CHAPTER 554: CHAPTER 553: CHUNSHUI PALACE JOINS THE BATTLE

Lin Xiaosu picked up the wine jug and poured a cup for Li Chushui: "Lord Li, I won’t give you some illusory optimism to deceive you into leaving Kun Cang. I’ll lay the truth before you and strive to be as honest as possible!"

Li Chushui sighed lightly: "It has been nearly a millennium since I entered Kun Cang. In this thousand years, the imperial ambitions of the outside world have been like a revolving lantern. I’ve never considered coming out to war because we all thought that the rise and fall of human affairs over a millennium is normal, and observing the cultivation path with cold eyes is also normal."

"As far as I know, most cultivators have this mentality. Regardless of who governs the world, it bears no relation to the winds and clouds of the cultivation road," Lin Xiaosu said. "However, this time it’s different! This time it’s an invasion from the Strange Realm! This time it’s a clash of civilizations!"

Li Chushui said: "The people are unwilling to give up their present stability?"

"Absolutely unwilling!"

"And the rulers have resolved to fight to the death?"

"Yes! At least in Daxia Country, they have!"

"For the sake of belief in their hearts, they would fly into the fire like a moth...is that so?" Li Chushui sighed faintly.

"Actually, that’s not entirely true!" Lin Xiaosu said. "If managed well, we have a chance to counter-kill the invaders."

"A chance?" Li Chushui’s eyes lit up slightly.

"Firstly, although modern society is in the End of Dharma Era, it possesses technology. Under missiles, the Enlightenment Realm would still turn to ashes!" Lin Xiaosu extended a finger.

Li Chushui nodded slightly: "I have personally witnessed the terror of the Qianlong missiles. If the missile’s power is enhanced several times, it would not be difficult to kill the Enlightenment Realm. What’s the second point?"

"Secondly, we don’t need to worry about other countries, only Daxia Country. Within the Daxia Border, there are currently only three breaches. These three breaches don’t even require the deployment of such great weapons as missiles. Relying solely on arrays, they are sufficient to trap and kill a great number of giants of the Enlightenment Realm."

Li Chushui’s eyes widened in excitement: "Arrays? More advanced than the one that trapped Xiaoyao Palace that day?"

"When entering Kun Cang that day, the main purpose was just to probe, not to cull the sects of Kun Cang. The array that trapped Xiaoyao Palace was overall mild, merely a trap array. When facing the violent invaders crossing boundaries, why show mercy? I will let them see what it truly means for the Array Path to be ruthless!"

Li Chushui’s heart raced: "Is there a third point?"

"Thirdly, we have a basic theory that the first wave of people or beasts that emerge is generally of a lower level. The true experts will only appear once the Heavenly Dao Rules are fully restored. Every generation does its generation’s work, and we happened to get a good time. Facing these lower-level cross-boundary beings, theoretically, we can execute complete annihilation."

Li Chushui’s heart, which had wavered, slowly returned to his chest.

Ding Ruoshui watched as he wavered his master, unsure of what to feel.

She suspected her troublesome husband was bluffing, but she had no evidence, and she wouldn’t speak even if she did...

"Fourth!" Lin Xiaosu extended his fourth finger: "Qianlong’s affairs are governed by the principle of who contributes benefits. This entry into Kun Cang, those sects willing to fight for Daxia will definitely be rewarded by Daxia."

"For example?"

"The Beasts that cross boundaries have Primordial Crystals. The cross-boundary people have Otherworldly Treasures. These can all be distributed to the participants. Additionally, in this opened folded space, the participating sects can claim land as their boundary and establish their sect in our part of the world."

Li Chushui was tempted...

Kun Cang is, in fact, a large prison.

Especially when Kun Cang is sealed, its prison nature is fully evident.

If a part of the Heaven and Earth Essence outside recovers, suitable for the survival of the Enlightenment Realm, who wouldn’t want to establish a sect in that world?

To establish a sect there without cause, Daxia wouldn’t allow it, but if they participate in this great war as allies, they truly can establish a sect outside...

For sects to branch out and flourish is every Sect Master’s obsession.

Li Chushui was almost completely persuaded.

Lin Xiaosu smiled: "Besides these, I can personally come to some consensus with these sects, such as jointly researching arrays, sharing the essence of arrays I obtained from the Circulation Array, and the Qiankun Nine Forms as recorded in the Qiankun Breaking Array Map with allies."

In an instant, Li Chushui’s heart, which seldom beat intensely over a thousand years, pounded intensely.

As a cultivator, who isn’t drawn to the most mysterious Array Path on the Cultivation Path?

As a sect master, who doesn’t wish to possess a set of Mountain Protection Array?

Lin Xiaosu’s cultivation might be dismissed by the giants of the Enlightenment Realm, but his Array Path has already stirred up a bloody storm in Kun Cang.

And now, he is willing to share his Array Path with allies!

This is indeed today’s heavy blow; it needs only one strike for Li Chushui to not miss it.

"I represent Chunshui Palace and accept!" Li Chushui replied with nine words.

Lin Xiaosu smiled.

"I can also discuss with Lord Lu of Li Palace and Elder Hua of Shenghua Valley, informing them of everything you’ve mentioned in detail!"

Lin Xiaosu said: "Thank you, Palace Master."

Li Chushui took a deep breath: "But Young Master Lin, there is something you must know."

"Palace Master, please speak."

"Our three sects are currently in Kun Cang, in an extremely awkward position. Of the disciples sent out, nineteen do not return! If our three sects’ top echelon sends out, our mountain gates would be swiftly breached by strong foes."

Lin Xiaosu’s smile remained unchanged: "I anticipated this, which is why I entered Kun Cang a second time!"

"What are you planning?"

"Before the army leaves Kun Cang, I intend to resolve the worries behind Kun Cang!"

"How...will you resolve this?" Li Chushui’s heart raced again.

"Today, I will go to Yin Yang Temple, and then to Luanyun Heaven, to give those two former top sects a choice."

"What if...what if they don’t choose the choice you offer? What if they have their own choices?" Li Chushui’s gaze flickered, giving a light-hearted rebuttal.

This rebuttal was gentle, but the meaning was clear.

If you, Lin Xiaosu, enter Yin Yang Temple and Luanyun Heaven, why should they heed your choice? If they simply slap and kill you, would that not demonstrate their own choice?

Lin Xiaosu smiled: "Those who heed advice will become allies; those who don’t, I won’t mind using some means."

"Confident?"

"Rest assured!"

Li Chushui said, "Do you need me to personally protect you?"

"No need! In fact, you shouldn’t!" Lin Xiaosu said, "In times like these, the Palace Master should remain stationed at the Chunshui Main Hall, not giving the enemy any opportunity!"

Li Chushui pondered for a long time, then gently raised his hand: "This is my Communication Talisman. If you encounter a crisis, crush it at any time."

"Thank you!"

"The situation is urgent, Ruoshui also needs to enter the Nishui Pond, the two of you should say your farewells." Li Chushui stood up gracefully and left the Chunshui Main Hall.

Outside the hall, the north wind blew.

Outside the mountain, the lake waters were turbulent.

Li Chushui stood silently in front of the main hall, letting his mind gradually clear.

He seemed to have realized that he might have been coaxed, that there was some evasion in what was said; however, after much thought, he still felt that, in terms of emotion and reason, for public and private reasons, for current trends and future considerations, this seemed to be the choice to make.

After a long time, he finally sighed lightly and thought, well, even if this kid is just painting rosy pictures, tricking Chunshui Palace into full participation, so what if I fall for it this once?

After all, this is the righteous thing to do, protecting all living beings in the world...

In the Chunshui Main Hall, Ding Ruoshui quietly looked at him, a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, as a whisper reached his ear: "So, did you trick my master?"

"Sort of!"

"Such nerve, daring to trick a giant of the Enlightenment Realm, and admitting it in front of their direct disciple."

Lin Xiaosu smirked, "So what about a direct disciple? You’re still my dear little wife; I absolutely don’t believe you’d stab me in the back."

Ding Ruoshui rolled her eyes at him, "The moment you called me ’little wife,’ I really wanted to stab you... Forget it, little husband, take care of yourself!"

"Alright!"

"If you encounter danger, crush the Communication Talisman, don’t be stubborn!"

"Alright!"

"In Kun Chang, don’t fool around with women."

"Ahem... we’ll talk about that later!"

Ding Ruoshui closed her lips and bit his, causing Lin Xiaosu to jump...

Ding Ruoshui lifted her fist, brushing it against his forehead, then kicked him in the waist...

Lin Xiaosu was kicked out by her.

Outside, Li Chushui smiled, gently waved his hand, and a female elder appeared before him, bowing: "Palace Master, any orders?"

"Escort Ruoshui to the Nishui Pond."

"Yes!"

The elder raised her hand, her wide sleeve spread out, and Ding Ruoshui was taken away.

Lin Xiaosu slightly bowed, "Farewell, Palace Master."

"Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again!" Lin Xiaosu straightened his form and dashed away from the Chunshui Main Hall.

Moments later, he arrived at the Spring Water Pavilion.

On the other side of the pavilion, a beautiful boat was just about to dock when it suddenly stopped.

A curtain on the boat was drawn.

As the curtain was drawn, Lin Xiaosu saw the person inside.

This person was none other than Li Chushui’s only daughter, Li Bingxin.

Li Bingxin also saw him.

She directly avoided him.

Lin Xiaosu gave a slight smile toward her direction, then moved his feet and went up along the river.

Kun Cang is actually not large, just a place of a mere five hundred miles in radius.

Thus, it’s not a place where you must travel by boat all the time.

Walking through Jianghu, measuring the land of Kun Cang with one’s own feet, was also a pleasure for Lin Xiaosu.

Didn’t someone say it?

Every man has a Jianghu dream.

In modern society, where you can’t walk the Jianghu road, walking a bit in Kun Cang is also a masculine mindset.

So Lin Xiaosu just walked!

What he didn’t notice was...

On the mountain peak, as birds flew, two elders quietly watched him.

The strong mountain wind blew, but the two elders’ hair was strangely hanging down their backs, without the slightest flutter.

This anomaly itself was a declaration, declaring their extraordinary cultivation.

Indeed, they were the top figures of Kun Cang’s second echelon, hailing from Tianyan Palace.

Tianyan Palace’s Second Elder, Zheng Lingyun.

Tianyan Palace’s Fourth Elder, Zheng Tuo.