Proclaiming Kings in Xuzhou, the Chance for Purple Mansion

News came from Zhong Mountain.

Xu Feng personally came out to greet them.

This is already considered an extremely high level of courtesy in Jiangnan.

Only a handful of people in the world could be personally greeted by Lord Xu Feng.

Liu Clan's son stood at the ferry crossing, dressed in a disheveled blue robe.

Amidst the vast river and the misty rain of Jiangnan, surrounded by a constant stream of cultivators and crowds, he seemed ethereal and otherworldly, separated from the mortal world by an invisible barrier.

"Young friend Liu, the young master has instructed that a banquet will be held at Zhong Mountain. Please come in."

Xu Feng glanced at Liu Chen, secretly on guard. His cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment, but his demeanor was far from ordinary.

As expected of a member of the Liu Clan family, a clan favored by Heaven, and also feared by all others!

Which branch of the Liu family bloodline survived?

Or Flame Han, or Central Shu?

The young man surnamed Liu smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "I apologize for my intrusion, and thank you for your help, senior."

Zhong Mountain, Riverside Pavilion.

Ye Jinyu stood by the railing, overlooking the great river.

Footsteps sounded behind me, unhurried and silent.

"Fellow Daoist, please have a seat." Ye Jinyu said calmly without turning around.

The young man surnamed Liu sat down at the table, his eyes sweeping over the delicacies on it.

The extravagance of Jiangnan is all gathered here, with dishes such as Eastern Sea Dragon Marrow Soup, Yunlan Mist Dew, and Spirit Crane Dried Fruit, each of which is enough to make an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator spend all his wealth.

But he only glanced at her before turning his gaze back to Ye Jinyu's retreating figure.

"My surname is Liu, and my given name is Chen, which is the same as that of an ancient person."

"How fortunate I am to receive such courtesy from Young Master Ye, what a generous gesture." Liu Chen smiled.

"This banquet is equivalent to the annual offerings of a mid-level Ruin Realm."

Ye Jinyu turned around, sat down opposite Liu Chen, and personally poured a cup of Qingfenglu and pushed it over.

"Fellow Daoist has traveled thousands of miles, crossing the river to come; how could I possibly neglect you?"

Liu Chen picked up his wine glass, sniffed it lightly, but did not drink it.

"Young Master, don't worry. What brings me, surnamed Liu, to Jiangnan? And what trouble will I bring?"

Ye Jinyu leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping the table, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Liu.

"The prophecy of the golden knife."

"Fellow Daoist Liu, your surname has brought you no end to your troubles."

Liu Chen smiled without saying a word, listening quietly to what Ye Jinyu would say next.

"How many years has it been?" Ye Jinyu poured herself a drink and said.

"With the fall of the Flame Han, the previous chaotic era saw fierce battles and the fall of Shu Region. The Liu Clan bloodline scattered throughout the land, hiding their identities, some in the Ruin Realm, some in the underworld, and some even among ordinary people."

"But you, using the surname Liu to attach yourself to the name of my Ye Clan's Yunlan, lured me to an audience. You should know that the ferry crossings in Jiangnan are heavily monitored and spied on by various families. This young master took a great risk!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chen laughed.

"Since Young Master Ye has sent Lord Xu Feng to personally welcome you, he must already have a plan in mind."

"It's not a matter of concern," Ye Jinyu raised his wine glass. "This young master is confident, and I'm simply curious about you."

"Young Master, please ask."

"You, Liu, don't you know you're content with a peaceful life and have forgotten all about Shu?"

Ye Jinyu gently set down her wine glass, her voice suddenly turning somber.

"Would I rather be a ghost or a god than a subject, longing for the glory of the Flame Han?"

The smile on Liu Chen's face gradually faded.

He raised his cup to the Dewy Breeze, the azure liquid swirling slightly within, then downed it in one gulp, responding with boundless pride.

"Young Master Ye, why test us with this? Shu Han is also a legitimate descendant of the Flame Han Dynasty, why make a difference!"

His words, however, are as firm as iron, unchanging and unalterable.

Now that you know my origins, then let Young Master Ye know.

My ancestors said that if reason and strength are exhausted, and disaster is inevitable, then father, son, ruler, and subjects should fight to the death, defending the country and dying together, so as to face the late emperor!

"What can be done... what can be done!"

He suddenly looked up, his heart aching as if he were experiencing the same pain, his breath ragged, and his body felt as if it were about to split apart.

"The Han dynasty could not be restored from obscurity, so I will never again serve as its subject!"

"But our family's aspirations are not subject to the passage of time or the changing seasons!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jinyu seemed to have guessed something.

quiet.

Subsequently, the entire Zhong Mountain seemed to be in turmoil.

Xu Feng appeared, looking wary, and shielded Ye Jinyu behind him.

"Who exactly are you?!" Xu Feng asked.

Liu Chen remained unmoved, quietly watching Ye Jinyu.

"Don't be nervous, I haven't come with any ill intentions."

Ye Jinyu remained calm and composed, saying...

"The fate of the Han dynasty has ended!"

"Those who are dead and no longer serve are nothing but ghosts and gods of the underworld! The Liu Clan, on the other hand, are mostly men of unyielding integrity. They went to great lengths, fabricating a body to inhabit, just to come to this mortal realm to plot their schemes."

"I'm not here just to chat with a junior like me. If we're going to cooperate, then let's see what we're willing to offer!"

Who are the bettors behind the Liu Clan?

"Is it the Greater Yin Mansion Lord?" Ye Jinyu paused, then answered himself.

"That shouldn't be the case. In the past, the Greater Yin Mansion Lord favored the Former Wei and was always indifferent to Shu Han. Besides, my Ye Clan has many connections with the Greater Yin lineage."

"That must be the old clan of Shu Region. They are indeed loyal and steadfast. I wonder if the current 'Sleeping Dragon' of Ghost Valley has emerged from seclusion? And how much wisdom does he possess?"

Liu Chen did not answer, but gave a meaningful smile.

"Is the Liu Clan going to recreate the 'Longzhong Dialogue' of yesteryear? To seize Jingzhou and annex Shu Region!"

"Are you plotting to seize Jiangnan? Are you going to make enemies of the Ye Clan? Who gave you the audacity!"

Ye Jinyu's voice carried a hint of sharpness.

"Furthermore, let me offer a word of advice. If someone in the underworld were to plot against someone in the mortal realm, wouldn't the news spread, and wouldn't they be attacked jointly by the Great Peace Temple, the Sima Clan, the Xie family, the Wang family, and the Chen family?"

I'm afraid that by then, those extraterrestrial beings will stop fighting and focus on pacifying the Shu Region first!

"The omen of the golden knife is something few families aren't afraid of."

After listening, Liu Chen nodded to himself.

"Has Young Master Ye finished speaking?"

"Young Master Ye, you've made a preconceived notion. My Liu Clan has gone to great lengths to come here, and naturally, we have sincerity. What my family seeks will surely be rewarded!"

Ye Jinyu shook her head.

"Don't you believe me?" Liu Chen asked.

"Then let me first tell you about a piece of news that the Liu Clan received."

"This can save the Ye Clan from their current predicament!"

"I urge Young Master Ye to definitely participate in the gathering of the various families to select a king in Xuzhou!"

"The Prince of Xuzhou?!" Ye Jinyu was somewhat surprised.

"Why speak of it so solemnly? The Ye Clan has no ambition to become king; they only wish to govern their region and ensure peace in Jiangnan."

"Since you speak like this, I must wonder, could it be that the Liu Clan intends to add fuel to the fire and plunge the world into chaos?!" Ye Jinyu raised his wine cup in invitation.

"Hahaha... Young friend Ye."

"Heroes are as numerous as carp crossing a river, but some things are not as simple as they seem."

"These schools of thought are not fools, otherwise they wouldn't have survived for so long! Some people see even further ahead."

"The Ye Clan established themselves in Jiangnan, and they truly deserve the title of King of Wu!"

But don't be overconfident in your cleverness; protect yourself wisely!

They are pragmatic, not chasing empty fame! Their three-way claim to power is a ploy to bring you all together; unity brings mutual benefit, while division leads to mutual harm.

"Someone in the north has foreseen the secrets of heaven! The barbarians are a scourge upon the world!"

"The Prince of Xiang is just a pretext; they want to push forward something that will change Cangxuan! Your master is not here; you are in charge of making the decision!"

"Do not become an outcast, lest you be regarded as an enemy by all."

Didn't they say that the Ye Household's young master is the Ye Clan's precious jade, exceptionally intelligent? Don't you understand?

Seeing that Ye Jinyu remained silent, Liu Chen made his words even clearer.

"Just imagine, if the northern barbarians sweep across the north, where will the various families find their way out?!"

"If the Ye Clan doesn't go, they won't protect them from the Ye Clan barbarians! They'll let them get away with it!"

"Could the Ye Clan possibly stop the overwhelming force sweeping down from the entire north?!"

"Abandon the North, cross to the South! In the face of this great calamity, no one wants to be the first to stick their neck out!"

Of course, this is just news at this point; the matter is not yet settled, and the various factions in the north are still discussing it!

Seeing that Ye Jinyu seemed to have taken his words to heart, Liu Chen laughed heartily.

"Of course, this great calamity is also a great blessing!"

"Many people have long been aware of the path that young friend Ye cultivates!"

Ye Jinyu was slightly taken aback.

"The Way of Young Friend Ye."

Liu Chen's fingers traced an invisible path across the table. "He governs the Three Calamities: the Bifeng, the Yin Fire, and the Thunder. These are the domains of Heavenly Punishment, the authority over calamities."

"Not just calamity," Liu Chen said slowly, "I also know that if Young Master Ye wants to ascend the throne in the future, he will not only need to overcome the [calamity], but also require a step—order."

"Calamity and order are like two sides of the same coin, yin and yang. Without the restraint of order, calamity is nothing more than a natural disaster that will eventually backfire and devour itself."

Liu Chen's voice carried a peculiar rhythm.

"If one can become king in Xuzhou and rule over Jiangnan, one will be respected and noble, blessed by the fortunes of heaven and earth."

"Order has spiraled out of control; Young Master Ye is here to rectify the situation."

"At that time, the opportunity to access the Purple Mansion will be right before your eyes."

Ye Jinyu remained silent for a long time, seemingly agreeing with this statement.

What does the Liu Clan want?

How about temporarily borrowing Jingzhou?

"Our ancestor was a man of his word; he always repaid what he borrowed. I also swear on the reputation of the Liu Clan for generations that after we take Shu Region, we will definitely return Jingzhou."

"After borrowing Jingzhou, I will also give my young friend Ye a portion of innate thunder qi, which has long been extinct in the world, to help Young Master Ye achieve his goal! What do you say?"

"After all, with a long history, one can accumulate a certain amount of knowledge and skills!"

Ye Jinyu laughed and said, "Liu Clan, don't underestimate me because I'm young!"

Liu Chen also laughed, "Young friend Ye doesn't have to accept it."

"Liu has come here to deliver news to my ancestors who are hiding in the underworld."

"My family also has a stake in this. Without a piece of land, my family wouldn't even be able to sit at the table!"

Liu Chen raised his glass, meeting Ye Jinyu's gaze at eye level.

Ye Jinyu downed the wine in her glass in one gulp.

"Please."

Liu Chen also finished his drink, rose, and bowed deeply.

"Young friend Ye, thanks to the Liu Clan's matchmaking, the gathering of immortals from all over the world at Xuzhou will surely rewrite the landscape."

"Ye Clan, don't miss this opportunity; it all depends on your decision, young friend."

Liu Chen straightened up, turned and walked out of the pavilion, his blue robe fluttering in the river wind.

He suddenly stopped when he reached the door.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

"Explain."

"Although the Ye Clan Sun Clan of yesteryear, their foundation in Jiangnan is much stronger than it was back then."

Having said that, he donned his green robe and rode away on a cloud.

Ye Jinyu watched his departing figure.

He picked up the wine jug and poured himself a full glass.

With a light tap of his fingertip on the table, the silk scroll of the Prince of Xuzhou floated up and hung in front of him.

"Liu Chen!"

He murmured the name, his eyes reflecting the azure liquid in the glass.

"The opportunity to the Purple Mansion is the beginning of one's rise to power."