Kong Tingyun stood suspended in the air. The bustling townsfolk at the foot of the mountain lifted their heads to look at her, showing little fear. She swept her gaze around and remarked, "Your clan’s territory is not large, yet its population is thriving, and there are many Embryonic Breathing and miscellaneous qi cultivators as well."
Li Xijun nodded and made polite conversation. Kong Tingyun cautioned, "More people and cultivators are not necessarily better. You must keep it under control."
Kong Tingyun meant well and spoke with tact. Li Xijun nodded in response, speaking gently, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. Our clan has already begun screening spirit aperture bearers. Those with ordinary talents rarely enter our gates."
As the two conversed, the middle-aged man from Xuanyue Gate finished his survey. Riding the wind back, he reported in an even tone, "Peak Master, the fire vein here is moderately auspicious. It can be drawn out from the earth veins, yielding a balanced Earth Fiend fire. It will serve well for forging artifacts and refining pills, though gathering qi from it will be somewhat slow."
"It is right beside the lake, after all. This is already quite good," Kong Tingyun praised as the man stepped back. She then asked, "If there are no objections, we shall draw out this fire vein."
"Please arrange it as you see fit, Senior."
Li Xijun bowed. Kong Tingyun tilted her head slightly in acknowledgment, and the middle-aged man descended with his orders. The grounds below bustled with activity. His elder brother, Li Xicheng, stepped forward to ask a few questions, bowed to Kong Tingyun, and retreated to coordinate with the middle-aged man.
Not wishing to leave Kong Tingyun standing idle, Li Xijun courteously guided her to Mount Qingdu. Once seated, Kong Tingyun asked, "I hear your noble clan has a lightning cultivator who is also a woman. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to meet her?"
"To answer Senior, Aunt Qinghong has already entered seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment."
Kong Tingyun said softly, "What a pity. Several lightning methods have surfaced in recent years. The Yu family also has a lightning cultivator, of whom we at Xuanyue have heard some word."
She paused and smiled. "I made a bet with a few of my fellow disciples that the Li family's lightning cultivator would be the first to reach Foundation Establishment. Looking at it now, it seems a sure bet."
Li Xijun remained guarded, not daring to speak too freely. He listened in silence, but Kong Tingyun was in high spirits for conversation.
"That Bu Zi from Qingchi must have had a stroke of inspiration whose karmic timing has arrived. Over the past few years, he has been wandering through the Eastern Sea and rarely returns, leaving the Jinyu Sect to step in and manage Donghuo Grotto-Heaven on their own.
"Qingchi Grotto-Heaven could no longer stand by and watch. Word is they are sending down a late Violet Palace cultivator called Master Suiguan to oversee and stabilize the sect."
Li Xijun nodded as he listened. A tremor of shock ran through him, yet his expression remained thoroughly composed. He asked, "Late Violet Palace... The superior sect truly possesses profound foundations."
"Of course they do," Kong Tingyun said, pursing her lips as she lowered her voice. "Every ten years, two or three cultivators from Qingchi's thirty-six peaks successfully establish their foundations. In the past five hundred years, there have even been four Violet Palace cultivators who did not bear the surname Chi. Although Qingchi Grotto-Heaven is likely only about the size of a single commandery, it is blessed with the sublime creation of heaven and earth. Guess how many Violet Palace cultivators reside within?"
"Remarkable indeed," Li Xijun praised neutrally, then lowered his head in silence. Kong Tingyun leaned back in her seat and began toying with a golden bead. After waiting for a short while, Mount Wutu shook and trembled, and Kong Tingyun finally said, "The fire vein has begun to stir. My senior brother will remain with your clan for six months to a year to dredge and smooth the earth veins, and then watch over it for three years. It seems Li Yuanjiao will not be emerging from seclusion anytime soon, so I shall wait no longer."
She extended a fair hand and said, "Now then, can you return my Emerald Plain to me?"
Only then did Li Xijun learn the name of the array disc. He took it out and placed it into Kong Tingyun's hands with lingering reluctance, asking respectfully, "Senior, would it be possible to rent this array disc?"
Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, Kong Tingyun smiled softly and answered, "I am afraid not. The sect has issued orders; I must make a journey to the Eastern Sea, and my whereabouts will be unpredictable... Moreover, once I reach the islands, I will need this array to protect myself against enemies. I cannot lend it out."
Kong Tingyun stowed the array disc. Li Xijun apologized for the trouble and escorted her past the Li family borders before riding the cold wind back.
A large clearing had appeared atop Mount Wutu. Numerous pale-red runes were etched into the smooth ground, and a gaping maw in the center billowed thick smoke.
To the side, Li Ximing held a jade gourd. The moment the black smoke rose, it was swept entirely inside. Beside the massive pit stood the middle-aged man, his hands forming incantation gestures as he controlled the array.
This disciple of Xuanyue Gate wore an expression like a corpse, staring absently at the fire in his hands. Only after Li Xijun touched down did his expression shift slightly, and he spoke in a raspy voice, "I am Kong Gusun of Xuanyue. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
"Li Xijun of Qingdu."
Li Xijun replied amicably. Kong Gusun nodded and continued manipulating the fire vein.
Beside them, Li Ximing also possessed fire-controlling techniques. His hands itched as he watched, but unable to reveal his secret, he held himself back. Li Xijun watched for a while without discerning any of the intricacies. Just then, his elder brother, Li Xicheng, rode the wind up the mountain.
With regular features and a tall stature, Li Xicheng stood a full head taller than his younger brother, his face ever set in an earnest, upright expression. He whispered, "Jun'er, that monk is trying to leave!"
Being more than ten years older than his brothers, he was nearly old enough to be their father. Since Li Yuanyun neglected household matters, Li Xicheng had raised them, and he habitually used his childhood nickname.
Li Qinghong had departed precisely because she followed the monk's counsel. The moment she set off for Tianlei Peak, Li Xijun had ordered people to keep a strict watch on him. Hearing this news now, he asked hurriedly, "Did they stop him?"
Li Xicheng said helplessly, "They stopped him, but the monk refuses to yield."
Li Xijun pulled his brother along as they rode the wind outward. Sure enough, a circle of golden light radiated over the lake, surrounded on all sides by several Li family cultivators.
Xu Gongming stood at the forefront, holding a pair of short halberds. Half his face was covered by a mask to hide the magical injuries he had sustained during the demonic calamity. Over the years, he had turned misfortune into a blessing, making rapid strides until he attained the fifth tier of Qi Refinement.
Behind him stood two rising talents—An Siming and An Siwei. One held a spear while the other held a sword, both having reached Qi Refinement as they guarded the left and right flanks.
An Zheyan had not accomplished much himself, yet he had fathered fine sons. Though these brothers were not as exceptionally gifted as An Jingming had been back then, they had reached Qi Refinement by twenty-five or twenty-six. Both were sensible and maintained a low profile.
Surrounded by the crowd, the monk Kongheng narrowed his slender eyes and held his monk's staff in his fair, tender hands, speaking in a low voice. Li Xijun possessed exceptional eyesight and could tell he was saying, "Why do you all bar this humble monk?"
Li Xijun sighed inwardly, reflecting, 'It would be too early to appear; having not moved about for years, it will be hard to explain.'
With a thought, he tugged at his brother's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, please have them disperse for now and lead Kongheng to Mount Qingdu."
Li Xicheng froze, only now realizing that the Li Xijun beside him had reached the fifth tier of Qi Refinement. Both surprised and overjoyed, he went to carry out the order, while Li Xijun rode the wind back down to the mountain.
Finding a small grove on Mount Qingdu, Li Xijun casually set out several stone stools and a stone table, then quietly began brewing tea.
Over the years, the Li family had thoroughly grasped Kongheng's temperament. Li Xijun was not worried that he would refuse to come. After a short wait, Kongheng indeed rode the wind down onto the mountain.
The monk paused slightly, looking at him twice in disbelief. He chanted a long, unfamiliar holy epithet, then spoke: "Little friend, your cultivation has advanced with astonishing speed."
"Merely good fortune," Li Xijun replied. Having met him only a few times many years ago, this was still within the realm of understanding. Kongheng quickly brought the conversation back to the matter at hand, saying politely, "This humble monk must make a journey abroad. I ask that Fellow Daoist permit me to depart."
Having already seized the measure of his character, Li Xijun looked directly into his eyes and asked solemnly, "Master cultivates the orthodox Buddhist dharma. I will ask you only one question: Are you heading to Tianlei Peak?!"
Kongheng froze for two breaths, then gave a bitter smile and nodded. Li Xijun said gently, "An elder of my clan is currently breaking through to Foundation Establishment there, and it was Master who suggested it. Now you are rushing off unannounced. Unless you can provide a reason, forgive me, but I cannot let you go."
Kongheng sighed softly and had no choice but to say, "This humble monk cultivates an ancient art, and the opportunity for my breakthrough lies there. I hope Fellow Daoist will grant this fulfillment. Since you trust my character, please let me depart. I will only build a thatched hut at the foot of Tianlei Peak to cultivate."
Looking at the earnestness in Kongheng's eyes, Li Xijun gritted his teeth and said, "It is not that I am unwilling to fulfill Master's wish, but rather that it is impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood in such a pretext. I cannot afford to gamble."
With that, his hand was already resting upon his sword, and he asked once more, "Must Master go?"
Kongheng fixed his slender eyes on him and nodded. "Indeed."
The moment his words fell, the Green Ox by the River Array upon Mount Qingdu suddenly activated. Nine rays of green light surged upward, weaving together as they swept in. Li Xijun drew his sword as well, pointing the gleaming blade straight at Kongheng as he said in a low voice, "Quench this notion, Master, and let the matter end here!"
Golden light likewise erupted around Kongheng, the staff in his hand chiming softly. His expression grew as heavy as still water as he parried Li Xijun's sword light, answering, "If this humble monk speaks a single word of deceit, let my cultivation be utterly ruined!"
Li Xijun slashed with his sword, unleashing several bursts of frost-white sword qi, each parried by the monk's staff. Behind Kongheng, a massive, patterned green ox lit up, its two hooves reared high in the air as it prepared to stomp down upon his back.
Trapped within the array, Kongheng could not even ride the wind to flee. He could only pull back his staff and turn to defend, driven back several paces by the kick. Having lost the upper hand, he fell further onto the defensive.
Li Xijun had already pinched an incantation gesture to cast a spell. Cold light flared from his hand, sending out several wisp-like strands of white magical thread that coiled toward Kongheng. He called out once more, "Does Master harbor any other intentions?! My clan has no desire to provoke Buddhism. If you speak the truth, I will not kill you, and I will let you travel north of your own accord!"
As he shouted these words, specks of bright white luster misted over his eyes. He scrutinized the shifts in Kongheng's expression, seeing his face turn pale and green from the cold as the green ox charged right before him. Yet Kongheng still gritted his teeth and declared, "Kongheng is utterly sincere and never deceives!"
*Bang!*
The moment the words were spoken, the spells, the green ox, and the sword qi before them all vanished. Kongheng stumbled, and Li Xijun quickly stepped forward to support him, saying in a low voice, "I did not dare place blind trust, and I hope Master can understand... My clan suffered terribly at the hands of the Wrathful Maha; we truly cannot afford a second disaster..."
Kongheng had not yet recovered his senses, staring at him in a daze. Li Xijun continued, "Please wait outside the array for a moment, Master. I will ask Senior Wushao to escort you there!"
Kongheng was instantly overjoyed. The sudden reversal from the brink of life and death back to the verge of a breakthrough left him unable to maintain his composure for a moment, despite years of cultivating his mind. He repeatedly said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for granting this fulfillment! Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
Regaining an opportunity for a breakthrough after thinking it lost, and having a mortal crisis turn back into imminent advancement, the monk could not restrain his gratitude. He said gravely, "Henceforth, if your noble clan has any request, Kongheng will see to it personally! If Brother Xijun asks anything of me, Kongheng will not shrink from ten thousand deaths!"
Kongheng was thoroughly perceptive; he truly owed Li Xijun a tremendous favor for this. Leaving behind the words "rest assured!", he happily rode the wind away.
Only after he had vanished from sight did a black-robed youth slowly emerge from the shadows. Li Xijun said softly, "I must trouble Senior to make the trip and watch him closely... If there is any strange movement, the Yuan family has people watching as well. Coordinate with them beforehand."
"Understood."
Li Wushao cast him a glance tinged with lingering dread, then rode the wind away as well. Li Xijun was left alone. His expression shifted several times before he flung the sword in his hand into a branch, looking downcast.
*Thunk!*
The sword lodged into the pine wood, vibrating with a low hum. Li Xijun rubbed his brow. "If anything goes wrong... even ten thousand deaths could not redeem my guilt!"
Li Xijun had always been an excellent judge of character, which was why he had been the one among the Li family to trust Kongheng the most and hold the highest impression of him. Going through such great lengths for this performance had merely been to satisfy his own sense of caution.
The monk possessed a clear, perceptive mind, and his gaze before leaving had been filled with gratitude. To bestow this favor, Li Xijun had raised the threat high only to let it fall gently, releasing him with decisive finality.
'If Kongheng's words truly match his deeds, we can place a few more degrees of trust in him in the future...'
Even so, now that Kongheng had actually gone, the weight fell squarely upon Li Xijun's shoulders. Though he felt confident, the stakes were so heavy that sweat beaded on his cheeks.
He summoned a subordinate up the mountain and asked wearily, "Has the Ancestor still not emerged from seclusion?"
Li Yuanjiao's current seclusion was for serious wound healing rather than ordinary cultivation. Otherwise, they would have called him out when Kong Tingyun arrived, rather than acting with tied hands and feet out of fear of disturbing him.
Seeing his confidant shake his head, Li Xijun let out a long breath and thought silently to himself, 'If... if Aunt is harmed, even taking my own life could not atone for such a sin.'
He dared not dwell on the thought, sitting dazed upon the stone stool in the grove. Several breaths later, Li Ximing hurried over on the wind, calling out anxiously, "What happened?! Why did you activate the grand array?!"
Li Xijun opened his mouth, but held back in the end. Li Ximing was even more indecisive; telling him would merely add another person to the fretting and throw their own ranks into disarray.
He merely sighed. "Nothing... It is nothing... Focus on your cultivation; leave the rest to me."
***
A rare heavy snowfall blanketed Yishan City, flakes fluttering down in a vast, overwhelming sweep. Clad in golden armor, Li Xuanfeng stood quietly upon the city wall, holding a longbow.
It had taken him decades of cultivation to fully master the Clear-Sight Spiritual Pupil. Spiritual light swirled in his eyes as he swept his gaze across the heavy snow. Merely by standing motionless on the ramparts, he caused the monsters outside the city to retreat a considerable distance, trembling in fear.
Li Xuanfeng's reputation was not particularly great in the State of Yue, but in this southern border, his name resounded like thunder. The Jingeng Astral String meant an arrow struck the moment the bow sounded; those hit were either dead or grievously wounded, and the monster generals he had slain already reached the count of two hands.
Li Xuanfeng merely watched in an absent trance, making no move. Time had not left many marks on his face, but it had swept ruthlessly through his heart and thoughts. Looking at him now, one could no longer see the reckless wildness of his past.
After he had stood for a while, a streak of clear light arrived from the north and landed beside him. It was a woman clad in dark-patterned feather robes, her slender waist bound with white gauze. A faint melancholy touched her brow and eyes as she murmured softly, "Husband..."
Chapter 395