True and False

Li Fan composed himself, calmed his restless and thirsty Dao body, and forced himself to focus his mind and attention on the important matter at hand to avoid losing control. He finally regained his composure.

Imperial City, Imperial City, Imperial City...

He turned his head to look north, at the towering city walls.

The Imperial City of Li Country is located directly north of Changsi City, facing south. It is the central palace of Li Country. The crown prince's Qing Palace is located at the East Gate of the Imperial City. The guardian deity of the east is the Azure Dragon, and the walls are also painted in blue, so the Qing Palace is also called the East Palace. However, the Liqiu Palace, where the ruler of Li Country resides, is not located in the Imperial City. It is a separate palace built in the northeast corner Changsi City.

Therefore, the king of Li Country lived in the Liqiu Palace year-round and did not attend court. All kinds of government affairs in the Imperial City were handled by the former Guangling Heir.

The Zongzheng Temple, one of the nine national courts, was responsible for managing the imperial genealogy, which recorded the nation's fortunes, the imperial family's records, the registers of noble clans, and the records of immortal sources, spiritual veins, and the mountain ranges of various sects. Naturally, it was located within the walls of the Imperial City, under heavy guard.

I see, now that I think about it, is that what it means?

It doesn't matter if there's an age difference, or if the child isn't born to the legal mother.

Because when it comes to determining whether a prince is legitimate or illegitimate, your parents' opinions don't count, nor does your own claim as a prince; only the Imperial Clan Zongzheng Temple has the final say. And now, with no ruler in the Imperial City, all matters are still controlled by the nobles.

So, to put it bluntly, there's no need to pin your hopes on the Zongzheng Temple or any family genealogy. The Guo Family has plenty of ways to prove that 'Qingyue is Li You,' but Li Fan can't prove that 'Qingyue is Li Yi.' To this day, he doesn't even know who Li Yi is or whether she even exists in the family genealogy...

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent, right, so what if it's Li You, or Qingyue? You said it yourself, they just need to find a puppet, as long as it's a suitable person to succeed them."

Now, Qingyue, playing Li You is even more suitable than Li You playing herself, isn't it?

Indeed, whether it's true or false doesn't matter; when falsehood is taken for truth, even truth becomes falsehood.

Guo Er could have as many nephews as he wanted, but what he needed now wasn't a real nephew, but a Li You.

Now, the powerful families of the Outer Sect of Ink Bamboo Mountain need a brand name that can unify the immortal and mortal paths of Ink Bamboo Mountain Li Country, perfectly representing the interests of their group.

Not only is she a member of the royal family, but she is also Golden Core cultivator who has survived the tribulation of death. Qingyue, who is favored by both the sect leader and the sect master, is the most suitable candidate.

Even Qingting Sou large group from the Southern Faction knew that 'Qingyue is Li You, the Prince of Jian'an.' So, do you think the core members of the Northern Faction, those from noble families, would be the first to know? It's likely that Young Master Guo was merely there to relay the organization's decision to his peripheral underlings...

This position of ruler is probably not something Li Fan can simply abdicate.

Even if he doesn't take the position, there will probably be a lot of people forcing him to take it.

If there was some surprise, some astonishment, and even a little hesitation beforehand...

But now that he's figured it out, all Li Fan feels is frustration.

Damn it, who does he think he is? They didn't even consult him beforehand about the Northern Faction's decision to make him, Qingyue, emperor?

Is that polite?

From beginning to end, those people never thought to ask Qingyue for his opinion; they just thought that they had arranged everything perfectly for him, and all he had to do was nod in agreement. He just had to follow the arrangements made by these big shots.

They are puppets on strings, puppets on stage.

Haha, how could I let them have their way?

Everyone fucking wants to use Li Fan as a pawn.

Can you afford that price? Hmm!

Does the ruler of a country want to sever his path?

Bah! What's so special about the Li Country land! More money is owed!

' Profound Heaven Sword Intent, hey, don't get carried away, control your Dao Heart, your killing intent is rising again...'

Li Fan took a deep breath to calm himself down and suppress the icy killing intent surging in his chest.

Although he didn't know how to break this deadlock for the time being, he had already made up his mind that if anyone dared to come up to him and say, "Brother, this dragon robe suits you perfectly," he would smash their brains out with a single blow...

Suddenly, the Si Nan spun around, changing direction and pointing northwest of Dayefang, a completely different direction.

Li Fan was also momentarily stunned by this sudden change.

What does this mean? Isn't the opportunity and fortune indicated by Si Nan compass based on distance? Why would it keep changing?

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent and its destiny are constantly changing. It could be that you make a decision, or that someone else in another place takes a certain action at the same time, which could cause the opportunity to change drastically."

This is a subtle destiny that can only be perceived after enlightenment. But I didn't expect your spoon to be so powerful, jumping so decisively. It seems there's another significant opportunity in that direction.

"What's the use of a great opportunity if I can't even get into the city... Hmm?"

At this moment, the guards at the west gate ran up and opened the gate of the ward. A bullock cart, followed by several eunuchs, drove out of the west gate of Daye Ward. The group was clearly heading in the direction indicated by the Si Nan.

Li Fan spotted a eunuch standing by the oxcart. His appearance had completely changed, and his clothes had been changed from those of a servant to those of a eunuch, but his boots were still the same.

Li Fan tried to use his Divine Sense to observe the aura, just as he was about to see who was sitting inside the oxcart, when he suddenly realized that the immense pressure of the Dao Breath inside the Dayefang Pagoda had disappeared. He was startled and quickly withdrew his Divine Sense.

That Nascent Soul Stage cultivator probably got into the oxcart.

So it seems it's still about finding the nephew, but now a real-life big shot has been mobilized...

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent is causing some trouble. The rapid changes in fate have turned it into a calamity. It seems that many more people will die in this power struggle in Li Country."

"Boy, your current situation is too dangerous. If you start another killing spree, you might not be able to regain your human form. I will make an exception and teach you a technique for escaping. If you encounter any fighting later, try to avoid it as much as possible and restrain your killing intent."

Escape Technique? Is it the Jade Purity Azure Sky Escape Technique of the Shenxiao Sect?

Escape techniques or body-stealing techniques are both 'lightness skills' that enhance mobility. However, these techniques generally consume a great deal of energy and require transformation and alteration, so they can usually only be practiced at the Nascent Soul Realm.

This unique skill of the Shenxiao Sect is also a branch of thunder magic. To put it bluntly, it is a teleportation skill that allows one to transform into lightning and disappear into the form of lightning. Like a lightning movie, one can flash and leap around, leaving no trace, and arrive suddenly. It is a superior sword fighting technique. But the Xuan Profound Heaven Sword Intent said that it would not come.

"I truly do not possess the Profound Heaven Sword Intent. The authentic Thunder Magic requires fasting and adherence to precepts, as well as diligent practice and refinement. Those who can master Thunder Magic to a high level are all highly accomplished sorcerers. There are not many true inheritors of Thunder Magic among the Nine Great Xuan Sects. The disciples of our Beichen Sword Sect are already busy studying swordsmanship, let alone having the time to practice everything half-heartedly."

The escape techniques of my Beichen Sword Sect usually involve using flying swords to escape, but this can only be used with a natal flying sword. You have four swords here, so you can't use them. Now I will teach you another escape technique. If we talk about coming like lightning and going like thunder, then it may not be as good as the Jade Purity Azure Sky Escape Technique. But if we talk about appearing and disappearing like ghosts, then it is more than suitable for escaping.

Hmph! Just thinking about it makes me angry! Anyway, you should memorize the Heart Sutra mantra first!

So Li Fan put on the veil and followed slowly behind the carriage, while secretly memorizing the mental techniques transmitted by the Profound Heaven Sword Intent.

The manual wasn't very long; he memorized it about three times. Combined with the Profound Heaven Sword Intent pointing out the key points of his acupoints and meridians, Li Fan learned this escape technique before even crossing Zhuque Avenue.

In general, it's a movement technique that accelerates body transformation, but this escape technique... actually uses one's essence and blood to escape, and one has to shed their skin first to use it. It doesn't sound like a proper Cultivation Method... Could it be...?

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent, not bad! But could it be that... This move is actually the Blood Shadow God Travel Great Technique, the foundation of Blood Escape from the Blood Record Heavenly Book of the Divine Cult!"

Further on, there are three more branches. One of them leads to the infamous demonic art, Blood God Child! Another branch leads to the Blood Record Sword Scripture Blood Sword Flying Body from the Blood Talisman Sword Scripture! As for the last one, I've only heard of it but never seen it, otherwise it would probably be dead by now...

But I've been fighting that guy who used the first two moves all day long. Moreover, the Blood Shadow Godly Movement is a technique passed down by all the Dharma Protectors of the Divine Cult. Hmph, he just uses this move to escape over and over again. I can't catch him at all. I've beaten him so badly that I've learned it myself!

Although I deduced it from the reverse, you can use it to escape without worry; you won't get a stitch in your side.

However, I have never personally cultivated the Blood Record Heavenly Book. Without the assistance of divine skills, this escape technique consumes a hundred times more energy than the original. At your Golden Core level, you won't be able to use it for long before you bleed to death. Therefore, you can only escape temporarily.

However, everyone in the Central Plains recognizes this move. If they saw you, they'd definitely think you were a protector of the cult, and they'd be terrified. How could they dare to chase after you? Don't worry, there won't be any problems!

Really? That's reassuring... Holy crap, they've stripped you bare, how could anyone recognize you? Besides, that's Three Great Sects of the Divine Religion! You think you can just casually impersonate someone like that?!

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent, oh, relax! The Three Great Sects are all playing the blame game, that's a traditional skill that disciples must have! It's just that I don't have much serious communication with the Immortal Palace, and I'm not really familiar with the families in the south."

But I've visited far too many temples and altars of this cult! I know them by heart! Don't worry, in this Li Country, who has ever seen a legitimate cult? I'll give you some pointers, and you'll find it even more convincing than the real thing!

So the Profound Heaven Sword Intent gave a detailed explanation.

The Divine Cult, one of the Three Great Sects, has a relatively large influence in the Kunlun, which are the western and northern Three Kingdoms of the Central Plains, and is not really involved with the remote rural area of Li Country.

However, the cult has maintained a considerable presence and deterrent force in the Central Plains from beginning to end.

In terms of the strength that can be quickly mobilized, the Divine Cult is undoubtedly the leader of the Three Great Sects.

It's a very simple principle. The Immortal Palace can be divided into the Three Enclosures, Four Kingdoms, Twelve Immortal Palaces Feudatories, and Twelve Celestial Palaces. The Mysterious Gates are also called the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, Nine Great Xuan Sects. If you really add them all together, then naturally it will be unparalleled and invincible.

But unless the Three Immortal Venerables reappear, or something like the Tai Su Dao Ancestor, how easy is it to mobilize so many immortals together?

But the Divine Sect is different. There is only one Divine Sect. Although it is called the Ten Supreme Sects, that refers to one Sect Leader, one Saintess, four Dharma protectors, and Four Directions Enforcement Venerables. These are the identities and status of the ten supreme deities in the sect.

The ten supreme deities are roughly the same in terms of status and power, but they differ slightly in the specific areas of their duties. The decision on major events is ultimately made by the Sect Leader.

The leaders of the religion are not hereditary or apprenticeship-based, but rather rewarded based on merit. Every sixty years, a major assessment of merits is conducted, and rewards and punishments are given based on the contributions made by the followers to the religion during that period. Simply put, it is a decentralized, bottom-up system. As long as you make great contributions to the religion, you will not only receive various rewards of spiritual resources, but you will also have the opportunity to be elected by followers from all over the country to become altar masters, messengers, venerable ones, Dharma kings, or even the Sect Leader.

If any of the former Sect Leader or Dharma Kings who were not elected are disqualified, such as those who spend all their time in seclusion and neglect religious affairs, they will automatically be transformed into non-official positions such as Dharma Protectors or Elders of the Divine Cult. They will become combat forces that respond to the call of the followers at any time, obey the orders of the supreme deities, and support actions in various places to accumulate merit.

At the same time, these guardian elders also have a natural obligation and need to uphold the legitimacy of the election of the Divine Lord. In this way, when their divine powers are fully developed, they will also have the opportunity to run for the position of the Ten Supreme Divine Lord.

Therefore, if one does not want to give up the resources and power of the supreme deity, then one must ensure one's own strength while making corresponding achievements to convince the followers. It is that simple and straightforward.

Even for Saintess leaders whose identities are kept secret, and strategic weapons that are usually left to roam freely in the Central Plains, the protectors of the cult responsible for secretly watching over them must select the one who has made the greatest contribution to the cult from among the unawakened candidates for Saintess, and choose her as the current Saintess.

Incidentally, the ten supreme masters selected in this way are all qualified to cultivate the Supreme Treasure Scripture of the Divine Sect, the three great heavenly books passed down by the original Divine Lord. Therefore, a large number of guardian elders in the Divine Sect are actually well-versed in the heavenly books and are hidden masters. However, each time they are selected, they can only cultivate a part of it. Therefore, even at the level of Divine Lord or elder, they still need to continuously perform meritorious service for the Divine Sect in order to collect all the heavenly books.

This welfare system naturally attracted a large number of independent cultivators to join the cult. Countless followers vied to climb the ranks, hoping that as long as they reached the position of one of the Ten Great Gods, they would have the opportunity to see the Heavenly Book.

The sheer power that the entire cult could mobilize at any time was indeed something that no single vassal state or sect could withstand. Naturally, it instilled fear and dread in people.

It's probably just those madmen from the Beichen Sword Sect who're eyeing them and causing them trouble...