Chapter 157: 221. A Single Thought Passes in the Lonely Chamber, the True Immortal Offers a Plan and Invites the Trap (4.3K - Seeking

The demoness of the White Lotus Sect and the rebel leader Yu Xiansheng sat together.

An Linyuan gripped her sword hilt tightly, standing behind Yu Xiansheng—or rather, her foster mother—with focused concentration.

If the Holy Mother before her showed any intent to harm her foster mother, she would dare to draw her blade and strike at a god.

Having walked all the way from the bottom of the Yin Gui Society, she had witnessed far too much.

She knew how her foster mother could turn clouds into rain and stir the world into chaos.

If it were only that, she would not be so loyal and reverent toward her foster mother.

The reason she was this way was also because of other things her foster mother had done.

Her foster mother had long since spread cultivation techniques, and even the secrets of the great clans and the Flat Peach, without any concealment, allowing everyone to easily access these techniques and know how to advance further.

Using the energy at her disposal, her foster mother provided relief to disaster victims without violating the laws of the GreatRongDynasty, and even quietly distributed the scarce "Wood Crystal" to enrich the black soil.

At the same time, she left the Yin Gui Society where she had been, assisted the righteous rebel army, stirred up the chaotic world, and nurtured heroes through that chaos to preserve the vitality of the world.

Her foster mother gave the human world a chance to grow.

She was a savior of the suffering, and also a demon who ignited the chaotic world.

Her foster mother said, "If this were a prosperous age with no external worries and internal self-sufficiency, she would not do this," but now... it was not so.

"Gods have their own divine affairs; to rely on gods for salvation is nothing more than a fool's dream... What mortals need is self-salvation."

All of this made An Linyuan respect her.

Therefore, she was willing to wander the ends of the earth with her foster mother and was willing to sacrifice herself to protect her.

Even if it were a god, she would not retreat.

No one knows a daughter like a mother; An Chenyu clearly sensed the young woman's inner thoughts, so she chuckled softly and said, "Little Yuan, you perhaps still do not understand your foster father's temperament."

An Linyuan was stunned.

An Chenyu smiled and said, "Since she has become your foster father's dao companion, then the BirthlessHolyMother is no different from family; you do not need to be so tense."

Having said this, she bowed and said respectfully, "BirthlessHolyMother, I wonder if Chen Yu is correct?"

Jing Shifei had naturally heard of the affairs between the woman before her and Song Cheng, and said indifferently, "You are a person of great opportunity. Song Lang has repeatedly instructed me to treat you kindly, and to see you as I would see him. Since that is the case, you may call me sister from now on."

Given her status, it would normally be impossible for her to be so polite to an "existence like an ant."

However, she knew that Song Cheng's future was limitless, and that the Canghai might not only hold her one Buzhou Mountain, so binding herself early to Song Cheng's kin was also a great opportunity for her.

"Birthless sister."

An Chenyu was not timid in the slightest.

Jing Shifei said, "BirthlessHolyMother is merely a title made up by believers."

An Chenyu turned her head slightly and said, "Little Yuan, go out and pour two cups of tea."

"Yes, Xiansheng."

An Linyuan left.

An Chenyu smiled again as she looked at the god before her.

The god said, "My name is Jing Shifei."

"Jing sister." An Chenyu bowed again.

"Do not tell others of our business; if the WesternExtremeGoddess comes looking for you, absolutely do not mention that I have been here."

"Very well, Jing sister."

After these brief words, Jing Shifei recounted the situation she had encountered and the purpose of her visit in detail.

An Chenyu listened, occasionally asking for details and occasionally pondering.

Jing Shifei told her everything without reservation, and then began to wait quietly.

After a long while, An Chenyu said, "So, sister's ultimate goal is to help Song Lang find a cultivation technique, is that right?"

Jing Shifei nodded.

An Chenyu said, "There is a method that might work.

Sister can take the Water Spirit Illuminating Heaven Scripture and seek integration everywhere, specifically pointing out that the techniques of the major powers all have their strengths and weaknesses; only by integrating them can some problems that were previously unsolvable be resolved. This matter is urgent and brooks no delay.

If other families still disagree, the elders within their factions will start causing trouble themselves.

At the same time, does sister remember Shi Feng? If Shi Feng had plotted in the past but remained dormant for so many years, he must have been waiting for an opportunity.

Sister's actions are undoubtedly giving him a new opportunity.

Shi Feng will inevitably fan the flames, detonating the contradiction between the elders' urgent desire for the seven major powers to integrate and the major powers' wait-and-see attitude.

I suspect that there are very likely people of Shi Feng's within those seven major powers, and when the time comes, those people will also jump out one after another."

Jing Shifei fell silent and said, "Are you saying that I must also secretly cooperate with Shi Feng?"

An Chenyu nodded slightly and said, "At first, you need to cooperate with him, and once the goal is achieved, you must expose him as soon as possible, but the process will surely be extremely dangerous and full of perils... If everything goes smoothly, the final outcome will be the integration of the seven major powers and the resolution of Shi Feng and those behind him; if it fails, then perhaps everything will fall into total chaos.

And in this, the key to what sister can do lies in two points.

First, slow down.

Sister must not be in a hurry; you must make those elders feel the hurry.

Second, Song Lang's talent.

On this point, we can only trust Song Lang."

The two discussed some more details, and the more they talked, the more Jing Shifei felt it was possible.

It was just that this was indeed a risky move.

But if nothing was done, those seven major powers were destined to wither; rather than dragging it out, it was better to take advantage of the fact that both the new and old were present to strike out and truly find an advancement path suitable for more people.

Unknowingly, the two had been talking for a long time, and An Linyuan did not foolishly go in to pour two cups of tea, but instead kept watch outside. Also patrolling outside was the general of the "rebel army" stationed there.

In that general's view, the White Lotus Sect and Yu Xiansheng were conspiring on how to overthrow the current GreatRongDynasty.

He wanted to enter several times, but was forced back by An Linyuan's gaze, only scratching his head in anxiety, asking from time to time, "Little Sword Immortal, is the White Lotus Sect going to cooperate with our righteous army?"

The Little Sword Immortal is naturally the title of An Linyuan.

To this, An Linyuan only said one thing: "Does the General still not trust the Gentleman? This White Lotus Sect Saintess was also found by the Gentleman."

Those outside the door can never see what is being discussed inside the door.

Jing Shifei finally stood up, but she was still somewhat hesitant.

An Chenyu said: "Sister Jing might as well go and seek out Zhao Hua. Zhao Hua is currently living in the world at Xuanwu Temple, styling himself as Donghua Zhenren. He cultivates the techniques left behind by Brother Song day and night with great bitterness. Yet, even though people will submit matters of the world to him, he never says anything. Watching a game of chess without speaking, his heart holds deep ravines. Perhaps he sees things more clearly than I do."

Jing Shifei nodded, then said: "I shall leave now."

Having said this, she looked at herself again and said: "This woman is the White Lotus Saintess. By possessing her this time, I have also enjoyed many benefits. I will also leave a memento for her, so that she may cooperate with my younger sister in the future. As for the subsequent matters, let my younger sister discuss them with her."

"Many thanks, Sister Jing." An Chenyu bowed.

The next instant, the White Lotus enchantress before her suddenly closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttered, and when she opened them again, they were already filled with confusion. Immediately following, it was as if she had received some thought; her eyes became spirited and alluring. Looking fixedly at An Chenyu, she smiled and said: "I never expected that the world-renowned Yu Xiansheng would actually be a beauty. The Holy Mother brought me here, saying that the White Lotus should bloom in the soil of the righteous army."

Somewhere at a Xuanwu Temple. Bronze sparrows circle in flight, and ornamental columns stand tall.

Inside the main hall, there are a tortoise and a snake guarding the golden-bodied Emperor on the left and right.

And in the back, there is a long-bearded Daoist wearing a purple-Qi Daoist robe, holding a horsetail whisk in his hand, sitting cross-legged, gazing up at the blue sky, as if contemplating something.

He has experienced many things in his life, and the strangeness and magnificence of his circumstances, as well as the magnitude of his change in status, far exceed what mortals can think or imagine.

At this time, a young Daoist boy walked in from outside and said respectfully: "Zhenren, there is a mountain flood in Fengzhou; it is time for relief again. In past years of relief, what actually reached the hands of the common people was pitifully little, and even the grain and grass were mixed with sand and stones. With such embezzlement, it is truly a pity that they still come to the temple every year to burn incense and give incense money."

The long-bearded Daoist said: "Distribute all the incense money to Fengzhou. You and Chongjing go on a trip; save as many as you can. If you encounter good seedlings, you may also bring them back to the temple."

The young Daoist boy said: "Zhenren, how much incense money should I take?"

The long-bearded Daoist said: "Take it all. If it is not enough, ask them for more later this year." "Yes!" The young Daoist boy's face showed joy, and he hurried away.

He knew how much incense money was in the temple; taking all of it to Fengzhou could save at least tens of thousands of people.

The Daoist boy left, the courtyard returned to silence, and the long-bearded Daoist waved his horsetail whisk, slowly shook his head, and muttered to himself: "The chaos of the world lies in governance, in the world, and also in heaven and earth. Changing an emperor is merely another cycle; there may be peace for a dozen or several dozen years, but then the same mistakes are repeated."

"What sin have the common people committed? What can be done about it?"

Just as he was thinking, he suddenly saw a Daoist nun appear in the courtyard.

This Daoist nun was from the temple, named Yuyi.

At this moment, Yuyi's eyes were incomparably deep.

The long-bearded Daoist was not startled, nor did he ask questions; he stood up directly, bowed, and said: "I do not know which senior has arrived?"

The one possessing Yuyi was naturally Jing Shifei.

Jing Shifei said: "Zhao Hua, I am your elder brother's Daoist companion."

The long-bearded Daoist was stunned, his calm expression rippling slightly; any news of his elder brother would always stir his heart.

The two spoke for a while, and Jing Shifei stated her purpose. The former Zhao Hua, now Donghua Zhenren, fell into silence.

Donghua Zhenren closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, then said: "If it were in the past, I might have borrowed heads to achieve my goal, finishing the work in one battle, fierce and aggressive."

"What is meant by 'borrowing heads'?" Jing Shifei asked curiously.

Donghua Zhenren said: "As Sister-in-law An said, one must wait for the elders among the seven major forces to fall into chaos themselves."

"But for existences like you, Senior, even if you have several decades or a hundred years of lifespan left, you are still old. We cannot wait, so we would deliberately inflict heavy injuries on a few elders, using their heads to force the palace, compelling all the elders to urge for integration."

"However, now I feel that this method has endless future troubles. As for Shi Feng, it is like seeking skin from a tiger; those who play with fire are easily consumed by it."

Jing Shifei asked: "So?"

Donghua Zhenren said: "Sister-in-law An's strategy is to fish in troubled waters, while my strategy is to lure the gentleman into the urn."

Jing Shifei asked curiously: "What is meant by 'luring the gentleman into the urn'?"

Donghua Zhenren said: "Big Brother has the ability to discern people. Senior Jing can invite people into the courtyard for a chat and let Big Brother observe secretly from the window. Good or evil, loyal or treacherous, Big Brother will naturally be able to discern."

"Afterward, Senior Jing can conspire with the loyal ones to stage a play of fishing in troubled waters for Shi Feng to see."

"Shi Feng has found an opportunity and will inevitably act, but the difference is that the chaotic situation he stirs up is a chaotic situation that Senior Jing is performing for him to see."

"And the more he does, the more traces he will leave behind. When the time is right, lure him out, and with the power of the high-level officials of the seven major forces, it will be enough to kill or even capture him alive."

"Through this matter, one can not only eradicate Shi Feng and the unstable factors within the forces but also let the seven major forces know that external enemies are eyeing them covetously, and that merging into one is the only way out."

"This matter can succeed."

Jing Shifei was stunned for a long time. She began to understand the meaning of Song Cheng's words, "The strong are not strong because of schemes." Not to mention Zhao Hua, she hadn't even thought of An Chenyu's idea.

She only had some vague ideas and was completely unable to consider things comprehensively.

This high and mighty True Spirit Realm powerhouse began to look at mortals squarely for the first time.

Mortals are as weak as ants, but it seems they are not entirely useless.

After visiting An Chenyu and Zhao Hua, Jing Shifei's path for what she should do became incomparably clear.

She began to invite people to Xuanqing Palace to discuss the matter of the "Lost Spirit" and would also take the initiative to share parts of the "Water Spirit Illuminating Heaven Scripture".

The former was a matter of concern to everyone, while the latter was... letting people take advantage for free.

In this way, the courtyard became lively every few days.

Under Song Cheng's suggestion, Jing Shifei deliberately publicized that "the credit for uncovering Shi Feng belongs mostly to Song Cheng."

Thus, the effect of Song Cheng observing secretly from the window was very obvious.

Those whose favorability toward him was average or high were just normal disciples.

And those whose favorability toward him was extremely low were nine times out of ten spies, either colluding with Shi Feng or harboring ulterior motives.

Jing Shifei also began to win over a "small circle" and started the conspiracy of "luring the gentleman into the urn."

In the blink of an eye, another twenty years passed.

On the side of Xuanqing Palace, no elders had passed away, but on the side of Lihuo Palace, an elder had reached the end of his lifespan.

Jing Shifei went to help, to add assistance and provide guidance.

She joined forces with two True Spirit Realm experts from Lihuo Palace to open the "Sun Phantom Void" connection point.

But the elder's ending was no different from Mo Lao's.

When the Yang Qi was dense, even though it had already become a Lost Spirit, it still possessed consciousness, but within a few days, it completely transformed into a Lost Spirit without consciousness.

However, because they were prepared, this Lost Spirit was unable to sink into the Taiyin Illusion Sea, and was intercepted in time by three True Spirit Realm experts, who then slew it, causing its Soul to scatter and dissipate.

The crowd did not feel the slightest bit happy; their moods grew increasingly heavy.

Jing Shifei said silently, "If the seven families merge and no longer hold back their secrets, perhaps we can find a new path."

The speaker seemed to have said it lightly, but to those elders, it was no different from dropping a spark into a pan of boiling oil.

"Hahaha, I never expected that after more than four thousand years, she and I would still have such tacit understanding.

I am starting to appreciate her a little."

"Perhaps we could let her become one of us; in that way, Brother Shi Feng could form a Daoist partnership with her."

"I heard that Song Cheng has been in her room, staying there for decades now; could it be..."

"The junior is just severely injured," the man who spoke first said indifferently, "Shifei holds herself in high regard, pure and chaste, and furthermore, the method of Double Cultivation is not the same as that between men and women in the mortal world.

If that junior walked out, there might be a possibility, but having stayed in Shifei's room the whole time, I fear he is already dead. Perhaps Shifei is doing this to deceive the public, or perhaps to lure us in, so she deliberately says he is still severely injured."

Having said this, the man laughed again: "Since Shifei has given us this opportunity, if we do not cherish it well, we would truly be letting her down."

"Aunt, Song Cheng... is he... already..."

Lian Chanxi's words were intermittent, carrying a hint of inexplicable choking.

At the beginning, she still thought Song Cheng was just severely injured.

But now, a full forty-five years have passed.

Having never left this small room for forty-five years, I fear he has long since died and his Dao has dissipated, right?

Aunt is afraid she will be sad, which is why she has been hiding it all along, right?

Jing Shifei looked at the junior before her, feeling very helpless; she sighed softly, stepped forward, and hugged Lian Chanxi tightly.

To the latter, this embrace seemed to prove something.

From Lian Chanxi's eyes, two lines of pitch-black tears flowed down.

When the mortal world enters the night, the Reappearance World always grows a bit darker.

In the darkened world, Jing Shifei finished her day's busyness, returned to the room, silently removed her ink-wash dress, lay down beside the youth on the couch, shared the same pillow, and then chattered about the things that had happened in recent days.

After a long while, the speaking voice gradually quieted, and Jing Shifei's small feet slowly hooked onto Song Cheng's ankles.

Slowly... the sounds became strange.

Like sobbing and pleading, the night passed.

Song Cheng glanced at the "124426" remaining points on the panel, then closed his eyes and entered the Taiyin Illusion Sea to continue familiarizing himself with his power.

He was very patient; even after forty-five years of self-imprisonment in one room, his state of mind remained without a single ripple.

(End of this chapter)