Chapter 1720: Deception (II)
Chapter 1720: Deception (II)
Dingjiao waited for a while. When Chi Buzi gave no answer, he continued calmly, "Rest assured. Now that Wei Xuanyin has placed the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] in your hands, you have received the recognition of the Pavilion of Profound Order and even Mount Luoxia itself. With us vouching for you as well, Pristine Water will not kill you even if he discovers something."
An intrigued smile appeared on his face as he added, "But you reside within the Pristine Pool, and Pristine Water is consumed by suspicion. How that lord intends to protect you and conceal your collusion from Pristine Water, or how he will arrange for the fox tribe to contact you... Those are problems He must solve himself."
Chi Buzi was no ordinary man. After hearing these two statements, the connections suddenly became clear in his mind, First... this Lord Xuan'an must be the True Monarch behind the fox tribe...
And Moongaze Lake... must lie within this True Monarch's territory. Whether this is all a misunderstanding or the truth, that must be why Dingjiao regards me as one of this True Monarch's people...
This True Monarch's shadow also looms behind the so-called Li Family. At the very least, this True Monarch hopes that Li Zhouwei will attain the Dao! The dragons regard me as a messenger precisely because they believe I am the Grand Daoist Master who represents his interests!
In other words, the dragons believe that Li Zhouwei and I are closely connected. Li Jiangnian may be involved in some transaction or serve as some form of proof between two True Monarchs. They invited me to witness this spectacle because they see me as that side's representative!
His earlier doubts abruptly vanished, and Chi Buzi finally understood why Dingjiao had made a special trip to meet him. Yet uncovering this hidden truth left him deeply shaken, and he soon realized something else. No matter what, he now had to be a man serving this True Monarch Xuan'an!
He raised his eyes and said softly, "There is no need for the Dragon King to concern himself with that matter..."
Dingjiao merely smiled, while Chi Buzi's ambitions swelled explosively, filling his entire heart in an instant.
What was the fundamental reason Chi Buzi did not trust the dragons? They had no need that only he could fulfill, while he lacked a sufficiently powerful backer to negotiate with them! If he truly could borrow the influence of a True Monarch, he might not be able to turn this false identity into reality, but it would not be difficult to seize the opportunity and pledge his allegiance... He still had a chance!
My most urgent task is to learn more about this True Monarch Xuan'an!
His thoughts raced like lightning. He withdrew his hand, his expression inscrutable, and replied, "In that case, the lords of your esteemed clan must have known long ago that I intend to cultivate Mansion Water."
His response was perfectly judged. Dingjiao chuckled and replied, "How could we not know? Mansion Water belongs to [Qingxuan]. How many people in this age are capable of laying a hand on it?"
Those words once again filled Chi Buzi's heart with alarm.
Dingjiao's laughter faded. Seeing that Chi Buzi still offered no response, he sighed inwardly, Xuan'an is indeed in poor condition... The [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument] stands at Moongaze Lake, preventing the lords from divining anything within, while Lord Tang personally keeps watch beside the lake! Qingyu Qian merely lured a member of the Si Family into the lake to make use of him, and that man was banished and destroyed soon afterward... The defenses of that place are airtight...
His thoughts raced, but Chi Buzi raised his eyes to meet his and shrewdly shook his head before saying mildly, "So that is how it is. Senior Zeng Zan's excursion today was not without purpose. It was the crown prince who granted me this horn."
Dingjiao laughed despite himself and replied, "Zeng Zan is close to the Black Dragon Succession. You could say that Guang Fou is the one who granted you this."
Dingjiao showed little displeasure at the mention of Guang Fou. Unlike his father, the Bei Sea Dragon King, this White Dragon Crown Prince was more ambitious and enterprising. Though he disliked the Black Dragon Succession, he retained a measure of goodwill toward Guang Fou and likewise hoped that more True Monarchs would align themselves with the dragons. It was simply difficult for him to defy his father's command. Otherwise, he would not have volunteered to come and test Li Jiangnian today!
Chi Buzi's gaze transformed subtly as he quietly watched Dingjiao, who continued softly, "Lord Xuan'an was willing to bring out the [Profound Bearer Supreme Yin White Laurel Branch] and place it in the hands of Chunyi Dao Gate. We dragons were greatly pleased to see this, and the lord was also full of praise upon hearing of it... He said that Lord Xuan'an had finally recognized the situation and made a sacrifice, rather than clinging alone to his so-called spotless purity..."
Chi Buzi frowned slightly and seized the opportunity to ask softly, "I do not fully understand this matter... Please enlighten me."
Dingjiao frowned and explained earnestly, "When Jiequn perished while attaining the Dao, it proved that there might be something wrong with the Supreme Yin Position. Yet everyone remained wary of it. No one knows which True Monarch deliberately composed the [Supreme Yin Profound-Seeking Secret Technique] and secretly inserted it into the Pure One Dao's inheritance... They even forged [Jiequn's] final decree to deceive everyone."
"The [Profound Method of Seeking the Supreme Yin] is indeed a method of breakthrough, but every secret art within it also points directly toward the foundations of Supreme Yin. It combines the life of the Dao seeker with a spirit item from a [Supreme Yin Surplus Position] in hopes of eliciting a response from the Principal Position. This allowed them to probe the obscurity around Supreme Yin to determine the true state of the Fruition Position's master.
"The true state of a Fruition Attainment is ordinarily impossible to discern, but the former master of Supreme Yin left behind a contingency. They secured one Surplus Position and made it shine brightly, allowing later generations to ascend to it... Yet that very contingency gave the Profound Method a loophole to exploit."
The Dragon King gently swept his sleeve and continued quietly, "Using the spirit item to attain the Dao through the [Profound Method of Seeking the Supreme Yin] will greatly advance the True Monarchs' understanding of Supreme Yin. Once the spirit item [Profound Bearer Supreme Yin White Laurel Branch] attains the Dao, senses the great void, and reveals the truth, the matter of the Supreme Yin Position may finally be settled."
The sky gradually darkened. Still seated, Chi Buzi asked quietly, "Then what are the lords still waiting for? And what do the dragons... need?"
Dingjiao calmly replied, "They are waiting for the world to settle, for [True Essence] to be attained, for the True Dragon to answer the call of the age, for Bright Yang to fall, and for the Supreme Shaman to return to its position. Once every faction has resolved the matters at hand and all the lords have returned to their positions, [Donghua Heaven] will be able to descend. The mystery of Yin and Yang that has plagued us to this day must finally be brought to a conclusion. As for you...
"Can you afford to wait until then, Daoist Master?"
Dingjiao continued softly, "As for us... I do not know what plans that lord has made for you, but my lord hopes that... the Grand Daoist Master will consume this horn, perfect his divine ability, and become one of the dragons' hidden trump cards, intervening in Jiangbei at the critical moment!"
The demonic creature looked deeply at him and said mildly, "This will help you, help him, and, above all, help us."
Chi Buzi remained silent for a long while. The figure before him scattered like the wind, while the enormous beast silently sank beneath the sea. The vast palace gleaming in the night likewise disappeared into the depths, leaving not the slightest trace behind.
Xuan'an... I must investigate him thoroughly...
The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting sheets of radiance across the sea. Chi Buzi looked upon the now-deserted waters, the turmoil in his heart gradually subsiding as he stared intently at the ebb and flow of the tides.
But does Pristine Water... truly intend to ignore me?
Why would someone like him allow me to act so freely... He seems entirely unconcerned that I might join the dragons' camp, or that he might gain an enemy on the level of a True Monarch in the future...
Is this possible?
He slowly raised his head and gazed at the luminous moon as he thought, Or could it be... that Dingjiao and the dragons are deceiving me as well? That they are just as certain as Pristine Water... that I will never succeed.