One had to remember that General Lu and Young Master Yi Wu were arguably the two most powerful cultivators in the world for centuries.

General Lu, at the peak of the Tribulation Crossing stage, was known as the foremost expert in the realm, requiring no further elaboration.

As for Young Master Yi Wu, he alone had been capable of slaughtering the entire assembly of the Seven Treasures Pagoda Mountain, which included masters of the Spirit Transformation stage. His cultivation level was decisively above Tribulation Crossing; it only took the combined assault of several Spirit Transformation masters later to finally bring about his demise, which itself spoke volumes of his might.

To manipulate these two figures as if they were mere puppets in the palm of one's hand—the sheer capability of this hidden orchestrator was terrifying beyond measure!

“Master, do you know something of this?”

Feng Zikang’s heart tightened as he looked up, only to see Ye Tiansheng frowning deeply, a distinct look of bewilderment clouding his eyes.

“This matter dates back several hundred years. Back then, my cultivation was insufficient to fully investigate the truth. Now that I have finally broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, I naturally must…”

“How can this be allowed?”

Feng Zikang was startled. “Master, if both General Lu and Young Master Yi Wu…”

If even those two could not come out unscathed, what was a mere Nascent Soul cultivator worth? However, such bluntness before his Master was inappropriate, so Feng Zikang forcibly held the words back.

Ye Tiansheng let out a hearty laugh.

“Zikang, there is no need to stop yourself. I am well aware that my current cultivation still falls far short of that of General Lu and Young Master Yi Wu.”

He rose to his feet, his eyes gleaming with sharp light.

“Senior Brother Lu and Young Master Yi Wu are both peerless figures of this era. However, regarding the original incident, I suspect someone was lurking in the shadows, using calculated intent against the unprepared. If we speak strictly of raw power, it’s impossible that their cultivation surpassed those two.”

“The only reason I had to wait until reaching the Nascent Soul stage before making a move was because I need to go to a certain place.”

“A place?” Feng Zikang paused, momentarily stunned.

“This place can only be entered with Nascent Soul cultivation. Otherwise, I would have sought the truth three hundred years ago.”

Ye Tiansheng sighed.

That such a place existed, requiring Nascent Soul cultivation for entry, also astonished Feng Zikang. Such a high requirement implied immense peril. “Master, now that you have just broken through to Nascent Soul, why must you…”

Ye Tiansheng had only just achieved the Nascent Soul stage today, yet he was already making such plans?

Ye Tiansheng laughed boisterously. “Whether I go sooner or later, what does the timing matter? This issue has weighed on my heart for three centuries. If I don't resolve it, my own cultivation will struggle to advance. I had originally worried that your Core Condensation stage might be unstable, and I intended to stay a few months longer to guide you, but I never expected your cultivation to be so solid. You lack any of the rawness of a novice Core Condensation cultivator; instead, you possess a feeling of perfect, rounded harmony. Your future achievements are limitless!”

He patted Feng Zikang’s head with paternal affection. “The Master opens the door; cultivation is a personal endeavor. Through these years of arduous training, you relied almost entirely on yourself to achieve this. That puts my mind at ease. Even if something unfortunate were to befall me, Ye Tiansheng, having taken on such a fine disciple is satisfaction enough!”

Feng Zikang tried once more to persuade him, but Ye Tiansheng waved a hand, cutting off any further argument.

“My decision is firm; do not try to dissuade me further. My trip will take anywhere from a few months to three years to complete. If I have not returned within three years, I will leave behind instructions for you, and you will know what needs to be done.”

Ye Tiansheng never mentioned where exactly he was going, leaving Feng Zikang completely in the dark. Unable to press for answers, he had no choice but to accept it.

Master and disciple celebrated for a night. The next day, Ye Tiansheng indeed departed without a word, not even notifying the sect elders or the Master.

However, experts at the Nascent Soul stage naturally existed above the mundane concerns of the sect; it was not unusual for them to interact with the sect infrequently. In any case, the world now knew that the Military Strategists of Dragon Tiger Mountain had produced another Nascent Soul master, and that was sufficient. Yuan Buhuan visited the Bamboo Grove once, learned of Ye Tiansheng’s departure, and expressed no particular reaction.

Feng Zikang returned to the Mystic Realm and inquired of the Turtle Boy whether there was any place in the world accessible only to Nascent Soul cultivators. The Turtle Boy pondered deeply but could find no clue. Feng Zikang reluctantly shelved the matter for the time being.

Now that he had reached Core Condensation, backed by a Nascent Soul Master, his prestige soared even higher. Recently, the Great Tang had begun its campaign to conquer Lizhou. His divine powers were newly forged, and he felt the urge to test his skills on the battlefield.

Since the killing of the Ghost King Li’er and her mother was no longer helpful, he simply left them to manage and build up the Mystic Realm. Only Long Que, having consumed flesh and blood, was potent enough, so he decided to take it with him to Lizhou.

After reaching Core Condensation, Feng Zikang’s sword light moved with blinding speed. The journey to Lizhou took only a single day. Upon arriving above the city, he saw the two armies arrayed below, and two powerful experts engaged in combat!

On the side of the Great Tang punitive army was a monk, holding prayer beads, sitting peacefully, eyes closed in meditation. A brilliant golden light emanated from his body, accompanied by countless golden Sanskrit characters dancing in the air, blocking the continuous onslaught of white light from his opponent.

Observing closely, the monk appeared to be around seventy years old, with white hair and white eyebrows, clad in a simple cassock, radiating extraordinary presence.

“A man of the Buddhist path, finally unable to sit still,” Feng Zikang mused with a cold sneer. This monk was a Core Condensation cultivator, undoubtedly orthodox Buddhism. He wondered which sect elder he belonged to; judging by his bearing, the monk was handling the situation with ease.

The expert on the Lizhou side flickered indistinctly, transformed into a ray of white light that surged and dipped rhythmically. His attacks were relentless, yet they had little effect against the monk’s protective Dharma spell.

“Benefactor Mou! We have battled for three days, and you still cannot overcome this old monk. Will you not cease?”

Suddenly, the old monk called out loudly. The ball of white light paused, its shape wavering, and halted its assault. The expression on its face remained calm.

“Zen Master Wuguo, the outcome is yet undecided; naturally, we must continue…”

This person was also an acquaintance!

Feng Zikang chuckled inwardly. After the Day-of-No-Return incident, this man had inevitably shown up. It was none other than Di Zhi, the disciple of Bai Yinggui.

He inwardly mocked the situation: Mou Canglang had sought his life back then, only for Feng Zikang to escape with composure. Feng Zikang had long intended to seek revenge when the opportunity arose, and now this man had delivered himself right to his doorstep.

Long Que recognized him too, stating gravely, “My Lord, isn’t that Mou Canglang? Shall we let him suffer a little?”

Long Que had covered their retreat previously and suffered considerable losses at Mou Canglang’s hands; harboring resentment was natural.

Feng Zikang chuckled lightly. “No rush. Since he is now assisting Lizhou, there will be plenty of chances to deal with him. This monk, however, looks a bit tricky.”

He did not know this Zen Master Wuguo—some high monk from an unknown location—but it seemed his cultivation surpassed Mou Canglang’s. Although they appeared evenly matched, Zen Master Wuguo’s calm composure suggested he was a cut above Long Que.

He sneered coldly and suddenly called out loudly, “Since you two have fought for three days without a decisive victory, and the soldiers are exhausted, why not call a temporary truce and decide the outcome tomorrow?”

Feng Zikang stood majestically in the clouds. His loud shout caused the massive armies to tremble. As they looked up, they saw him standing there, imposing and magnificent, his sword light dazzling. Many people in Lizhou recognized him and cried out in joy.

“Fairy Feng! It is Fairy Feng who has arrived!”

“Fairy Feng is here! We are certain to win!”

Mou Canglang frowned. He certainly recognized Feng Zikang, and upon looking up, he noticed that Feng Zikang’s cultivation had indeed advanced beyond Core Condensation.

When this man arrived at the Sea of No Return, his name was clearly Zhou Ping’an. How was he now being called Fairy Feng? His appearance was unchanged, and his aura was identical; there could be no mistake.

Unclear about the situation, he immediately retracted his divine technique.

“Zen Master Wuguo, I have no will to fight today. Let us stop here!”

“Very good! Very good!”

The old monk stood up with a cheerful smile, his golden light flashing once before vanishing.

Feng Zikang knew the monk was formidable, but he merely nodded. Despite the battlefield setting, he maintained courtesy, as the three teachings and the various schools often maintained good relations.

The monk seemed aware of Feng Zikang’s background as well, nodding slightly with a smile. However, a battlefield was clearly not the place for extended conversation, so he remained silent.

Feng Zikang descended onto the city wall, where Mr. Xuwang greeted him with a beaming smile.

“Senior Brother Feng, we have been waiting for you! Your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds; I am even further behind, utterly unable to catch up!”

Luo Kedi also hurried forward, respectfully calling him Martial Uncle. Seeing his cultivation rise again filled him with even greater envy.

Feng Zikang chuckled. “Now that Senior Brother Mou Canglang from the Sea of No Return is here, what is my little bit of cultivation worth?”

At this moment, Mou Canglang had returned to the city tower. Seeing that everyone recognized Feng Zikang, he inquired briefly and learned that this was the well-known disciple of the Military Strategists of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Feng Zikang, and he let out a cold laugh.

“It turns out to be Brother Feng. You tricked me quite badly last time at the Sea of No Return!”

At his words, everyone present was stunned into silence.

“Brother Mou, you actually know Martial Brother Feng?” Even Mr. Xuwang was somewhat surprised. His gaze swept over Feng Zikang inadvertently, and he inwardly gasped. Just how many secrets was this man hiding?

Feng Zikang smiled faintly and cupped his hands toward Mou Canglang. “Back then, we were enemies, not friends. I was fighting the Sea of No Return forces; naturally, I could not easily reveal my identity. I hope Brother Mou will forgive my transgression; however, I dare not forget the farewell sentiment you offered at sea that day…”

When Feng Zikang left Eagle Wing Island, Mou Canglang claimed to be seeing him off, but his intention was actually to take his life. Although Feng Zikang had escaped easily, he would not forget that enmity.

Mou Canglang’s expression darkened. “I did not expect that after years apart, Brother Feng would have broken through to Core Condensation. Truly, one should look at someone with new eyes after a mere three days. But your Core Condensation is merely a recent breakthrough; do you presume you can still defeat me?”

With the matter aired so openly, even those unaware of their backgrounds knew that enmity existed between the two.

Mr. Xuwang suddenly understood. After all, this man had led the army against the demons of the Sea of No Return. While Mou Canglang had not participated in that specific battle, it was easy to imagine conflicts arising if Feng Zikang entered the sea.

His thoughts spun, and he let out a hearty laugh. “Everyone stood on different sides back then; conflict was inevitable. But now we are all acting on Heaven’s behalf, working to replace the Tang with the Zhou. Brother Feng, Brother Mou, let us put past grievances aside, shall we?”

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “That is precisely my intention—but I wonder what Brother Mou thinks?”

Mou Canglang’s face sank, and his eyes flared with ferocious light.

He was, after all, a demon; a bad temper was normal.

However, he was under solemn orders for this mission, and starting a conflict with Feng Zikang at this juncture was out of the question.

The conflict between the Zhou Kingdom of Lizhou and the Great Tang had been escalating constantly.

After Daoist Hongye was slain by True Person Enu of Mount Emei, whom Feng Zikang had invited, the Great Tang court was in an uproar, shocked for a few days before stabilizing.

But afterward, members of the Three Teachings dispatched their own experts to support the Great Tang court.

Naturally, the experts sent at this stage could no longer be the low-level riffraff of Foundation Establishment and Qi Induction; they were now Core Condensation masters.

Following the incident with Daoist Hongye, both armies now had Core Condensation experts holding the line in their contests!

The Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist factions had numerous Core Condensation masters, and they openly supported the Great Tang. The Nine Schools, although they had agreed to support Lizhou, had yet to dispatch any Core Condensation experts until Feng Zikang’s arrival today.

To counter the Three Teachings, the demons of the Sea of No Return had sent reinforcements, adhering to their prior agreement.

Mou Canglang was one of the most important among them.

He represented the interests of Eagle Wing Island among the demons of the Sea of No Return.

Mou Canglang was naturally astute; he understood that his presence here was not just about military contests. He needed to exert significant effort in the Lizhou court to ensure the Sea of No Return’s contribution was not in vain.

It was only upon arriving in Lizhou that he discovered while the leader, Wu Ji, was concerned only with grand strategy and relatively easy to manage, the true difficulty lay with the Military Advisor, Mr. Xuwang.

This man’s cultivation was mystifying. He did not appear powerful, yet if a real fight broke out, Mou Canglang had no certainty of winning. Moreover, Xuwang currently held the reins of Lizhou’s military and political power, preventing Mou Canglang from acting against him rashly.

Mr. Xuwang was extremely capable. Several of Mou Canglang’s schemes had been deftly neutralized by him, leaving Mou Canglang brimming with frustration. He had to resort to fighting desperately on the battlefield, hoping to eclipse Mr. Xuwang through military merit.

Much like Feng Zikang back then, in Lizhou City, only his immense prestige could rival Mr. Xuwang’s. Despite being merely a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Military Strategists of Dragon Tiger Mountain, he seemed like a living immortal in the hearts of Lizhou’s soldiers and citizens.

Who knew that even on the battlefield things weren't going smoothly? Although Mou Canglang gained some initial advantage through fierce attacks, Great Tang reinforcements soon arrived, also bringing Core Condensation masters—especially that Zen Master Wuguo. He couldn't gain any real advantage and had fought to a standstill for several days.

As a result, his reputation failed to truly be established.

Feng Zikang’s arrival today, merely with a few words, had stolen all his thunder.

The fact that this Feng Zikang was actually Zhou Ping’an, who had used a false name at the Sea of No Return, made him furious.

But at this moment, he knew it was unwise to offend him. If Feng Zikang allied with Mr. Xuwang, it would be difficult for him to maintain a foothold in Lizhou City. Now that Feng Zikang was a Core Condensation cultivator, secretly dealing with him was impossible—a truly vexing situation.

Feng Zikang, however, maintained a gentle smile, exchanging pleasantries with the people of Lizhou City, all while inwardly rejoicing.

When Wu Ji heard Feng Zikang had arrived, he was overjoyed. Ignoring his lingering illness from the past few days, he insisted on seeing him.

“Commander, long time no see!”

Feng Zikang entered Wu Ji’s residence and sighed upon seeing how aged and frail the man had become.

A few years ago, when he last saw Wu Ji, he was still energetic, a great general. To think that in just a few years, he had aged so severely. Mortal lifespans were truly fleeting.

Yet, perhaps this was also due to his lack of innate blessing.

Feng Zikang could perceive that Wu Ji was fated to be merely a regional magnate, forced into the role of King of Zhou. This path had depleted his blessings, causing him to age rapidly and face a shorter life.

He had no sons, only one daughter.

If he died, the foundation of Lizhou would likely pass to his daughter, Miss Wu.

If that were the case, the prophecy of the female ruler replacing the Tang, with the Northern Phoenix announcing the dawn, would indeed be fulfilled.

Feng Zikang had visited Lizhou several times but had never met this Miss Wu; he wondered where she had gone.

Wu Ji greeted him warmly. They had years of acquaintance; Feng Zikang had been a crucial figure when Wu Ji suppressed the Wuduya tribe in the Southern Barbarians. To think that after a few years, the man who hunted rebels had now become a rebel himself—it was quite ironic.

Feng Zikang used their old forms of address, which Wu Ji took no offense to; instead, he was delighted.

“Fairy Feng, it is rare for you to visit me.”

The way of cultivation often saw millennia pass in a blink. If it weren't for the great calamity facing the world and unfinished worldly affairs, Feng Zikang could spend decades in seclusion. Meeting Wu Ji frequently over these past few years was already considered a lot.

Feng Zikang sighed, realizing that for these short-lived mortals, this time span was indeed long.

“Commander, you are busy with state affairs; even if I come, I might not have time to meet frequently.”

“Nonsense!” Wu Ji waved his hand. “Fairy Feng, you are not only the savior of my daughter but also my lifelong friend, different from the other cultivators in the army.”

There were quite a few cultivators coming and going in Lizhou nowadays, especially Mou Canglang from the Sea of No Return, whose divine power seemed even greater than Feng Zikang’s.

But Wu Ji treated him differently.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “Commander speaks too highly; this was simply what I ought to do.”

Wu Ji chuckled. “Actually, my daughter has always remembered Fairy Feng since she returned. She insisted on kowtowing to thank you. We even constantly maintain a longevity tablet for you at home. It’s a pity that when you came, she had already left to study the Dao. Otherwise, she would certainly have come out to offer her thanks.”

“Oh?”

Feng Zikang was astonished. This Miss Wu had left to study the Dao and was not in Lizhou City?

It explained why he had visited so many times without ever seeing her.

Wu Ji sighed. His daughter was disobedient, refusing a suitable marriage and insisting on studying the Dao. This later led to the Emperor suddenly wanting to issue an edict to summon her to the palace as a consort, which triggered Wu Ji’s rebellion. Honestly, Wu Ji had blamed his daughter initially.

But now that Lizhou had grown to its current scale and Wu Ji had ascended to the throne, he vaguely understood a fraction of the heavenly mysteries—that without this daughter, he would not have reached this position.

The benefits and drawbacks of this were not for outsiders to know.

Just as he broke away from Chang’an, his daughter was taken away by a female Daoist to study afar. She frequently sent letters back and occasionally returned to Lizhou to fight the enemy, proving miraculously effective each time, but she always narrowly missed meeting Feng Zikang—a fate of nearly crossing paths.

“Where is Miss Wu studying the Dao?” Feng Zikang was confused. Given Miss Wu’s aptitude for cultivation, how could she be taken as a disciple by someone? Moreover, if she possessed the fate to rule the world, who would dare take her as a disciple?

The current Emperor was causing a massive rift with the Central Plains cultivation world simply because he wished to take a female cultivator as a consort and had not succeeded yet.

Was Miss Wu’s pursuit of the Dao an indication that she was not the destined one? If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to Gan Jin Shan, for more chapters, support the author, and read the genuine version!