Chapter 13

This time, the skeleton reformed, but it was only a thin, ethereal layer, seemingly about to dissipate at any moment.

"What's going on now?"

The skeleton felt a bit overwhelmed, looking around in confusion.

"This, this is... a chessboard?"

"No, this isn't an ordinary chessboard. Could it be another immortal artifact?"

"Damn!"

The skeleton's mind was filled with complaints. Is this really just an ordinary mortal?

Forget it, as long as I can control this mortal, all these immortal artifacts will be mine.

Even though it had suffered two blows, it was still confident in dealing with an ordinary mortal.

It cautiously circled around the chessboard, the door was not far away.

Step by step, it was about to walk out of the door.

Suddenly, a golden light appeared, like a barrier, forcing it back!

"What now?"

It had long guessed that things wouldn't be so simple. Upon closer inspection, a bookshelf stood beside it, with a yellowed book on it, the cover bearing three bold black characters.

The *Lankavatara Sutra*!

Layers of golden light emanated from the sutra, radiating a sacred glow, trapping it there.

"What is this?"

The skeleton looked at the Buddhist sutra with suspicion, unable to detect any abnormality.

At that moment, the sutra emitted a bright golden light, and a bald monk condensed from it.

Seeing the skeleton, the monk's expression turned serious, and he clasped his hands together, saying compassionately, "Amitabha, the layman's demonic nature is too strong. Why not lay down the sword and take refuge in the Buddha?"

"What nonsense, die, you!" The skeleton raised its hand and sent a sword qi toward the monk.

The monk's expression darkened, and he immediately changed his demeanor, saying coldly, "How dare you show off your petty skills before a master? Great Vajra Heavenly Dragon, World-Honored Ksitigarbha, Prajna Buddhas, Prajna Barma Kong!"

Instantly, golden light burst forth, as if countless monks were chanting, and countless scriptures engulfed the sword demon.

The golden Buddhist light surged into the Demon Sword.

Soon, everything returned to calm.

Creak.

Li Nianfan pushed the door open.

"I just heard some noise."

He scanned the room, saw the Demon Sword at the door, and was slightly surprised, muttering, "I remember placing it in the corner, how did it end up here? No wonder it's a treasure, it can even move on its own."

Li Nianfan was pleased and put the Demon Sword back in place.

Sword Demon: Treasure my ass, compared to the things in your room, I'm just trash. Please, let me go.

It knew, no matter how stupid, that Li Nianfan was definitely not an ordinary mortal, and was likely a powerful old fox who had come to play in the mortal world.

"Rumor has it, these great figures like to use the world as a chessboard, playing with mortals. Could I have become his chosen piece?" The Sword Demon trembled, "I don't want to be a piece. Please let me go, and stop those monks from chanting in my ears, I'm about to go crazy."

Unfortunately, it was sealed by the sutra and couldn't even speak.

Li Nianfan, of course, couldn't hear the Sword Demon's inner monologue. He felt his inner courtyard lacked some vitality and was planning to plant some potted landscapes.

Unfortunately, he wandered in the forest in the morning but didn't find any suitable plants.

He would ask Lu Shiyu, who was a cultivator, to help him find some potted flowers.

He had not only treated her to a meal but also helped her with strategies; asking for some potted flowers wasn't too much, and the girl was easy to talk to, so she probably wouldn't refuse.

Li Nianfan didn't know that at this moment, in the imperial study of the Ganlong Immortal Dynasty, the Sacred Emperor was frowning, full of anger.

"Bang!"

He threw the memorial and slammed the table, furious, "How dare he! Who is the Sacred Emperor, me or him?"

The eunuchs around him all bowed, not daring to breathe, as silent as cicadas in winter.

Tap tap tap.

An eunuch hurried into the study.

"Your Majesty, the Second Princess and the Empress are outside, requesting an audience."

"Why are they here?" The Sacred Emperor was slightly surprised, "Bring them in quickly."

Lu Shiyu and Zhong Xiu walked in, saying in unison, "Greetings, Father (Your Majesty)."

"Shiyu, why are you here?" The Sacred Emperor asked, looking at the two of them.

His frown relaxed slightly, and he saw a glint of love and guilt in his eyes when he looked at Lu Shiyu.

Lu Shiyu was his first daughter and the one he loved the most. He wanted her to live a carefree life, but as the Sacred Emperor, he couldn't even achieve that.

"Your Majesty, we heard you were furious just now. What happened?" Zhong Xiu asked.

"Du Mu Zhen actually mentioned his son's marriage to Shiyu in the morning court today. Is he forcing me to agree to the marriage? How dare he!" The Sacred Emperor's voice was low and deep.

Zhong Xiu and Lu Shiyu exchanged glances and both sighed in relief.

They didn't expect Du Mu Zhen to be so pushy, already acting so arrogantly.

But now, with the guidance of a wise person, they didn't know what to do otherwise.

Immediately, Zhong Xiu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. Du Mu Zhen's eagerness isn't a bad thing."

"What do you mean, Empress?" The Sacred Emperor was slightly surprised.

For the sake of the Ganlong Immortal Dynasty, he had reluctantly considered marrying Lu Shiyu to the Grand Preceptor's son. Lu Shiyu had argued with him many times, and Zhong Xiu had always disagreed with the matter but was helpless.

Why the sudden change of heart today?

To his surprise, Lu Shiyu also smiled and said, "Father, you can pretend to agree to Du Mu Zhen's request, just a little."

"You want me to agree?" The Sacred Emperor was completely stunned, incredulously, "Do you have a thing for Du Mu Zhen's son?"

Lu Shiyu snorted, "Pfft, I'd rather die than marry that scoundrel!"

"Then what are you doing?" The Sacred Emperor was confused.

Lu Shiyu's eyes were filled with joy, and she said excitedly, "Father, I already have a solution!"

"Really?"

The Sacred Emperor's face lit up, but then he frowned, "If you have a solution, why do you want me to agree to marry you to Du Mu Zhen's son?"

"Father, we can do this..."

Lu Shiyu immediately explained Li Nianfan's plan.

"Good, good, very good!"

The Sacred Emperor was enlightened, feeling as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sky.

This way, not only could they weaken the other two factions, but they could also strengthen their own, a perfect plan!

The Sacred Emperor looked at Lu Shiyu, feeling sorry for her.

This plan required him to pretend to agree to marry Lu Shiyu to Du Mu Zhen's son and for Lu Shiyu to seduce the Prime Minister's son. Her sacrifice was significant.

"I'll be fine. These two are not good people. I can personally teach them a lesson and enjoy it," Lu Shiyu smiled coldly, looking forward to it.

She was confident that both the Grand Preceptor's son and the Prime Minister's son looked at her with impure intentions. She could easily play them like puppets.

It would feel great.

"Hahaha, Shiyu, I haven't raised you in vain. You can now share my worries." The Sacred Emperor laughed heartily, feeling very pleased.

Lu Shiyu smiled awkwardly, "Uh, Father, this wasn't my idea. It was a wise person who taught me."

"Wise person? Who is so talented and wise that we must quickly bring them into the Immortal Dynasty and give them the treatment of a high official!" The Sacred Emperor said eagerly.

Lu Shiyu smiled bitterly, "Father, they probably won't look at us."

The Sacred Emperor frowned, angry, "What a big mouth! Do they think they're immortals?"

Lu Shiyu couldn't help but think of Li Nianfan's disdainful smile. What were immortals to him?

Zhong Xiu couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this person is a hermit sage! They might... really be an immortal!"

"What?!"

The Sacred Emperor stood up, his face full of shock.

He knew the Empress wouldn't say such things lightly. If she said it, it was almost certain.

"Father, this wise person is really powerful." Lu Shiyu's eyes were filled with admiration and affection, and she couldn't help but recount her first and second encounters with Li Nianfan.

"This, this, this..."

Even the Sacred Emperor's calm demeanor couldn't help but change, his heart racing.

Watermelons comparable to spirit fruits, the most delicious food, and the wisdom to casually resolve the crisis of the Ganlong Immortal Dynasty.

These were definitely the abilities of an immortal!

This person was likely an immortal!

"The greatest hermits live among the people! I never thought such a sage would be in our Ganlong Immortal Dynasty, and I never noticed." The Sacred Emperor was amazed.

His thoughts went even further.

This sage was skilled in strategy, often able to influence the world with a single move.

If they could casually resolve the crisis of the Ganlong Immortal Dynasty, could they also casually push it into the abyss?

Even without acting personally, they could manipulate the world from behind the scenes!

"Must not offend, absolutely must not offend!" The Sacred Emperor's face was full of fear, emphasizing repeatedly, "Meeting such a person is a great opportunity. We must do everything to please them."

Lu Shiyu agreed, "Father, Mother and I know this. When I first met the wise person, I gave them the amulet you gave me."

"You did the right thing!" The Sacred Emperor nodded in approval, "It must have been your sincerity that moved the wise person, making them willing to guide us."

"However, just an amulet is too meager. Who is this wise person? We must show our sincerity!"

The Sacred Emperor had already made a decision.

However, before meeting the wise person, he needed to make some arrangements.

Grand Preceptor and Prime Minister, with the help of this wise person, dealing with you will be easy.