Shen Lian was not too sure why but he had a strong urge to take wooden fish back. Somewhere deep down, he felt that it was fated that he crossed path with this wooden fish.
Furthermore, he was somewhat related to Ling Chongxiao and the Man in Green, plus he was also a disciple of Qing Xuan. He could now just allow their belonging to be left outside
Kuhui continued the conversation, “Are you not going to ask where is Ling Chongxiao? Or is he dead or alive?”
Shen Lian responded, “Are you going to tell me now? Why should I ask unnecessarily?”
Kuhui’s ever still heart of Zen was shaken more than once thanks to Shen Lian. Besides the Empress, Shen Lian was the only person who could have such effect on him in the entire Shendu City. It was as if he could not hide anything from him.
He smiled to regain composure and said, “He is now a real monk, naturally he will cut off all ties with the past. He even gave me this last momento from the martial sect. But I feel that this item would suit you better.”
“Looks like he didn’t become a monk neither in Shendu nor within Da Zhou?” Shen Lian squinted his eyes. If there was a reason for Ling Chongxiao to give up everything and become a real monk, it was absolutely because he needed a breakthrough.
Kuhui can see why Shen Lian would make such conjecture. Reason being the Empress today was unfathomable. Someone like Ling Chongxiao who had caused major destruction to the world would either have to be forced to subdue or to be killed.
If it was none of the above, Ling Chongxiao was probably not a monk under the ruling of Da Zhou.
Shen Lian made that deduction based on the circumstances.
“He went to Xi Huang and became a monk at a country known as Yue Tuo,” Kuhui replied with a soft voice. He laughed as Ling Chongxiao did not even shave his head to become a monk.
After hearing the words “Xi Huang” and “Yue Tuo”, Shen Lian swiftly recalled information related to these words; Xi Huang was more than 10 million miles away from Da Zhou.
There were plenty of mountains and rivers in Da Zhou and it consisted of several big and small countries. But what was frightening was that many demon tribes reside beneath the mountains and rivers; and the demon king’s transformation was comparable to a Huandan cultivator. In fact, some demon kings were more skillful than immortals.
Chen Jianmei’s ‘Kill Philosophy’ came about from a mountain in Xi Huang. He killed a mountain full of demons, and that was well known amongst the immortals.
Shen Lian’s initial plan was to work on the early stages of the Taixu Strategy, then travel to Xi Huang and catch up with Chen Jianmei. ‘You can cultivate for half of your lifetime and remain unknown but once you’ve mastered a spell, the whole world knows about it.’ Zhang Ruoxu’s comment was indeed relevant.
That was because the trip was a dangerous journey and it was more appropriate to depart after having the eight Qi of the Taixu Strategy being absorbed into the body. By then he would be as powerful as Gu Caiwei who was a class above most Huandan elders. The other day at the ceremony for Chen Jianmei, the headmaster prepared a futon for her to sit on.
However, she chose not to sit on the futon as a sign of respect to the elders.
If a beginner did not start with the Taixu Strategy, it would be hard for one to achieve Dao. It was a proven case in the world of practice and cultivation. In Qing Xuan, people too start practicing with it.
Zhang Ruoxu had made a resolution to allow Shen Lian to learn this method. This showed that the importance of Shen Lian to Zhang Ruoxu.
Should Shen Lian failed in his practice and cultivation, Zhang Ruoxu would most probably be disappointed.
Shen Lian had no complaints about the difficult circumstances he had to endure although it was Zhang Ruoxu who pointed this path for him. This was because he knew that he could have tried other martial exercises and whether he can master Huandan or not was an absolute certainty. The hopes of being an immortal were very tiny.
Furthermore, the Taixu Strategy was a shockingly powerful technique that would bring him to places.
He put his thoughts on hold and said, “Looks like that place was his destiny. The difficulties of achieving Dao was not something people of my generation would understand. I hope for the best for him.”
After finishing the sentence, Shen Lian took the wooden fish and Kuhui heard a song playing in his ears:
“Difficult! Difficult! Difficult! Dao is mysterious. Don’t take the Golden Elixir lightly.
No chance of meeting people to pass the secret; all will just end up as empty talk!”
The tune lingers by his ears, he could not help but shed tears.
******
In the Qinzheng Hall, the Empress held the brushed and waved it like ‘a swimming dragon scaring away wild goose’. On the piece of white paper, the ink of writings appeared magically.
On the paper, she wrote the Dao song Shen Lian left behind.
She put down the wolf fur brush and said, “He is indeed a man of Dao for saying something so classy.”
Under the jade steps, Crown Prince Zhao Xun was waiting for the Empress. Facing him was an incredibly handsome well-dressed man with a prominent presence.
This man smiled, “The most prestigious Dao is the Kingdom, while the royals would be the saint. Who would dare to brag about Dao in front of the saint?”
The ‘Saint’ was also another way of addressing the Empress.
The Empress smiled and asked the Crown Prince, “Zhao Xun, do you agree with Qi Wang?”
Qi Wang was not from the Zhao family but the son of the Empress’ late brother. She had two brothers who have passed away and three nephews from them. Qi Wang was the secondary Emperor/ highest rank amongst Wang Jue and also the Prime Minister, thus, very powerful and highly regarded. He was literally below one person and above millions of people.
Zhao Xun may be the Crown Prince but his sovereignty was not as influential as Qi Wang.
Perhaps Zhao Xun had been standing for too long and he was bodily weak, it looked like he was nervous as little sweat droplets could be seen on his forehead. He answered respectfully, “My knowledge was superficial but I believe His Highness must be right.”
Qi Wang looked at the Crown Prince with displeasure. He felt that the Crown Prince was timid and showed no leadership qualities. Judging from his aunt’s ambitiousness, she would definitely not pick him.
Qi Wang scanned the room to find someone courageous but Zhao Xiang was the only person who would fit the description. Unfortunately, he was too young.
Should the Crown Prince passed away, Qi Wang believed that the Empress will elect him as the next Crown Prince.
There was no point hiding from the Empress as she knows every single thing. Up till now, the Empress had never prevented Qi Wang from doing something and that indirectly acknowledged his abilities and judgments.
The Empress sighed, “Zhao Xun, as my son, you should have your own opinion. I am very disappointed by you.”
The Crown Prince kneeled down immediately as he sweats profusely, “I am useless, I have let Your Highness down.”
The Empress had taken over the administration and thus the Crown Prince could not address her as Mother Queen nor Father King. He could only address her as “Your Highness”, just like every other courtier.
Qi Wang responded, “The Crown Prince is kind-hearted and that is a blessing to Da Zhou. Your Highness, please don’t blame him. I am willing to be the falcon to share your burden.”
A hint of smiliness flashed across the Empress cold expression, just like a sudden spring breeze. She lightly replied, “Looks like Qi Wang is willing to share my problems, and do anything that I ask you to do?”
Without any hesitation, Qi Wang responded, “Of course.”
The Empress looked at the Crown Prince and said, “Zhao Xun is not a governor material but this could be trained over time. I am preparing him to participate in political affairs. But there would be too many ministers in central. So, Qi Wang, you should just resign from your Prime Minister position.”
There were several Prime Ministers in Da Zhou but Qi Wang was the only one from the royal family. His words would carry more influence compared to other ministers as he was secondary to the Empress.