Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

Chapter 115 In Great Xia, Friends Are More Noble Than Sect Leaders

The weather was sunny and bright.

With a heavy heart, Lu Junfeng finally requested an audience with the monarch.

"It's alright, Envoy Lu, don't be nervous."

"If you were to speak to me, the emperor of Great Xia, as a disciple of Taihua, we probably wouldn't have much to talk about."

"But if you speak to me as Lu Junfeng, then our relationship will remain the same."

Meeting Lu Junfeng's complex gaze, Xie Cangrong's face was warm: "My Great Xia is not an ungrateful people. Taihua is not our friend, but you are."

"Our Great Xia distinguishes between good and evil. We don't listen to what others say; we see for ourselves. We remember every act of kindness, and we will not forget any act of malice either."

Upon hearing this, Lu Junfeng swayed slightly, feeling inexplicably moved, but also somewhat wistful.

He understood what Xie Cangrong meant.

Good news: The other party will not hold a grudge against him because of the sect's affairs; all the goodwill he has gained over the past year has not been in vain.

Bad news: His words will not change the Great Xia's attitude towards sects.

So what else can he do here?

He sighed and bowed to Xie Cangrong, saying, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."

Xie Cangrong sat down at the desk, looked up at him, and asked, "Did you come to ask about Jinglan?"

Gao Yilang and his group from the Taihua Sect haven't left yet.

He lingered there, shamelessly staying, clearly waiting for news from Jinglan!

Yesterday, the entire Great Xia Dynasty treated Qin Song and his delegation with great courtesy, and based on the agreement reached during Xie Cangrong's previous private meeting with Qin Song, a cooperative intention was established. The top leaders of both sides have already communicated, and all that remains is to follow the formalities. Specific details of the treaty will be discussed between Great Xia's officials and relevant personnel from Jinglan.

Both sides benefit from the cooperation and achieve win-win results.

Jinglan can alleviate the shortage of spirit stone resources, and Daxia can broaden its understanding of cultivator technology. Both sides can also achieve a series of good wishes such as common development and progress through cooperation.

It has been almost a year since the cultivators crossed the sea. After experiencing many overt and covert schemes and struggles, Great Xia has finally won an equal opportunity, gained the recognition of the Immortal Sect, and established cooperation for the first time.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely, and everything was quite harmonious.

In stark contrast, the atmosphere in Taihua was gloomy and desolate.

The next day, Lu Junfeng shamelessly came to the palace to request an audience.

Lu Junfeng twitched the corner of his mouth, meeting Xie Cangrong's gaze. He basically already knew the result: "Has Your Majesty already established an alliance with Jinglan?"

It hurts so much!

He now felt a sense of helplessness, watching helplessly as the goddess he had been pursuing for so long embraced someone else.

He was the one who arrived first; he was the first cultivator to discover the Great Xia Dynasty, and the relationship between the two sides had already improved.

but----

Reality is often frustrating.

Xie Cangrong didn't hide anything and nodded matter-of-factly: "I had a very pleasant conversation with Sect Master Qin. Jing Lan respects our Great Xia, so we have no reason not to cooperate."

Xie Cangrong may not have explicitly mentioned Taihua, but every word he uttered was actually a subtle hint to Taihua.

The sect leader of Jinglan came to discuss cooperation with me personally; Jinglan respects my Great Xia.

So who is disrespecting the Great Xia?

The contrast is too obvious.

You, Taihua, slowly and deliberately engage in PUA, meticulously scheming, showing no respect but only self-interest. Don't blame Daxia for ignoring you.

Lu Junfeng gave a wry smile and asked dryly, "Your Majesty—does Your Majesty truly not wish to establish friendly relations with Taihua?"

Xie Cangrong said nonchalantly, "Envoy Lu, the problem lies not with me, but with Taihua!"

"Our Great Xia has always welcomed friends and is willing to make friends."

"However, we only welcome friends, not foreign ancestors."

Lu Junfeng remained silent for a while.

Xie Cangrong simply smiled: "Envoy Lu, do you still remember what I said to you at the New Abundance Gathering?"

Lu Junfeng swayed slightly.

I believe you are the most suitable leader!

Messenger, what do you live for? What are you pursuing?

In recent days, Xie Cangrong's words have indeed been echoing in my ears.

Gao Yilang's appearance left him somewhat bewildered.

What exactly does the sect want him to do?

What is it that he himself is pursuing?

His world seemed to consist only of the sect's missions.

Now, he's genuinely considering giving up.

He gave a wry smile: "Your Majesty, I am but an insignificant disciple of Taihua."

People like him are a dime a dozen in the four continents of immortals and demons. He has no value and what right does he have to talk about ideals and pursuits?

Xie Cangrong simply leaned back in his chair and quietly watched him.

"Everyone has unlimited potential, Envoy Lu, do not underestimate yourself."

"In Taihua, you are just an ordinary disciple. But in Daxia, you are my friend, and you are even more noble than the Taihua Sect Master!"

Xie Cangrong was much younger than him, but their statuses were vastly different. The man's eyes shone with an appreciation that even his teachers and elders had never shown.

Now Lu Junfeng might understand why so many officials of the Great Xia Dynasty were willing to follow this person wholeheartedly.

Because he was really good at bewitching people, he would always say something that struck a chord at the right time, which made Lu Junfeng feel grateful involuntarily.

In the Great Xia Dynasty, was he more noble than the sect leader?

That's the sect leader!

"Envoy Lu, I would like to ask, since cultivation is the cultivation of the mind, then are the sect's orders what your heart desires?"

Xie Cangrong waved his hand gently, his voice calm and composed as he began to explain: "Imagine this scenario: without the orders of a sect, without anyone directing you to accomplish anything, you simply follow your heart. You establish a brand new Taihua Sect in a world far removed from any sect," he said. It rises rapidly, sweeps away the decay, and becomes stronger and more vibrant than the original Taihua Sect.

"At that time, you will raise your head and look at those teachers and lords who were once high above you on equal terms, or even look down upon them—"

You don't need to obey their orders; instead, they should be the ones begging you.

"What a sight that must be!"

Xie Cangrong is a devil.

His voice was soft, and there was no passionate emotion in it.

Yet it was as if a gentle stream, seeping into every nook and cranny, entered Lu Junfeng's soul through his ears.

Can he do it?

That can't be right, can it?

He was merely a fourth-realm disciple of the Taihua Sect.

The sect's strict hierarchical system, the master's orders, and Gao Yilang's arrogance—

A jumble of chaotic thoughts flowed freely through my mind.

Those pent-up, suppressed emotions suddenly erupted.

Spiritual practice cultivates the mind; it should lead to a state of being undisturbed by external things and free from distractions.

However, at this moment, his heart was filled with countless desires.

Listening to Xie Cangrong's beautiful blueprint, he couldn't help but think about it, and a strong sense of joy rushed from the bottom of his heart to his head.

"boom!"

It seemed as if something had been shattered by this desire.

He seemed to have fallen into a strange state, where all the oppression was swept away in an instant, and everything seemed to become clear and bright. His soul seemed to be in a brand new space, and his perception of heaven and earth became more and more real.

Intense energy surged into his limbs and bones, his aura rose steadily, and his magical power became increasingly formidable.

He seemed to possess more power, even greater power.

I don’t know how much time passed; it seemed like a brief moment, or perhaps thousands of years.

Lu Junfeng lowered his eyes in a daze and gently clenched his fist.

He knew he had made a breakthrough!

However, it seems that the path he is taking is not the one the sect described: a state of mind of emptiness and clarity, the gathering of the three flowers at the top of the head, and the entry into the fifth realm of "guarding the one".

His heart was not pure at all; it was full of desires.

What is this?

The Demonic Sect follows a path of unrestrained indulgence; has it fallen into the demonic path?

He was somewhat apprehensive, yet unable to suppress his excitement.

"messenger?"

Xie Cangrong seemed oblivious to his change and asked with some curiosity, "What's wrong with you?"

"Cough cough————"

Lu Junfeng coughed twice to suppress his chaotic thoughts: "I apologize, Your Majesty, I was lost in thought."

Xie Cangrong's words at the Xinfengsheng Conference have stayed with him ever since.

The words spoken today will likely be deeply etched in his mind, unforgettable.

Xie Cangrong smiled and waved his hand: "It's alright!"

"Since Envoy Lu is not feeling well, he should go back and rest. Think carefully about what I said."

Lu Junfeng had obtained the information he wanted, and it was indeed time for him to leave.

But at this moment, even though he clearly received news that would make the Taihua disciples feel uncomfortable, he felt that it didn't matter at all, and his mind was filled with the scene that Xie Cangrong had described to him.

He bowed deeply, his voice unconsciously more submissive than before: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xie Cangrong simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, you are a friend of my Great Xia."

"What?!"

"Has the Great Xia really joined forces with Jinglan?"

Inside the Taihua Cultivator Station.

Gao Yilang, who had just received a good beating from Chu Xiangyun, stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Sect Master Jinglan has come in person and had a very pleasant conversation with the Emperor of Great Xia. The two sides have reached an agreement on forming an alliance."

Lu Junfeng has been somewhat lost and dejected since he returned, which seems to fit his mental state after receiving the information.

As for what he was thinking, no one knows.

What exactly is Jinglan thinking?

"Truly amazing to the Immortal Sect—"

Gao Yilang's face darkened as he muttered curses under his breath. But as he continued, he realized it was inappropriate and quickly stopped.

This news is absolutely terrible!

In terms of strength, Jinglan is a level above Taihua.

Jinglan formed an alliance with Daxia after only two meetings, while Taihua, as the first immortal sect to discover Daxia, met and communicated with them repeatedly, only to receive the word "get lost" in the end.

Is it because of the Great Xia Dynasty?

Is it because the Great Xia Dynasty is arrogant and self-willed, has fallen into the demonic path, and rejects the Immortal Alliance?

These reasons were valid before today, but they are no longer acceptable after today.

The Great Xia is willing to ally with Jinglan, but simply doesn't want to ally with your Taihua!

Jinglan and Daxia are fine now, but Taihua is stuck in the middle.

It's not a problem with Daxia, but a problem with Taihua itself.

Taihua's reputation has been completely humiliated, and there's no way to salvage it.

"Tsk tsk tsk~"

While fiddling with the musket, Chu Xiangyun shook her head and clicked her tongue in amazement, saying, "The sect leader himself has come!"

"Look at what Taihua has sent out!"

"If I were the emperor, I'd also join forces with Jinglan! Just to spite you, just to spite you!"

Gao Yilang's face turned bright red. He raised his hand and pointed directly at Chu Xiangyun, his lips trembling with anger, unable to utter a word: "You!"

The girl's face was so pretty, yet he only felt disgust.

Chu Xiangyun's words were practically an insult, and she blamed him for all the mistakes in the failed negotiations.

Since arriving in Daxia, Gao Yilang has suffered repeated setbacks, and he has never felt this way before.

"What's wrong?"

Chu Xiangyun didn't tolerate him at all. Facing Gao Yilang's angry glare, she simply stood tall and fearless.

This appearance is exactly the same as her unruly master.

"snort!"

He snorted coldly, realizing he couldn't defeat his opponent in a fight, and could only glare angrily at Lu Junfeng: "Junior Brother Lu, I will report everything that happened in Great Xia to the sect in detail!"

He didn't think it was his problem.

Lu Junfeng seemed somewhat disheartened and didn't argue or debate with him. Instead, he simply gave up, saying, "Senior brother, say whatever you want!"

"If the sect is dissatisfied, just transfer me back! I don't want to deal with this mess anymore!"

Currently, only he and Chu Xiangyun from the Taihua Sect can speak with Xie Cangrong.

If the sect really wants to punish him, he will accept it.

"Oh, right!"

Lu Junfeng seemed to remember something and said to him, "Senior brother, you'd better leave quickly. Great Xia is no longer willing to support you. If you don't leave, you might be kicked out and lose face for our sect."

Xie Cangrong never actually said that.

However, Lu Junfeng didn't care about any of that nonsense; he just wanted to provoke the person in front of him.

"you----"

Lu Junfeng, who is giving up, and Chu Xiangyun, who is like a demon pill.

What kind of extraordinary people are those who reside in Daxia?

Gao Yilang was speechless for a moment, then glared at him angrily: "Just you wait!"

With that, he abruptly flicked his sleeve and walked into the inner hall.

"Hahaha~"

"I felt uncomfortable from the very first day he arrived!"

The hollow-faced girl laughed heartily, as if she had won a battle, and gave Lu Junfeng a thumbs up: "Senior brother, you did a great job!"

Lu Junfeng: ————

"Junior sister————"