"Three thousand feet of worldly mortals, tender threads twined around the finger..."

For some reason, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly thought of this line.

He continued to hear Lord Qingyuan's voice, "Qingyuan might sound too formal. If True Monarch does not mind, you may call me by my name... 'Dao Yao'!"

"County Lord..."

Beside him, the newly arrived Cui Shanggong seemed about to faint.

Zhong Shenxiu was also taken aback.

After all, ancient women were different, and their maiden names were very important, divulged only to close family members or during the name-asking ceremony after engagement, revealing it to their future husband.

However, Yan Han was different, some female practitioners and heroes did not regard this as important.

But as the Lord of Yan Han, a model for women all over the world, this concern was still very significant.

'I just came to have a cup of tea, how did I manage to get myself involved?'

Zhong Shenxiu felt slightly depressed and was about to speak when he saw a prince approaching leisurely.

He appeared to be in his thirties, surrounded by attendants, with a mustache on his upper lip, truly in the prime of manhood.

At this moment, he directly came to the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, "So my sister is here, oh, and Donghua True Monarch too."

"Second Brother is courteous."

Lord Qingyuan's face showed displeasure, but she still stood up and performed a courtesy.

"So, it is the Second Prince himself."

Zhong Shenxiu remained seated, very calm.

"Have not yet congratulated True Monarch on his title..."

The Second Prince didn't mind, laughed, and said, "I've heard that True Monarch's Daoist skills are excellent. A friend from the East Sea wishes to discuss Dao with True Monarch. Please do not hesitate to teach."

"Who might that be?"

Zhong Shenxiu smiled faintly, his eyes already noticing someone behind the Second Prince.

That person was also a Primordial Spirit Cultivation expert, wearing a Five-Colored Cloud Robe, a jade hairpin in his hair, eyebrows long and elegant, naturally exuding a spiritual charm.

"From the East Sea, Ji Daoling of Fangcun Spirit Mountain. In three days, a banquet will be held outside the city at Chufeng Mountain. Please do not disappoint me..."

Ji Daoling spoke coldly, his handsome face filled with a challenging expression.

"Very well, I accept your invitation."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded.

"Farewell!"

Ji Daoling turned and left.

Staying here, he always felt suppressed by Donghua True Monarch because of his title, very uncomfortable.

"Then, sister, please entertain True Monarch well. I will also take my leave."

The Second Prince laughed heartily and left with Ji Daoling.

"I, being an outsider, should not stay long in the palace. I will take my leave now."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded slightly to Lord Qingyuan, and in an instant, his figure vanished like the mist with the wind, leaving no trace.

...

Inside the mansion of the Fourth Prince.

Zhong Shenxiu had no place to stay in Changluo and thought for a while before deciding to seek the Fourth Prince's hospitality.

For the Fourth Prince, this was naturally a welcome development, or rather thrilling.

In this way, he had completely tied this rare combative force to his chariot.

"That Ji Daoling is known as 'Favored by the Great Dao, Naturally Enchanting,'" the Fourth Prince said in front of Zhong Shenxiu, "and he practices the cultivation technique of Fangcun Spirit Mountain. Although this technique hasn't produced any immortals who could shed their physical body to achieve enlightenment, its Dharma Body is still considered complete. The head of his sect is Dongping Haomiao True Monarch, who cultivated the 'East Sea Spirit Monarch Dharma Body!'"

"Ji Daoling has practiced ascetically for three hundred years and has reached the point of crafting a Dharma Image, which naturally is the 'Spirit Lord Dharma Form.' It is said that this Dharma Form can contain heaven and earth within a square inch and possesses the ability of the void, as well as to manipulate the elemental water forces of heaven and earth..."

Dharma Images are ethereal, while Dharma Bodies are solid, but if the cultivation technique is legitimately passed down, the Dharma Image naturally resembles the Dharma Body by fifty to sixty percent.

From the cultivation technique of the Fangcun Spirit Mountain, one can guess some impressive aspects of the 'Spirit Lord Dharma Form.'

"Besides, Ji Daoling also has a set of the Black Emperor Water Scenery Sword. This flying sword set consists of twelve blades, each exceedingly sharp and also flexible. When the twelve swords are deployed together, they can arrange the 'Twelve Water Elements Green Waves Formation.' This formation is said to have evolved from the ancient immortal formation—Nine Curves Yellow River, and it's incredibly powerful. It can suppress a Daoist's cultivation level and eliminate their Three Flowers and Five Qi..."

"Not to mention, this battle concerns the reputation of East Sea Cultivators. At the very least, the head of Fangcun Spirit Mountain, Dongping Haomiao True Monarch, won't just watch idly. He is very likely to bestow the sect's spiritual treasure—the East Dragon Pot to Ji Daoling for protection. This pot can be regarded as a formidable Primordial Spirit..."

The Fourth Prince basically blurted out all the information about Ji Daoling in one breath before he saw Zhong Shenxiu's expression turn slightly odd: "Fourth Prince seems quite familiar with the East Sea Cultivators."

"Just some East Sea Independent Practitioners have sought refuge and joined under my command..."

The Fourth Prince gave a dry laugh.

Zhong Shenxiu shook his head.

He felt that although major sects like Taiping Sect, which had immortals who had shed their physical body, didn't have much interest in who became Emperor, other sects with Dharma Bodies seemed quite enthusiastic.

But thinking about it, no matter who becomes Emperor, he must not forget the piece of pork allotted to the three Daoist sects.

The rest would have to be fought over by these sects.

If they could support someone of their own to become Emperor, it would naturally be a beautiful thing.

The two from the Royal Dharma Body couldn't intervene; after all, as long as it was someone from their family who became Emperor, it indeed did not matter which Prince it was.

'Thus, it looks like the Fourth Prince also has other supporters behind him, perhaps even Penglai or Yingzhou...'

'Although they're all called East Sea Independent Practitioners, the competition among them might even be fiercer than the conflict between the Daoist and Demon Sects...'

'Besides, what are the attitudes of the two Buddhist Sect temples?'

Zhong Shenxiu thought for a moment and indeed felt it was a complex mess, no wonder the old emperor had died so long ago and a new sovereign had yet to emerge.

...

Three days later.

Chufeng Mountain.

What a grand event it is for two top-tier Primordial Spirits to convene for a discussion?

The heads of sects with Dharma Bodies have a tacit understanding; once they make a move, it would turn heaven and earth upside down. It's not a massive battle, but the interaction at the level of Primordial Spirits is already the limit.

Not to mention, the two Primordial Spirits about to discuss are no ordinary figures.

Ji Daoling goes without saying, the number one Primordial Spirit of the East Sea, and even after entering Central Earth, he faintly held the status of the number one Primordial Spirit under heaven!

Young Master Shen Xiu, though not well known, had his status clarified by the royal court's conferment as a True Monarch.

This title is mostly given only to Dharma Body Experts!

Thus, when the news spread, clouds stirred all around, with countless cultivators gathering to witness the clash of these two experts.

Even True Disciples from the powerful sects of the Daoist and Demon Sects were present.

Early in the morning, the army stationed at Changluo set out for Chufeng Mountain to disperse the common people and maintain order.

As the sun rose in the east, numerous cloud chariots arrived around the mountain, transforming into pavilions, towers, and magnificent palaces, hosting countless cultivation experts and nobility.

"I heard that this challenge by Ji Daoling to Donghua True Monarch is due to not accepting the other being conferred as a True Monarch with the identity of a Primordial Spirit and wants to seize the title of True Monarch!"

"How could a royal conferment be snatched away?"

"Hehe... if Donghua True Monarch loses this battle, would he still have the face to continue calling himself a True Monarch?"

...

The numerous conversations reached the ears of Lord Qingyuan, causing her hands to fidget nervously.

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