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

Su Yao's stunning beauty was made even more captivating by the candlelight, yet her clear eyes revealed a hint of indifference and aloofness, which instantly brought Kong Ming to his senses.

The two sat there respectfully until dawn, when Su Yao got up and left.

Kongming pushed open the door. The lanterns and colorful ribbons in the courtyard were still fluttering in the wind, though they were somewhat dazzling.

In the following days, Su Yao continued to leave early and return late, but Kong Ming very tactfully gave up his bed for Su Yao, while he made a makeshift bed on the floor in a corner of the house.

Silence, deathly stillness—this was Kongming's most direct feeling about the state of the two after their marriage. Perhaps Su Yao had never really looked at him properly, only doing so because of the pressure from his father.

After that, Su Yao never came again.

……

Time flies, and another spring has arrived with flowers in bloom.

In the courtyard, a tall and upright young man stood with his hands behind his back, holding a feather fan, gazing at the blooming flowers in the garden, his eyes filled with contemplation.

The young man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with a reserved demeanor and deep, unfathomable gaze like an endless starry sky. His blue and white robes, combined with his refined appearance, gave him a gentle and tranquil air. This man was none other than Kongming, who had been under house arrest for seven years.

Fortunately, his cultivation in his previous life allowed him to calm his mind and find a sense of peace in solitude. For the past seven years, he has been like an observer, silently watching the prosperity and desolation of this world, but never truly becoming a part of it.

He was filled with hope that he could get out of trouble; perhaps all that was missing was a catalyst.

Over the years, Kongming has been constantly refining the protective Heavenly Gang within his body. The further he progresses in cultivation, the more difficult it becomes, and the greater the resources required.

Without receiving any assistance from the Qinglan Sect, he refined five protective protective celestial shields, raising his cultivation to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

With his current cultivation level, he is considered to be at the mainstream level in the Qinglan Sect.

He overheard two disciples guarding him talking about how, two years ago, with the help of many resources, Su Yao finally broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Only at this level could he be considered a pillar of the sect.

In sects like Qinglan, there are only twenty or thirty Foundation Establishment disciples, with the rest being Qi Refining cultivators. As for Golden Core cultivators, there are only four in the sect: Su Zhuo and three elders.

……

As the sun rose, another day of intrigue and power struggles began in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. Various factions were secretly vying for power within the bustling city, like undercurrents surging beneath a calm lake.

In a secluded corner of Chang'an, surrounded by green vines, a carriage waits quietly.

This is the imperial prison of the capital. At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe and with a beautiful beard stepped down from the carriage. He looked quite refined.

Then, another woman in white, wearing a cloak, gracefully leaped down from the carriage. Although her face was mostly covered by the cloak, her graceful figure and ethereal temperament were still evident.

Their gazes frequently drifted towards the intimidating gates of the prison, but the gates remained tightly shut until noon.

The woman looked slightly nervous, her delicate hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly, as if she were hoping for something.

Just then, the prison gates slowly opened, and a ragged young man was kicked out of the prison. Although he was somewhat disheveled, his resolute face still exuded a noble air.

This man was none other than Li Guangling, the only son of Li Chengqian, the Prince of Zhongshan of the Tang Dynasty.

"Brother!" The woman finally couldn't hold back and called out softly, her eyes filled with tears and worry. She quickly stepped forward, and her beautiful face, revealed from under her cloak, looked exceptionally charming in the sunlight.

When the middle-aged man saw Li Guangling come out, a happy smile appeared on his face. He quickly took a few steps forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Young Prince, you have suffered."

Li Guangling smiled slightly and said, "I am deeply grateful to Mr. Ji for going to such lengths for my sake."

Then he affectionately reached out and patted the woman's shoulder, "Ling'er, why are you still crying so much? I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"

The middle-aged man with a beautiful beard was named Ji Yizhi. Due to his exceptional talent, he was noticed by Prince Li Chengqian of Zhongshan at a young age and recruited into his camp. After years of training in the army, he became a renowned strategist under Prince Li Chengqian, possessing both literary and military skills.

The woman in white is Li Guangling's younger sister, named Li Muling. She is gentle in nature, yet possesses a resilience that is hard for men to match. From a young age, she has greatly admired her brother, who is hailed by many as a young prodigy.

The two men looked Li Guangling up and down. His clothes were tattered and worn. Years of torture and forced confessions had caused many parts of his body to fester, and a foul stench emanated from him, showing that he had suffered a lot in the past few years.

Seeing her brother like this, Li Muling's lips trembled slightly.

Five years ago, Prince Li Chengqian of Zhongshan was accused of rebelling against the Tang Dynasty and was executed on Empress Wu's orders. The entire princely household was implicated, but a gold token of immunity from death, bestowed by the late emperor, was later discovered during a search of his home.

Li Guangling was spared death but was imprisoned in the imperial prison, while his younger sister, Li Muling, was demoted to commoner status due to her young age. Five years passed, and the brother and sister were still unable to see each other.

Later, through Ji Yizhi's efforts, the Empress's brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, vouched for Li Guangling. Empress Wu, mindful of Changsun Wuji's influence as a veteran official of four reigns, finally relented.

Li Guangling, on the other hand, was never allowed to set foot in Chang'an again for the rest of his life, and his entourage consisted of only a few hundred soldiers.

"Young Prince, we should not linger here. Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances." Ji Yizhi looked around and said in a low voice, then instructed the coachman, "Quickly help the Young Prince into the carriage."

"I'm fine, I can get on by myself." Li Guangling dismissed the driver and climbed directly onto the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Li Muling reached out and lifted the curtain. Although she was only eleven or twelve years old when she left the Prince's Mansion, she still knew the way back.

"Brother, where are we going?"

"The Empress has decreed that the young prince shall never enter the capital again and shall be immediately demoted to his fiefdom of Yuliang County," Ji Yizhi explained.

Li Muling nodded. Although she had lived in Chang'an for many years, she knew that Yuliang County was remote.

Li Guangling closed his eyes, took a deep breath, seemingly to calm the turmoil in his heart. He opened his eyes, looked at Li Muling, and his eyes revealed determination and resolve: "Muling, sooner or later, we will fight our way back to Chang'an."

"Shh! Young Prince, watch your words." Ji Yizhi immediately interrupted Li Guangling. He looked around to make sure there was nothing amiss before continuing, "There are many people here, so it's best to be careful. I have already gathered the garrison troops outside the city, and we must join them as soon as possible."

Li Guangling nodded, understanding Ji Yizhi's concerns. Empress Wu's spies were everywhere, including many cultivators sent by sects; a slight misstep could lead to annihilation.

The carriage moved slowly forward, and Li Guangling gazed into the distance through the curtain. Five years of imprisonment had exhausted him physically and mentally, but it had not broken his will. He knew that this ordeal was only the beginning, and the road ahead was long; he had to persevere…