Ning Daoqi also had a solemn expression.


    "Back then, when the four great monks besieged him, he resolved each of their attacks one by one, defeating them individually. In order to guard against a sneak attack from Shi Zhixuan, they now seclude themselves to heal, unable to come here. But I didn’t expect him to have grown even stronger, resembling Zhang Sanfeng."


    Thinking of his last encounter with Zhang Sanfeng, Ning Daoqi also felt somewhat heavy at heart. The first time they fought, they were evenly matched, but during their second encounter, Zhang Sanfeng had already reached a level of comprehension that surpassed his own, a complete substitution of equal rank!


    Was the Yin Gui Saint Heir the same?


    "Is he truly so strong? Then we definitely cannot allow them to leave this time. Otherwise, letting the tiger return to the mountain could lead to more tragedies like the Yangzhou Massacre," Ning Daoqi said with resolved righteousness in his words.


    Xie Hui’s eyes flickered upon hearing this, his speech full of righteous indignation.


    "So far it’s just rumors, not yet confirmed. But since he dares to swim against the current and take a detour through Ba Shu on his way to Chang’an, isn’t that in itself a means for him to prove his mettle? We need to hear what they have to say," Xie Hui said.


    Song Que didn’t take anyone’s word for it—he only trusted his own eyes.


    Plus, there were rumors that his good-for-nothing second son was possibly on this very ship.


    Even though the boy was incompetent, Song Que understood his character after all the high-pressure training he had given.


    If the son had really done such a thing, he would never again walk the same path as him.


    But if his son had been kidnapped, then Song Que would have to see just how sharp his ’Heavenly Blade’ was...


    Now, although Song Que might not be as famous as the three great Grandmasters, his strength was undoubtedly the most formidable in the Great Tang in plain sight, before Shi Zhixuan reached his complete form!


    It had been twenty years since anyone had challenged him.


    "This..."


    Thinking back on those days, he felt embarrassed.


    Having abandoned his bid for the throne, Wang Bo now just wanted to save face; this matter had become a sore point for him.


    This time, he even gave up his neutral stance to come and lend a hand.


    "After committing such an act and still daring to continue on the original route, he must possess some real strength," Li Shentong commented with a touch of emotion. However, he treated Wang Bo perfunctorily, giving only cursory consideration to the old man’s reputation, focusing his main attention on Bi Xuan and Fu Cailin.


    Li Shentong didn’t quite understand why Bi Xuan suddenly took Li Shimin as a disciple, but it was a heaven-sent opportunity for the Li Faction, one they would not give up easily.


    Li Shimin was still resistant to foreign cultures, but now his position within the Li Faction meant he had no authority to decide.


    In fact, Tujue and Goguryeo had their own issues, but for some reason, Bi Xuan wanted to continue integrating the Li Faction and Goguryeo.


    So Li Shentong had been secretly coordinating with Fu Cailin for quite a while.


    Fu Cailin, deeply aware of the damage the Great Sui Dynasty’s three campaigns had done to Goguryeo and the strength of the Central Plains, would genuinely support the rise of a sovereign who could foster good relations with Goguryeo.


    Also, given the bewildering nature of the ’living dead,’ they had gathered in Ba Shu under this pretext, seeking to eradicate the world’s enemies together.


    One of their goals was to legitimize the Li Faction and reduce the Central Plains’ repulsion towards them.


    Bi Xuan had reviewed the histories up to the Yuan Court era and knew well the strength of the burgeoning Great Tang, and although the Yuan Court had taken the Central Plains, their lack of active integration had led to apparent signs of dynasty’s decline within just a few decades.


    Therefore, inspired by the Jin and Liao dynasties, Bi Xuan planned to control the Li Faction’s bid for power and then integrate fully into the societal fabric!


    To ensure greater chances of success, he planned to pull in Goguryeo, confident of faring better with historical lessons as guidance.


    Now that they had appeared, Bi Xuan felt it time to share some of his secrets with them.