Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 294, Chapter 303: Crown Prince Dujian, Li Cunxu
"On the third day, he went into the kitchen, washed his hands, and prepared soup."

Not knowing her mother-in-law's tastes, she first sent the younger sister-in-law to try them.

Guo Zhao looked at Ye Shuyi, who was sitting in the main seat with Li Cunxiao, and who was acting like a matriarch, with a half-smile on his face. He then subconsciously recited a poem.

"Is my senior brother making fun of me?"

Ye Shuyi was not embarrassed or annoyed; her shyness seemed to only be shown in front of Li Cunxiao.

When facing outsiders, she transforms into a poised and elegant noblewoman, handling people and matters with impeccable manners and manners.

"I wouldn't dare. Although my cultivation is currently higher, it's merely due to my seniority. In the future, Junior Brother Li's achievements will undoubtedly surpass mine."

"I only hope that in the future, my junior sister will remember our friendship of over ten years and be lenient, asking Junior Brother Li to hit me less severely. That would be a blessing from the Bodhisattva."

As soon as Guo Zhao finished speaking, the three of them burst out laughing, knowing it was a joke.

"In any case, three catties of gold essence is quite valuable. Senior Brother Guo's gift is without any reason, which makes me feel a little at a loss."

Li Cunxiao served tea to his guests, chatting and laughing as if nothing was amiss, but a hint of inquiry flashed in his eyes.

No one else in the sect knows that he has been promoted to the Xuan Guan level.

He had just had a heart-to-heart talk with Ye Shuyi yesterday, and Guo Zhao came to his door today. He didn't doubt his fiancée, but he couldn't help but wonder about her motives.

"Hey, we're all from the same sect, there's no need for any excuse," Guo Zhao waved his hand casually.

"Even if my junior brother doesn't need it now, it's only a matter of time before he breaks through the barrier."

"Junior brother is an expert in alchemy and weapon crafting. We can't wait until we need divine weapons to protect ourselves to look for materials, can we?"

"Brother, please don't refuse my sincere offer."

So that's how it is. It's not that they knew I (Sanlang) had broken through the barrier, but rather that they were simply optimistic about future investments.

Li Cunxiao and Ye Shuyi exchanged a glance, smiled knowingly, and then bowed to Guo Zhao in unison.

"Then thank you, Senior Brother."

"My Prince of Fenyang's Mansion and the Duke of Yue's Mansion are close friends. What are a few rare and precious herbs compared to that? I will definitely be there to have a drink at Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Ye's wedding!"

Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Guo Zhao's smile deepened.

He came to offer his congratulations, partly because he had known Ye Shuyi since childhood and wanted to express his friendship;
Secondly, it was also for the sake of Li Cunxiao, this unparalleled genius, that they wanted to invest in him and befriend him in advance.

He had been in high spirits and feeling quite smug these past few days after breaking through the barrier. But when he heard Li Cunxiao riding Taiyi Zhenren's nine-headed green lion, he immediately sensed something unusual and rushed over with gifts.

Although everyone is a disciple of a grandmaster, there are still differences between the true disciples.

People like him, Qin Sixing, and Cheng Ruoshui only have a chance to break through to the Grandmaster level, but people like Xue Tianyun and Li Cunxiao, one broke through the Xuan Gate at the age of thirty, and the other reached the Heavenly Ladder Perfection at the age of adulthood.

It can be said that as long as he doesn't die unexpectedly, breaking through to the Grandmaster level is a certainty, and even becoming a Great Grandmaster is very likely.

In fact, he actually favored Li Cunxiao more than his senior brother Xue Tianyun.

Because the latter is not only younger, but also has not shown any weaknesses since he started—or rather, he is a complete all-rounder.

Not only was he exceptionally strong in combat, having once defeated Jingfeng of the Ming Cult at the sixth level, but he was also proficient in alchemy, overpowering Li Siqi of Qinglong Peak and his junior sister Ye Shuyi.

These two people have been studying alchemy for more than just a year or two.

But some people, in a shorter time, have achieved a comprehensive breakthrough.

This is a prodigy you absolutely must invest in; he is destined to shine brightly in the future!

Guo Zhao was genuinely curious about how this young man would break through the barrier within a few years, and what earth-shattering changes would occur after he did.

Therefore, let alone just a few pounds of gold essence, even if Li Cunxiao wanted to borrow the ancestral divine weapon of the Prince of Fenyang, he would have to seriously consider it!
"Junior Brother Li, do you know that that traitor Zhu Quanzhong has done another absurd thing!"

After the banquet was set out and everyone had drunk two rounds of wine, Ye Shuyi stopped eating and focused on serving Li Cunxiao, occasionally instructing the servants and disciples to add more food and wine.

Guo Zhao gradually became somewhat drunk, his face flushed, and he spoke less restrainedly.

"Absurd things? Zhu Quanzhong has done many absurd things. I wonder which one you're referring to, senior brother?"

Li Cunxiao was puzzled and poured wine for Guo Zhao. He seemed indifferent, but he had secretly pricked up his ears.

"I won't go into the shameful affair between that beast and his daughter-in-law, lest it offend your ears. What I want to talk about is something recent. Junior brother, do you know about the martial arts competition before the emperor?"

"Senior brother, are you referring to the old stories from the time of the female lead, Wu?"

Ye Shuyi, from a family with a strong academic background, spoke first to avoid embarrassing her husband.

"When Emperor Wu eliminated the imperial clan and seized the throne, he specially ordered the generals to perform martial arts in front of the emperor in order to promote them and boost his prestige."

"After a fierce battle, the few who remained were all loyal pillars of the Qin Dynasty."

"Although the Martial Emperor has the Pure Land Sect as his arm and is himself a Grandmaster, he cannot always personally lead troops into battle. Therefore, after much reflection, he established the Imperial Martial Arts Competition as a fixed rule, ordering all sects and clans in the world to send their outstanding disciples to the court every year for the Imperial Martial Arts Competition."

"The winners will undoubtedly be granted official positions and titles. However, later, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, local powers grew stronger, and military preparedness fell into disarray. Senior Brother, could it be that His Majesty intends to reopen the imperial martial arts competition?"

“Wrong,” Guo Zhao shook his head, his expression seemingly mocking.

"It wasn't His Majesty who proposed reopening the martial arts competition, it was Zhu Quanzhong!"

what?
Li Cunxiao and Ye Shuyi were taken aback at first, but then quickly realized the crux of the matter, and their expressions changed:
"Does Zhu Quanzhong intend to invite a wolf into the house, summoning all the regional warlords to the capital?"

"Isn't he afraid of becoming the target of public criticism and being attacked by the masses?"

“That’s right,” Guo Zhao said, picking up his glass and drinking it all in one gulp.

"Moreover, in his memorial to the throne, he mentioned not only allowing the regional military governors to enter the capital, but also requiring all the sacred lands and sects in the land to send their most outstanding talents to the capital."

"In my opinion, he doesn't want to hold any martial arts competition at all. Instead, he wants to take this opportunity to collude with those rebels and discuss how to divide up the Qin Dynasty!"

What a huge appetite, King Liang!

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao's expression became more serious.

If the other side succeeds, even if Louguandao, the imperial court, and Qinglong Temple were combined, they might not be enough to withstand it.

Those were the heroes of the world.

There are more than just these two sacred Buddhist and Taoist sites. Magu Mountain, Yuhua Temple, and even Maoshan, which seems to be indifferent to worldly affairs, who can say that these sites won't have their own ambitions?
Fortunately, the Grand Secretary was a man of great wisdom and decisive action.

Guo Zhao took a deep breath, and his words took a sharp turn.

"Did the Grand Chancellor reject Zhu Quanzhong's memorial?"

After Ye Shuyi finished speaking, she noticed that the other person shook their head.

"No, the Grand Chancellor has agreed to Zhu Quanzhong's petition!"

"You agreed?!"

Ye Shuyi could not hide her surprise. That was Gao Pian, the famous prime minister who was known for his absolute authority and unwavering authority.

Everyone in the court knew how much the other side loathed the regional military governors and regional military commanders. How could they possibly agree to a request that looked like a trap?

"How could the Grand Secretary be so unwise?" "No," Li Cunxiao rubbed his fingers, as if he had realized something.

"This is obviously a trap. Zhu Quanzhong's memorial was intended to incite the greed of all the heroes in the land."

"But the trap only works if the Grand Secretary does not agree to the request."

"Now that Prime Minister Gao has agreed to this request, Zhu Quanzhong's plan has fallen apart on its own!"

"Junior brother sees things very clearly," Guo Zhao praised.

"At the time, I didn't understand why Gao Xiang did that either. After thinking about it again and again, it finally made sense to me."

“The regional military governors and regional military commanders are all self-serving and disorganized, and each of them is ambitious. How could they possibly obey the orders of any one person?”

"Even if this person were Zhu Quanzhong or Li Yisheng, it would be impossible for them to do so."

“If Prime Minister Gao does not agree, it will only make the court appear weak, and the military governors will surely feel that they have an opportunity to take advantage of it, making it impossible for the princes to avoid going to the capital.”

"On the contrary, if Prime Minister Gao agrees to this request, the local warlords will become hesitant, wondering if the imperial court and Prince Liang have joined forces to lay a trap in Xijing, waiting for them to wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

Hearing this, Ye Shuyi also realized what was happening, while Guo Zhao became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had finally vented his anger:
"Indeed, Zhu Quanzhong is now burdened by his reputation. Ever since he quelled Huang Chao, he has been seeking people to promote himself, portraying himself as a wise and capable minister who single-handedly saved the day."

"With such immense fame, his every move would take on special significance in the eyes of the various warlords."

"If Qinglong Temple, Louguandao, the imperial court, and the Prince of Liang join forces, no other warlord in the world can withstand them alone."

"In this way, the risks of entering the capital far outweigh the potential benefits. These treacherous officials will have to be wary of each other, fearing that someone might form an alliance to harm them!"

"As expected of the Grand Secretary who has been in charge of the central government for decades, he can find a way to break the deadlock in such a critical situation. He is truly a seasoned veteran."

Li Cunxiao sighed sincerely, thinking to himself that the heroes of the world should not be underestimated.

However, even if Gao Pian did this, the balance of power between the imperial court and the various warlords in the land did not fundamentally change;

The situation in which Gyeonggi Province was isolated and helpless, facing the powerful forces of the fifteen provinces alone, had not fundamentally changed.
In other words, this was merely a delaying tactic to buy more time and slow the demise of the Qin Dynasty.

Similarly, this would buy Li Cunxiao more time to forge the divine weapon and enhance his strength as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the Dragon Palace within the Lingbao Dragon Boat should be smuggled in as soon as possible to provide living and refuge supplies, in preparation for unforeseen circumstances.

"In short, I think Zhu Quanzhong has failed miserably this time, which has made all the loyal officials in the court very happy."

At this point, Guo Zhao glanced over, seemingly unintentionally:

"To be honest, we descendants of the founding fathers have been getting together quite often lately because of this matter."

"If you're interested, Junior Brother, how about I introduce you sometime? Everyone has long admired Junior Brother Li."

Seemingly worried that Li Cunxiao might be uneasy, he quickly added another sentence.

"Junior Brother Cheng Ruoshui and Junior Brother Qin Sixing are also among them."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful for us to spar and discuss secrets together? Perhaps in the future, when the time is right, we can even fight side by side and achieve great things together during these turbulent times."

"Who knows, maybe Junior Brother Li will become the second Prince of Fenyang, the second Duke of Yue?"

Goodness, they're really good at making empty promises.

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao couldn't help but chuckle, but after thinking about it carefully, joining this gathering of second-generation rich kids didn't seem like such a bad thing.

After all, once a martial artist reaches the Profound Gate Realm, the resources they need are no longer available on the market; they are all held in the hands of these established families.

Joining the circles of these noble sons and nobles means having more channels to acquire resources, and perhaps even the chance to swindle some investment.

Anyway, he figured the Qin Dynasty was doomed, and once the person who lent him the money died, he wouldn't have to repay the favor.

Thinking about it this way, he was somewhat tempted, but he did not act rashly. Instead, he gave Ye Shuyi a wink.

Upon seeing this, the latter immediately stood up, poured wine for Guo Zhao, and while the latter raised his cup, returned to Li Cunxiao's side and wrote the character "可" (ke, meaning "acceptable") on his palm.

Li Cunxiao immediately understood the situation. He pretended to think about it and finally agreed half-heartedly.

Guo Zhao was overjoyed and immediately informed him of the time for the next gathering.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely. As it was time to say goodbye, Li Cunxiao seemed to suddenly remember something and called out to Guo Zhao:

"By the way, Senior Brother Guo, besides me, did you also invite Senior Brother Siqi?"

"Senior Brother Siqi's alchemy skills are no less than mine. If we let him join us, it will surely add luster to the gathering."

Guo Zhao looked troubled upon hearing this, as if he wanted to agree but had some concerns.

Seeing this, Li Cunxiao changed the subject and didn't dwell on the matter.

Only after the other person's figure disappeared did he ponder turning back into the courtyard.

"It seems that these sons of dukes and marquises harbor resentment towards the Li family of Longxi, or rather, towards any force closely connected with the Hedong warlords."

"Even so, the Prince of Jin still needs to make contact. A cunning rabbit has three burrows; you can't put all your eggs in one basket."

"Besides, it's the imperial court, a sinking ship."

"Guo Zhao wants me to completely side with the imperial court, and this gathering is just a pretext."

"Unfortunately, I am not loyal to the court, nor do I favor the regional military governors; I only do what I want to do."

"And this requires strength."

Thinking about his future plans, Li Cunxiao quickly turned and headed to the stables.

Instead, there was a spacious pavilion, but instead of the usual feeding troughs and hay, there were fruits and vegetables, a rare sight in winter, on the stone table.

The massive blue lion occupied the largest space, where Li Mucha and Ye Shuyi were stroking its mane. With a flick of its tongue, it swallowed the fruit, its face full of contentment.

Chili was huddled pitifully in the corner. When it saw Li Cunxiao arrive, it immediately rushed forward and buried its tear-filled head into the latter's arms.

"Alright, alright, the Green Lion is your senior. It's good enough that it doesn't bully you. How can I stand up for you?"

Li Cunxiao was both amused and exasperated, but in his heart he thought that if he could get Taiyi Zhenren to lend him the seventh-tier beast, the Azure Lion, then he might as well leave the Crimson Horse to Mucha.

After all, the latter has the bloodline of the Eight Heavenly Horses, and no matter what, it is still a special breed of horse.

While Mucha was petting the big cat, Li Cunxiao and Ye Shuyi went to the side to discuss the gathering and the meeting with the Prince of Jin's envoy, checking for any omissions and making sure everything was in order.

After all, he would be her future husband, and Li Cunxiao felt that he should tell him about such a sensitive matter as contact with local warlords.

The latter had no objections after learning about it, and even offered advice and suggestions. He did not say anything about how treacherous officials were not worth discussing things with, which was reassuring.

The other party didn't keep Li Cunxiao waiting for long. A few days later, the Prince of Jin's envoy discreetly entered Louguan Road, and his identity immediately piqued everyone's interest:

Li Yisheng's biological son, the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin, the third of the Twelve Protectors, nicknamed "Prince Dujian" and "Horse-Headed Bright King," and the commander of the Silver Spear Army in his tent.

Li Cunxu.

(End of this chapter)