Chapter 826: Deep Brotherly Affection

"Big Brother is still Big Brother. It's fine when you're with me, but you must never be so disrespectful outside. Several hundred years ago, Big Brother went to the Black Water Mountain Range in the Black Lu Domain and wiped out the bandit group Black Water Alliance that had entrenched there for years. Father was so pleased that he put him in charge of the Sacrificial Hall. A mere Sacrificial Hall isn't enough to affect anything, but Father's mind has become increasingly unfathomable in recent years, and I can't see through him." Shi Pokong shook his head and said slowly.

"Third Brother, you don't need to worry. I haven't wasted my time during this long trip away." Shi Chuankong's expression improved slightly as he said with a smile.

With that, he raised one hand, and a silver light flashed. A silver pipa about a foot in size materialized.

"Is this the Luozha Pipa?" Shi Pokong's gaze fell on the silver pipa, and his eyes brightened slightly.

"Exactly this treasure!"

Shi Chuankong smiled and handed the Luozha Pipa to Shi Pokong.

"Thirteenth Brother, what are you doing?" Shi Pokong was taken aback.

"Big Brother can win Father's favor, and so can we! The Luozha Pipa is one of our clan's supreme treasures. It was borrowed by someone back then, and now it's recovered. If you present it to Father tomorrow, he will surely be delighted and bestow no small reward." Shi Chuankong laughed.

Shi Pokong looked at the Luozha Pipa, his eyes flickering. After a moment, he firmly pushed it away, shaking his head with a smile: "Thirteenth Brother, you went through great hardships to retrieve this Luozha Pipa. Naturally, you should present it to Father yourself. As your brother, however unworthy I may be, I would never take my younger brother's belongings to earn merit."

"Third Brother! What's mine is yours. Don't be so stubborn. What use would it be if I gave the Luozha Pipa to Father? It would be a complete waste." Shi Chuankong frowned.

"Thirteenth Brother, during the years you were away, Father often mentioned you. In my view, he still values you greatly. Moreover, you are also one of the princes. You don't have to give up on the succession qualification too early." Shi Pokong said with a smile.

"Third Brother, what do you mean by that? My trip to the True Immortal Realm to find the Luozha Pipa was originally for you, Third Brother. As for the position of Saint Lord, I have never considered it, nor do I feel I have the capacity for it." Shi Chuankong exclaimed.

"Thirteenth Brother, don't sell yourself short. You've managed the Guangyuan Firm very effectively over the years, and Father is quite satisfied with that. In terms of statecraft, you may still have some shortcomings, but your insight is remarkable. If Father intends to groom you, don't refuse. After all, there's no distinction between you and me. If you gain recognition, I will also feel gratified." Shi Pokong shook his head.

"Third Brother, has something happened?" Shi Chuankong was silent for a moment, then asked.

"No, don't overthink it. It's just that I've recently had some insights. The position of Saint Lord is important, but there's no need to be too fixated on it. Let it come as it may." Shi Pokong said with a calm smile.

Hearing this, Shi Chuankong looked astonished.

Although Shi Pokong's temperament was gentle, he had previously expressed a desire for the Saint Lord's position in his words; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was his lifelong wish.

"Rest assured, I'm fine. It's just that my cultivation has recently advanced, and my state of mind has changed somewhat. I've also come to understand some things." Shi Pokong said with a faint smile.

"Third Brother, have you broken through the Da Luo bottleneck?" Shi Chuankong asked, both surprised and delighted.

"Not yet. The Da Luo realm is no small matter; it can't be broken through casually. I've only gained some insights." Shi Pokong shook his head.

Hearing this, the joy on Shi Chuankong's face did not diminish.

He knew better than anyone his third brother's talent in cultivation. Since he had already gained some enlightenment, he believed that a true breakthrough was not far off.

"Thirteenth Brother, I will still strive for the Saint Lord's position, but don't think about how to help me anymore, and certainly don't take risks for it again. If something were to happen to you, how could I face our mother in the underworld?" Shi Pokong looked at Shi Chuankong and sighed.

"Mother..." Hearing this, Shi Chuankong fell silent.

"Your safe return is a great joy. Let's not talk about this anymore." Shi Pokong laughed heartily and changed the subject.

Shi Chuankong took a deep breath and put on a smile again.

"Tell me in detail about what you've experienced over the years outside." Shi Pokong deliberately shifted the topic and asked about other matters.

Shi Chuankong pondered for a moment, then recounted in detail what he had encountered in the True Immortal Realm.

He narrated everything step by step: searching for the ruins of the True Word Sect, being pursued by Gray Immortals, falling into the Gray Realm, escaping, drifting to the Ten Calamities Mountain Range, and then traveling all the way to Yeyang City.

To prevent Shi Pokong from worrying, he glossed over the life-threatening situations.

Even so, Shi Pokong's expression changed repeatedly, and the reproach in his eyes grew heavier.

"...Later, we joined forces to kill Illusion Bone True Man, entered the Yeyang Realm, and then arrived safely at Yeyang City." Shi Chuankong spoke fluently.

Along the way, he had faced countless dangers and brushed with death many times. Now, sitting in this hall recounting it, it felt like telling a story from long ago.

"I never imagined you would encounter so many things on your trip to the True Immortal Realm, even ending up in the legendary Gray Realm. These experiences, though remarkable, are far too dangerous. Thirteenth Brother, you are a prince of noble status; you must never put yourself in such peril again." Shi Pokong sighed with emotion, then said sternly.

"I understand, Third Brother. Rest assured." Shi Chuankong's expression dimmed slightly as he nodded.

Though the dangers along the way were many, looking back now, they were also thrilling and exciting memories.

As a prince, he had grown up under the protection of those around him. He wondered if he would ever have the chance to experience such heart-pounding adventures again.

"That Li Feiyu's strength has reached such a level, and he cultivates time laws. He is a rare talent. From what you've said, he values friendship highly. Thirteenth Brother, you should maintain your friendship with him; it may prove very useful in the future." Shi Pokong paced back and forth a few steps and said.

"Brother Li and I have been through life-and-death trials together; he is the most trustworthy friend. By the way, Third Brother, what do you plan to do about the Black Weasel King? To get away that day, I had to play along with him. Did that cause you any trouble?" Shi Chuankong recalled something and asked.

The Ten Calamities Kings were hostile to the Demon Clan imperial court. If other princes got hold of evidence of their collusion with the Black Weasel King, it would be no small trouble.

"Of course not. Forming an alliance with a Da Luo existence is a good thing. In fact, the Black Weasel King has already sent someone to contact me. But this person is quite cunning; I still can't see through his intentions." Shi Pokong said with a flicker in his eyes.

"I'm glad it didn't cause you trouble." Shi Chuankong breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now that you've successfully passed the Calamity of Fiendish Decay, spend the next few days cultivating well to consolidate your realm. I've already arranged for your entry into the Moon God Altar. Seven days from now, you will enter it and strive to advance to the Tai Yi stage before Father emerges from seclusion." Shi Pokong then changed the subject and said solemnly.

"Father is in seclusion again?" Shi Chuankong asked, startled.

"Yes. In recent years, Father has been entering seclusion more and more frequently. I wonder what secret technique or cultivation method he is practicing." Shi Pokong looked out of the hall, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Oh, that is somewhat strange." Shi Chuankong also frowned slightly.

"We don't need to worry about Father's matters. Thirteenth Brother, you must be tired from all the traveling. Go and get some rest." Shi Pokong said with a smile.

Shi Chuankong stood up but didn't move. He looked at the Luozha Pipa by his hand and said, "Third Brother, this Luozha Pipa..."

"I've already said that since you retrieved it, you should present it to Father. According to what you said earlier, Father already knows that you recovered the Luozha Pipa. If I were to hand it over, he would be displeased." Shi Pokong said firmly.

Shi Chuankong was silent for a moment, then sighed, waved his hand to put away the Luozha Pipa, and rose to head toward the inner hall.

Shi Pokong watched Shi Chuankong leave with a smile, but he himself did not leave. He sat quietly in the hall.

After a moment, a shadow on the ground before him thickened, and a snake-like black shadow emerged, rapidly expanding and transforming into a purple-robed figure—the same effeminate young man from before.

This figure seemed not to be a true body but an avatar-like existence, emitting no aura at all.

"Reporting to Third Prince, I have arranged for Fellow Daoist Li to stay in Changting Courtyard." The effeminate young man knelt on one knee and reported.

"Hmm... Although this man is Thirteenth Brother's friend, he is from the Immortal Domain, and his purpose is unclear. You must keep a close watch on his movements. His divine abilities are formidable; be very careful not to be discovered by him." Shi Pokong nodded and then instructed.

"Understood!" The effeminate young man acknowledged, then his figure flickered and turned into a black shadow, vanishing into the ground.

Shi Pokong stood in the hall for a moment, then quickly turned and walked toward the inner hall.

...

Deep within the Third Prince's residence was a courtyard with pavilions, towers, gardens, and flowing water, more exquisite than many immortal palace gardens in the True Immortal Realm.

This was the lodging Shi Pokong had prepared for Han Li. The entire courtyard was surrounded by special restrictions that constantly infused a large amount of spiritual energy into it, making the heaven and earth spiritual energy here exceptionally rich.

In a room deep within the courtyard, Han Li sat cross-legged, his hands forming incantation gestures.

Streams of multicolored light shot out from his hands and landed around the room, setting up four or five layers of restrictions.

Only then did Han Li relax his expression. With a flick of his finger, a silver light door appeared before him.

He moved and flew into the light door, entering the Flower Branch Space.

Once inside the Flower Branch Space, Han Li finally truly relaxed.

He entered the pavilion and first checked on Ti Hun's condition. There was no significant change from before.

Seeing this, Han Li sighed inwardly. He could do nothing more for Ti Hun's body. Now he could only rely on that Great Priest, hoping that Shi Chuankong would be able to invite him.

At this thought, he frowned slightly.

From what he had seen after entering the city today, the situation in Yeyang City was complex, with undercurrents among the princes. One misstep could lead to being swallowed up.

Although he and Shi Chuankong were now considered good friends, he did not want to become too deeply involved. However, on the journey escorting Shi Chuankong, he had already killed several princes' trusted subordinates. It would not be easy to stay completely out of it now.