Zhuge Liang's Journey to Dominate the World: Starting from Another World

After everything was settled, Kongming, along with Zhao Yun and Zhu Bajie, headed straight for the three prefectures of the An clan.

"Ling'er, perhaps it's just wishful thinking on your part, or perhaps Master Zhuge's ambitions lie beyond romantic love. You're not getting any younger, so how about I find you a good marriage?"

Li Guangling watched the three people walk away, his tone filled with a mixture of helplessness and affection.

He turned to look at his younger sister, Li Muling, who was silent with her head down and her eyes slightly red. Clearly, she still harbored a faint but persistent expectation for Kongming.

Li Muling gently shook her head, her voice barely audible: "Brother, I know my feelings may be in vain, but how can I easily give up on matters of the heart? I'm willing to wait for him, even if it's just watching him from afar, I'll be content."

Upon hearing this, Li Guangling felt a mix of emotions.

He knew his sister's temperament well; once she made up her mind, she wouldn't easily change it. He could only sigh softly, step forward, and gently pat her shoulder.

"You must understand that you are just a mortal woman, your beauty will fade, and in a few decades you will be nothing but a pile of dust, while Master Zhuge has a long life ahead of him. Have you thought about this?"

“Perhaps I am just a passerby in his life, but I am content.” Li Muling looked up, her eyes shining with determination and tenderness.

“Brother, it’s rare to meet someone who makes your heart flutter in this lifetime. I don’t ask to spend the rest of my life with him, I only wish to leave a faint mark in his heart, that would be enough. As for the passage of time and the fading of beauty, that is the law of nature, and I cannot resist it. But in this limited time, I am willing to use all my strength to guard this feeling that may never be reciprocated.”

"Alright, Ling'er, but you also have to think about yourself. If that day ever comes and he no longer has feelings for you, you must learn to let go..."

Seeing that Li Muling remained unmoved, Li Guangling sighed and left Wolong Manor. He now controlled all matters of state and military affairs, but he was powerless to help his younger sister.

As night fell, Wolong Manor returned to its usual tranquility, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects.

Li Muling sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, silently praying that Kongming would return safely...

Meanwhile, Kongming and his companions switched to land travel when they were hundreds of miles away from the three An states, since flying spirit beasts were too conspicuous and could easily attract powerful enemies.

"Brother, let's get this straight, you can't let me, Old Pig, get away with this again. I, Brother Zilong, won't stand idly by!"

Zhu Ganglie stopped and said in a serious tone.

"Gang Lie, when have I ever wronged you? I had no choice in the past!"

Kongming waved his feather fan and smiled slightly.

"I don't care, I, Old Pig, have done great service. If you try to use me as a shield again, bleeding me out, I won't allow it!"

Zhu Ganglie raised his head, looking determined not to give up, which made Zhao Yun, who was standing next to him, burst out laughing.

"Ganglie, don't worry, the Prime Minister isn't that kind of person. Besides, as long as we act carefully, there aren't many people who can threaten us!" Zhao Yun patted Zhu Ganglie on the shoulder, comforting him.

"Hey! Not that kind of person? You don't know what kind of methods Zhuge the Demon are using. When he gets ruthless, I, Old Pig, really have no confidence in handling him!"

Zhu Ganglie still seemed a little shaken as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Kongming lightly waved his feather fan and glared at Zhu Ganglie, causing the latter to immediately cover his mouth.

The three changed horses and arrived at the border city of Anshi's three prefectures in the evening.

"Prime Minister, there are Golden Core cultivators patrolling. Should we detour or just barge in?"

Zhao Yun looked at the cultivators and guards on the city wall and asked.

"Hahaha... This An Lushan is no ordinary person. I'm afraid we've been under his surveillance ever since we left Wolong Manor!"

"What? So you're saying we'll be trapped like turtles in a jar once we get into the city? I'm not going! I'm not going!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ganglie shook his head and said.

Zhao Yun also looked at Kongming with a puzzled expression. Along the way, they sometimes rode flying spirit beasts and sometimes horses. Wasn't this to avoid An Lushan's hidden sentries along the way?

"Zilong, you may not know this, but I did all this on purpose to lull An Lushan into a false sense of security! I just wanted him to know that I, Zhuge Kongming, have emerged from seclusion!"

Kongming waved his feather fan with a calm and composed expression.

Without further ado, Kongming released a flying spirit beast, which carried the three of them towards the State of Song...

Jiufeng Mountain was one of the three major sects of the Song Dynasty. In front of the mountain gate, Zhuge Liang stood with his hands behind his back, holding a feather fan.

At this moment, a middle-aged cultivator arrived from the sky.

"Below lies Fellow Daoist Zhuge!"

Kongming looked up at the newcomer, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "It is indeed I. I have come uninvited today, and I hope you will forgive me!"

"Hahaha! Fellow Daoist, what are you saying? It is our honor that you have come to our Nine Phoenix Mountain!"

The middle-aged man laughed and said...

This person is Qin Shuang, the sect leader of Jiufeng Mountain, who is in charge of all sect affairs.

Only when faced with an indecisive matter would they consult the two Nascent Soul Ancestors.

Therefore, Qin Shuang's status in Jiufeng Mountain can be described as extremely high.

Generally, those sects that can be ranked among the top three sects have at least one Nascent Soul Elder in charge, while Nine Phoenix Mountain has two, so it is in the middle among the top three sects.

Qin Shuang's personal greeting also demonstrates the importance she attaches to Kongming.

Although Kongming himself ranked ninety-eighth on the Tang Dynasty Pill Ranking, that was not the point. Even if you were ranked in the top ten, in the eyes of these three major sects, you would still be just a slightly stronger ant.

After all, the three major sects not only have Nascent Soul cultivators in charge, but also many Golden Core experts who have been kept hidden away. They are the real ruthless people in the Golden Core stage, and they are all expected to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

This is why, apart from the top thirty, it is almost impossible to find anyone from the three major sects on the Dan Ranking.

Even those top 30 experts from the three major sects are only there to make the Golden Core Peak Ranking seem more prestigious.

Therefore, while the Golden Core Peak Ranking might impress outsiders, it's nothing special in the eyes of the three major sects that created it.

What truly made these people wary was Kongming's other identity...

Qin Shuang led Kongming into the mountain gate, and the disciples along the way all turned their heads and cast curious glances.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuge, is there something important you wish to discuss with me?" Qin Shuang asked as she led the way, her tone both polite and inquiring.

Kongming smiled slightly, waved his feather fan lightly, and said, "To be honest, I came here simply because I had nothing better to do and wanted to wander around."

Nothing much to do?

Qin Shuang was somewhat confused by Kong Ming's words.

But then he thought, if Kongming could gain experience in the Tang Dynasty, he could certainly do the same in the Song Dynasty. So he stopped thinking about it and led Kongming on a leisurely stroll.

However, a carrier hawk soon flew out from the gate of Jiufeng Mountain...