"Master!"
A panicked Li Chunfeng immediately stepped forward to support the trembling Yuan Tiangang. He quickly retrieved a small purple gourd from his bag, took out a white pill, and fed it to Yuan Tiangang. After swallowing the pill, Yuan Tiangang began to meditate, his pale face gradually regaining color. Seeing that Yuan Tiangang seemed to be recovering, Li Chunfeng finally let out a sigh of relief.
"So they are master and disciple."
The relationship between Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng has always been a topic of debate. Some say they are master and disciple, while others claim they are close friends. There is no definitive answer, much like how there are various depictions of Qin Shi Huang—some portray him as handsome, others as a large man, and some even claim he ascended to immortality.
"It seems he tried to divine my fate. Truly, ignorance is bliss."
Yuan Tiangang's condition was clearly the result of attempting to divine Daniel Davis's fate and suffering a backlash. Not only was Daniel Davis's strength far superior to Yuan Tiangang's, but the treasures he carried also made it impossible for anyone, even someone stronger than Yuan Tiangang, to divine his fate.
"I apologize for my earlier rudeness." Once he recovered, Yuan Tiangang immediately apologized to Daniel Davis. Regardless of the circumstances, attempting to divine someone's fate upon first meeting them was highly disrespectful. In severe cases, it could even lead to enmity between the parties.
Under normal circumstances, Yuan Tiangang would never be so discourteous. However, the current situation had exceeded his expectations. The celestial phenomena he had previously determined were now in complete disarray, something unimaginable for someone skilled in divination like Yuan Tiangang. This was why he couldn't resist attempting to divine Daniel Davis's fate upon meeting him.
"What brings you two here to see me?" Daniel Davis nodded indifferently at Yuan Tiangang's apology and then directly asked about their purpose for visiting.
Although Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were famous figures, Daniel Davis had no particular interest in them. The nation he intended to establish would impose restrictions even on the Daoist sects.
Given his current strength, whether the Daoist sects supported him or not made little difference. Although, having their support would certainly make things easier.
"Originally, there were some matters we wished to discuss with you. But now, there's no need." Yuan Tiangang's face showed a bitter smile.
Yuan Tiangang's initial intention for seeking out Daniel Davis was far from simple. However, after meeting him, he realized that the situation had far exceeded his expectations, rendering all his previous preparations useless. In such a case, there was nothing more to say.
Upon hearing his master's words, Li Chunfeng was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure and remained silent.
"Is that so? Well, since we've met, there's something I'd like to ask you two. Do you know where the Daoist sage Sun Simiao is?" Although Daniel Davis had no immediate interest in Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng, there was one Daoist figure he had always kept in mind—the sage Sun Simiao.
In history, Sun Simiao was known as the "King of Medicine," but in this world of Twin Dragons, he was revered as the "Sage of Medicine" and was a member of the Daoist sect. He was also said to be a grandmaster-level expert.
However, his reputation for healing and saving lives was so great that many forgot about his martial prowess. If Lu Miaozi had sought Sun Simiao's help back then, his injuries would have been easily treated. Unfortunately, Sun Simiao was often elusive, spending most of his time traveling and healing the poor.
Daniel Davis's goal in finding him was simple: to establish a medical system. With Sun Simiao's involvement, the task would be significantly easier.
"You wish to meet Senior Sun? Unfortunately, he recently went into the mountains to gather herbs. For the time being, even we don't know his whereabouts."
Deep mountains and dense forests are challenging to navigate even in modern times with GPS, let alone in this era without such technology.
"Is that so? Could you two pass on a message to him, asking him to visit Luoyang when he has the chance?" Yuan Tiangang's response didn't disappoint Daniel Davis too much, as Sun Simiao, despite being over a hundred years old, was still dedicated to healing the poor.
"I will deliver the message, but whether Senior Sun is willing to go is another matter."
"Just deliver the message. I believe he will be interested."
Sun Simiao had no interest in fame or fortune. If he did, the Central Plains wouldn't have only one so-called grandmaster.
However, Daniel Davis was confident that Sun Simiao would be interested in the medical system he planned to establish. Only by building a comprehensive medical system could the poor truly benefit.
"We have guests arriving. If you two have nothing else, please excuse us." As he spoke, Daniel Davis's gaze shifted to the left side of the bamboo forest, where a middle-aged man in green robes was slowly approaching. Although Daniel Davis had never met Shi Zhixuan, he immediately guessed that this man must be him.
"Speaking of which, Ning Daoqi chasing Shi Zhixuan seems like bullying the weak."
As Shi Zhixuan approached, Daniel Davis couldn't help but think this. In terms of age, Ning Daoqi was nearly a hundred years old, while Shi Zhixuan was at most in his fifties—a gap of nearly two generations. Although, judging by their appearances, neither Shi Zhixuan nor Ning Daoqi looked their age.
It had to be said that internal energy and true qi had remarkable effects on slowing aging, far surpassing chakra. In the world of Twin Dragons, there were quite a few centenarians.
The Sage of Medicine Sun Simiao, the Three Great Grandmasters, the monk Liaokong of Jing Nian Chan Yuan, the Four Holy Monks, and the monk Zhenyan of the Great Stone Temple, as well as You Chuhong of the Dugu Clan, were all examples. This didn't even include hidden figures from the Daoist sects, as the Buddhist sects had many such individuals, and the Daoist sects wouldn't be far behind.
Generally, the martial world considered twenty years as a generation. This was why Ouyang Xiyi of Huangshan was considered part of the same generation as Ning Daoqi.
"Huh? So Shi Zhixuan and Bi Xiuxin have quite an age gap?"
Thinking about the age difference between Ning Daoqi and Shi Zhixuan, Daniel Davis suddenly realized a secret: the age gap between Shi Zhixuan and Bi Xiuxin. Zhu Yuyan and Shi Zhixuan were of the same generation, and Zhu Yuyan's daughter, Shan Meixian, already had a daughter, Shan Wanjing, who was only a few years younger than Shi Qingxuan.
"No, that's not right. Bi Xiuxin emerged as the representative of Ci Hang Jing Zhai. Her rival was Zhu Yuyan, just like how Shi Feixuan and Sulia are now. Their ages couldn't be too far apart. So, Shi Qingxuan must have been born much later."
For martial arts masters, even an eighty-year-old could be stronger than most young people. Having children at that age was perfectly normal, just like how Li Shimin still had brothers in swaddling clothes. After all, Li Yuan's reputation for being lustful was well-known.
"So, who was the representative of Ci Hang Jing Zhai twenty years ago?" Twenty years ago, due to the incident with Shan Meixian, the Yin Kuai Sect's representative had issues. But it was unlikely that Ci Hang Jing Zhai faced the same problem.
"Young Master Daniel Davis, we take our leave."
Yuan Tiangang glanced at the approaching Shi Zhixuan, his eyes flickering slightly, but he pretended not to see him. He then turned and left with Li Chunfeng.
"Evil King Shi Zhixuan." Daniel Davis looked at the middle-aged man who had stopped about ten meters away, his face weathered with experience, and spoke solemnly.
"Sulia pays her respects to Uncle Shi."
As members of the Demon Sect, even if they were enemies, they still shared a common origin, much like how Yuan Tiangang referred to Sun Simiao as "uncle."
"The seventeenth level of the Heavenly Demon Art. Zhu Yuyan hadn't reached this level at your age." Shi Zhixuan glanced at Sulia and nodded slightly.
"Thank you for the praise, Uncle." Sulia smiled in response.
"You lured me out with the Evil Emperor's Bead. What is your purpose?" Shi Zhixuan's gaze fixed on the yellow crystal in Daniel Davis's left hand. He had been hiding in Chang'an for so many years precisely for the Evil Emperor's Bead.
"I wish to unify the Central Plains and hope that the Evil King will join me," Daniel Davis said directly.
"Since your emergence, you've stirred up chaos, earning the hatred of Ci Hang Jing Zhai, Ning Daoqi, and the entire Buddhist sect. Your goal can't be as simple as unifying the world."
Anyone seeking to unify the world would not want to completely alienate the Buddhist sect, as it would only increase the difficulty of their task. This was the prevailing mindset of the era, and even someone as talented as Shi Zhixuan couldn't escape this framework.
"Evil King, you are mistaken about one thing. I said I want to unify the Central Plains, and then the world. The Central Plains is not the entire world. Don't forget, there are still Goguryeo, the Turks, and even more distant lands like India and Persia. That is the true world."
"Your ambition is vast. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew," Shi Zhixuan said coldly.
"To choke me, one world is not enough." As Daniel Davis spoke, the black divine dragon reappeared. Seeing the menacing dragon, Shi Zhixuan's pupils contracted sharply.
"Let me formally introduce myself. Daniel Davis of the Daoist Heavenly Sect pays his respects to the Evil King. I thank you for your contributions to the Central Plains, whether it was dividing the Turks or the expedition to Goguryeo. These are undoubtedly your achievements, and no one can erase them." Daniel Davis bowed solemnly to Shi Zhixuan.
---
"Hahaha, interesting. I didn't expect someone who has transcended the void to return." After staring at the black dragon for a while, Shi Zhixuan suddenly burst into laughter.
"Evil King, strictly speaking, I am not someone who has transcended the void and returned. But your understanding isn't entirely wrong." Daniel Davis decided to save the explanation of world-hopping for later.
"If you have such power, why haven't you unified the Central Plains yet?"
Shi Zhixuan's question immediately drew Sulia's attention back to Daniel Davis. She had been curious about the Evil King, as he was the man who had married the current representative of Ci Hang Jing Zhai and had also captured the heart of her master, Zhu Yuyan.
"Simple. Because I don't just want a mere throne. What I want is to elevate the Central Plains to the pinnacle of the world." What is the Central Plains? It is a land of splendid robes and grand ceremonies, a great nation.
Daniel Davis then elaborated on his goals, from dealing with the Buddhist sects and noble families to addressing foreign tribes, and then to reforming systems like the Nine-Rank System and the imperial examinations.
At this stage, the conflict between the Central Plains and foreign tribes like the Turks was irreconcilable. This was a fundamental conflict between nomadic and agrarian societies, and it could only be resolved once technological productivity reached a certain level.
After Daniel Davis finished speaking, both Shi Zhixuan and Sulia fell into silence. Neither of them had expected Daniel Davis's ambitions to be so lofty.
"I see. Shi Zhixuan pays his respects to the Young Master." After a long pause, Shi Zhixuan finally spoke. Daniel Davis's words had opened a new door for Shi Zhixuan, helping him understand why he had failed in the past.
"Take this. However, you can only absorb up to 30% of the life force within. That should be enough for your recovery. The rest I still need. Also, take these. These are the True Pill, the Immortal Gathering Pill, and the Blood Bodhi derived from the blood of the Qilin. They are excellent for healing and enhancing one's power."
Daniel Davis tossed the Evil Emperor's Bead to Shi Zhixuan, along with two pills and a red fruit.
"Young Master, what about me?" Hearing Daniel Davis describe the effects of the True Pill, the Immortal Gathering Pill, and the Blood Bodhi, Sulia immediately spoke up.
"This is for you. Don't worry, the life force within the Evil Emperor's Bead also has a share for you and your master, Zhu Yuyan. Just leave 20% for me."
If Sulia and Zhu Yuyan could advance to the grandmaster level using the Evil Emperor's Bead, it would be a great boon for Daniel Davis. The remaining 20% was reserved for the Twin Dragons.
"Young Master, rest assured. Once I recover, I will head straight to Luoyang. I was going to warn you to be careful of Ning Daoqi's pursuit, but it seems that's unnecessary now."
Shi Zhixuan then revealed that Li Shimin had planned to have Ning Daoqi intercept and kill Daniel Davis. Truly, the Evil King's intelligence network was impressive, even extending to Li Shimin's inner circle.
Perhaps this was the advantage of Shi Zhixuan using the Buddhist monk Da Zhi as a cover. Who would have thought that the Evil King could become a revered monk?
This Da Zhi was a true holy monk. Unlike other Buddhist monks who were often grandmaster-level experts, Da Zhi had only superficial martial skills and devoted himself entirely to Buddhist studies.
"Intercept me? He'd have to find me first. Well, now that this matter is settled, it's time for us to leave." As Daniel Davis spoke, the black dragon grew larger. He and Sulia then leaped onto the dragon's back, and it soared into the clouds, heading toward Luoyang. No matter how powerful Ning Daoqi or the Buddhist sects were, they couldn't intercept him in the air.
"He really trusts me."
Watching the black dragon disappear into the clouds and looking at the Evil Emperor's Bead, the True Pill, the Immortal Gathering Pill, and the Blood Bodhi in his hands, Shi Zhixuan suddenly laughed.
"Master, what exactly happened? What did you divine?" Back at the Daoist temple, Li Chunfeng couldn't contain his curiosity and asked Yuan Tiangang.
"I divined nothing," Yuan Tiangang said with a bitter smile.
"How is that possible?" Li Chunfeng exclaimed involuntarily.
"It's the truth. It seems we'll need to visit Luoyang soon."
It was precisely because he had divined nothing that Yuan Tiangang chose not to continue the conversation with Daniel Davis.
"You demon! The Buddha will punish you!" At the border between Goguryeo and the Central Plains, a once-magnificent temple now lay in ruins. The temple's abbot pointed at a young man holding a crimson sword, his face filled with rage.
"Demon? No, isn't there a saying that one can become a Buddha by putting down the sword? I am someone who will become a Buddha."
(End of Chapter)
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