Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 15

Volume 7 Chapter 15: Becoming a God (Part 1)

This time, during meditation, three days passed between closing and opening my eyes.

"Dear Taoist Friend Xu, may I have a word with you now?"

Hearing Liu Ziqing’s voice, Xu Qingfan smiled slightly. He thought Liu Ziqing would be looking for him at this time.

As mentioned earlier, among the new arrivals at the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, Xu Qingfan valued Liu Ziqing the most. Liu Ziqing had the strongest mind and the greatest power.

Old Beggar, Scholar Beihai, and others can make good use of the resources of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, greatly boosting Xu Qingfan’s strength, but they don’t provide him with much real help. Wang Yuxian and his group are related to Jiuhua’s inheritance, but with Xu Qingfan’s current mindset and power, even if Jiuhua were destroyed, as long as a few people he cares about, like Jin Qinghan, are safe, he would not have any emotional turmoil because he can easily rebuild Jiuhua. As for Dongfang Quan and others, they merely add a few more errands for Xu Qingfan.

This may sound harsh, but it is the reality.

Only Liu Ziqing, although he has faced setbacks in front of Zhang Xusheng and seems easily defeated, cannot be denied as one of the top cultivators in humanity in terms of strength and mind. He has quietly observed the Shenzhou Continent for hundreds of years and understands its situation better than anyone else at this moment. He has been planning to take revenge on Zhang Xusheng for hundreds of years and probably knows Zhang Xusheng better than anyone else in the world.

Wait, wait, wait, but the most important thing is that even though Xu Qingfan’s plan has been thought out for thirty years, this is his first time engaging in such a level of battle strategy. For the Shura Clan, for Zhang Xusheng, for Mr. Liu and Immortal Zizhen, and even for the ancient ancestor of the Zhong family, who have lived for thousands of years and are incredibly cunning, he does not dare to expect that as someone who has only cultivated for three hundred years and has only designed a plan for thirty years, he can flawlessly achieve his goals. Great Brahma designed for the revival of the Shura Clan over ten thousand years. Zhang Xusheng and the ancestor of the Zhong family has been planning and plotting for over a thousand years. He does not have absolute confidence in his victory in the future battles. He does not want to entrust the future to a plan that is only his wishful thinking.

One person’s plan is limited, while two people’s plans are more comprehensive. He needs someone to share his grand plans with, someone who can examine his plans from the opponent’s perspective and help him improve. Moreover, sometimes Xu Qingfan finds it challenging to manage everything alone, so he must have a person with enough insight and strength to assist him. Wang Zegang is serious but has a limited outlook, and Bai Qingfu is careful and meticulous but lacks a bit of boldness. After thinking, Xu Qingfan realized that the only person capable of discussing grand plans with him and possibly working with him is Liu Ziqing.

However, although it is a partnership, Xu Qingfan must be in charge, with Liu Ziqing in a supporting role. Xu Qingfan must maintain strength during this time because if he shows any weakness, based on Liu Ziqing’s character, he will definitely try to outmaneuver Xu Qingfan. Since Liu Ziqing arrived at Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, Xu Qingfan has spoken very little with him. He wants Liu Ziqing to feel that he is not indispensable and to put Liu Ziqing in a passive position from the beginning of their interactions, inadvertently lowering Liu Ziqing’s own status. This way, even if Liu Ziqing has other intentions, he will dare not act rashly.

Liu Ziqing is not someone who is content to be beneath others, but all Xu Qingfan needs is for Liu Ziqing to work diligently for him for a while. According to Xu Qingfan’s plan, once the first two steps are achieved, even if Liu Ziqing wishes to rebel, he will be unable to do so.

Sure enough, when Liu Ziqing realized Xu Qingfan had no desire to have a deep conversation with him, he took the initiative to seek him out, unknowingly falling into a passive position.

From this moment on, it is he who seeks Xu Qingfan, not Xu Qingfan who seeks him.

"So it’s Taoist Friend Liu, please come in."

Xu Qingfan replied, and with a creak, the door to Xu Qingfan’s room opened without wind. Under the night sky, Liu Ziqing stood quietly outside the door.

Liu Ziqing stepped slowly into Xu Qingfan’s room, and at Xu Qingfan’s gesture, they took their seats. Liu Ziqing leisurely glanced around at the furnishings in Xu Qingfan’s room, waiting for Xu Qingfan to speak.

However, Xu Qingfan smiled gently at Liu Ziqing after serving tea, his gaze calm yet incredibly deep, and the room suddenly fell into complete silence.

Finally, without realizing it, the tea in Liu Ziqing’s cup had cooled. Under Xu Qingfan’s constant scrutiny, Liu Ziqing’s expression finally changed slightly. He turned towards Xu Qingfan and said with a smile, "Aren’t you going to ask me why I came to see you, Island Master?"

Xu Qingfan nodded and smiled, saying, "I am listening to you."

Hearing Xu Qingfan say that, Liu Ziqing’s expression shifted slightly, and after a moment, he replied, "There’s nothing else really. I’ve been visiting Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands for the past three days and noticed that you, Island Master, have gathered such strong resources and potential without me even realizing it. However, I am puzzled as to why you have been content to stay outside the East Sea for the past thirty years. I wish to know what your plans are for the future. Since I have already pledged my loyalty to you, I want to contribute in any way I can to help you."

Xu Qingfan smiled slightly and said, "This place is far from the hustle and bustle, perfect for living and cultivating. Naturally, I wish to stay here for a long time, no longer concerning myself with the turmoil of Shenzhou Continent. However, what I want to do is one thing, and what I can do is another. My own plans are one thing, while what others expect from me is another. I would like to ask Taoist Friend Liu; from your perspective, what do you think can be done at this moment, and what would you like me to do?"

Liu Ziqing replied, "Does Island Master truly wish to remain content with the status quo? But I see that your ambitions are great. Over the past thirty years, you have watched the chaos of the cultivation world with a calm eye, sitting steadily like a mountain, while secretly hiding not far from the Zhong family’s base. When you acted, you brought the best Alchemy Masters from the Righteous Alliance to Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands. Once the resources of Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands are utilized, I fear that those under you will become immensely powerful. You have also been secretly attracting elite members from the Human Alliance who are close to you. With the quick accumulation of strength in Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, you have unknowingly gained the power to change the distribution of forces in Shenzhou Continent."

"Oh? Do you think I already have the strength to return to Shenzhou Continent?"

Xu Qingfan asked with great interest.

Liu Ziqing nodded and said, "Not only is your strength adequate, but the timing is right as well. Perhaps you have not noticed that your current actions are quite similar to those of the Zhong family in the past. People say that the ancestor of the Zhong family was cruel and bloodthirsty, but they do not know that he was truly an exceptionally intelligent person. He may have made mistakes in small matters, but few can compare to his accuracy in judging the situation. Under his leadership, the Zhong family quietly accumulated strength for thousands of years, then took advantage of the Righteous Alliance’s chaos to establish a foothold in prosperous Middle-earth. They rapidly strengthened their power during the battles between humans and the Shura Clan. Now, the Zhong family’s strength is such that neither the Shura Clan nor the Human Alliance can underestimate them. Why not follow the example of the ancestral leader of the Zhong family?"

"The Zhong family can grow stronger by using corpses. The more chaotic the situation, the more powerful they become. But I cannot do that. Moreover, the situation in the Shenzhou Continent is nothing like it was in the past. How can I follow their example?"

Xu Qingfan replied with a smile.

However, Liu Ziqing shook his head and said, "That’s not true. If I’m not mistaken, the Island Master has hidden away for thirty years, yet now chooses this moment to let Taoist Friend Wang Zegang return to the Shenzhou Continent. There is a deeper meaning to this. Everything the Island Master has done, whether it’s inviting those Alchemy Masters or welcoming cultivators who are close to you, is secondary. The Island Master wants to know just how much the Shura Clan has pushed the Human Alliance to the brink. Infighting is a natural part of humanity. Until the most critical moments, humans will never unite. Because of your past experience with darkness, the Human Alliance will find it almost impossible to accept you. There is only one situation where they wouldn’t mind your past, and that is when the Human Alliance has no other options left. Only then could the Island Master bring the strength you have gathered and return to the Human Alliance."

Xu Qingfan nodded and said, "Please continue."

At Xu Qingfan’s urging, Liu Ziqing continued, "Earlier, the Island Master mentioned that returning to the Shenzhou Continent wouldn’t allow you to grow power like the Zhong family. I see it differently. Once the Island Master returns to the Human Alliance, with your past reputation and the rich resources from the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands that you can use to create valuable pills and tools, you could easily win over many people. You see, cultivators want to grow their power so badly right now. Zhang Xusheng has been growing stronger in these thirty years by devouring the strength of the Righteous Alliance. What Zhang Xusheng has, the Island Master also possesses, and what Zhang Xusheng lacks, the Island Master has even more of. At that time, with the right approach, the Island Master could not only return to the Human Alliance but could even take the lead."

After a pause, Liu Ziqing added, "As for the situation, it certainly won’t be as favorable as it was for the Zhong family back then, but we have no choice. If the Island Master cares about the future of humanity, you should understand that we should return to the Shenzhou Continent as soon as possible. The Zhong family is building up their power, and the longer we wait, the harder it will be to control them. Zhang Xusheng is trying to take control of the Human Alliance; the longer we delay, the stronger his advantage will be. The Shura Clan is finding ways to produce many of their kind; the longer it takes, the more dangerous it becomes. Do you agree with what I’m saying, Island Master?"

Listening to Liu Ziqing’s words, Xu Qingfan’s eyes briefly flashed with appreciation. A large part of his plan from the past thirty years had been guessed by Liu Ziqing.

But Xu Qingfan still shook his head and said, "What Taoist Friend Liu said is reasonable, but there is one thing that Taoist Friend Liu got wrong."