Chapter 1430

The hot mist rose, hazy in midair. The Wolf Lord hesitated, hesitated again, pinched the jar's mouth with two fingers, gave it a shake, unscrewed the sauce soup, revealing the brown beef, and the heart hanging in suspense finally died.

"Come on, come on, Wolf Lord, Li Da Xian, let's have it hot, hot! When I first came to the capital, my very first snack was this! Tender, falling apart, full of flavor, clean and hygienic, delicious as can be. Don't stand on ceremony—having come to the capital as a guest, today we're all our own people." Liang Qu waved his handmade chopsticks, greeted enthusiastically, then turned to call the boss to bring rice: "Add two cold dishes, stir-fry two hot dishes, if we haven't bought anything from next door, lay out a whole table!"

"Alright."

The stall owner shoved in an extra handful of firewood, set the pot on the flame, poured oil, and thick oil smoke burst forth.

The Wolf Lord wanted to speak but stopped, scanning his surroundings.

A typical husband-and-wife stall: the husband tended the fire and stewed the clay-pot meat, the wife wiped tables and passed bowls, leaning against a small bridge, people coming and going, noisy and bustling. Sitting down, one could see the moonlight on the lake, big fish unafraid of people, flicking their tails and sending spray onto the boots.

The scenery was fine, the location also quite good—just a few steps from the Tianyu drill grounds. One must have some background, or have caught someone's eye; ordinary people couldn't hold such a spot.

The Huai Wang "wasted no expense" in entertaining guests, and thus had eaten———

The Wolf Lord felt their foursome descending upon this place was entirely the honor of that young couple.

"That'll do."

The capital's first meal, the famous delicacy: brain meat.

The Wolf Lord clenched his fists in his heart, shattering the images in his mind—Tianshan monkey brains, Ejiang dragon brains, Kunshan western phoenix brains—leaving only a tough tendon brain overlapping with reality, he picked up a chopstick of braised beef.

Needless to say, the mush was truly mushy.

The tendon melted in the mouth, the sauce sweet, fresh, and salty, flavor abundant. Not to say how delicious it was, but it certainly made one hungry enough to want such a meal.

"Back in the day, the Wolf Lord was already the Wolf Lord, Li Da Xian was already Li Da Xian, only I, eighteen years old, stood as a lackey, because by luck I broke the tiger-hunting record, good fortune brought me to the capital, a perilous encounter with life's first defeat—that Haru Han, truly three heads and six arms, strength without limit———"

Opposite, Liang Qu chattered on, still reminiscing about those tumultuous years, speaking eloquently of his eighteenth year, coinciding with the Northern Court envoys discussing heroes, speaking of Haru Han's extraordinary innate talent, the bitter struggle.

Wolf Lord: "———"

"." Liang Qu sighed, "I don't know how Haru Han's brothers are faring these days; I suppose they've entered Zhen Xiang by now—that was the first peerless talent of the age I ever saw."

The Wolf Lord couldn't keep a straight face, thinking of the past plan, anger rising in his heart—Haru Han, no matter how formidable, wasn't he also pressed down by you and beaten? He may have extraordinary innate talent, but could he compare to you?

"The Huai Wang is so young—why grieve over spring and mourn autumn? Now the Huai Wang is martial and divine, his might shakes the world; we old fogeys are no longer his match." Li Da Xian eased the tension, pouring each of the three a cup of barley tea, speaking frankly: "However, I am not well acquainted with the Huai Wang, nor with the Dragon-Elephant Wang; tonight's invitation to us two—could it truly be nothing more than a meal?"

"Haha, can't hide it from the two of you." Liang Qu emptied one can, then took another: "Plain people don't speak in riddles—your coming must mean you want to learn about the Yin Realm Dynasty."

Here it comes!

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian sat upright: "Please, Huai Wang, instruct us."

Liang Qu set down the clay jar, no beating around the bush.

"The Yin Realm world differs greatly from the human world: a Heavenly River runs through north and south, its banks filled with Bianhua flowers; people eat no wheat or grain, but flowers; inside, there is no dynasty, only the great sects, much like humanity ten thousand years ago———

On the Heavenly River, the Great Li Heavenly Fire Sect holds the reins; within, elders are ranked five grades, second grade and above mostly Heaven Dragons, first grade entirely Earth Dragons, adding up to thirty or forty or so, then the Grand Elder and Core Elders; beneath the Heavenly Fire Sect, nine first-rank sects, each averaging six or more Heaven Dragons, each sect seated with an immortal artifact; over thirty second-rank sects, each possessing an Earth Dragon, third rank and below each having their own legacy."

He said it all in one breath.

The noisy din seemed to recede infinitely from the Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian's ears, the environment suddenly growing very quiet.

"Plop!"

The water sound was clear and crisp.

In the accumulated water pool, a great fish leapt out, flicked its tail and crashed down, the spray splashing onto the tabletop.

After finishing three cans of brain meat, feeling somewhat salty, Liang Qu picked up the large barley tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

Drinking barley tea on an empty stomach isn't particularly tasty, the flavor ordinary, but after eating salty food, the barley stir-fried in an iron pot, steeped in boiling water, releases a unique barley fragrance that fully activates, aroma filling the air, the whole body feeling relaxed. Key point: it's cheap enough.

He set down the tea cup, then looked again at the Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian.

They remained frozen in place, their expressions nearly dazed.

"How are you two? Have you understood?"

"Nine first-rank sects?"

"That's right." Liang Qu nodded.

"Huai Wang———are you joking?" Li Da Xian tugged at the corner of his mouth, forcing a smile.

"Just now, I was indeed joking—eighteen-year-old me actually already led the world's风骚, dragon manifestations fully displayed, the Holy Emperor deemed me a pillar, the Jianghu dragon woman gave her heart to me, the Great Khan and tribal chiefs thought me a great menace, Haru Han was utterly inferior to me, he was merely a lackey, but———" Liang Qu shifted his tone, "the present is not."

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian seemed to have their throats gripped, an ineffable suffocation surging up, as if the accumulated water pool beside them had suddenly flooded, inundating the two.

"Impossible!" The Wolf Lord's face turned crimson, he clenched his fists: "Six-nine fifty-four, thirty-plus second-rank, one sect one, just these alone amount to over a hundred Earth Dragons!"

"Exactly, I said so—a hundred."

Li Da Xian's throat felt dry.

Over a hundred Earth Dragons—Huainan, Dashun, Beiting, the three sides combined could muster and command Heaven Dragons totaling not even three digits, in fact far less, at most seventy or eighty!

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian awaited, awaited Liang Qu's joke—Liang Qu indeed liked to spout nonsense, mess with people's minds, true and false indistinguishable.

Perhaps it was merely a deliberate intimidation joke———

"Nothing is impossible." Zhang Longxiang set down his bowl and chopsticks: "You think the Dream Realm Dynasty has lasted how long? A thousand years? Three thousand years?

No, it's ten thousand years, and indeed over ten thousand, from the Great He to my Great Shun.

Why did the Great Li Taizu found the Dream Realm Dynasty? Everyone knows—it was for immortality. In the Dream Realm Dynasty, upon reaching Earth Dragon, one does not truly die, but enters sleep instead, achieving eternal life!

Don't say a hundred plus—counting the sleepers, two hundred are there, three hundred not impossible. Ten thousand years of accumulation, eight hundred per generation, enough for twelve generations, one generation a hundred people, that's twelve hundred at the very least—only because of various reasons, we surmise the excess was swallowed by the Great Li Taizu himself."

A cold wind blew, bitter and biting.

The Wolf Lord's scalp went numb, he felt the capillaries on his skin and face bursting one after another, his whole body heating and tingling.

The one speaking wasn't Liang Qu—it was Zhang Longxiang, with whom he'd dealt for years, far from being Liang Qu's sort of idle gossipmonger.

Two hundred Earth Dragons, nine immortal artifacts———

"And this is just the beginning?"

"More?" The Wolf Lord suddenly lifted his head.

"Of course." Liang Qu continued his barrage: "What are Earth Dragons? And what about immortals?"

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian's bodies stiffened.

Liang Qu took a sip of tea: "The Great Li Taizu successively devoured two generations of Dragon Lords, holding at least three great position fruits in hand, thus he became One Qi Three Pure, splitting them into three complete immortals, called the First, Second, and Third Wills, each with different abilities, plus a Fourth and Fifth Will, the Fifth a half-immortal, the Fourth perhaps a crippled immortal lacking authority."

Boom!

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xi rose abruptly, their breathing heavy, mouths dry and tongues parched.

Inexplicably, the image of the Southern Border Saintess he had seen at the morning court session flashed through the Wolf Lord's mind; he vaguely understood what that girl was actually up to.

The Grand Ancestor of Great Li!

A man's name casts a shadow like a tree; the number one Immortal in history — records of him are far too numerous, found in official histories, unofficial histories, myths and legends, and folk customs alike.

At this moment, the two of them only felt as if their brains had been plowed over several times by a harrow.

Two hundred Jiaolong, nine Immortal Artifacts, four Immortals!

Three True Immortals, one Remnant Immortal, one Half-Immortal!

Half-Immortal——

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian simultaneously thought of another person.

The new Venerable of the Lotus Sect!

"Why stand up? To offer a toast? Ah, how polite, but I don't drink alcohol, so I'll use tea in place of wine." Liang Qu held up his teacup and bowed to the two of them.

"Wrong!" Li Da Xi realized something was amiss. "If the Netherworld is that strong, why, with the Yin and Yang gates both wide open, does Great Li still choose to lie low and not move? What kind of temperament does the Grand Ancestor of Great Li have? Don't you know?"

"Of course we know. Not moving is because the first wave was defeated by us."

"You?" The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xian stared wide-eyed.

"Yes, us. Me and the Dragon Elephant King — seven entries and seven exits, blood flowing into rivers. Of the nine great First-Rank Sects, only seven remain now." Liang Qu pointed at Zhang Longxiang, then at himself.

Boom!

The two men's brains buzzed again, and they looked at Zhang Longxiang once more.

Zhang Longxiang nodded: "The Netherworld's on-paper strength is very strong, stronger than our three sides combined, yet it has flaws. First, the Netherworld lacks 'River-Center Stones', unable to observe the Wu Sheng realm. Second, right now the three Immortals and the Remnant Immortal are all in slumber. The battle with the Dragon Lord back then was no simple matter. Add the refining issue — at that time only the Half-Immortal awoke."

The Wolf Lord knew Zhang Longxiang best, and he suddenly realized the truth.

Owl God Snatches Food!

He understood, he understood everything.

The Wolf Lord's face darkened. Since Zhang Longxiang became a Wu Sheng, he had only slain two and a half Jiaolong in total, yet right now——

"No wonder, no wonder the breakthrough."

But——

"Then what about Suhebaru?" the Wolf Lord demanded. "Why would the Fierce Tiger King be targeted by the Grand Ancestor of Great Li!? Is this your Great Shun's doing? My strength may not match you two, but I'm no coward who clings to life!"

Zhang Longxiang looked at Liang Qu.

Liang Qu crossed his arms: "You ask how it happened? Naturally, it's us, Great Shun, framing you."

The Wolf Lord's anger surged instantly; before he could curse, Li Da Xi grabbed him.

Li Da Xian said helplessly: "Prince Huai needn't deliberately provoke the Wolf Lord. We came this time to understand the situation, then decide on future actions. After all, that is the Grand Ancestor of Great Li."

Immediately after, Li Da Xian turned to explain: "Wolf Lord, if it truly was Great Shun's doing, would they admit it so readily now?"

The Wolf Lord froze.

Right.

The Netherworld is this strong, yet Great Shun admits it directly — doesn't that mean the three sides aren't completely without possibility of cooperation?

Great Shun alone against the Netherworld?

Whether they can win or not is another matter; even if they win, they'll be equally drained of vitality afterward.

And where would Great Shun get such heaven-reaching ability? To make Suhebaru cooperate?

"Hmph, not stupid after all." Liang Qu sneered.

The Wolf Lord's temple vein twitched. Thinking of Prince Huai's personality, his fondness for teasing others, he suppressed his anger and said irritably: "Prince Huai, speak plainly."

Liang Qu said: "We're not clear on Suhebaru's matter either. Speaking of which, why not ask what your Northern Court did? Whether you left some handle for Great Li to grasp, and there's Great Snow Mountain too.

Moreover, I know one more thing: living people going to the Netherworld are suppressed, and Netherworld people coming to the living world are likewise suppressed. Therefore, for Netherworld people to fully exert their strength, they often need a living-world flesh body as a shell."

The Wolf Lord's brow twitched.

Suhebaru's death and resurrection was a secret among secrets; even ordinary Martial Saints didn't know it. Yet coincidentally, the Wolf Lord belonged to those who did know.

Lotus Sect, Fifth Immortal, resurrection, flesh body shell——

The Wolf Lord's expression turned ugly.

Li Da Xian was deep in thought. He didn't know about the death and resurrection, but he knew the reputation of the "Sick Tiger". Before Liang Qu rose to prominence, the Sick Tiger was an invincible existence at Entering Zhen Xiang, forcibly walking out the fourth and fifth steps. In all the world, he was probably the best "shell"!

Before the new Venerable's incident, the Lotus Sect had always been on good terms with the Northern Court. Could it be——

Great Shun understands the Netherworld very well; they're likely turning the tables on them.

Suddenly.

Li Da Xian recalled another matter — the White Ape who died and came back to life!

He understood too, understood everything.

"Guests, the dishes are here!"

Cold platters and hot dishes were brought to the table, steam rising.

Liang Qu picked up his chopsticks: "Quick, it's still cold in the third month; it'll get cold in a moment. Eat while it's hot."

Seeing Liang Qu change the subject, the Wolf Lord and Li Da Xi knew the pre-meeting was over. Each harboring their own thoughts, they picked up their chopsticks, absent-minded.

The two of them were a bit bewildered today.

A Wu Sheng's appetite is not small. Liang Qu rarely made a trip here, so he nearly bought out the whole stall.

Zhang Longxiang spoke: "What temperament the Grand Ancestor of Great Li has, what kind of person he is — no need for us to say. Based on historical records alone, you should understand. Our Great Shun hopes to turn hostility into friendship and jointly resist Great Li. Furthermore, the Southern Border and Northern Court also have Immortals; they may know more, and there's even more to guard against."

Liang Qu nodded: "You two, with a great enemy before us, we living people are of the same breath and connected branches."

The Wolf Lord and Li Da Xi nodded: "We understand. Thank you, Prince Huai, for tonight's treat."

"Hey, no big deal." Liang Qu waved his hand.

"See you later."

"Mm."

Watching the two hurry off, Liang Qu grinned—he liked joking, Zhang Longxiang was serious, and together they could deconstruct the truth and deepen the false impression!

Liang Qu looked at Zhang Longxiang, ripples spreading around him: "Want to try?"

Zhang Longxiang understood instantly, drained his tea: "To the drill grounds."

"Go!" As he passed the stove, Liang Qu patted his pockets, rummaged through his Qiankun bag, suddenly looked up, and stared at the boss: "I don't have money on me, but an otter should show up later—I'll ask it. Oh, if Meng Tongling comes, you can ask him too—see who arrives first."

"Sure thing, take your time." The boss gave a simple, honest smile.

At Tianyu Drill Grounds, Meng Qiang, who had just finished a day of martial exam preparations, led his brothers to Mo Long Jin Bridge for a rub-down.

Meanwhile, inside Wang Fu, the otter patted its small waist pouch, copper coins clinking, and stepped out.

Supplies are sufficient. Time for some late-night snacks.

Tianyu Drill Grounds.

Scattered Tianyu Guards were ordered by Liang Qu and Zhang Longxiang to guard inside and out.

The drill grounds were covered with 【Earth to Steel】, impregnable, inside and out shrouded in a semicircular water membrane, distorting images and sound.

Liang Qu took off his upper garment, bare-chested, swung his arms, and a terrifying heat wave surged through his body, scorching winds blowing in his face.

Zhang Longxiang recalled the "ripples" he had seen that morning, focusing intently.

Afterward———

Hum!

An invisible air wave pushed forward, Zhang Longxiang's ears rang for an instant, his vision nearly blurred, then he realized it wasn't his eyes playing tricks.

Violent "ripples" spread outward from Liang Qu's body, nearly three feet wide, like an invisible wall, the entire person's image once again forcibly severed from reality.

Even more exaggerated than at the court assembly!

"It had already retracted during the court assembly, only fully retracting in the afternoon!" Zhang Longxiang thought, "Just what breakthrough did he achieve? A divine ability? But so fierce—how could it resemble foundation? Why could foundation be elevated to such a degree? Supreme Body?"

Crack-crack.

Liang Qu stepped forward.

As his foot landed, the ground under 【Earth to Steel】 cracked with fissures.

Wave after wave of exaggerated pressure washed over heaven and earth, crushing heaven and earth!

The fissures spread beneath his feet, Zhang Longxiang's expression turned solemn—he also wanted to test his authority ability, and said: "My authority, I name it Ying E," though not fully nurtured, it could already be used.

Ying E?

Liang Qu froze, pondered briefly.

He knew this name—Ying E wasn't widely known, but it had another alias.

Taotie!

"With your dragon-elephant talent, is it a middling fruit?"

Self-cultivated multiple middling fruits.

Zhang Longxiang admitted.

Liang Qu grew more interested—Taotie, clearly a ferocious beast, yet the middling fruit is healing-affiliated———

Liang Qu ignited his golden eyes: "Come!"

Zhang Longxiang burned his heart fire, stepped forward, twisted his body, and threw a punch.

A move very familiar to him.

Many years ago, on the Hanging Temple, it was the same.

But this time, it came with authority's might!

Liang Qu didn't move, raised his hand to catch and support—before the fist and palm fully made contact, vast power deviated and spread within the three-foot ripple around him, everything like a mud cow entering the sea!

The ripple seemed a single entity—when the fist wind entered, Liang Qu immediately felt an extremely peculiar force, that force completely swallowed his outgoing power, yet after passing through the "ripple" barrier, it could not fully swallow it!

To be precise, it couldn't swallow it!

Liang Qu grinned, his understanding deepening, took another half-step forward, pushed sideways, and discharged the remaining force.

Zhang Longxiang only felt a surging mighty force howling toward him, overturning mountains and seas.

Boom!

The ground suddenly revealed a ten-zhang pit, Zhang Longxiang retreated to the edge of the drill grounds, his mind shaken.

That "ripple" was exactly as he had imagined!

Zhang Longxiang exhaled, pushed off the ground, and advanced again.

Fists and feet combined!

However, Zhang Longxiang felt he had taken a false middling fruit—he had experienced Liang Qu's sublimation, roughly understood his authority's power, but upon meeting Liang Qu, it was as if he couldn't exert his might, the天地 authority's power imposed upon him actually being weakened!

Liang Qu stood motionless like a mountain, Zhang Longxiang rebounded again and again, his forward push returning like Yu Gong.

One tested martial bones, one tested middling fruit.

Air waves exploded consecutively on the drill grounds, rebounding after hitting the water membrane.

【Earth to Steel】 couldn't withstand it either—dense cracks spread like dry farmland.

After a long while.

Zhang Longxiang retreated to the edge, no longer attacking, he fell silent.

"What is your authority?" Liang Qu asked.

"Absorbing and transforming—turning all negative into positive, converting your attacks into my strength, but————I can't absorb yours." Zhang Longxiang paused, added, "Cannot fully absorb."

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