the secret realm, and remained speechless for a long time.

He wouldn't have been so surprised if he had been facing someone else.

But that was Emperor Taizong.

The invincible King of Qin, the unstoppable General of Heavenly Strategy, the Heavenly Khan revered by both the Central Plains and the grasslands, the sun hanging high above the heads of all people under heaven.

Even Taiyi Zhenren himself grew up listening to stories about that person. Now, his disciple was telling him in person...
"Sanlang, I'm afraid there's not much left for me to teach you."

Li Cunxiao found the old Taoist's sighing expression amusing.

However, he told Taiyi Zhenren everything that happened in the secret realm, not entirely to show off his divine power.

It was clearly the twenty-four generals of Lingyan Pavilion who should have been challenged, but instead, they attracted Prince Wei, Li Xuanba, and the former General Tian Ce. This was quite unusual.

Although Gao Pian and the emperor did not pursue the matter, it is highly likely that they did not discover it, but when it involves Lingbao, one cannot be too careful.

"Master, do you know the reason behind this?"

Taiyi Zhenren stroked his beard and pondered for a moment.

“The spiritual treasure has always been the most core secret of the sect’s sacred ground. Unless it is the succession of the sect leader or a crisis of life and death, others can only get a few bits and pieces of information.”

"Moreover, that is the priceless Taiqing Palace, which has always been solely in the hands of the emperor. Even important court officials like Gao Pian were favored because they served as the crown prince's tutor."

"Given the current critical situation, we were able to intervene. Even so, the Li clan caused quite a stir back then."

Li Cunxiao was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, but the old Taoist suddenly changed the subject.

"However, I don't know much about Lingbao, but I do know a little about terrestrial immortals."

"Sanlang, do you remember the dojo I told you about?"

"The Dharma of a Grandmaster is to emulate Heaven and Earth. That is, to follow the laws of nature, to manifest the inner landscape within oneself, and to transform a place into a place of practice."

"In the Daoist temple, the Grandmaster is the master of heaven and earth, and is an immortal of the land, hence the name 'Land Immortal'."

After hearing his disciple repeat it, Master Taiyi nodded in satisfaction.

"So, do you think Lingbao's secret realm and the Grandmaster's dojo are somewhat similar?"

Li Cunxiao was taken aback at first, then a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Master said that the seventh realm is the gateway to enlightenment, where one develops their primordial spirit."

"When the primordial spirit is strong, as for the eighth realm of the primordial embryo, the three elements must be united to transform the embryo into a physical form."

"The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit are all united in the Dharma form, without distinction between them."

"Therefore, true essence is the primordial spirit, it is blood and qi. When a grandmaster controls a dojo, it is actually his life essence covering the entire ground."

"Could it be that Emperor Taizong integrated all his cultivation into the spiritual treasure, and the secret realm was actually his training ground? The continuation of his life?"

"He's not dead yet?!"

Li Cunxiao was startled by his own guess, but Taiyi Zhenren beside him shook his head with a smile.

"It's not that exaggerated."

Even the immortals on land can only live for a maximum of five cycles of sixty years.

"Although Emperor Taizong was among the most outstanding Grandmasters, he ultimately did not surpass this level. If he were alive, what chance would Zhu Quanzhong and his ilk have?"

"What you encountered was just a fleeting shadow, like the twenty-four generals of Lingyan Pavilion."

Li Cunxiao recalled the course of the fight and nodded reluctantly.

Indeed, if the opponent had been more flexible in their responses, even if they had unleashed the Demon Orb, they might not have been able to win.

"However, compared to the chaotic mixture of spiritual and demonic energy in the outside world, the illusions in the Spirit Treasure Secret Realm are more stable and pure, which can delay the passing of life to a certain extent for Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters."

“In the past, our Louguan sect had a patriarch who died after fighting a great enemy.

"It was precisely by relying on the Three Primal Ultimate Cave Heaven within the Two Elements Banner that I was able to escape from a desperate situation, break through the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend realms from the ultimate Grandmaster level, and achieve the realm of Earth Immortal."

"But that seclusion also caused the Sanyuan Jizhen Cave Heaven to be closed for ten years."

"Other patriarchs were not so lucky. At most, they were able to extend their lives a little longer before they passed away, so that they could pass on their divine skills and writings."

"That's it"

Li Cunxiao thought to himself, "Now the dragon boat has another use."

Besides being able to teleport into the secret realm to escape at any time, it can also be used to hide and recuperate when seriously injured.

In this way, as long as the opponent doesn't act faster than you can think, or you encounter a master like a grandmaster, you'll have a chance to save your life.

The existence of these two functions is equivalent to giving him an extra life.

"Master, what is this about breaking the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends?"

"Don't be overly ambitious," Master Taiyi was about to speak when he realized what he was doing and gave a light but firm rebuke.

"Is the matter of becoming a terrestrial deity something you should be worrying about? The most important thing right now is to break through the barrier of mystery. Don't think that condensing a spiritual form is such a simple matter."

"There are too many people and too many eyes in the capital. With your spiritual treasure, there are indeed hidden dangers in breaking through here. If anything happens, that old scoundrel Gao Pian might turn on you."

Li Cunxiao nodded; that was also his thought.

After all, what's more reassuring than having your own magical treasures in the hands of your allies?
Despite the close relationship between the imperial court and the Louguan Dao sect, a single spiritual treasure is now a nuclear weapon.

Even if Li Cunxiao wasn't assassinated, he would probably be tied to the sinking warship of the imperial court by Gao Pian, which was not what he wanted.

"However, before we go back, there is one more thing that we must determine as soon as possible."

Taiyi Zhenren paused abruptly, drawing Li Cunxiao's attention as he waited for him to continue.

"Your marriage is a big deal."

Li Cunxiao was stunned and speechless for a moment.

Unexpectedly, the topic suddenly shifted to myself.

Indeed, Li Cunxiao is now in his twenties and doesn't even have a concubine, let alone a legal wife.

You have to understand that in this day and age, people get married as early as sixteen or seventeen, and by then they're already fathers.

For example, Guo Zhao had one wife and eight concubines, and more than a dozen children, the older ones of whom were as old as his younger brother Li Mucha.

“Sanlang, you’re not young anymore. Although we are Taoist priests, we don’t really have to remain widows for the rest of our lives.”

"Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants. Without bloodlines, the Li family line will end hundreds of years from now. How will you face your ancestors then?"

Li Cunxiao was momentarily embarrassed. "Mucha and I are siblings from the same mother. As long as he has offspring, our bloodline will not be severed."

"What if he doesn't leave behind any offspring?"

Taiyi Zhenren spoke earnestly and patiently.

“Cunxiao, not everyone is like you, able to rise to the top in just a few years.”

"To put it bluntly, Li Mucha's talent is far inferior to yours, and he can't possibly grow up so quickly. In this chaotic world, he might just die before you in an unforeseen event."

"What will you do then?"

Li Cunxiao remained silent.

Because what the other party said was true.

No matter how strong one's talent is, it takes time to realize it. He was confident that his future achievements would not be lower than those of a grandmaster, but that would still take at least a few years.

Zhu Quanzhong's army had already entered Luoyang, and a chaotic battle among the warlords could break out at any moment.

War has no morality; on the battlefields of Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters, the weak will die.

His current position means he is destined to be caught in the vortex of conflict; on the contrary, he is right at the center of it.

Li Cunxiao was not some aloof and detached person. As a human being, he longed to leave his mark on the world and for his life to continue.

Making a name for oneself and getting married with children are the two main paths. "Who is the person Master prefers?"

When Taiyi Zhenren heard that Li Cunxiao had agreed, his expression immediately brightened, and he pointed outwards.

"Who else could it be? You know the answer already."

Opposite the Prince of Fenyang's Mansion was naturally the Duke of Yue's Mansion.

"What is Abbot Ye's attitude?"

Li Cunxiao never expected that he would be pressured to get married after transmigrating, and he shifted his body uncomfortably.

"Actually, it was Ye Jing who brought this up on her own initiative."

Taiyi Zhenren looked on with a sigh, as if he were witnessing the pitiful plight of parents.

"Anyone with eyes can see that the Qin Dynasty is doomed, so of course he had to find a way out for his daughter."

"Besides, with your talent, you could marry any princess you want."

"If the news of the marriage proposal is spread, do you believe that all the military governors will be vying to come to your door and marry their daughters to you?"

That's true. Recalling the eager attitude of Shi Jingsi, the Grand Protector under the Prince of Jin, last time, Li Cunxiao had no doubt about it.

Moreover, the Ye family, which rose to prominence during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, has a history of over two hundred years and a substantial fortune.

As the abbot of Jinglong Temple, Ye Jing held a prestigious position in the capital and had access to much information that ordinary people could not.

Having such a father-in-law is like having an extra pair of eyes in the capital.

This is also very beneficial for the current situation.

"This disciple will follow Master's arrangements."

Li Cunxiao didn't dwell on it too much and quickly made a decision, which made Taiyi Zhenren beam with joy.

To him, this apprentice was like his own son.

Passing on one's lineage is only the most basic requirement; he hopes even more that the other party can have descendants, so that even if they are not his biological son, people will feel that the bloodline has been continued.

The significance of carrying on the family line lies in the continuation of the family line.

Without descendants, ancestors would also lose their ancestral offerings, hence the saying "no more blood sacrifices."

At this point, the entire family's life would be completely cut off from this world, something that people of this era could not accept.

Li Cunxiao could only do as the locals do.

The next few days were peaceful.

After two days of seclusion, Guo Zhao successfully broke through the Xuan Gate. However, after returning to the palace and informing Taiyi and others, he chose to continue consolidating his realm.

Besides the news that Ru Hui and Wang Zan had also advanced to the seventh realm, rumors about Zhu Quanzhong's army pressing on the border also spread like wildfire in the capital.

The calm before the storm made the atmosphere in Beijing even more oppressive.

Taiyi didn't delay. As soon as Guo Zhao came out of the pass, he led the three of them back to Louguandao.

Using the true essence of a grandmaster, and borrowing Li Cunxiao's Dragon-Binding Rope as a mount, he returned to Louguandao in a day.

"Look, senior brother, there's a dragon in the sky!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Our Louguan Taoist sect's mountain gate has no place here! What mother do you have here?!"

"What dragon?"

Li Mucha was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard when he heard a commotion outside. He went out of the courtyard and looked up, only to see a colossal creature hundreds of meters long hovering in the sky, approaching from afar.

He was initially startled, but after a closer look, he couldn't help but be delighted:
"It's Big Brother's magic weapon! Big Brother and the others are back!"

Li Mucha whistled, and a hissing sound rang out in the courtyard. Then a crimson figure leaped out, riding the flowing clouds and gentle breeze.

"Chili, let's go!"

With a swift sideways movement, Li Mucha mounted the three-meter-tall horse and transformed into a streak of crimson lightning, galloping down the mountain.

Having been nourished by the pure flesh and blood of numerous demons and elixirs, the Crimson Horse has become increasingly extraordinary. Not only is its fur smooth and tough like chicken-blood jade, but its hair also gleams with a pale golden luster.

While running, the wind and clouds move beneath its four hooves, and it is indeed possible to glide at low altitudes for a short period of time.

In the blink of an eye, Li Mucha arrived at the mountain gate, where a large number of disciples and elders had already gathered.

He arrived a little late; Master Taiyi had already gone to the Sanqing Hall with Sect Leader Yan Daotong and the three sect masters, and Guo Zhao went along as well.

After the elders drove away the disciples who had been watching, only Li Cunxiao and Ye Shuyi remained on the mountain path.

He was about to step forward, but after observing for a moment, he chuckled, patted Chi Li's plump buttocks, and quietly returned to the courtyard.

"Chi Li, I'm going to have a sister-in-law."

Li Cunxiao and Ye Shuyi haven't spoken much these past few days.

For this couple, alchemy and martial arts were commonplace, but getting married was a first for them.

Anyone would feel a bit lost if they suddenly went from being fellow disciples to husband and wife.

"But someone has to take the first step; we can't just stay silent until the wedding night."

Li Cunxiao looked at Ye Shuyi walking beside him. Her expression was not as calm as usual; instead, she seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Her gaze darted back and forth until it met her own, at which point she blushed slightly and looked away.

As if guided by some unseen force, Li Cunxiao moved closer and gently took the slender hand beneath the wide sleeves of the Taoist robe.

Ye Shuyi's ears immediately turned bright red.

At first, she only felt admiration and closeness to the young man beside her as an alchemist, and had no romantic feelings for him.

However, the more she learned, the more complicated her thoughts became, and eventually, she herself didn't know what to do.

To say it's true admiration, it doesn't seem to reach that level.

However, when her father, Ye Jingneng, wanted to arrange a marriage for her and learned that the candidate was Li Cunxiao, she did not object.

However, the two haven't communicated much in the past few days. She is also very uneasy, worried that the man who will become her husband in the future doesn't actually have any feelings for her, but is unable to refuse due to the marriage arranged by her elders.

Although she was aware of the family's arranged marriage as the daughter of a nobleman, who wouldn't want to be a loving couple if they were normal?
However, the fact that the other person was holding his hand at this moment suggested that he wasn't entirely without feelings for him.
Although most of the disciples who had been watching had dispersed, there were still disciples, elders, and deacons walking back and forth near the mountain gate.

In front of so many people, being so intimate with a man for the first time, even as a sixth-realm martial artist, Ye Shuyi felt a little nervous and stiff.

Li Cunxiao realized this and secretly regretted his recklessness.

Although the Qin Dynasty was relatively open due to its martial arts traditions, the other party was still an unmarried woman, and also from a martial arts sect.
Hesitating, his five fingers couldn't help but loosen slightly.

But at this moment, Ye Shuyi suddenly exerted her strength and grabbed his hand in return.

Li Cunxiao was taken aback. He met the other person's slowly raised eyes, and their tension and unease gradually melted away, eventually turning into peace and naturalness. Their fingers intertwined even tighter.

They have both received a response from each other.

Feelings can be cultivated. If they respect each other and don't dislike each other, that's enough.

Mutual respect is not a bad thing, but a sudden, passionate love affair, like a tornado, does not necessarily mean it will last.

Love among ordinary young people is certainly full of passion, but it is often also reckless and blind.

Marriage, more than passion, is about responsibility and tranquility, about mutual compromise and learning, ultimately leading to harmony.

Having spent nearly a year with Li Cunxiao, he had enough time to see Ye Shuyi's true character.

Pure and single-minded.

Although she was obsessed with alchemy, her noble birth gave her the skills to manage the inner court, making her a capable and virtuous wife.

Moreover, she is exceptionally beautiful.

Beautiful, capable, and unassuming, she perfectly meets all the requirements of a traditional virtuous wife and loving mother.

If you have a wife like this, what can your husband ask for?
(End of this chapter)