Chapter Thirty-Five: Star River Dance

  "We hope to cooperate with Lord Hou." Xian Lianchen said in a low voice: "We will fully assist Lord Hou in competing for the world, and after Lord Hou unifies the rivers and mountains, we hope that Lord Hou can allocate a piece of land as the base of our sect. Our requirements are not high, only one state is needed. We also absolutely will not raise troops to confront the imperial court, we just want an opportunity to walk openly and uprightly under the sky of Shen Zhou."

  "Contend for the world? Unify the rivers and mountains? Fairy maiden, these are all words that cut to the heart!" Haotian's face turned cold, and he said coldly: "Fairy maiden and your noble teachings seem to hold someone in high esteem. As a minister of Qingfeng, one should naturally offer their life to serve the emperor, but fairy maiden is actually tempting someone to commit such a great evil deed, I wonder what fairy maiden's intention is?"

  "Master Hou, please calm down! I assure you that my words are sincere and not a test of your character," Xian Lianchen said with some trepidation. She was not an intelligent woman, but this didn't mean she couldn't sense the intense anger emanating from Master Hou's body.

  "Your Highness," Tianyi suddenly sat up in bed: "My master, as a high-ranking official of the imperial court, is loyal to the emperor by duty. Now that the national situation is declining and the people are suffering, it is time for wise men to work together to help my family support the people. Please do not mention these words again, Fairy." Haotian saw this and quickly wrapped Tianyi in a quilt, as it was now cold winter and he did not want Tianyi to catch a chill because of this.

  Xian Lian Chen was taken aback for a moment, and she realized that observing Huan Tian wasn't something that could be done in just one or two days. Seeing the numerous talents under Huan Tian's command, she had originally thought that Huan Tian was determined to conquer the world, but unexpectedly, he was actually preparing to serve the imperial family with loyalty. However, the Heavenly Dance Star River and the various forces of the court were already sworn enemies, so if she cooperated with Huan Tian now, wouldn't that be seeking death? She was originally a naive and simple-minded woman, usually shrouded in the halo of the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Dance Star River. In reality, she wasn't exceptionally intelligent or talented, so as soon as she heard the words "heaven's will," she was immediately stunned into silence. After deliberating for a long time, Xian Lian Chen finally made up her mind: "Duke, please forgive this humble woman for her previous mistake. I hope to have a glorious and righteous opportunity to spread our teachings, which we've been expecting for over a hundred years. If my words were too extreme, please forgive me, Duke. Our conditions remain unchanged - we'll provide all the manpower, material resources, and financial support we can to assist you in driving out the barbarians and reviving the Divine State. However, after your success, you must allocate one state's worth of land as a base for our Heavenly Dance Star River teachings. In this state, the ruling rights and ownership will belong to you, Duke, but you cannot interfere with our normal missionary activities."

  "This point can still be considered. But I don't know what Tian Wu Xing He can provide for someone?" Hao Tian thought for a moment and said. He now controls the six states of the Yellow River with 60 million people, has nearly three million soldiers under his command, but after the ravages of foreign tribes outside the Great Wall, the Yellow River is now in a state of devastation, and it will be difficult to have any major development for the time being. However, if there is a powerful sect like Tian Wu Xing He to help, the road to revival should be much smoother.

  Xian Lian heard the words and suddenly felt a surge of joy in her heart. Just now, she was worried that this dead task couldn't be completed, but as soon as she heard these words, she suddenly understood that there was hope. So, she hurriedly said: "In terms of financial resources, I can provide about 500,000 soldiers and 2 million civilians with three years' worth of living expenses for the Houyue; in terms of intelligence, our Tiandu Xinghe has a vast and secretive intelligence network, which although not comparable to Mingxiao Pavilion, is absolutely superior to the Houyue's current Soul Devourer. Moreover, we can also provide 1,000 elite disciples who are the best among those nurtured by my sect, their combat strength is absolutely no less than that of the Houyue's personal guards. Given time, they will definitely become an invincible force in the Houyue's hands."

  When Xian Lianchen mentioned the funds, Huan Tian's eyes began to shine. And when she finished speaking, although Huan Tian remained calm on the surface, he had already made up his mind to accept in his heart. These three things were what he lacked now, and just as he was about to open his mouth to agree, he found that Heaven's intention quietly pulled him back, so he hurriedly closed his mouth.

  Heaven's intention smiled slightly, put on his clothes and got out of bed, saying: "Lianchen Xianzi, although the condition you proposed is particularly tempting, but the risk in between is also particularly huge. The Extreme Joy Holy Teachings has always been a key wanted by the imperial court. Although the relationship between Tiandu Xinghe and the Extreme Joy Holy Teachings is no longer as good as before, who knows whether you will secretly let water because of the same origin? If we cooperate with you, if we fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives, won't our master become an accomplice to the rebellious? Moreover, although the immortal said that he would not interfere with local affairs and only devoted himself to preaching, didn't the Sun God Teachings have this idea a hundred years ago? In the end, they not only interfered with the imperial court but also attempted to change the law, eventually brewing chaos. Past events are lessons for future ones, how can we be careless now? Besides, this is only our second meeting, who dares to guarantee that both parties in our cooperation will be true-hearted? If someone has ulterior motives, then at best our master's life will not be preserved, and at worst the He Tao will fall again. Who can bear such a responsibility? Moreover, Tiandu Xinghe has been hidden for hundreds of years, why is it so eager to walk in the sunlight now?

  Xian Lian's heart secretly cried out in distress. She had originally thought that although Huang Tian was clever, she had given him everything he needed and it shouldn't be difficult to deal with him. However, what she hadn't expected was that this riverside village's mistress was actually so astute, and every time she struck exactly at her weak points.

  "I, Tian Wu Xing He, although from the same origin as the Ji Le Sheng Jiao, have no more connection with them. This is especially clear to the imperial court and the three major families. Now, Hou Ye is a high-ranking official of the imperial court, and his reputation is unmatched in the world. I don't think the imperial court will make things difficult for Hou Ye because of this small matter. However, what proposal does Tian Yi have? Please speak freely." Xian Lian Chen said thoughtfully, word by word.

  "You must first hand over the intelligence network and one thousand soldiers in your possession, as well as provide a certain amount of funds. The headquarters of Tian Wu Xing He and all decision-making personnel at the level of elder must be relocated within our control. You must guarantee that without the consent of my lord, you will not interfere with any matters related to intelligence, nor will you intervene in local affairs. In return, we will allow you to retain a certain amount of self-defense force. Under permissible conditions, we may even allow you to spread your teachings within the six states of He Su."

  Xian Lianchen's eyes flashed with a hint of determination: "I wonder if Miss Tianyi can represent the Marquis?"

  "Please rest assured," Hao Tian interrupted and said: "The words of the heavenly will are the meaning of this marquis, as long as she personally agreed, this marquis will never go back on his word."

  "That's good, I don't know if Tiānyì (Heavenly Intention) has any other conditions?" Xiānliàn Chén (Dusty Romance) nodded and said. The conditions proposed by Tiānyì were a bit harsh, but they were still within his acceptable range. Moreover, the other party's promise was indeed worth taking a gamble on. Having wandered in Shénzhōu (Divine State) for over a hundred years, Tiān Wǔ Xīng Hé (Heavenly Dance Star River) really looked forward to having a piece of land to preach under the sun. The elders of the sect were already tired of this wandering life, so Tiānyì's promise would undoubtedly have a huge attraction for them. However, what she didn't expect was that Tiānyì occupied such an important position in Huángtiān (Vast Heaven)'s heart. If she could get closer to her, it should be greatly beneficial for Tiān Wǔ Xīng Hé, right? But looking at Tiānyì's clear and bright eyes, she gave up on this tempting idea. As a woman, she could more keenly feel the extraordinary aura emanating from Tiānyì's body.

  "There's one more thing," Tian Yi nodded and said word by word: "That is, Princess Xian Ni, you must marry into the Huang Fu as a concubine."

  "No way!" Xian Lianchen was shocked and said without hesitation. Haotian's expression was also extremely surprised.

  The heavens didn't pay attention to the expressions of the two, she just patted Xuan Tian's hand and said: "This is the most important part of all the conditions. If Lian Chen Xiānzǐ doesn't agree, then all the previous conditions are invalid. I know that the Holy Maiden of Tiān Wǔ Xīng Hé cannot be married, but in order to show our sincerity in cooperation and to make our cooperation more sincere, this matter absolutely cannot be changed. Marriage is always the most effective way to strengthen mutual recognition between two parties when they are unfamiliar with each other. As the Holy Maiden of Tiān Wǔ Xīng Hé, you naturally have to make some sacrifices for your noble teachings. Besides, my master is now a high-ranking official, so it's not like he would humiliate you. What do you think, Your Highness?"

  Xian Lian's bitter smile: "Tian Yi girl, are you planning to use Lian Chen as a hostage?"

  Tianyi nodded: "It can be said that way. However, if the immortal becomes my master's wife or concubine, then we will be one family, which is also extremely beneficial to your noble teachings. If the immortal princess finds it absolutely difficult to make a decision, she might as well go back and discuss it first."

  Xian Lian dust stood still for a moment, obviously struggling internally, but finally nodded and floated away.

  As soon as Xian Lian Chen left, a black shadow under the windowsill also quietly followed. To be able to lurk under the ear of one of the Four Great Heavenly Prides, Xian Lian Chen, for so long, this person must have some extraordinary skills or else their martial arts are quite impressive. Although not comparable to Xian Lian Chen's, the difference shouldn't be too great.

  He had just walked out of the compound when the black shadow was about to hide in the darkness, but found that there was a slender figure standing in front of the Hou Mansion. Although this person was standing with his back to him and his hands behind his back, the aura emanating from him was undoubtedly the demeanor of a top-notch master of the Jianghu.

  "I've been waiting for you for a long time. I didn't expect that you would have such a leisurely and carefree attitude, actually waiting until their conversation ended before leaving." The thin man said calmly, but with a hint of subtle teasing in his tone.

  "May I ask who you are?" The black shadow said cautiously, as a warrior, he always had an instinctive intuition about danger.

  "This doesn't matter, besides, even if you knew, do you think you can still leave here alive tonight?" The thin man said indifferently, turning around, and under the bright moonlight, the black shadow suddenly discovered that this person was actually Lu Xiang, who had no strength to bind a chicken.

  The black-clothed man's eyes narrowed: "Sir is indeed brilliant, and someone really misjudged earlier. If someone's guess wasn't wrong, at that time, without those two girls intervening, it would have been impossible to succeed." It turned out he was the leader of the black-clad assassins who escaped when they attempted to kill Huang Tian. As he spoke, he was secretly observing the surrounding terrain. Lu Xiang's martial arts skills were so deep that even he couldn't see through them, but being able to practice martial arts to the point of returning to simplicity and truth made him misjudge, there wouldn't be more than ten people in the current martial arts world who could do this. So he thought he wasn't a match for Lu Xiang, but if it came to escaping, he still had the ability, after all, he had left one hand.

  Luo Xiang smiled and said: "You guys really don't give up, huh? One of you was already killed last night, and now another batch of people has come to send themselves to death."

  "If he hadn't fled in a panic at that time, that little girl wouldn't have succeeded." The dark figure said with discontent.

  Luo Xiang nodded: "What you said is not wrong, Xue Qingcheng's martial arts are higher than his, but if they fight head-on, it would take at least ten moves to defeat him. You're waiting for those few scoundrels under your command, right? I've already sent them back home, and now they're on the road to Huangquan waiting for you."

  Hei Ying was shocked, he didn't expect the old man to be so formidable. He thought of several skilled fighters who were silently taken down by him, and his heart trembled. Without any hesitation, Hei Ying turned around and fled towards the Hou Fu mansion. Behind him was the Jing Bei Hou Fu estate, although the terrain was complex, but as long as he could escape inside, the chances of shaking off the enemy would be much greater. However, what he didn't expect was that just as he turned around, Luo Xiang appeared behind him like a wisp of smoke, and one claw silently reached for his neck.

  "Is that the Heaven Destroying Earth Shattering Hand of the Ancient Ten Great Techniques? Are you Luo Hanfeng? You really didn't die?" The black figure was shocked, and his tone even revealed a few hints of fear. This person was actually Luo Hanfeng, who over twenty years ago was known as the number one expert in the world, second only to Ying Wu, and the top figure among the Ten Great Experts of Shen Zhou. Thinking about Luo Hanfeng's usual style, his scalp suddenly felt numb.

  "You still don't know much." Lu Xiang said with a smile, the force in his hand suddenly increased, and a crisp sound came from the black shadow's neck.

  "Halt! Do you know who sent me?" the dark figure exclaimed in despair, but Rong Xiang's paw was already on his neck, and no matter how hard he tried, the sound could only be heard by the two of them.

  "There's no need for that. Only a few factions can afford to send someone like you, and my master will eliminate them all eventually. Why bother wasting words?" Ruo Xiang smiled faintly, exerted force in his hand, and the black figure's head tilted to one side, instantly losing all breath.