The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 147 A Spirited Promise (Third Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The waves surged, and the Taoist priest soared like a dragon.

Just two words seemed to represent the immense power of heaven and earth. Li Fuguo's expression froze slightly. Li Heng was suspicious by nature, and when it came to the power of Mount Tai, even his close advisor Li Fuguo would not speak of it.

Although he didn't say it, he still wanted Li Fuguo to complete the task.

With such a temperament, Li Fuguo, who was born extremely ugly and abandoned by his mother to become a eunuch, was able to perfectly embody the character. Looking at the surging dragon, beneath the fear in Li Fuguo's eyes, there was also a chill.

He glanced at Gao Shi over there.

Without a renowned general to lead them, it would be difficult for elite soldiers and officials to accomplish the task of subduing the water god on the water. However, the fact that this Taoist priest arrived on a dragon and forced the retired emperor's ship to stop was already an absolute provocation.

In this situation, Gao Shi, would you take action?

Drive the tiger to devour the wolf.

Daoist Zhou Yan, let me see what you're really thinking. I'll use myself as a pawn to lure you into the game.

He was, after all, more than just a sycophant.

However, the situation often changes differently than those who plot against each other. The young Taoist sat cross-legged on the dragon's head, but his gaze did not look in this direction at all, as if the three Plum Blossom Guards who were assassinated were just like stones thrown into the water, causing only ripples.

The young Taoist priest stretched out his hand and looked at Li Longji.

"Sanlang, you're walking so fast."

"But he didn't even say goodbye to me."

He made a grand entrance, riding the wave of power, yet handled it with ease, not using his status as the Prefect, which Li Heng would surely know, to confront a mere eunuch, or even to the point of disregarding him.

He revealed his strength without breaking the rules. Compared to the passive and unflappable approach of swallowing one's anger, this method was effortless and showed that he was no longer the young swordsman he once was.

Li Longji was quite impressed, so he laughed loudly and pointed at the Taoist priest who was still trying to gain an advantage over him verbally at this time, saying, "Hahaha, it's rare that you've come to see me off. I've already prepared everything here."

He pointed to the side, where a pot of wine and two jade cups were placed on the table.

He had long anticipated Zhou Yan's choice and counterattack.

Even after causing the An Lushan Rebellion, he remained a godlike monarch of the Tang Dynasty, believing he had everything under control; yet it was precisely this arrogance and composure that led to all the disasters.

Zhou Yan stretched out his hand, and with the help of the flowing wind, he drew a cup of wine into his hand. The wind around them formed a barrier, concealing the two of them. Li Longji picked up the wine cup and laughed and scolded, "You Taoist priest, you've come in quite arrogantly."

Zhou Yan said, "Li Fuguo sent three assassins."

Li Longji said, "You've improved by not attacking him on the spot."

Zhou Yan said, "I am only an eighth-grade cultivator. There are many soldiers hidden on this ship. Even if we rely on Elder Ao's methods, we will probably end up with both sides suffering heavy losses and showing our weakness. Besides, the real enemy on the other side is not this dead eunuch."

Li Longji laughed and pointed at Zhou Yan with his finger.

"You boy."

"Extremely cunning."

“It’s my good son. Your move against Li Fuguo is like breaking the rules. He knows you are the Lord of Mount Tai, but he is ultimately a bit weak and suspicious. He won’t make a big move if he’s not sure about your foundation.”

"Before I leave, let me teach you a little something."

"I said you are not the Lord of Mount Tai because I don't want you to lose yourself. But you must remember this: when it comes to matters involving Mount Tai, mountain gods, and immortals, do not forget the status of the Lord of Mount Tai. If you lose your status, you will be easily deceived by everything."

"For matters that are not matters of immortals and gods, remember to calm your mind and do what you, a wandering knight, should do. All things are nothing more than a matter of the mind."

Zhou Yan looked at the old man before him and, unusually, spoke politely, saying:
"Been taught a lesson."

Li Sanlang laughed loudly.

Holding his wine cup, he added, "However, I know my son's temperament. Even if you go back with Li Fuguo, he won't do anything to you. He is an emperor first and foremost, and a cultivator only secondly."

"The path to the third rank of immortals is too ethereal and unattainable. The fourth rank, blessed by the nation's fortune, is already considered invincible in this era. Of course, he will still yearn for a breakthrough in his heart, but he will also keep you in check."

"There is a high probability that they will choose someone of similar age to you from among the women of the royal family."

"Then we'll marry."

Zhou Yan said, "I have no interest in marrying a princess or anything like that."

Li Longji looked at him intently and smiled, "Forget it, forget it. The daughters of my Li family are all beautiful and have extraordinary personalities. Someone with your temperament would probably end up fighting with you."

The Taoist priest sneered, "A provocation? What good is that!"

Li Longji said smugly, "It's because you haven't seen my Li family's daughter."

Zhou Yan sized him up, a smile playing on his lips, and then said, "If you and Yang Guifei have a daughter, I might reluctantly consider it."

Li Longji's smile froze.

Zhou Yan's mouth is just like his personality; he's never been one to indulge him.

The old man and the young man stared at each other again. If it weren't for Li Fuguo, their common pawn, being outside, they probably would have started fighting on the spot. Li Longji clenched his fist and said angrily, "Forget it, forget it. You'll regret this later."

Zhou Yan raised his middle finger and said, "If you regret it, I'll be a dog."

Li Longji grumbled, "Anyway, your identity will be quite inappropriate in the future. Go to Louguan Taoism, change your appearance, and become a Taoist priest. At least it will be easier for you to travel around the world in the future."

Li Longji paused for a moment and then said:

"Furthermore, while the military strategy is valuable, it should not be pursued excessively."

Zhou Yan looked at Li Longji.

Li Longji pondered for a moment, holding his cup, and said, "The goal of each of the seven major lineages is to reach the realm of immortals and gods in the upper three ranks. However, even Hu Ziyang of the Canxia Pavilion is only stuck at the fourth rank. The same is true for military gods and Buddhist monks."

"Back then, the Qin Emperor collected all the legal texts and classics of the world, integrated them, and ascended to heaven."

"Seven lineages were left behind."

"Qin Shi Huang took that step only after integrating the seven stone tablets. How could a single lineage be so invincible? Moreover, the seven major lineages of this era are all the result of innovation and development by our predecessors."

"This is certainly very beneficial, making the path of our human race's Xuan Officials clearer and clearer."

"However, this also means that the lineage itself is mixed with too many people's own opinions and insights. If you cultivate this lineage, you can progress quickly in the beginning, but it is also very difficult to surpass your predecessors."

Li Longji was genuinely offering guidance this time, and Zhou Yan asked, "What advice do you have for me?"

Li Longji said, "Two paths."

"First, go and read the original texts of these seven major lineage stone tablets. You need to learn the lineage analysis compiled by the masters of past generations, and after that, you also need to read the original texts. Only by comparing the two can you possibly take that step and reach the upper three ranks."

"Secondly, find the Dharma lineage treasures before the seven great stone tablets of Qin Shi Huang." Zhou Yan pondered. Li Longji reached out, his large, wrinkled hand grasping the young Taoist's head, and gently tapped it, laughing freely:

"You are not afraid of me, and you are not bound by the title of Lord of Mount Tai, so how can you be bound by the name of the Qin Emperor, or by the seven major lineages?!"

What are the divine and immortal items?

"Each school and sect has its own interpretation. How many classics have been written by masters throughout history in pursuit of this realm? Li Bai, whose mind was free and unrestrained, was trapped at the fifth rank. Do you know why?"

Zhou Yan looked at the Tang Dynasty sage before him.

Li Longji held up his wine cup and said, "I have reached the pinnacle of the world and also fallen off a deep cliff, so I have some thoughts on the words 'immortals' and 'gods.' Little Taoist, if you are interested, would you like to hear my views?"

Zhou Yan gazed at the old man before him, cupped his hands, and said, "Please."

Li Longji laughed heartily several times and said:
"The so-called 'immortal' or 'divine' qualities are nothing more than three words."

"Say it—no restraint!"

"The emperor is the hardest person to take that step. Li Taibai is naturally arrogant, but because of his youthful experiences, he is obsessed with official positions. The rules of the court and officialdom are completely incompatible with his nature. How could he possibly be truly consistent in word and deed and unrestrained?"

"Just those three words have detained so many people."

Zhou Yan gazed at the old man before him and said, "Zhou Yan, I humbly accept your instruction."

Li Longji gazed at Zhou Yan and chuckled softly:
Do you want to go back to your time?

!!!

The young Taoist's pupils contracted sharply.

As the winds shifted, the voice could only be heard by Zhou Yan and Li Longji. The old king said, "I can see that you have no origin and are not part of the human destiny, but I do not reject you."

"If it does not come from the past, then it comes from the so-called future."

"You show no reverence for me what people of this era should have. It seems you are not a citizen of my Great Tang."

Zhou Yan's pupils contracted sharply. He suddenly understood how turbulent his heart must have been when the origins of the demon mountain spirit were exposed. The hairs on the back of his neck seemed to stand on end as he stared intently at the emperor before him.

Li Longji rolled up his sleeves, lowered his eyes, and said:
"It comes from nowhere and goes nowhere."

"I also want to see how far you, a person of 'no origin,' can go after obtaining the title of 'Lord of Mount Tai.' Consider it my last contribution to the world."

"Your identity will be taken to my grave."

"Zhou Yan, go and see this world, and all the people under heaven."

Looking at the old man before him, who was on his deathbed yet full of vigor, Zhou Yan felt that his spirit, eyesight, and sharp aura were the most impressive people he had ever met since he came to this world.

That's hard to imagine.

Even after falling from the peak and awakening again, he still maintains such spirit. In his most spirited and carefree youth, how outstanding he must have been, and how many people must have followed him.

He was once at the heart of an entire era, and the protagonist of countless stories.

Now, he is old.

Zhou Yan asked, "So, where are you going?"

Li Longji reached out and placed his palm on Zhou Yan's shoulder. The two of them, one looked at the bustling world, at Chang'an, at the petty squabbles, and the other looked at the mountains and rivers, at Louguan and Zhongnan, at the monsters and immortals.

Li Longji smiled and said, "I said, I have one last battle to fight."

“Li Heng is my son, but he sacrificed the people to send foreign troops. In the end, even though I am old, I can at least guarantee that we will die in the same year.”

"Let me end the enemies of the world one last time."

"Come to Chang'an City then."

“Take that Dao Fruit from Mount Tai.”

Zhou Yan said, "I might not want to see you."

Li Longji laughed: "I have miraculous elixirs, jade dew, and many other spiritual fruits and medicines. Don't you want to eat them?"

Zhou Yan's lips twitched slightly: "I won't eat."

Li Longji laughed loudly: "No, no, you will definitely come to see me. If you don't believe me, we can make a bet. Also, I have left you a gift and want to exchange something with you."

Li Longji clapped his hands.

The breeze subsided, and Gao Lishi was instructed to fetch the items.

He took out a box that was about the length of an arm and handed it to Zhou Yan.

To exchange Lei Haiqing's zither strings for Zhou Yan's body, Li Longji said, "He is an old friend of mine. I want to bury the spirit on his zither strings with his body first. Please grant my request."

After asking Lei Haiqing, Zhou Yan handed the zither strings to Li Longji.

Li Longji tossed the box to Zhou Yan and said:

"There's a sword inside, for you to use for self-defense."

Zhou Yan returned to the top of the Jinghe Dragon King's head, watching the surging waters and clouds. Li Longji stood with his hands behind his back, his hair flying, and softly recited a poem:

"The Jianmen Pass is shrouded in towering clouds, and the imperial carriage returns from its hunt."

"The emerald screen rises a thousand feet high, and the crimson peaks are opened by the Five Ding."

"The shrubs swirl around the flags, and the fairy clouds brush the horses."

"Talent is the foundation of virtue, and virtuous character is worthy of remembrance!"

The dragon had vanished into the distance, its aura overwhelming. Only then did someone inquire what this dragon was. Li Longji, watching the departing young Taoist priest, held his wine cup. The emperor, nearing the end of his life, still smiled mischievously:

"This dragon was raised in Xingqing Pond by me years ago, and now it has come to give it to me."

Gao Lishi sighed helplessly.

Sage, how come your mouth is even more frivolous than when you were young? You even went to provoke that Taoist priest. From afar, you saw the young Taoist priest on the dragon's head turn around, stick out a finger, and start cursing.

Li Longji seemed extremely pleased with himself and burst into laughter.

Youthful exuberance, middle-aged triumph, and old-age disappointment—all can be met with a smile.

[Upon reaching the Jialing River, as the emperor was about to cross by boat, he saw a dragon gliding towards the vessel. All the courtiers witnessed this. The emperor… turned to his attendants and said, “This is the dragon from my Xingqing Pool.” He ordered wine to be poured as a libation, and personally offered a prayer. The dragon then shook its mane and departed from the water.]

—From *Xuan Shi Zhi* (Records of the Xuan Room), Tang Dynasty
(End of this chapter)