Within the secret array, light interwove in layered hues, casting a haze of purple across the hall. The Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda appeared exceptionally dazzling amid the violet glow. Li Ximing listened carefully until the words ended, then fell silent.
"The new dynasty grants princely titles to the immortal clans, but to them it is merely an honorific. Only our family receives both the title and the reality. It has been set in stone: they insist on you making an attempt for the Mingyang throne."
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, the gold-eyed youth paced the hall, his thoughts unfathomable. After waiting a good while, he heard Li Ximing speak in a low, somber voice:
"Even the Underworld Court intends for you to seek gold... How could there be any room for maneuver?"
Li Zhouwei looked toward him, his expression icy, and said softly, "Seeking gold has become an inevitability."
Li Ximing nodded with a hint of agitation, his brow tightly furrowed. He took two paces across the hall and replied, "Setting aside what manner of man Li Qianyuan was, even if I know nothing of the true history of antiquity, at least our lineage is here today, giving us some ground to speak. You are to seek attainment in Mingyang... Fine. They want you to seek attainment in Mingyang, so they grant you a state—a mere lake, nothing more! In ancient times, it wouldn't even count as large for a feudal lord!"
Li Ximing had always been mild-tempered. Even when pursued relentlessly all those years ago and gravely wounded, he had done nothing more than find a secluded spot to heal with a bitter smile. He had never complained about such hardships. Yet after enduring for so long, now that they were in a safe haven, he could finally hold back no longer. He appeared somewhat irascible, gnashing his teeth as he said:
"Emperor Wei... That was Emperor Wei! A figure who ranked high even among True Monarchs, an imperial sovereign in his own right! In terms of national destiny, his was the foremost heavenly dynasty of the north. In terms of cultivation, he was someone close to the Dao Embryo. And as for status, he shattered nations and annihilated sects, establishing the guiding order of the mortal realm and keeping the eyes of Mingyang fixed upon him for a thousand years...
"If they gave you a heavenly dynasty, half the realm under heaven, I would have the confidence that you stood some chance of accomplishing this! Fine, a state of a single lake might be tolerated, but they also want you to declare vassalage! They want the son to replace the father—what a farce! They want you to bow your head to True Qi, so what right would you have left to hold your head high before Li Qianyuan?! How is this any different from sending you to your death?!
"From beginning to end! From beginning to end, they have never given you a way to live!"
Clearly losing his composure, the Daoist ground his teeth and continued:
"I naturally understand that attaining Mingyang is our best path forward. But why did you and I struggle so desperately to seek a way out? Precisely because this is utterly impossible... Luoxia is confident, the whole realm under heaven is confident...
"And now look! They haven't left us a single path of retreat! Since it is decided that you must strive for Mingyang, how are we to deal with dragonkind?! Is dragonkind something to be provoked lightly?! Qunyi lies in the Eastern Sea!"
His divine ability flared in anger, plunging every lamp in the hall into darkness at once. The purple light from outside turned somber, and all radiance faded away. In the pitch-black void, only that pair of golden eyes flickered faintly. His pupils had already resolved into rings of white-gold, staring at the floor. Stripped of their usual calm, they gleamed with intense frost and ruthless malice.
"Granduncle, there is no need to overthink it."
His voice was strangely serene, yet an undercurrent of distortion echoed through the air.
"If they want me to seek and attain the fruit, then they must allow me to step toward the perfection of my divine ability. Let our family endure this humiliation for now. Today I am a pawn, but once Mingyang is attained, the significance of this pawn will be entirely different."
Li Ximing hesitated, about to speak, when he noticed the light within the hall wavering, dimming and brightening erratically. The white qilin continued on his own:
"I need only endure for ten or twenty years. Once my divine ability reaches perfection, I will have my own means to influence the greater situation. But for now, I must gather strength. I cannot afford injury, nor can I allow my cultivation to stall. To sunder mountains and fell temples, to slay Buddhists and butcher demons, I must first bow my head to True Qi. Only then will I have the background to nourish my talisman qi with a sea of blood and seize the chance to accumulate power...
"When Mingyang is fully achieved, even if I turn around and bite out a chunk or two of his flesh, unless he calls a True Monarch to intervene, he will have to swallow it... Even if I am doomed to die upon attaining Mingyang, before I perish, I will make them bleed and suffer agony...
"Furthermore..."
For the first time, he laid bare the depths of his heart. Those ring-like white-gold pupils turned toward him, sending a chill down one's spine.
"Does submitting as a vassal today mean remaining a vassal forever? The ropes in the heavens are not unbreakable. If one day I turn upon him, crush his five fingers, and smash this grand board to pieces, even Mingyang will have no choice but to look upon me with greater regard."
These words fell like a bucket of icy water, instantly quenching the burning fury in the Daoist's heart. He was struck with terror and awe, appearing somewhat at a loss.
*Then... at what price will that come?*
In truth, the moment Li Ximing's earlier outburst left his mouth, he had regretted it. Looking at the gaze his junior revealed as he lost himself in thought, the unease in his heart weighed heavier and heavier.
Li Zhouwei had shown little emotion since childhood. In contrast, Li Jiangqian's darkness and venom surfaced far more easily. Yet as all light faded away, that inadvertent glance pierced Li Ximing's eyes like a handful of needles, abruptly reminding him of an old memory.
Back when Tianwan was in the wilderness, Li Zhouwei had worn that very same look. Those words still rang clearly in his ears:
*To die for me, is it not as it should be?!*
Noticing his lapse of focus, the youth immediately withdrew the emotion from his eyes. The white qilin stepped up the stairs step by step and said faintly:
"As for today's matter... I have pondered and deliberated over it for a long time.
"The path of True Qi rectifies nature and quells licentiousness, possessing boundless benevolence and might. Yet if there is an immortal lineage—an orthodox immortal sect that possesses the way of proper nature and exalted rites—whose master mysteriously vanished and secretly defected to the north, rectifying nature and quelling licentiousness would fail, while wanton slaughter would lack benevolence. Would that not put them in a dilemma?
"This place lies barely a hundred li from where that lord rose to power, and precisely because of this dilemma, that lord swept across Yue yet bypassed this very spot. What is needed now is a turn of events."
The royal battle-axe hanging inverted at his waist shimmered with radiance as he replied calmly:
"That lord is currently stabilizing the situation, rectifying nature and quelling licentiousness, pursuing Dayu Dao all along the way, abolishing illicit shrines place after place as he pushes north. Dayu Dao will suffer further losses, and that lord likewise cannot spare a hand... We might as well lend him some assistance.
"And avenge our grudge of being driven east to sea."
Li Ximing raised his brows, looking at him in disbelief. He heard the white qilin continue:
"Zhenren Qinghu came asking about a mountain gate, which was clearly intentional. We might as well ask him whether Helin Commandery and the mountains of Changxiao suit his appetite."
The corners of his mouth curved into a faint, mocking smile.
"Though... Granduncle, why not take a guess? Has Zhenren Qinghu truly traveled far? Could he be waiting right nearby in the Great Void?"
The pieces connected in the Daoist's mind. He stood up, listening to the youth's somber voice:
"Our family has no other path left... Granduncle... our hands cannot remain unstained by blood. If we lack the resolve to direct the greater tide, we will only ever be pushed around by it..."
Those white-golden, ring-like eyes continued to gleam. The white qilin smiled faintly, revealing sharp, tightly set teeth.
"You know as well... that lord moved Mingyang to look upon us with favor, and it was never so that this white qilin would reincarnate in vain."
***
Within the stone chamber, spiritual energy hung thick and concentrated. The faint white light from the lampstand spilled across the couch, illuminating an empty, toppled jade bottle beside it. The youth exhaled a breath of white mist and snapped his eyes open.
A magical power vastly different from that of his previous life coursed through his limbs and bones, causing him to raise his brows and savor it carefully.
The *Taixu Douzhuan Art* attained Shenbuxu, an unmistakably Sitian lineage that carried the domineering demeanor of Douxuan's 'I Form the Heavenly Order.' Although his immortal foundation had not yet formed and its full might was not yet apparent, its techniques were already taking shape.
*Condensing the Taixu Douzhuan Art leaves an illusory core within the qi sea. Nourishing it well in ordinary times will provide an extra reserve of magical power during combat... A pity I haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet, so its wonders are limited...*
Li Suining raised his hand gently, a pale silver glow of magical power welling in his palm. Sweeping his arm down, he produced twelve star-adorned array flags with purple backings from his sleeve!
These twelve Changguang Star-Masking Flags converged and scattered in midair, cascading downward with shifting hues. At times they took the shape of rain clouds, scattering thunder; at other times they transformed into iron chains spanning the sky, locking down spiritual energy.
The array flags cycled through thirty-two array formations, layering over one another before returning into his sleeve. Having practiced the formations he was most familiar with from his previous life, Li Suining's eyes shone bright, and he had a clear grasp of his state:
*In my past life, I walked the Sitian path as well, one that aligned closely with thunder. But compared to Douhengxuan, the Shenbuxu of this life is noticeably closer to the path of Profound Thunder!*
*Moreover, it holds far greater spirituality when it comes to sealing, maneuvering, and shifting in response to the Great Void. I fear shifting it might conflict slightly with the Xiuyue path...*
As array masters, their sensitivity to lineages was the keenest among all artisan paths. Li Suining possessed no shallow attainment in the Sitian way, and with Zhenren Yuanbian's *Xuandie Yansuan Jing*, sensing this was not difficult.
All of this was within reason, but what truly brought Li Suining both surprise and delight was something else.
*Judging strictly by the quality of magical power, this Taixu Douzhuan Art... is not the least bit inferior to the Divine Scroll of the Celestial Enclosure and Grand Granary from my past life! It far surpasses the Art of the Golden Seal and Scepter that I cultivated before converting my qi back then!*
An ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator would never be able to discern this. Having cultivated across two lifetimes, however, and personally practiced both techniques, his comprehension was naturally profound. He lowered his head in deep thought, his heart swelling with joy.
"Though the Taixu Douzhuan Art lacks subsequent paths, its quality is truly exceptional..."
This was undeniably wonderful news. He no longer harbored thoughts of striving for the Violet Palace, but the more brilliantly he performed during Foundation Establishment, the more valued he would be. The greater his ability, the more he could change!
Beaming, he swept his gaze across the immortal cave, packed away his miscellaneous items, swept open the stone door with a flick of his sleeve, and stepped out with composed strides. Piercing sunlight instantly poured over him, prompting him to ponder silently:
*Dayu Dao descended from the wilderness. I wonder if the Zhenren was injured, and how things stand now... Injuries at the Violet Palace level are always guarded secrets; one cannot ask about them, nor could one find out even if one tried...*
He raised his brows and noticed a white-haired old man sitting cross-legged outside the immortal cave—Du Dou, who had been dispatched by the family to serve him.
Seeing Li Suining emerge, Du Dou was overjoyed. He rose to offer congratulations, but the youth smiled, waved him off, and pressed him about family affairs with little interest in celebrating:
"How long have I been in seclusion?"
Du Dou bowed hastily. "Reporting to the Young Master, it has only been six months."
Li Suining's thoughts stirred.
He was, after all, a cultivator of two lifetimes; the path was familiar, and success had followed naturally. Between consuming elixirs, perfecting the six turns of Embryonic Breathing, and regulating his breath, he had spent very little time. He breathed a sigh of relief:
*It is still early. Perhaps Emperor Song has only just reached the wilderness... and that karmic fire hasn't wrought too much slaughter yet... But the omens are already surfacing; grand chaos is about to erupt...*
The founding of the Great Song and the cleansing of the Yue lands had involved more than just a few divine ability clashes. It was merely that without catastrophic losses, few paid close attention. In his past life, he had been in seclusion and lacked deep understanding of it. Now, reflecting on it carefully, he pondered:
*A single campaign subdued all four directions. Chijiao Island and Changxiao Gate were both battered severely. Our family guarded the northern front, and Changxiao Gate's holdings on the mainland were even shattered by the Chen family. After all... a certificate of allegiance was needed, and the enmity between the Chen family and Changxiao was so deep to begin with...*
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his heart growing heavy.
*There was also Zhenren Hansui, whom Changxiaozi had stationed in Zhulu for many years. The mainland holdings were merely a burden, and in the end, it only served to pour oil on the flames...*
Pondering this, Li Suining descended between the buildings and soon reached the foot of a pavilion. Just as he was about to head up, he looked closely and realized the master was not present. He turned to ask:
"Strange... Is the Old Master on the islet?"
"This subordinate does not know..."
Given Du Dou's humble status, asking him for such information was indeed asking too much. Li Suining instructed:
"Elder Du, now that I have completed my breakthrough, I ought to report to the Old Master. Go make some inquiries for me and ask when he might be free so I can pay him a visit!"
Du Dou hastily departed. Having sent him away, Li Suining searched across the islet on his own, soon arriving at a tranquil, secluded spot. The fragrant grass grew lush, a waterfall roared, and the ringing of a sword rose anew. As Li Suining made his way inward, he felt a sharp, cutting aura rush toward him. Terrified of being accidentally nicked, he called out hurriedly:
"Younger Uncle! Suining is here!"
A sudden clamor of metallic clangs erupted. The sword qi darting like moonlight above the waterfall cascaded downward, converging toward the center of the lake like a torrential downpour to form a moonlit, shimmering dharma sword that fell into the hand of a youth clad in white.
*Clang!*
The long sword sheathed. Li Jiangchun raised his brows in mild surprise and looked at him with a smile, answering:
"Congratulations, Suining!"
Li Suining took a step back, bowed, and chuckled. "Younger Uncle, what splendid swordsmanship!"
The white-robed man descended upon the wind, coming to a halt before him with an amused shake of his head. "Come..."
Just as the two sat down before the stone table beside the lake, Li Jiangchun suddenly raised his head, watching the streaks of light flashing across the sky one after another, and frowned:
"Strange... Why are troop movements so frequent today..."
Sharp as he was, Li Suining lifted his gaze, his heart skipping a beat as a chill rushed through him. Just as he moved to stand, an apricot-red flame descended from the sky, blazing brilliantly as it landed beside the lake!
As the fire struck the earth, a scorching heat surged against their faces, forcing Li Suining's eyes shut. The Lihuo condensed and manifested, resolving into a young man in crimson robes.
This man possessed striking features and a tall, slender build. His eyes were steeped in heavy, icy malice, his golden gaze piercingly bright. Merely standing there, his peak Foundation Establishment aura calmed the entire small lake, and the oppressive weight of Lihuo spread outward.
Li Suining was momentarily stunned, caught off guard:
*Zhenren Changli?!*
A split second later, he came to his senses: the Li Jiangqian before him was still at Foundation Establishment!
*Something has happened!*
Sure enough, Li Jiangchun instantly recognized the gravity of the situation. He stood up and asked in bewilderment:
"Elder Brother?!"
A flicker of tension and suspicion showed in Li Jiangqian's eyes. He swept his gaze over the two of them and said in a low voice:
"No time to explain. Follow me into the inner array immediately!"
Without hesitation, Li Jiangchun took Li Suining and rose on the wind. The three of them stepped onto the Lihuo and shot away in an instant. The gold-eyed man's lips curled slightly, and he spoke in a low rumble:
"Today, Father is leading men south off the lake to settle the grudge with Changxiao! The Zhenren remains on the lake, having issued a strict order forbidding movement across the islets, and all direct descendants are to enter the array."
His gaze turned venomous, his tone dripping with thick murderous intent:
"Changxiao Gate plotted in the shadows—they drove away the Zhenren, hounded Granduncle to his death, and forced Father to brandish his sword in self-preservation. Today... we avenge the grudge of that pursuit upon the river!"
This earth-shattering news detonated in Li Suining's ears like thunder. Lowering his gaze, the vague conjecture in his heart was instantly confirmed, and a chill struck him to the core:
*It's bad... it's terrible... whatever I dreaded would happen has come to pass!*
*Indeed, affecting the combat power of the Violet Palace level was bound to cause ripples... It happened early... The Zhenren escaping from the Western Sea caused Changxiao's destruction to happen ahead of schedule... Not only early... but... it is our family making the strike! It's actually our family taking action!!*
Chapter 1003