bookbashuk Chapter 89: The Qi Family
Chapter 89: The Qi Family
A chessboard has been set up on the stone table in the pavilion, with black and white pieces placed on either side.
Yingyu wore a light blue dress today, her black hair was still tied up with a wooden hairpin, and her face was bare, yet she had a cool and otherworldly temperament.
She glanced at Qi Yu and said calmly, "You're here?"
Qi Yu sat down opposite her, his gaze sweeping over the chessboard, and said with a smile, "Princess, you seem to be in a good mood. This Cuiwei Pavilion is quite peaceful."
"Few cultivators frequent the south side of the city, so no one will disturb us."
Ying Yu pushed the box containing the black chess pieces in front of him and said:
"You go first."
Qi Yu did not refuse, picked up a black piece, and casually placed it down.
Neither of them made their moves quickly; the only sounds in the Cuiwei Pavilion were the crisp sounds of the chess pieces hitting the board, mingled with the rustling of bamboo leaves, creating a sense of leisure and tranquility.
In the first twenty moves, Qi Yu's moves were conventional and no different from those in a normal game.
Ying Yu wasn't in a hurry. After each move, she would glance at him, as if waiting for something.
In the twenty-first move, Qi Yu held his piece suspended in mid-air, hesitating for a moment.
Suddenly, Ying Yu spoke up:
"I have summoned you here today to discuss our marriage. My father has instructed me to set a date for our union."
Qi Yu took a deep breath, placed the chess piece steadily, and said thoughtfully:
"Has Your Highness discussed this with His Majesty?"
"My father naturally hopes it will be as soon as possible."
Ying Yu finally looked up at him, her clear eyes showing neither shyness nor resistance.
"But I want to ask what you mean."
"The matter of the engagement has been discussed for a long time, and there should be a conclusion by now. My father asked about it at court yesterday, and said that with war imminent and many things complicated, if there is still no conclusion, he will set the date directly."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yu frowned slightly and said:
"What does the princess mean?"
Ying Yu put down her teacup, looked up at him, and her cold eyes revealed no emotion.
"Qi Yu, this is a marriage between you and me, not between my father and me. The date should naturally be decided by you."
Qi Yu: "..."
He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to respond.
That's how this princess always talks.
While seemingly offering a choice, it actually shifts all the difficulties onto the other party.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing his silence, Ying Yu smiled calmly and said:
Are you still hesitating?
It's not that I hesitated.
Qi Yu picked up another black piece and said thoughtfully:
"However, the current situation is uncertain, with four kingdoms eyeing us covetously. The Jade Pivot Palace will still need time to open. If I were to marry the princess now..."
"What does this have to do with the situation?"
Ying Yu interrupted him, her tone still calm:
"Marriage is marriage, and war is war. Does your master perhaps think that marrying me will affect your cultivation?"
Ying Yu leaned slightly forward, his gaze narrowing, and said in a deep voice:
"Or do you have other concerns?"
"Of course not." Qi Yu shook his head repeatedly.
"Since that's the case, why not set a date? If we get married soon, our 'blessings' and 'longevity' will be in harmony, which will benefit both of us, the Qin state, and the current situation."
Since things had come to this point, Qi Yu had no chance to refute, so he nodded and said:
"Then let's do it as soon as possible, but the specific date will be decided by Your Majesty."
Ying Yu nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:
"Alright."
…………
Prince's Mansion.
Ying Zichu sat behind his desk, with a border map spread out in front of him, densely marked with the troop deployments of the four countries.
Zhou Xuandu sat in the guest seat, holding a cup of tea, his gaze fixed on the map.
"The four countries have remained inactive for quite some time."
Ying Zichu rubbed his temples and said in a deep voice:
"Neither fighting nor retreating has left the Qin cultivators in a state of constant anxiety."
Zhou Xuandu's gaze fell on the map, and he said:
"The Four Kingdoms Purple Mansion True Man went to Sanqing Mountain a few days ago, but was turned away by his Uncle Shangqing."
"But they won't give up so easily. Although Uncle Shangqing is strong, he is only one person. If the four kingdoms' Purple Mansions really join forces, even Uncle Shangqing will have a hard time resisting."
"Then why don't they take action?"
"Because it hasn't come to a point of no return yet."
Zhou Xuandu shook his head and said:
"The four kingdoms each had their own agendas, and none of them wanted to be the first to act. In addition, the fact that Master Xuandu took the initiative to back down that day made it even more difficult for the others to figure out the truth, so they naturally dared not make any rash moves."
Ying Zichu nodded slightly and said:
"So now it's a stalemate."
"Yes."
Zhou Xuandu nodded slightly and said:
"But this stalemate won't last long. Once the four kingdoms reach a consensus and join forces, it will be a real crisis."
Upon hearing this, Ying Zichu frowned slightly and asked:
How many Purple Mansion True Persons are there in the Four Kingdoms?
"About twenty or thirty."
Zhou Xuandu wasn't entirely sure either, and said in a deep voice:
"The quantity is about two to three times ours."
"Such a big difference?"
Ying Zichu's expression was solemn. He hadn't expected that the difference between the two sides at the Purple Mansion level would be so great.
Zhou Xuandu nodded and said in a solemn voice:
"Therefore, the opening of the Jade Pivot Hall is of paramount importance. The Jade Pivot Hall is not only a treasure trove of cultivation techniques and spiritual objects, but also a manifestation of the rules of the world."
"Once the Jade Pivot Palace reappears in the world, cultivators will be able to exchange their merits for cultivation resources, and will no longer need to rely on those evil demons and heretics."
"At that time, the cultivators within the four kingdoms who were already dissatisfied with the human-eating pills will naturally side with us."
"So the key is still Li Wu and Pei Xiyan," Ying Zichu said.
"Exactly."
Zhou Xuandu nodded and said:
"One is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and the other is at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Both need time to break through. We just need to protect the Qin Kingdom. Once both of them enter the Purple Mansion realm, the turning point will come."
Ying Zichu stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night sky outside.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, who do you think is more likely to break through first, Li Wu or Pei Xiyan?"
Zhou Xuandu was silent for a moment, then said:
"Fellow Daoist Pei Xiyan has already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and is only one step away from the Purple Mansion. It will take at least one year or three years, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Fellow Daoist Li Wu... it will take at least five to ten years to go from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the Purple Mansion."
"Five to ten years..."
Ying Zichu murmured, "Will the Four Kingdoms give us this much time?"
"Won't."
Zhou Xuandu's answer was crisp and decisive, but it made Ying Zichu's heart sink.
He turned around, looked at Zhou Xuandu's calm face, and said in a deep voice:
"So, the four countries will make a move soon?"
Yes and no.
"The four Purple Mansion True Persons each have their own thoughts, and none of them want to be the first to stand out, but they will not just stand by and watch Li Wu and Pei Xiyan break through safely."
"you mean……"
"They will try to delay or even interrupt their cultivation."
Zhou Xuandu turned his gaze to Ying Zichu:
"The overt siege at the Foundation Establishment level may be suspended, but the covert methods will not be lacking. Assassination, poisoning, ambush, these are all underhanded things that the cultivators of the four countries are capable of doing."
Ying Zichu frowned.
The Qin state had already experienced these tactics before.
"However, Your Highness need not worry too much."
Seeing his solemn expression, Zhou Xuandu softened his tone:
"Now that the disciples of Sanqing Mountain have arrived, they will not stand idly by. Pei Xiyan is in seclusion at Yulin Mountain, where he is protected by the seniors of Yulin Mountain. Cultivators from the four kingdoms dare not approach him easily. However, that Fellow Daoist Li Wu..."
"Brother Li is in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea."
Ying Zichu said, "Although the Dragon Palace is not on land, the depths of the East Sea are also dangerous. If cultivators from the four kingdoms dare to venture deep into it, they may not come out unscathed."
"That's good."
Zhou Xuandu nodded slightly.
The Dragon clan also suffered heavy losses after the war between immortals and demons, and some of the [Water Virtue] inheritance they possessed was taken away.
For example, the [Kan Water] path cultivated by Qi Chengheng.
Even so, the Dragon faction remains a top-tier power.
Not to mention the current Dragon King of the East Sea, Tianxuan Zhenren, who is a Great True Person who has achieved the Five Perfections in the [She Lei] Dao. Even when facing Great True Persons who have achieved the Five Perfections in other Dao lineages, he is not afraid at all.
After all, the higher the status of a cultivator, the more suppressive the [She Lei] technique becomes.
…………
Yue country.
Qi Jia.
Qi Shaoning looked at Qi Chengheng below with a gloomy expression and said in a deep voice.
"I sent you to the [Tai Xu] Secret Realm to find something useful, but you insisted on going to find Li Wu, and even let him take the [Great Edict Thunder-Slaying Scroll]. If other True Immortals find out about this, do you know that I can't protect you either!"
Qi Shao gazed at his most valued junior, but now his face was filled with disappointment.
However, Qi Chengheng said with an indifferent expression:
"Grandpa, rest assured, those who knew about this matter have all remained forever in the [Tai Xu] Secret Realm, and it is absolutely impossible for anyone else to know about it."
"To lose sight of the bigger picture for a small gain, and yet remain unaware of one's crime!"
Qi Shaoning roared. What disappointed him most was not that the [Great Edict of Thunder] had been taken by Li Wu because of Qi Chengheng.
Instead, Qi Chengheng forgot his mission, causing Qi Shaoning to lose the opportunity to trade with Sanqing Mountain.
Qi Shaoning said in a deep voice:
"Now, Sanqing Mountain has turned against Lei Palace, protecting the Qin state and standing on the opposite side of the four kingdoms' orthodox traditions."
"How can I exchange the [Cold Qi] cultivation technique with that fellow Daoist Shangqing?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Chengheng immediately stood up and said:
"Why don't my Qi family follow the example of Sanqing Mountain and join forces with the Thunder Palace?"
"Grandpa, the Golden Axe Sect has lost the 'Jade Pivot Edict of Extermination Scripture.' Now that the Dragon Clan has gathered all three Thunder Clan lineages, the opening of the Jade Pivot Palace is a foregone conclusion. At that time, a new round of war between immortals and demons will surely break out in the world. Why don't we join forces with the Thunder Palace?"
Qi Chengheng cultivated entirely on his own and never ingested any human pills. Therefore, he deeply abhorred the practice of improving cultivation by consuming human pills.
However, upon hearing this, Qi Shaoning's gaze sharpened, and he stared intently at Qi Chengheng.
Yes, Qi Chengheng had never taken any pills.
But what about the other cultivators in the Qi family?
But most of the other cultivators in the Qi family improve their cultivation by consuming human pills.
Putting everything else aside, Qi Shaoning himself only mastered his third supernatural power by eating Ning Miao.
After Qi Chengheng finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief silence.
Qi Shaoning stared at his grandson with a complicated expression.
He certainly knew that Qi Chengheng was right.
With the Three Pure Mountains turning against them and the Dragon Clan gathering all three Thunder Clan lineages, the reappearance of the Jade Pivot Palace is only a matter of time. At that time, all cultivators in the world can exchange merit for cultivation techniques and spiritual treasures; who would still be willing to risk death and the annihilation of their cultivation to consume human pills?
But reason is reason, and reality is reality.
The Qi family was able to stand firm in the Yue Kingdom for a hundred years, and that was never based on reason.
"You may leave."
Qi Shaoning waved his hand and said in a deep voice:
"Let me think about this some more."
Qi Chengheng wanted to say something more, but when he met his grandfather's cloudy yet still sharp eyes, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and bowed as he withdrew.
After he left, Qi Shaoning sat alone in the hall, remaining motionless for a long time.
Outside the hall, the night was as dark as ink, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the wind, casting flickering shadows.
Qi Shaoning slowly closed her eyes, and images from many years ago surfaced in her mind.
At that time, he was not yet a True Person of the Purple Mansion, but just an ordinary member of a collateral branch of the Qi family.
After cultivating for decades, he was stuck at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and could not make any progress. Just when his lifespan was about to end, his family gave him a Human Core.
Later, he broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and then broke through to the Purple Mansion, and has come all the way to where he is today.
He never inquired about how that human pill was made.
They didn't dare to ask any questions.
Now Qi Chengheng has made him stand in the Thunder Palace, severing all ties with the old path of consuming human pills.
How is that possible?
He can't do it, and neither can the Qi family.
"However, we still need to plan for the 'Mountain Pines Reciting the Chill' at Sanqing Mountain."
Qi Shaoning pondered for a long time, thinking to himself:
"Although I cannot overthrow the Gelei Palace, I can stand firm at Sanqing Mountain."
Now, Sanqing Mountain is bound to be under pressure from the four kingdoms' Taoist traditions. Qi Shaoning wondered if he could negotiate with Shangqing through this, and perhaps obtain "Mountain Pine Reciting the Cold Thoughts".
With this thought in mind, Qi Shaoning immediately fled into the void and headed towards Sanqing Mountain.
…………
Sanqingshan.
Shangqing felt the sudden chill and immediately knew that it was a fellow Daoist visiting, so he also went to the Great Void.
"Fellow Daoist Shao Ning, it's been a long time."
Shangqing was still holding a sword, looking rather uninterested.
Qi Shaoning focused his gaze, trying to see a different emotion on Shang Qing's face, but found nothing.
"Fellow Daoist Shangqing, I have come here today to discuss a deal with you at Sanqing Mountain."
"What kind of deal?" Shang Qing asked casually.
"I want 'Mountain Pines Reciting the Chill'."
Shang Qing nodded slightly; he had already guessed Qi Shaoning's purpose, and then asked:
"What will you offer in exchange?"
Qi Shaoning seemed quite confident as he spoke:
"Fellow Daoist Shangqing is surely well aware of the current situation at Sanqing Mountain."
"Since the disciples of Sanqing Mountain protected the Qin Kingdom, many fellow Daoists now want to destroy Sanqing Mountain. If you are willing, please give me the 'Mountain Pine Reciting the Cold'."
"I guarantee that the Qi family will absolutely not participate in any schemes concerning Sanqing Mountain."
"What Fellow Daoist Shao Ning said is quite interesting."
Shangqing's voice was neither hurried nor slow:
"My fellow Daoist said that if I hand over 'The Cold Sentiment of the Mountain Pine,' the Qi family will not participate in the scheme against Sanqing Mountain."
"But how come I remember that the Qi family wasn't involved?"
Qi Shaoning's gaze sharpened.
Shangqing continued:
"When the four Purple Mansion True Immortals gathered at Sanqing Mountain, did the Qi family send anyone? When the cultivators from the four kingdoms besieged the Qin Kingdom cultivators, did the Qi family contribute a single soldier?"
"Fellow Daoist Shao Ning, you're offering me something you're not even doing in the first place as a bargain. Isn't that a bit too good to be true?"
Qi Shaoning's expression remained unchanged as he said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoist Shangqing, you are mistaken. Although my Qi family has not made a move, we have not expressed our stance either. Now, the four kingdoms are eyeing Sanqing Mountain with covetous intent. If the Qi family were to side with the four kingdoms now, Sanqing Mountain's situation would likely become even more difficult."
Although Qi Shaoning is only a Purple Mansion with three supernatural powers, he has a life supernatural power called [Zhen Musi].
The power of life may have limited effect on cultivators of the same realm, but it is difficult for cultivators of lower realms to imitate.
If Qi Shaoning were to target the disciples of Sanqing Mountain, even Shangqing would find it difficult to prevent it.
Shang Qing slightly raised his eyes, a hint of sharpness finally appearing in his lazy gaze, and said coldly:
"Fellow Daoist, are you threatening me?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Qi Shaoning shook his head, his tone sincere:
"I am merely stating the facts. Fellow Daoist Shangqing is a wise man and should understand that in this world, the one less enemy means one more chance of survival. I ask for nothing else but 'Mountain Pine Recites the Chill'."
"As long as Fellow Daoist Shangqing agrees to my request, the Qi family will not only refrain from participating in the schemes against Sanqing Mountain, but will also provide Sanqing Mountain with information on the movements of the four kingdoms."
Upon hearing this, Shang Qing closed his eyes and pondered for a long time. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally spoke:
"I can give you 'Mountain Pine Reciting the Cold'."
In Shang Qing's view, even if Qi Shaoning obtains "The Cold Sentiment of the Mountain Pine", it will take at least twenty years to cultivate the fourth supernatural power.
After all, there are very few cultivators in the world like Ning Miao who are born with a cold constitution.
Twenty years later, the Jade Pivot Hall had already been opened.
At that time, he will personally eliminate Qi Shaoning.
…………
Qi Chengheng returned to his courtyard, his face grim.
He could naturally tell that his grandfather was unwilling to overthrow the Gore Palace.
After all, at least four-fifths of the Qi family members have taken human pills.
Such a defection of the Qi family to Lei Palace will likely be targeted and eliminated by Lei Palace.
"The reappearance of Lei Palace is an inevitable trend, Grandpa. Even if you are unwilling, you cannot go against it."
Qi Chengheng understood perfectly, and he pondered to himself:
"The entire family is rotten to the core; only a radical cure can save them."
"Only when I break through to the Purple Mansion realm, become a True Person of the [Kan Water] realm, and cultivate sword intent can I purify the Qi family."
Qi Chengheng had already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, and later fought two more intense battles with Li Wu in the [Tai Xu] secret realm.
This gave him a significant understanding of both the [Kan Shui] method and the way of the sword.
With this in mind, Qi Chengheng immediately went into seclusion to cultivate, hoping to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm as soon as possible, or perhaps cultivate sword intent.
"Brother Heng."
Just then, a shout came from outside.
Qi Chengheng recognized his younger sister Qi Qinyao's voice, his gloomy expression vanished, and he turned to open the door.
A young girl in the corridor carried a glass lantern, its bright yellow light illuminating her slightly pale face.
Qi Qinyao said with a worried expression:
"Heng-ge, Grandpa didn't punish you, did he?"
Qi Chengheng shook his head and asked:
"Qinyao, have you ever taken Ren Dan (a type of elixir)?"
Qi Qinyao was taken aback, then lowered her eyes and whispered:
"I ate it once, when I was breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
"It was given to me by my father. He said it was taken from a death row inmate in the Yue Kingdom."
Qi Chengheng remained silent.
He knew it was a lie.
The aptitudes of death row inmates in the Yue Kingdom varied greatly, making it impossible to refine a elixir capable of helping someone break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
He didn't reveal the origin of that pill, but his sister actually knew the truth.
"I wish to thoroughly cleanse Qi's family."
Qi Chengheng spoke directly and in a deep voice:
"Anyone who voluntarily consumes human pills to enhance their cultivation will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from the family."
Qi Qinyao suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with horror.
"Heng-ge, are you crazy?"
She lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard by those outside:
"How many members of the Qi family haven't taken the Human Elixir? Your single word of 'purification' is pushing most of the clan towards their deaths!"
"So Grandpa won't agree."
Qi Chengheng spoke calmly and in a deep voice:
"So I can only rely on myself."
Qi Qinyao stared at him, her lips trembling slightly.
She knew her brother too well.
He was never one to boast.
Once he says something, it means he has made up his mind, and nothing can change it.
"You...you've only just reached the completion of the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Even if you break through to the Purple Mansion realm, what can you use to contend with Grandpa? Grandpa is a Purple Mansion True Person with three supernatural powers, and he also has a Life Supernatural Power. You..."
"So I need to cultivate sword intent first."
Qi Chengheng's expression was firm as he said in a deep voice:
"Once I master sword intent and break through to the Purple Mansion realm, even my grandfather will be no match for me."
Seeing that his younger sister wanted to say something more, Qi Chengheng raised his hand to interrupt her, saying:
"Qinyao, do you know why I must choose this path?"
Qi Qinyao did not speak.
"Because I've seen enough."
Qi Chengheng said in a deep voice:
"The Qi family has been consuming human pills for a hundred years. In these hundred years, how many innocent people have been used as materials for alchemy? How many cultivators have slaughtered mortals in order to break through their cultivation levels?"
"We all pretend we don't know, because we're not the ones being eaten, we're the ones benefiting."
"But what became of those clansmen who consumed the human pills? They became inhuman, lazy, greedy, and utterly lacking in ambition."
"He only knows how to swallow human pills and has completely lost his human form."
"If this continues, will the Qi family still be the Qi family?"