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

Chapter 94 A Storm is Brewing, Troops Are Being Reinforced to Guard the Border

"The tyrant fell into the demonic path and could not be redeemed, while the compassionate and wise soul returned to paradise and perished in the Great Xia. Neither of them had escaped their Buddha-nature and original enlightenment."

It was still the mountain peak where White Elephant Continent and Crane Cry Continent met, and it was still the meeting between the old monk and the Taihua Sect Master.

However, the atmosphere was no longer as relaxed as before. Zen Master Jue Min lowered his eyes, and one of his eye sockets was empty, making him look particularly eerie.

"What Xiao Zheng reported is a mistake. He has the help of heaven and earth and has at least the power of the Nine Realms, comparable to yours and mine."

17

Yun Shu's expression remained unchanged; he simply said in a calm voice, "I've already told you, the Great Xia is not that simple!"

"What do you intend to do now? Do you plan to lead the masses across the sea and forcibly convert the Great Xia?"

"If you wish to go, Taihua will make it easy for you."

The old monk frowned upon hearing this, offering no response, but simply clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha Buddha—"

After all, he had promised to win over the Great Xia, so he couldn't refuse.

However, forcing it forward won't work.

It was already difficult enough with a poisonous miasma stuck in the middle, but now that the Emperor of Great Xia has such great power, it's even more troublesome to deal with.

The Great Xia Dynasty still holds many secrets.

That tyrant readily executes people, and every piece of intelligence he obtains comes at a price. The Wuxiang Zen sect has already paid the price with the life of Cihui.

Do we need to continue investing more chips and paying an even higher price?

Zen Buddhism is also stuck here.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it a few ethereal sounds.

A weathered whisper echoed in my ears: "Gentlemen, come to Mount Luling for a chat."

The two exchanged a glance and then looked eastward together.

The news could not be kept secret; even if Taihua and Zen Buddhism did not want it to, it would eventually reach the ears of those in power.

The Great Xia is so large that even Taihua cannot contain it all.

Someone will always come and share the cake.

As time flowed by and an invisible wind blew, ripples appeared in the world of immortals and demons.

"What?!"

-

"The Fifth Continent! With hundreds of millions of inhabitants? Countless spiritual mineral veins?"

"Is that really true?!"

"The Great Xia? It doesn't even have any cultivators?"

"Hahaha! Heaven truly blesses my Blood Sea Sect!"

"Pass on my order: Head west!"

"But Sect Leader—the Cult Leader has given an order—"

"Ha, who cares what he does?! He's just keeping those strangers company and not letting anyone use them; what a disgrace to the title of Holy One!"

"The Fifth Continent—Great Xia—"

"Whose message?"

"The Hundred-Image Demon, no mistake!"

"Gather your disciples!"

"It's in the southwest of Crane Cry Continent, but that's quite far."

"We need to find a way to get through that vast expanse of poisonous miasma."

"Is it really that simple? The Taihua Sect is still guarding there!"

Why did we return empty-handed?

"Don't move for now!"

"Sect Master, the Blood Sea Sect has issued a summons!"

"Are we really not going?"

While the Great Xia Dynasty was developing peacefully, news of the emergence of the Fifth Continent in the Blood Slaughter Holy Continent spread like wildfire.

The explosive news instantly stirred up the entire Demon Sect.

The numerous demonic sects, large and small, and the turbulent land of endless conflict, were known to countless demonic cultivators, even more so than to the immortal sects.

In Crane Cry Island and Deer Spirit Island—the spread must be extensive.

Some grinned bloodthirstyly, some frowned deeply, and some couldn't wait any longer.

Population, spirit mines, and the absence of a powerful immortal sect guarding them—these were irresistible temptations. And such a tremendous temptation was bound to stir up a storm.

Of course, compared to the widely circulated information about the Fifth Continent, the whereabouts of the Buddhist Venerable Cihui are rarely mentioned.

Most minds have been overwhelmed by the vast continent, the thriving population, and the abundant resources.

The Demonic Sect has been suppressed by the Immortal Alliance in this barren land of one half of the continent for far too long.

What a great opportunity this is—new, unclaimed land!

"Master Liu!"

Taihua Immortal Mountain, in the small courtyard where Liu Bingxuan lived.

With a hint of apology on his face, the boy said to Liu Bingxuan, "Our sect is preparing to activate a grand formation to seal off the boundary, and we really don't have enough manpower to escort you down the mountain. We hope you will understand."

"Um?"

-

Upon hearing this, Liu Bingxuan frowned: "A realm? May I ask which realm you mean?"

The boy shook his head: "I don't know."

Liu Bingxuan narrowed his eyes and asked again, "Has something major happened in the sect? Why activate the grand formation?"

The most important thing for Taihua right now should be to break through the Abyss Sea and establish contact with the Great Xia.

What, are you going to seal off the border again?

The boy simply shook his head: "This is the sect leader's order; a disciple like me naturally has no right to know."

"I see—"

Liu Bingxuan smiled and waved his hand: "It's alright, I can go down the mountain by myself."

The boy cupped his hands in greeting to Liu Bingxuan and handed him a token: "Since Lord Liu insists on going down the mountain, I cannot stop him. I only hope that you will be careful. This is the Taihua Token, which allows Lord Liu to travel freely in Heming Continent."

Liu Bingxuan was a very easy person to get along with, and it was very interesting to chat with him. Even without his master's orders, Tongzi was willing to spend time with him and listen to him talk about the stories of the other land. Now that Liu Bingxuan was leaving, he was actually a little reluctant to part with him.

Liu Bingxuan cupped his hands in thanks to him: "Thank you!"

After the boy left, Liu Bingxuan narrowed his eyes and called out to Ma Chengyong, who was training in the courtyard beside him, "Chengyong!"

"Master Liu!"

Soldiers, willing to give their lives for His Majesty and for the great cause of the Xia Dynasty, ran over, their faces full of respect.

"Bring me paper and pen."

"yes!"

Liu Bingxuan took the pen and wrote a set of codes on the white paper using horizontal lines, dots, and circles.

He did this every day, but today, after he finished writing, he gently patted Ma Chengyong on the shoulder: "Put it away."

Ma Chengyong's eyes flashed, and he immediately replied, "Yes!"

Liu Bingxuan didn't know if the cultivators had any means to monitor them, to hear them talk, or to see them do things. Although his guess was probably correct, it was always better to be cautious.

Neither writing nor oral transmission is absolutely safe.

However, the code that Da Xia summarized before leaving was known only to them. Even if they spoke it out, even if the other party heard it, it wouldn't matter.

As long as Taihua doesn't openly break ties and insist on arresting and interrogating people, they won't know what they're saying.

Since arriving here, Liu Bingxuan has been very restrained. Although he writes and draws every day, it's mostly just for show. Sometimes he even writes in front of the children. But he only reported his safety to the Great Xia once when he first arrived, and rarely sent any information back after that.

Based on the child's casual remarks, he felt that there might be some problem.

Taihua, Daxia, Zen Buddhism, the Demonic Sect—all sorts of information intertwined in his mind.

A vague sense of foreboding crept into my heart.

Having fought alongside Xie Cangrong and others through the chaos of war, he possesses a high degree of sensitivity to certain matters.

"Your Majesty, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to Heaven is no small matter and should not be simplified in this way."

In Zhaolin Pavilion, the old man looked troubled. After hesitating for a moment, he made another request to Xie Cangrong.

"Minister Zhang, as I have said, my purpose in offering sacrifices to Heaven is simply to erect a platform, with all of you civil and military officials watching from below. The people may come if they wish, and they may not come if they do not. I will ascend the platform, burn incense, offer prayers, and proclaim this to the world."

Xie Cangrong casually tossed the memorial on the ground and said in a flat voice, "Cut off all the other nonsense."

-

The old man earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, as the supreme ruler of our dynasty, how can you be so careless with your grand procession—"

""

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Cangrong interrupted him: "What? If I don't engage in these extravagant and cumbersome affairs, am I not the supreme ruler? Does my prestige need these things to prove itself? Who set these rules? Has it always been this way, and must it be this way now? Who calls the shots in Great Xia now?"

The founding monarch wields real power and influence, requiring no fancy facade or pretense.

"What, does the Ministry of Rites enjoy spending the Great Xia's money so much?"

Xie Cangrong's final, piercing question made the old minister shudder involuntarily, and he stammered, "Your subject dares not."

"Since you're afraid, then do as I say!"

The old minister swayed, and finally sighed, "Your subject obeys the decree."

He wasn't embezzling; he was simply following the rules of etiquette.

His Majesty is wise, but at times, he is undeniably capricious and excessively stingy.

Xie Cangrong's many ideas are ultimately out of step with the times.

Throughout history, no other monarch has been as unique and unconventional.

He sighed and said, "The auspicious time is in one hour. Your Majesty, please—"

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Cangrong waved his hand to interrupt her: "I know, I know, go, go! Zhang Qing, you're not feeling well either, go and rest."

My poor health is all because of you!

The old minister had no choice but to bow and say, "Yes!"

There's a reason why Lord Cui sometimes angers His Majesty.

Not long after the old minister left, as the auspicious hour approached, Xie Cangrong got up to appease the old man and perform the necessary rituals.

Just then, Xu Jun strode over and presented him with a letter with both hands: "Your Majesty, news has come from Lord Liu."

"Um?

'

Xie Cangrong raised an eyebrow, took the letter, and opened it.

Upon seeing the contents, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Only sixteen characters were written on it.

"The Taihua region is fraught with evil spirits. A storm is brewing; we must reinforce the border defenses."

He raised his head and let out a soft breath.

The auspicious time etiquette can be discarded.

"Xu Jun, go and summon General Ning and General Zhao."

"yes!"

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