Chapter 439: Li Shentong

Chapter 439: Li Shentong

Li Shentong fiddled with the wine gourd, turning it over and inspecting it for a while. Leisurely, he pulled out the cork, took a sniff, and his expression shifted slightly. He took a small sip, as if savoring it, then paused as if in thought, smacked his lips, and downed a large gulp.

It looked like he had drunk nearly half of the gourd in one go.

Finally, with a thud, he set the gourd down beside him and re-corked it. “It’s so-so.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Li Shentong leaned back, relaxing in his chair, and said, “He wants to live detached from the world, watching the clouds and waters, yet he can’t avoid dealing with worldly matters. That’s the paradox of the old Daoist. It’s the same with this wine. He wants it to have a lingering misty and ethereal aftertaste, yet he can’t shake the strong boldness within, which strikes the mind with a jolt and lingers. Ironically, the aftertaste ends up being tied to that very intensity. If I told him I actually liked this unintended strength, I wonder what his reaction would be.”

I guess he really does know his wine. Zhao Changhe had drunk Yuxu’s wine before, and he had only ever thought it was fragrant and delicious, never sensing all these nuances.

Suddenly, Li Shentong’s gaze returned to the wine gourd, and he frowned, as if something had just occurred to him.

Perhaps what he was now contemplating was the true meaning behind this wine, but Zhao Changhe had no way of deciphering the hidden messages between these two senior figures.

He did not intend to dig into their personal bond and tried asking, “Do you have any message you’d like me to take back, senior?”

“No,” Li Shentong said coolly. “He didn’t expect me to send any message back either.”

He gave Zhao Changhe another look, as if lost in thought. “This isn’t freshly brewed; it’s been aged for three years. He’s surrounded by people; surely, in the past three years, he could’ve had someone else bring me the wine, yet he specifically asked you to deliver this. Clearly, he just wanted me to take a look at you...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Li Shentong waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve seen you, and that’s that. I thought you’d be more robust, but looking now, you might not even be as strong as Situ Xiao. You have a scar on your face, which I thought would make you seem more manly, but upon closer inspection, you’re actually quite handsome. How boring.”

Zhao Changhe was flabbergasted.

Are you inspecting me like I’m some kind of race horse?

Li Shentong continued, “Since you’ve come bearing the gift of wine, I should offer something in return. What do you want?”

Zhao Changhe knew in his heart that his act of delivering wine did not count for much as a favor. This was instead due to his relationship with Yuxu... Yuxu had him deliver the wine as a kind of elder’s recommendation: Take this junior under your wing and look after him.

In the past, Zhao Changhe had actually thought about asking Li Shentong to help him deal with Maitreya. Given their connection and the fact that he had a friendly relationship with Situ Xiao, it seemed possible. But Tang Wanzhuang had cautiously shut down the idea as if she had some reservations about Li Shentong. The reason for her wariness was still unclear.

If he did not make such a request, what else could he seek from the Divine Brilliance Sect? Naturally, it would be guidance on body tempering. This might also be Yuxu’s true intention for the recommendation. Yuxu himself was not a body cultivator, and he could not provide much guidance in the area, so sending Zhao Changhe to the Divine Brilliance Sect for guidance made perfect sense.

The Blood God Cult’s inheritance was incomplete due to the missing parts of the array plate. It was not even certain which medicinal herbs were required for its body tempering, and he had to rely on the Heavenly Tome to fill in the gaps. As for the specific body cultivation techniques, it was even more lacking. Were the basic methods like horse stance, lifting stones, and soaking in medicinal baths still applicable to him today? Were there other secret methods he could use to temper his body? He had no idea. The Heavenly Tome only pointed out certain required materials, but the various experiences and insights gained during the training process were beyond what the Heavenly Tome could provide.

Up until now, Zhao Changhe’s body cultivation had basically come to a halt, except for forcefully improving by obtaining items like the Dragon Elephant Blood Ginseng. He simply did not know what to do next. Even with his current efforts to search for the Heavenly Blood Jade and Sharp Blade Grass, he felt quite lost. He did not even know why he needed them, or how to use them, which made it hard to stay motivated. Ultimately, he lacked a clear sense of direction.

But now, with such an important opportunity right in front of him, Zhao Changhe did not hesitate and spoke up, “I’d like to ask for your help, Senior.”

The methods of body cultivation had always been there, but Zhao Changhe had long since overlooked them.

With this reminder, Zhao Changhe quickly realized: if, back when he consumed the Dragon Elephant Blood Ginseng, he had consciously observed and guided the process, he should have been able to sense the gradual strengthening of his muscles, experiencing the Dragon Elephant Transformation as his power steadily grew. This was the process of body cultivation and mastering every detail of his body’s transformation. This was much more important than consuming the medicine per se.

By extension, if he were to obtain the so-called Sharp Blade Grass in the future, he should consciously guide its energy into his body and observe how it sharpens his strength, making his vicious qi as sharp as a blade, capable of turning a single strike into thousands. This process would be suited for the Bloodied Mountains and Rivers.

Meanwhile, the strength he had gained before was suited for Scattering the Gods and Buddhas.

In fact, every step was a clear progression, and suddenly, everything became crystal clear.

Zhao Changhe was struck with enlightenment and bowed deeply. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”

Li Shentong waved his hand. “I didn’t teach you anything. That’s your Blood God Cult’s own stuff. I just reminded you not to ignore it. Alright, go on.”

Zhao Changhe bowed and left.

As he stepped out, an elderly man entered, brushing past him. Zhao Changhe politely cupped his hands, and the old man nodded in return. Turning his head to watch Zhao Changhe leave, the old man slowly approached Li Shentong, looking somewhat puzzled. He asked, “Why give him guidance? Isn’t that like stabbing Situ Xiao in the back?”

“Situ Xiao needs strong opponents to compete with and gain something from. What glory is there in bullying someone who has no guidance from a famous teacher?”

“Well... He might not be as lacking in masters or teachers as you think. While his external cultivation may have been interrupted, he’s still clearly influenced by Tang Wanzhuang and possibly even the Four Idols Cult. Tang Wanzhuang has been teaching him relentlessly.” The old man emphasized Tang Wanzhuang’s name, as if reminding Li Shentong of something important.

“His meridians have some blockages. No matter how much guidance Tang Wanzhuang gives him on internal cultivation, his main focus will always be external cultivation,” Li Shentong responded, acting as though he did not catch the old man’s hint and was clearly uninterested in continuing that topic. “Why are you here?”

The old man looked outside the door again and lowered his voice, “Di Muzhi’s people are forcibly recruiting civilians again. If people refuse, they’re forced to pay, but how can they afford to pay? Even our outer disciples are coming to us, crying for help.”

Li Shentong’s expression turned cold.

“And the spring tax silver[1] from Miaojiang that’s being sent to Shu has already arrived nearby. Should we, this time...” The old man made a slicing gesture as he spoke.

The old man made a cutting gesture while speaking.

Li Shentong understood why the old man was somewhat wary of Zhao Changhe and why he had emphasized Tang Wanzhuang’s name. With Zhao Changhe staying at the foot of the mountain, the old man was even considering whether they should abandon this operation.

Because Zhao Changhe now gave off a strong impression of being close to the imperial court.

During the battle against the Maitreya Cult, though it seemed like Tang Buqi was the main commander and there were plenty of top-tier experts from the Rankings of Heaven and Earth, anyone who knew what was really going on understood the pivotal role Zhao Changhe had played.

What their Divine Brilliance Sect was doing was not much different from what the Maitreya Cult had been doing.

In theory, killing Zhao Changhe and framing Di Muzhi’s people for it would be what the Divine Brilliance Sect should do.

Li Shentong said nothing more. He only smiled faintly and replied, “Do what needs to be done. Why hesitate so much? The older you get, the more cautious you become.”

1. This is not a tax on the trade of silver, but rather taxes being paid using silver. In China’s late imperial period, silver was a common currency used to pay taxes. ☜