Who Is Da Qian?

Lingxu slowly awoke, the fragrance of the pills still lingering in her mouth. Her vision was blurry, but gradually cleared, revealing Qin Yi's face.

He briefly assessed his injuries. The external wound on his shoulder was healing rapidly, but the internal injuries to his lungs and Sword Qi could not be fully recovered immediately, though he could feel them slowly healing.

There was still a trace of aphrodisiac in her body, which was being resisted and removed by the antidote. Originally, it was the kind of super-powerful aphrodisiac that could burn away even the meridians and Divine Sense with lust, but now only some of its effects remained, which could be suppressed.

Whether it's an injury or an aphrodisiac, if there's no antidote, it can be fatal.

This is... Qin Yi used two very expensive pills to save himself?

He looked around, his pupils contracting slightly.

Three monks lay dead outside, each in a different manner. These were three martial monks from the Great Joy Temple, all at the sixth level of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Immortal Dao and also cultivating immortality. Qin Yi had actually killed them all by himself, and he hadn't even shown any injury? And the treasure vault hadn't been destroyed in the slightest by the aftershocks of their battle?

What's going on...?

Humble Origins still planned to stay in Dragon Abyss City. Not knowing whether Qin Yi intended to kill Lingxu, he couldn't easily show his face and had already hidden himself away like a rat. Therefore, in Lingxu's eyes, there was only Qin Yi there, and he couldn't fathom how this was done.

"Brother Dao, you're awake?" Qin Yi squatted down beside him, smiling. "Are you schizophrenic? You were the one frantically seeking help from the Immortal Palace, and in your eyes, the greatest enemy should be the Great Joy Temple. What's going on here? You're teaming up with your own enemy to betray and kill the very reinforcements you've invited? Have you lost your mind?"

"Reinforcements..." Lingxu replied weakly, "The reinforcements I've summoned are to protect the Great Qian Dragon Qi, not to help others shake it. If that's the case, it would be better to eliminate you; then I can slowly fight against the Great Joy Temple."

"And how did you determine that I'm going to shake the Great Qian Dragon Qi? Just because I want to enter the treasure vault?" This was the point Qin Yi couldn't understand the most. The Great Joy Temple didn't even know about his deal with Meng Qingying. No one else had an omniscient perspective; who the hell knew what his purpose was in entering the treasure vault?

Couldn't it really be for the sake of protecting the nation's National Luck?

Even if the Great Joy Temple stirred up trouble by saying that Qin Yi had ulterior motives, did the Emperor and Lingxu really believe it so readily and take action?

"Brother Dao, why hide it?" Lingxu smiled bitterly. "If you truly wish to assist His Majesty, then holding the title of Imperial Preceptor would be entirely beneficial to you. Because you would only be in name, and would continue your cultivation on the immortal mountain in your daily life. The affairs of the Great Qian would not hinder you, and the prosperity of the Da Qian Kingdom would naturally elevate your fortune. Why is it that immortals often help heroes establish a nation, and then vanish without a trace? Although it is for the sake of the common people, is there not also an intention to benefit from the National Luck? Brother Dao should understand this better than I do, because that's exactly what our master did back then."

Qin Yi frowned and said, "Just because I refused to be named the Imperial Preceptor? Can't I just not be greedy for this? To be honest, although I believe in destiny and have indeed benefited from great destiny in my cultivation, I don't want to rely on this kind of thing too much. Especially just being named to get a little bit of National Luck, I really don't think it has any value. If it were really useful, wouldn't the immortals be fighting tooth and nail to help people establish a country? The fact is, nobody fights for it, it's completely useless."

"But brother, you don't need to pay anything for this, it's free. You didn't even think about it, you didn't want to have anything to do with the Great Qian at all."

"Okay, I didn't think of that." Qin Yi was genuinely a bit amused and exasperated. "That alone isn't enough to conclude that I have any ulterior motives, is it?"

Lingxu sighed, "Because someone made a prediction, judging you three steps ahead, and they were all right."

"What are the three steps?"

"Firstly, if His Majesty inquires about the White-Clad Celestial Maiden, Brother Pan will surely evade the question and say something else entirely."

"..." Qin Yi said speechlessly, "This counts?"

"That's fine," Lingxu said. "Brother Dao, this isn't about the White-Clad Celestial Maiden herself, but rather whether you have the desire to compete with the Celestial Maiden of the Great Joy Temple. Even if that Fairy isn't suitable, this matter should remind you to think of others. His Majesty even had more subtle considerations; he even wanted you to tell him where Zhaoyang Princess had gone. However, you didn't even consider these things. This isn't from His Majesty's perspective; in fact, you don't take His Majesty seriously at all."

"So many twists and turns! How the hell did he even think of this kind of implication?" Qin Yi laughed angrily. "If I had really thought he was implying something about Qing Jun, I would have slapped him across the face to wake him up! Does he really think he's the Heavenly Emperor?"

Lingxu stared at him intently. "So, Brother Dao's attitude truly shows that he doesn't take the Great Qian Dynasty seriously."

"So what if we didn't take him seriously? According to you, the second step is to refuse the Imperial Preceptor? The third step is to demand access to the treasure vault? Someone predicted all three steps correctly?"

"That's right. One point might not prove anything, but if all three are correct, it will prove that you had ulterior motives for entering the treasure vault."

"That's too far-fetched, almost like a fabricated charge."

"This isn't a judgment, it doesn't require irrefutable evidence, it's the Emperor's will, as long as he's convinced," Lingxu said slowly. "Besides, you're not wronged, are you? You do indeed have ulterior motives."

"That's true." Qin Yi smiled. "Since I saved you, please answer one last question that's bothering me."

Lingxu said, "That's only natural... What I want to ask, brother, is who exactly could have foreseen these things and even persuaded His Majesty?"

"That's right, this doesn't seem like the usual approach of Great Joy Temple. Instead, it reminds me of some acquaintances; it's very much like their style."

Lingxu sighed, "Of course, he's an acquaintance of yours, Daoist brother. We both come from the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace, and his level of trust in me and His Majesty is the same as yours. Since what he says makes more sense, why should I believe you?"

Qin Yi narrowed his eyes. "So, the Great Joy Temple's sudden change of heart and agreement to Meng Qingying's deal was also orchestrated by this person?"

"Who is Meng Qingying? This humble Daoist does not know," Lingxu sighed. "Brother Daoist, this humble Daoist also has a question that I do not understand. Could you please enlighten me?"

"Explain."

"Brother Dao, you came here on a mission from your master, why do you turn against the Great Qian?"

Qin Yi remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "The Great Qian you want to help and the Great Qian I want to help are not the same thing."

Lingxu was taken aback and puzzled.

Qin Yi stood up and pointed to the painting on the wall. "This is the Great Qian that my master and I wanted to help. The one you helped is just a tyrant."

After saying this, Qin Yi waved his hand, and the hanging painting automatically fell off and rolled up, becoming a scroll in his hand.

"This painting belonged to my master, and I've taken it back to its rightful owner. As for your Founding Sword, which is said to 'protect the nation's National Luck,' continue to enshrine it... it can probably be kept for a few more years."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Lingxu couldn't help but ask from behind, "You're not going to kill me?"

"Why would I kill you?" Qin Yi turned his head and smiled, "It's just a difference in stance. From beginning to end, your intentions have never changed. You're just a Daoist who is loyal to his own class and interests and is deeply entangled in worldly affairs."

Lingxu watched his departing figure until it was almost gone from the corridor, then suddenly said, "The Hidden Dragon Temple heavily guarded right now. If you intend to go there, brother... there is a secret passage in this treasure vault that leads directly to the bottom of the Hidden Dragon Temple. Here is a map."

A jade slip floated to Qin Yi's side. Qin Yi reached out and took it, then turned and smiled, "Farewell, old Daoist."