Chapter 2354: Dreaming of Du Kang

Whish whish whish. There's a tree in the courtyard, so wide that two people could hug it, though I don't know its name. Its leaves are as big as an adult's palm, and when the wind blows, they make a whishing sound, like applause. Chen Zhi Bo is in the bedroom, sleeping deeply. This is a sign of extreme mental and physical exhaustion. Of course, he probably doesn't want to wake up for a while either. As the master of Diao Hai Lou, the responsibility of Diao Hai Lou does rest on his shoulders, but at this time, Diao Hai Lou is best off doing nothing at all. Him sleeping soundly here, not being pulled in any direction, is the greatest fulfillment of his duty. Outside the window, the south wind blows the leaves; inside the window, a person sits at a desk, oblivious. Jiang Wang has been sitting here for a long time, but hasn't done anything else. He only drew a line on the paper, from one end to the other. Then he stared at this line for a very long time. His time is precious; the three venerable Dharma images are still in another courtyard studying sealing techniques and flipping through ancient texts, not missing any possibility of self-rescue before completely sinking into the Tian Dao deep sea. Yet he wastes a lot of time sitting here, looking at an ordinary line. The line is actually endless. It can extend infinitely to the left and right. But because it's on the paper, its end is the edge of the paper. And because it was drawn with a brush dipped in ink, its end can also be the remaining ink, or the life of the brush. The line stops when the ink is exhausted, and the line ends when the brush is worn out. Tian Dao power is also endless; this is precisely why he cannot resist and is gradually losing ground. To fight against endless Tian Dao with finite human power, to be able to persist until now without being completely submerged, is already an extremely tenacious performance. But what if Tian Dao power is put on paper? What if Tian Dao power is mixed with brush and ink? Then, does Tian Dao power therefore have an end? Jiang Wang suddenly understood that what he should confront is not Tian Dao, but the Tian Ren. It is that one who is about to arrive, named "Jiang Wang," the Tian Ren. Suddenly, a thought opened up heaven and earth, a brand new idea, just like that, it unfolded before his eyes. The article that had been stuck for a long time, at this point changed the pen, and has a new chapter. Tai Xu Gou Yu has been flickering for a long time; people are constantly sending messages through the Tai Xu Illusion Realm. Jiang Wang, immersed in thought, didn't pay attention at all. The most important thing is only one. His thinking, which is cold to the extreme, is outlining his order of actions. Only when he thought clearly, he casually grasped the Tai Xu Gou Yu. Perhaps there are other methods to seal and suppress the Tian Ren state... He thought like this. Then he received the news of Li Long Chuan's death. It intruded into his life so abruptly. A tranquil afternoon, suddenly thunder rises! Direct, indirect, roundabout... Different expressions. Yan Fu, Xu Xiang Qian, even Ye Qing Yu far away in Yun Country, Zuo Guang Shu far away in Chu Country, Zhao Ru Cheng far away in Mu Country... From all directions, through different channels, they repeatedly verified. They verified this news, true and not false. How can it not be false? Jiang Wang sits stunned. What is real is the dragon whisker arrow given by Li Long Chuan, is the Zhen Hai style transmitted by Li Long Chuan, is the paper full of friendship, is the years experienced together. It should not be this kind of news. His thinking, which is cold to the extreme, cannot process it for a moment. And the emotions that have sunk to the bottom of the deep sea are dully stirring. He feels something is wrong, but he also cannot say exactly where it is wrong, or what is wrong. Birth, old age, sickness, death, Tian Dao is constant. Who in the world doesn't die? Isn't dying a very normal thing? But his ears are always ringing with various sounds, and before his eyes are always various scenes. Their first meeting in the Tian Fu secret realm, the young man with a jade belt around his forehead. It was Xu Gao E who made the introduction: "This is Li Long Chuan. He's quite good at archery!" On the martial arts field of Cui Cheng Hou mansion, one string tests one sword. On Lin Zi street, swaggering. In the rouge pile, cups and dishes intertwined. They also once waved goodbye, agreeing on a future day. They also once drank heavily until dawn, full of heroic spirit. Pointing at the world's heroes, saying they were all inferior, laughing about ancient and modern great events, saying he could handle them too. A bit mocking, a bit unrestrained.

"Jiang brother! What are you doing! Let's go! The red sleeves are beckoning! Yan wise brother is treating!"

"Jiang Wang, stop cultivating! We're drinking wine, why are you being so disappointing? Sitting next to a beauty, still practicing Dao techniques? Stop! Stop! You're really hateful. Can't you work hard without others seeing? If my grandma sees, she'll scold me again!"

"Jiang Wang! Jiang Wang! Come out and play!"

Memories, like a kite that has been cut, flying higher and higher, farther and farther. But the sound is still in his ears, the laughing face is still before his eyes. He is a noble young master with unlimited prospects, originally should have unlimited bright possibilities. But no longer possible. Li Long Chuan is dead. Li Long Chuan is dead. Li Long Chuan is dead. I should be sad... Sitting behind the desk, Jiang Wang lifts his head and looks towards the window. He looks at that tree, that wind, murmuring: "Why don't I feel sad?"

Patta. Something fell down and landed on the table. Jiang Wang subconsciously reached out to touch it. When he withdrew his hand, there was only a smear of black on his finger. You'd think what fell was a drop of rain. Or a tear. It was originally just a clump of dust accumulated over years of disrepair on the house beam.

......

Time slightly pushed forward. The wind blows across the four borders, and Huai Island is extraordinarily lively. The war happening on the other side of the vast sea has not had any impact here. The unfolding and collapse of the Middle Ancient Heavenly Road can be considered spectacular. Although the "Jing Hai Plan" failed, the human race's huge advantage over the sea race is evident. Generations of accumulated sea troubles have been almost swept away in one go, and the rebels among the transcendents have also been suppressed with a flip of the hand. The human race suppresses all heavens; the aura of being invincible in the world is manifested here. So this giant island standing on the first line after the Mi Jie, is instead full of singing and dancing.

A white-browed woman wearing a sea-blue Dao robe quietly sits alone by the window of the tavern. In front of her is only a pot of wine, but she doesn't drink it. After one reconstruction, the buildings on the island are greatly different from before. For example, this Qing Ping Le Tavern located on Qing Ao Reef, although still bearing the old name, is completely without the old feeling. The once huge turtle-shaped green stone has already shattered into pieces in that disaster. The "Qing Ping Le" wine that Qing Ping Le Tavern relied on for fame has also, along with the former tavern and former owner, been swallowed by the sea waves. The new owner is unrelated to the previous one, and I don't know where they invited a new chef. They've taken the old name, but the dishes don't taste the same as before. "Qing Ao" no longer exists on Qing Ao Reef, and "Qing Ping Le wine" has lost its Qing Ping Le Tavern.

And when Diao Hai Lou was on the verge of collapse, the powerless Diao Hai Lou protector elder sat here. This world is somewhat humorous. Zhu Bi Qiong often comes here to sit; her former residence cannot be returned to, as it is now the headquarters of the Zhen Hai Alliance. The small bamboo building and the old hedge courtyard are now不知道 piled up as whose warehouse. She is not used to living on Xiao Yue Ya Island, and there are no white-browed azaleas there. Of course, there are none on Huai Island either. The person is no longer here, where are the flowers left? That flower is probably extinct. But on Huai Island, you can still see blue-mouthed gulls sometimes carrying fish back, slowly pecking on the beach. She then slowly watches this eating process. While watching, she cultivates. She has gradually developed the habit of cultivating anytime and anywhere, though she herself doesn't remember when this habit began.

Before her, light and shadow in her body folded, and a man with a wide forehead and broad face sat opposite. This person really has a good momentum. Just like Tiger Seat Mountain, when he lifts his eyes, the wind and clouds are low.

"Zhu Bi Qiong?" the man asks.

Zhu Bi Qiong presses down the Dao technique evolving in her palm; the residual mist of the Dao technique evolution moistens her palm. She bows slightly as a courtesy: "Greetings, Lou Zhen Ren."

"I always knew Diao Hai Lou had a white-browed woman, the proud son of the sea." Lou Yue is very tall; sitting there, he's like a mountain. Compared to the slender and thin Zhu Bi Qiong, he's even more burly: "Today is the first time I've seen you." Before, there was no need to see her, because the Jing Hai Plan was bound to succeed. After dominating the vast sea, looking back would be like enclosing land and running horses. Everything in the near sea would be in their embrace, no matter who or what, it could be planned slowly. Now the Jing Hai Plan has collapsed, and some links cannot be skipped.

Time has already worn away the immaturity between her eyebrows and eyes; today's Zhu Bi Qiong no longer makes people feel timid. She faces this prominent Zhen Ren from Central State without being humble or pushy: "To be able to enter Zhen Ren's ears is the junior's honor."

"Heaven-endowed talent, time is precious, this seat will not make small talk with you." Lou Yue is straightforward and gets straight to the point: "Now the situation in the near sea is clear to those with discerning eyes. Your master has hidden in Shen Lu, thinking this way he can avoid choosing. Unaware that today's Diao Hai Lou has no possibility of maintaining neutrality. The various families in the near sea must choose a side to stand on, either left or right. If they hesitate and waver, I fear they will have no place to stand and will perish the sect from both sides."

He speaks too straightforwardly, thus somewhat not respecting the listener's feelings. It's not that Lou Yue is arrogant, but a kind of diplomatic inertia. This is Jing Country's consistent strong posture since dominating the center. If he were gentle and modest that day, it would instead make people suspicious.

Zhu Bi Qiong lifts the sleeve of her right hand with her left hand, lifts the wine pot with her right hand, and calmly pours a cup of wine for him. The wine line is clear, and the wine sound is clear. "Although Jing Country is the number one empire in the world, the Qi people in the near sea are powerful..." She slowly asks: "Does your country now want various island forces to choose sides? Is it a bit hasty?"

"Right here on Huai Island, there are Qi Country's nine elite troops, 100,000 Xia Shi army, there is Qi Du Hou, and there is the Zhen Hai Alliance. And I am still sitting here, giving you choices." Lou Yue stirs with both hands, his momentum self-evident: "Jing Country's determination, you should have seen." He, this first Zhen Ren of Central Domain, originally wanted to borrow the great momentum of Jing Hai this time and achieve the absolute peak in one go. But the Jing Hai Plan unexpectedly collapsed, and he also temporarily stopped. Only when various forces are complete can he obtain the supreme true尊. Then he will have the possibility to further transcend. He has been the first Zhen Ren of Central Domain for so many years, of course he is unwilling to end at the absolute peak. However, transcending is the most difficult path, only one in ten thousand ages. A slight difference in momentum, an error of thousands of miles. Not enough is not enough; missing one step means there isn't even a possibility to impact. Now he puts his own cultivation aside first and personally comes to arrange affairs in the near sea. Indeed, he wants to make some compensation, not allowing any house to retreat. The various families in the near sea are either friends or enemies, there is no second road.

Zhu Bi Qiong quietly looks at this Zhen Ren before her. She only feels that although Jing Country is powerful, it is also like a gambler, red-eyed from losing, eager to win something back in the near sea. Master once said that gamblers in this situation are the most dangerous, dangerous to others, and to themselves. She says: "Bi Qiong only knows cultivation and does not care about sect affairs. Lou Zhen Ren coming to me to say these things has probably found the wrong person."

"No no, I'm not looking for you for Diao Hai Lou's choice." Lou Yue looks at her: "I am asking you, Zhu Bi Qiong—do you want to come to Jing Country to develop? A dragon trapped in shallow water, a phoenix fallen in a thorny forest, truly sigh-worthy! Don't waste your talent in a small place." The once mighty Diao Hai Lou among the various islands in the near sea can now indeed only be considered a small place...

"Lou Zhen Ren!" Just at this moment, a cold voice rings out: "What matters, can't you talk directly with our adult? My Bi Qiong has a small heart, don't scare her." Like a folded paper unfolding. A tall and plump mature woman then stands behind Zhu Bi Qiong. She has eyes as cold and ruthless as her appearance does not match, and her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes show extreme killing intent. At this moment, she is especially not concealing it. The Jing Country people forcibly pushed the previous plan, and Diao Hai Lou had no way to refuse. But now the plan has already failed, and the Jing Country people still want to pull Diao Hai Lou together; this is completely not taking Diao Hai Lou seriously, wanting Diao Hai Lou to die—the Qi Country people have ill intentions, and the Jing Country people are heartless. If the two sides face off from a distance, Diao Hai Lou still has a breathing space. Now two tigers are fighting on an isolated island, and they have nowhere to shelter! Not to mention that Zhu Bi Qiong, such a young person inexperienced in the world, will be at a loss, how is she herself not bewildered? Even though the East Sea is infinitely vast, where does Diao Hai Lou go?

Lou Yue faintly smiles. Qin Zhen's toughness at this moment, in his eyes, is all bluff. If Jing Country hadn't intervened, when the Mi Jie locked the realm back then, Diao Hai Lou should have perished. The so-called near sea's most killing Zhen Ren... I don't know if there's a chance to make a few famous Qi people leave. Today she's actually standing here posing!

"Qin Zhen Ren, don't be nervous." Lou Yue still looks at Zhu Bi Qiong: "I am looking for the little friend, naturally to talk about small matters, big matters we will discuss later—Zhu Bi Qiong, let's make a simple deal. Because of the rebellion of the Long River Dragon Lord, causing this Jing Hai Plan to fail, my Dou E great army has urgently withdrawn into the Mi Jie. If you have nothing recently, are you willing to go and receive them? The rewards can be discussed! You just state the conditions!" Because of Gao Jie's restriction before death, the entire Mi Jie is now under Shen Lin's supreme control. Tian Jing Country and a few other realms do indeed have higher combat power that existed before the realm lock, but they cannot move to other realms. Zhu Bi Qiong's strength is absolutely usable at this level, which was already verified at the Dragon Palace banquet. Of course, Jing Country has its own prodigies, and the matter is not necessarily her. But deals like this cultivate habits the most; you come, I go, and she will approach Jing Country.

Qin Zhen does not speak at this time. She actually does not want to influence Zhu Bi Qiong's decision, after all, Diao Hai Lou is indeed like the setting sun in the west now, a place that buries talents. This is not something she can reverse, nor is it because she doesn't try hard. But the environment is indeed this narrow; the sunlight and rain are plundered by others. Without Yan Dao presiding, it's hard to continue the eternal foundation, hard to withstand the wind and rain.

"My former master in the past always taught Bi Qiong to take the common people as important." Zhu Bi Qiong lifts her eyes and says: "The Dou E army went far into the vast sea to fight for the human race. Whatever Bi Qiong can do, she certainly will not refuse." Initially, she worshipped Gu Huai Xin as master to resolve the hatred between Gu Huai Xin and Jiang Wang. At that time, she was certain that Gu Huai Xin was a person who put interests first, a valuable prodigy who could be replaced by another more valuable one. But after getting along, she unexpectedly felt an emotion of both master and father on Gu Huai Xin that she had never felt before. Sister at that time always said that Gu Huai Xin treated her well only because he valued her talent and wanted her to work for him, so she shouldn't be so naive. But she thought, no matter for what reason it started, those cares, protections, and trusts were real, weren't they? The emotions she felt were real, and that was enough. Of course, Gu Huai Xin never taught her to take the common people as important; Gu Huai Xin taught her to put herself first in all matters, which is a lie told without changing her face like at this moment. And she only learned a bit after Gu Huai Xin became her "first master."

"Good! With talent to crown the East Sea, and virtue to embrace the world, I indeed did not misjudge you." Lou Yue is very satisfied with this answer and takes out a command token: "You then hold this command and go. Seeing it, the Dou E soldiers will naturally know you are one of us. Time is urgent, prepare and set off. I and Qin Zhen Ren have some other matters here—" His words were not yet finished when they were interrupted by a voice resounding through Huai Island—

"Lou Yue, come out. Great Qi's Tian An Ping has come to question your crime today!" This voice was not high, not heavy, not even cold, but it was so clear, so without leeway. Those on the island who heard it were all moved.

Lou Yue curls his mouth, his eyelids lift a little. Zhu Bi Qiong then receives the command token with both hands and softly says: "It seems the Qi people's determination is even firmer than Lou Zhen Ren's."