Chapter 543: Chapter 260: Breaking the Dan Ding – Part 3

After all, compared to conquering new territories, one’s own life was more important.

“Of course, in the end, it still depends on Anqiu’s attitude.”

Thinking as such, Lu Yuan ordered someone to verify the silver tales sent by Dan Ding Path. After receiving confirmation that the amounts were accurate, he called for a meeting with Anqiu True Person.

“Poor Daoist Anqiu, I greet your Majesty.”

In the Lihe Palace, Anqiu True Person paid his respects to the person before him and then took a closer look.

It had been several years since they had last seen each other, and the change in the king before him was indeed earth-shattering.

Not only had his aura become more stable, but the majesty on his body had also deepened compared to the past.

As their gazes met, Anqiu True Person felt somewhat shocked and did not dare to look directly at the king, an experience that astonished him.

Because Anqiu True Person knew that this feeling could not be achieved by the so-called King’s momentum alone.

As a cultivator who respected the Heaven and the Earth, he did not acknowledge any Heavenly Son or king, and would not submit in fear because of it.

What made him retreat and evade just now was the horrifying divine thoughts that the other party had conveyed when their eyes met.

‘This kind of divine thought, is almost comparable to those of a Dao master.’

Recalling the terrible pressure from the earlier contact, Anqiu True Person almost immediately thought of his Dao master, which was followed by an overwhelming terror, and finally, ecstasy.

He was shocked at Lu Yuan’s rapid growth.

When they first met, Lu Yuan was just a Martial artist. Not only was he not astonishing to Anqiu, but he had not even reached the Inborn realm yet.

Yet now, in just a span of five to six years, his cultivation had almost reached the level of Anqiu’s own Dao master.

What was the state of his Dao master?

That was a character who had merged one of the Five Elements into their Immortal Method, enjoying a life of leisure for two hundred years, and was truly a top existence.

If Lu Yuan could give him a feeling comparable to his Dao master, did that mean his cultivation had also reached the level of merging one of the Five Elements?

Even if he hadn’t, based on his current realm, it should not be far off.

‘To reach such a realm so quickly, it is surely the doing of the Taiping Dao Book. There can be no other possibility.

Lu Yuan must be cultivating the Taiping Dao Book.’

‘It seems that our Dao master and I were right to discuss this earlier. Lu Yuan has indeed changed. With his current strength, my Dan Ding Path must not provoke him easily, or else endless trouble will arise, and a catastrophe will inevitably follow.

This time, it was the right decision to present him ten million pieces of silver as a meeting gift.’

Thinking as such, Anqiu True Person dared not look at Lu Yuan any longer, for fear of disturbing the king and angering him.

And his carefulness was naturally seen by Lu Yuan, who was sitting on the throne.

Thus, he couldn’t help but laugh and ask, “Fellow Daoist Anqiu, it has been several years since we last met. What important matter brings you here today with such a generous gift?”

Anqiu True Person tactfully put aside his thoughts and replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, the reason for my visit is not a significant one. I heard that your Majesty is planning to attack the Da Changhe Country and that the army is short of funds. Therefore, I have come to offer some financial aid.”

“Aid?”

Upon hearing these words, Lu Yuan scrutinized the Elder Daoist with great meaning, saying, “I have never shared my intention to conquer the Da Changhe Country with outsiders, nor has it been made public. The Dan Ding Path is located thousands of miles away, and we belong to different countries, yet you were able to learn about this matter well in advance.

Your information is truly well-informed, and you have been really attentive to me.”

As he spoke, a sense of vigilance rose in his heart.

As his words suggested, the plan to attack the Da Changhe Country was almost considered a secret in the Chu State. In order to maintain confidentiality, Lu Yuan had even made numerous arrangements and precautions.

Despite these efforts, the Dan Ding Path had somehow obtained the information well in advance, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

What did this imply?

It implied that the internal affairs of the Chu State’s Royal Court might have been infiltrated.

Out of those ministers who were present, how many of them were spies for others?

With this thought in mind, Lu Yuan couldn’t resist devising a plan to purge the royal court.

Fortunately, he knew it would be inappropriate and could easily cause turmoil, make the officials feel threatened, and affect the stability of the country.

Moreover, without the ability to read minds, it wouldn’t be easy to identify such deeply hidden spies.

Thus, Lu Yuan quietly let go of the thought.

Nevertheless, his wariness of the Immortal Sect known as the Dan Ding Path, with a legacy spanning thousands of years, deepened even further.

Aside from their martial prowess, the extensive network of relationships and powerful information-gathering abilities they possessed from their long-standing lineage were enough to inspire fear.

It wouldn’t be simple to deal with such a formidable enemy.

Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

And so, the two people with their respective hidden intentions met and developed a mutual wariness of each other.

However, both of them were old foxes. Even though there was some loss of composure, they quickly brought it under control.

At this moment, Anqiu True Person responded to Lu Yuan’s sarcastic words with an unchanged expression and a smile on his face, “My Dan Ding Path has been passed down for thousands of years, so our ears and eyes are naturally more sensitive than those of others. Moreover, Your Majesty is an extraordinary friend of our path.

It is only natural for us to be more attentive to Your Majesty. Please don’t blame us!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan sneered, “Attentive to me? I’m afraid this attention is more focused on how long it will take me to die!”

With these words, the last semblance of pretense between the two parties was shattered.

Considering they would eventually clash and break off relations, the end result would be the same. Lu Yuan was no longer interested in playing word games or dragging out the conversation, as that would be a waste of time.

It was better to lay everything out in the open, put all the issues on the table, and settle the matter once and for all.

Anqiu True Person’s face changed, “Your Majesty, what do you mean? In my heart, I have never thought of you in such a way.”

“Enough.”

Lu Yuan waved his hand to interrupt him, and then his aura radiated, exerting immense pressure on the representative of the Dan Ding Path, “Anqiu, you and I have known each other for some time. The agreements we made back then were all made clear.

You don’t need to play dumb with me.

However, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, just like I’ll have to disappoint the Dan Ding Path behind you.

Yes, I have obtained the Taiping Dao Book, but in the end, I didn’t cultivate the Immortal Technique.”

Lu Yuan’s words were neither hurried nor slow, but the pressure they brought was immense, causing Anqiu True Person to break out in a cold sweat.

Once everything was laid bare, and upon hearing the contents, the True Person of the Dan Ding Path immediately shook his head, his tone rising several notches in disbelief, “This is impossible!”

With a shocked expression, Anqiu’s voice trembled with a hint of fear.