Li Chang'an's expression changed. His years were too few; he could not empathize with these old monsters.
He only heard Min Youguo say, "Take a guess. The Nirvana Sage Elder who slaughtered his way into the Western Border—did he truly kill for the sake of the Wu Race?
Their Wu Race has a much longer lifespan than our Human Race. If an expert of his realm were to hide, not even a Mahayana cultivator could find him.
Moreover, his blood ties to his tribe have long since thinned. Why, then, would he wade into these muddy waters?"
"Take another guess. Why did Abbess Dairou flee without a fight?
As far as she was concerned, why should she battle the Nirvana Sage Elder?"
Seeing Li Chang'an deep in thought, Min Youguo sneered,
"Your Azure Cloud Li Clan should have understood this long ago, because you have encountered it before.
The patriarch of the Zhao Clan could even devour his own clansmen.
That fellow, the Yidian Holy Monk, controlled by the Dao Seed, would even betray His Majesty.
And the True God of Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems—he clearly could have helped Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems escape, yet he chose to flee with the Corpse Dragon, never concerning himself with the affairs of Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems again."
"There is also my son, Min Tiange..."
Min Youguo stroked his teacup, his eyes unfocused.
"The mortal world bustles only for profit.
Every single one of them yearns for that realm of eternal life.
Everyone in the world can be their chess piece, and can also serve as their bait.
Among those who have lived through the long years, not a single one can be trusted."
"And what about you?"
Li Chang'an asked casually, yet his gaze was locked onto Min Youguo's eyes.
He only heard Min Youguo sigh, "As long as the nation remains, I remain."
"I understand."
Li Chang'an took a deep breath.
If his great-aunt could hear these words, she would surely feel comforted.
His heart soon at ease, he stood up and smiled, "Lord State Preceptor, I shall take my leave."
"Mhm."
Min Youguo raised his hand slightly.
"Tell your clansmen that the great war in the Western Border that has lasted for years, and Crown Prince Fei Heng personally leading the expedition there for over a century—none of this is a coincidence.
He is not Lin Jiu, nor can he be Lin Jiu; he must be after something.
My son possesses extraordinary methods, yet he set his sights on the Western Border, exposing numerous hidden trump cards.
No matter how you look at it, it was not worth it.
Furthermore, the Wu Race breaking conventions and the Nirvana Sage Elder arriving in person were definitely not acts done on a whim."
"Also, tell your Li Clan: anger can drive a person, but only by maintaining a clear-headed anger can one tread safely through this chaotic world."
Hearing this, Li Chang'an turned around, bowed to Min Youguo, and silently departed.
...
In the Western Border, a white lotus could be seen slowly advancing through the clouds, trailing scattered specks of spiritual energy behind it.
This was, in fact, a Grotto-Heaven.
[Lotus Ferry Nunnery]
Many women in the world who had seen through the vanity of the mortal realm entered this Lotus Ferry Nunnery.
Initially, there were only Buddhist nuns. However, after the Buddhist sects were destroyed by the Yidian Holy Monk, Lotus Ferry Nunnery also took in Daoist nuns.
Today, both Buddhist and Daoist nuns were numerous.
Within this vast Grotto-Heaven, one could see both Buddha statues and array formations.
Lotus Ferry Nunnery cultivated both Buddhist and Daoist paths, making it a true, unparalleled marvel under the heavens.
Now that the Western Border had fallen, Lotus Ferry Nunnery had fled, abandoning the lands of Shadowfell Prefecture that they had once sheltered.
The Buddhist and Daoist nuns within Lotus Ferry Nunnery all put on expressions of pity.
The nunnery was endlessly filled with the merciful and compassionate sounds of Buddhist chants and Daoist scriptures, seemingly for the salvation of all living beings.
Within the Grotto-Heaven, a Buddhist pagoda had been erected, yet beneath the pagoda lay an Eight Trigrams array formation.
Above it, a Daoist nun in a blue robe could be seen meditating, holding Buddhist prayer beads in both hands as she recited Daoist scriptures.
Though this Daoist nun kept her eyes closed and wore a Daoist cap, it was hard to conceal her beauty.
With her delicate and frail appearance, even if she were to vanish into a crowd, no one would ever realize that she was the Body Integration Realm expert of the Western Border, Abbess Dairou.
Not long after.
Footsteps sounded outside the Buddhist pagoda. A Daoist nun could be seen approaching.
She bowed and said,
"Abbess, guided by your Daoist arts, we have already found traces of Li Kuanghua.
The Abbess's Daoist Spiritual power reaches the heavens; the Crown Prince was indeed escorted away by Li Kuanghua."
"Alas."
Abbess Dairou opened her eyes.
Beneath her long eyelashes, her clear eyes were filled with compassion.
"This is very good. We miscalculated the strength of the Wu Race.
By managing to leave in time to find an escape route for the common people of Shadowfell Prefecture, we have achieved a great heavenly merit.
Now that we have found the Crown Prince, it can be considered a blessing for the dynasty, a blessing for the Human Race."
"The world is now in great chaos. Hongzhen, go and invite the Crown Prince and that Li Kuanghua into our Grotto-Heaven.
In these chaotic times, only our Lotus Ferry Nunnery can ferry them to a path of survival."
Upon hearing this, Daoist nun Hongzhen nodded slightly.
"Yes, Abbess. With your protection, the Crown Prince and Li Kuanghua are safe."
After Daoist nun Hongzhen departed, Abbess Dairou murmured to herself,
"All eyes are gathered on the Western Border.
Crown Prince Fei Heng cultivated in seclusion within the Li Clan for three hundred years before entering the imperial court.
He handed over the myriad and complex affairs of the court to the Immortal Suppression Department, seemingly unafraid of his authority being usurped.
He has fought in the Western Border for over a hundred years, refusing to leave.
Can the Western Border truly not survive without Fei Heng?"
"That son of the Min family possesses heaven-defying means, but the dynasty views him as a thorn in its side. How would he dare to strike again?
The people of the world will not let him off. Furthermore, the Wu Race has attacked with such haste this time... my fated opportunity for the Great Dao..."
"...is drawing near."
The white lotus in the clouds came to a sudden halt.
Below it, amidst the mountain forests, commoners were fleeing for their lives.
Li Kuanghua was carrying Crown Prince Fei Heng on her back, her teeth grinding loudly.
She wanted to kill Fei Heng.
She had already entered the Ancestral Space, met with her clansmen, and learned of the tragic events in the Western Border.
"I should have... I should have killed you back then. But now, I cannot bring myself to do it."
Li Kuanghua's eyes brimmed with anger.
Her aunt had deceived her; she was supposed to be in the Western Border, fighting alongside her. But only now did she understand the truth.
Back then, there was never any seventy percent chance of victory. With the forces of the Shadowfell Prefecture fleeing, there was not even a ten percent chance of survival.
Her aunt had made her take Fei Heng away as a way of arranging her final affairs.
How could she possibly raise a hand against this useless Crown Prince now?
Her steps were heavy, but as she moved forward once more, Li Kuanghua's expression drastically changed.
"Void Refining!"
In an instant, the panicked, fleeing commoners around her vanished.
The mountain forest spun and tilted, carrying Fei Heng on her back, She had already been transported to another location.
Looking up, she saw a compassionate-looking nun standing before her, chanting.
Li Kuanghua remained expressionless.
The rage in her heart blazed like Sage Elder Nirvana's Heavenly Fire, yet she recalled what Chang'an had told her within the Ancestral Space.
Calm down, stay calm!
---
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