Chapter 1835: Different Paths, Same Outcome (I)

As Tao Jiexing departed on the wind, Ch'i Lanyan's expression grew uglier still. Anger and resentment weighed upon his heart with nowhere to find release. Hands clasped behind his back, he paced three or four steps through the great hall without a word.

Below him, Fan Kang, the man in Daoist robes, waited for a while, repeatedly glancing up to study his master's changing expression. Feeling he could remain silent no longer, yet not daring to mention Guangchan, he finally looked up and said, "Master... With Baixiang Valley lost... I fear we can no longer keep the enemy out of the Central Plain. The Buddhist cultivators are fickle as well. Fortunately, Baiye Capital Immortal Dao remains in our hands."

"And what good is that now?!"

The outburst silenced Fan Kang at once. Worry creased his brow, and he could only try another approach, saying hesitantly, "If they advance north after taking Baixiang Valley... The Central Plain lies just beyond it, and its defenses are weak... To become the first cultivators in centuries to invade the north... surely they would also..."

The young man at the head of the hall laughed in exasperation. "Yang Ruiyi will never attack Lower Luo and provoke the northern kings and great clans! The Great Song has yet to establish its strength. Is killing Guangchan not enough? Must they alarm the entire north, both court and populace? And Li Zhouwei certainly won't walk into a trap!"

He hesitated, then sighed and said, "I wish he would keep heading north. Then we would have nothing to worry about. But as I see it... he will almost certainly come for Baiye!"

Understanding his meaning, Fan Kang hurriedly said, "We should dispatch reinforcements immediately..."

Ch'i Lanyan regarded him coldly. "If I send my people to Baiye, what are we to do if Yang Ruiyi attacks Shanji?!"

Fan Kang fell silent again. Ch'i Lanyan said through gritted teeth, "The defeat at Baixiang Valley and Guangchan's death have cost us a major general, but the situation can still be salvaged... The trouble is that all our forces at Baixiang Valley have scattered.

“Every one of those Daoist Masters is a schemer, and the south's Banished Essence is terrifying. They will be nursing their injuries, and none of them will show themselves anytime soon... Would Tuoba Ci listen to me? We can forget Chengyun as well. At best, we can try Murong Yan and the Helian Family..."

This was the crux of what had troubled Ch'i Lanyan all along. Although the southern Daoist Masters belonged to different Dao lineages, imperial authority and True Essence kept them united, at least outwardly. The northern cultivators, however, had almost all come in answer to a summons. Without something to gain, who would risk their life?

Purple Mansion Realm cultivators had a say in matters, after all, and could not be ordered about like servants. Faced with the same kind of rout, Great Zhao was far slower to respond. The forces now at his disposal were now even at a slight disadvantage against the south.

That immediately placed Ch'i Lanyan in a difficult position. Banished Essence and True Essence were formidable, while Li Zhouwei, Liu Bai... and even Situ Huo were all outstanding figures. Unless the north could secure an advantage in overall strength, they might well suffer another rout!

The prospect filled Ch'i Lanyan with alarm. "Once Baiye falls as well, the lands around the two rivers in western Jiangbei will merge into a single, unified territory. Retaking them will be far harder... Shanji will be next!"

Cold sweat began to form on his forehead. After playing the fool and subtly guiding the conversation for so long, Fan Kang finally saw his opportunity. He edged forward and revealed what he truly had in mind.

"I wonder... Why not attack Baixiang Valley?"

Ch'i Lanyan parted his lips, then abruptly stopped. Looking thoughtful, he said, "Go on."

Fan Kang hurriedly gathered his thoughts and said quietly, "Master, Yang Ruiyi is certainly still set on Shanji. Baixiang Valley is by no means his first priority. But if they attack the Capital Immortal Dao, Baixiang Valley will almost certainly be left vulnerable. If we reach an agreement with Chief Jiang and offer to move west to help tie down the enemy, he will most likely be tempted. Retaking Baixiang Valley would also restore some of Dayang Mountain's prestige...

"But most importantly, we would not have to supply the manpower for that part of the operation."

Ch'i Lanyan nodded, and Fan Kang continued, "As for the Capital Immortal Dao... I believe the south is determined to take it. We cannot hold it..."

Ch'i Lanyan's expression darkened further. Just as he was about to speak, Fan Kang hurriedly continued, "But if we take Baixiang Valley and lose the Capital Immortal Dao... what situation would that resemble, master?"

Ch'i Lanyan fell briefly silent. Fan Kang finished, "The previous life..."

He had barely uttered the words when the Daoist Master silenced him with a fierce glare. Fan Kang immediately corrected himself. "The Heavenly Plain... the visions of the Heavenly Plain.

"Barring unforeseen changes, that wretch of Wei should have only two divine abilities. Yang Ruiyi should have been guarding Mount Tangdao personally, while Guangchan and the others' ambush would come to nothing. Li Zhouwei would have taken Baiye, and Liu Bai and the others would have held the Shanji region...

"It was precisely because we had worked out the dispositions from the previous life that we placed such trust in the Banished Essence at Mount Tangdao, hoping to preserve the overall situation as much as possible... We never expected someone to exploit that and make matters even worse. But if everything proceeds as I suggest..."

Ch'i Lanyan understood. Raising his brows, he said, "If we exchange the Capital Immortal Dao for Baixiang Valley, the overall situation will actually be the same as in the previous life!"

Fan Kang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Exactly! So long as we hold Shanji, those within the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm cannot simply stand by, nor can they allow Jeweled Fang to fall into someone else's hands. Whether they put forward another person or send someone south, the situation should not differ too greatly in the short term.

"What we must do is preserve the overall situation... Only then can we make the fullest use of the Heavenly Plain's foreknowledge!"

Ch'i Lanyan took his words to heart. Looking up thoughtfully, he said, "The real changes are Guangchan's death... and Li Zhouwei somehow reaching the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm... We must keep the overall situation unchanged... to preserve our advantage..."

Even as they discussed the changing situation, simply uttering that Li Zhouwei had reached the middle stage of Purple Mansion Realm still filled him with disbelief.

"It defies all reason!"

To Ch'i Lanyan, it was utterly inexplicable. Their plan had gone even better than the Heavenly Plain had foretold. They had borrowed a spirit treasure and severely wounded Li Zhouwei. Even if he recovered, his cultivation should have stagnated. How had he broken through instead?

Does your cultivation advance faster the more grievously you're wounded, Li Zhouwei?!

This was a terrible turn of events. Li Zhouwei's [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] was one of the most troublesome Bright Yang divine abilities. Now that he had attained it, surrounding and killing him would be twice as difficult!

Not to mention that Li Ximing has also gained [Radiance Under Heaven]!

Although he now knew the best way to recover their losses, gloom still filled his heart. Suddenly, he demanded sharply, "Tell me... Why has Li Zhouwei suddenly reached the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm?!"

Ch'i Lanyan's thoughts shifted as quickly as the turn of a page. Fan Kang was still basking in the joy of having persuaded him and never expected such a sudden, sharp demand.

He trembled all over and hurriedly replied, "I... I don't know!"

Ch'i Lanyan narrowed his eyes, seemingly growing suspicious. "You said you knew a great deal about his pursuit of the Golden Core Realm. You even took part in the final battle and were cut down by that General Chen, or whatever his name was... Yet you somehow misheard how his cultivation progressed?"

Fan Kang was momentarily speechless. He murmured, "I don't know either... I... I..."

Fan Kang muttered for a long time before a sudden flash of insight struck him. Understanding dawned, and he clapped his hands. "I understand now!"

Ch'i Lanyan watched him coldly as Fan Kang said urgently, "I understand now... Great Song... perhaps even Moongaze Lake... must also have someone favored by the Heavenly Plain! Li Ximing didn't stay in Tingzhou instead of going to the Western Sea because my plans changed things. It was that other bearer of the Heavenly Plain interfering!"

Convinced that he had found the answer, he clapped in delight. Ch'i Lanyan merely looked at him impassively and sneered. "The Heavenly Plain? In Tingzhou? What fantasy are you dreaming up?!"

Rebuffed so bluntly, Fan Kang grew even more anxious. "Master... I..."

Ch'i Lanyan interrupted him. "There can be no Heavenly Plain in Tingzhou! The renowned [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument] is right there on the lake! How do you think that damned troublemaker was destroyed back then? It was thanks to that Exalted Immortal treasure! The Heavenly Plain can reach any corner beneath the heavens, but not Tingzhou!

"If any of the Li Family's direct descendants showed signs of knowing the future, would things look like this now? Besides... Besides, this is no secret to those great figures. Do you think all those eyes in the heavens are blind?"

Fan Kang could find no reply. Ch'i Lanyan laughed coldly. "And it is even less likely to have fallen to Li Zhouwei."

He stopped there. Unwilling to concede, Fan Kang said, "Then it must be... a leading minister of Great Song... One who favors the Li Family, which is why they intervened!"

Ch'i Lanyan turned with his hands clasped behind his back and said, "Ignorant boy... Do you think Great Song truly lacks access to the Heavenly Plain? Stop dreaming. They are the Underworld's judiciary, after all! Do you think you are safely hidden under my protection? The great figures in the heavens have already examined you... The Underworld's judiciary knows about you as well! Those great figures simply have no wish to intervene and become entangled in the Heavenly Plain's karma, so they all remain silent!"

Fan Kang stared blankly at him. As Ch'i Lanyan's understanding deepened, he sneered. "But your reminder has helped me understand... Whether Yang Ruiyi can foresee the future remains uncertain, but the Underworld's judiciary does want the course of world affairs to conform to the Heavenly Plain's predictions. Otherwise, we would not have this opportunity to exchange the Capital Immortal Dao for Baixiang Valley! Do you think different paths simply lead to the same outcome? Wrong! They do not want things to change!

"The course of world affairs may not be in their hands, but it is within their sight..."

He swallowed the rest of his words. Clarity filled his mind, as though every clue had fallen into place, and he sneered inwardly.

If the world changes drastically and events take an entirely different course, how will these bearers of the Heavenly Plain exploit their opportunities? How will they uncover all those legacies of Douxuan? How will Douxuan's [Chuyi Grotto Heaven] open? How will treasures keep emerging from beneath First-Tier Mountain? Guangchan's death must have been an accident. It must even have displeased the great figures in the heavens!

Whatever we change... It must not be the current overall situation!

With that realization, Ch'i Lanyan's thoughts abruptly cleared. He brought his hands together and said, "I understand! Recall Gongsun Bei and the others and have them go to Shanji together. I will head to Capital Immortal Dao with the Helian Family's people. We cannot let him take it too quickly, or we may fail to recover Baixiang Valley in time... As for that... spirit treasure... I will find an opportunity to borrow it for Gongsun Bei later."

He felt relieved, but Fan Kang's face was still covered in cold sweat. Too shaken to speak for a moment, he finally asked quietly, "Then Nuzi... and the others at Capital Immortal Dao..."

Ch'i Lanyan sneered and replied, "Need you even ask? Even Tao Jiexing has left. Do you think those Buddhist cultivators will obediently remain at Capital Immortal Dao?"

Yet the mention of Tao Jiexing made Ch'i Lanyan speak with regret. "A pity. Our ties with the Tao Family cannot be meddled with lightly, and now that spiritual qi is out of reach again..."

Those words brought Fan Kang back to reality. He fell silent for a moment, feeling that Ch'i Lanyan was far too obsessed... He was even beginning to find him frightening. His rebirth had given Ch'i Lanyan every advantage of foreknowledge, yet the Daoist Master had not yielded in the slightest. He had only grown more stubborn.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.