With just a few words, Fan Li managed to appease the officials. However, his own mood was far from calm. The news brought by the special envoys from the Wei, Han, and Wu kingdoms was definitely not as simple as he had made it seem.
The envoys had also asked Fan Li a question: If the four kingdoms of Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu, together with the Brahma Sound Pure Land, were to join forces and attack the Ming Dynasty, would Fan Li agree?
What a grand scheme!
The weak banding together to devour the strong. Moreover, the proposal to jointly attack Ming had actually come from Sage Ruler Yao Guang.
This woman had such grand ambitions, but was she truly confident in defeating the Jiajing Emperor?
Fan Li raised his doubts. The answer from the Three Kingdoms' envoys completely exceeded his expectations!
"Sage Ruler Yao Guang fought alone against the three emperors, and the battle ended in a draw."
Fan Li was stunned!
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, three Great Vehicle Realm emperors, had joined forces and only managed a draw?
No wonder the three of them were willing to recognize Yao Guang's status as an emperor even though she had not yet established her own nation.
"Does she truly possess strength comparable to Jiajing?" Fan Li couldn't help but wonder.
Suddenly, outside the imperial palace, a golden light descended from the sky. The dazzling golden light instantly filled Fan Li with aversion.
"Someone is intruding into the palace?"
"Quickly! Protect the emperor!"
Xiang Chong might be useless in other areas, but he was extremely protective of his own life.
He hurriedly called for the palace guards, even attempting to order them to charge towards the golden light.
Unfortunately, although the imperial guards obeyed the emperor's orders on the surface, they only truly followed Fan Li's lead.
Fan Li shook his head slightly. The guards understood and remained vigilant but did not act rashly.
"Fear not, Emperor of Chu. I am Jin De, one of the nine great Sage Rulers of the Brahma Sound Pure Land."
The golden light dissipated, and the newcomer was indeed Sage Ruler Jin De. She wore a crimson gold phoenix hairpin and a golden silk dress, exuding an air of nobility. Her gaze swept over everyone present, faintly revealing disdain and arrogance.
For a moment, Fan Li hesitated whether to call upon Wu Gang. If Wu Gang and the imperial guards were to join forces, killing Sage Ruler Jin De within the palace shouldn't be a problem.
"Hmph!" Sensing Fan Li's gaze, Sage Ruler Jin De snorted coldly.
"Ah! It turns out to be the Sage Ruler's arrival." Xiang Chong had met Jin De before. Recognizing her, he immediately stood up and trotted over to her, bowing deeply.
"Sage Ruler, long time no see. How have you been?" Xiang Chong was originally a disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect, and in the past, he had to kneel and kowtow before Sage Ruler Blood Phoenix. Now, he only bowed, feeling it wasn't too excessive.
Seeing this, the Chu officials felt extremely depressed.
"How can the Emperor of our Great Chu lower himself to such a degree?"
"Where is the national dignity? Where is the emperor's majesty?"
Fan Li observed the officials' reactions, smiling without saying a word. A puppet emperor, that's all.
The more the officials disliked Xiang Chong, the less resistance there would be to deposing him in the future.
Jin De, however, was quite satisfied. Especially when she thought of Xiang Chong's status as the Emperor of Chu, she almost laughed out loud.
"Your Majesty, my visit today is not a personal matter. I represent the entire Pure Land and wish to discuss a major undertaking with the Chu Kingdom!" Jin De's words piqued the curiosity of many.
Xiang Chong also assumed a posture of attentive listening.
"Guiguzi has emerged from seclusion." She spoke just these words, expecting to see shock on Xiang Chong's face. However, there was none.
"Guiguzi? Emerged from seclusion? Whose child is that?" Xiang Chong asked blankly. "Is there a celebration banquet? I'll prepare a red envelope."
Sage Ruler Jin De's pretty face twitched. Looking at Xiang Chong's dull expression, she felt a strong sense of helplessness.
"Your Majesty!" An elderly official stepped forward, his body trembling, whether from excitement or anger at Xiang Chong.
"Guiguzi is a reclusive prodigy, learned in all schools of thought, with unfathomable cultivation."
"His disciples are all extraordinary, many of them renowned scholars of our time."
"Guiguzi's influence, to a certain extent, surpasses even Lu Chunqiu, the master of Confucianism!"
Xiang Chong listened to the old official, nodding and then shaking his head. "I understand... So what? What does Guiguzi's emergence have to do with me?"
This time, even Sage Ruler Jin De couldn't stand it anymore. She frowned and said, "Guiguzi is a prodigy of our time. Doesn't Your Majesty want to recruit him?"
"Oh~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
Xiang Chong suddenly understood. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Quickly summon Guiguzi! As long as he is willing to serve me, I will bestow upon him high official positions and generous rewards!"
Hearing this, Sage Ruler Jin De's body trembled like the old official.
"Your Majesty," Fan Li said with a sardonic smile, "A figure like Guiguzi cannot be easily commanded. If you wish to recruit him, I'm afraid you will have to make a trip to Mount Yunmeng."
Jin De looked at Fan Li in astonishment. She had originally thought that Fan Li would be completely ignorant of Guiguzi. Unexpectedly, he even knew about Mount Yunmeng.
Fan Li chuckled inwardly, feeling smug about showing off his knowledge.
Mount Yunmeng?
He had only heard of it because he had gone to Luming Academy and listened to Yichuan mention it.
"Wei, Han, Wu, Ming, and even my Brahma Sound Pure Land will all send people to Mount Yunmeng to sincerely invite Guiguzi to emerge from seclusion and assist us. The Chu Kingdom should also send someone." After saying this, Sage Ruler Jin De fixed her gaze on Xiang Chong.
Xiang Chong, however, had a troubled expression. "Um, Sage Ruler, Guiguzi is just one person, right?"
"Yes." Sage Ruler Jin De nodded.
"In that case, why does the Sage Ruler invite our Great Chu to join? Wouldn't that just increase the competition?" Xiang Chong asked in confusion.
At least he had some brains. Fan Li was also curious. Why would the Pure Land inform the Chu Kingdom about this competition for talent?
"Guiguzi has already sent word. Any power in the world that wishes to recruit him can send representatives to Mount Yunmeng. Guiguzi has set up many restrictions within Mount Yunmeng as a test. Only the one who performs best in the test will be chosen as his aide after he emerges from seclusion."
Pausing briefly, Sage Ruler Jin De finally added, "The Pure Land hopes to join forces with Chu, Han, Wei, and Wu to defeat the Ming Dynasty."
Xiang Chong nodded as if he understood.
"And what if you defeat the Ming Dynasty?" Fan Li suddenly asked. "Guiguzi can't possibly serve all four kingdoms and the Pure Land simultaneously, right?"
Sage Ruler Jin De originally didn't want to pay him any mind. But on second thought, Fan Li was the actual ruler of the Chu Kingdom. She raised her chin arrogantly and said, "After we win together, Guiguzi must serve the Pure Land. As for the four kingdoms, the Pure Land will compensate them afterward."
"So, you're here to find helpers?" Fan Li laughed.
Sage Ruler Jin De frowned at his words. "So what if I am? The Pure Land has already formed alliances with Wei, Han, and Wu. Does the Chu Kingdom dare to refuse?"
This was a matter that could incur the wrath of all.
"No, no, the Chu Kingdom will certainly participate," Fan Li said with a smile.
Seeing that he wasn't causing trouble, Jin De felt slightly relieved but also secretly scorned Fan Li for being stubborn.
"There are restrictions on Mount Yunmeng. To enter the mountain, one must possess cultivation in the Way of Righteousness. Ten days from now, the strongest Confucian cultivator of the Chu Kingdom must arrive at the foot of Mount Yunmeng!"
Sage Ruler Jin De left these words and a map before transforming into golden light and flying away.
At the same time. Peng City, Dragon God Palace.
Fan Li's true body stroked Tuan Tuan while saying to Wu Gang, "Inform Lu Chunqiu and ask him to accompany me to Mount Yunmeng."
"Master wants to work for the Pure Land? Help them recruit Guiguzi?" Wu Gang asked.
Fan Li had told her about his clone's experience at the court assembly. "Working for them is impossible," Fan Li chuckled. "I'm more suited to intercepting their prize."
A minute ago, the system had issued a mission: [Talent Recruitment].
Reward: Founding a nation.
Key point: Fan Li would forever be a loyal minister of the Chu Kingdom!