Chapter 1673: Listening to the Rain Pavilion Young Master, Calculating the Gains and Losses of the Five Clans

The Imperial Realm of Han Palace.

Scenic mountains and waters, with pavilions and towers.

Distant floral scents and birdsong, along with dragonflies skimming the lake surface to feed on golden-red carp, drifted with the wind into a waterside pavilion, distinctly Jiangnan in style, perfect for viewing the scenery.

Leaning against the railing, one could see that the Listening Rain Pavilion was like an earthly paradise, eternally spring-like. In stark contrast, the desolate and gloomy ruins of the Divine Remains appeared to be a wretched hell on earth.

"Pfft!"

Wine sprayed out in a mist.

Inside the pavilion, Yue Gongli, with a grape in one hand and a wine glass in the other, had comfortably settled back into his leisurely young master's life.

He stared in astonishment at the two mirrors before him:

"No way, Xu Xiaoshou is absolutely terrifying."

"Did he come up with this terrible idea himself, or did that flashy old Daoist advise him? It's utterly disgusting!"

It was quite disgusting indeed... The maid, who had been sprayed in the face, turned her head and gnashed her teeth in resentment.

Soon, the maid wiped the wine from her face, regained her composure, and looked back with a world-weary calm at the young master, who was still sitting with crossed legs but looked about to rise:

"Young Master Li, that was rather unseemly."

"Uh, apologies, apologies... don't stop massaging my shoulders."

Yue Gongli popped a grape into his mouth and slightly raised his right shoulder, prompting the maid behind him to massage more vigorously.

While he apologized, his gaze never left the two mirrors, which were broadcasting live footage of Xu Xiaoshou's ascent of the Holy Mountain.

The left mirror, a Preaching Mirror, continuously broadcast Xu Xiaoshou's taunt, "Doggy, do you dare face me in battle?" He had been shouting for half a day, but Ai Cangsheng remained unresponsive.

The right mirror, a Heavenly Dao Mirror, used the Celestial Staircase as its array core to form a Dao-Observing Array. It showed Ai Cangsheng having fired forty or fifty times, with Xu Xiaoshou dodging each time.

Yet, the foolish Half-Saints on the Holy Mountain saw nothing, continuing to shout:

"Great Emperor Cangsheng, please fire your arrow!"

"Great Emperor Cangsheng, slay Xu Xiaoshou!"

When even the returning Qin Duan couldn't help but shout "Doggy" at Ai Cangsheng, Yue Gongli burst into laughter as if the massaging maid had hit his funny bone.

He suddenly roared with laughter, clapping wildly in place as tears and grape juice spurted from the corners of his eyes and between his teeth.

"What a trick!"

"Pure mockery!"

"Xu Xiaoshou is truly inhuman! This whole 'guidance' act, he must have learned from that flashy old Daoist, haha! Look at him—"

Yue Gongli's eyebrows were comically distorted from laughter. He pointed at the mirror and turned to look at the maid massaging his shoulders, seeking an emotional reaction.

The maid lifted her eyelids, glanced at the mirror, and simply said, "Oh."

She then looked at the sky, her eyes brightening. Taking two steps back, she let out a long sigh, as if she had been holding her breath for a long time.

Only then did she bow gracefully, smiling sweetly as she spoke:

"It's past noon, Young Master Li. Good afternoon. I'll be going back for my midday rest now."

*Tap, tap, tap...*

Her cheerful footsteps faded into the distance.

The next maid stepped forward to take over. Her delicate nose wrinkled, but she said nothing, beginning to pound down with her small fists, *thump, thump, thump*.

"Hiss!"

Yue Gongli gasped, "Haven't seen you for a month or so, are you full of pent-up energy? Go easy on me!"

"Oh."

"What 'oh'? Stop pounding! All of you, retreat! Get out of here, quickly! Call A'Si over!"

Yue Gongli had lost all interest in watching the show.

With all these gloomy faces looking as if they wished him dead, he simply waved his hand to dismiss them.

The maids in the waterside pavilion, as if granted souls, suddenly had their eyes light up. They all rose in unison and bowed.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Immediately, as if fearing Young Master Li would change his mind, their figures vanished with a whoosh.

Soon after, cries began to ripple from the distance:

"A'Si! A'Si!"

"Young Master Li calls for you! Hurry to the Listening Rain Pavilion!"

What was all this about? Had he been too lenient with them...? Yue Gongli's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He inwardly told himself to relax, not to stoop to quibbling with mere servants.

A faint light descended from the sky.

A hunched, white-haired old man in black, who had seemingly appeared from nowhere, was already kneeling on one knee before the railing. "Your old servant is here," he said.

"No need for such formalities."

Only then did A'Si rise. As he approached, his nose wrinkled, and he cast a peculiar look:

"Young Master Li, why don't you bathe and change your clothes first, now that you're home?"

Yue Gongli paused, then realized what A'Si was implying. He grabbed his collar and sniffed it twice:

"Do I smell that bad?"

The hunched old man nodded, then shook his head. "Bearable," he replied.

"Bearable," indeed... Yue Gongli was so annoyed that he snatched the plate of grapes from the table and threw it. Old A'Si caught it, plucked a grape, popped it into his mouth, and then glanced at the two mirrors in front.

"Is this... Lord Shou?"

"Exactly!" Yue Gongli nodded. "Familiarize yourself with his face – oh, actually, his face isn't important. Focus on his aura and abilities... If you ever cross paths with him, don't mention you're with me. You probably won't die then."

A'Si's eyebrows twitched. "Lord Shou is truly that powerful?"

"What do you think?" Yue Gongli rose, running the backs of his fingers down the front of his robe. "My true body almost perished in the Divine Remains!"

A'Si looked moved. "Young Master Li, you've been through a lot."

"Get lost!"

"Did Young Master Li gain anything from this trip to the ruins?" A'Si, taking the place of the maid, massaged the young master's shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down and watch the show as they chatted.

"You know what? I really did!"

"Oh?"

"The Divine Remains were said to be Ran Ming's place of inheritance, but in reality, it was the Malicious Yin Evil God who awakened!"

"What? It was actually an incarnation of the Ancestor of Arts? How did Young Master Li escape with his life? In this old servant's opinion, you must have displayed some divine valor, no?"

"I'm ashamed to admit, I wasn't the main one doing the work. It was Xu Xiaoshou, Shen Yi, and Dao Qiongcang."

"The Young Master is skilled in the art of concealment, which is also a kind of divine valor... But speaking of which, was that Daoist boy there too?"

"Not only was he there, he was sickening! He set a terrible example, corrupting Xu Xiaoshou into this state. Look at him!" Yue Gongli angrily pointed at the mirror.

Xu Xiaoshou in the mirror was still issuing challenges.

Meanwhile, Ai Cangsheng couldn't hit anyone, couldn't leave the Holy Mountain, and had to endure the condemnation and curses of everyone there. He was utterly helpless against Xu Xiaoshou.

"He certainly is bad..." A'Si murmured softly, then turned back to the young master. "What did Young Master Li gain?"

"I initially snagged two axes, but Dao Qiongcang confiscated them. In the end, I didn't dare ask for them back."

"Were they the God-Slaying Axe and the Demon-Splitting Axe?"

"Yes."

"No one from the Qian Shi Imperial Realm is any good!"

"Exactly! And they're disgusting!" Yue Gongli felt understood; A'Si truly knew him. "I didn't acquire any tangible items, but I learned a great deal about the Ten Venerable Seats."

"Oh? That's a different kind of gain!"

"Indeed. I observed two of the Eight Divine Generals. It's a pity Kui Leihan didn't manage to enter, or I could have gauged his combat strength. Dao Qiongcang also revealed a lot, and Xu Xiaoshou... he has truly come into his own."

A'Si was startled, forgetting to massage his shoulders.

In fact, he hadn't heard a word of what came after. Seizing on a detail he had caught earlier, he asked in surprise, "Ba Zun'an went in too?"

Xu Xiaoshou's belly then appeared in Yue Gongli's mind, and he said wistfully, "In an unusual way..."

"How is he?"

"Still very powerful. I estimate he's not far from reaching that realm."

A'Si fell silent, his mind teeming with thoughts.

After a moment, he pondered and asked, "From the Young Master's perspective, if Hua Ba were to fight again, what would be the chances of victory?"

The question was quite direct.

Yue Gongli stared at the two mirrors in front of him, slightly lost in thought, as if stumped by the question.

"It's hard to say."

He didn't give a definitive answer. "Fifty-fifty, I'd say. It depends on their state, the timing, the terrain..."

He paused, then gazed at the surprisingly young figure in the mirror, murmuring:

"And the person."

A'Si looked at the mirror.

This time, he carefully took note of Lord Shou's aura, resolving to turn and leave immediately if they ever met in the future.

Young Master Li was a descendant of the Saint Emperor, possessing great wisdom.

His achievements, his future, his strategies, and his methods... if everything unfolded as the clan anticipated, the Han Palace Imperial Realm could shine brightly for several more centuries.

However, everyone experiences worries and uncertainty.

A'Si held an exceptionally high position; he was originally the Family Head's shadow.

After Yue Gongli became the Saint Emperor's descendant, he requested A'Si from the clan.

A'Si knew all too well what role he should play by Young Master Li's side—he had nothing left but experience.

Anything extra, he didn't need to think or decide for himself.

He only needed to assist Young Master Li in organizing his thoughts when necessary, articulating complex issues as questions so Young Master Li could clarify the answers himself.

A'Si remained silent for a long time. Once Young Master Li had regained his composure, he asked:

"So, having returned from the Divine Remains and witnessed so much with fresh eyes, Young Master Li, how do you view the development of the Five Great Saint Emperor Noble Families?"

Yue Gongli's attention shifted from Xu Xiaoshou in the mirror to the sky, which cast a faint ripple on the lake's surface.

He pondered for a long time, then his eyes flickered slightly as he spoke with clear articulation:

"Firstly, since Rao Wangze lost his Saint Emperor status in the Divine Remains, the Rao family is doomed. Our clan, however, must not interfere excessively. We should let Qian Shi, Yun Shan, and Bei Ming contend for it."

"To sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, to observe the fire from across the river—Young Master Li, a brilliant insight!" A'Si praised.

"Secondly, Dao Qiongcang's words in the ruins served as a warning. If I wish to wield the Cloud Mountain Ghost Sword, control the Eighth Sword Immortal, create a balanced situation, and avert internal disaster, I must not yet claim the Saint Emperor status."

"Avoiding the turbulent front and waiting for the opportune moment—Young Master Li, how sagacious!" A'Si praised again.

"Furthermore, the Ten Venerable Seats have fully matured, and the Celestial Staircase can no longer separate the two extremes. The Han Palace Imperial Realm can no longer remain aloof in the clouds; it must engage with the Five Domains, forming alliances and strategic partnerships. We absolutely cannot isolate ourselves."

"This..." This time, A'Si couldn't bring himself to praise. He hesitated and asked, "Young Master Li, do you have any specific candidates in mind for these alliances?"

"First Heaven's Tower, the Saint Slave, or rather, Xu Xiaoshou and Ba Zun'an!" Yue Gongli stated with certainty.

"What? They're trying to overthrow us!"

"You're mistaken. They're not trying to revolt; they're pursuing freedom and answers. We are not anyone's adversary; when necessary, we can cooperate with anyone."

"Anyone?" A'Si's eyebrows twitched.

"Yes. If we maintain a high stance, we see... if we sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, Qian Shi, Yun Shan, and Bei Ming, the three tigers, could easily form alliances against us. If we observe the fire from across the river, the flames of war between the Holy Divine Palace and the Saint Slave could easily engulf the Han Palace Imperial Realm."

"What if we adopt a lower stance?"

"Adopting a lower stance, however, presents a different landscape. When necessary, an alliance between Han Palace and Qian Shi could subdue the two tigers, Yun Shan and Bei Ming. An alliance between Han Palace and the Holy Divine Palace could control the Saint Slave and First Heaven's Tower, suppressing their ambition. And an alliance between Han Palace, the Saint Slave, and First Heaven's Tower could counter the Saint Emperor's three tigers' vertical alliance, potentially forcing Qian Shi into an alliance with us."

This time, A'Si was truly impressed.

The Saint Emperor's descendant from the Han Palace Imperial Realm adopting a lower stance?

Ordinarily, no one would ever conceive of such a thing.

While even outsiders wouldn't dare to entertain such a thought, Young Master Li was capable of humility at any moment. What was truly elevated was not just his insight, but also his strategic vision.

However, doubt resurfaced, and A'Si couldn't help but ask again, "Young Master Li, why do you focus solely on the Qian Shi Imperial Realm?"

Yue Gongli calmly explained, "Yun Shan's Hua Jian and Bei Ming's Bei Huai are both sealed Saint Emperors, each serving their respective clans. Only Qian Shi has Dao Qiongcang available, but Dao Qiongcang... he cannot pass the 'Heart's Trial'. He could never be truly loyal to his clan. We can ally with him, use him, then steer clear of him. Afterwards, if we make a move on Qian Shi, he'll be delighted to share the spoils."

"How about allying with him, using him, and then abandoning him?" A'Si suggested.

"No."

"Why not?"

"That's too greedy. He is Dao Qiongcang. If he gains nothing, it means the situation isn't over, and anything we might have acquired, we'd have to spit back out, ultimately returning to him."

Young Master Li seemed a bit overly cautious about that individual... A'Si subtly asked, "Is that boy from the Qian Shi family truly that formidable?"

The conversation suddenly hit a dead end.

Yue Gongli's gaze drifted back to the two mirrors, and he sighed softly. "If you had been to the Divine Remains, you wouldn't ask that question..."

From childhood, Yue Gongli and Dao Qiongcang had played together.

Whenever they played pranks for fun, they always gained something, and gradually Yue Gongli developed some cunning schemes.

Later, as they grew into adults, the lessons Yue Gongli learned from Dao Qiongcang progressively diminished.

Eventually, there was nothing left to learn.

Yue Gongli then cultivated an arrogance, believing deeply that he had "walked alongside the Dao."

Now, returning home from his trip to the Divine Remains, Yue Gongli quickly dispelled this mistaken belief, reminding himself...

Since Dao Qiongcang could use time as a poison to nurture his own arrogance, he would have countless more thirty-year cycles to repeat his old tricks. Vigilance was required!

"The Dao is endless."

Dao Qiongcang instilled in Yue Gongli an absurd realization: that one truly learns until their dying day.

He used to be very unwilling to admit that his intellect was *significantly* weaker than Dao Qiongcang's—the emphasis being on 'significantly'.

After returning home this time, he rectified his mindset.

If he wasn't as good, then he simply wasn't.

Those who refused to admit it had been destroyed or crippled. He just needed to surpass Dao Qiongcang in other areas.

For instance, he was a Saint Emperor's descendant, a status Dao Qiongcang could never achieve, which meant Yue Gongli had far more resources at his disposal.

By leveraging his strengths to compensate for his weaknesses, he might just manage to stand somewhat on par with him.

Attacking a rock with an egg would be nothing short of suicide!

"My sister later told me that the first time I played with him, it was the beginning of me turning 'foul'," Yue Gongli muttered, looking at the mirror.

A'Si also looked at the mirror. "So, Lord Shou..."

"Precisely! They're in cahoots; he's turned foul too, utterly reeking!" Yue Gongli looked at Xu Xiaoshou in the mirror with an expression of utter disdain:

"He used to have some principles, so he was still manageable."

"But after returning from the Divine Remains, he completely let loose, resorting to every conceivable extreme."