In the imperial palace of Great Jing, King Jinghe's expression was also a little heavy, with a trace of worry still in the depths of his eyes.
"This visit by the Great Wei delegation, one does not know their true intentions. If they truly harbor other ideas, one wonders if the title of National Preceptor can hold them back."
After all, the cultivation strength of Great Jing in comparison to Great Wei, due to the past influence of the inner circle's barrier, was too vast a gap.
It was not without reason that King Jinghe had such thoughts.
Beside King Jinghe, a figure was comforting him.
"Your Majesty, please set your mind at ease. Daoist Li's standing outside the circle is higher than anyone imagines. Didn't Daoist Li tell you before, Your Majesty, that as long as Great Jing itself does not self-destruct, Great Wei will certainly give Daoist Li face?"
Upon hearing this, the worry in King Jinghe's eyes subsided considerably. He looked at the person beside him with a hint of gratitude.
"Director Zuo, thank you. I also heard my grandfather mention that it was you who led him in his escape during the period of the demon master's rebellion. Now, when the cultivation strength of Great Jing's cultivators is at its weakest, you have returned."
"There is no need for courtesy, Your Majesty. This is all a minister's duty."
The person beside King Jinghe was none other than Zuo Shang. After the battle between the human and demon races at the Great Wall of Humanity had concluded.
Zuo Shang had found King Jinghe.
The power of the Nascent Soul stage felt like that of a divine being to the King Jinghe of that time.
Upon learning that this person was Zuo Shang, the former Director-General of the Demon Extermination Division.
With much persuasion and earnest invitation, coupled with Zuo Shang's own intention to return to serve the court.
At this moment, Zuo Shang had once again become the Director-General of Great Jing's Demon Extermination Division.
And just then.
"The Great Wei delegation has arrived!"
The voice from outside pulled the two of them back from their conversation.
King Jinghe's expression instantly turned solemn. He led an eunuch and departed.
Not long after, guided by the eunuch.
King Jinghe met the delegation from Great Wei.
The delegation consisted of twenty people in total.
They were dressed formally and impeccably, standing upright and awaiting outside the imperial palace.
Among the twenty, standing at the forefront was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties, handsome in appearance, with an extraordinary demeanor, a gentle smile on his face, but with a hint of wisdom deep in his eyes.
This man was named Cao Chang, the son of King Jian of Wei, and the Crown Prince of the Great Wei Dynasty. Cao Chang was the leader of this delegation to Great Jing.
Behind Cao Chang, all nineteen others exuded an impressive aura.
The weakest among them was at least Nascent Soul, and the one with the highest cultivation had reached the peak of Nascent Soul.
Such strength, merely by standing there, exerted immense pressure on many cultivators within the imperial palace.
At this moment, Cao Chang seemed to have spotted King Jinghe and bowed, cupping his fists.
"I am Cao Chang, the eldest son of King Jian of Wei. I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"So it is Crown Prince Cao Chang. We regret not having welcomed you sooner and for our inadequate hospitality. I have prepared a banquet within the imperial palace. Shall we dine and converse there?"
King Jinghe also smiled heartily and said.
This was their first meeting, yet both were exceedingly cordial.
Cao Chang did not refuse King Jinghe's invitation and followed him in a certain direction.
As they walked, the two engaged in a warm conversation.
Suddenly, Cao Chang's gaze flickered as he looked in a certain direction.
There stood a towering statue.
The face of the statue was clearly visible, that of a young man.
Cao Chang had seen this statue in some towns he passed through on his way to Great Jing.
However, the statue within the imperial palace was even grander.
Looking at the statue, a sense of respect instinctively surfaced in Cao Chang's eyes.
He then smiled, feigning nonchalance.
"Heh heh, I, Cao Chang, have passed through many towns on my journey to Great Jing, and every town has this statue. I wonder who the owner of that statue is, Your Majesty King Jinghe."
Hearing this, King Jinghe's eyes flickered. The next moment, he smiled and said.
"That, that statue belongs to our Great Jing's National Preceptor, Li Qi."
His voice paused, and King Jinghe's tone grew more respectful.
"The National Preceptor's help to our Great Jing has been immense. If not for the National Preceptor saving our Great Jing from peril on multiple occasions, our Great Jing would likely have ceased to exist over a hundred years ago."
"It is not an exaggeration to say that this Great Jing realm was saved by the National Preceptor's painstaking efforts."
"It is precisely because of this that a hundred years ago, when my grandfather, King Jing'an, was in power, he ordered the construction of the National Preceptor's statues throughout the land, for all the people to worship and offer their faith..."
"I see."
Cao Chang smiled and picked up the conversation.
The visit was very successful for both parties, with no conflict, and everything was peaceful.
After Cao Chang left the imperial palace, the peak Nascent Soul expert who was close to Cao Chang spoke.
"Crown Prince, that statue indeed possesses a strong aura of faith. Daoist Li Qi is likely truly worshipped by the entire Great Jing for a century."
"I understand."
Cao Chang nodded, his face calm.
Although this was a diplomatic visit, their true purpose was not so simple.
And after this visit was completely concluded, Cao Chang and the other twenty people returned to the Great Wei Dynasty.
After Cao Chang reported his observations and the identity of Li Qi, the National Preceptor of Great Jing, to King Jian of Wei, Cao Ma Yi.
Cao Ma Yi slowly turned his aged face, which revealed no emotion, with his hands behind his back.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Since Mr. Li is worshipped as the National Preceptor of Great Jing, we must give Mr. Li face. We should not interfere too much in Great Jing's internal affairs. Also, remind the cultivators from outside the circle that from now on, when they go inside the circle, they should be more restrained and not cause trouble that would make Mr. Li's position difficult."
Indeed, in the following years.
Occasionally, cultivators from outside the circle would visit Great Jing, and their conduct within Great Jing was indeed very restrained, trying their best to avoid conflicts with cultivators from inside the circle.
King Jinghe of Great Jing, upon learning this information, had a very complex expression. Years ago, the powerful strength of those guards behind Cao Chang had filled him with despair.
However, it was true that after he mentioned Li Qi as the National Preceptor, the attitude of those people had indeed changed dramatically.
Coupled with the restrained demeanor of cultivators from outside the circle.
King Jinghe truly understood a principle.
Unless the strength of Great Jing surpassed that of Great Wei one day.
Before that day.
Great Jing, which worshipped National Preceptor Li Qi, was Great Jing. If Great Jing were to stop worshipping Li Qi one day, perhaps Great Jing would cease to exist.
This statement was often used by King Jinghe to educate his son, ensuring that he would remember it firmly.