Cultivating Immortality: What kind of cheat can you use if you don't have money?

Chapter 163 Li Wuyai

Huangchengkou.

The first rays of dawn break.

The crowds were still shoulder to shoulder, even more so than yesterday after a night's rest.

Before Li Qingyi stood the golden-armored commander from yesterday, as imposing as a mountain.

His gaze, like an icicle, pierced Li Qingyi: "I let you go yesterday because you didn't commit any murder. You dare come again today—do you really think I can't slay the demons and monsters of Tingyu Pavilion?"

Li Qingyi met the other person's sharp gaze, her expression calm and composed, her tone resolute: "You won't kill me."

The golden-armored commander raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, but did not reply. However, the oppressive aura emanating from him intensified.

Li Qingyi seemed oblivious and continued, "Let me into the city. I have important business to discuss with Master Changqing in person."

"Rules are rules." The golden-armored commander's voice was icy: "During the period of martial law in the imperial city, cultivators are not allowed to enter without an imperial decree. This is an ironclad rule."

"Beyond the principles, there are still flexibility." Li Qingyi suddenly stepped forward and lowered her voice: "Does the commander still remember the forty-nine Blood Refining Arrays within the Xuan Kingdom not long ago?"

'

The golden-armored commander's pupils suddenly contracted.

He personally participated in that bloody cleanup operation and still remembers it vividly.

The formation was extremely insidious; even now, thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

"That intelligence," Li Qingyi's voice was even softer, but each word was clear, "was provided by me."

The golden-armored commander suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixed on Li Qingyi, trying to find a trace of a lie.

But all he saw was a deep, still pool.

That makes sense, considering the other party is the young master of Tingyu Pavilion, it's plausible that he would possess such information.

"What is the Ghost Moon Kingdom planning now?"

Li Qingyi laughed and said, "This matter involves far-reaching issues, and the waters behind it run deeper than you can imagine. You are not qualified to know."

"You!" The golden-armored commander's breath hitched, and anger surged in his eyes.

"But I can tell you," Li Qingyi interrupted him, her voice returning to normal, "I am the young master of Tingyu Pavilion. Being able to see through the undercurrents is the very foundation of Tingyu Pavilion."

I know something about the movements of the Youyue royal family, so it's not surprising.

silence.

The only background noise was the cacophony of voices, carriages, and shouts at the city gate.

The golden-armored commander's gaze swept back and forth across Li Qingyi's face.

After a long while, his tense face relaxed slightly.

He gave Li Qingyi a deep look, said nothing more, and made a hand seal, probably to contact someone.

A moment later, he stepped aside, clearing the way to the city gate. "Follow me. Do not move or speak rashly."

Seeing this, Hongzhong, standing behind, looked surprised and immediately asked telepathically, "Young Master, how did you persuade him?"

"It's just a little trick, no need to ask any more questions." Li Qingyi replied telepathically: "Hongzhong, after entering the city, find a safe place to settle down and observe the situation."

There's no need to bother searching for the mystery for now; I'll handle the rest myself.

Although Hongzhong was full of doubts, he still agreed.

The imperial city was indeed quite different from its former prosperity.

The wide Zhuque Avenue was sparsely populated, with only heavily armored imperial guards patrolling the streets, creating a somber atmosphere.

Occasionally, a sedan chair or carriage would pass by in a hurry, with the curtains drawn and the noise subdued.

Following Li Qingyi's instructions, Hongzhong went to the most luxurious and safest place in the imperial city, "Wangyouju," to stay.

He himself, along with the golden-armored commander, headed towards the deepest part of the imperial city.

On the way, Li Qingyi learned that the golden-armored commander was named Qi Xuanjia.

Qi Xuanjia deliberately slowed down his pace.

Along the way, they casually inquired about local customs, traditions, and their experiences in spiritual practice.

However, his words always inadvertently circled back to the movements of Youyue Kingdom, trying to pry some information out of Li Qingyi.

Li Qingyi remained tight-lipped throughout, either avoiding the question altogether or subtly deflecting it by saying, "This matter is too far-reaching; if Commander Qi finds out, he will suffer the consequences."

The attitude was neither arrogant nor humble.

This left Qi Xuanjia feeling both helpless and secretly alarmed by the young man's composure and cunning.

The imperial palace was magnificent, with numerous halls and pavilions.

Li Qingyi had assumed that Qi Xuanjia would take him to find Li Changqing.

However, after passing through several heavily guarded palace walls, they finally stopped before a palace that exuded an aura of majesty.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was the emperor's daily living quarters.

Qi Xuanjia bowed respectfully outside the hall, reported in a low voice, and then withdrew on his own.

Li Qingyi was left alone to face the tightly closed palace door.

The door opened silently.

Li Qingyi stepped inside.

The interior of the hall is softly lit and furnished in a simple yet grand style.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Li Wuyai of Xuan Kingdom sat upright, not wearing a crown or ceremonial robes, but only a casual robe, yet he exuded the majesty of an emperor who ruled over the vast land.

Li Qingyi stood still, looked back calmly, and her expression was neither humble nor arrogant.

He knew that the fake human skin might be able to fool Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But it would be impossible to hide from an emperor who had cultivated to the Purple Mansion realm by using the dragon energy of the dynasty.

Sure enough, Li Wuyai's self-glow lingered on his face for a moment.

A complex glimmer flashed deep within his eyes, a glimmer of emotion that seemed to be a tremor, a recollection, or a sense of melancholy.

He suddenly remembered that some time ago, his ancestor Li Changqing had mentioned something, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.

He encountered a member of the royal family who had fallen into obscurity while traveling; the man was exceptionally handsome and charming.

Now it seems that it is most likely the young man in front of us.

At sixteen, he had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, possessing a solid foundation. His sword aura, though concealed, already revealed its formidable power.

Without borrowing dragon energy or relying on elixirs, he achieved this solely through his own talent and arduous cultivation. Such aptitude is unparalleled throughout the history of the Xuan Kingdom.

Li Qingyi was unaware of the many thoughts that flashed through Li Wuyai's mind in an instant. She simply spoke calmly, according to the words she had prepared beforehand: "Your Majesty, I have important intelligence about the Youyue Kingdom, which concerns the safety of the Xuan Kingdom."

Li Wuyai did not immediately inquire about intelligence. Instead, he asked in a deep voice, "Having entered this hall and seen my imperial countenance, why do you not kneel?"

"I am the young master of Tingyu Pavilion," Li Qingyi said clearly. "Since childhood, I have traveled all over the world with my master, making the four seas my home."

As far as the Xuan Kingdom is concerned, they are guests, not subjects, and therefore there is no need for them to kneel and bow.

Li Wuyai: "Do you know that I have a long-standing grudge against Tingyu Pavilion?"

"Your Majesty has the world in your heart and a magnanimous spirit."

Some old grudges, when it comes to matters of national importance, I suppose they won't bother with a junior like me who is so insignificant.

Upon hearing this, Li Wuyai showed no smile, but the invisible pressure emanating from him seemed to ease slightly.

Both of them tacitly avoided that most sensitive topic.

Li Wuyai leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing. "What do you want in exchange for this information?"

"cooperate."

"Cooperation?" Li Wuyai narrowed his eyes slightly. "In what capacity will you cooperate with me? As an individual, or on behalf of Tingyu Pavilion?"

"I am the young master of Tingyu Pavilion," Li Qingyi repeated, her identity self-evident.

Li Wuyai fell silent, and the hall was quiet for a moment.

After a long while, Li Wuyai slowly opened his eyes: "This matter involves far-reaching issues, and you should not be involved in it."

I will have someone arrange a quiet palace for you to stay in.

Once this turmoil has subsided, I will not stop you from going wherever you wish.

Li Qingyi felt a chill run down her spine.

This is to protect him.

He naturally wouldn't accept it.

If that were the case, he wouldn't have come to the capital.

Instead, he returned to Xuan Ce City and lay low for ten or eight years before emerging from seclusion.

"Does Your Majesty know," Li Qingyi suddenly spoke, "the tomb keeper?"

Li Wuyai's pupils contracted slightly, and his imperial aura erupted instantly.

"Where did you hear that name from?!"

Li Qingyi's heart tightened; he truly hadn't expected Li Wuyai's reaction to be so intense.

"I am already caught up in this situation and cannot remain unaffected."

I appreciate Your Majesty's good intention in wanting to exclude me.

After a long silence, Li Wuyai leaned back on the dragon throne, a hint of weariness flashing across his face: "You should stay in the palace."

He still wanted to protect his son, who had suddenly appeared and was exceptionally talented.

Even if the other party doesn't appreciate it, or it might even cause trouble.

Li Qingyi suddenly laughed, but there was little warmth in that laugh: "Your Majesty, Tingyu Pavilion has been deeply rooted in Xuan Kingdom for hundreds of years, and its foundation may be a little deeper than you know."

"Xuanji is not the only one with a Purple Mansion in the pavilion."

Li Wuyai's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Are you threatening me?"

"I wouldn't dare." Li Qingyi bowed slightly, her posture respectful, but her words were firm: "In matters of gold, a single hair can affect the whole situation. Now that I've entered the game, I naturally hold some chips—chips that can change the course of the game."

"Just how much do you know?!"

The information Li Qingyi revealed was far more extensive and profound than he had anticipated.

The more you know, the deeper you get into this game, and the more dangerous it becomes.

"Many—" Li Qingyi uttered two words softly, her gaze calmly meeting Huang Xie's.

"There's so much of it that I can see myself clearly now, and there's no turning back."

"Hehe—" Li Wuyai suddenly chuckled.

The laughter carried a complex meaning: surprise, scrutiny, and a touch of emotion.

"Now, I'm really curious. Just how many trump cards did your mysterious master give you?"

"Only then do you dare to speak to me so brazenly?"

Li Qingyi laughed again, "Lots, lots of things—"