I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

As the underground Array Master’s progress in breaking the seal accelerates, unusual phenomena become increasingly evident.

On the second day, a ray of light shot straight into the sky, lasting for half a stick of incense.

On the third day, celestial music frequently arose, and some soldiers guarding the area suddenly broke through a tier while listening to the melodies.

On the fourth day, the ground was filled with radiant light, completely unobstructed.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Dang’s eyebrows furrowed tighter.

It’s no wonder that as the progress in array-breaking accelerates over the past few days, more and more cultivators are being gathered again.

“The Celestial Venerable Tomb is not a royal ancestor; if anyone can obtain it, the Grand General is too domineering!”

“Even the Saint Emperor hasn’t decreed sole possession; what are your intentions? Do you harbor rebellious thoughts?”

“Gongsun Dang, I won’t say much. If you don’t let us in to seek opportunities ourselves, we will definitely denounce you!”

…

The forces coming are increasingly vast, and their identity and status are becoming higher and higher.

Even several princes from the Jiuli royal family have participated.

Three days ago, Gongsun Dang had already petitioned the Saint Emperor, but the Saint Emperor was restrained by Dragon Aspect, for some unknown reason, preventing him from proclaiming to the world.

This put all the pressure on Gongsun Dang.

Seeing the forces from all sides increasing, Gongsun Dang could only allocate more troops and horses for support.

However, the Western Domain has the responsibility of guarding the nation’s borders, preventing a surprise attack from the Great Xia Dynasty.

But the Eastern Domain’s stationed soldiers are controlled by Dragon Aspect, and he can’t mobilize them.

Helplessly, he had to petition the Saint Emperor again to borrow soldiers from the Imperial City.

In the past two days, soldiers from the Imperial City, along with the Saint Emperor’s Hidden Guard, have come to support.

However, without the Saint Emperor’s decree, Gongsun Dang couldn’t move certain people on site.

Li Jizhou was early protected by Gongsun Dang in the military tent, just in case.

As the situation gradually became tense, Li Jizhou narrowed his eyes slightly: “Grand General, I fear we’ve fallen into a trap!”

“Hmm? Please, Your Highness, enlighten me.” Gongsun Dang took pleasure in Li Jizhou’s use of “we” in his words.

In such critical times, being included in the same camp as himself could be the result of being blamed; Li Jizhou still placed himself alongside him.

However, regarding Li Jizhou’s words, he had no line of thought.

The Jiuli Dynasty is bordered by the Great Xia Dynasty in the west and the Cangming Dynasty in the east; he has taken root in the Western Domain for a millennium, with solid foundations, and hasn’t mobilized troops to shake those foundations, so there shouldn’t be any worries.

As for the Eastern Domain, with no soldiers to support, it’s indeed Dragon Aspect’s responsibility; he can lead the army here and at any time engage in intercepts.

“Grand General, from the perspective of this palace, I fear the opposing side’s intent might be to empty out the Imperial City!” Given the serious state of affairs, Li Jizhou spoke candidly.

“Empty out the Imperial City?” Gongsun Dang paused slightly, then suddenly widened his eyes.

From the facts, indeed, the Hidden Guards and Imperial Guards were drawn here, proving this concern.

However, in the next moment, he questioned again: “What does Your Highness mean? Even if the Imperial City is empty, there is the Saint Emperor guarding it, and my humble self can always return. Could it be that the Cangming Dynasty would dare launch a direct attack?”

Li Jizhou covered his head, unable to comprehend the opponent’s purpose either.

Yet, given the present situation, there’s certainly someone orchestrating things behind the scenes; it’s absolutely impossible otherwise.

Moreover, the opposing force holds significant power.

Li Jizhou first thought of Dragon Aspect.

However, as Gongsun Dang had stated, even if the opponents conspired with the Cangming Dynasty, with Li Yuan guarding the Imperial City and the Jiuli Map in hand, Gongsun Dang could return anytime… They would struggle to achieve their goals.

“What on earth is their purpose?”

“If the opponent isn’t aiming to seize the Imperial City, but rather preparing for something?” Li Jizhou mused.

“Preparing?” Gongsun Dang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Suddenly, he turned sharply to Li Jizhou: “Your Highness, do you know any clues?”

At this moment, he suddenly recalled his first meeting with Li Jizhou, his speech was laced with an attitude toward Dragon Aspect.

Now, every sentence spoken seemed to be alluding to something.

A brief contemplation pointed to Dragon Aspect clearly being the intended target.

Li Jizhou smiled broadly.

Finally, Gongsun Dang had sought answers to these words.

At least it proved Gongsun Dang wasn’t lacking in wisdom, allowing for shared knowledge.

“Grand General, after my appointment as prince, Long Zhenxiao from the Long family began his contact with me…”

Li Jizhou no longer concealed things and disclosed Long Zhenxiao’s actions, down to the smallest detail.

He also recounted the incidents surrounding the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince, with evidence backing up his hypotheses.

Boom!

After hearing Li Jizhou’s words, Gongsun Dang suddenly stood up.

He stared straight into Li Jizhou’s eyes and bowed deeply: “Your Highness, how insightful you are! You possess great wisdom, extraordinary intelligence!”

Li Jizhou smiled softly, helping him up: “Grand General, now isn’t the time for such discussions.”

“We already know Dragon Ni’s ambitions, and his actions to prevent the emperor from passing on the Jiuli Map, but we can’t quite grasp why he delays. Please enlighten us.”

Hearing this, Gongsun Dang calmed his excited demeanor, closing his eyes in thought, organizing everything together.

“The Jiuli Map!”

After a moment, he opened his eyes, speaking with conviction.

“The Jiuli Map?” Li Jizhou nodded slightly.

Dragon Ni harbors intentions of rebellion, but the biggest hurdle is the Jiuli Map.

However, the Jiuli Map is inherited through bloodlines; unless he has a Quasi-Immortal Artifact to balance it, he cannot withstand the Jiuli Map’s pressure.

He doesn’t wish the Saint Emperor to pass on the Jiuli Map prematurely, but neither can he obtain the Jiuli Map; what is his ultimate goal?

“Not good! Dragon, the old thief, may have been planning for years. According to your highness, he doesn’t wish for the Saint Emperor to inherit the Jiuli Map prematurely to buy time, perhaps he’s already employed many means on the Jiuli Map, but those methods require time to take effect. If the Saint Emperor inherits the Jiuli Map now, it would need to be activated, and once triggered, his previous efforts would be wasted!”

“Already set numerous traps? Delay tactics… Grand General, do you know how the Cangming Dynasty rebelled against the Moon Worship Dynasty thousands of years ago?” A spark flashed in Li Jizhou’s mind.

Gongsun Dang’s expression turned instantly stern: “The specific methods aren’t known; it’s top secret even within the Cangming Imperial City. However, my humble self and the Saint Emperor have discussed it, and it must be some method that suppressed the Guanghan Seal.”

“Is there a method that could put a Quasi-Immortal Artifact into sleep?” Li Jizhou recalled what he had seen and heard at Moon Worship Dynasty ruins in his past life.

“Putting a Quasi-Immortal Artifact to sleep… Yes! The Oblivion Array!” After a moment of pondering, Gongsun Dang assured confidently.

“Quasi-Immortal Artifacts are protective relics left by Ascension Immortal Ancestors for their bloodline descendants, requiring later generations’ fresh blood to activate, creating loopholes in this process. The Oblivion Array isolates bloodline sensing, theoretically putting the Quasi-Immortal Artifact into dormancy.

However, setting up an Oblivion Array is extremely difficult—at least ten Tier Six Array Masters must work together, and the cost for the array foundations is immensely high.”

“That’s definitely it!” Li Jizhou heard and immediately assured.

This knowledge of the Oblivion Array finally connected all the dots for him.

The Dragon Ni faction must be laying this Array and it’s yet unfinished, needing time, but the Saint Emperor failed to harmonize with the Dao repeatedly, depleting his lifespan.

If the Saint Emperor inherits the Jiuli Map at this moment, the Map will be activated. Once it’s triggered, all previous arrangements are in vain.

Hence, Dragon Ni tries to delay the Saint Emperor’s inheritance of the Quasi-Immortal Artifact while speeding up the installation.

Pulling out all the guards is likely to accelerate the setup without being detected!