Chi Zhiyun saw Duanmu Kui cupping his hands toward the clouds with a deeply respectful expression, yet no one was visible among them. Bewildered and suspicious, he hesitated for a moment before turning to Chi Wei and asking:
"Ancestor, what is this...? Could a Golden Core cultivator from another nation have arrived?"
"Not so."
Chi Wei shook his head. Circulating his divine ability, he cast a glance at the two indistinct figures in the clouds. His gaze flicked over them lightly, not daring to linger, before he turned his head to explain:
"The key to breaking through from the Purple Mansion to the Golden Core lies in forging that indestructible spark of gold nature, and then using that gold nature to catalyze one's divine abilities to attain the Golden Core. Duanmu Kui is skilled in shamanic arts; even if he fails to achieve the Golden Core, he can still forge the gold nature. Those two are overseers of Yin, stationed to prevent that spark of gold nature from coalescing into some monster should Duanmu Kui's breakthrough fail and his soul flee."
Chi Zhiyun had read the classics within the sect and naturally knew that the 'gold nature' of the Golden Core was not the metal of the Five Elements, but rather carried the meaning of gold's imperishability. Utterly puzzled, he asked in wonder:
"There are actually such benevolent people?"
"They have no choice, that is all."
Chi Wei sighed and whispered:
"You youngsters are too young to know how many famous mountains and spiritual veins were severed during the ancient strife between immortals and devils, or how many mighty figures at the Golden Core realm or beyond perished. Those people had all attained the gold nature, and they turned into all kinds of wicked abominations... Tormenting the living was merely secondary; what truly mattered was that these abominations occupied a spark of gold nature for nothing... Naturally, others coveted it.
"Thus, an immortal founded an upper sect to capture those monsters, dedicating themselves exclusively to this duty... Today, it is one of the few upper sects that has not secluded itself from the world, and it has always remained shrouded in mystery."
While Chi Wei was speaking, Duanmu Kui's five divine abilities had already merged into a single multi-colored radiance in midair, spewing forth waves of invisible fire. At the sight, the gathered Purple Mansion cultivators grew wary and stepped back several paces. Duanmu Kui, meanwhile, drove his divine abilities, repeatedly tempering them within that invisible fire.
"Duanmu Kui is walking the path of harmonizing water and fire, which is rather rare these days. He once received arts bestowed by an immortal, so he has greater certainty using these ancient arts."
Chi Zhiyun could not fully understand, yet he stared entranced at the multi-colored light of the divine abilities. Chi Wei nodded thoughtfully, watching with rapt attention.
In the lands of Wu and Yue, no one had attained the Golden Core for several hundred years. The few methods for attaining the Golden Core passed down through the ages had claimed the lives of countless Purple Mansion cultivators who practiced them. Consequently, the various Purple Mansion figures had made a pact: whenever someone attempted a breakthrough, they would invite juniors to witness the ceremony, benefiting one another in hopes of uncovering that elusive path to success.
While everyone watched with undivided focus, one of the two figures in the clouds shook their head and whispered in a shrill, thin voice:
"With his destiny divine ability being 'Huaiyin Ghost,' he should not have cultivated 'Fool Driving the Mountain'; it ought to have been 'Fit for Emperors and Kings.'"
"Indeed. This Duanmu Kui most likely has no hope left. Prepare to act."
The two conversed above, yet not a single person below could hear them. The invisible fire in the air burned ever more vigorously, using the divine abilities as fuel, faintly condensing into a brilliant point of light. The Purple Mansion cultivators widened their eyes, gazing enviously at that spiritual radiance. Duanmu Kui thrust his palms outward, and sun essence and moon essence surged forward in a torrent, crashing into the spiritual light.
Above the spiritual radiance, a phantom dewdrop gradually emerged, luminous and glistening. It shed a few drops downward, causing the spiritual light to shine even brighter, but then the dew abruptly ceased, remaining utterly still. After the span of an incense stick, the five divine abilities were completely consumed, and not another drop fell.
"Ah..."
Chi Zhiyun looked on, uncomprehending, but Chi Wei had already lowered his head in disappointment. The gathered Purple Mansion cultivators exchanged uneasy glances, staring at Duanmu Kui with pounding hearts.
Duanmu Kui froze. Then, inhaling like a leviathan taking in the seas, he swallowed that point of spiritual light in a single gulp. His expression shifted through a flurry of emotions before he laughed aloud. His voice abruptly turned shrill and high-pitched, laden with pure delight and vindication:
"I have succeeded!"
Chi Zhiyun looked up. Faint fissures and lines were surfacing across Duanmu Kui's face, making him look terrifyingly like a shattered porcelain doll as he stood laughing hysterically. Seeing this, Chi Wei was horrified. Grabbing Chi Zhiyun, he retreated several li.
"Go!"
Without even exchanging a word of parting, the Purple Mansion cultivators fled into the distance in tacit agreement, not once looking back. In the sky, the two figures emerged. One of them shouted in a shrill, sinister voice:
"Duanmu Kui!"
Duanmu Kui was completely oblivious. He rubbed and clawed at his own face, peeling away ragged shreds of skin in a ghastly display. The spiritual glow of his magical arts vanished from his body, replaced by rising wisps of eerie, spectral light.
"Duanmu Kui!"
The person shouted three times in succession before exchanging a glance with their companion. Letting out a low sigh, they demanded:
"Who are you?!"
Only then did Duanmu Kui lift his head. The skin of his face had been shredded into ragged tatters by his own hands, exposing the stark white bone beneath. He chuckled sinisterly and shrieked:
"I am—"
"'Huaiyin Ghost'!"
* * *
Li Tongya sat upright in the cold secret chamber, holding a warm, smooth jade in his hand. Over the past few days, he had been presiding over Mulu City, waiting to return home once order was restored. His spiritual sense swept past several locations from time to time, keeping watch against troublemakers.
From plundering all of Eastern Shanyue, the Li family had obtained three treasures at the Qi Refinement level. One was the jade in his hand, which possessed the effect of settling qi, calming the mind, and accelerating cultivation. Since it was effective even for Qi Refinement cultivators, it had been delivered into Li Tongya's hands right away.
The other two items were a long saber and a small shield, both at the Qi Refinement level. Li Tongya had given them to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng respectively, providing Li Xuanxuan with a Qi Refinement-grade magical artifact to use.
"Setting aside the spirit fields and manpower of Eastern Shanyue, the spiritual items and magical artifacts accumulated over the years are quite substantial, bringing immense delight to the family juniors."
Li Tongya submerged his spiritual sense into his sea of qi. His ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivation gathered within his sea of qi acupoint like misty white vapors, beneath which lay a tranquil great lake formed entirely of condensed true essence. Bolstered by the Vast Ocean Leviathan talisman and the River Unity Qi Formula, it was boundlessly vast, resembling great rivers and oceans.
Li Tongya did not yet show signs of forming an immortal foundation. He had read the River Unity Qi Formula back and forth more than a dozen times, committing every key point to heart, and estimated he would still need roughly ten years. He was concentrating on his cultivation when a voice suddenly detonated in his ears.
"I am—'Huaiyin Ghost'!"
Li Tongya had been engrossed in cultivation, so the shrill screech exploding in his ears forcibly shook him from his state of inner contemplation. His face turned pallid, and he exhaled a breath of stagnant qi. Utterly shocked, he thought:
Who is that?!
Adjusting his breathing slightly, Li Tongya pushed open the stone door and rose into the air. He saw several Qi Refinement juniors of the Li family riding the wind with grim expressions. Chen Donghe, Li Xuanfeng, and the others stood together aloft, gazing westward in silence.
Li Tongya looked into the distance. In the west, dark clouds were already massing densely and thunder roared as vast, brilliant flashes of dharmic power flared continuously with booming detonations. Li Tongya's heart sank, and he murmured:
"It came so quickly. Most likely, that Shanyue Purple Mansion cultivator is breaking through to the Golden Core. Though whether this phenomenon means success or failure, I cannot say..."
Riding the wind, Li Xuanfeng arrived at his side with a grave expression, the Jin Geng longbow behind him glittering in the sunlight. Cupping his hands toward Li Tongya, he said softly:
"Counting the days, it should be the Shanyue Purple Mansion cultivator breaking through to the Golden Core. Yet for some reason, looking at this spectacle, it seems people are fighting high above..."
"Indeed. Mount Wu will soon disperse, and the Shanyue lands will all fall into the hands of the Qingchi Sect."
Li Tongya paused, then murmured:
"As for why there is fighting, perhaps some enemy came seeking vengeance against that Shanyue Purple Mansion cultivator. Such things are hardly rare. Purple Mansion masters stand high above; it is not our place to fret over them. But this news must be reported to the Xiao family...
"Donghe, ride the wind toward the commandery and inform the Xiao family."
"Understood."
Chen Donghe nodded gently and took to the wind, heading east along Guli Road. Li Xuanxuan descended nearby and nodded upon hearing this, a look of worry in his eyes as he replied:
"According to word from the Xiao family, these Shanyue lands will be carved up among the various Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivators who surrendered to the Qingchi Sect. It is just that we do not know which Shanyue Foundation Establishment master will become our neighbor, and the situation on the lake will change once more..."
Chapter 187