Indeed, the person that Emperor Zhu Houji and Wu Shijiu came to see late at night was none other than Pei Xuanjing, who they had discussed earlier.
Since it became known that Pei Xuanjing had emerged from seclusion, how many people wanted to visit Pei Xuanjing, to consult with him, to understand the recent status of this revered Master of the Nation.
However, apart from his direct disciple, Pang Hong, all other visitors were rejected by him. No one was granted permission to meet him. This included even the request of Zhu Houji, the emperor himself of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.
Zhu Houji wanted to see Pei Xuanjing, to know about some matters, and to understand his Master Pei's views on the upcoming situation.
After all, with the imminent return of numerous forces from the Sky Wasteland, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and Pei Xuanjing's situation were very similar. As they were all in the same boat, they had to communicate with each other to see how to cope with the situation and prepare some contingency plans.
Regrettably, Master Pei did not seem to be in a hurry and directly refused his visit.
At this, although Zhu Houji was displeased, he was helpless. After all, such a powerful person is not bound by him, and he has no say in what the other party wants to do.
However, just now, while he was cultivating, he received a message from Master Pei, inviting him to come to this Star-Viewing Platform.
Originally, he thought that the only person Master Pei invited was him. However, when he saw Wu Shijiu in the outer hall, he realized that Pei Xuanjing had invited more than just him.
"I apologize for inviting you here so late at night," Pei Xuanjing turned around, smiling at the two of them.
"Many people in the world are longing for a chance to meet Master Pei, but fail to do so. It's my great fortune to have the opportunity to be specially invited by Master Pei, how could I possibly take offense?" Zhu Houji responded with a smile, shaking his head.
Although he was somewhat displeased with Pei Xuanjing's initial refusal of his visit, as an emperor, his anger did not show on his face. How could he reveal any dissatisfaction at this moment?
He did not reveal any hint of his past dissatisfaction, but rather put on a smiling face, as if none of the previous events had happened.
"Your Majesty is right. I consider it a great honor to meet Master Pei," said Wu Shijiu, with a cheerful expression.
"Both of you, please sit!"
With a smile on his face, Pei Xuanjing didn't dwell on this issue, but flicked his sleeves. Chairs made of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi materialized behind each of them.
He also turned and sat down himself, mingling infinite starlight with Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, a chair formed behind him.
The three of them each took a seat, arranged in a triangle. The stars twinkling overhead gave a unique flavor to the scene atop the Star-Viewing Platform.
"It seems that your seclusion this time has yielded great results, Master Pei," said Wu Shijiu after sitting down, the light in his eyes flickering as he looked at the noble and composed Pei Xuanjing and hazarded a guess.
Even now, although the two of them were only a few feet apart, Wu Shijiu found that he still couldn't fully understand or see through Pei Xuanjing.
With his eighth level of the Spirit Realm and the special secret methods cultivated from the Witch Deity Teaching, other cultivators at the seventh and eighth levels of the Spirit Realm would be fully exposed in his eyes.
However, Pei Xuanjing appeared incredibly mysterious to him right now. More bluntly, Wu Shijiu couldn't even be sure whether the person in front of him was a clone or the real body.
"Taoist Friend also made some progress recently, didn't you?" Pei Xuanjing did not respond directly but with a smile asked instead.
The cards of this mysterious Mr. Wu were unexpectedly laid bare before him. Even Pei Xuanjing was a little surprised that this self-proclaimed descendant of the Witch Deity Teaching turned out to be a strong being at the eighth level of the Spiritual Realm.
A cultivator of the eighth level of the Spiritual Realm who could arrive in the Daming World at that time, regardless of the reason and explanation, unquestionably paid a huge price.
Under such a huge price, what kind of return would satisfy his gain?
Pei Xuanjing had no idea. There was one thing that could be affirmed, the secret of the other party was certainly not small.
"Haha, compared to Master Pei, my gains are still somewhat lacking," Wu Shijiu laughed and veered away from the topic.
However, from Pei Xuanjing's response just now, he could confirm one thing in common with his own guess, that during this seclusion Pei Xuanjing must have made considerable gains, likely reaching the eighth level of the Spiritual Realm or having some major background. This was why he seemed so nonchalant.
Pei Xuanjing did not have much desire or intention to pry into the secrets of Wu Shijiu. There were too many secrets in the world, and every powerful person had their own secrets.
These secrets are important, but for someone at the status of Pei Xuanjing now, he was not too curious about these secrets. He was more interested in exploring the mysteries of Becoming Immortal. If Wu Shijiu's secrets were related to Becoming Immortal, he might be interested. If not, he would not care.
He turned his gaze to Zhu Houji and, with a smile, said: "Now that the Divine Dynasty is prosperous and the Emperor's power is rising, with the Golden Book and Jade Scroll in hand, it would be difficult for the many powerful forces in the Sky Wasteland to oppose your Majesty, right?"
Although he had not seen Zhu Houji before, Pei Xuanjing was quite clear about what Zhu Houji wanted to know from him.
However, with the Great Ming Divine Dynasty growing in power and the energy redirected from the life simulation during his enclosed cultivation, the power of the Golden Book and Jade Scroll was once again increased. This gave a significant advantage to Zhu Houji, the Emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.
Although Zhu Houji seemed unremarkable to others, only Pei Xuanjing, who also possesses the Golden Book and the Jade Scroll, knew the extent of his power. With the Golden Book and Jade Scroll at hand, coupled with the amplification of the Divine Position and the blessings of the Capital city, ordinary cultivators at the seventh level of the Spiritual Realm could be easily suppressed. Even those at the eighth level of the Spiritual Realm, unless they could overthrow the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, could not harm him.
Thinking of this, Pei Xuanjing couldn't help but admire the Divine Dynasty Method. With the support of the entire Divine Dynasty, it was indeed a fast track to increasing strength with little downside.
"But, Master Pei, with the return of countless forces from the Sky Wasteland, I alone fear I may not be able to hold up," Despite having such power, which was a delight to others, it only increased the pressure on Zhu Houji.
For many people, they highly admire the Emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, Zhu Houji.
In many people's eyes, Zhu Houji, the Emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, can be considered the luckiest person in the world, with an unprecedented amount of fortune.
From initially being a vassal king, by twist of fate he was selected as the emperor of the Great Ming empire after the death of Emperor Wuzong.
Although much of his power was absorbed by Pei Xuanjing's Taoist School, his position remained extraordinarily exalted, a place that countless people look up to but can never reach.
And with pros come cons, although some power was shared with the Taoist School, he also received the wholehearted support from the School, laying the foundation for the later Divine Dynasty Plan driven single-handedly by the School.
…
All in all, many people perceive Zhu Houji as being extremely lucky.
But only when one truly sits in this position can they understand how great the responsibilities and burdens it comes with are.
Indeed, he now enjoys many benefits that others can only dream of, but at the same time, he also bears many responsibilities that many people cannot bear.
Therefore, even though he has now reached the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm and possesses great power, Zhu Houji still does not dare to slacken in the slightest. His heart is full of immense pressure, as if he could collapse at any moment.
He clearly understands that the current him may seem powerful, but all that power is based on the existence of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty. He is now completely tied to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, and if the divine Dynasty falls, he, as the monarch of the divine Dynasty, will also surely perish with it.
"The existence of a divine Dynasty is naturally feared by many sides. The news of the existence of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty must have already reached the ears of many forces within the Sky Wasteland by now," Wu Shijiu sighed.
Before the ascension of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, he had discussed with Pei Xuanjing about the fact that in the many thousands of years, the divine Dynasty, which various forces taboo, has been a great deterrent. They were very wary of a divine Dynasty that would suppress the world with unparalleled power, and once again return to the situation where the divine Dynasty dominated Heaven and Earth and suppressed the eight directions.
Therefore, even if all sides know that the divine Dynasty may involve the possibility of Becoming Immortal, due to mutual restraint, no divine Dynasty has been born in the Sky Wasteland in thousands of years. The ancient Kingdom Dynasties dared not take the risk of ascension.
Pei Xuanjing and the Great Ming Empire, however, chose an excellent moment. They initiated the promotion of the Great Ming Empire to ascend to a divine Dynasty just as Heaven and Earth began to rejuvenate, avoiding the obstruction of those forces.
But with pros comes cons. The promotion of the divine Dynasty is difficult, but it also represents the most powerful symbol of the empire. Although the Great Ming Divine Dynasty ascended successfully, they had not yet displayed their strength in the world. This time, waiting for the return of many forces, they will undoubtedly make a corresponding response.
Whether they can pass this test is extremely crucial. If they succeed, other forces will have to hold their noses and admit it. But if they fail, I'm afraid everything of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty will be plundered, and all the preparations will be for the benefit of others.
"Are the many forces of the Sky Wasteland a monolith?" Pei Xuanjing, not at all concerned about Wu Shijiu's reaction, asked with a smile.
Indeed, there are countless factions among the many forces of the Sky Wasteland. These people have been fighting with each other because of their own interests. Even if a Great Ming Divine Dynasty appears, can these forces let go of their original estrangements and come together?
No, the hatred between these forces is almost at the level of mortal enemies. Even the great righteousness between the races finds it difficult to make them let go of their inherent conflict, let alone the appearance of a divine Dynasty, especially the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, which is not very strong.
"…"
Wu Shijiu remained silent. Although these words were sharp, he had to accept that what Pei Xuanjing said was true.
The forces of the Sky Wasteland have been at the top for too long, and they may have forgotten the past when they were ruled and suppressed by the divine dynasty.
Thus, when seeing a divine Dynasty that has the highest level of the Spiritual Realm, even though they will feel wary about the nature of this divine Dynasty, they will not really treat it as a major opponent.
And these forces have never been united. Some forces are very wary of the divine Dynasty and do not want to see its emergence, while other forces are not so. Their initial consent was just due to circumstances.
After all, the divine Dynasty could be associated with the possibility of Becoming Immortal, and since it has appeared, there will naturally be some forces willing to step forward. They will make different choices.
In such a situation, if the Great Ming Divine Dynasty can show enough strength to show those people the possibility of their mutually assured destruction, then it can seize the opportunity to get through this crisis.
"So, are we going to share some of the benefits?" Said Zhu Houji, a gleam in his eyes.
As the Emperor, he naturally has his own judgement and immediately understood where Pei Xuanjing's confidence came from.
Since the existence of this divine dynasty represents an opportunity for many forces, as long as after he shows enough power, he makes a slight concession, it will undoubtedly bring extraordinary gains.
Other people might think that the concession appears some kind of failure, some loss of face. But for Zhu Houji, the most crucial issue in the current situation is to be able to remain vital amidst the wolves and a roaring world.
As long as he and the Great Ming Divine Dynasty can drag on, with the strengthening of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, everything lost now can be regained in the future. It's just a temporary abandonment!
"Your highness has thought this through, it seems that I played the role of villain in vain," Pei Xuanjing said indifferently.
He had already come to a conclusion about this in his heart, only wondering if Zhu Houji could understand it.
Pei Xuanjing was never a greedy person. He preferred to enlarge the cake, allowing everyone to participate, which was the best outcome, bringing the maximum benefit.
So for the arrival of the many forces in the Sky Wasteland, Pei Xuanjing is not worried, he knows that unless these people are truly united, it means that he can push forward with his plans.
However, seeing Emperor Zhu Houji always urging him, he only then remembered that this also required the cooperation of the other party.
And Zhu Houji, who has been the emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty for so many years, with divine mandate and golden words, whose orders are obeyed by the whole world, would he be willing to tolerate and retreat? This was something Pei Xuanjing couldn't be sure of.
Therefore, he invited the two to come for the purpose of advising Zhu Houji.
Unexpectedly, the other party thought so profoundly that he didn't need to persuade him at all and directly agreed to his proposal, which surprised Pei Xuanjing.
"In Master Pei's eyes, am I such a person who can't distinguish between priorities?" Zhu Houji retorted.
"It's not like that, but the matter at hand is significant, and I believe I owe you an explanation," Pei Xuanjing shook his head and declared.
No matter what, and regardless of how much I helped to elevate the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, even if I am the co-holder of the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, I can only regard myself as having a partial share in the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.
But there's no denying that the emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty is Zhu Houji, and the scholars and warriors behind him have been the driving force of its prosperity. They have poured countless sweat and tears to make the Great Ming Divine Dynasty strong over the decades.
No matter their intentions, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty is the fruit of their labor and the return of their hard work. As an outsider who merely holds the title of national teacher, I absolutely cannot make decisions without their consent. Even if I believe a choice benefits the current state of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, making a decision without communicating with them goes against my principles.
Moreover, when it comes to matters especially involving benefit allocation, I understand clearly that no one is willing to easily give up their gains. Thus, if I make a decision alone, it will inevitably cause complaints.
"Master Pei overthinks things. I always remember your kindness and dare not forget it," Zhu Houji stated earnestly.
No matter how wary he and the council elders feel about Pei Xuanjing's existence, no matter how many times they have tried to diminish Pei Xuanjing's influence, he also understands how significant Pei Xuanjing's contribution to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty has been.
More importantly, given the current situation, they cannot do without Pei Xuanjing. He plays a significant role in the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, especially in the coming circumstances. They cannot divide and this would harm the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.
Moreover, Zhu Houji is aware that ceding benefits is painful, but it is a necessary action. Otherwise, they will face more opponents and enemies, and the situation will get more chaotic.
Pei Xuanjing chuckled and did not say more. He understood their caution and was fully aware of his deep entanglement with the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, which cannot easily be detached.
More so, for Pei Xuanjing, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty counts as his second homeland, and it is a product of his hard work as he was instrumental in its promotion. Besides, his loved ones live here and enjoy the protection of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty. As long as he does not choose to sever ties, he will not actively let go of these things.
Having dealt with this matter, Pei Xuanjing turned his focus onto Wu Shijiu and asked, "Now what I am curious about, Mr. Wu, is why you are still here."
The first task he had to complete this night was already done: to appease Zhu Houji and have him agree to make necessary concessions when the time comes.
Next is the second task he has to complete – the interaction with Wu Shijiu.
If I said I didn't know Wu Shijiu very well previously, but when I saw his power restored to the Spirit Realm Eightfold, I realised that the deal we initially made was practically a joke.
Back then, Wu Shijiu stated that he helped the Great Ming Divine Dynasty to ascend and hoped that someday after the many forces in the Sky Wasteland return, I could shield him from trouble and protect him.
But as of now, Pei Xuanjing confirms that this is just an excuse for Wu Shijiu. Considering the level of Spirit Realm Eightfold attained by Wu Shijiu, the trouble he encounters must be significant. Those who intimidate him should at least be at Spirit Realm Eightfold or even more powerful, at the Ninefold.
However, even if that were Wu Shijiu's original thought, believing in their potential and acknowledging the chances that the Great Ming Divine Dynasty offers, he would not have thought that within these few decades, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty could possess power capable of contending with the Spirit Realm Eight or Ninefold.
"Hehe, the Great Ming Divine Dynasty is flourishing now, and I am just looking for a place to shelter from the wind and rain. Does the Grand National Teacher fear the trouble I might bring?" Wu Shijiu said with a smirk.
Knowing that his original intention had been seen through by Pei Xuanjing, he didn't care but instead openly stated his changes in plans.
His straightforward response surprised Pei Xuanjing, "Does that mean you're prepared to join us?"
"Exactly," Wu Shijiu nodded.
He indeed had made his decision, after all, both the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and Pei Xuanjing are full of mystery and potential, making them worth a try.
"What if we capsize one day?" Pei Xuanjing retorted.
Despite appearing calm and in control, Pei Xuanjing was acutely aware that in this world, nothing guaranteed a smooth sailing course. Sometimes, unexpected things were bound to occur.
Even with matters that he himself wasn't completely sure of, where did the other's confidence come from? How could he just trust that he would have the last laugh in the end?
"Sometimes, I just want to take a gamble. If I lose, I lose. At least I won't have any regrets," Wu Shijiu confidently declared.
As for his current predicament, Wu Shijiu was clear. If he doesn't return to his ancestral land, he will inevitably face endless pursuit from the Witch Deity Teaching.
Facing a top-level sect's pursuit, ordinary sects wouldn't dare to shelter and protect him. Even some top-level sects wouldn't risk confronting the Witch Deity Teaching for his sake. So, both his situation and standpoint were not good.
Originally, he planned to recover his strength first, then consider other plans. But now, by chance, he came across the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and Pei Xuanjing. Considering the potential of both, as long as there isn't any disruption midway, there will assuredly be a place for them in the future.
So, if he can seize this chance and establish friendship with them and gain their support, he will undoubtedly be more composed when facing the Witch Deity Teaching in the future. Perhaps he could even retrieve many of his lost items.
Before Pei Xuanjing could observe, he proactively posed a question, "As for the Witch Deity Teaching, I wonder what His Majesty and the Grand National Teacher may already know?"
Hearing his query, Pei Xuanjing didn't answer immediately, leaving his eyes deep and unreadable.
As for the top-level factions in the Sky Wasteland, Pei Xuanjing didn't know much, especially about the Witch Deity Teaching, which was particularly mysterious even amongst these powerhouses. The common cultivators would normally not get in touch with it.
Zhu Houji's eyes flashed with surprise. He had frequent interactions with Wu Shijiu over the years and had gotten to understand many secrets about the various Sky Wasteland factions. However, concerning the Witch Deity Teaching, where Wu Shijiu came from, it seemed like Wu Shijiu was reluctant to mention it and always tended to avoid the topic whenever it was brought up.
Now, hearing Wu Shijiu bring it up voluntarily, Zhu Houji's first reaction was that Wu Shijiu definitely had a motive; otherwise, he wouldn't have initiated the topic so openly.