Looking at the now occupied residence, Li Jizhou felt the heartache of Liu Hongling within the Dharma Realm.
Especially after inquiring with the nearby loose cultivators and finding out that about fifty years ago, Liu Hongling was captured by two Nascent Soul experts from the Shangguan family, the Liu family had since lived in constant fear.
Although they ultimately were not implicated, and the City Lord's Mansion of Guzhu City showed no attitude towards them, one quiet night, the entire Liu family left, disappearing without a trace.
Some cultivators claimed the Liu family seemed to have headed towards Purple Vine Mountain.
Within the Dharma Realm, Liu Hongling appeared dejected; the Liu family had taken special care of her since the time in Qi Kingdom, and when the Inverted Mountain's Blood Evil Golden Corpse emerged, they prioritized her protection.
Even when crossing the vast deserted spiritual wasteland, the Liu family, despite difficulties, never abandoned her until Chu Kingdom overran the Celestial Spirit Sect, and she was eventually besieged by sea domain cultivators. After exhausting her essence in a near-fatal elevation, the Liu family still didn't forsake her.
After many hardships, arriving at Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, it was also for her promotion to a Tier Three Earth Spirit Master that the family expended their foundations.
The Liu family's entire existence in this life was for Liu Hongling, but they fell into despair before enjoying any glory she brought.
"The ancestors must be very disappointed, right?" Liu Hongling sighed quietly, her heart filled with endless guilt.
Of course, she dared not hope Li Jizhou could take her to find her kin; aiding her escape from Cangming Dynasty's grasp was already a significant favor. She could only wait until the Cangming Dynasty's Divine Soul Curse faded over time before seeking her family.
Li Jizhou said no more, walking from the Liu family residence along to the secluded courtyard where he once stayed under the guise of Master Huangshi, now also occupied.
Opposite, An Liuli's large courtyard appeared somewhat desolate, tree crowns covering the sky, overgrown with weeds, indicating no residents or upkeep.
The City Lord's Mansion likely feared involvement with Cangming Dynasty or the Shangguan family in the Eastern Desolation Central Domain.
Li Jizhou did not pause, nor directly looked, passing by with only a sidelong glance as if he had never seen it.
After returning to the Bamboo Sea, Li Jizhou immersed in secluded cultivation.
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
"The 'Cyan Emperor Creation Skill' is indeed swift. I once thought it would take ten years to progress from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, but unexpectedly, barely a year has passed, and I'm almost at the threshold of the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment; presumably, in another year, I will surely break through to the Late Stage."
Li Jizhou, having finished his cultivation session for the day, marveled at his cultivation technique.
He was astounded by the cultivation technique.
In his previous life, cultivating 'Evergreen Skill,' it took a full sixteen years to progress from the Middle Stage to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.
"I must take a Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus when entering the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment."
Pity that neither Gongsun Dang nor Duke Zhen brought any good news.
This exit from seclusion was due to Hong Luan and three others locating the trail of Gua Gua after a year-long search.
The Black Water of Ten Thousand Poison Swamp is extraordinarily effective at isolating the Divine Soul, so much so that even Hong Luan's quasi-Fifth Tier Divine Soul strength struggled to penetrate it; and with Gua Gua having advanced to Tier Four, being its natural habitat beneath the Black Water, it had deliberately concealed itself, making it difficult for the four women throughout the year.
Then, Li Jizhou sent a message to Cyan Dome, asking her to come back and pick him up.
Considering his own mere Middle Stage Foundation Establishment strength, without their magical power protection, he couldn't endure the poisonous mist outside.
Moreover, his flying speed was too slow.
As for the Spirit Treasure Level flying ship with the evident Jiuli royal imprint within his storage ring, naturally, he couldn't use that either.
While waiting for Cyan Dome, Li Jizhou reviewed the latest information in the Celestial Punishment Order.
Half a year ago, Guzhu True Monarch arrived alone at Qianji City, rented a courtyard for seclusion, and contacted no one.
On this point, Li Jizhou was very satisfied.
In this year, there have been ceaseless upheavals in the Jiuli Dynasty. Before leaving Qianji City, he ordered the Celestial Punishment's spies in the Jiuli Imperial City to spread rumors about the Ninth Prince's background, causing widespread uproar. The court swiftly pursued the rumor-mongers.
However, the first person to spread the rumor had long since returned to Qianji City to escape disaster - how could they be found?
Most shocking was, as the rumor reached the palace, King Yun self-destructed in the Celestial Prison, exterminated in both body and soul.
Consort Rong was then attacked, her Primordial Spirit injured, her sea of consciousness nearly collapsed, causing memory loss.
Eventually, the court executed a group of rumor spreaders, prohibiting further discussion of the matter, seemingly letting the Ninth Prince's mysterious lineage fade silently away.
Yet a month later, a minister who previously advocated for the Crown Prince's reinstatement was abruptly imprisoned on rebellion charges, personally inspected by the Saint Emperor.
Subsequently, more and more individuals were implicated.
In one sweep, the court underwent a purge, and every minister was anxious and apprehensive.
Outside the Ninth Prince's palace, a significant increase in patrols by the Golden Armor Army was observed, with no sign of the Ninth Prince for the past half year.
The latest word is that the Dragon Aspect, who wielded influence for millennia over the Jiuli Dynasty, voluntarily resigned, citing dwindling longevity and inability to conduct state affairs, relinquishing all power.
"It's truly lively!"
"Given the circumstances, it's likely even harder for Father to proceed; even if Old Jiu's bloodline cannot be confirmed, Father is unlikely to pass the throne to him.
But being inherently suspicious, Father would naturally suspect whether this is a strategy by the Crown Prince to undermine the Ninth Prince.
Crucially, King Yun self-destructed, and Consort Rong's sea of consciousness collapsed, leaving no witnesses, as they and Old Jiu are both from the Li family of Jiuli's bloodline. Via bloodline tracing secret techniques, it's impossible to determine if the Ninth Prince is truly theirs or King Yun's.
Furthermore, the Crown Prince remains the primary suspect, having already been demoted once, his talent not surpassing the Ninth Prince. Such a scheme seems his only means to secure the crown prince's seat!"
Li Jizhou shook his head in slight discontent, suspecting Li Yuan's biggest doubt lies in the Crown Prince's conspiracy.
This makes Li Yuan even more reluctant to pass the throne to the Crown Prince.
Thus, it deviates substantially from Li Jizhou's initial plan.
"The Dragon Aspect truly had the upper hand!"
Originally, Li Jizhou thought exposing the Ninth Prince's lineage, Li Yuan would soul-search King Yun or Consort Rong, leading to the Ninth Prince's extermination.
Then, only the Crown Prince would be suitable to inherit the great power.
At that juncture, Dragon Aspect might hasten in rebellion.
Li Jizhou and Gongsun Dang along with Duke Zhen's scheme awaited Dragon Aspect's move.
After addressing the Dragon Aspect, he'd resurrect and return to the imperial city to inherit the throne directly.
Alas, the Dragon Aspect responded swiftly, possibly contemplating countermeasures the moment he received the rumor concerning the Ninth Prince.
Realizing maintaining a balanced contention between the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince was no longer feasible, he ultimately decided to drag the Crown Prince into the waters.
Undoubtedly, Dragon Aspect likely persuaded King Yun to self-destruct, and it was he who shattered Consort Rong's sea of consciousness; with King Yun dead, Li Yuan could no longer definitively prove if the Ninth Prince was indeed his blood.
Moreover, he intensified Li Yuan's doubts about the Crown Prince, almost convinced he was involved.
Judging by the outcome, the biggest beneficiary would seem to be the Crown Prince.
Dragon Aspect then made a strategic retreat at this critical juncture, leaving Li Yuan without any pressure, no urgency of diminishing longevity, and likely delaying any thoughts on establishing a successor.
However, this move by Dragon Aspect is akin to sacrificing a limb for survival; without the courtly power, he loses the previous omniscience, particularly if chess pieces he placed within the court are removed, his chances for a successful rebellion drastically reduce, limited to hoping the grand arrays are fully set.
This presents an unexpected joy for Li Jizhou, immediately sending a message to Gongsun Dang to seize every means to eliminate all of Long Ni's spies in the court, perhaps finding a way to persuade Li Yuan to grant an outlying fiefdoм, consequently relocating away from the imperial city.
Moments later, Cyan Dome returned, taking Li Jizhou to the boundary of Black Water River, ten thousand miles northeast, where Gua Gua's trace was found.
The Black Water River originates from the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, flows through the borders of the Eastern Desolation Central Domain and the Southern Domain—encompassing Yan Kingdom and Wei Kingdom—and ultimately empties into the East Sea.
The Black Water River, once a natural barrier separating the Eastern Desolation Central Domain and the Southern Domain, with a quasi-Fifth Tier Flood Dragon, has deterred many cultivators from the Southern Domain from crossing.