Just as a tiger and lion's struggle can change the direction of victory with cunning strategies, when a rabbit faces a tiger or lion, no matter what kind of plans or calculations it has, it can't change the gap between them, and all efforts are in vain.
As for the new emperor's plan, it is based on his expectations, but is everything really as he anticipated?
The difference between immortal and mortal is unimaginable for those who have not stepped into the realm of the Immortal Path.
Only True Immortals would be opponents of other True Immortals; any cultivator who has not entered the realm of the Immortal Path, no matter how talented or powerful they are, would still find it difficult to win against a True Immortal, because it is a matter of essential difference.
It is fair to say that True Immortals have already transformed from mortals into another kind of being, whose essence is incomparable with ordinary creatures.
If the new emperor were a True Immortal, then his plotting and scheming might cause trouble for Pei Xuanjing. Unfortunately, this world, though not weaker than the Daming World after its ascension, has never given birth to a True Immortal since the creation of Heaven and Earth,
...
…
Pei Xuanjing was sitting inside a tavern. The tavern was twelve floors high, symbolizing the twelve realms of martial arts, rising one level after another. Normally, few people were entitled to enter the twelfth floor at the top.
Today, the seldom opened top floor of the tavern had a guest, and it was none other than Pei Xuanjing himself.
Within Pei Xuanjing's fief, all the industries technically belonged to him. Thus, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to consider Pei Xuanjing one of the owners of this tavern.
In the vast twelfth floor of the building, only Pei Xuanjing sat there, with a few guards stationed at each corner.
To construct such a tavern was no ordinary feat; otherwise, it wouldn't have such a remarkable ambiance. Sitting inside the tavern, Pei Xuanjing could clearly feel the freshness of the air, obviously because of the simple formation techniques employed there.
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Besides, the entire layout of the twelve-floor tavern, the wooden beams, the rockeries, the ponds, and the paved white jade floor, everything harmonized perfectly with the artistic concept, obviously the work of a master with extraordinary skills in formation techniques.
Of course, the most impressive part was the dome of the twelve-floor tower, covered with densely packed gems resembling stars arranged in the sky, and at the position of Yin, a large divine jade sat, as if it were the moon surrounded by stars.
What's more mysterious was that the pattern of the stars and the moon wasn't fixed. With the passage of time and different refractions of light, the gems representing the stars would appear and disappear intermediately, and the divine jade representing the moon would sometimes show a full moon and sometimes a crescent.
"I must say, the famed reputation of the Star Moon Temple isn't exaggerated at all; just this one tavern under its command has been built with such extravagance, clearly reflecting the profound foundation of the Star Moon Temple," Pei Xuanjing's faint voice filled the pavilion, with a light smile playing on his lips.
As he spoke, he fiddled with a wine cup in his hand, which was made of warm jade. It was completely transparent, and the wine poured into it could be heated without needing to be warmed over fire.
Indeed, this loft belonged to the Star Moon Temple's property, and the Star Moon Temple had, imperceptibly, already extended its reach into Pei Xuanjing's fief.
However, considering the complex relationship between the current Seventh Prince and His Majesty, his appearance today at the Star Moon Temple's tavern was bound to provoke speculation.
"Your Highness flatters me. The construction of such a tavern also came at a considerable expense for us at the Star Moon Temple. Within the entire Dahong territory, there are scarcely more than ten such taverns among nearly a hundred sub-branches," a gentle female voice arose. Following this, moonlight streamed into the loft and a graceful figure appeared, stepping inside the tavern to speak to Pei Xuanjing.
The woman was dressed in a moon-white gown with a full moon embroidered on it, her figure slender and graceful, and her face was veiled. Although her face could not be seen, she exuded a cool yet gentle aura.
"The Moon Temple Master of the Star Moon Temple has had the honor to meet Your Highness," the woman greeted Pei Xuanjing with a slight bow.
To everyone's surprise, the Moon Temple Master of the Star Moon Temple had silently made her way to Pei Xuanjing's fief and chosen to reveal herself directly after he discovered an outpost of the Star Moon Temple.
One of the rulers of the Star Moon Temple and a top-tier Martial Artist of the Twelve-Floor Tower Realm, it was indeed rare that she was a female cultivator.
Pei Xuanjing did not hold any particular regard for male or female cultivators. After all, at his level as a True Immortal, the distinction between male and female had lost all its significance. Yin must give rise to Yang, and Yang to Yin, male and female, old and young, beauty and ugliness were but external matters. Only power and realm were fundamental.
"The Moon Temple Master honors us with your presence. Please forgive me for not meeting you further away," Pei Xuanjing said with a slight nod before adding, "In light of this, I am even more curious. What is it about my fief that makes it so significant for the Star Moon Temple to pay such close attention to it?"
Since the other party had mentioned that taverns of this scale were not numerous, Pei Xuanjing became curious. After all, it would make sense for the Star Moon Temple to construct such establishments in regions under their control, even if it required a great expense. His fief, though not having targeted the Star Moon Temple deliberately, did not have nearly as much of their influence compared to other provinces and counties.
"Is Your Highness not afraid of walking into a lion's den by visiting our Temple's branch today?" The Moon Temple Master, avoiding Pei Xuanjing's inquiry, posed a question instead.
Indeed, regardless of the secrets involved, she could not possibly answer so casually. Considering that even within the Star Moon Temple, only a very few were privy to such secrets, how could she divulge them to an outsider?
On the contrary, her response to Pei Xuanjing, though gentle in tone, did not have a gentle implication at all.
The Seventh Prince had shocked many with the sudden exhibition of power from his faction, but to remain so calm and composed in the presence of a top-tier Martial Artist of the Twelve-Floor Tower Realm seemed somewhat overblown.
Pei Xuanjing, of course, understood the implication in her words. However, he had sufficient confidence, or should I say, he would not feel any fear in the face of any powerhouse in this Heaven and Earth.
He drained his cup of wine in one gulp, and his guard promptly refilled it. Pei Xuanjing smiled and said, "The Moon Temple Master seems quite confident. But remember, this is my fief, and for your Star Moon Temple to establish a branch here without so much as notifying me doesn't seem quite right!"
Oh?
The Moon Temple Master's brows knit slightly and a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes. With enemies on all sides within a stone's throw, for warriors like them who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation, the tremendous power they possessed meant that, no matter who it was, no matter how powerful or influential, within a certain distance, life could not be assured.
In the eyes of the Moon Temple Master, this Seventh Prince was indeed high-ranking, but his power was not top-tier. At least within this tavern, he could not block her own strike. The Moon Temple Master did not understand where the other party's confidence came from, or whether he was foolish enough not to see the situation clearly.
Fools do not get to where they are today, in the view of the Moon Temple Master. Since the Seventh Prince was not a fool, what exactly did he rely on?
Pei Xuanjing exuded such confidence that it left the Moon Temple Master somewhat puzzled, speculating whether Martial Artists of the Twelve-Floor Tower with the same level of Martial Arts were secretly protecting him, or something else—this all remained unknown.
However, there was no denying that seeing such confidence from the other party made it difficult for the Moon Temple Master to grasp the situation.
She said softly, "This Dahong is His Majesty's domain, and our Sun and Moon Temple has received His Majesty's promise to establish branches anywhere in Dahong. While this place is indeed Your Highness' fief, it is also the territory of Dahong. Are you saying that you do not recognize the imperial edicts, Your Highness?"
Finally, the moment had come to reveal the true purpose of her visit.
...
The sudden arrival of the Moon Temple Master in Pei Xuanjing's fief was to probe Pei Xuanjing's stance and to see what the Seventh Prince, who had suddenly stopped hiding his power and instead chose to reveal his forces at this time, was plotting.
After all, under normal circumstances, if he truly had grand ambitions, at this juncture—when the Qingyun Path alliances were at war with their Star Moon Temple and the imperial court—he could have observed the chaos from a safe distance, waiting for everything to settle before taking action, or he could have feigned agreement with the Qingyun Path alliances.
But the other party had chosen to antagonize both sides, directly clashing with the Qingyun Path alliances and turning the originally bipolar standoff into a tripartite balance of power, which confused many people.
That was why the Star Moon Temple had sent the Moon Temple Master in person to probe. Otherwise, even if this branch was important, it wouldn't be worth the personal visit of the Moon Temple Master at such a critical juncture.
"This prince does not oppose what the Temple Master has said, however, as a feudal lord and ruler of this land, receiving guests without even a greeting before settling in might cause dissatisfaction in the host, might it not?" Pei Xuanjing's face remained smiling, but his tone carried some displeasure.
Pei Xuanjing was indifferent to the conflicts of the world and to whatever forces were within his fief, as long as they did not interfere with Pei Xuanjing's plans, he could tolerate them.
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However, as the master of this fief, Pei Xuanjing felt that any force establishing roots within his territory should report to him, as a matter of respect for himself.
If it hadn't been for him to strike down warriors from the Tianwu Pavilion recently, and on a whim Pei Xuanjing had his men inspect the situation within his fief, he would have remained unaware of the considerable force the Star Moon Temple had planted in his territory.
Although Pei Xuanjing had kept a low profile in this world, the temperament he developed from his high position over the years and the domineering nature in his bones were hard to dispel. That's why he came here—had the Moon Temple Master not appeared today, Pei Xuanjing would have eradicated this place without hesitation, as a warning.
At this moment, with the Moon Temple Master brandishing the Emperor to pressure him, Pei Xuanjing was utterly unconcerned. Since his ascent to True Immortal, no one in Heaven and Earth could threaten him anymore, not even other Powerhouses of the True Immortal level, let alone a mere Emperor trying to suppress him—it was laughably absurd.
Still, Pei Xuanjing did not get angry facing such Martial Artists who failed to recognize the face of a True Immortal, but simply stated his own rules.
"It seems that Your Highness does not hold His Majesty in high regard at all, and you view our Star Moon Temple as nothing," said the Moon Temple Master, her tone growing impatient.
As a top martial artist of the Twelve-Floor Tower as well, her demeanor just now had been more than respectful, but this person's arrogance displeased her greatly. She knew that even His Majesty the Emperor of Dahong wouldn't dare to show such attitude towards her.
"Since you've adopted such a stance, I see no need to waste further words," Pei Xuanjing also grew tired of speaking with this person. He had already wasted too much time here today, and the people from the Star Moon Temple were just like that.
In fact, not only the Moon Temple Master, but most of the martial artists in this part of the world often acted similarly. Perhaps having been in high positions for too long, they'd developed a habit of lacking reverence, thinking they could trample over everything and look down on the weak.
However, it was a pity that Pei Xuanjing was not only not a weakling, but also stronger than them. Therefore, since they were not talking reason, Pei Xuanjing would answer them in their own manner.
"There's no need for this branch of the Star Moon Temple to exist anymore, but this restaurant is quite nice— from now on, it will serve as my personal place to drink," Pei Xuanjing said indifferently. However, these words sounded extremely arrogant and domineering to the Moon Temple Master.
"Your Highness, aren't you being a bit too arrogant!" The Moon Temple Master was so angry that she had to laugh, her words laced with sarcasm.
This Seventh Prince was truly too arrogant. The Star Moon Temple had swept through the rivers and lakes for many years, crushing numerous opponents. No one had ever dared to take such a light view of the Star Moon Temple. It seemed necessary to make the other party truly recognize the power of the Star Moon Temple.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing's interest also waned. He gently shook his head and remained silent. His guard stepped forward without caring that the woman before him was a top martial artist of the Twelve-Floor Tower, the well-known Moon Temple Master, and said coldly,
"His Highness is tired; you may withdraw."
His Highness is tired; you may withdraw!
This manner, akin to reprimanding a servant, immediately infuriated the Moon Temple Master. No one had dared to show her such disrespect before, and she could no longer contain the rage in her heart.
"You're courting death!" The Moon Temple Master exploded in anger, and the aura behind her burst forth suddenly.
The might of the top martial artists of the Twelve-Floor Tower needs no further explanation. Aside from lacking the long lifespans of the Supreme Strong of the Great Ming World, their combat power was in no way inferior to those individuals.
Boom!
A frightful aura instantly enveloped the entire restaurant, spreading unstoppably, causing countless people to panic, as if the sky itself was caving in.
Those guards surrounding Pei Xuanjing also changed in countenance, not expecting the other party to be so terrifying, but they still stood their ground without a single one retreating, their own auras bursting forth, confronting the Moon Temple Master and thwarting her.
Pei Xuanjing remained seated unaffected, not caring about the Moon Temple Master's eruption, still playing with the wine cup in his hand and smiling.
The martial artists of the Twelve-Floor Tower were indeed fearsome, but for Pei Xuanjing, it was just so. He didn't make a move, nor had he any intent to. He was merely watching his guards, together against the well-known Moon Temple Master.