Come to think of it, although Li Yuan is now feared by Emperor Yang of Sui and has to keep a low profile in everything he does, he is, after all, the current Duke and a relative of Emperor Yang of Sui, so he is inevitably somewhat arrogant at heart.
"Since this person is Li Yuan, then who is the person beside him? Li Jiancheng or Li Shimin?" Wang Xuan thought for a moment and felt that it should be Li Shimin.
Unlike Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng did not enjoy wielding weapons and would not carry long swords and bows with him.
Besides, in the original timeline, when Qin Qiong rescued Li Yuan's family, Li Jiancheng seemed to be a hostage in Luoyang.
"I was just thinking of taking on a disciple and training him to become emperor, and Li Er delivered himself to my doorstep. This is truly heaven helping me!" Wang Xuan's face beamed with joy.
When discussing the history of the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, one cannot ignore Li Shimin. Li Shimin was practically the chosen one of his time, the protagonist; was there any better disciple than him?
Although Wang Xuan wanted to take Li Er as his disciple, he was also well aware of the emperor's temperament. Perhaps they could accept a Supreme Dao Ancestor who had been dead for more than a thousand years, but they would never want a living Dao Ancestor above their heads!
No matter how sincerely he taught Li Er, he might turn his back on him and be ruthless once Li Er became emperor.
Therefore, he had to deify himself so that Emperor Taizong would treat him as a god and believe that he was not someone that could be defeated by mortal power.
Only in that way can we prevent a situation where master and disciple kill each other in the future.
"Li Er, I'm only putting on airs now for your own good. I have no other choice!" Wang Xuan sighed with a righteous expression. Then, with a thought, the Heavenly Dao Talisman floated above his head.
Under the influence of the nascent Heavenly Dao within the Heavenly Dao Talisman, a purple glow began to permeate the area within a radius of a thousand feet. This purple glow was transformed from sunlight and had no practical use, but it was a very good choice for intimidating people.
The purple glow grew increasingly intense. Wang Xuan used the Lingxu Step technique, stepping through the void as he walked towards Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Qin Qiong.
Meanwhile, Li Yuan and his son, along with Qin Qiong, were already stunned by this sudden turn of events. They involuntarily looked up and saw a divine being descending from the void amidst the purple clouds.
Li Yuan suddenly remembered something, his eyes flashing with fervent light, and exclaimed, "When Lao Tzu left Hangu Pass in the past, purple clouds came from the east for three thousand miles. How similar is this situation to today! Could it be that another sage has been born?!"
"What?" Li Shimin and Qin Qiong both looked at Wang Xuan with a mixture of awe and fear. How could a mortal possibly fly in the sky? How could a mortal possibly attract a sky full of purple light to surround him?
This is truly the descent of a saint!
Li Yuan was a firm believer in the existence of gods and ghosts, as evidenced by his consumption of elixirs and his vain desire for immortality after Li Er usurped the throne.
At this time, a sage was born, and Li Yuan happened to encounter him. This was an incredible opportunity.
"In ancient times, when Laozi left Hangu Pass to travel west, Yin Xi came out to see him off, and thus he gained an affinity with immortality. Today, it is my turn, Li Yuan!"
"Your Majesty, please wait!" Li Yuan knelt on the ground and shouted with utmost respect, "Li Yuan of Taiyuan has long admired Your Majesty's countenance and begs Your Majesty's mercy!"
As for Li Shimin and Qin Qiong, who were beside Li Yuan, they were also pulled down to kneel down by Li Yuan.
Chapter Sixty-Six: I am the Ancestor of the Mysterious Heaven Dao
Wang Xuan couldn't help but glance at Li Yuan, secretly giving him a thumbs up.
After all, even though Wang Xuan had shown his prowess in public, if Li Yuan and his son, as well as Qin Qiong, had no reaction, would he really have to shamelessly go out and take on disciples himself?
If Wang Xuan had gone over at this point, the situation would have been completely different. It was only after Li Yuan and the others had pleaded with him that Wang Xuan, out of great compassion, went over to see them.
Just then, he used the Lingxu Step to fly a hundred feet through the air, but he was exhausted and landed right in front of Li Yuan and his son, as well as Qin Qiong.
The Heavenly Dao Talisman shone with a faint light, and countless halos such as "majesty," "holiness," and "elegance" were bestowed upon Wang Xuan, making him look like a god or a saint.
Li Yuan and his son, along with Qin Qiong, were even more in awe, not daring to look directly at Wang Xuan, but instead bowing their heads deeply.
Wang Xuan chuckled inwardly. This effect was created by him using the nascent form of the Heavenly Dao to influence the souls of everyone around him.
As for Li Yuan's guards, they all knelt down and prostrated themselves, believing they had encountered a true god.
I must say, it feels really good to have all beings bowing down to you. However, Wang Xuan needs to maintain his Dao Ancestor status, so he naturally can't stay here for long.
A sacred person is only considered sacred in the eyes of others when they maintain a certain distance from mortals. If a sacred person lives among mortals day and night and loses their mystique, people will think, "Sacredness is nothing special."
Moreover, Wang Xuan, this supposed saint, is a fraud, while Li Yuan is an old fox! If they spend enough time together, they'll eventually see through each other's schemes.
"I am the Ancestor of the Xuantian Dao, and I have already attained godhood. Three months from now, I will preach the Xuantian Dao at the Golden Summit of Zhongnan Mountain. Those who are destined are welcome to come and listen to my teachings!" Wang Xuan said calmly, and then stepped forward.
His steps didn't seem fast, but each step covered a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and he soon disappeared from the sight of Li Yuan, his son, Qin Qiong, and the others.
Only after Wang Xuan had completely disappeared did Li Yuan, his son, and Qin Qiong stand up, exchange glances, and their eyes revealed undisguised excitement and joy.
"We've really struck gold today! We've actually met the Xuan Tian Dao Ancestor!" Li Yuan said excitedly. "Three months from now, we'll all go to the Golden Summit of Zhongnan Mountain together to study the Xuan Tian Dao!"
After deceiving Li Yuan and his son, as well as Qin Qiong and the others, Wang Xuan walked forward along the gravel path.
Ten days later, he arrived in Luoyang, the capital of the Sui Dynasty.
As he traveled, a purple glow permeated the area within a thousand feet, making him seem like a god. Everyone who saw him regarded him as a saint descended to earth, a true god incarnate.
However, he did not enter Luoyang City. Instead, he stopped on a small hill more than a hundred miles away from Luoyang City, sat cross-legged, and looked like Jiang Taigong fishing, waiting for the willing to take the bait.
When Jiang Ziya went fishing, fishing was just a pretext; what he really wanted to catch was Ji Fa, the Marquis of Xibo.
Wang Xuan is doing the same thing now; what he wants to catch is the emperor of this world—Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty!
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Although I have high hopes for Li Er (Li Shimin), I can't bet all my eggs on him."
"Emperor Yang Guang of Sui, as the emperor of the most powerful empire in the world, although he was the last emperor of the dynasty, had absolutely extraordinary luck before the fall of the Sui Dynasty, making him an excellent candidate for a disciple."
Wang Xuan closed his eyes and silently circulated the "Purple Sun True Explanation". His current cultivation level was only at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm. While he was already invincible in this world, he would only be a minor character in the main world. He had to seize every minute and second to improve his strength.
As Wang Xuan traveled, he stirred up a sky full of purple clouds. Such a commotion could not be kept secret, and after a short period of time, it had become a sensation throughout the world.
In the winter of the ninth year of the Daye era, not long after the Sui Empire had failed in its second campaign against Goguryeo, a divine being arrived from the north, stirring up a sky full of purple clouds.
Finally, the deity settled on a barren mountain a hundred miles north of Luoyang. People from the surrounding area flocked to the mountain, hoping to obtain a share of the immortal destiny.
However, what was originally an ordinary little hill had now turned into a maze. Everyone who went up the hill ended up wandering around in a daze and then inexplicably returning to the bottom.
But this did not deter the people's enthusiasm for going up the mountain; on the contrary, it made them even more fervent. Every day, countless people gathered at the foot of the mountain, including many high-ranking officials and nobles.
Two days later, a massive army of 20,000 elite troops suddenly arrived from Luoyang and surrounded the entire mountain in layers, blocking anyone who wanted to climb it.
Half an hour later, a large troop of armored cavalry escorted an incomparably luxurious carriage as it drove up.
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and a middle-aged man in his forties stepped out. He wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with twelve red dragons, and his face was somewhat unhealthy and pale, but every move he made exuded an air of authority that captivated people.
Needless to say, this person is none other than the current emperor of the Great Sui Empire—Yang Guang!
After alighting from the carriage, Yang Guang stared intently at the mountain and said, "Is it rumored that the deity resides on this small mountain? I wonder how capable that deity is. Could he just be another charlatan from the martial arts world?"
Immediately, a man approached Yang Guang and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the divine being has come from the north, causing an extraordinary phenomenon that has been witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people. It is absolutely true!"
To be able to serve the emperor closely was certainly no ordinary person. This man also left his name in history, but in a bad way, because his name was Yuwen Huaji. In the original history, he assassinated Yang Guang and declared himself emperor, but was captured and killed after only half a year on the throne.
The Sui Dynasty was not yet on the verge of collapse, and Yuwen Huaji was still outwardly loyal to Yang Guang. Yang Guang would never have guessed that he would die at the hands of Yuwen Huaji.
"Since that's the case, you will all follow me up the mountain!" Yang Guang gave the order, and immediately a fierce general led the way. That man was Yuwen Chengdu, one of the most skilled experts in this world.
With Yuwen Chengdu leading the way and dozens of elite armored soldiers surrounding him, Yang Guang then strode up the mountain, a hopeful smile on his face.
However, after about half an incense stick's time, the smile on Yang Guang's face froze, because they had somehow returned to the foot of the mountain and had not seen even the slightest trace of the sacred place.
"What a holy man! How dare he block me at the foot of the mountain!" Yang Guang laughed in fury.
As the emperor of the time, even the great masters of Taoism and Buddhism had to bow respectfully to him in the past.
Even if this suddenly appearing deity is extraordinary and deserves to be treated with respect, he cannot stop Yang Guang from entering the mountain!
Chapter Sixty-Seven: Heaven's Favor
"Yuwen Chengdu, issue my order: immediately set the mountain ablaze! I want to see if that so-called saint will come down from the mountain to see me!"
When an emperor is enraged, blood can flow like rivers; how much more so when it comes to a tyrant like Yang Guang!
Although Wang Xuan had previously displayed extremely powerful phenomena, Yang Guang had never witnessed them firsthand and had only heard about them, so it was difficult for him to feel any awe.
At this moment, Yang Guang felt that he had been slighted, and his inherent arrogance as a monarch immediately surfaced.
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Chengdu, who were standing nearby, felt a chill run down their spines. Although they were already skeptical of the "sacred" claim, if it were true, wouldn't setting fire to the mountain be tantamount to courting death?
"Your Majesty, please be very careful!" Yuwen Huaji pleaded desperately. "What if you offend the sacred deity on the mountain, and he leaves in a fit of anger?"
Yang Guang thought about it and agreed. All earthly monarchs, having reached the pinnacle of power and wealth, only sought to leave their mark on history and achieve immortality.
Immortality has always been a fantasy that can only be longed for but never attained. Now that a divine being has appeared in the world, Yang Guang dares not be negligent even if there is only a slight possibility of achieving immortality.
It was precisely because of this that not long after Wang Xuan arrived in the suburbs of Luoyang, Yang Guang personally rushed over.
Seeing that Yang Guang hesitated, Yuwen Huaji quickly continued to persuade him: "Your Majesty, we are not meeting an ordinary person, but a living saint! We should treat a saint with respect. Why not learn from the ancient Yellow Emperor and Guang Chengzi and treat him with the respect due to a teacher?"
"To take the sacred deity on that mountain as one's teacher? Is this method feasible?" Upon hearing this, Yang Guang's face revealed a satisfied smile. Clearly, Yuwen Huaji's comparison of him to the Yellow Emperor had greatly pleased Yang Guang.
Neither Yang Guang nor Yuwen Chengdu noticed that Yuwen Huaji's eyes were somewhat dazed, as if he were lost in thought.
Well, this is actually the result of Wang Xuan secretly manipulating the nascent Heavenly Dao.
Wang Xuan originally intended to directly influence Yang Guang, but unexpectedly, Yang Guang, as the emperor, possessed immense fortune, and the power of the nascent Heavenly Dao was insufficient to affect him.
Since he couldn't directly influence Yang Guang, Wang Xuan had no choice but to settle for influencing those around Yang Guang.
With Yuwen Huaji, an inside agent, persuading him, and with Wang Xuan's public display of virtue before everyone's eyes, Yang Guang finally accepted the suggestion.
He dismissed the crowd around him and went alone to the foot of the mountain. He bowed respectfully towards the mountain and shouted, "I, Yang Guang, Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty, wish to hear the teachings of the Sage and hope for an audience!"
When the Emperor himself came to become his disciple, Wang Xuan gained immense prestige. This officially endorsed his "sacred" status, making him recognized by the world.
At the summit, Wang Xuan couldn't help but stand up, gazing at the horizon with a golden light flashing in his eyes.
Just as Yang Guang bowed down, Wang Xuan's Golden Eyes of Fortune clearly saw an extremely powerful fortune descend from the heavens and befall him!
That aura was so powerful that Wang Xuan's aura instantly changed from milky white to crimson red, and continued to rise, eventually condensing into wisps of yellow aura, which dyed all of his natal aura yellow!
"Pale yellow innate luck! My luck value increased by a full 30,000 points in just a moment!" Wang Xuan was overjoyed: "Is this the legendary favor of heaven? It is indeed very good and powerful!"
As the saying goes, "Heaven's will is the will of the people, and Heaven's hearing is the hearing of the people." The vague world will of this world is influenced by the will of all living beings.
As the emperor of his time, Yang Guang was the embodiment of the nation's destiny, and his will could, to a certain extent, represent the will of humanity!
That is why Yang Guang's bow just now represented humanity's recognition of Wang Xuan, which is why it attracted the favor of Heaven.
"The world's will is indeed easy to fool, far less cunning than the main world and the Water Margin world. I so easily gained the favor of Heaven and reaped 30,000 luck points."
A malicious smile appeared in Wang Xuan's eyes: "If everything goes smoothly, I'm afraid I'll gain more than just luck points from this time travel; I might even gain an entire world!"
Don't overestimate Wang Xuan's integrity. This guy is greedy and insatiable. Instead of being grateful for the favor of Heaven, he has made people realize how naive Heaven is in this world.
In a world with a mature global will, outsiders like Wang Xuan would mostly be treated as extraterrestrial demons and exterminated. Yet, the will of this world so readily accepted Wang Xuan, lacking the necessary vigilance. Is there any world more lucrative than this?