Chapter 1433: Grand Alliance Forged, First Strike Against the Lotus Sect (Combined)

Water Essence +64

Water Essence +47

Liang Qu spat out a fish bone, secretly ate a portion of the essence, put down his chopsticks, and stared straight ahead.

The Great Shun Tuqiong Biji appeared, the Wolf Lord and Li Daxian now solemn, suppressing the urge to lock eyes.

Finally, they have come.

The netherworld suddenly appeared; the Great Li Taizu from ten thousand years ago reappeared in the mortal realm, bringing immense pressure upon the living world.

Though Nanjiang is still manageable, having not directly faced the netherworld, it seems like a distant rear not bordering a third realm. But the Golden Wang Ting of Beiting, at the heart of a nation's capital, has over ten netherworld fissures still open there, emitting bloodlight, clearing everything within half a li.

That is the Wang Ting where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold!

Half a li around—who knows how much loss it will incur?

No matter how Liang Qu and Zhang Longxiang described it in heavenly terms, without seeing it for oneself, as representatives of major powers, they would surely not easily agree. But the new Venerable of the Lotus Sect has truly appeared, bringing severe losses. With real evidence, credibility rises straight up.

Two hundred Yaolong, three True Immortals.

The choice left for everyone is hardly any at all.

The Wolf Lord spoke: "The Great Li Taizu is the first postnatal human immortal, extraordinarily talented, stunning and unparalleled, indeed beyond the ordinary, especially since the mortal realm has birth, aging, sickness, and death, while the netherworld knows no aging or death—one has entry and exit, the other only entry, no exit."

Nowadays, the netherworld's overall strength has already swollen to surpass that of the mortal realm. As of today, the Great Shun is universally recognized as the strongest under heaven; I, Beiting, and Nanjiang, fall short by no small margin. The Great Shun Emperor asked for my opinion on Beiting, yet we do not know what the Great Shun Emperor thinks.

Li Daxian nodded: "When I came, the tribal chief had already instructed. Though there were some unpleasantries before, now that a great enemy is upon us, if the Great Shun Emperor can produce a charter, Nanjiang will naturally cooperate, jointly exterminate this great scourge, for the mortal realm is ultimately the realm of the living."

"Good! The Beiting Khan and the Nanjiang Tribal Chief—truly persons of broad vision!" the Sacred Emperor praised, "Nanjiang has endured hardships, the tribal chief changed twice, yet ultimately it is the returning Tribal Chief Xie who possesses deep foresight and far-reaching consideration."

Li Daxian: "————"

In the Great Shun imperial capital, a small meeting of three parties convened.

At the same time, the Beiting Khan and the Nanjiang Tribal Chief successively received letters from the envoy.

The Golden Wang Ting, the messenger Entering Zhen Xiang arrived panting, kneeling on one knee. He first used the waterway, then traversed, without sleep or rest, without food or drink, covering a million li in a day, finally delivering the reply.

The Khan frowned tightly, after finishing, handed the letter to the left and right ministers, his trusted confidant, the Wu Sheng. The next day, he also convened a small meeting.

"This Great Shun Emperor truly has deep schemes—neither breaking through early nor late, but choosing this moment to break through, thirteen levels in one day, a self-nurtured position fruit, a realm breakthrough—truly a formidable display of power! Such mighty prestige." King Wolanhe snorted coldly.

The remaining ministers had all read the letter; some remained silent.

How difficult it is for the Wu Sheng to break through—three people in one day, even they are the three they least wish to see.

Zhang Longxiang, well, that's forgivable—Beiting's old enemy, a seasoned warrior adept in battle.

Liang Qu can be understood—his talent is unparalleled through the ages, he is young, miracles abound, each time shocking; one more is not too many, one less is not too few.

What does it mean for the Great Shun Emperor to break through twelve levels in succession?

This move is to seize the initiative with a first strike; the envoy will certainly lose some initiative.

Yingmu Chuan Zha Nayan worried: "That Zhang Longxiang and Liang Qu, even before breaking through, were already unmatched under heaven; after breaking through, wouldn't they be even higher? Especially the self-nurtured position fruit—earth-shattering changes, I fear even if we join forces with Nanjiang, we may not prevail over Great Shun."

To speak such words that inflate others' prestige and dampen our own morale is clearly inappropriate, yet no one present could refute them.

The Khan gripped his left hand; the old wound at the broken arm site once again faintly ached.

Clearly, the injury had long healed.

The Khan pinched his brow: "Exactly so—nowadays, Great Shun has strong horses and sturdy troops, the netherworld again comes with overwhelming force, no side is easy to provoke. An alliance is good, but I fear Great Shun's greed is insufficient; now, the one with the most information is Great Shun. Let them set the trap, and we won't even know. When the netherworld crisis is resolved, Beiting won't be far from fragmentation and collapse."

Suhe Baru nodded seriously.

"Did the Wolf Lord give any additional orders?" Yingmu Chuan Zha Nayan asked.

After resting half a day, the messenger Entering Zhen Xiang who came to attend the meeting shook his head, about to speak.

"Report."

The Khan looked up: "What is it?"

"Another envoy message!"

"Quick!" the Khan sat upright, "Let him in!"

A breeze brushed past, another dust-covered messenger Entering Zhen Xiang knelt on one knee, presenting the letter.

"To report to the Khan, the Wolf Lord's urgent letter!"

The previous messenger Entering Zhen Xiang gazed at his colleague, inexplicably strange in his heart.

How come I just arrived yesterday, and today there is another letter?

"Please be seated, have some tea."

The Khan pointed to the seat, then tore open the letter, reading ten lines at a glance, his face showing alarm.

"Khan, what happened? Can we also take a look?" many Martial Saints sat upright.

The Khan let out a long sigh: "That Huaiwang Liang Qu has broken through."

Everyone looked at each other, they knew he had broken through—we just said that, didn't we?

"Liang Qu has broken through."

In the Nanjiang Tribal Chief's valley, the old Tribal Chief set down the letter, gazed heavenward, and let out a long sigh.

The Hundredfoot Great Xiang muttered gloomily: "Didn't the Tribal Chief say this yesterday? Why say it again today?"

The Tribal Chief said nothing, silently gazing at the messenger.

The messenger forced a smile: "Hundredfoot Great Xiang, you don't know—yesterday's breakthrough was yesterday's breakthrough, today's breakthrough is today's breakthrough."

The Hundredfoot grew more confused listening: "What yesterday, what today?"

Someone suddenly realized: "Oh, I get it—he broke through for a day and a night?"

"No, it's precisely Huaiwang Liang Qu who broke through twice in two days—yesterday, no, the day before yesterday and yesterday, once each. Li Daxian guesses that Huaiwang Liang Qu may have already reached the eighth or even ninth level, and according to secret reports, he very likely has already self-nurtured the position fruit, and even earlier than that, broke through the thousandfold."

The hall erupted in astonishment.

The Hundredfoot suddenly rose to his feet.

After a while, he slumped back down, his eyes dazed.

"How is this possible? How old is he? A thousandfold root sea? Ninth stage? And a position fruit?" Many present did not believe it.

"If Great Awakening, have you seen a twenty-eight-year-old Wu Sheng? Everyone says Overlord, but in that ten-thousand-year oral tradition, how much is true, how much false? Even with embellishment, it's thirty years old, not twenty-eight, let alone twenty-seven and a half." Bai Zu gave a wry smile.

Great Awakening said hesitantly: "You say he's seventh or eighth stage, I believe that, but since the conception of the position fruit—"

"Don't forget." The old tribal chief interrupted, tapping the table with his index finger, "Liang Qu likely took the thousandfold root sea method, which requires a thousandfold root sea before the third stage.

According to scouts, over these years, his minor and major military achievements, all kinds of opportunities, have all been exchanged for the treasured medicines that enhanced his root sea; on the surface, perhaps there are already seven or eight hundred times, just missing the final step.

The final step—would you give it up? Not the final step, but breaking through to above the eighth stage—what do you think it would be?"

Everyone was silent, nearly despairing.

Hunting Tiger, Entering Zhen Xiang, and Yao Long—all without bottlenecks, all without limits—from ancient times to now, how many have longed to attain the Dao and ascend to immortality, yet before Liang Qu, it even seemed as easy as spitting into one's hand?

"Heaven is unjust!" Great Awakening exclaimed resentfully.

"Even more unjust is yet to come." The old tribal chief shook the papers, passing around the letter, "Dayong has long detected the netherworld, already roughly clarified the situation; now the netherworld may have over two hundred Yao Long, three True Immortals waiting for us, eyes like tigers!"

At this moment, even the seasoned big shots present could not help but erupt in an uproar, successively snatching and flipping through the documents.

The old tribal chief frowned without relief, looking around: "We don't know if the news is true or false, but the three-way alliance is already unstoppable, especially Beiting and Dayong—once these two face the great threat of Dayi and ally, whether my Nanjiao can preserve itself is another matter; even if it does preserve itself later, it will gain no benefit, seize no opportunity, and may ultimately be purged.

I care not for benefit or opportunity, only for my descendants' safety, peace and tranquility; I fear only that Dayong will directly drag our Nanjiao into trouble, at which point we will have suffering we cannot voice, nor find support, just like Beiting at the beginning of the year.

"Tribal chief, you suspect—"

"Hmm." The old tribal chief nodded, expression flat, "That the Bai Yuan of Jianghuai died and was reborn, making Dayong the only one who understands it—perhaps the netherworld really has ideas, but whether that new venerable one going to Beiting involves Dayong's scheming is equally unclear; merely, I and the Great Khan have no evidence, and the netherworld is indeed just powerful."

Imperial Capital, Royal City.

"My idea is this: from now on, Nanjiao, Beiting, and Dayong will turn swords and spears into jade and silk, form a firm alliance, and must do so swiftly; after the alliance, we three sides will each contribute troops in the ratio of one Beiting, one Nanjiao, and two Dayong, first to eradicate the Lotus Flower Sect!"

"First eradicate the Lotus Flower Sect?" Da Awakening exclaimed in surprise.

"Exactly, since we want to deal with it, to act, naturally we first let the yang return to yang, the yin return to yin! Thus, the three sides will be of one heart and one mind, opposing Dayi."

"Would that not be completely tearing faces?" Da Awakening worried, "Now the Grand Ancestor of Dayi has not clearly stated he will invade; if we take the initiative, strike first, start war—"

"Da Awakening, your Qinggu Valley lies in the central position of the Nine Villages, abundant and prosperous, always at ease—I understand, but could the Nanjiao tribal chief who sent you also be harboring such fantasies?" The Holy Emperor questioned, "It seems I misjudged the tribal chief, misjudged Xie Awakening, thinking him a hero of the age; now looking, his former grand ambitions are nothing but a blind cat bumping into a dead rat!"

"I am naturally not as worthy as Xie Tribal Chief." Da Awakening blushed slightly, immediately straightened his expression, admitted openly, "Precisely because of ease comes stability, and stability allows better execution of the tribal chief's orders; if I were flustered and agreed hastily, harming the lives of my Nanjiao kin, what would the Emperor Your Majesty think of me having no grand ambition?"

The Holy Emperor laughed: "No wonder it's Da Awakening—indeed I spoke too hastily, but you Nanjiao truly still harbor侥幸心理, thinking the master of Dayi's Heavenly Fire Sect, the first to unify the world under one sect, the awakened furnace, will not violate river water with well water? Have your Nanjiao immortals given you no instructions at all?"

"A thousand years of peace!"

The Holy Emperor turned his head: "A thousand years of peace?"

Wolf Chief pointed at Liang Qu and Zhang Longxiang: "Holy Emperor Your Majesty is so open-hearted; we too will not hide or conceal—spoils of war, command authority distribution aside for now—if we are to ally, Dayong must sign a treaty with our Beiting: within a thousand years, if Huai Wang and Longxiang Wang become immortals, they must not interfere with Dayong's external development, and must swear an oath to heaven!"

Swearing an oath to heaven.

It sounds illusory and vague; in this world there are indeed no rules like heavenly punishment for breaking oaths, but it is indeed a special constraint for top powerhouses—when speaking before many, to utter an oath, if broken, it is a stain on the mind, detrimental to future cultivation.

The most crucial aspect is probably the utter collapse of personal credit.

Normally, small tricks can be tolerated, but openly going back on one's word is an extremely serious matter.

Da Awakening's eyes lit up—"Damn wolf chief, he didn't even give prior notice, immediately nodded: 'Exactly, my Nanjiao is the same!'"

The Holy Emperor frowned, pondered briefly, then looked toward Liang Qu and Zhang Longxiang.

"Your Majesty, you know me—I can do anything." Liang Qu expressed his stance.

Zhang Longxiang nodded: "If I can become the furnace, that would be my fortune."

The index finger tapped the table, palace maids conveyed delicacies.

"Good!"

The Holy Emperor nodded.

Wolf Chief and Da Awakening felt joy in their hearts.

Nanjiao, Beiting, Dayong—three-way alliance matters, formally confirmed intent!

A thousand-year-unprecedented grand alliance!

Liang Qu and Zhang Longxiang gathered in small groups to leak news, then initially exchanged opinions, finally held a large meeting to discuss specific details.

This is the entire process.

In the Imperial Capital, the martial examinations were in full swing, alliance discussions continuously advanced.

"Drink, rise!"

Wen Shi Yun's veins bulged as he embraced the bronze pillar, tore it out with a boom, met with cheers.

The Bureau of Astronomy, Lan Ji Cai worked nonstop, fully devoted to crafting the fifth celestial ritual instrument.

The Lotus Flower Sect and Heavenly Fire Sect likely have a ten-thousand-year connection; to avoid accidents, they must necessarily establish a ritual instrument before acting.

Evening, Huai Wang Fu.

Panting heavily, fragrant mist filled the air.

Liang Qu rubbed his cheek against the softness, held the pink cherry in his mouth, took a light bite. Long Eying laughed, pushed and shoved his head, then lowered her head to cradle his face and kiss him repeatedly, coaxed him for a while, then Liang Qu got up.

Usually it's women leaning on men's chests to rest, but he prefers the opposite—lying on Eying's chest to sleep, embraced by the dragon woman's arms, more comfortable than any mattress, making one reluctant to forget.

Liang Qu completed a position fruit conversion.

Courtyard.

Lush green leaves withered rapidly, having lived out their lives, rotting in the soil.

"Indeed, not time reversal." Liang Qu understood.

"Sentient Wood's growth can let an individual's head grow to its peak stage, let a child quickly grow to twenty, but cannot let a seventy-year-old elder return to youth."

"Metal of Autumn is not about making an elder flow backward, but directly from seventy to a hundred years old, returning to the earth in peace."

"Indeed, different from rising and falling in stages."

Looking again at the fruiting jujube tree, Liang Qu plucked one.

Previously there had been sublimation.

The green dates on the tree turned red directly.

Hold it in hand again.

Regression!

The red dates turned green again.

"In the state of universal illumination, whether it is Jumang or Rushou, they flow downstream and cannot be reversed.

Can the growth brought about by Jumang's advancement be used, while Rushou can directly reverse regression back, because it is forced ripening?"

Liang Qu pondered.

Seeing that the sky was getting late, he, who had figured out the authority of position fruits, drilled into the room again and completed another transformation.

When out and about, Jumang is more convenient and more comprehensive.

"These past two days have been too busy, how is Xiao Shitou's grades? Is there hope for top scholar?" Liang Qu put on his boots.

"It's difficult, barely able to enter the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars." Long Eying propped herself up on the bed and sat up.

"Oh, really can get in?" Liang Qu expressed surprise.

Long Eying said unexpectedly: "I thought you wanted him to get top scholar?"

"Let's be realistic, breaking records is what I hope for, but breaking records and passing the imperial exam at the same time—I was just joking." Liang Qu shook his head, "He is only at the middle stage of Langyan realm, and moreover not born with martial bones, just an acquired half martial bone, young in age, martial skills not refined deeply, being able to make the list I am truly surprised, if it were next year, he being seventeen would be another matter, alright, time is almost up, you rest well, I will come back tonight."

"Mm, collar, why are you becoming more and more casual lately?"

"I have a wife now, after all, not going to see Your Majesty."

"Poor, husband so handsome, go out and give me some face, flirt with the miss, if you like her bring her back."

"Bring her back and beat her into meat paste?"

"Meat patty maybe."

Long Eying reached out and tugged, smoothing the collar.

Yellow Shahe.

The water control project stalled again, Nan Si looked up to the sky and sighed lamentably.

"Beep beep, Dragon Lord! Dragon Lord!"

"What are you doing what are you doing?" Dragon Lord emerged from floating on the water, weak and listless.

"I brought good things for Dragon Lord." Liang Qu grinned.

Dragon Lord looked toward Zhang Longxiang nearby, surprised: "Oh, Tenfold Great Nourishing Pill?"

"No Great Nourishing Pill, but a Great Nourishing Person, Dragon Elephant King, your trouble! Dragon Lord, the Dragon Elephant King has nurtured a special position fruit, perhaps it can heal your wounds."

Dragon Lord expressed surprise.

Zhang Longxiang clasped his hands in salute, descended, pressed his back dragon scales, and instantly ripples of light flickered.

After a while.

Dragon Lord looked at Liang Qu, then at Zhang Longxiang: "And then?"

"Eh, you didn't feel any power surging out?" Liang Qu expressed surprise.

"Surge out to beat you?" Dragon Lord rolled his eyes, "Wasting my time, I'm going back to sleep."

Splosh.

The long tail flicked once, vanished without trace.

The sky high, clouds light.

"Eh, what's going on?" Liang Qu approached Zhang Longxiang.

Zhang Longxiang thought for a moment: "My position fruit seems only able to repair damage, cannot restore fundamental loss. Two days have passed, the healing immortal pill has already made up for Dragon Lord's deficiencies, the fundamental has been mostly restored, so my authority has no effect."

Liang Qu felt greatly disappointed.

The affection supplemented was just an empty shell.

The circulating essence blood, infinite essence plan went bankrupt.

Involving position fruits, consumption easily reaches millions of essence-grade, making him urgently need water marsh essence again.

"No trouble, thanks for Dragon Elephant King accompanying me on a trip."

"Small matter, going back now?"

"Dragon Elephant King goes first, I'll ask for leave for Dragon Lord first."

"Alright."

Midnight.

The third day tomorrow, the alliance grand meeting convenes.

Liang Qu returned to the quiet room, sat cross-legged, took out his Qiankun bag, laid out a hundred clay pots, each containing a free-swaying bright yellow long qi.

A thousand strands of the same long qi can condense into a position fruit, at least medium and small position fruits are like this.

A hundred strands, indeed there is one-tenth!