Once Li Zhouwei fell silent, the room lapsed into a quiet hush. Li Ximing rose with a hint of anxiety, hesitating for a moment before deciding against speaking of Xiao Yuansi. Li Xuanxuan lowered his brows.
"At least… no ill consequences have surfaced yet…"
"Regardless of how things stand, we must keep our minds clear. Concerning the Old Ancestor, and all that occurred a century ago and since—no matter how much they know, we must be on guard."
Li Ximing nodded, offering counsel of his own. "The affairs in the north… the implications are already quite clear. Luoxia pays little heed to us, holding an attitude of using us whenever convenient. Since the Underworld Court stands on the same footing as Luoxia, its decisions in these matters may well follow a similar logic…"
Li Zhouwei carefully studied both their expressions, then withdrew his gaze and gave a quiet nod.
"Furthermore…" the old man murmured faintly, "we were born of that Great One's designs, and we shall die for that Great One's designs. The entanglement with Mingyang did not arise without cause."
The "Great One" in his words seemed to refer to Luoxia or the Underworld Court, or perhaps to the heritage of the Wei-Li, yet both Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing understood precisely what he truly meant.
From the Li family's origins at Lake Wangyue onward, no matter which side they leaned toward, their true background had never changed. Others might remain in the dark, but the three of them knew in their hearts that behind their clan stood a certain "Great One."
Yet when facing one of the greatest powers beneath heaven—the Underworld Court, an entity standing on equal terms with Luoxia that split the world into north and south—Li Ximing truly had little confidence. Unlike Luoxia, their family had risen step by step directly beneath the watchful eyes of the Underworld Court!
After a spell of silence between the three, Li Ximing was about to stand when Li Zhouwei lowered his eyes.
"Granduncle, remain home to cultivate. This time… leave it to me to meet them."
***
Simin Commandery.
The sky was crisp and clear.
Bright, radiant light filled the loft. A woman hurried up the stairs—fair and refined of countenance, clad entirely in black. Reaching the doorway, she tidied her garments slightly before stepping inside.
*Creak.*
The chamber was decorated with extreme austerity. A pale black wooden chair sat centered within, hot tea sending up wisps of white steam. The old man, sleeves gathered, sat in the seat of honor, intently reading a scroll held in his hands.
Though advanced in age and clearly showing signs of senescence, he remained broad-shouldered and powerfully built. His imposing presence was suffocatingly heavy, his hooded eyes making him resemble a dozing, ailing tiger that inspired dread at first glance.
The woman bowed deeply within the room, speaking with utmost respect. "Junior Tianyou greets the Old Ancestor!"
This woman was none other than Li Jiangliang's wife, the imperial scion of the Yang clan, Yang Tianyou!
"Rise."
The old man above did not shift his gaze, leisurely perusing the black-leather scroll in his hands. Faint golden characters glinted in the sunlight with splendid brilliance. His voice was deep and resonant. "Tianyou… where is your husband?"
Yang Tianyou bowed her head, replying respectfully, "He is in the commandery supervising preparations for the rites of founding the state."
The old man chuckled, his tone mild. "I have observed that child as well. He bears little resemblance to Mingyang. As a scion of a prominent clan, he stoops to pity common mortals—scarcely the demeanor of a great lineage, and hardly the way to preserve oneself."
Yang Tianyou lowered her gaze. The old man turned his eyes upon her and said with a smile, "Tell me, Great Ning's reign was hardly brief. Great Ning was near, while Li and Wei were far. The Li clan and Jiang clan have maintained marriages for generations, which eventually gave rise to a figure favored by Taiyin like Li Jiangqun. How much connection could they still retain to Mingyang? If you ask me, those of you on duty are far too cautious, insisting on keeping a single wisp of bloodline pinned beneath your very noses."
Yang Tianyou dropped to her knees, dread clutching her heart as she said in haste, "Old Ancestor… your junior believes that caution is never amiss. Uprooting future troubles is ever the better course."
The old man finally averted his gaze. His smile vanished, and setting down the scroll, he said casually, "Oh?"
His voice was calm, yet Yang Tianyou trembled all over, whispering, "Old Ancestor… Qingyu Qian and Lord Xuan'an wield an immortal formation after all, driving the Laurel-Derived Profound Radiance while sheltered by an immortal artifact. The present turmoil is already vast enough. Once matters settle, they ought to be purged together to extinguish all variables!"
Only then did the old man sigh. "What you consider is reasonable enough. Yet once Xuan'an falls into trouble, that demon fox will not have many days left to dance either. What use is there in the two of them tossing and turning back and forth? How many times has it been now?
"Xuan'an is neither Zhang Yuanyu nor Suxikong. Even those two had to rely on the prevailing trends to achieve grand undertakings. What great storm could a creature clinging to life within the manor possibly stir, no matter how profound his wonders and how exhaustive his tricks? In the past, he fancied himself capable of swaying wind and cloud, but the truly formidable one was not him—it was Senior Yingze.
"With Tang Shu watching him, no matter what means he employs, the moment he is registered on the roster and banished into the Netherworld, not a trace will remain. What use could it be?"
Yang Tianyou hurriedly lowered her head, chiming in, "Your junior understands… When the manor lord first reincarnated, he still carried an air of manipulating the world, but that aura was merely the aura of Lord Yingze. Afterward… whether it was Duanmu Kui or Li Jiangqun, all of it was in vain. Qingyu Qian shrank back in cowardice, intervening thrice, stooping so low as to act against minor cultivators and mortals, and all three attempts outsmarted themselves into folly. It was utterly ridiculous.
"Without a Great One's aid, even with that lake, Qingyu Qian's efforts amount to nothing. They believed they had succeeded, completely unaware that a certain Great One lost the Jianyang Ring, letting it drift to the lake so Mingyang's gaze would shift thither—staining them beyond any hope of cleansing. Those descendants of Ning-Li were mistaken for the orthodox main branch of Wei-Li, and in the end, the world will demand their deaths as well! A total loss across the entire board!"
Even as she laughed, she observed the old man with meticulous care. "Now, even the positions of the Bureau of Heaven have been banished into the Netherworld, clinging to their measly parcel of land, long since rendered useless. They ought to be purged as soon as possible. What if the fox behind Qingyu Qian actually succeeds in her breakthrough?"
"Mm…"
Yang Tianyou bowed her head in silence. The old man before her said casually, "You lack understanding. The Jianyang Ring may well have been a scheme of that fox. Do not underestimate them. Yet cutting flesh requires a soft knife. Even if the fox succeeds, what of it? We would naturally cease coveting their possessions and welcome her into the game to claim a share of the spoils. They, too, would never wish for the Sovereign Father's return.
"To us, Luoxia and the dragon kind are what matter most. Once the grand situation stabilizes, all these matters can be dealt with together… After all, there is still a remnant hiding in the South Sea…"
He smiled, eyeing Yang Tianyou with keen interest, and added, "You need not test me further. Showing such resolute resolve—do you truly harbor no intention of preserving even a fraction of their bloodline?"
Yang Tianyou replied in panic, "Your junior would never dare harbor double-mindedness!"
The old man drew back his gaze and remarked nonchalantly, "I fear across the entire realm, only my Yang clan and Judge Jiang possess any motive or capability to shield them… yet even then, we can shield the dead but not the living, shield individuals but not their progeny."
A chill crept into his expression. "Qingyu Qian and his lake are merely Judge Tang's minor concern, outside our purview. We simply make use of them—play the pawn if it can be played, and let it go if it cannot. What matters is whether affairs in Great Song succeed. The Ten Halls are watching; if it fails, none of us will have an easy time."
Yang Tianyou could only kowtow repeatedly, cold sweat pouring down her brow, when the door suddenly stirred and a figure entered.
The newcomer looked entirely unremarkable, dressed in black—none other than Yang Ruiyi of the Yang clan.
Upon entering the loft and seeing Yang Tianyou kneeling on the floor, a flicker of heartache passed through the Zhenren's eyes. Yet his movements were exceedingly swift; without hesitation, he knelt beside her and reported deferentially, "Old Ancestor! A visitor has arrived from the lake!"
"Oh?"
The old man took a sip of tea and asked, "Is it the White Qilin, or that Violet Palace?"
Yang Ruiyi answered respectfully, "It is the White Qilin."
A trace of hesitation lingered between the youth's brows, but the old man remarked offhandedly, "Since I rarely visit the mortal realm, let him come up."
Only then did Yang Ruiyi dare rise. Helping Yang Tianyou to her feet, he gently dismissed her, then stood at the old man's side. Yet the old man rose, yielded the seat of honor, and smiled. "Sit."
Yang Ruiyi grew flustered, lowering his head. "Your junior… your junior…"
"When told to sit, sit."
Having given the casual instruction, the old man moved to a secondary seat beside the window and sat sideways, his gaze drifting out the window as he waited quietly. In mere moments, steady footsteps echoed from outside.
*Creak.*
The door opened once more. Yang Ruiyi's expression had already returned to calm, his brows lifting in a smile. "The White Qilin has arrived."
Those golden eyes stood out conspicuously within the chamber. Li Zhouwei nodded slightly, replying, "Of the Lake Wangyue Li clan, Li Zhouwei, Minghuang."
Yang Ruiyi stood and returned the courtesy with a smile. "Of the Simin Yang clan, Yang Ruiyi, Lutao. Please."
Li Zhouwei smiled and nodded, the golden light in his eyes shimmering faintly, taking in everything clearly.
*Mid Violet Palace, profound cultivation…*
Following the host's gesture, he took a seat to the side. Turning his head, his gaze finally met that of the elderly man by the window.
The old man's look was calm yet powerful, carrying a trace of scrutiny as he watched in silence.
The smile on Li Zhouwei's face remained unbroken, giving off a properly measured hint of doubt. "This is…"
Yang Ruiyi hurried to his feet and smiled. "This is my clan's Old Ancestor, of the Tian generation, named Tianya, Daoist title Guanxuan!"
A look of realization crossed Li Zhouwei's face. Neither servile nor arrogant, he said, "So it is Senior Guanxuan!"
*Yang Tianya…*
The name that had occupied the thoughts of the Li clan for so long had finally manifested before him. A ripple stirred within Li Zhouwei's heart, suspense mounting bit by bit. Strangely, the first thing to react was the Dawen Golden Pupils he had long cast to the back of his mind, quietly warning him that the person before him was unusual!
Looking straight ahead, his heart gradually froze.
It was not because the man's demeanor was excessively indifferent, nor because Li Zhouwei was worried about the conversation to follow. Rather, when Li Zhouwei raised his brows and linked his spiritual sense to the immortal artifact, the scene before his eyes abruptly shifted.
Sunlight shone bright, yet the table and chair were empty.
No old man, no Yang Tianya—nothing but a vacant seat!
Li Zhouwei maintained an impassive expression, staring steadily at that spot. Dizziness abruptly surged through his mind; in faint obscurity, everything before him flickered between illusion and extinction. A drop of blackness fell upon the table and chair, instantly engulfing his vision.
Within that blackness, tides rose and fell, life and death ebbed into silence, all things lost their names and traces, stripped of their miraculous nature. Countless murky shadows plummeted within, breeding a drowsy torpor born of absolute void.
A burst of refreshing coolness surged into his mind, hauling him out of the murk and placing him safely outside the fray. Clarity instantly restored to his thoughts, leaving only a single notion in Li Zhouwei's heart:
*Is he truly Yang Tianya?*
Forcibly suppressing the terror within, Li Zhouwei averted his gaze and said respectfully, "Your renowned name has long preceded you."
Yang Tianya nodded with a calm demeanor, appearing to look into his eyes. His smile took on a touch more sincerity and regret. "Rare… rare indeed…"
Collecting himself, Li Zhouwei returned the courtesy. Seeing Yang Tianya look at him leisurely, the old man smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Minghuang, your noble clan's step-by-step ascension to the seat of an immortal clan has not escaped my ears! A belated congratulations to you."
Li Zhouwei smiled, but the other gave him no chance to speak, continuing placidly, "I also recall your noble clan's ancestor distinguishing himself in the army. Later, hearing that your clan sought to borrow momentum, I lent a helping hand."
With these words, everything became crystal clear in Li Zhouwei's mind:
*"Your clan sought to borrow momentum, I lent a helping hand."*
Evidently, Yang Tianya knew full well about Old Ancestor Li Mutian!
Li Zhouwei let out a soft sigh, feigning an awkward look as he replied, "In those early days… below our mountain, killings and mutual persecutions were endless. Our family lacked the strength at the time, living in daily dread of imminent calamity. It was fortunate that the Old Ancestor, a mere mortal, was blessed with your esteemed attention. Relying on that karmic bond, he falsely claimed to have achieved Foundation Establishment to preserve our clan. Your junior is endlessly grateful…"
He replied smoothly, expressing heartfelt gratitude while subtly tossing the question back at his host. Yang Tianya, however, lowered his eyes, sipped his tea, and sighed.
"A descendant of an immortal cultivator of noble bloodline appearing in the military—how could one not take notice?"
What he spoke was naturally the truth, yet veiled and half-hidden, never disclosing whose descendant it was. Raising his brows in a smile, his eyes fixed intently upon Li Zhouwei, seemingly probing his emotions, and asked, "Pure Qi is the root of all qi, the foundation from which all spirits are born. The so-called foundation of cultivation lies in the spirit aperture. Lake Wangyue's spiritual energy was severed, losing the signs of Pure Qi, so spirit apertures naturally struggled to emerge. Your family's rise coincides precisely with the revival of the spiritual veins; in truth, it is merely the natural order of things!"
Li Zhouwei could not tell how much sincerity lay behind his words, sighing, "That foundation resides in bloodline, but without Senior's assistance, our Old Ancestor would have achieved nothing! In life, the Old Ancestor often spoke of this, lamenting that he knew not Senior's whereabouts, else bringing his sons to express our gratitude in person would have been wonderful…"
"To gain three out of four… is rare indeed."
Having uttered these words, the old man gave no further reply, lowering his head to sip tea with a smile. Li Zhouwei turned toward the person before him and offered congratulations, "My felicitations!"
Yang Ruiyi raised his brows and smiled, asking, "This time our Yang clan has gained a peerless talent of True Qi, and all matters proceed smoothly. It is indeed an occasion of great joy… yet… in the end, it pales before Fellow Daoist's illustrious renown, and there remains much we must rely upon you for."
Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea, appearing perfectly at ease as he shook his head. "Fellow Daoist is too modest. Your noble clan hides so deeply that your junior can only admire you! As for reliance, I truly dare not accept such praise!"
After exchanging hypocritical pleasantries, Yang Ruiyi chuckled and replied, "My clan merely chanced upon some minor fortune. We cannot compare to the likes of Zhixuan Pavilion; our strength is meager. How could Minghuang be unworthy? In the future, when matters require our cooperation, we ought to communicate frequently."
Li Zhouwei understood at once.
*As expected, they do not blot out the sky with one hand. Not only can they not blot out the sky, they fall far short of it… It seems what the Underworld Court values is that Judge Yang, not the entire Yang clan!*
Yang Ruiyi's words were tactful, claiming they "cannot compare to the likes of Zhixuan Pavilion," yet in truth, it was an indirect declaration of their stance. The Yang clan was analogous to Zhixuan Pavilion; just as Zhixuan Pavilion represented the will of Luoxia, the Yang clan merely safeguarded the interests of the Underworld Court.
This appeared customary on the surface, but once clarified, the difference was monumental!
*People often say Zhixuan Pavilion is Luoxia's hound. A hound is, in the end, just a hound—it can bully and rampage down the mountain, but atop the mountain, it cannot take the main stage. It can be ordered about at will yet never truly scale Luoxia… If the Yang clan corresponds to Zhixuan Pavilion, that is hardly a comfortable position to occupy!*
*It was precisely because of this that the State of Yue fell into such a state back then!*
*Beyond Zhixuan Pavilion, Luoxia also possesses the Seven Aspects. What other clans does the Underworld Court possess?*
Chapter 1000