Chapter 20: Preparations Before Departure
"There are still two simulation chances left. I'll keep one as a backup and use the other for a normal simulation to see how the Qi Family, the cultivator family behind the Qi Kingdom, will react!"
This thought crossed Li Changsheng's mind.
In these simulations, he had always left the headquarters of the Tianxia Guild immediately. He didn't know how the Qi Family would react to him killing two of their juniors.
[Simulation begins.]
[At the age of nineteen, you killed the Qi Family cultivators at Feng Mountain. The Qi Imperial Family panicked and hurriedly sought help from the cultivator family behind them.]
[You returned to the headquarters of the Tianxia Guild and ordered your subordinates to gather medicinal ingredients needed for refining first-rank pills.]
[Two months later, the Qi Imperial Family's experts, accompanied by five Qi Family cultivators, stormed the Tianxia Guild headquarters. You revealed your peak Qi Refining cultivation, killing all five cultivators and shaking the cultivation world.]
[Six months later, the Qi Imperial Family took no further action, and you didn't allow the Tianxia Guild to continue expanding its influence.]
[At the age of twenty, you arrived alone at the Tunmen Marketplace, rented a shop, and opened an alchemy store. It took you half a year to establish yourself in the marketplace.]
[At the age of twenty-one, your neighbor, Shopkeeper Song, invited you to explore an ancient cultivator's ruin together. You agreed, but halfway through the journey, Shopkeeper Song and his companions suddenly attacked you. You fought back fiercely, killing one but were severely injured and forced to flee.]
[You knew that Shopkeeper Song had deep connections in the Tunmen Marketplace after years of development there. You didn't dare to return and could only flee back to the mortal world.]
[Six months later, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Qi Family stormed the Tianxia Guild headquarters and killed you directly.]
[You died!]
[Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following.]
[1. Your cultivation level at the age of twenty-one.]
[2. Your cultivation combat experience at the twenty-one.]
'That Shopkeeper Song is not a good person!'
Li Changsheng shook his head. Although he only received some information from the text, based on his understanding of himself, the simulated version of him wouldn't have gone to the ruins with someone he wasn't familiar with unless he was certain of the ruins' authenticity.
"But why did the Qi Family wait for two and a half years before acting, even though they have Foundation Establishment cultivators?"
Li Changsheng muttered to himself.
The information from the simulation was too limited for him to deduce the reason.
"Forget it. I'll have the Tianxia Guild disperse and go into hiding first. I'll go to the Tunmen Marketplace and lie low for a while. With the simulator in hand, I don't believe I can't reach the Foundation Establishment stage in two years."
...
Not long after Li Changsheng left Feng Mountain, two peak Xiantian experts from the Qi Imperial Family and a eunuch arrived at Feng Mountain under the lead of Crown Prince Qi Xuan.
When they reached the entrance to the Immortal's Tomb, they saw the bodies of three Imperial Family guards lying on the ground.
"Eunuch Huang, these three were first severely injured, then killed with a single sword strike," said the eldest of the Imperial Family's experts after examining the bodies, his expression grave.
"Sword wounds?"
Eunuch Huang spoke in a shrill voice, "Where are Qi Zhengwu and the two immortals?"
The expert carefully examined the surroundings and shook his head, "There are only a few traces of battle here. I can't glean more information."
Qi Xuan quickly added, "From the information I gathered from the families guarding the entrances, four people went up Feng Mountain: Qiu Yibai, the master of the Autumn Water Palace; Qiu Wanqian, the master of the Iron Sand Sect; Qin Yi, the Weak Water Sword, who had been missing for thirty years; and one more person who stayed in the carriage Qin Yi was driving. There's no specific information about that person."
Eunuch Huang nodded, "Let's go inside the tomb and take a look."
"If we die, it's nothing. But if something happened to those two immortals, things won't be so easily resolved."
After speaking, they filed into the passage.
Twenty minutes later, they emerged from the passage, carrying three more bodies, their expressions extremely grim.
"Let's return to the palace. This matter involves immortals. It's not something we can handle. Let His Majesty deal with it."
Eunuch Huang flicked his sleeve and stepped forward, appearing more than a dozen steps away in an instant—a peak Xiantian martial artist himself.
...
Seven days later.
At the headquarters of the Tianxia Guild.
In the guild's meeting hall, more than a dozen Xiantian martial artists were seated. These were the martial artists Li Changsheng had subdued over the past year. Some were already at the Xiantian level, while others, formerly at the peak of the Acquired level, had reached Xiantian under Li Changsheng's guidance.
"Guild Master, aside from the Imperial Family, there's no one in the Qi Kingdom who can stop us now. Why should we disperse and go into hiding?"
Song Rulong looked at Li Changsheng with disbelief. He had recently reached the Xiantian level and, as one of the first to pledge allegiance to Li Changsheng, had been appointed deputy guild master, wielding significant authority.
Now, he exuded an air of dominance.
"Guild Master, think twice!"
"With our current strength, it's not impossible for the Tianxia Guild to take over the entire martial world and even replace the Qi Kingdom!"
Others exchanged glances and chimed in, voicing their opinions.
This was the time when the Tianxia Guild was at its peak. Why should they disperse and hide?
"Enough!"
Looking at the people in the meeting hall, Li Changsheng said indifferently, "I'm not discussing this with you. You just need to execute my orders!"
The faces of everyone in the hall changed.
They suddenly remembered that although the day-to-day affairs of the Tianxia Guild were handled by the two deputy guild masters, Li Changsheng was no ordinary figure. Not only did he possess unfathomable martial arts, but he was also not a man of mercy.
The former master of the Tingtao Hall had conspired with the Iron Sword Sect, which was led by a peak Xiantian martial artist, to plot against Li Changsheng. The next day, news spread that the Iron Sword Sect had been wiped out, and the Tingtao Hall master and his entire family had been killed in their home.
"Yes!"
The people in the hall could only comply.
The reason the Tianxia Guild had grown so rapidly was entirely due to Guild Master Li Changsheng. Without him, any of the top martial arts factions could easily annihilate the Tianxia Guild!
...
Under Li Changsheng's arrangements, the Tianxia Guild gradually shifted from the open to the shadows. Of course, these actions couldn't be completely hidden from some observant individuals. The guild's influence spanned four prefectures, and it would take some time to fully conceal their operations.
The capital of the Qi Kingdom.
In the imperial palace, Eunuch Huang and Crown Prince Qi Xuan knelt on the ground, while an elderly man in a dragon robe sat on the throne. Though his hair was white, he exuded an imposing aura.
"Rise. This matter isn't your fault," the Qi Emperor said coldly.
Eunuch Huang and Qi Xuan let out a sigh of relief and stood up.
"I've already informed the Sunset Valley. Someone will come out soon to handle this matter. I didn't expect that the Tianxia Guild would have a cultivator among them. Interesting!" the Qi Emperor smiled slightly.
"Father." Qi Xuan cautiously said, "The Sunset Valley has always been dissatisfied with our mortal affairs. Moreover, if the Sixth Ancestor passes away, the Qi Kingdom may no longer be under your control."
As the Crown Prince of the Qi Kingdom, he was privy to more information than others.
The position of the Qi Emperor controlled the resources of an entire country. Although these resources weren't as abundant as those produced in spiritual veins, they were still enough to tempt Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The reason their lineage had been able to maintain the throne was entirely due to the Sixth Ancestor, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in their lineage. But now that the Sixth Ancestor was nearing the end of his lifespan, once he passed away, the Emperor's seat might not remain secure.
"No matter."
The Qi Emperor shook his head, "Among the Sixth Ancestor's disciples, someone has already successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage. The Sixth Ancestor has paved the way for our descendants. As long as a few of our lineage with spiritual roots emerge within a hundred years, the throne of the Qi Kingdom will not change hands."
"As for the Tianxia Guild, we won't provoke them. The Sunset Valley will send someone to deal with them!"