Murong Xia descended casually onto the mountainside and plopped down onto a wooden chair to the side. Gazing at everyone with a beaming smile, his eyes lingered for a moment on Li Qinghong’s face before he answered, “My Murong family practices the orthodox demonic path... It has existed since ancient times. Cultivating by nurturing a Hedonistic Human Head within one’s belly makes one a demonic cultivator of the purest pedigree. Even if cultivators of the Maha Dharma Aspect came, they would find nothing to condemn.”
He paused. Seeing Li Qinghong shake her head, he lowered his voice. “You all know the state of this world. Purple Mansion and Golden Core masters herd and consume the commoners like livestock, while the Maha Dharma Aspect spins endlessly in rebirth and reincarnation. A mortal’s lifetime is nothing but suffering, worse than death itself... Far better to be devoured by me...”
Li Qinghong sneered, saying unceremoniously, “It is precisely because people like you run around eating humans that mortals suffer a fate worse than death! It is not that their lives are worse than death, so they might as well be eaten by you. Fellow Daoist, you invert right and wrong and turn cause and effect on their heads. Do you not feel you are deceiving yourself?”
Murong Xia raised his brows and spoke with solemn gravity. “Not so, not so. Cultivating the demonic path is meant to deliver all living beings under heaven. The very reason my Murong family cannot consume humans without first completing the Hedonistic Human Head is precisely this.”
He paused, looking at the crowd with unruffled composure. “Within this human head of mine lies a Hedonistic Realm. Fine wines, exquisite delicacies, silken robes, and boundless wealth—everything one could ever desire is found within. Men and women roam free in unfettered revelry, knowing neither the agony of mortal bonds and mortality nor the torment of strife. Boundless pleasure and karmic fortune are all encompassed there.
“As long as one is eaten by me, one may enter this realm, casting aside mortal flesh forever to become immortals and forebears in spirit. So long as I, Murong Xia, cultivate for a single day, they shall have endless delight and pleasure to enjoy. Is that not joyful?”
His words fell like a heavy boulder into a lake, startling everyone into exchanging glances. Li Qinghong froze slightly, struck momentarily speechless. Murong Xia let out a long sigh and shook his head.
“We of the demonic sects are benevolent and harbor a love for virtue. Whenever our demonic cultivators clash, the victor will always gather the souls won and take them into their respective realms to enjoy everlasting pleasure. If everyone under heaven practiced our demonic path, only the cultivators would endure hardship, while mortals would enjoy eternal bliss. This world would become a sacred land of perpetual joy!”
Murong Xia wore an expression of compassionate pity, and faint rays of colorful light even seemed to shimmer behind his head. Li Yuanjiao merely frowned and spoke up.
“That is nothing more than your own one-sided claim. Who knows whether you truly took their souls or simply devoured them? If this were truly an act of great virtue, why would your demonic path be so bloody and repulsive, despised by all under heaven?”
Murong Xia gave a hearty laugh and lightly waved his hand. From within his belly came the whistling of wind, the decadent strains of flutes and strings, and the cheerful laughter of men, women, the old, and the young. Before the onlookers, a pale green demonic wraith materialized. It bowed respectfully and answered, “This humble one was a townsman beneath Mount Yuting named Cao Yangxuan. Greetings to the immortal masters.”
Li Yuanjiao and the others all froze. The mayor of the town beneath Mount Yuting was Li Yuanjiao’s half-brother by a concubine. Attending nearby, he stepped forward, exchanged a few quiet words with the wraith, and turned back in utter shock. “To the family head: I knew this man as well. His voice, appearance, and manner are identical to when he was alive.”
Murong Xia burst into laughter. Yet the wraith fell to its knees with a thud and cried out, “We are deeply grateful for the family’s immense kindness, which cannot be repaid in ten lifetimes. Now that I have received the master’s deliverance and passed on to the realm of ultimate bliss, I have only one request to beg of you...”
Li Yuanjiao’s eyelid twitched, and an ominous premonition stirred in his heart. He said, “Speak.”
The wraith bowed deferentially and replied, “At the village entrance lives an old farmer named Cao Ye, who is my father. My father and I lived a bitter, impoverished life. Now that I have attained this tremendous fortune, I beg the family head to summon my father, wash his body thoroughly, bathe him in incense, and let the master consume him as well. That way, our family may be reunited in ultimate bliss and share this eternal fortune together...”
“Absurd!”
Before Li Yuanjiao could even react, Li Qinghong could no longer bear to listen. Knitting her willow brows, she spat a bolt of lightning from her lips, forcefully disrupting the spell. The lesser wraith was merely a lingering spirit to begin with; the lightning obliterated evil and banished corruption, instantly scattering it to the winds.
Murong Xia flew into a rage and barked, “What a cruel woman! What a vicious heart!”
Watching the soul dissipate, Li Qinghong felt a faint pang of guilt, yet her brows rose without the slightest apology. “Directing an entire lifetime of cultivation toward utter vacuity—what realm of bliss, what dreamscape? It is all pure delusion.”
“Delusion?” Murong Xia sneered. “And just who gave you the right to decide for others? Go ask the commoners and peasants whether they would rather struggle bitterly in the mortal world or enter my illusory Hedonistic Human Head!”
Turning away from Li Qinghong, he looked toward Li Yuanjiao. “As for the family head saying my demonic path is bloody and repulsive, that is because our utmost goodness and beauty are preserved within the belly, while we bear the hideous and terrifying exterior upon our own bodies! The senior of my family sat and debated the Dao alongside cultivators of the Maha Dharma Aspect; he is no wicked heretic.”
Murong Xia’s voice boomed through the courtyard, his teeth clenched. “If you ask this old Daoist, it is you cultivators of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core path who are truly selfish! On the surface, your robes flutter with ethereal poise and celestial grace, yet you seek only your personal transcendence while regarding all living beings as mere ants. That is the true demonic path! We may be ugly in appearance and outrageous in conduct, but inside, we are the true immortal cultivators!”
“Ha!”
Li Qinghong was infuriated to the point of laughter. The corpses of the one hundred and fifteen people from those households were not even cold yet; severed limbs and blood still lay scattered through the town, staining the ground scarlet. For this demonic cultivator to turn around and reprimand them instead was beyond contempt. She said coldly, “Those walking different paths cannot make plans together!”
The old Daoist shook his head and patted his belly with a smirk. “Either you and I have a fight, or you let me walk away. Family Head, you had best think it through!”
Tension mounted instantly within the courtyard. Li Yuanjiao quietly caressed his sword hilt, silently listening for something. After a moment, he exhaled a long breath and waved his hand. “Fellow Daoist may leave. In the future, do not come to my clan’s territory to consume people. Should there be a next time, I fear it will not be so easy to get away.”
“Many thanks, Family Head.”
Murong Xia cupped his hands, strode out of the courtyard, and rode the wind away. Tian Youdao and the others read the brother and sister’s expressions and tactfully withdrew. Li Qinghong brushed back her hair, took a seat to the side, and chuckled softly. “That old fellow babbling about his clan’s senior debating the Dao with the Maha Dharma Aspect, and claiming they are the true immortal cultivators inside—it seems he was genuinely frightened.”
Li Yuanjiao still held the Jiaopanying sword as he answered, “Who wouldn’t be? Like hitting a wolf with a hemp stalk, both sides are scared. He feared our clan’s sword immortal reputation, but we have never fought a demonic cultivator before and were just as uncertain at heart. That old fellow looks to be only around the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refinement, yet he has cultivated such a bizarre monstrosity. He undoubtedly possesses strength on par with Foundation Establishment. This is the first time a cultivator of such caliber has appeared on our land.”
The two exchanged a glance, neither mentioning the more than one hundred who had died in vain. Li Yuanjiao let out a low sigh and said, “One acts according to one’s abilities. Driving him away was already the best outcome. With more and more demonic cultivators appearing south of the river, I fear we won’t have many peaceful days ahead.”
Li Qinghong nodded slightly and asked, “Regarding the demonic calamity spreading through the State of Yue... has Sister-in-law gathered any news from the Xiao family?”
Li Yuanjiao shook his head. “No word has come yet. On the contrary... there is news from the Yuan family.”
Li Qinghong raised a brow, only to see Li Yuanjiao speak with a trace of worry. “Yuan Tuan of Qingsui Peak has entered secluded cultivation to prepare for her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. According to the Yuan family, her chances are extraordinarily high, likely within four or five years. If she successfully reaches Foundation Establishment and the legacy of Qingsui Peak falls into her hands, she will certainly accept disciples and pass down teachings. If our Li family wishes to cultivate influence within the sect, we cannot afford to miss this opportunity!”
Li Qinghong’s thoughts stirred, and she instantly understood Li Yuanjiao’s meaning. Her shapely brows furrowed as she replied, “Brother, you mean... Xizhi?”
Sending someone to Qingsui Peak required a child of at least seven years, with ten to twelve being ideal. Li Yuanping was not yet married. Although Li Yuanyun had two children, the younger was only one year old and far too young, while the elder was ten and possessed a spirit aperture, but would exceed the age limit by that time; neither was suitable.
In the Li family’s Xi-Yue generation, only Li Yuanjiao’s son, Li Xizhi, was four or five years old. Four or five years from now, he would fit Qingsui Peak’s requirements perfectly. Seeing Li Qinghong fathom his intent, Li Yuanjiao nodded. “If his talent proves suitable, we can only send Xizhi up.”
Li Qinghong pursed her lips and asked, “Will Sister-in-law agree?”
Li Yuanjiao sipped his tea. In his mind surfaced the memory of Li Tongya personally placing the glittering, scale-adorned Jiaopanying into his hands, and he fell silent.
***
While Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong conferred on Lijing Peak, a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain was equally bright with lamplight. Several low tables were laid out with small dishes of mountain delicacies and seafood, accompanied by various dipping sauces. Seated below was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, at the third layer of Embryonic Breathing, leaning sideways against his armrest.
“Come, come!”
The youth seated at the head was slightly pale, his lips lacking color. He looked down at the other with a faint smile and asked lightly, “Brother Xiao Xian, are you comfortable?”
“Very comfortable! Quite comfortable!”
Xiao Xian hurried to reply. Over the years, he had visited the Li clan frequently and was familiar with Li Yuanping. Perhaps because Li Yuanping carried an assertive aura inherited from Lady Dou, even though Xiao Xian was several years older, he still felt somewhat constrained and cautious before him.
Li Yuanping smiled. His features took more after Lady Dou—dignified, firm, and carrying an air of commanding presence. Shifting the clear tea on his table, he brought up a topic to chat about. “Why does your esteemed clan suddenly need green raven ore?”
Xiao Xian cupped his hands and replied, “The demonic calamity is running rampant, and the prices of magical artifacts rise by the day. Our clan happens to possess a fire vein as well as an artifact-refining heritage, so my father thought to seize this chance to make a profit.”
“I see!”
Li Yuanping nodded slightly. Glancing at Xiao Xian, he brought up a few topics concerning Li Qingxiao. Xiao Xian listened attentively, and before long, the conversation flowed freely. Li Yuanping remarked, “Brother Xiao Xian, regarding the affairs of Daxu to the north... how much do you know?”
Xiao Xian was already slightly tipsy. Seeing Li Yuanping’s eyes remain clear, he praised him inwardly and answered, “The year before last, you asked me to inquire, and now I know a bit.”
He paused, then continued, “Over the past century, the immortal path in the State of Xu has grown increasingly desolate, with external paths rising and demons roaming everywhere. It was only four years ago that the Three Sects and Seven Gates united with the various Purple Mansion seniors south of the river to march north together, driving many of the external paths back to the north.
“In that campaign, the Jinyu Sect and Xiuyue Sect formed the main force, anchored by Master Shangyuan, a sword immortal at the peak of Purple Mansion. He slew two Lianmin and three demon heads before the State of Xu was finally quelled.”
At this point, Xiao Xian looked slightly puzzled. Pausing, he said, “As for the Purple Mansion Dao foundations you asked me to look into... that proved quite difficult. I searched all over for information and managed to uncover only a few.
“The master produced by the Qingchi Sect cultivates ‘Heavy and Turbid.’ The one from the Xuanyue Gate cultivates ‘Fool Driving the Mountain.’ The Tangjin Gate rarely has a master appear, but theirs cultivates ‘Engraved Metal and Stone.’ Finally, the master from the Ziyan Gate cultivates ‘Circling the Eastern Mountain.’”
Xiao Xian took a sip of wine and explained, “All of these masters traveled down the mountain for mortal trials before attaining the Purple Mansion, leaving behind numerous traces. I spent a long time digging through my family’s archives before I finally tracked down their immortal foundations one by one.”
“Thank you, Brother!”
Li Yuanping acknowledged the information, committing it silently to memory. Xiao Xian did not know why Li Yuanping was inquiring into these matters, but he was tactful enough not to ask.
“You have an impressive capacity, Brother, but I can’t handle much more...”
After exchanging a few more toasts, since they were drinking spiritual wine, Xiao Xian’s modest cultivation left him slightly dizzy. He smiled wryly and took his leave.
Having obtained the news he wanted, Li Yuanping did not insist on detaining him. Watching the Xiao family servants support him out, Li Yuanping shifted his cup. All along, it had contained nothing but clear tea; drinking alongside Xiao Xian for so long, he naturally remained sober.
Li Yuanping pushed aside the dishes on the table, spread out brush and ink, and carefully recorded each piece of information. Folding the paper neatly, he handed it to his confidant seated below, saying gently, “Deliver this to my elder brother.”
Both Li Yuanping and Li Yuanxiu had been born of Lady Dou. Cultivated under her guidance, the grassroots ruthlessness inherited from the Li clan’s ancestors was much diluted in them, replaced instead by a magnanimous, commanding authority.
Dou Yi received the letter below. Li Yuanping glanced at him, and before Dou Yi’s eyes floated the image of the three-inch jade nails dyed with balsam flowers. Then he heard Li Yuanping chuckle and ask, “Mother’s slap—did you pass it on to your master?”
Dou Yi nodded vigorously, stammering, “To answer the young master: delivered! Fully delivered! The master personally knelt in the middle of the courtyard. This servant passed it on without changing a word, leaving nothing out. Even the force was calculated down to the last detail, and the red mark was on the exact same cheek...”
“Hahaha.”
Li Yuanping let out three chuckles and shook his head dismissively, speaking openly. “You people only respect force and cherish no virtue. My elder brother repeatedly showed tolerance for Mother’s sake, yet your father showed no restraint whatsoever. Now he has lost face and damaged goodwill—he brought it entirely upon himself!”
Dou Yi dared not say a word, only murmuring subserviently. Li Yuanping fixed his gaze on the letter in Dou Yi’s hands, terrifying him into scurrying out at once.
Only then did Li Yuanping turn his gaze back to the table, murmuring, “I wonder which path the immortal foundation ‘Sound of the Cavern Spring’ from the Cavern Spring Pure Qi serves as a dao complement to...”
Flipping through the wooden slips on the table twice more, Li Yuanping knitted his brows. “The Three Sects and Seven Gates maintain far too tight a grip. If our clan is to find a way forward, we must have sources of information within the sects. We cannot afford further delay!”
Looking at the flickering, slanted candlelight, Li Yuanping recalled the secret talks he had shared night after night at his elder brother Li Yuanjiao’s bedside during his youth. Remembering the glittering, scale-adorned Jiaopanying that Li Tongya had placed into his brother’s hands, his face turned a shade paler as he muttered, “The Xiao family remains an outside clan after all. Xiao Chuting is shrewd and calculating, and there is no telling what he schemes. He is by no means easy to deal with, yet our clan has no choice but to rely on him. For now, we can only take it one step at a time...”
Chapter 277