"The world is vast—how much do you truly know? Just how vast is the land beyond Great Jing, and who could possibly say for certain?"
Jiang Changsheng smiled. His words made Wang Chen nod, feeling that they made sense.
Since ancient times, no one had known how vast the world truly was. Rumor had it that Gu Han faced not only Great Jing, but also another dynasty on its other side. Great Jing was in a better position; the land below it bordered the sea, so it was not surrounded by enemies on all sides.
Jiang Changsheng called Little Prince Wei over and began teaching him martial arts.
Wan Li, Ming Yue, and Ping'an moved to one side to spar. Though Ping'an was foolish, he had been born combative. The moment he saw them assume their stances, he became wildly excited and charged straight at them.
Over the past two years, Jiang Changsheng had successfully created an internal cultivation technique. He named it the Universe Heaven Scripture. It was modeled after the first three layers of the Dao Follows Nature Skill and divided into seven layers. Though it could not compare to the Dao Follows Nature Skill, it was still far beyond ordinary cultivation methods.
At present, Wang Chen, Little Prince Wei, and Hua Jian Xin were all cultivating the Universe Heaven Scripture.
Ping'an, meanwhile, cultivated the Mystic Inner Overlord Body. However, teaching Ping'an was far more difficult than teaching Little Prince Wei.
Fallen leaves drifted through the air.
Upon a distant rooftop, a figure in white stood quietly, gazing up at the heavens. The scene was tranquil and beautiful.
In the thirty-fourth year of Kaiyuan, Gu Han launched a massive invasion of Great Jing. The surrounding dynasties also began to stir restlessly, and Great Jing fell into its greatest crisis in thirty years.
Crown Prince Jiang Yu had no choice but to head to the front lines. The Emperor remained in the capital, but attended court less and less frequently. He grew weaker by the day, and unrest spread through the imperial court.
Great Jing's realm was battered by wind and rain, yet the martial world flourished instead. With local authorities no longer restraining them, the jianghu became increasingly unbridled. Figures of great renown emerged one after another, and geniuses gathered like clouds.
One day.
Dragon Arising Temple received a guest.
The man had disheveled hair, tattered robes, and a body covered in grime. He looked like an Old Beggar.
The disciple guarding the mountain gate did not despise him. Instead, he led him into the temple and gave him something to eat.
The Old Beggar grabbed his hand and asked, "Is Changsheng Taoist Priest still here?"
The disciple smiled. "You want to see Changsheng Taoist Priest too? Forget it. So many nobles and dignitaries wish to speak with him, only to be politely refused. The Taoist Priest is busy cultivating the Dao and has no time for the mortal world. If you have traveled here from afar, you might as well see White Dragon. That is the spiritual beast of our Dragon Arising Temple. Seeing it once can change the fortune of your entire life."
The Old Beggar pushed aside his hair, revealing a face covered in scars. It was so horrifying that the disciple's heart trembled.
"Help me pass along a message to him. Tell him Li Changqing has come to visit," the Old Beggar said in a trembling voice.
"Li Changqing?"
The disciple frowned and muttered the name. Then he suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly said, "All right, I'll inform the Taoist Priest at once."
After he left, the Old Beggar walked out of the kitchen and into the courtyard. Looking at the nearby buildings, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
One incense stick time later, the disciple returned and led Li Changqing toward the Taoist Priest's courtyard.
Along the way, Li Changqing looked all around. It felt familiar, yet strange.
Dragon Arising Temple had become livelier, and there were more disciples now. Yet there were far fewer familiar faces.
Neither spoke along the way. The two arrived at Jiang Changsheng's courtyard, where the disciple bowed before the entrance and then departed.
Li Changqing took a deep breath and carefully entered the courtyard. He saw two children and an ugly Taoist priest sweeping the yard. Beneath a tree, his junior brother Jiang Changsheng sat in meditation, his aura merged with heaven and earth so completely that Li Changqing could not grasp it at all.
At the sight of Jiang Changsheng, Li Changqing fell into a daze.
When he had left years ago, Jiang Changsheng had not yet come of age. After so many years, he still recognized him at a glance. He simply had not expected Jiang Changsheng to remain so young. By calculation, this junior brother of his should have been thirty-four as well.
Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes and smiled. "Senior Brother, it has been a long time. Come sit. Wang Chen, make some tea."
At once, Wang Chen headed toward the house.
Little Prince Wei was practicing his martial arts and only glanced at Li Changqing. Ping'an lay soaking in a small pool. It was medicinal water Jiang Changsheng had specially prepared for him, capable of tempering his body.
Li Changqing came back to himself, walked before Jiang Changsheng, and sat down on the spot.
"After all these years, it is fortunate that Dragon Arising Temple has you."
Li Changqing spoke with emotion. He had always found this junior brother mysterious. Unfortunately, he had left Dragon Arising Temple early and never witnessed his junior brother's growth.
Jiang Changsheng began exchanging pleasantries with him. Seeing him again filled Jiang Changsheng with emotion as well.
The once handsome and open-hearted senior brother had actually fallen into such a state.
He could sense that Li Changqing was already a Tongtian Realm expert, but his True Qi was in turmoil, and all five viscera and six bowels within him had suffered severe damage. He had only a few days left to live.
Li Changqing merely reminisced with Jiang Changsheng about their time together in youth and did not say much about himself. Jiang Changsheng did not ask either, since Chen Li had mentioned it to him before.
After they spoke for an hour, Li Changqing began coughing—and actually coughed up blood.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Junior Brother, Changsheng Taoist Priest, I returned this time because I wish to be buried at Dragon Arising Temple. Could you give me a place to rest?"
His voice was weak, barely carrying any strength.
Jiang Changsheng said, "Of course. Wang Chen, take Senior Brother Li to see Eldest Sister and have her make the arrangements. Tell her I have agreed."
Wang Chen, who stood nearby, immediately came over. Li Changqing rose and followed him.
Watching the two leave, Jiang Changsheng felt fortunate.
Good thing I never went down the mountain. Good thing I was never obsessed with love between men and women.
Jiang Changsheng naturally liked women too, but he knew what mattered most. Before attaining absolute invincibility, he did not want to create a weakness for himself. His relationship with Hua Jian Xin had not been revealed either; only the two of them knew.
He did not intend to save Li Changqing. Li Changqing had fallen into madness for love and committed too much slaughter. Saving him would only bring more trouble, and besides, the bond between them was not that deep.
When Meng Qiushuang saw Li Changqing, she was naturally moved. The senior brother and junior sister spoke for a long while. Once upon a time, Meng Qiushuang had also held a trace of affection for Li Changqing. After all, within the Taoist temple, Li Changqing had been the chief disciple and had cared greatly for his junior brothers and sisters. But that trace of affection had long been washed away by the passage of time.
Five days later, Li Changqing died at dawn. Jiang Changsheng, Meng Qiushuang, and several older disciples buried him. The matter did not cause much of a stir.
Yet over the following days, Jiang Changsheng noticed martial artists sneaking onto the mountain to search around. They did no evil and quietly departed afterward.
One of them lingered before Li Changqing's tombstone for a while. He was likely an enemy seeking vengeance.
Jiang Changsheng did not interfere in their grudges. Li Changqing was already dead, so the debts of enmity should have been settled. If they remained stubborn and insisted on causing trouble for Dragon Arising Temple, all the better—they would be delivering survival rewards to him.
Half a month later.
Chen Li, now a fourth-rank official, came to visit. After the Chen family pledged allegiance to the Seventh Prince, they received his support. Chen Li, who had long been frustrated and unappreciated, had finally weathered the hard years and seen the clouds part. He now worked in the Ministry of Revenue and had his own residence, no longer needing to crowd into the Chen family home.
"Changsheng, you had Li Changqing buried on the mountain? This is bad. A great number of martial artists are gathering outside the capital, with people from every major sect among them. My Chen family has juniors within their ranks. They say they intend to dig up Li Changqing's grave."
Chen Li spoke anxiously, his face full of worry.
Little Prince Wei was not present today. Wang Chen had taken Ping'an wandering around the mountain, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
Chen Li continued, "The Seventh Prince has gathered an army and headed to the battlefield. The soldiers inside and outside the capital number fewer than a hundred thousand combined. If there are too many martial artists, they may not be able to stop them. The court may even force you to bow your head."
Jiang Changsheng said, "The man is already dead. What meaning is there in digging up his grave?"
Chen Li said, "Exactly. They must have another purpose, but they have a reason for revenge, so it would be difficult to drive them away on moral grounds. And with Great Jing as it is now..."
Jiang Changsheng had also seen a large number of martial artists gathering outside the city during this time. He had not cared, because they were all too weak.
Jiang Changsheng asked, "Will the capital open its gates and allow them to surround Dragon Arising Mountain?"
Chen Li pondered for a moment and said, "It is hard to say. That possibility cannot be ruled out. Most of these sects have gained a foothold because they associate with court officials. The Seventh Prince is absent, as is the Fourth Prince. His Majesty has recently shut himself inside the palace to recuperate. I fear there may be no one able to protect Dragon Arising Temple."
Jiang Changsheng said, "I understand."
Chen Li added, "If you want to withdraw, my Chen family can make arrangements."
Jiang Changsheng shook his head and laughed. "Brother Chen, I may not be fond of fighting, but if others dare attack my doorstep, I will not show mercy either."
Chen Li thought of Ghost Eye Evil King and suddenly realized that Jiang Changsheng had killed people before. He was not as gentle as he appeared. After so many years together, Chen Li had nearly forgotten that.
After offering a few more reminders, he departed. Recent affairs had been too busy, and it was already no easy matter for him to come in person.
Jiang Changsheng looked toward the horizon without getting up.
There were not enough people.
Bring more. That way, the survival rewards will be more generous.
Jiang Changsheng cultivated every day and occasionally took Spirit Enhancing Pills. His cultivation grew higher year by year. Even if these sects could gather a hundred Tongtian Realm experts, he would not take them seriously.
Over the years, neither the Seventh Prince nor the Great Vehicle Dragon Tower had come to test him. This showed that they had never suspected Dragon Arising Temple, perhaps not even knowing that Jiang Changsheng was their enemy.
On the surface, Jiang Changsheng was Little Prince Wei's master and could be considered one of the Seventh Prince's people.
That night.
Someone else came up the mountain. This time, the visitor headed straight for Jiang Changsheng's courtyard. Jiang Changsheng did not stop him, because he was an old acquaintance.
A knock sounded on the windowsill, followed by a voice. "Taoist Priest, are you there? It's me, the Devil Master."
His voice was very low, as though afraid Wang Chen and Ping'an in the neighboring room might hear him.
Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes. The window suddenly flew open, startling the Devil Master into a shudder. Seeing Jiang Changsheng inside, he immediately leaped in, approached Jiang Changsheng, and bowed.
"Taoist Priest, something is terribly wrong. The martial world wants to use Li Changqing's name as a pretext to seize White Dragon."
The Devil Master said in a grave voice, "From what I know, the one leading them from behind is the Returning Origin Divine Sect Master. White Dragon's spirituality has already become famous throughout the land. That Sect Master has spent recent years searching specifically for spiritual beasts, drinking their spiritual blood to temper his sinews and bones. His cultivation is unfathomable. I have met him before, and he is terrifying. I even believe he is stronger than the Punishment Head and that Tongtian expert within the imperial palace."
A cold gleam flashed through Jiang Changsheng's eyes.
So they were after White Dragon. Even without Li Changqing, they likely could have found another excuse—for example, that Dragon Arising Temple had raised Li Changqing, so Dragon Arising Temple had to repay blood with blood.
Jiang Changsheng had long heard of the Returning Origin Divine Sect Master's reputation. Once a youthful genius, he was now a giant of the martial world, with hopes of competing for the throne of Martial Arts Supreme.
"Has he arrived already?" Jiang Changsheng asked.
"Not yet. At most, ten days. They have also bribed quite a few civil and military officials. When the time comes, the city gates will open and they will be allowed into the capital, with Dragon Arising Temple as their direct target," the Devil Master said.
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