Tu Longjian, clad in black, set down the long hammer resting on his shoulder and stowed it into his storage bag. Stepping forward, he stole a glance at Li Yuanjiao, thinking to himself:
*Back then, I only saw the radiance of this magical artifact, never the benefactor himself... Perhaps he was killed and his artifact seized. I must test him first so as not to cause a blunder.*
Walking up, he cupped his hands slightly and said softly, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist!"
The figure within the dark-pattern spirit mist was exceedingly cautious, immediately putting away the jade bottle and glancing in his direction. A slightly hoarse voice came from within: "I have gathered enough of the earth fire baleful qi here. The rest is yours, Fellow Daoist."
He seemed unwilling to stir up trouble. Giving only a brief reply, he turned to leave. But how could Tu Longjian let him go? Taking a step forward, Tu Longjian smiled and said, "Does Fellow Daoist remember the successor of Tu Jun? We met once back in the territory of Xuanyue."
Tu Longjian did not elaborate too much, wary that the person before him might have seized the treasure through murder. He saw the figure pause slightly, asking in doubt, "You are... that Tu Longjian? You have already reached Foundation Establishment!"
Hearing this, Tu Longjian did not let down his guard. Plenty of people knew his name. He only asked, "Does Senior remember... what kind of formula I carried on me back then?"
Li Yuanjiao paused slightly. He naturally knew it was the *Runyang Method*; his family had even relied on that formula to convert Continuous Motion Primordial Fire, gaining another cultivable Grade Four technique. In a somewhat doubtful tone, he answered, "The *Runyang Method*?"
"Haha!"
At this point, Tu Longjian finally confirmed that he was indeed the person from back then. A look of sincere joy surfaced on his face, and he said delightedly, "Senior, you truly made me search hard for you!"
The dark-pattern spirit mist around Li Yuanjiao dispersed slightly. He scrutinized Tu Longjian carefully for a moment and said softly, "That you have achieved this today can be considered the continuation of Tu Jun's orthodox lineage... It is a good thing!"
Li Yuanjiao did not emphasize the kindness between them, instead steering the conversation to remind Tu Longjian of his connection with Tu Jun's lineage. After all, the reason he had spared him back then was precisely his connection to Tu Jun. Hearing this, Tu Longjian's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded. "Indeed. If Master and the others could see me today and smile with delight, Tu Long would be satisfied!"
Tu Longjian paused, took out an orange-red medallion from his robes—black on top and red below, with flowing lines. Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight. Tu Longjian gently held it aloft, pinched an incantation gesture, and asked with a tilted head, "May I ask Senior's name?"
The earth fire baleful qi gushed out at once, pouring into the medallion. In just a few breaths, it vanished completely. Tu Longjian casually put it away, and only then did Li Yuanjiao disperse the mist from his face.
"Li Yuanjiao."
Tu Longjian glanced at him. Li Yuanjiao's demeanor and appearance were quite similar to what he had imagined. Laughing twice, he asked, "Is Senior here at Qingsong Abbey with the intention of entering the grotto-heaven?"
Li Yuanjiao only said softly, "Just trying my luck, that is all. Entering this grotto-heaven is not something one can do simply by wanting to... If I cannot enter, gathering a few wisps of qi is fine too."
Tu Longjian nodded and said softly, "If Senior is interested... why not join hands with me on this island these past few days? It would be good to have mutual support."
Li Yuanjiao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Does Fellow Daoist have companions? If we are to travel together, please introduce them."
Tu Longjian chuckled and said softly, "This junior traveled all the way here alone, with no companions."
Li Yuanjiao was surprised. After a brief consideration, he nodded. "Very well. I am alone as well. Please allow me to make a quick trip."
"Senior, please feel free."
Tu Longjian cupped his hands slightly. Watching Li Yuanjiao ride the wind away, he sat down cross-legged and pondered: *The technique he cultivates is quite ordinary, with nothing outstanding about it. At most, he is a clan cultivator... Back then, I was merely a petty Qi Refinement cultivator whose sharp edge had yet to show; there should have been no need for him to lay plans in advance...*
He stroked his chin, thinking: *After all, this is a matter of life and death, so having a helper is good... Even if I cannot escape in the end... leaving the treasures and such to him to repay the kindness is better than leaving them to those Real Persons.*
Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao rode the wind away, equally astonished in his heart.
Tu Longjian had not offered to take him into the grotto-heaven, but Li Yuanjiao was in no hurry. As long as he stayed by Tu Longjian's side, it would be enough. Tu Longjian had long become the focus of various Purple Mansion cultivators and would enter the grotto-heaven sooner or later.
After all, the impression Li Yuanjiao gave him was likely just that of a clan cultivator. Tu Longjian probably planned to wait until the grotto-heaven drew close to the mortal realm, then pretend to stumble inside by chance.
However, looking at the schemes of the Purple Mansion masters, the method Tu Longjian obtained should have required bringing several direct disciples of the Purple Mansion cultivators inside. Yet Tu Longjian had no companions, which was intriguing.
Pondering this, Li Yuanjiao soon found Li Qinghong.
The interior of the grotto-heaven was extremely perilous. Li Yuanjiao naturally could not bring the Immortal Mirror inside. Without saying much, he handed the mirror to her and said softly, "There may be Purple Mansion cultivators guarding the island's perimeter. Keep your wits about you."
Li Qinghong understood that Li Yuanjiao was afraid she might use the Immortal Mirror to locate spiritual objects, which would arouse suspicion by appearing prescient. She said softly, "I understand."
Li Yuanjiao flew straight up and gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving Li Qinghong standing among the surging waves. After pausing for a moment, she returned to her lodging on the sea.
Li Yuanjiao's round trip took only a few hours. Soon, he rode the wind back to Qingsong Island. Tu Longjian held a golden hammer in one hand and pinched a small storage bag in the other, examining it intently.
In front of him knelt a headless corpse covered all over with green spots, exuding a rich aroma of pine cones. In the brief moment as Li Yuanjiao landed, these spots had already sprouted buds, growing branches and leaves.
Seeing Li Yuanjiao descend, Tu Longjian cupped his hands slightly and replied, "Just now, an insolent fool showed up. I have already slain him."
He smiled and added, "Now that the grotto-heaven is about to manifest in the mortal realm, the Great Void must be full of spectacular clashes. Even the death of a Foundation Establishment cultivator won't cause that much of an anomaly, sparing us the trouble of attracting a crowd."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. Looking closely, the anomaly caused by the corpse was suppressed, making it impossible to discern its cultivation realm for the moment. Tu Longjian, on the other hand, stepped forward with a smile and asked, "Senior, shall we take a stroll around the island?"
...
Li Xuanfeng stood suspended in midair by the edge of the island, holding his bow in silence. On the island, Zhong Qian and Kan Ziyu were meticulously setting up an array, while Lin Chensheng also stood in the air nearby.
Neither he nor Li Xuanfeng understood arrays, so they waited on the side. While Zhong Qian and Kan Ziyu were fully focused, Lin Chensheng's low voice suddenly sounded in Li Xuanfeng's ear: "Fellow Daoist Xuanfeng, are you of True Person Yuansu's lineage?"
Li Xuanfeng acted as if he had not heard, but parted his lips slightly and replied via magic power transmission: "Indeed... May I ask who Fellow Daoist is..."
Lin Chensheng's expression was calm as he replied, "I am the nephew of Master Houfu."
Master Houfu was a newly promoted Real Person of Great Xiukui Abbey, young and in his prime, and very likely to lead Great Xiukui Abbey in the future. Lin Chensheng's status could hardly be higher. Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly. Lin Chensheng continued, "Once we enter the grotto-heaven, Fellow Daoist Ziyu and I will propose splitting up. You should take note as well; it is better to travel alone."
"Oh?"
Li Xuanfeng frowned slightly. Lin Chensheng continued via secret transmission: "In a place like this, traveling with these people is no good thing. I fear one will only end up being a stepping stone or path-finder for others, to say nothing of getting any good treasures..."
Li Xuanfeng was at a loss for words, then replied, "Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist."
Lin Chensheng revealed a slight smile. "No need to be so polite. When we enter the grotto-heaven, you and I can look out for each other."
Li Xuanfeng nodded. The two below had already ridden the wind upward. Kan Ziyu spoke: "The grand array is complete. Everything is ready, waiting only for the grotto-heaven to descend."
The four chatted briefly, then each began regulating their breath. Daylight and darkness shifted several times between heaven and earth. As the setting sun sank once more, Lin Chensheng suddenly spoke:
"It is coming."
Li Xuanfeng exhaled and raised his brows. Sure enough, a beam of light appeared above Qingsong Island.
This light revealed a shallow arc, purple on top and white below, slowly emerging from the Great Void. Five colors of brilliance suffused this arc as it slowly fell downward.
As the arc drew closer to the earth, the remaining portions gradually emerged. One could vaguely see vast undulating mountain ranges looming in the clouds, with flickering lights constantly darting through them.
"Rumble!"
With a thunderous crash, yellowish-brown metallic stones fell like drizzle from the sky, and waterfalls plunged from the air for no reason, gradually transforming from purple-gold to azure-gold. Upon hitting the bottom, they transformed into numerous violent dark-green gale winds that rose up, gradually turning into deep crimson as flames leaped up and condensed into various crystals.
Earth, water, wind, and fire manifested in turns. Countless streaks of light shot out from within, flying in all directions. The seawater on the ocean's surface churned madly, echoing the spectacle by sending surges of multicolored spiritual water.
Dense swarms of rogue cultivators leaped into the air, fighting fiercely. Li Xuanfeng and his companions naturally paid them no heed. The three shielded Zhong Qian within, and the grand array roared to life.
Array lines lit up one after another. Li Xuanfeng heard only a muffled boom. In an instant, all color vanished before his eyes, leaving only black and white. Li Xuanfeng's thoughts grew increasingly sluggish; objects before his eyes stretched and elongated continuously, eventually turning into streaks of black and white lines converging into a single point in the distance.
A strong sensation akin to an electric shock jolted Li Xuanfeng's mind. Then, his vision went black, then bright, turning completely silver-white.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly went empty. Li Xuanfeng caught sight of a boundless sea of clouds, with a vast starry sky above, resplendent with starlight. Distant mountains rose and fell, appearing extraordinarily serene.
*Qingsong Grotto-Heaven?*
He immediately looked around and discovered that Zhong Qian and the others were all standing beside him, looks of wonder on their faces. Lin Chensheng said in a low voice, "This should be Qingsong Abbey..."
He looked up at the stars in the sky and murmured in marvel, "Indeed, the stars in Qingsong Grotto-Heaven do not move..."
Hearing him say this, the other three looked up one after another, focusing their gaze. Sure enough, every star in this grotto-heaven was like a point of light fixed in the sky, completely motionless, unlike the stars of the mortal realm that drifted slowly and shifted positions.
Li Xuanfeng's gaze rested on seven bright stars on the horizon shaped like a dipper, and he said softly, "There is neither sun nor moon in this grotto-heaven... only stars?"
"Indeed," Lin Chensheng replied, searching for something in the sea of clouds. He exchanged a glance with Kan Ziyu, and both cupped their hands. "Now that we have entered the grotto-heaven, let us search according to our own fortune. We shall take our leave here."
Their words caught Zhong Qian somewhat by surprise; he seemed to want to say something, but Li Xuanfeng also cupped his hands in farewell. Zhong Qian could only nod. "Take care, everyone!"
Parting from the others, Li Xuanfeng carried his golden bow on his back and flew northward for a while. Pausing to ponder for a few breaths, he looked down at the sea of clouds beneath his feet.
*I wonder what it looks like down below.*
Pinching an incantation gesture, a golden protective shield lit up around him. Only then did he tentatively lower his feet into it. White mist permeated around him, presenting a bright, translucent moonlit sheen. Flying for a breath, the cloud layer finally showed signs of dispersing.
*To think I was in the high sky right after entering.*
He emerged from beneath the cloud layer. Seeing what lay before him, he suddenly froze.
Beneath his feet was an endless expanse of clouds; above his head was still a vast starry sky, brilliant with starlight. In the distance, mountain ranges rose and rolled, showing no difference whatsoever from what he had seen just now.
Li Xuanfeng looked up. The seven dipper-shaped stars in the distance were now inverted. If there was any difference at all, that was the only one.
Li Xuanfeng was stunned, then finally understood:
*There is no land here at all. Beneath the clouds is another starry night.*
He slowly stirred the wind and broke through the sea of clouds, riding the wind forward. A question arose in his heart:
*If so, if there is a treasure above, wouldn't there be an identical one below?*
He suppressed this question. All around was an empty sea of clouds, and he could not waste time here. Fixating on a distant mountain range, he rode the wind forward.
"Rumble!"
After flying for nearly half an hour, a thunderous explosion rose from the horizon. Li Xuanfeng caught sight of several people fighting desperately in the sea of clouds ahead.
These people wore diverse garments, faintly hinting at several inland sects. The person in the very center held two large bronze alms bowls raised high. Purple lightning swirled within the bowls, releasing bolts of profound thunder that struck the people around him.
The people surrounding him either held long swords or pinched incantation gestures. Though dressed differently, they surrounded him tightly, joining forces to attack him. Among them, a man in golden robes held a saber in each hand, looking fierce as he barked:
"Miao Ye, hand over that Sinking Cloud Orb at once! Do not waste time here!"
The man in the center showed no fear at all. He chuckled, pouring all his strength into driving the two bronze bowls. Purple light shone brilliantly. However, though the surrounding cultivators attacked in concert, none was willing to play their trump cards, allowing him to hold them off right here.
The man holding two sabers looked extremely displeased. He did not want to waste more time here, yet was reluctant to give up the treasure in the man's hands, his expression shifting repeatedly.
Li Xuanfeng did not want to stir up trouble, nor did he want to pass directly by and arouse suspicion. He planned to plunge into the clouds and pass from the other side. Unexpectedly, the lightning-cultivator holding the bronze bowls laughed:
"Situ Chen, you had better leave quickly, lest you arrive too late and everything has already been divided up!"
Li Xuanfeng stopped in his tracks abruptly. Squinting at the man holding twin sabers, deep in thought, he slowly reached behind his back and unslung the long bow from his shoulders.
Chapter 457