Fate Works in Mysterious Ways

The so-called Blue Feather lineage did not refer to the descendants of Immortal Venerable Blue Feather. Rather, it specifically denoted the sprawling, deeply entrenched factions and forces that had attached themselves to him. Immortal Venerable Blue Feather had controlled Yuandao Province for thousands of years, commanding countless cultivators beneath him. They occupied virtually every key post within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals across Yuandao Province. Although Immortal Venerable Blue Feather had fallen, the Blue Feather lineage remained too big to fail. It still wielded absolute dominance, unshakeable by outsiders in the slightest. Yet while there were no external challengers, turmoil first erupted from within the lineage itself. The reason was simple: everyone wanted to be the one calling the shots. In the past, when Immortal Venerable Blue Feather was alive, everyone naturally followed his lead. Now that the venerable had perished, none of the factions within the lineage answered to any other. To vie for the position of leader, they came to blows. A Soul Formation cultivator had even perished in the struggle. As for the Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators who died, their numbers were beyond count. The other forces in Yuandao Province watched the Blue Feather lineage's infighting unfold. Leaderless and badly bruised, the lineage appeared vulnerable, and rival factions soon began to harbor their own designs. Forming secret alliances, they took advantage of the chaos to carve up the lineage's territory. In particular, lucrative posts like the supervisors of the Formation Planning Hall and purchasing agents for the Talisman Hall were seized from their grasp in substantial numbers. Only after a massive chunk of flesh was bitten off did the factions of the Blue Feather lineage finally wake up to the danger. At last, the various branches were willing to sit down and hold a proper talk. After much deliberation, they agreed that whoever acquired the Tiandu Feathering Technique would be honored by all branches as their supreme leader. Ordinarily, they were all in the Soul Formation realm; being the strongest fighter alone was not enough to convince everyone. One also had to consider connections, controlled resources, and many other factors. Yet under mounting external pressure, the branches desperately needed to put an end to their internal strife and select a leader. Thus, the final will of Immortal Venerable Blue Feather became the common ground they could all accept. A true Dao Integration technique was already exceedingly precious, and now it had become the very sceptre of leadership for the Blue Feather lineage. The intensity of the struggle could well be imagined. Seven years had passed, yet the ultimate victor remained undecided. There were two peerless prodigies whose strengths were neck and neck, making it impossible to determine a winner. One was named Dugu Xi, and the other Dugu Shi. Both were at the Soul Formation cultivation stage, a pair of twin brothers adopted by Immortal Venerable Blue Feather more than five hundred years ago. Endowed with extraordinary talent, both had attained the Soul Formation realm within five hundred years. In this fierce clash of dragons and tigers, while countless cultivators had fought over the Tiandu Feathering Technique, it was still the two brothers who had had the last laugh. Yet when it came to a true Dao Integration technique, not even flesh-and-blood brothers could yield. Over the past few years, the two had fought more than a dozen times, yet victory remained undecided. Battles between Soul Formation cultivators were rare enough, let alone between pinnacle masters of the realm like the Dugu brothers. Consequently, every duel between them drew swarms of cultivators who came to watch. *** Having listened to Feng Shu's explanation, Li Fan nodded slowly. "When I arrived, I saw from afar two groups slaughtering each other over a Blue Feather Legacy Treasure. What exactly are these Blue Feather Legacy Treasures?" Feng Shu explained, "Before Immortal Venerable Blue Feather fell, in addition to establishing the inheritance of his technique, he packed all his personal possessions into small blue boxes and scattered them across Yuandao Province, leaving them for those fated to find them. "These small blue boxes came to be known as the Blue Feather Legacy Treasures. Although left behind by the venerable, the contents encompass everything imaginable. A box might contain a tremendously powerful Dharma treasure, or it might hold a thoroughly unremarkable jade pendant. "After all, worldly possessions pale in value compared to a true Dao Integration technique, so the attention they draw is nowhere near that of the Tiandu Feathering Technique. "Even so, they have still stirred up quite a bloodbath," Feng Shu sighed. As the two talked, they arrived at the site where Dugu Xi and Dugu Shi were dueling. It was a circular structure of white jade suspended high in the sky, known as the Tiandu Martial Arena. Legend had it that Immortal Venerable Blue Feather had personally constructed it as a place for his subordinates to spar. When combatants entered, the white jade turned transparent, projecting the scene inside the arena onto the vault of heaven, allowing outside cultivators to clearly see everything taking place within. The arena formed its own space and was exceptionally sturdy. Even Soul Formation cultivators could unleash their might without restraint or fear of causing collateral devastation. Once the duel concluded, the white jade would emit a pure white radiance, rapidly healing the combatants' injuries. Every function was tailored specifically for martial contests. At this moment, countless spectators had gathered around the Tiandu Martial Arena. They looked up, pointing, conversing, and discussing among themselves. Above in the firmament, the projection of the two Dugu brothers battling occupied more than half the sky. "The one in white robes is Dugu Xi, and the one in black is Dugu Shi," Feng Shu warmly explained, knowing it was Li Fan's first visit. Gazing from a distance, Li Fan saw their figures intertwining; he could only vaguely make out two threads of black and white wound together. Each collision gave rise to a bizarre, twisted vortex. After a brief moment, each vortex would slowly subside. Yet as the Dugu brothers clashed relentlessly, the vortices within the Tiandu Martial Arena churned without pause, resembling an exceedingly perilous stretch of water. Compared to the straightforward, violent clashes between Soul Formation cultivators in the Congyun Sea, the battle between the two Dugu brothers seemed somewhat more abstract. Gradually, however, Li Fan began to discern the underlying patterns. Dugu Xi used defense as offense, balancing attack and defense seamlessly. Dugu Shi, on the other hand, was brimming with sharpness and intensely aggressive. The two were evenly matched and likely understood each other intimately. No wonder they had fought so many bouts without either securing victory. *** In the sky above, the fierce battle raged on. The cultivators below watched with relish. Yet while observing the duel, Li Fan noticed that Feng Shu's expression beside him had suddenly turned peculiar. Just as he wondered why, a conversation drifted into his ears. "Born of the same mother, brothers ought to love each other dearly, yet now they slaughter one another over a mere cultivation technique. Sigh, powerful though they may be as Soul Formation experts, I truly look down on them!" "Brother, you jest. That is a true Dao Integration technique! How could humble Foundation Establishment cultivators like us fathom its immense value?" "So what if it's a Dao Integration technique? Is it the only one in the world? We two sworn brothers can treat each other with affection and mutual yielding. Why can't actual brothers do the same?" "Heh heh..." "Brother, what sort of look is that? Rest assured, if the day comes that we discover a technique together, no matter how precious it is, I will definitely hand it to you first and never fight you for it!" These words were spoken with such righteous dignity that bystanders turned to look, filled with admiration. Li Fan felt a faint sense of familiarity in the cadence of their voices. He immediately glanced toward the direction of the sound. Once he got a clear look at their faces, even with his deep composure, Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle out loud. As it turned out, these two were old acquaintances of his. None other than: Kou Hong! And Dao Xuanzi! In this lifetime, they had crossed paths nearly twenty years earlier than before. Li Fan could not help but sigh inwardly: "Truly..." "Fate works in mysterious ways."