Emperor Lixing received Cao Yun in her new palace. Although Baziyun City was still the stronghold of the Huang family, she had to separate herself from the Huang estate. The Emperor could not be partial. Besides, this wasn't a hereditary position. Huang Cixi would probably not choose a successor among her family, unless there truly was some extraordinary genius recognized by all. Merit and talent were the only qualifications for becoming the next emperor. Thankfully, she was so young that she didn't need to worry about that for the moment.
The Everlasting Phoenix Palace was the new palace of the Hongchen Kingdom's Emperor. Just by seeing it, Cao Yun could tell that the plans of the Everlasting Earth Palace had been used, but also altered a lot. Indeed, this palace was much more impressive, despite being a tiny bit smaller. What truly made the difference was how tall it was, thanks to an incredible roof with many details and sculptures. With his senses, Cao Yun could see everything, and this left him voiceless. He didn't know who had built it, but this was exquisite craftsmanship.
While Cao Yun was meeting Emperor Lixing, his daughter Cao Yanmei was playing outside with her mother and some servants. She was four at the time. Even though Cao Yun had not taught her any form of cultivation yet, she was still mimicking her parents. Really, she was a tiny monkey jumping everywhere, kicking in the air, trying to impress the adults around her. Cao Yun had been surprised by how different she was from Cao Huiying. Unlike his sister, his daughter was extremely open to everyone around her. Having her by his side was actually helping his Soul Embryo recover faster. In fact, Cao Yun wondered if something of his sister remained in him and could see the renewal of their family through this radiant kid.
The discussion with Emperor Lixing didn't exactly have the same tone and atmosphere. However, it wasn't somber either, it was just serious.
"We received news from the Sons of the Abyss. Representatives of the Sisters of the Abyss contacted them recently. Apparently, they have missionaries in almost every region. As you've ordered them, they're not trying to force their religion on demons who already turned away from the Heavenly Demon God Faith. Instead, they've started helping the poor and those in need. They've already created a strong social network across several demon kingdoms. Whether they become the majority religion or not is almost irrelevant at this point. Their influence is colossal."
"What about the Langyin Region?"
"Silver Wolf Marshal Shanyin Guan finally answered our missives. The official policy of the Langyin Region is absolute neutrality. They won't take part in any war unless they are directly attacked. As such, they won't align with any other kingdom. In fact, the Langyin Region is probably the only one where the Sisters of the Abyss have no missionaries. Still, they're trying to negotiate with Silver Wolf Marshal Shanyin Guan. We have to be very careful there. Of course, if we could get the support of the Langyin Region, it would be great, but their neutrality is already good enough. We're currently working on several treatises. If they go through, we'll already have rebuilt a large buffer all around the Hongchen Kingdom. This should hold until Master Sun Liao restores the defensive array formations."
"I imagine that the Sons of the Abyss are at the forefront of those treatises."
"Indeed. With the support of the Sisters of the Abyss, this will give them even more weight. They won't just be former slaves, but warriors of the new faith who fought against the tyrant of old. Demon God Da Mo is already being called the Great Deceiver by many demons. But this is also why I wanted to see you..."
Cao Yun's interest was piqued. The two of them were talking alone. Of course, Cao Yun could feel Huang Liyue's presence as she was watching over her charge. Indeed, Huang Liyue had stayed Emperor Lixing's bodyguard. But she was almost family for Cao Yun. As a matter of fact, she had met his daughter several times and was more or less her godmother.
Anyway, Cao Yun and Emperor Lixing talked as old acquaintances, not like the most influential political figures of the continent. Besides, they were calmly talking about the future of the entire planet in a sense.
"The purges against the Empyrean Asura Theocracy are still ongoing. This is becoming somewhat of a problem at this point. Most of the priesthood is already dead. Even if a few of the priests have been able to hide, they're mostly useless now. But the hatred against anyone who even helped the theocracy is still very strong. Your Sisters of the Abyss are trying to talk them out of it. Even they have a hard time with that. Some groups are so radical that they slaughter entire villages. Honestly, a civil war as we're trying to ratify treaties is not ideal."
"What do you want from me?"
"You have a disciple among some of the radicals: Lan Duoyan."
Suddenly, Cao Yun remembered the young demon he had saved. As he saw images of the past, he could absolutely understand why Lan Duoyan would become a radical. Still, he didn't want to believe that one of his disciples could commit worse atrocities than the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. But then again, he had barely met him. He really was a disciple in name only at this point.
"From my information, he's mellowed out. The reports are not extremely clear, but he was terrible in the early days. He's still not where we'd like him, but it's better than nothing. We could use your help in pulling him to our side. I've already sent a couple of spies into his organization. The best outcome would be to turn his organization to our advantage. They have ties to many criminal activities already. If we could control most of it, this would be greatly beneficial to us as we'd be clean of everything while influencing everyone.
"We know where he'll be soon. He won't be too far from the Hongchen Kingdom. You'll probably be able to visit him in secret without anyone spotting you. I would say that this is a four- or five-month mission."
Emperor Lixing obviously knew that the problem for Cao Yun was to be away from his family for a long time. The young man knew that he would not stay here forever, but he wanted to enjoy his family while his daughter was young. Later, she would probably leave him to have her own life long before he would leave the Piaolu planet. As such, he thought about the logistics of it all.
"Fine. I'll entrust you with everything else. I will personally visit this foolish disciple of mine. Hopefully, I'll be able to talk some sense into him. If I can't, then... Well, we'll see. I won't make any commitment until I actually listen to him directly. But I'll take all the reports you have on him."
"Of course."
Emperor Lixing gave Cao Yun everything. The fact that she had all the reports compiled together proved that she had never doubted Cao Yun's answer.
After a few weeks, Cao Yun took Cao Yanmei and Feng Yingyue as close to the border as he could. But he still left them far enough so that they wouldn't risk anything. This four-month mission would only take him away from his family for less than a month. Indeed, he flew past the border alone, without Hongyu, at an incredible speed. He was flying so high that he needed no stealth at all. When he finally reached his destination, Cao Yun used his stealth and spread his spiritual senses. Although his Soul Embryo was still recovering, the camp he was observing barely had any Accomplished Demons, so his spiritual senses wouldn't be detected by anyone.
Quickly, Cao Yun found Lan Duoyan. The boy was alone in a command tent. Clearly, the boy had changed a lot. His cultivation was very good even though he wasn't terribly powerful. Considering his age, it was great, though. In the aura around him, Cao Yun could tell that he had truly cultivated what little Cao Yun had taught him. Despite his young age, Lan Duoyan had an aura full of sorrow and anguish.
Before appearing to the young man, Cao Yun sent his voice directly into his mind.
"Disciple, have you betrayed the oath you've sworn to your teacher?"
Suddenly, Lan Duoyan jumped. He immediately recognized the voice and kowtowed in a random direction since he couldn't tell where Cao Yun was.
"This unfilial disciple begs forgiveness."
Cao Yun appeared in a chair right in front of Lan Duoyan. No one in the camp had sensed anything, and Cao Yun was concealing everything happening in the tent. Even if Lan Duoyan had been a 1st-grade Accomplished Demon, he wouldn't have been able to call for help, or to be heard or perceived by anyone outside. However, he didn't even try. In the young man's voice, Cao Yun heard sincerity. The young man wasn't even twenty, but his voice was full of regret.
"When I gave you those gifts, I asked you not to turn into the same monster who had tormented you. I have heard alarming reports about your activities. But I won't condemn you without hearing you out. Tell me. Have you become such a monster?"
"Master, I... No, I'm not worthy of calling you my master. This unfilial one has committed many atrocities. I have betrayed those who took me in as my parents, I have slaughtered many innocents with my own hands and through my comrades. I've let my rage and pain overwhelm me. I implore forgiveness, even though I don't deserve it."
"Open your mind to me. Do not try to resist, or you will suffer for it."
Cao Yun couldn't see all of Lan Duoyan's memories without damaging his mind. But if he let himself open to Cao Yun, his memories would be easier to read, and the risk to his mind would be minimal. Just to be safe, Cao Yun only looked at the memories on the surface of his mind. Those were the memories he saw right then.
As Lan Duoyan had said, Cao Yun saw many atrocities. Because it was sometimes difficult to face the priests directly, Lan Duoyan and his men had used various techniques, like burning entire villages with the priests, their families, and random demons. They could justify themselves because those demons were clearly followers of the Heavenly Demon God Faith, or they would have never been allowed to live near priests. Honestly, what Cao Yun saw reminded him a lot of Axiu Qian.
Lan Duoyan had also caused the death of the Xueyan couple. He had used his name in his punitive expeditions, and they had paid the price. Despite knowing that it had been Lan Duoyan's fault, and all the torments they had suffered, they had never given him up. Obviously, Lan Duoyan felt guilty, and his guilt fueled his rage. His Flying Poison was extremely powerful. Without Cao Yun's mind cultivation, Lan Duoyan might have been consumed by his own Turbid Demon.
Beneath those powerful memories, Cao Yun felt deep regret for Lan Duoyan. He didn't regret killing many of the demons he had slaughtered, but he had images of dead children. He had seen a mother dying while trying to protect her baby from a fire his men had started. All those atrocities and the painful death of the Xueyan couple had damaged even his zealotry.
After seeing all of that, Cao Yun decided that he couldn't judge the young man's actions during this time. Other demons would have to judge him, if they could. However, he had decided on something else.
"You do not deserve to use my teaching for your crusade. Since you truly regret some of your actions, I will let you cultivate your mind. However, you must seal my martial art forever. I won't accept that this art be used in such ways."
Cao Yun had taught 'Axiu Qian's Blood Wrath' to Lan Duoyan. Axiu Qian had already stained the world with too much innocent blood in his feral quest for vengeance. Cao Yun wouldn't have someone else imitate him. At the same time, he wouldn't take Lan Duoyan's life because he was sincerely repentant. Killing the priests and even demons associated with the Empyrean Asura Theocracy didn't disturb Cao Yun, but they had done so with no regard for anyone else. Before they went too far, Cao Yun would wash away any responsibility he had for this young man. Still, he offered him a way.
"I bring with me words from Emperor Lixing of the Hongchen Kingdom. If you truly want to repent, you will heed them. After this day, no matter what you decide, we won't be disciple and master. However, I've taught you. Teacher for a day, teacher for a life. I won't have you dishonor my name."
"I understand, teacher. This unfilial one will meditate on your words."
"Hmph. Meditate on those words instead."
From his spatial ring, Cao Yun took out a scroll and a quill. Using his spiritual senses, he quickly wrote many words. This wasn't some deep and powerful technique. Cao Yun wrote down a mixture of poetry, philosophy, and even history. He used Axiu Qian's life to craft a philosophical teaching for this young man. Despite his violent youth, Cao Yun still hoped that the young man could cease his brutal ways. The Empyrean Asura Theocracy had collapsed, so Cao Yun was afraid that Lan Duoyan would turn his rage toward more and more innocent demons.
Lan Duoyan read the scroll. As he read, he literally started to cry without realizing it. At the end, he looked at his teacher, pleading.
"Is this story true?"
"The names and details are different, but this is part of Axiu Qian's story. This is the path opened before you. You must choose. Choose well, before others choose for you."
With those words, Cao Yun disappeared. He was convinced that Emperor Lixing would hear from Lan Duoyan soon.