Truths and Lies

It's a deal!

"A shared and beautiful future!"

In Zhang's residence, Li Shaojun and Cai Ma high-fived, signifying that an agreement had been reached.

Cai Ma, as Li Shaojun's newly recruited Daoist disciple in Chang'an City, accompanied him and thus entered Palace of Peace and Happiness to check on the Empress Dowager's lifespan.

Li Shaojun promised to gather the necessary ingredients Divine Ability Cai Ma's Cai Ma -Fate Technique, even if he didn't take them himself.

The agreement was immediately effective, and Li Shaojun breathed a sigh of relief.

"She just used her connections to check the Empress Dowager's lifespan, and that directly took away half of my gains. I'm really heartbroken," Li Shaojun said, clutching his chest.

"Try to think more positively," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Without Cai Ma's help, it's uncertain whether this will succeed. If it fails, we'll gain nothing!"

"If it weren't for Dongfang Shuo's sake, I wouldn't have cooperated with your act at all," Cai Ma said. "The thought of having to call you 'Master' makes me feel like I can't even bring myself to say it!"

"It's just acting, don't take it seriously," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Speaking of which, I really miss my master. Could you draw me a map of the way back so I can study it?"

"Draw a map?" Cai Ma asked doubtfully. "Drawing a map isn't that easy. Just because you've been there doesn't mean you can draw a map!"

"Just draw it, it'll make it easier for us to go back later," Zhang Xuezhou said.

I don't want to draw right now!

"Then I'll go back and tell Master that you didn't even draw me a map, and you're just making my trip miserable!"

Mapmaking is indeed a rather troublesome task. Zhang Xuezhou had already put in a good word for Cai Ma beforehand, and Cai Ma was unwilling to draw maps.

This requires Cai Ma to reflect on the path he has taken in the past year or two, and then mark each important location according to the itinerary, rather than simply drawing two lines and calling it a day.

Zhang Xuezhou was pleased with the news, but he also started complaining, which gave Cai Ma a real headache.

"What are you missing? I've never seen you missing anyone. If you really miss someone, come back with me," Cai Ma said.

"You're the kind of woman who doesn't know how to express emotions at all," Zhang Xuezhou criticized. "I need to see these objects to remember the person I love, and it will also spur me to work harder in my cultivation, so that I can have the face to go back and see my master!"

"Have you no face now?"

"You think you're so great? Do you think you can defeat the Zhu Shiyin, or even the likes of Shi Gong, Rulai, Brahma? Let me tell you, Brahma has acquired a snake staff these past two years; whoever it touches is poisoned. You died from the poison before you even began your fight with him. Buddha Son Rulai's physical body is impervious to water and fire, and swords cannot harm him. He once fought a hundred men single-handedly in Shouchun City, withstanding the swordsmanship of the True Self Realm swordsman. And Buddha Son Shigong is even more extraordinary..."

Zhang Xuezhou launched into a tirade of criticism until Cai Ma was reduced to a humiliating, bowed head, and dejected state before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"If neither of us works together, we're both doomed. Losing the century-long pact is one thing, but if we really die on the field, even if you live a thousand years, it won't help. After all, Fate Technique only prolongs life, it doesn't guarantee you'll never die!"

"Don't scold me, I'll go draw it!"

Cai Ma hummed for a while, feeling as if she, the senior sister, had become the junior sister.

Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou's reprimands were no less severe than those of the Emperor and Empress, causing her to experience a similar sense of collapse in the face of danger.

The thought of being quickly killed as soon as he stepped onto the field made Cai Ma a little apprehensive. He felt that if he encountered a tough opponent, he would have to leave it to Zhang Xuezhou to deal with.

Zhang Xuezhou wanted to use the map to spur himself on to return to the Kunlun Sacred Land as soon as possible, so she reluctantly drew it.

"Don't blame me if I don't draw well," Cai Ma said.

It's not your fault!

"Then I'll go to the study to draw a map!"

"Go ahead, go ahead!"

Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand, indicating that Cai Ma could leave.

"I feel like something's wrong. Where did this new master come from? I've never heard you mention him before," said Li Shaojun, who was listening in.

"Tch, of course I have a master, what's the big deal?" Zhang Xuezhou said.

"That's impossible. The Yin-Yang School doesn't practice Fate Technique. If you and Cai Ma are from the same school, Cai Ma couldn't possibly be practicing Fate Technique," Li Shaojun said doubtfully.

"To tell you the truth, I have studied under several masters, and each one recognized my exceptional talent for cultivation and agreed to let me become their disciple," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Cai Ma and I are disciples of the High Antiquity Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Emperor of that Heavenly Court is my master..."

"Don't try to brag to me. I know you too well; you've never told me a word of truth. You're just trying to fool me with lies again!"

Believe it or not!

Zhang Xuezhou often boasted, and Li Shaojun Zhang Xuezhou n't trust him much. As soon as Zhang Xuezhou said something unfounded and unreliable, Li Shaojun immediately stopped believing him.

Zhang Xuezhou shrugged, using the facts to stop Li Shaojun from continuing his questioning.

"A thousand years ago, the Heavenly Court was defeated in the Southern Jambudvipa Continent and migrated Western Kunlun as a whole. I heard they moved to the Eastern Land Western Kunlun Mountains, which are tens of thousands of miles away from our Great Han Dynasty. The Kunlun Sacred Land is hidden in the vast snow-capped mountains and is hard to find," Li Shaojun said solemnly. "The Heavenly Court keeps its promise not to enter the Eastern Lands. We haven't seen any Heavenly Court cultivators in this area for a thousand years. If you're going to make something up, at least make it believable. Even if you say you've joined the Yedie River Holy Land in the Northern Kuru Continent, I might believe you to some extent!"

"Alright, I'll join the Yedie River Holy Land. I'll have a master there, and a senior brother too!"

"Pooh!"

Li Shaojun spat at Zhang Xuezhou, feeling that talking to someone like Zhang Xuezhou was the most boring thing ever.

He spoke earnestly, while Zhang Xuezhou gave a completely perfunctory reply.

Li Shaojun was about to adopt the demeanor of a Daoist School master and teach Zhang Xuezhou a lesson, but as soon as he thought about needing to rely on Zhang Xuezhou to guard against the Empress Dowager, he put aside all his critical thoughts.

Being under the Zhang Household's roof, he felt he needed to lower his head and avoid arguing with Zhang Xuezhou about these useless things.

"By the way, the Empress Dowager has allocated a piece of land in Chang'an City. You should visit me there often so I don't feel uncomfortable living there," Li Shaojun added after thinking for a moment.

"She's really good to you!"

Zhang Xuezhou glanced at Li Shaojun and felt that the Empress Dowager had treated Li Shaojun well.

"She's nice to me only because I'm valuable," Li Shaojun said.

"You have no value whatsoever; you've been lying to her the whole time!"

"That's the retribution she suffered because she interfered. I lost my life, used the ancestral treasure, and saved the Emperor's life. I only wanted what I needed, but she ruined everything. That's what she owes me!"

Li Shaojun was furious when he spoke of it.

In the first half, he earned his rewards through genuine ability, but after the Empress Dowager intervened, he had to rely on deception, even walking a tightrope.

The Empress Dowager treated him well, but Li Shaojun felt no gratitude whatsoever, only that things could have been different.

Building him a Daoist temple seems like a good idea, but it also confines him to that temple.

The Empress Dowager's many kindnesses were all conditional, and even involved meticulous scheming. Dealing with such a powerful cultivator at the True Self Realm almost exhausted Li Shaojun's mental energy.

Of course, Li Shaojun couldn't say he gained nothing at all.

He has already taken three doses of the elixir of immortality. If he could learn some Fate Technique, he might actually succeed in extending his lifespan.

"The technique you recited to me before seemed to allow me to Grain Avoidance. After starving myself for several days at Palace of Peace and Happiness, I think I've made some progress," Li Shaojun thought for a moment before asking, "You said you'd give me an fortuitous opportunity to seek the Fate Technique. When will you give it to me?"

"You want this fortuitous opportunity now?"

"Right!"

"Then you'll have to come with me and fly tens of thousands of miles to Western Kunlun to recruit talent in half a month!"

"Fraud!"

Li Shaojun spat at Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou didn't want to talk to him anymore.