The young Celestial Master couldn't keep up with Ji Xiang's train of thought, so he turned and lamented his country and the era he currently lived in.
After all, the dynasty was two hundred years old and nearing its end. The national fortune was declining, and national prestige was diminishing daily. Cultivation in the outer mountains and rivers was also becoming increasingly difficult.
If not for the great turmoil of the Yuan Dynasty, perhaps some pseudo-immortals from the Song and Yuan periods would have survived and existed as the foundation of the current dynasty.
It wasn't like now, where even fighting Japan was so difficult.
This was what he thought.
Unexpectedly, Ji Xiang let out a soft hum: "You are mistaken."
"Pseudo-immortals? Mere dried bones in a tomb! They are just decaying corpses, hollow skeletons, and precarious bamboo beams."
"The current Japanese nation appears fierce because they have mobilized their entire nation, hundreds of thousands of troops. They have even sent the pseudo-immortals who had long been asleep to the battlefield as cannon fodder. It seems they are fighting fiercely now, but in reality, if they are defeated, the consequences are unimaginable."
"Moreover, within our borders, setting aside myself and the Celestial Master, the true immortals from ancient times who are still slumbering and have not awakened from their corpse-decomposition state, as well as those who have already awakened, there are still a few!"
The young Celestial Master was startled: "Our country still has other true immortals? Then they..."
"They exist, but even if they awaken, they will not obey the orders of your court, so do not expect them to help you."
Ji Xiang stopped the child's unrealistic fantasies. These were immortals from previous dynasties. After awakening from corpse decomposition, their era had long since vanished. Things had changed, and the seas and mountains had transformed. It was truly difficult for them to have any feelings for the world centuries later. It was like a Qing Dynasty person traveling to the future and probably shouting "The Qing Dynasty has fallen!" every day!
If they were to suddenly help, it would purely be out of personal affection.
The situation within the Ming Dynasty was very complex. The court's weakness was a foregone conclusion. The only peak Pure Yang realm cultivator guarding Mount Tai was equivalent to being offline. In the southeastern region, there were at least six Pure Yang realm cultivators from the Dharma sects who did not obey orders. Among the three sects and nine paths of the Taoist world, there was at least one Pure Yang realm cultivator in each. Sects like Wudang even had three. Including the eight schools of Buddhism and Confucianism, the three teachings nominally obeyed the court's orders. In reality, they had to guard their own mountain gates and sects. They absolutely could not abandon their mountains to help fight a war. This was the case with the master of Shangqing Mountain. With only one Pure Yang realm cultivator, he had to protect his lineage and would not obey the court's orders. Simply put, helping to fight Japan offered them no benefit and would only cause them severe injuries.
Among this group, there were also subordinates of Prince Lu scattered in other places, and perhaps hidden Pure Yang realm cultivators.
Only Confucianism would be driven by the court, but they currently had no experts. Decades ago, they had a Sage, but now they were like a clever cook who couldn't cook without ingredients.
It was true that achieving the Pure Yang realm was difficult, but it depended on the population. In the twenty-fifth year of Wanli, the registered household population reached fifty to sixty million. Adding those without household registration, the total could reach around ninety million. This was because women and children who were unable to pay taxes were not included in population statistics... There were even magical units like "half a person."
With such a population base of nearly one hundred million, it was entirely normal for the cultivators of various families to select suitable individuals from this population for cultivation. Among thousands of people, a good seedling would be chosen. After cultivating for decades, or even centuries, a few more Pure Yang realm cultivators would emerge.
"Alright, you watch Shimazu Yoshihiro. I'll be back shortly."
Ji Xiang looked in a certain direction, but the young Celestial Master was confused:
"Back shortly? Uncle-Master, you're going..."
*Hum—*
Before the word "where" could be spoken, Ji Xiang had already transformed into a golden light, twisted in place, and vanished!
The young Celestial Master's eyes widened, dumbfounded: "This... this is a遁术 (Dùnshù - escape technique)?!"
"Wait,碎金子 (Suì Jīnzi - Shattering Gold)... among the thirteen great遁术 (Dùnshù), it's the Gold遁术 (Dùnshù)!"
At the same time.
The Waterfall Spirit King, who was fleeing rapidly and even muttering, "Immortals are terrifying, I won't come again, I must quickly notify other reinforcements," was a Buddhist demon and a famous great demon. He had come from Japan to fight in Korea, and in the past, he had always been invincible. After gaining some power from pseudo-immortals, he once felt that besides Yagyu Munenori and a few pseudo-immortals, there was no one in the world who could defeat him.
But... now!
"Pseudo-immortals, what are they? They're nothing!"
The Waterfall Spirit King's face, carved like wood, was now pale. The power of Ji Xiang's city-destroying sword from before lingered in his mind! Although he knew it was because Japan's own divine sword had struck its own city, rendering the national prestige useless, even so... even so!
That was a sword that had killed Yagyu Munenori, the giant skeletal monster, and several legion commanders in one blow!
The opponent hadn't used his full strength in the few casual moves he made when fighting him earlier!
That was a true immortal!
What was the power of a pseudo-immortal before a true immortal?
Even Emperor Jinmu, that "false immortal," might, might...!
No!
"No, Emperor Jinmu is different, yes! This lord is different! The national fortune of all of Japan is in his hands. Although he is a false immortal and not ranked among true immortals, ordinary true immortals definitely cannot defeat him!"
"But... but... with only pseudo-immortals, one cannot defeat true immortals."
"Damn it, if this lord, if Emperor Jinmu had not restricted our country's immortals, would what I have obtained now be the power of true immortals? If I had the power of true immortals, would I still lose to that Ming Dynasty immortal?"
"It's all Emperor Jinmu's fault! If he hadn't been so greedy, stifling everyone's chance to become immortal, turning them into nourishment and refining them into pills to sustain himself alone, we would definitely have many true immortals now!"
"Even I, perhaps, would have already advanced to become a demon immortal! How could I be afraid...!"
Before he could finish speaking.
While he was fleeing by controlling the wind and water.
In that instant, it seemed a golden light flashed.
The next moment, a large number of swords suddenly appeared above the Waterfall Spirit King's head.
With a swing!
————
In the occupied capital of Korea by the Japanese army.
After five meetings in three days, Kobayakawa Hideaki demanded that the legion commanders proactively attack, cross the Biyong Pavilion defense line, and then launch a full-scale attack on Kaesong. However, this order was repeatedly rejected by several legion commanders led by Date Masamune!
Their gazes towards Kobayakawa Hideaki became even more disdainful and disgusted.
"If you cannot serve as the overall commander, I think this position should be given to someone else!"
"Date Masamune, are you planning to usurp authority! I am the adopted son of the Grand Minister, how dare you! If you do this, it is rebellion, it is treason! You incompetent wretch, you boast about your martial prowess, claiming to have great strength and excellent strategy, yet now you are holed up in the capital, not daring to step an inch beyond the threshold. Is your ferocity only present in the court, directed at me, a weakling, like a mad dog barking pointlessly!"
"You, you! Hideaki, I'll see if you only have skill in your mouth!"
Date Masamune was so enraged that he lost his reason. He had been directly targeted by the other party multiple times in the past three days. Even the most clear-minded person would now be filled with thoughts like "I didn't play well last round, this round I'll spray you to death."
And Uesugi Kagekatsu, who held two divine artifacts, felt that the atmosphere had been somewhat off recently.
The Ming army was too quiet, with no movement. Although it could be considered that they were discussing tactics, if they were to attack, it might be in these few days.
Moreover, the appearance of that immortal that night was truly bizarre, and something felt wrong.
Rather than thinking aimlessly here, rather than doing nothing...
"I agree to a proactive attack."
Uesugi Kagekatsu suddenly spoke, and all eyes turned to him.
Date Masamune was incredulous: "What nonsense are you talking about! The opponent has immortals! We also have immortals and divine artifacts here, but..."
He wanted to say that often, it wasn't that whoever appeared to have the advantage truly did, and it might even be that the opponent was deliberately showing weakness. However, before he could finish speaking, Kobayakawa Hideaki's eyes flashed with excitement, and he shouted loudly:
"Look! Even the Uesugi family, who holds divine artifacts, speaks this way!"
"This evening, the entire army will attack! Cross Biyong Pavilion and launch a surprise attack on the Ming army!"
"Date Masamune, are you still not obeying orders!"
Date Masamune's face also began to twist with anger.
.......
Kaesong, Ming army front line. Chen Lin and other generals had not done anything in the past few days except explore the port to map the area and rest. They had originally wanted to launch a full-scale attack on the capital, but they also knew that the enemy had pseudo-immortals, so they remained stationary.
Waiting with replenished strength.
The enemy thought the Ming army had a plan.
In reality, the Ming army had no plan.
However, someone would help them devise a plan.
On the table, a talisman suddenly ignited.
Chen Lin was startled, looked closely, and smiled:
"Gentlemen, the operational plan for tonight has arrived."