MTLNOVEL Chapter 788 - 342: The Jade Toad's Predicament_2
Chapter 788: Chapter 342: The Jade Toad’s Predicament_2
However, things were not so simple.
The nine Inborn experts of Zhou Country only represented the strength of Zhou Country itself.
The power of the Jade Toad Tao, an Immortal Sect outside Zhou Country, was not included.
Jade Toad Tao could support Zhou Country with several Inborn experts at any time, helping them sustain the Southern Expedition Army.
In this case, even if Zhou Country could not summon Inborn Grandmasters to lead the army, with Jade Toad Tao’s help, they could still launch the Southern Expedition.
The threat posed by an Immortal Sect could be seen from Ziyun Tao’s case.
A single sect had easily dispatched four Inborn experts, a truly domineering display of power.
Ziyun Tao, however, had to share Yangzhou with Feishuang Tao, not completely controlling the resources of the State.
On the other hand, Jade Toad Tao was the only Immortal Sect in Yong State, directly unifying the entirety of the Immortal Cultivation World in Yong State.
From this perspective, both in terms of reason and sentiment, Jade Toad Tao’s strength and foundation should be stronger than Ziyun Tao’s.
Based on this deduction, if they support Zhou Country, the benefits and Inborn Grandmasters they send should naturally be more.
Thinking about Jade Toad Tao possibly sending four or even more Inborn experts to join Zhou Country, and then also attacking Chu State, Lu Yuan couldn’t sleep at night.
It is too unsettling to be targeted by an Immortal Sect.
So, in order to settle his doubts and also for peace of mind, Lu Yuan went to Mount Tianshu to meet Dao master Mo Li of Feishuang Tao personally.
…
After a winter of emergency construction and a large expenditure of silver tales, the development of Tianshu Mountain’s sect was progressing rapidly.
In just four months, three palaces, twelve towers, and more than a hundred other buildings had been established, presenting the embryonic form of an Immortal Sect’s base.
And it didn’t stop there.
All over Tianshu Mountain, civilian workers and craftsmen could be seen busily coming and going, building more palaces, towers, and pavilions under the direction of the sect’s daoists.
Additionally, beautiful gardens, stone paths, and jade steps were quickly extending throughout the mountain.
Seeing such a prosperous scene, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel slightly moved.
Although he had learned about the situation on Tianshu Mountain from the Imperial City Division’s reports, he was not completely unfamiliar with the place.
However, descriptions on paper were ultimately shallow and could not compare to what one saw with their own eyes.
Now, seeing it for himself, he realized how deep the foundation of Feishuang Tao was.
In just four months, they had built up a sect’s image, showcasing a prosperous atmosphere.
It was hard to imagine what the scene would be like once they were fully settled here.
‘Perhaps in the future, the area around Dongting Lake near Tianshu Mountain will be just like Guangling’s Miluo Mountain, turning half of the prefecture into their dojo and attracting millions of devotees,’ Lu Yuan thought.
He had been to the vicinity of Tianluo Mountain and knew very well the kind of status Ziyun Tao had to the north of Yuzhang Prefecture.
Now, within Chu State, Feishuang Tao had not only established an Immortal Sect but also been granted the status of the state religion.
If they were allowed to develop for decades or even centuries, Feishuang Tao in Dongting Prefecture would inevitably rise up and become uncontrollable.
At that time, it would be difficult to determine which authority, imperial or religious, the people of Dongting would follow.
On thinking of this possibility, as a king, Lu Yuan instinctively felt a sense of wariness and hostility.
However, Feishuang Tao now had a good relationship with Chu State, and there was no need to worry about them threatening the royal power at this time.
They still had a long way to go before they could fully develop their power.
So, for now, this concern could be put aside and not dealt with urgently.
With this in mind, Lu Yuan composed himself, waiting for Feishuang Tao’s welcoming party at the doorway to Tianshu Mountain.
When the Feishuang Taoists learned of King Chu’s arrival, they were shocked, and Mo Li quickly came down the mountain to greet Lu Yuan at the Mountain Gate himself.
Along the way, Mo Li introduced the beautiful scenery and fascinating details of the mountain as if he were a local, not at all hesitant or unfamiliar.
It showed that in just a few months, Feishuang Tao had thoroughly researched Tianshu Mountain.
Lu Yuan occasionally nodded and chimed in with a few words, his precaution towards Feishuang Tao growing further in his heart.
Upon reaching the summit and taking their seats in the palace, Lu Yuan finally asked about the purpose of this visit.
“May I ask Fellow Daoist, how is the strength of Jade Toad Tao in Yong State, and how many Dharmapala deities can they dispatch if they support Zhou Country?”
Upon hearing these words, Mo Li was slightly startled but then understood the reason for Lu Yuan’s visit after recalling the recent news from the north.
He laughed, “It seems that Fellow Daoist is worried about the situation in Hanzhong, fearing that Jade Toad Tao will ruin his plans for the newly captured territory.”
Lu Yuan nodded and did not deny it: “Hanzhong is crucial to the stability of our Great Chu’s northern border. The success or failure of this land will greatly affect the fate of our nation. Although we have stationed heavy troops in Hanzhong, Jade Toad Tao, with the backing of an entire state’s Immortal Sect, is a formidable force that should not be underestimated.
If we do not thoroughly investigate them and be aware of their possible moves,
there will be no peace of mind while waiting for them to attack without any preparation,” Lu Yuan said.
Mo Li laughed after hearing Lu Yuan’s concerns, “It seems that Fellow Daoist has no idea about the strength division of our Immortal Sects.”
After laughing, noticing Lu Yuan’s confusion, he explained: “Fellow Daoist may not know that the strength of our Immortal Sects has never been determined by the size of their territories since ancient times.