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

In his spare time these days, Kongming has also read through the "Qinglan Anecdotes" and has gained a general understanding of this world.

This world was originally controlled by five kingdoms: Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qian. However, the Great Qian Kingdom was destroyed a thousand years ago and divided up by the other four kingdoms. Now, only the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming kingdoms remain in a tripartite balance of power.

Each of these four kingdoms is backed by more than one top-tier sect, and these sects check and balance each other. Rather than saying that these four kingdoms are controlled by the royal family, it would be more accurate to say that they are controlled by the sects.

These four kingdoms are states, established by sects to acquire resources. Sects are responsible for protecting their kingdoms from being encroached upon by other kingdoms, while the kingdoms are responsible for providing sects with a continuous supply of resources.

These sects possess powerful cultivation abilities, giving them an overwhelming advantage over secular imperial power.

However, it is worth mentioning that the area of ​​this country is unimaginably large.

According to Kongming's calculations, the territory of the Han Dynasty at its peak was less than the size of one province here. Yet, a single nation had dozens of provinces, hundreds of prefectures, and thousands of counties—it was no exaggeration to describe it as a behemoth.

Sects like the Qinglan Sect are as numerous as carp crossing a river within the Tang Dynasty, and they are only fit to scrape by in a single prefecture.

As Kongming read the descriptions of the four kingdoms in "Qinglan's Records of Encounters," a wave of emotion surged within him.

This world was not as simple as he had imagined; it was filled with complex power struggles and intrigues. Cultivators, in their pursuit of higher realms, did not hesitate to manipulate secular governments and even instigate wars. Mortals, on the other hand, were like pawns, manipulated at will.

Overall, this world is like the Shang Dynasty's Investiture of the Gods period in my previous life, with various feudal lords and cultivators entering the scene, each taking what they need, while at the same time maintaining a delicate balance.

One day, Kongming was cultivating in his room when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching from afar. He immediately concealed his aura and quietly waited for the person to arrive.

A short while later, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe appeared in the courtyard, and Kongming came out to greet him.

"Disciple Zhuge Kongming greets Sect Master!"

Su Zhuo's sharp gaze swept over Kong Ming, then he suppressed a hint of elation.

"Huh! You've actually broken through to the Qi Refining stage. Where did you get your cultivation method?"

“A few months ago, Fairy Su gave me the Qinglan Technique. I had nothing to do, so I…” Kongming pretended to be nervous and slowly recited the words he had prepared.

"presumptuous!"

Su Zhuo roared angrily, thinking to himself that this girl was becoming more and more outrageous and was disrupting his plans.

He suspected that Zuo Ci had already mastered the secret to breaking the Jade Void Seal, and that Kongming was the last person to come into contact with Zuo Ci and teach him the Heavenly Dipper for self-protection at a critical moment, which made him think of something else.

Kongming, being a mere mortal with no spiritual power, could perfectly confirm his thoughts, but now...

Kongming trembled instantly, and he immediately knelt down, bowing his head and not daring to look directly at Kongming.

"Kongming, do you know why I've come to see you today?" Su Zhuo's tone carried an undeniable air of authority, as if he wanted to uncover all the secrets in Kongming's heart.

"This disciple truly knows nothing of the Jade Void Seal. If such an item is truly in my possession, I will present it to the Sect Master with both hands. I implore the Sect Master to investigate thoroughly," Kong Ming said frankly. After all, Su Yao had explicitly asked him for this item, and if he continued to feign ignorance, it might backfire.

Su Zhuo stared at Kongming before him and realized that this man's cunning was far beyond that of an ordinary mortal.

Even disciples who have cultivated for decades would tremble in his presence. Although Kongming appeared to be trembling with fear, Su Zhuo sensed an indescribable calmness, as if this man already knew everything but was unwilling to reveal it.

We must not be too hasty in dealing with Zhuge Liang.

Then, Su Zhuo slowly withdrew his aura and said calmly, "It is extremely rare for mortals like you to be able to step into the threshold of cultivation. Since you have already glimpsed the path, it is enough to show that you have the potential. I hope you can cherish this opportunity."

Kongming felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that Su Zhuo was testing him. He immediately replied respectfully, "This disciple will follow the sect leader's lead and will not fail the sect leader's expectations."

Su Zhuo nodded, seemingly satisfied with Kong Ming's answer. He then changed the subject and continued, "Let's not talk about the Jade Void Seal. Now that you've embarked on the path of cultivation, you can no longer live like a mortal in a daze."

"Your disciple will humbly obey the Patriarch's teachings!" Kongming quickly kowtowed.

“I once made a promise with your master to marry Yao’er to his most outstanding disciple. Now that he has passed away, you are the only disciple left. I could have broken my promise, but I couldn’t bear to see his lineage wither away. Therefore, I have decided to let you inherit this marriage contract.”

Upon hearing this, Kongming was stunned. He never expected that what Zuo Ci meant when he said that he would get the benefit in the end was actually this.

However, Kongming naturally knew that Zuo Ci was dead, and Su Zhuo was only putting on this show to obtain the Jade Void Seal.

In his past life, he caused Sun Quan to lose both his wife and his army; now, retribution has finally fallen upon him.

"Sect Master, disciple... disciple... Fairy Su is a beauty of unparalleled grace, but my cultivation is still shallow, and I am afraid I am not worthy of Fairy Su. Please reconsider, Sect Master..." Kongming was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

Seeing this, Su Zhuo sneered inwardly and said, "You don't need to panic. This is a promise I made to your master before his death. If Yao'er marries you, it will be a wonderful story. And as my son-in-law, you will receive more resources and protection on your path of cultivation. This is all I can do for Senior Brother Zuo!"

After Su Zhuo finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Kong Ming standing there in a daze.

……

A few days later, the Qinglan Sect was filled with a festive atmosphere, with red lanterns hanging high, colorful ribbons fluttering, and gongs and drums resounding.

The entire sect was busy preparing for the upcoming wedding, but Kongming, one of the main characters in the wedding, seemed somewhat distracted.

Ever since Su Zhuo announced his engagement to Su Yao, Kong Ming has been in a daze.

Everything is about being well-matched. There is a world of difference between him and Su Yao in terms of both cultivation level and status, which undoubtedly shows the purpose of this wedding.

Kongming, dressed in his wedding attire, stood in the courtyard. Logically, on the day the sect leader's daughter got married, other fellow disciples would surely come to celebrate. However, Kongming observed that he did not find anyone from other sects, which meant that Qinglan Sect had not extended invitations widely.

Just then, a deep bell rang out, and Su Yao, dressed in a fiery red wedding gown, slowly walked in, surrounded by a crowd.

Her stunning beauty and ethereal demeanor were not diminished in the slightest by the veil; on the contrary, they were enhanced by an air of mystery and nobility.

Kongming watched the approaching red figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't change the situation.

The wedding banquet ended hastily, and Kongming and Suyao were then led to their bridal chamber.

Emboldened by the alcohol, Kongming lifted the red veil, and a delicate fragrance wafted out, causing his heart to flutter and a long-dormant primal instinct to surge within him...