Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 354 364 Alliance, any alliance is possible
"Did the Qin and Liao dynasties agree to be brother states?"

"Yes, there is such a rumor circulating in the court. We all think that His Majesty deliberately spread this rumor."

"After all, the Mingzun is currently tied up in Haozhou by the Maoshan Zhenren. If he can get the Liao emperor's help, he can be attacked from both the north and south. The pseudo-Liang only has one Grandmaster, Zhu Quanzhong, who is powerless to resist."

“That makes sense,” Li Cunxiao said, taking a sip of wine and rubbing his fingers on the raised beads on the gold cup.

As far as the eye could see, the desks stretched like a long dragon, from the entrance of the prefectural government office all the way to the city gate.

Originally intended as a welcoming banquet for the mission, Li Cunxiao decided on a whim to share the joy with the people and instead hosted a long table banquet.

Among those present were not only officials but also ordinary citizens, and the lights used for illumination stretched out in a winding arc throughout the city.

Fearing that someone might get drunk and cause trouble, Li Guangyi limited the amount of alcohol served, but there was plenty of food.

The villagers nearby and the city residents have already eaten the second and third rows.

During the banquet, Yuchi Bi also gave a detailed account of the recent developments in the capital.

It is not surprising that Li Yisheng and Yelü Yi joined forces.

Regardless, the Liang Kingdom always had two Grandmasters.

Both Li Yisheng's desire to reclaim the heartland of the Central Plains and Yelü Yi's ambition to establish a separatist regime in the north were inextricably linked to Zhu Quanzhong.

At least, before Zhu Quanzhong's demise, their interests were somewhat aligned.

Once they unify the North and South, conflict will inevitably break out again.

Li Cunxiao had anticipated this.

The Liao Kingdom also contributed to the tragedy at Louguandao. Taiyi Zhenren was seriously injured, and Yelü Yi was also an accomplice. Li Yisheng was aware of this.

But could he abandon the alliance because of Li Cunxiao's personal hatred?
Will not.

Because a Louguandao sect that had suffered heavy losses and had to leave the capital met Li Yisheng's needs at the time.

Trading a "dead" Grandmaster of alchemy for a weak and completely controlled Li Cunxiao is in Li Yisheng's interest.

For Li Yisheng, what the Liao Kingdom did did not constitute hatred at all; in fact, it could be said that it did him a great favor.

Why would someone in a superior position sacrifice their own interests for the benefit of just one person below them?
Unless Li Cunxiao immediately conveys the news of his breakthrough to Grandmaster to the capital, such a significant message might make Li Yisheng hesitate for a moment.

But in the end, they'll probably just use excuses like "forming alliances," "planning slowly," or "settling scores later" to brush it off, and it'll all fizzle out.

He wasn't angry, because there's no room for sentimentality in the power struggle, and besides, these warlords were nothing more than beasts in human form, with the law of the jungle ingrained in their very bones.

Without power, the words that come out of one's mouth are nothing but noise.

"In that case, when I have enough power to carry out my own will, I hope you will accept it calmly."

Li Cunxiao felt cold inside, but his smile remained as warm as a spring breeze.

Besides Yuchi Bi, he also extended his condolences to the rest of the delegation.

Once the investiture ceremony was over, he planned to find an excuse to keep these people around to build the framework of the Ü-Tsang Protectorate.

He originally had a whole team when he took office, but he still wanted to plan for Sichuan in the future, and relying on this number of people was definitely not enough. There was no time to train them temporarily.

Since Li Yisheng was demanding double the price of the pills, it was entirely reasonable for him to ask for some central government officials and clerks as well.

The dinner was a great pleasure for both the guests and the hosts.

The next day, Li Cunxiao expressed his desire to persuade Yuchi Bi to stay. Yuchi Bi already knew what a powerful backer he had bet on, so he simply agreed and promised to persuade the rest of the delegation.

After all, in the eyes of people in the capital, Wenzhou and Fuzhou were still too remote, and their brothels and Pingkangfang were not in the same league.

I thought it was a business trip, but it turned into a permanent stay. This is hard to accept.

But now Li Cunxiao has become someone who stands on top and issues orders. He doesn't care about the process, as long as the result is correct.

The addition of highly qualified officials from the capital undoubtedly greatly improved the efficiency of the entire administrative team and was also very beneficial for the training and selection of future talents.

With someone sharing the administrative duties, Li Cunxiao could devote more time to his own cultivation.

But on the other hand, while Li Shijun was enjoying singing and dancing, Wang Jian in Shu was having a lot of worries.

Upon receiving the order, Jianzan immediately led the elite Tibetan troops, the "Dragon Elephant Army" bestowed by the governor, down the snow-capped mountain and headed straight for the Governor's Office of Baoning Prefecture.

This place is north of Xichuan, a land inhabited by Qiang and Rong people. It is also mountainous and densely forested, and not a prosperous area.

Therefore, it has never been well received by the people of Sichuan.

With nearly a thousand soldiers surrounding the city, the chieftain in the governor's mansion had no time to react and was already a prisoner.

In the past, the barbarian soldiers would have at least looted to vent their frustrations.

But now, everyone has received the teachings of the Living Buddha. The Dragon King Buddha said that those who follow him to fight against the demon army will not only be able to enter the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the next life, but will also enjoy abundance in this life.

The premise is that one must abide by the precepts and not kill innocent people indiscriminately; otherwise, the whole family will never be able to see the Buddha's light again.

The person who made the mistake would have their martial arts skills stripped and be relegated to the "animal realm," where they would be relegated to the status of a serf.

Under the dual constraints of practical interests and religious beliefs, the discipline of the Tibetan soldiers has greatly improved compared to the past.

As the commander-in-chief, Gyaltsen was all too aware of this.

While showing even greater respect for Li Cunxiao, he also meticulously followed the instructions to write to the King of Shu, demanding that the other party give up Weizhou and Yizhou as a reward for their joint efforts in resisting Li Cunxiao.

When this letter reached Wang Jian's hands, it immediately stirred up a hornet's nest.

"Barbarians are barbarians!"

"Giving them food is already an act of great mercy, yet they still dare to ask for cities!"

"Your Majesty, there's a saying: 'Barbarians are treated like dogs; you can't just give them bones, you also have to whip them.'"

A group of ministers dressed in purple robes were making a noisy commotion in the palace.

Unlike in the capital, these people's turbans were also made with bamboo and wood frames and covered with lacquered gauze.

What's even more interesting is that there are two stiff hat wings at the back of the head, about one and a half palm lengths long.

Whenever these rugged-looking officials approached to talk, one had to turn one's head away. Sometimes, if one couldn't dodge in time, one would be poked in the face. At this point, the two sides would often roll up their sleeves, intending to start a fight.

"enough!"

A low shout rang out, and the noise in the hall finally subsided.

Wang Jian felt both headache and helplessness looking at the rude behavior of his old subordinates.

When he put on this ochre-yellow robe, he could still fool himself into thinking that even a local tyrant is still an emperor.

But looking at his ragtag group, he had to admit that this makeshift team could only act arrogantly and domineeringly in Sichuan.

His dream of becoming emperor had long been shattered.

"If Tibet wants cities, just give them to them."

Wang Jian pondered for a moment and then gave a surprising answer.

"This won't do! We fought our way through Sichuan with our own swords and spears!"

"That's right! Wait, no, we're wrong."

“Western Victoria and Western Virginia do not belong to us.”

"Hey, right, Xichuan is part of Qingcheng Mountain's territory." Just as the noise started up again, someone suddenly realized what was going on. The others looked at each other belatedly, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Oh, so what they wanted was land in Xichuan. Never mind then.

“Li Yisheng sent the Thirteen Bodyguards and the Great Monk to control me, so we need to have ways to counter them.”

“If Tibet wants territory, fine, as long as they can get the Qingcheng Sect to agree.”

“That Taoist Master Yu Hai, I’ve tried to form an alliance with him several times, but he always ignores me by claiming he’s in seclusion.”

"When two tigers fight, I'll see what kind of person this king is, and what kind of tricks this old Taoist priest has come up with in his seclusion."

Qingcheng Mountain has been a local stronghold of Jiannan Road for hundreds of years, but Wang Jian is not a local; he came from the Shence Army.

He was first transferred to a local governorship, and then gradually built up his power, accumulating influence in Dongchuan, Jiannan Circuit – a typical example of a dragon crossing the river.

Unfortunately, while he had many fierce generals under his command, he lacked capable ministers, making local governance a persistent challenge.

Therefore, firstly, they did not want to suffer mutual losses with Qingcheng Mountain, and secondly, they were unable to control a larger territory.

When Wang Jian became king, he made an agreement with Qingcheng Mountain: the former would govern Dongchuan, and the latter would govern Xichuan.

In other words, what he promised was not the land he controlled in the first place.

As the saying goes, "fishing in troubled waters," Li Cunxiao's arrival was certainly a check on the local government by the central government, but it might also be an opportunity for him to completely unify Jiannan.

Upon hearing this, the group below immediately began to praise him enthusiastically. Amidst the chorus of praise, Wang Jian couldn't help but touch the upward-pointing wings of his hat—he was quite proud of his design.

He thought to himself, "Why don't I lengthen the wings of my subordinates' hats by another hand?"
With such a distance between people, about an arm's length apart, there's no need to worry about them whispering.
Pengzhou, Qingcheng Mountain.

Qingcheng Mountain is a branch of the western mountain range of Dajian Mountain. It is called "Qingcheng" because of its surrounding peaks and lush forests, which resemble a city wall.

The terrain of Qingcheng Mountain is similar to that of Jianmen Pass. To the west are vast mountains where demons lurk, while to the east lies the Sichuan Basin, a land of abundance and prosperity.

It was precisely because of this achievement in resisting demons that Qingcheng Mountain was able to enjoy a great reputation in Xichuan, and even replace the government to become the local hegemon.

Interestingly, because the Qingcheng Taoist sect is located deep in Sichuan, it differs from the Central Plains sect which venerates the Three Pure Ones and the Three Treasures. Instead, it exclusively honors its own ancestor, the Five Sacred Mountains Elder, also known as the Ningfeng True Lord.

For three or four hundred years, the temple has been a thriving place of worship and renowned in the region. The only regret is that it has never produced any terrestrial immortals.

The current sect leader, Master Yu Hai, has been concerned about this and has always wanted to achieve this breakthrough from zero to one. Therefore, he often goes into seclusion and entrusts the sect's affairs to the supervising Taoist Song He and the patrolling Taoist Yun Yi.

Unfortunately, the mortal world is always full of troubles and disturbances.

"Ok?"

The subtle sound of the Dharma bell entered his ears, and Master Yuhai awoke from his secluded meditation room. After carefully sensing the surroundings, he couldn't help but frown.

"Without external invasion, my disciples are all safe and sound."

With a wave of his sleeve, the door to the quiet room swung open with a bang, and an aged voice, accompanied by a breath, rushed out like a gust of wind:
"Didn't I tell you not to bother me unless it's important?"

"Songhe, Yunyi, why are you ringing the magic bell for no reason? Are you afraid I'm dead, or are you afraid I'm not dead?"

The two middle-aged Taoist priests outside the meditation room trembled instinctively, then quickly bowed and walked forward until they reached the interior of the mountain, where they saw the old Taoist priest sitting cross-legged on a futon. Only then did they kowtow and beg for forgiveness.
"Elder, please forgive us. We have come here for Wang Jian."

“Him?” Master Yuhai frowned.

When Wang Jian entered Sichuan and conquered cities and territories everywhere, Qingcheng Mountain was not entirely unresponsive.

If given the choice, who wouldn't want to have a resource all to themselves?
Unfortunately, when the two fought in private, the result was a draw, and in the end they could only divide the territory and rule separately.

"Wang Jian is also a genius. He wrote a book called 'Nine Revolutions Great Rejuvenation Pill' and another book called 'White Ape Dividing Water.' He was half Taoist and half demonic, and he actually cultivated a great sage image that reached the heavens."

"But it is ultimately a fragmented and incomplete scripture, and the Grandmaster level is the limit."

As Master Yuhai spoke, his dissatisfaction grew.

"I am also a Grandmaster of the Great Completion stage, but I am only one breath away from achieving the perfect nascent soul. At that time, won't I be the one to mold and shape me?"

"These are the fundamental matters that affect the fate of the sect, not the trivial disputes over interests that cause people to panic and want me to intervene."

Seeing that the other party's tone was becoming increasingly stern, both Songhe Daoist and Yunyi Daoist broke out in a cold sweat, but dared not refute. Only during a break in the conversation did they hurriedly explain:

"You've misunderstood. It's the Tibetan barbarians from the snowy mountains who have joined forces with Wang Jian to seize our two prefectures in Xichuan. They've already occupied the governor's office of Baoning Prefecture."

"If we retreat one step, we will retreat every step. If we do not retaliate now, Wang Jian and the Snow Mountain King will think we are showing weakness."

The two exchanged words, explaining how Tibet had been rude first, and how Wang Jian had written to deny knowledge of the matter, sternly condemning it and leaving Qingcheng Mountain to handle it itself.

Upon hearing this, Master Yuhai's expression finally turned serious. After pondering for a moment, he said:

"give him."

"what?"

“If those barbarians want Weizhou and Yizhou, just give them to them.”

"Supreme Elder!" Songhe Daoist and Yunyi Daoist couldn't help but exclaim.

Qingcheng Mountain has been entrenched in Sichuan for many years, and has long regarded every tree and blade of grass here as its own private property.

It's one thing to be evenly matched with Wang Jian, but what right do these barbarians from the snowy mountains have to snatch food from a tiger's mouth?
"Shut up!"

Master Yu Hai raised his eyebrows, and the pressure of a grandmaster emanated from his body, making the two of them feel as if a giant peak was pressing down on them.

The force was so great that it pressed the body flat on the ground, causing it to sink into the hard rock and creating two large, human-shaped craters.

"The Zanpu of Nagutang said in his letter that he requested the loan of land from the two prefectures for the sake of his people's livelihood."

"Northern Sichuan is barren, only slightly better than the snow-capped mountains. Anyway, the heart of the basin is under our control, so what's wrong with lending it out?"

"On the contrary, even a cornered beast will fight. In recent years, Tibet has become increasingly cold due to changes in the celestial phenomena, and this king is like a cornered beast. If he does not lend money, then war will inevitably break out."

"Of course I can easily defeat a newly promoted grandmaster, but have you considered that Wang Jian might just stand by and watch?"

"answer me!"

Master Yuhai held the handwritten letter from the Tibetan "Zanpu" in his hand. The Buddhist aura contained in the handwriting was indeed that of a grandmaster, which was the basis for his words.

The Snow Mountain Esoteric School had little interaction with the Central Plains, and Buddhism was not flourishing in Sichuan, so the old Taoist priest had no way of knowing that the letter was actually written by Li Cunxiao.

Upon hearing this, Songhe Daoist and Yunyi Daoist could only remain silent.

"Of course, we can't just suffer losses. Victoria and Wing State are the bottom line; anything beyond that won't do."

"Didn't they say the imperial court sent some kind of Thirteen Protectors? I've heard of the name of the Laughing Buddha."

“If Wang Jian can find allies, so can we.”

"Yunyi, take the gifts and go to him in person to express Qingcheng's goodwill."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Yunyi's expression immediately changed.

Master Yu Hai narrowed his eyes. "You have a grudge against him?"

"No, it was my disciple Tang Wei who had a minor conflict with Li Cunxiao."

The old Taoist priest snorted coldly, waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind blew the two of them out of the meditation room, the door slamming shut behind him.

"Then take your good disciple with you to apologize!"

(End of this chapter)