Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

"What's even stranger is that they haven't taken any action against us, only monitoring. We've always wanted to capture one of them to interrogate, but even when we've discovered them, we can't catch them," Liu Zheng said. "Now you understand why I chased those two that day, right?" Liu De said to Yang Lue.

Liu Zheng continued, "These people aren't just watching us; they're looking for an opportunity. And the people being watched aren't just our Liu family."

Yang Guang spoke up, "So that's why I've been feeling like someone's been watching me when I go out. A few times, I even felt embarrassed, not knowing what was going on."

Fang Yu nodded in agreement.

Liu Yiqing then took over, "Now that you know the background, let me explain the entire story. Many years ago, I had a friend who was a Daoist with profound knowledge of Daoism. Before he passed away, in his last few years, he mentioned something to me. He said that there exists a method of cultivation in this world, where one could not only achieve eternal life but also fly with a sword and travel across the skies. Eventually, one could even attain immortality."

Liu Yiqing's late friend was the famous Qing Shan Daoist.

"He said that attaining immortality doesn't mean simply achieving deathless flesh, but rather maintaining the physical body and ascending to the immortal realm."

Yang Guang laughed, "Old fox, are you telling us some kind of fairy tale? Who would believe that kind of thing?"

Liu Yiqing smiled lightly. "Haha, I thought the same way back then, thinking it was just my old friend's fantasy about Daoism."

He paused for a moment, then continued seriously, "But after I read the secret letter from Wang Mang, I realized that my previous thoughts were completely wrong. That method of cultivation truly exists, and such beings with supernatural powers also exist in the world."

"They are all called Cultivators."

"Over 150 years ago, during the rise of Emperor Chen Yuan's rebellion, Cultivators appeared, and they came as adversaries. Though there were only two of them, their powers were vast. With just two people, they managed to hold off Chen Yuan's 200,000-man army near Luo City. However, those two did not seem to be evil people, as they merely obstructed the army without causing unnecessary bloodshed. Their only goal was to make Emperor Chen Yuan retreat."

"At that time, Emperor Chen Yuan was on the brink of victory, and he would not easily back down. Just when he was in a dilemma, two more Cultivators appeared from nowhere. After reaching some kind of agreement with Chen Yuan, they helped him deal with the first two Cultivators. The four of them fought for two days and nights near Luo City. The battle was so intense that it flattened the hilly terrain, turning it into a plain. If the armies hadn't retreated thirty miles, they would have been caught up in the conflict. In the end, the Cultivators supporting Chen Yuan's side won."

"One of the enemies died, and the other was severely wounded and fled. Before his death, the injured Cultivator found Emperor Chen Yuan, who had already ascended to the throne. He told Chen Yuan that the two Cultivators who supported him came from overseas. They were searching for a treasure, a treasure that would affect the safety of the world. If they found it, it would bring great chaos. The Cultivator told Chen Yuan that his late master had left behind another treasure that could counter the two overseas Cultivators. This treasure, along with a large amount of gold and silver from the previous dynasty, was hidden in a secret place. If the two overseas Cultivators truly caused great turmoil, Chen Yuan could use this treasure to destroy them."

"After telling his story, the Cultivator handed a piece of jade inscribed with a map to Emperor Chen Yuan. However, later on, Emperor Chen Yuan split the jade into four pieces, giving each piece to four trusted generals. He did not tell them the purpose of the jade, only instructing them that, if one of his descendants, the Emperor, ever requested it, they must return the jade to the Emperor, emphasizing that only the Emperor could have it. After returning home, the generals treated the jade as a family heirloom, passing it down through the generations.

After finishing the letter's contents, Liu Yiqing continued, "Given the temperament of the previous emperor, I don't know why he didn't immediately take out that treasure to deal with the two Cultivators. Perhaps it was because those two had already obtained what they wanted and left.

This secret was passed down verbally from emperor to emperor. Unfortunately, it was during the reign of the previous emperor, Emperor Wenwu, that something went wrong. When Emperor Wenwu passed away, his chosen heir—Crown Prince Chen Jie, who is now Emperor Wenshu—was only one year old. So, Emperor Wenwu wrote down the secret in a letter and entrusted it to the Empress at the time, Empress Liu. He hoped that when Emperor Wenshu grew up, he would read the letter. However, the secret in that letter has now been leaked, not only to the Wang family's spies in the palace, but also to several other people within the palace."

Yang Guang asked, "So, the people who killed the Wang family and have been watching us are from the palace?" He then continued in disbelief, "Could it be the emperor himself... but that can't be! After all, the four of us have been protecting such an important thing for the royal family. The emperor should be protecting us!"

Liu Yiqing laughed, "Haha! If the emperor hadn't protected us, do you think the four of us could have maintained our standing in the martial world for so long? Yes, those people are from the palace, but they were certainly not sent by the emperor. Now, even if the emperor wanted to protect us, he no longer has the power to do so."

"Do you know what the last line in the secret letter from the 'Eagle Claw' said?" Liu Yiqing asked.

"What was it?" Yang Guang asked, his voice tense.

Liu Yiqing replied gravely, "'On Dragon Mountain, the mystery remains; within the palace, eunuchs hold power. The world will soon descend into chaos.'"

Such a startling secret left everyone silent for a long while. For Yan Huo, knowing that there were others like him in this world should have made him feel pleased, but from his own experiences and the information he had just learned, Yan Huo understood that those two Cultivators were not benign beings.

"From what Wang Shizhi told me, there were eight 'Eagle Claws' in the Wang family who served in the palace. Seven of them mysteriously disappeared because they sought the secret of Dragon Mountain," Liu Yiqing continued. "The last line of the letter seems to indicate that the two Cultivators have never left. Their lifespans appear to be unaffected by the natural cycle of life, and it seems they've lived for over a hundred years. I don't know why they haven't left yet. Perhaps they are attached to the luxurious life within the palace. Dragon Mountain should be their home, and now that they control the palace, they know about the jade map and the treasure that threatens them. They are willing to do anything to get their hands on it."