Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 222 Raising an Army to Attack Liang
The person who arrived was none other than King Qi, or rather, Empress Shuiyun Ji of the Huanyin Pavilion.

Her gaze was sharp as lightning, instantly locking onto Li Xingyun, who sat alone by the window. The young man before her still had a youthful face, but his expression was extremely calm and composed.

If I had to describe it, it would be that he would remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, and would not even blink if a deer ran past on his left.

"You wish to see me?"

Shuiyun Ji spoke, her voice deliberately altered to be deep and magnetic, carrying the majesty of the King of Qi.

Li Xingyun did not stand up, but simply raised his hand to indicate the seat opposite him: "Prince Qi, please sit down."

This casual, even slightly condescending attitude displeased Xuan Jingtian and the others behind Shui Yunji, who placed their hands on their weapons.

Shui Yunji raised her hand to stop them. She gave Li Xingyun a deep look and sat down as instructed. She wanted to see just what gave them such confidence.

"Who are you? What brings you to see me?" Shuiyunji asked again, her gaze sharp as a knife, trying to see through Li Xingyun's disguise.

"Who I am, Prince Qi may already have a guess in his heart." Li Xingyun smiled slightly, dipped his fingertip in the wine in his cup, and slowly wrote the character "Li" on the table. Then he placed a token of the Bad People on the table.

Shuiyun Ji's pupils suddenly contracted, and her hand under the table clenched instantly. That surname, in this era, already represented an extraordinary meaning, let alone when it was connected to the recent unusual activities of the Bad People.

"As for the reason..."

Li Xingyun wiped away the water stains, his tone calm yet resolute, "Make a deal with the King of Qi, a deal that concerns the survival of the Qi Kingdom and the future of the world."

"Oh?"

Shuiyunji leaned back slightly, revealing a scrutinizing expression. "I would like to hear the details."

She didn't believe it immediately, but the movements of the scoundrels and the calm demeanor of the young man in front of her made her cautious.

"Zhu Wen murdered the emperor and usurped the Tang throne, which aroused the indignation of the whole world. However, his power was great, and although the feudal lords had different ambitions, most of them remained cautious and waited."

Li Xingyun slowly said, "Qi is located in a land of constant warfare, bordered by Jin to the north, Liang to the east, and Shu to the south. Although it has achieved temporary peace, this is by no means a long-term solution. If Liang is secure, it will surely advance westward; if Jin gains power, it will also find it difficult to allow Qi to stand on its own. King Qi is a man of great talent and ambition, and he cannot be unaware of this."

Shuiyun Ji's expression remained unchanged, but her heart was in turmoil. What the young man said was precisely her deepest worry.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"What I want to say is that what King Qi needs is not a situation of complacency, but an opportunity that will allow Qi to truly establish itself and even contend for supremacy."

Li Xingyun's eyes were piercing: "And I can give you this opportunity."

"By you?"

Shuiyun Ji's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm, "Still relying on those regrouped Bad Guys?"

"The Bad Guys are just a move, and I..."

Li Xingyun paused, his voice not loud, yet carrying a strange penetrating and persuasive power, "He is the one who wields the chessboard. He is also the only banner that can rightfully unite the forces against Liang throughout the land."

He stood up, walked to the window, and pointed to the seemingly bustling street below: "Under the rule of Qi, the people have found some peace and quiet. The benevolent rule of King Qi is known throughout the land."

"But in this chaotic world, benevolent governance needs a sharp sword to protect it. By cooperating with me, Qi will become the foundation for the restoration of the Tang Dynasty and the home of the righteous army. At that time, with the support of the people and the trend of the times, Qi will no longer be a feudal lord who is content with a corner of the country."

Shuiyun Ji remained silent, her mind racing with weighing the options.

The boy's words were extremely bold, even arrogant, but strangely they struck at her deepest desires and anxieties.

Reviving the Tang Dynasty?

She wasn't too fixated on this; in fact, one could say that these regional warlords had long lost their loyalty to the Tang Dynasty. But what they truly desired was to use this opportunity to strengthen the Qi Kingdom and even contend for control of the Central Plains.

"Empty words."

Shuiyun Ji said slowly, "How can I trust you? How can I believe that the Bad Commander will obey you?"

She still believes that the strange movements of the Bad People are caused by the mysterious and unpredictable Bad Commander.

Li Xingyun turned around, a meaningful smile on his face: "The Bad Commander? He'll naturally obey me. As for the proof..."

He suddenly pointed his fingers together like a sword, and a pure, vast, and unparalleled internal force instantly condensed at his fingertips. A golden light flashed, and the air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then, with a gentle flick of his finger, the energy shot out the window. Various wondrous forces coalesced into a fierce wind, condensing into a streak of blades that swept across the landscape, turning everything in its path, from bricks and stones to trees, into dust.

But it also conveniently avoided the many people on the street.

That power made Shuiyun Ji feel a pang of fear.

Above the Great Celestial Throne?
No, it is an existence even more terrifying than those above the Great Celestial Realm.

Shuiyunji had every reason to believe that if the other party wanted her life, it might only take a moment.

Li Xingyun dispersed the internal energy between his fingers and said calmly, "Now, does Prince Qi believe that I am qualified to make a deal with you?"

Shui Yunji took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in her heart. She stared at Li Xingyun, as if trying to see through him again.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice regaining its composure: "What do you want? And what can you give Qi Kingdom?"

“It’s very simple,” Li Xingyun said. “I need to establish myself in Qi Kingdom, and I need the support of the King of Qi, both overt and covert, including intelligence, supplies, and, if necessary… troop support.”

"And what I can offer Qi Kingdom is a righteous right to contend for supremacy, a righteous cause that unites heroes and scholars from all directions, the assistance of the Bad People and even more hidden forces. And..."

His gaze swept out the window, his tone resolute: "When the Liang Kingdom is divided up in the future, the Qi Kingdom will receive the most lucrative share. I can even promise that if this great undertaking succeeds, the Qi Kingdom will forever guard the western border, its rule hereditary and unchanging, sharing the fate of the nation."

Shuiyun Ji's heart pounded violently. This promise was incredibly weighty. The risk was immense, but the reward was equally astonishing.

She hesitated for a moment, then did not immediately agree.

"This matter is of great importance, and I need time to consider it."

“Of course.” Li Xingyun nodded. “I will stay in Fengxiang for a few days. I believe that with the wisdom of the Prince of Qi, he will make the most advantageous choice.”

He nodded, his demeanor composed: "I'll take my leave now."

Having said that, he said no more and went straight downstairs.

Miao Chengtian looked at Shui Yunji, his eyes asking if she should stop him. Shui Yunji shook her head slightly, letting Li Xingyun leave.

Silence fell over the private room. Xuan Jingtian couldn't help but speak up: "Prince Qi, this person..."

Shui Yunji raised her hand to interrupt her, her gaze still fixed on the stairwell, and slowly said, "Investigate! Use all available resources to find out his background! Also, closely monitor his every move in Fengxiang!"

"Yes!" the holy maidens replied in unison.

Shuiyunji walked to the window and watched Li Xingyun's figure disappear into the crowd of people in the street, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

This young man, who calls himself Li Xingyun, is like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, not only stirring up undercurrents in the martial arts world, but now he threatens to drag her and the entire Qi Kingdom into the center of that turbulent vortex. Is it an opportunity or a trap?

She murmured to herself, "Li Xingyun...who exactly are you? Should I...accept this deal?"

As Li Xingyun walked out of Zuixianlou, he felt a faint gaze following him from behind, but a slight smile appeared on his lips.

The bait had been laid; he wasn't worried that the Prince of Qi wouldn't take the bait. For an ambitious ruler, the conditions he offered were tempting enough to overwhelm most doubts.

Next, just wait.

He looked up at the sky over Qi Kingdom, which was different from other places, and murmured to himself, "Fengxiang... I hope this place can truly become the beginning of a soaring flight."

-----

Fengxiang Prefecture, an inn.

Bai Qi silently appeared behind Li Xingyun, then knelt on one knee: "Bai Qi greets Your Highness!"

"Is everything I asked you to do ready?"

Li Xingyun did not turn his head, but continued to look out the window and spoke.

"Your Highness, all 1,200 soldiers have infiltrated the Liang Kingdom and are awaiting Your Highness's orders."

Li Xingyun nodded, then slowly turned around and recounted his negotiation with Shui Yunji.

After hesitating for a moment, Bai Qi asked, "Your Highness, aren't we being too lenient with the Qi Kingdom? With the help of the Bad People and our troops, we can still reclaim the old Tang territory."

"Do you think I made too many promises?"

"Ah!"

Li Xingyun chuckled and stood with his hands behind his back, saying, "Bai Qi, you're supposed to be a general of Qin, do you still remember Zhang Yi's bullying of Chu?"

Bai Qi nodded in realization: "Your Highness, you mean?"

Li Xingyun slowly said, "That's right, getting something for nothing!"

“What I promised is just what I promised. When the situation reaches a certain point, when I am strong and he is weak, King Qi will naturally have to obediently return what I promised before.”

In short, Li Xingyun is currently making empty promises, and when recruiting talent, he tries his best to describe the company's various benefits to Shui Yunji, who is his "employee".

But once you actually join the company, it's uncertain whether you'll receive the full benefits, or even any benefits at all.

It is said that when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. The way of the emperor is inherently cruel and ruthless. The founding emperor always has to strengthen imperial power and consolidate the power in the hands of his ministers. If the ministers can die peacefully, it is already a sign of the emperor's benevolence.

They talk about the merit of following the dragon, but little do they know that after the fish transforms into a dragon, the first thing it steps on is the morning glow and dew beside it.

------

Three days later, Shuiyun Ji finally succumbed to temptation and accepted Li Xingyun's invitation to begin the war against Liang!
Li Xingyun announced to the world his identity as a descendant of the Li Tang imperial family and called on all the feudal lords in the world to jointly attack Liang.

At the same time, he ordered the Bad People who were lurking in Liang Kingdom and Xuanming Sect to cooperate with the Qi Kingdom army. In less than ten days, they captured several cities in succession. He also ordered Yuan Tiangang to retrieve the Longquan Treasure as military funds.

The capital of Liang, Bianzhou, within the imperial palace.

Zhu Wen's furious roar nearly lifted the roof off the palace, and exquisite porcelain shards scattered all over the ground.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Those women from Qi Kingdom and some unknown remnants of the Li Tang dynasty dared to attack my Great Liang! What are you all good for?!"

The prince and all his officials, both civil and military, fell silent, none daring to look directly at Zhu Wen's angry face. Only a few trusted ministers, such as Jing Xiang, stood there with solemn expressions.

"And what about that rebellious son Zhu Yougui? What about his Xuanming Sect? Didn't they boast about having countless experts? The Five Kings of Hell had their heads hung at their doorsteps. You've completely disgraced me!" Zhu Wen trembled with rage, his fat cheeks shaking uncontrollably.

Jing Xiang took a deep breath, stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The rebel army is powerful and caught us off guard. Furthermore, there are unscrupulous people who are interfering from within and without, which is why we suffered this defeat. The most urgent task now is to mobilize heavy troops, strengthen the defense line, and absolutely not allow their forces to advance directly towards Bianzhou.”

"Mobilize troops? Which troops? Li Keyong, that old fox from Jin, is watching us from the sidelines. Do you think I would dare to easily mobilize the border troops?" Although Zhu Wen was tyrannical, you can't say that he didn't understand military affairs.

Finally, Zhu Wen made the final decision, appointing Wang Yanzhang as commander-in-chief, leading 100,000 troops of the Liang Kingdom to resist the Qi Kingdom's army, and appointing Ghost King Zhu Youwen as the supervising officer.

However, Zhu Wen miscalculated one thing.

His original intention was to let Zhu Youwen establish military merits, and also to prepare for Zhu Youwen's succession to the throne, while also guarding against the experts of Qi State.

However, the real Zhu Youwen had already been imprisoned by Zhu Yougui, and there was only an imposter at the moment.

In other words, it was difficult to find even a single master of the Great Heaven rank in Wang Yanzhang's army. Although Wang Yanzhang himself possessed divine strength, he might be effective in fighting generals on the battlefield, but he was ultimately not a person of the martial arts world.

-----

At the Tongwen Hall, the Holy Lord Li Siyuan also received the battle report from the front lines.

He stroked his beard, looking at the unstoppable advance of the Qi Kingdom and the Bad Guys' allied forces on the map. His face was no longer adorned with his usual hypocritical smile, but instead showed deep solemnity.

"Brother, Li Xingyun and the Prince of Qi are coming on strong. At this rate, they might really shake the foundation of the Liang Kingdom," Li Cunzhong said worriedly from the side.

Li Siyuan sneered: "Shaking the foundation of Liang? It may not be a bad thing. Zhu Wen's perverse actions will inevitably lead to this calamity sooner or later. I just didn't expect that this fire would be lit by Li Xingyun, who appeared out of nowhere, and the Prince of Qi, who was content with his corner of the country."

He pointed to the map: "Let them fight their battles. We can take this opportunity to take Luzhou. Right now, my adoptive father is in seclusion, and I am in charge of the military and political affairs of Jin. This is a golden opportunity."

"What about Li Xingyun?"

Li Cunzhong asked, "Should we make a gesture? After all, he is using the banner of restoring the Tang Dynasty."

"To express? Of course we should express."

A glint flashed in Li Siyuan's eyes: "Send someone, in the name of the Tongwen Academy and myself, to deliver a generous gift to that prince, congratulating him on his resounding victory. Also, tell him that the Jin region will naturally respond to the call to fight against the traitor!"

They talk a good game, but in reality they're sitting back and watching the two sides fight, taking the opportunity to expand their own territory.

As for the remaining feudal lords, some were observing from the sidelines, some were disdainful, but there were also those like Li Siyuan who wanted a share of the spoils.

------

Outside Luoyang city, on the banks of the Yi River.

The cold autumn wind whipped up withered yellow leaves, sweeping across the desolate plains. The Liang army's camp stretched for miles, banners fluttering, swords and spears like a forest, the chilling atmosphere reaching the heavens.

Under the central military banner, the "Wang" character banner and the "Liang" character dragon banner fluttered in the wind.

Commander Wang Yanzhang, clad in heavy armor and wielding the world-renowned iron spear, stood before the enemy lines, his face as solemn as iron.

(End of this chapter)