“Old monk, if you keep eavesdropping, I’ll storm the Buddhist Kingdom and wipe out the eighteen Arhats. Don’t push me.”
Meng Qingzhou turned his head, his smile fading as he spoke coldly, “I not only know that you’ve merged yourself with the Dao and integrated into the Buddhist Kingdom, creating your own world, but I also know that the main base of the Buddhist Kingdom is hidden in the sky above a vast desert.”
The old monk’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, “You misunderstand, benefactor. I came to repay a favor and share some news you might find interesting.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it.”
“Ji Wushuang has broken through to the Sky-Reaching Realm and is sweeping across Sky State. In two or three months at most, he will establish his dominance.”
With that, the old monk vanished with the wind, leaving behind one last sentence: “Rest assured, as long as you don’t kill the Arhats, I will not interfere or spy on you.”
Meng Qingzhou remained silent.
Time was too tight. He had been cultivating for just over three years, and it had only been eight or nine months since he married Dongfang Liuli.
His opponents, on the other hand, were ancient figures who had been cultivating for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Even Ji Wushuang, hailed as a prodigy of the younger generation, was over a hundred years old.
If he had another year, these enemies would be no threat. Unfortunately, time was not on his side.
“The old monk has quite a temper, doesn’t seem like he’s our enemy at all,” Su Qingqiu muttered.
Meng Qingzhou shook his head and said calmly, “It’s just a delaying tactic. The Buddha fears the Heaven-Watching Pavilion. He’s worried that if he rashly destroys Great Jin and absorbs all the Wilderness’s fortune into the Buddhist Kingdom, the Heaven-Watching Pavilion will be driven to desperate measures.”
Dongfang Liuli asked curiously, “Heaven-Watching Pavilion? Is that the name of the hidden manipulator?”
“Yes, but I can’t say the full name. If I do, the Heaven-Watching Pavilion will sense it and cause unnecessary trouble,” Meng Qingzhou explained.
At this point, there was nothing to hide.
After all, Dongfang Liuli had absorbed the fortune of the Wilderness and was recognized by the Heavenly Dao. Sooner or later, she would have a life-and-death struggle with the Heaven-Watching Pavilion. Understanding her opponent in advance would only be beneficial.
“Perfect timing. It’s boring on the road. Let me tell you about the past of the hidden manipulator—the Heaven-Watching Pavilion.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
…
…
Northern Desert.
A vast oasis covered with coconut trees and dense greenery, resembling an ancient forest. The canopy provided shade, blocking direct sunlight, making it feel cool rather than hot.
In the depths of the oasis, a cleared area was filled with countless tents, housing tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the commander’s tent.
Inside the commander’s tent.
Jiang Canghai sat cross-legged, his eyes sunken, looking emaciated, with a heavy aura of death surrounding him.
“Prime Minister, you can’t keep pushing yourself. The Buddhist Kingdom doesn’t dare to launch a full-scale attack. Why do you insist on maintaining the Map of Mountains and Rivers?” Lin Lu advised earnestly.
“Say no more. Minister of War Liang Qu has already returned. He will soon arrive with the high-ranking members of the Moon Clan to discuss counterattacking the Buddhist Kingdom. Go make preparations,” Jiang Canghai said with his eyes closed.
Lin Lu’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with pain.
The Prime Minister’s enormous effort to maintain the Map of Mountains and Rivers, relying on his Mountain Moving Realm cultivation, had him consuming pills like meals for three whole months without rest. His spirit and body were on the brink of collapse, looking like he was about to die. Lin Lu couldn’t bear to watch.
But today was an important day.
The strategy to divide the troops and cover Minister of War Liang Qu’s journey to the secret realm to unite with the Moon Clan had finally borne fruit. The Moon Clan’s high-ranking members had decided to send representatives to discuss specific matters with the Prime Minister.
“Report!”
“Minister Liang has sent word that he has reached the outskirts of the oasis. The Moon Clan guests are about to arrive. Please prepare.”
A soldier knelt outside the commander’s tent and shouted.
“Go, welcome the guests,” Jiang Canghai said, his eyes still closed, his dry lips barely moving.
Lin Lu took a deep breath, straightened his uniform, and led a group of soldiers out.
Soon.
Jiang Canghai heard the sound of dense footsteps approaching, accompanied by occasional laughter. It was Minister of War Liang Qu, talking with Lin Lu.
“Prime Minister, Liang Qu is back.”
“Enter.”
Jiang Canghai opened his eyes and glanced at the old but vigorous Minister of War Liang Qu, who looked travel-worn. He saw many generals following Liang Qu and nodded slightly. His gaze then shifted to a group of tall, elf-like young men and women.
“These must be the esteemed guests from the Moon Clan.”
The young men and women were all strikingly handsome, with long ears extending to their necks and golden hair cascading like waterfalls. Their eyes were a deep blue, and each had tattoo-like patterns on their bodies—some on their collarbones, some on their arms, and some on their foreheads, each unique.
But Jiang Canghai could tell that some of these young men and women, despite their youthful appearance, had ancient eyes, indicating their true age was far greater.
“You must be the so-called Prime Minister of Great Jin? Holding up an entire continent to guard against the Buddhist Kingdom?” A young man with a tattoo on his forehead asked coldly.
His words were hostile, clearly targeting them.
Jiang Canghai remained unperturbed, glancing at Liang Qu without saying much, and replied calmly, “Indeed.”
“May I ask your name?”
The young man replied coldly, “I am Lan Miechan, acting Young Master of the Tianhe Division of the Moon Clan.”
Hearing this, Jiang Canghai was slightly taken aback and looked at Minister of War Liang Qu.
Liang Qu immediately understood and quickly explained, “The Moon Clan is divided into three major divisions: Tianhe Division, Shiyue Division, and Huanling Division.”
“Additionally, the Moon Clan’s lifespan is long. Even ordinary clan members who don’t cultivate can live for two to three hundred years. Their appearance remains fixed after reaching adulthood. The tattoo-like totems on their bodies represent their innate divine powers.”
Lan Miechan frowned slightly, showing some dissatisfaction.
Reporting like this in front of the Moon Clan, was it polite?
“Take a seat,” Jiang Canghai said calmly.
Lan Miechan looked around, lifted the tent flap, and glanced outside. Suddenly, he sneered and said, “Liang Qu, is this the Great Jin Dynasty you spoke of, renowned in the Wilderness and about to re-establish its dominance? Just a bunch of old, weak, sick, and disabled?”
“The Prime Minister is barely in the Mountain Moving Realm?”
“Liang Qu! Are you deceiving us?”
…
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