Li Xuanfeng flew for more than half a day, then traveled through water veins for quite some time. Before long, Fenkuai Island appeared before him. He parted the seawater and landed within the market.
"Hmm?"
Li Xuanfeng looked around. To his surprise, not a single person was to be seen in the market; it was utterly desolate. There were numerous traces of scuffles and magical duels, with debris strewn everywhere. Occasionally, a few Qingchi disciples came into sight, but they remained solemn and silent.
Frowning in silence, he immediately rode the wind and flew toward the great hall.
The great hall in this market was splendid and magnificent, its highest eaves shimmering with waves of magical radiance and active arrays. Li Xuanfeng walked a few steps inside and noticed that the guards who usually watched over the place had all been withdrawn. Puzzled, he thought, 'Ning Heyuan is nowhere to be seen either... What happened here?'
He stepped into the hall, only to see a green-robed man seated atop the white jade throne at the high seat. His cheeks were slightly rounded, his eyebrows long, and his eyes appeared calm and tranquil, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.
As was his habit, he reclined casually against the backrest. His jade-like fingers were pinching a small, pale-gold jade seal, while his other hand rested on the armrest, tapping gently.
Meanwhile, Ning Heyuan, clad in brocade robes, was kneeling below. His forehead was pressed tremblingly against the floor, legs tightly together, not uttering a single word as he knelt there like a stone statue.
Li Xuanfeng took a step forward, dazzling magical light rippling across his dark-gold armor. Shaking his robes, he bowed deeply and said in a subdued voice, "Xuanfeng pays respects to True Person!"
The person before him was none other than True Person Yuansu, Ning Tiaoxiao!
Even as Li Xuanfeng bowed, he cast a subtle glance toward Ning Heyuan, only to find the man's eyes tightly shut. One could not tell what Yuansu had said to him earlier, but cold sweat drenched his forehead and dripped down, soaking the jade tiles below.
True Person Yuansu had a faint smile on his face. After sizing Li Xuanfeng up, he said, "I acquired Dark-Eyed Tiger long ago, but it was far too sharp and heavy, and ordinary cultivators would expend far too much mana merely equipping it. Hence, I kept it tucked away within the clan and never put it to use... It suits you quite well."
Li Xuanfeng cupped his hands in gratitude. Before he could speak any polite pleasantries, Yuansu continued on his own: "These younger generations of the Ning family are, one and all, good-for-nothings... While you garrison this place, offer them some guidance so they do not go about causing trouble..."
Li Xuanfeng modestly demurred, not daring to claim such authority. True Person Yuansu chuckled and nodded. "You handled this matter well."
Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng knew that the affair was now concluded satisfactorily, and that the many deductions he had made along the way had not been mistaken. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.
True Person Yuansu glanced at Ning Heyuan, then looked at Li Xuanfeng and praised, "To perceive the unusual, one must understand karmic mandate. When discovering these children of karmic mandate, one must make use of them to form karmic ties without becoming overly involved and turned into playthings. That is the true way of self-preservation."
Li Xuanfeng understood that Yuansu was using praise toward him to instruct Ning Heyuan, so he remained silent. Beside him, Ning Heyuan finally muttered in a low voice, "This junior has received your instruction..."
Yuansu rose from the jade throne, clasping his hands behind his back as he looked down at him, his voice cold: "Had I not arrived in time, you would have disgraced our Ning family completely! The opportunities of this world belong to those fated to receive them—and what kind of person counts as fated?!"
Ning Heyuan did not dare breathe loudly. Li Xuanfeng was lost in thought. Yuansu glanced at Ning Heyuan, keeping his hands clasped behind his back, and said, "Withdraw! Reflect on this carefully!"
Ning Heyuan nodded, mumbled a few words of thanks, and walked out with heavy footsteps. Yuansu exhaled, then turned to Li Xuanfeng: "The boy is still young. Although he has been tempered over the years and made some progress, he still fails to see far enough ahead. Ning Wan is concentrating on her cultivation and cannot spare the time, so you will need to keep a closer eye on matters here."
Li Xuanfeng had an inkling of what mistake Ning Heyuan had committed. Since he had received much assistance from the other man, he murmured softly, "True Person, please appease your anger. Karmic mandate is eccentric after all... It is not entirely Heyuan's fault..."
Seeing him plead on Heyuan's behalf, Yuansu gave a cold snort, though his expression relaxed considerably. He said gently, "This strength of yours was born with you, a truly heaven-gifted dharma body. Moreover, your spirit apertures are distinct from the ordinary; you are a fine talent for drawing bows and nocking arrows. Well done.
"When I traveled north in the past to meet a guest, I met a Shakya cultivator who also possessed such innate divine strength—his might was even greater than yours... Later, he became a Vajra to a Maha, and proved immensely capable."
Yuansu mentioned it in passing. Li Xuanfeng listened silently. The green-robed True Person pondered for a moment, then spoke abruptly: "Yuanwu will not miss Qingsong Abbey. Yu Muxian will certainly go."
Li Xuanfeng was slightly startled. Lowering his gaze, he said, "Thank you, True Person."
Ning Tiaoxiao gazed steadily at him and said softly, "Within Qingsong Abbey, all divine abilities are unable to reach. If something truly happens to you, there is nothing I can do. Although Yuanwu has mere cultivation and cannot best me in combat, I cannot go looking for trouble with him."
Li Xuanfeng bowed and replied, "Xuanfeng understands."
Yuansu nodded gently, speaking in a warm tone: "I know your heart remains tied to your family... If this endeavor succeeds, consider it the settling of past debts. After that, rein in your mind and focus on your cultivation."
Li Xuanfeng bowed low. By the time he rose, the green-robed True Person had already traversed the Great Void and departed, and that faint, suffocating aura had vanished without a trace. Li Xuanfeng stood up, deep in thought.
'Yuansu evidently understands the grudge between my family and the Yu family. He wants me to kill Yu Muxian, allowing my family to annex Lake Wangyue... and considers this the final settlement of his kindness to the Li family...'
Yuansu's meaning was clear. On the surface, he had said that if anything happened to Li Xuanfeng inside the grotto-heaven, he would be powerless to help; in truth, he was hinting that if something happened to Yu Muxian, Yuanwu would likewise have no means of seeking revenge.
Moreover, although Yuansu was only in the early Purple Mansion stage, his strength surpassed Yuanwu's mid Purple Mansion cultivation, giving him ample ability to back Xuanfeng up. If it truly came to blows, True Person Yuanwu would actually be no match for Ning Tiaoxiao.
'Yuansu... truly has some real tricks up his sleeve...'
He had only vaguely heard that Yuansu's jade seal was an ancient spirit artifact of great power, but he had not realized that Yuansu held True Person Yuanwu in such contempt. No wonder the other True Persons did not leave their mountain domains lightly, dutifully guarding the sect, while Yuansu was able to act as he pleased in the Southern Border...
This demon-slaying mission had contained all manner of tests: from deducing Yuansu's intentions, to handling children of karmic mandate, and finally displaying enough strength to eliminate the demon without letting it escape. In truth, Yuansu had been observing his capabilities on all fronts.
Mulling this over, he walked slowly out of the great hall. Ning Heyuan was standing outside, looking both startled and fearful. Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he said, "Thank you, brother-in-law."
The doors of the hall had not been closed earlier, so their voices had carried out naturally. Ning Heyuan had overheard a few words after retreating. Li Xuanfeng was not surprised and simply asked, "What happened?"
Ning Heyuan looked deeply chagrined and dejected: "For some reason, greed got the better of me. I tried to compete with a child of karmic mandate to snatch up a treasure for cheap. I got the treasure, but the man was filled with resentment and bore a grudge against me."
"I see..."
Sure enough, it was not far from what Li Xuanfeng had deduced. He gave a gentle nod, and Ning Heyuan continued: "No sooner had I gotten the treasure into my hands than True Person stepped out of the Great Void and pulverized the man into a bloody mist! Only then did it dawn on me... but it was already too late! Alas, who knows how long I will have to stay in this damned place now!"
Chapter 450