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

The aroma of tea wafted through the air as Liu Bingxuan sat facing Lu Junfeng.

To be honest...

Liu Bingxuan rubbed his teacup with his palm and said to Lu Junfeng, "The news of the rain-seeking efforts of the various holy continents has shaken the court and the public. The methods of true immortals have left all the rulers and ministers of our Great Xia in awe."

Lu Junfeng knew the allure of immortal arts to mortals, so he wasn't surprised by the reactions of the court officials. However... Xie Cangrong had already communicated with Chu Xiangyun.

Will he be shocked too?

Lu Junfeng narrowed his eyes, waiting for the other party to continue.

Liu Bingxuan's eyes were clear, and his words were sincere: "At the previous banquet, I had many doubts and offended you. His Majesty specially ordered me to apologize on behalf of all the ministers, in order to fulfill the proper etiquette and also to keep my promise from that day. Our Great Xia always keeps its word and dares to admit our mistakes. Let us not let the envoy think that we are narrow-minded."

He was telling the truth, and naturally he had no reservations.

Lu Junfeng smiled and said, "It's only natural for people to be concerned about the country. It's only right that Lord Liu thinks of the country. Don't take it to heart. The uprightness of the ruler and his ministers is truly a blessing for our nation."

The two complimented each other, and the initial unpleasantness vanished.

Liu Bingxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and sighed repeatedly, "It must be said that I am very lucky. When your immortal techniques were introduced to the court, my colleagues in the palace were all shocked and regretted their past actions. Several ministers petitioned His Majesty to personally apologize and offer gifts. However, His Majesty only allowed me, Liu, to come."

Lu Junfeng chuckled: "Lord Liu is joking. Who would rush to apologize?"

When these words reached Shi Yu's ears, he was probably even more smug; being slapped in the face is always satisfying.

They looked down on us before, but now they're rushing to curry favor with us?

However, Lu Junfeng remained calm enough to glean more information from this casual conversation.

Liu Bingxuan's words were all true, and there were no loopholes to be found. Lu Junfeng also believed that what the other party said was true.

The ministers are also human beings. They all have desires, they all want to be stronger, and they all want to live longer. After learning that they are genuine, it is only natural that they would fawn over them.

But the emperor only allowed Liu Bingxuan to come. What does this mean?

The world ultimately doesn't belong to the emperor alone; people's hearts are divided, and it's impossible for everyone to always pursue the same goals. The emperor cannot control the hearts of his subjects; he can only exert force by reducing the time his subjects spend with him, thus diminishing their influence.

With a quick thought, Lu Junfeng realized this.

Forceful control cannot control people's hearts.

Lu Junfeng firmly believed that soon some officials would contact him privately. Perhaps... winning over court officials was also a possible way to facilitate cooperation.

Liu Bingxuan, holding his teacup, smiled knowingly: "If you encounter an important person, wouldn't you be eager to apologize?"

Sometimes conflict isn't necessarily a bad thing.

As they argued, their relationship grew closer.

The apology was a pretense; the real intention was to establish communication and contact.

"Oh?"

Lu Junfeng raised an eyebrow and tentatively asked, "Lord Liu, am I your benefactor?"

The fact that the emperor only sent this Lord Liu to meet with him shows how much he trusted him.

As a close confidant of the emperor, Liu Bingxuan undoubtedly possesses immense value. Winning him over would greatly benefit the integration of the Great Xia and the Immortal Alliance.

Although the cultivators hold different positions from the emperor, they are by no means completely opposed, and will most likely cooperate in the future. From the perspective of a subject, being on good terms with the cultivators will not actually have any negative consequences.

Fame and fortune are nothing but dust; who doesn't want to cultivate immortality, who doesn't want to live forever?

It was entirely reasonable for Liu Bingxuan to show him goodwill.

only……

Was his overture based on his own will, or was it all orchestrated by the emperor?

Lu Junfeng couldn't possibly believe Liu Bingxuan based on just a few words, but he kept this hope in mind, hoping it was the former.

Liu Bingxuan shook his head: "I only have one esteemed patron, His Majesty. But that doesn't prevent me from having tea with Brother Lu, does it?"

The implication is that his courting of Lu Junfeng does not conflict with his loyalty to the emperor.

Lu Junfeng smiled and said, "Of course, of course."

If Liu Bingxuan were to directly offer himself up, he would lose his value, and there would be a problem with that.

This one sentence made Lu Junfeng more willing to believe that Liu Bingxuan's words of goodwill were all out of his own volition.

This is a good thing.

"Lord Liu, please rest assured. Our righteous sect has come to protect the common people and uphold justice. The demonic cultivators are cruel and vicious. If they were to discover this place, this prosperous nation would surely be reduced to ashes. Please also tell His Majesty to put his mind at ease, that we have no ill intentions towards the Great Xia."

Everyone meant well; there's no need to become enemies and scheme against each other.

If you're good to me and I'm good to you, then everyone will be good to me.

The alliance allows everyone to get what they need, and the sect won't seize Xie Cangrong's throne. To this day, Lu Junfeng still doesn't understand what's wrong with Great Xia siding with Taihua Sect.

Liu Bingxuan smiled and said, "Brother Lu is sincere, and I will certainly convey his message."

As the tea grew cold, he squinted and asked Lu Junfeng, "Brother Lu, there is still something I don't understand. I hope you can enlighten me."

"Lord Liu, please speak freely."

Liu Bingxuan's voice unconsciously lowered, but his tone still couldn't hide his eagerness: "Can cultivating immortality truly grant eternal life? If one cultivates to the extreme, can one truly be like the legends, moving mountains and filling seas, omnipotent, and living as long as time itself?"

Lu Junfeng laughed heartily: "Of course! Putting aside the ethereal legends, just consider our Taihua Sect's patriarch, who has been guarding the immortal sect for over three thousand years! His magical power is profound, and evil spirits are warded off."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bingxuan stared blankly, sighing softly, "Does such a celestial being truly exist in this world?"

Lu Junfeng was very satisfied with Liu Bingxuan's attitude and kept laughing, "What's wrong, Lord Liu? You hold a high position and enjoy endless wealth and honor, yet you also seek to transcend worldly concerns?"

Liu Bingxuan shook his head and sighed softly: "Brother Lu, you jest. Fame and fortune are but fleeting clouds. Even if one wields immense power for a time, after a hundred years, one is nothing but a handful of dust. How can it compare to a carefree spirit, sleeves full of exhilarating wind, laughing as the world turns, with heaven and earth at one's own heart... such joy and freedom?"

Imagining the direction he would take on his path of cultivation, Lu Junfeng was also moved and kept echoing, "That's true..."

Who wouldn't want that?

Having laid the groundwork, Liu Bingxuan finally spoke, "Brother Lu, do you think I have a destiny to become an immortal?"

……

On the other side, inside the palace.

Xie Cangrong personally pushed the girl's wheelchair, looked up at the sky, and asked with great interest, "What is this? Did you make this?"

In just a few days, the girl seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

"Click-clack".

The mechanism twisted, making a series of clicking sounds.

The exquisite wooden kite fluttered its wings. It was an inanimate object that did not rely on electricity, yet it seemed to be alive, soaring freely in the air, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

This is clearly not in the direction Xie Cangrong envisioned for the development of science and technology.