The Chief Offering of Great Sui, Elder Sun, was the only Tribulation Stage powerhouse in Great Sui.
At this moment, facing this Elder Sun, Li Xuanxiao—under the alias Jia Sidào—felt a little uncertain.
A Tribulation Stage powerhouse was far beyond his current level and could practically see through his disguise at a glance.
However, at this moment...
"Don’t worry, Sect Leader. I’ve left a trace of sword intent on you, it can conceal your original aura."
The Sword Spirit transmitted its voice into his mind.
"Daoist Jia, our Great Sui’s number one national hand, Elder Huang Jiu, had no intention of offending you earlier. We hope Daoist Jia won’t take it to heart."
Jia Sidào waved his hand and laughed heartily.
"I, this old man, certainly wouldn’t mind such a trivial matter."
Both Elder Sun and the Emperor of Great Sui nodded secretly to themselves.
"As long as Daoist Jia isn’t offended. May I ask where Daoist Jia cultivated before this?"
"A wild Daoist, home wherever I go. Thanks to Great Sui, I now have a place to settle down."
That was clearly a refusal to reveal his background.
Since the other party wasn’t willing to speak more, the Emperor of Great Sui did not press further.
After a brief exchange, the Emperor of Great Sui and Elder Sun prepared to take their leave.
Jia Sidào didn’t urge them to stay.
Before departing, the Emperor of Great Sui said, "In a few months when Daoist Jia comes to the capital, I will surely give you a warm welcome."
Jia Sidào was slightly stunned, then quickly understood.
Every Mountain Lord who established a sect within Great Sui must go to the capital every five years for reappointment.
Put simply, it was a formality to help sects maintain good relations with Great Sui.
So that no conflict arises from misunderstandings.
After sending off the two from Great Sui, Jia Sidào couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief.
He searched carefully, making sure that neither the Emperor of Great Sui nor Elder Sun had secretly left behind a Twin Recording Stone while he was distracted.
Only then did Jia Sidào revert back to Li Xuanxiao.
This lie... was getting bigger and bigger.
Originally, he just used the name Jia Sidào to disguise himself as an unremarkable Mountain Lord.
But now, the other party seemed to have mistaken him for a Tribulation Stage powerhouse—mysterious and unfathomable!
What should he do next? He was completely at a loss.
He couldn’t reveal his identity.
He had to maintain good relations with Great Sui.
Li Xuanxiao came up with a two-step strategy.
"Elder Sun, what do you think?"
On the way back, the Emperor of Great Sui couldn’t help asking.
Elder Sun shook his head solemnly. "I can’t sense it. His cultivation isn’t beneath mine!"
The Emperor of Great Sui gave a bitter smile. "An unknown Tribulation Stage powerhouse? That might be more curse than blessing for Great Sui."
Elder Sun said, "Have your men investigate. I’ll also ask my old friends. Tribulation Stage powerhouses all have names—there’s no way there wouldn’t be any trace at all."
The Emperor of Great Sui nodded. "That’s all we can do. Thank you for your trouble, Elder Sun."
After the Emperor of Great Sui and Elder Sun had left.
Li Xuanxiao clearly felt that the entire Shencao Mountain was now under some form of surveillance.
This troubled Li Xuanxiao greatly. He had originally purchased this mountain to remain hidden and serve as a backup.
Now it had become so high-profile and attracted attention—how would he proceed in the future...
Li Xuanxiao opened his Shencao Mountain Layout Plan.
This time coming to Shencao Mountain, Li Xuanxiao had two goals—handling the current incident,
and more importantly, activating the long-prepared layout plan.
The plan was as follows:
"Use the ‘Heaven-Deceiving Talisman’ at the sect gate to obscure heavenly insights—when powerful cultivators try to divine, all they’ll see is mist."
(Key material: Heaven-Deceiving Talisman)
Mountain-Protecting Formation: divided into Illusion Formation, Entrapment Formation, Killing Formation, and finally Defensive Formation.
Illusion Formation setup:
Dream of the Mirage Tower (amplifies inner demons)
Melodic Temptation (beauty and desire)
Mind Disrupting Array (interferes with divine sense)
Entrapment Formation:
Misty Maze, Chaotic Forest Formation, Nine Palaces Divine Confusion Lock (each step, a tribulation)
Sword Gale Thunder Pool (ten thousand swords suspended, thunder and fire interwoven)
Flying Spike Vine Gourd Formation (poison)
Flame Shield Sealing Formation, Four-Armor Golden Prison Formation, Silver-Bone Lotus Platform Formation
As for the formation core, it must be set using either an Innate Spiritual Treasure or the remains of a great cultivator.
(Extremely difficult requirement)
Within the sect gate, plant Five Element Trees to balance elemental forces and simulate the cycle of life.
Seek out a Spirit-Devouring Golden Toad, capable of absorbing the essence of sun and moon to nourish the sect.
As for the rest of the structures—like the Dao Inquiry Pavilion, Scripture Library, Alchemy Room, Sword Grave, etc.—
they can be built later.
The most important thing is defense!!
Hide Immortal-Slaying Ballistae at the mountain foot—powered by Spirit Stones, a single bolt can pierce a Nascent Soul.
Embed Exotic Flame Spirit Talismans in the stone steps of the mountain gate—those without a token will be burned by True Fire,
and the further they proceed, the closer they come to soul annihilation.
Within the stream, float Spirit-Devouring Silver Carp—trespassers will have their spiritual energy drained.
Deep within the mountain’s spiritual vein, bury Extreme Yin Thunder. When pushed to the brink, it can be detonated—
turning a thousand miles into scorched earth. (This can also be set at Mount Shushan)
Also set up a Teleportation Formation to transport core disciples to safety in times of crisis.........
That should be enough for now!!