Li Suining's heart sank, yet wary of Li Jiangqian's keen mind and chilling depth, he dared not reveal too much on his face, showing only a mix of surprise and delight. Beside him, the white-robed swordsman reined in his smile and said in an undertone, "How is it I had heard nothing of this... To think it even disturbed Eldest Brother enough to bring you out of seclusion."
Li Jiangqian gathered his sleeves and nodded slightly. "For an affair of such magnitude, naturally."
Li Jiangchun understood at once. He stepped aside, gesturing for Li Suining to step forward, and introduced him: "Brother, this is Suining, a rare talent in array dao born to our family. The Zhenren met him in person, and he was able to exchange for a cultivation method and an orthodox lineage."
The crimson-robed man smiled slightly at that and replied, "I have been in secluded cultivation for a long time. I had no idea our family had produced such a genius. Today, I am glad to finally meet you."
Li Suining kept the look of pleasure in his eyes, respectfully answering and paying his respects before tentatively offering a worried inquiry: "Only, the karmic fire blazed fiercely across the wilderness days ago, and a great battle between Violet Palaces unfolded over the lake. I wonder if it has disrupted this grand affair..."
Li Jiangqian waved a hand dismissively. "No matter. Merely a couple of Lianmin futilely losing their lives at the Zhenren's hands, nothing more."
At these words, Li Suining immediately nodded in admiration, hoping Li Jiangqian would say more, and refrained from interjecting much.
Only then did he hear Li Jiangqian narrow his eyes and say: "The matter is urgent. The cultivators on the lake have been mobilized, leaving it emptied out. I was called out by the Zhenren merely to defend the lake... As for whether it is abrupt... not really. Father has only just returned from Simin."
These words were rather veiled. Li Jiangchun naturally understood them, but the extraordinary Li Suining beside them understood them just as clearly.
*The King of Wei... so he went to Simin.*
The movements of a Violet Palace were secretive. Back then, he had merely been a petty Embryonic Breathing cultivator, so it was only normal that he had not known. As he turned the thought over carefully in his mind, he suddenly noticed golden light rising along the horizon.
The golden light was as massive as a palace, yet slender and magnificent. Multi-tiered pavilions spread across its deck, densely packed with white-armored soldiers and steeds—it was an enormous, pale-gold vessel!
The Quhe Grand Vessel!
This Dharma boat was the Li family's earliest flying vessel, once forged by He Jiumen of the west bank. Back then, the family's artifact-forging methods were not yet mature, so the grand vessel could not freely change in size. Yet fortune and misfortune were intertwined; since there was no need to consider size transformation, subsequent modifications simply made it larger and larger. Normally it lay submerged at the bottom of the lake, known to few.
Now flying at full tilt, it surged through the sky like a towering palace terrace. Billowing currents of air parted before it as countless dense beams of escaping light clustered alongside it, in numbers beyond reckoning, swarming about the great vessel. Rising high into the heavens, its formations activated, concealing it into nothingness as it headed toward the east.
*The Jade Court Guard has departed...*
Li Suining's pupils reflected the dense streaks of light falling like a shower of stars, and he could not help but show a hint of pride in his gaze.
*The Jade Court Guard... the predecessor to the twenty-one divisions of Tingzhou and the Zhaoguang Soldiers of the King of Wei. Now they are about to make their very first move, to let Wu and Yue hear the renown of our Jade Court Guard...*
Li Suining could state without reservation that with the fall of the court of the State of Zhao, those in the world willing to spend a century governing a single guard, willing to maintain an orderly succession to sustain an orthodox military court for a hundred years, could be counted on one's fingers. Even the few houses on the northern desert that waged frequent warfare still retained the chaotic, unruly ways of tribal clans; when it came to strict discipline and executing orders to the letter, they were completely inferior to their own Jade Court Guard!
This was a surprise attack, and those setting forth were the elites of the Jade Court Guard. Once the King of Wei established his state and these elites raised a host of troops, the only forces that could compare with them would be the soldiers of the two kings of Beidai and Bolie. Once they galloped across battlefields for a decade or two and tasted blood, even the northern kings' soldiers would have to yield the path!
*Now that Guest Elder Ding has not died, in the future let the Dianyang Tiger and Xuanbin Thunder serve as vanguard generals while Third Uncle commands the battle formations... Humph, even the State of Yan will have a headache.*
He watched the vessel disappear into the far sky, while from the lakeshore two smaller silver-white boats pierced the air, trailing closely behind. They were not nearly as enormous; both had been obtained later from Zhuoshaling. They could freely expand and shrink and were of considerable quality, but could not carry many men, serving merely in an auxiliary capacity.
As the endless glimmering lights finally faded from view, he could only retract his gaze and follow Li Jiangqian down toward the inner array, where the grand hall beneath a purple-gold barrier came into view.
Here, purple light rose and dipped in riotous colors, and the earth beneath their feet took on a solid brownish-gold hue. Li Suining had spent much of his past life cultivating here, and a surge of familiarity welled up within him.
*The architecture is largely identical... In fact, most of it is already built by now...*
The three stood in the highest hall, only to discover a person pacing anxiously before the hall. He wore simple garments and bore a rather gentle, honest face. Seeing Li Jiangqian arrive, he drew a letter from his sleeve.
He looked around, saw that everyone present was qualified to enter the inner array, bowed, and said plainly, "This subordinate has brought a letter from Qunyi!"
Li Jiangqian took the letter from his hands and listened as An Siwei said with considerable unease: "It is Zhenren Yuanbian... Word came that Shengbai Dao intervened in the matters of Poluoduo, pursuing them all the way from the West Sea to the State of Shuopo, wounding Demon King Fuxun, the Great King of Shuopo, and nearly slaying Demon King Qingyan..."
"Fortunately, the demon kings of Poluoduo felt threatened, and in the uproar most of the demon kings joined forces, driving back the Shengbai cultivators... But... it all happened so suddenly. Demon King Qingyan held out for several months, yet his injuries have grown heavier, and Demon King Fuxun wishes to invite Zhenren Yuanbian to go there!"
Li Jiangqian's expression shifted slightly. He examined the letter carefully, tapped it against his palm, and sneered with a raised brow: "What convenient timing!"
This was clearly not good news. The greatest reliance allowing the Li family to leave Lulai Island of the reef islands unattended was Zhenren Yuanbian, who was stationed there year-round. Even if Zhenren Yuanbian departed, Lulai Island might not necessarily suffer a mishap, but its safety would undoubtedly be severely compromised...
With a dark expression, Li Jiangqian asked, "What were Zhenren Yuanbian's instructions, and how long ago was this?"
An Siwei looked somewhat embarrassed and answered respectfully, "This letter was written at the time of the event. It was first received by the island-patrolling cultivators, then forwarded to the Zhenren. I read it midway and rushed back home immediately. At that time, we had not yet located the Zhenren's whereabouts, so we had not heard what Zhenren Yuanbian intended... Qunyi is simply too far. Although the Zhenren usually does not stay away for long, a second letter should still be on its way..."
Li Jiangqian paced two steps, turning it over in his mind: *Poluoduo... Shengbai Dao... This letter was definitely written before our family made our move... What kind of scheme is this...*
He raised his brows and asked, "What did the Zhenren say?"
An Siwei hurriedly said, "It has already been reported. The Zhenren... said that as for Qunyi... there is no rush."
Li Jiangqian paced with his hands behind his back, understanding just how resolute the two Violet Palaces were—beneath the Qunyi islands lay a Violet Palace grand array. The moment Zhenren Yuanbian left, Li Quewan would surely lead everyone to take refuge inside the array ahead of time. Once the array was sealed shut, so long as the people survived, they could not afford to care about other losses...
He waved a hand to dismiss An Siwei. Several more cultivators entered the array to deliver reports, their low voices echoing in the hall. Standing in wait at the side, Li Suining saw everything with complete clarity in his mind.
*Shengbai Dao intervened in the matters of Poluoduo, pursuing them all the way from the West Sea to the State of Shuopo... If the Zhenren had been in the West Sea, he would be trapped in this affair right now!*
*In such a great battle, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that the Zhenren was wounded in my past life, which was why after returning to the lake, he did not emerge for a long time... spending all his time healing within the lake... Thus, neither Zhenren could easily shift positions!*
That Emperor of Song, Yang Zhuo, intended to march north, while the forces of Dayu Dao had yet to withdraw. Not only was the north watching covetously, but it was said that in the wilderness right now, Mahā Daixi stood guard. That old bastard had always been their family's enemy... How could he simply sit by and watch without making a move?
Once they became bogged down against Changxiao Gate's Violet Palace and its grand array, who knew what turmoil might break out over the lake? If, as in his previous life, the Zhenren had suffered severe injuries or had not even returned in time, the moment Dayu made a move, the situation would take a disastrous turn...
*That was why... in my past life, even when a suitable opportunity arose, the King of Wei could only keep his troops in place on the lake... Now the Zhenren is safe and sound, capable of deterring Daixi. Furthermore, with that Master of Karmic Fire nowhere to be seen and Dayu Dao's Liangli not yet arrived, coordinated with the array, he can hold off the vast majority of Dayu Dao's fighting strength...*
After all, Dayu Dao's strength was ultimately a notch below Cibei's, and neither Mahā nor Liangli were permitted to march south. Compared to the raging momentum when Cibei attacked, Dayu Dao's current moves were truly petty skirmishes.
He sorted through it in his mind and calmed himself, realizing that the trajectory of events was not bad at all:
*Changxiao Gate is a burden now, and that Great Zhenren will definitely not show himself. If we can swallow this foremost among the seven sects, the Foundation Establishment and Qi Nourishment cultivation resources obtained will certainly amount to an enormous fortune...*
Standing to the side, Li Suining looked at Li Jiangqian's slender back at the head of the hall. His mind steadied minute by minute, and a sense of security finally settled over him. Taking a step back, he even began to harbor a measure of anticipation.
...
Helin Commandery.
The Helin Mountain Range was a renowned range. Although its spiritual energy was not abundant, its virtue lay in its vastness and depth, with layered crags and overlapping peaks standing beside an expansive plain, facing the Quanwu Mountain Range to the east across the distance, and contributing the vast majority of the State of Yue's low-grade spiritual resources.
Between these two mountain ranges lay a wide plain. Bordering Xunlin to the north and Tongmo to the west, it stretched across boundless fertile fields and contained two commanderies: one named Helin, and the other Cangwu.
Helin Commandery lay directly beneath the Helin Mountain Range. It possessed a long history. Backed by mountain forests that harbored very few demonic beasts, and situated in the heartland, it suffered little disturbance. The market town within the commandery was extremely large, established right beside the sect gate.
At this moment, the market town was ablaze with lamplight. In the center stood an elevated terrace, grand and spectacular, densely inscribed with array patterns. The uppermost pavilion was magnificent; music swelled, decadent tunes drifted in all directions, and singing and dancing courtesans moved among the banquet tables, offering ingratiating smiles and pouring wine.
Behind the main counter on the high terrace sat a Daoist priest. He was fair-skinned and clean-shaven save for two black whiskers that lent him a shrewd air. With his legs crossed, he swayed his head to and fro in supreme ease. That fair hand swayed gently left and right to the tempo of the music, yet not a single drop of wine spilled.
After a while, fawning laughter rang out. An old man holding a cup came forward and knelt below his seat, raising the wine cup above his head, saying with deep deference: "Master Zhuang! That this humble one could keep this dog's life of mine... is all thanks to your lordship... I beg you to honor me with a drink!"
Master Zhuang above showed little expression. Glancing sidelong at him, he said lazily: "Back then... Situ Mo came to the Helin Mountain Range and left you old thing behind to maintain contact so he could sell out the Situ family's overseas interests for his own gain... Who would have thought that in the end, it spared your wretched life."
The old man hastened to kowtow, saying mournfully, "True... too true... It is only a pity that over the lake..."
These words caused Master Zhuang's face to change slightly. His leg whipped out, kicking viciously into the old man's chin. The blow launched the old man into the air, flipping him once before he crashed to the ground with a thud, coughing up blood.
*Damn it all! If you don't care about your life, your grandpa here still wants his!*
He naturally knew what the man meant; in fact, it was precisely because he valued this very aspect that he had saved him in the first place.
Changxiao Gate had originally been founded as an orthodox sect. Changxiao's lineage was authentic and upright, founded upon True Qi, Purple Qi, and Cold Qi, complemented by Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang. Its roots were impeccably righteous. Furthermore, the Great Zhenren had personally passed down an orthodox path of Douxuan, kept strictly secret and never taught outside, which was extraordinarily potent.
Yet in such an orthodox sect, the atmosphere had grown increasingly bizarre over the past ten-odd years. The founding patriarch of Changxiao Gate, the Great Zhenren Changxiao, had been missing for many years, and Zhenren Chengyan had been guarding the sect in his stead.
Yet the scandal surrounding Zhenren Chengyan had caused such a stir that even outsiders knew of it, let alone Changxiao Gate's own members... During the years of Changxiao's absence, that Zhenren's madam gradually began reaching out her hands and meddling everywhere, while Chengyan doted on her without restraint... From its very roots, the sect was no longer the tranquil haven it once was.
As for the sect leader, Baibinzi, that old cultivator had actually taken part in the siege to kill the White Lin back then! When the White Lin attained the Violet Palace during his tenure, half out of jealousy and half out of terror, Baibinzi had relentlessly promoted enemies of the Li clan. The reason Daoist Zhuang had been able to return from overseas and take charge of such a large market town was precisely because he, too, had been a participant that day!
In contrast to Baibinzi, after those first few months of terror, Daoist Zhuang had gradually settled his nerves. Inquiring far and wide, he learned that mortal ties were severed upon reaching the Violet Palace. Since he had not been killed on the day the man broke through, and since he had a magnificent Great Zhenren backing him, he would most likely remain unharmed unless he personally blundered into the man's hands.
Thus, he had squatted in the market town, watching coldly and waiting for the day when chaos broke out between the lake and the Buddhist cultivators. Beneath him, he gathered people at odds with the Li clan—remnants of the Song family, elderly cultivators from the Situ clan—sending them into the sect without pause.
*If the sect is filled with their enemies, that's far better than me facing them alone! If the Great Zhenren ever decides to make a move, there will be more accomplices on our side!*
With Chengyan in seclusion and these people striving day after day, it would be a miracle if Changxiao Gate's atmosphere were good. Though they cultivated a glorious, orthodox path, it had long lost the enlightened, inclusive ethos and dedicated master-disciple traditions of a century ago!
Yet did he, Daoist Zhuang, care? Those who truly cared about Changxiao Gate had been burned to ashes and slaughtered by the White Qilin above the Salt Lake that day, white cranes plunging to the earth without even complete corpses left behind!
He was smiling faintly when suddenly he felt something. Jerking his head down, he noticed the silver array scripts beneath his seat beginning to glow faintly. Raising an eyebrow, he crossed his legs and propped them on the table, reclining lazily against the high main seat, and said casually: "Which merchant caravan is flying so high again? Fine them heavily!"
"Oh my!"
From the other side, a white-robed cultivator rushed forward. His face was flushed crimson, clearly heavily intoxicated, his movements already lacking decorum. Circulating his Dharmic power to influence the grand array, he held a jug of wine in hand and apologized profusely: "My apologies... my apologies! At this hour, it should be the batch of Baixin fruit this humble one is responsible for arriving... This humble one shall open the array for inspection personally. To have disturbed you lords... please treat it as admiring the view... This humble one will drink a penalty cup... no, three cups!"
Red-faced, he forced an apologetic smile while pressing his hand to the array plate. As his Dharmic power circulated, the luxurious, magnificent eaves of purple and azure above their heads gradually faded. Wisps of mysterious Qi condensed among the eaves, dispelling every obstruction until the view of the sky outside the great hall was laid bare.
The people within the pavilion raised their heads one after another to admire the night sky. The disdainful sneer was still frozen on Daoist Zhuang's face, but the pupils turned toward the heavens dilated in a single instant, reflecting the colossal golden vessel spanning the night sky, its layered and towering shipborne pavilions, and beam after beam of escaping light blanketing the firmament.
This terrifying spectacle was suspended motionless against the night sky. Countless gazes looked down from above, regarding them with coldness or contempt, looking as though they had already been waiting for a long time.
The banquet fell silent in an instant, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. Every mind was reduced to a blank void. Yet right then, a jarring laugh broke the silence: "My mistake... my mistake... This humble one apologizes... Can this humble one just apologize..."
The cultivator who had stepped forward was thoroughly drunk. Without even raising his head, he drank on his own, muttering to himself, until finally overcome by the liquor, he collapsed limp onto his knees and fell backward. The bronze kettle in his hand crashed to the floor with a clatter, splashing wine all over the ground.
The petrified crowd continued to stare into the sky.
Streaks of immortal light clustered in attendance—figures clad in feather robes or donned in scaled armor, glittering in varied hues like heavenly soldiers, standing near and far in jagged ranks. Flanking the pavilion aboard that colossal immortal vessel, they stood in respectful attendance. Every gaze rested upon the pavilion terrace, locked upon the face of the young man casually leaning against the dark-hued, violet-gold balustrade.
A pair of icy golden eyes.
A pair of golden eyes whose pupils were rings of white-gold.
Chapter 1004