Real Person Yuanwu!
Li Xuanfeng's heart sank abruptly. Yet he noticed that Tang Shedu's expression lacked the arrogant domineering one would have expected; instead, Tang Shedu seemed terrified to show his face, keeping his head slightly lowered in dread. Nor did Real Person Yuanwu make a move. Opening his eyes patterned with golden striations, Yuanwu quietly gazed behind Li Xuanfeng, the fury in his gaze suppressed yet unvented, the atmosphere growing so grim it seemed water might condense from the air.
Sure enough, a gentle breeze swept in from behind. A figure robed in azure stepped in front of Li Xuanfeng, arms crossed over his chest. The pale golden jade seal at his waist swayed faintly as he spoke in an easy tone. "Senior Brother, long time no see."
This person was none other than True Person Yuansu, Ning Tiaoxiao! Real Person Yuanwu had likely learned of his disciple's death long before, and had come seeking vengeance the moment Tang Shedu emerged from the grotto-heaven. True Person Yuansu had anticipated his arrival just as well and had been waiting here ahead of time.
"Tiaoxiao, he killed my disciple."
Real Person Yuanwu's gaze was chilly, but it was blocked by Yuansu standing before him. Li Xuanfeng also understood he should not meet Yuanwu's eyes, so he lowered his gaze and cast his eyes downward, following the example of Tang Shedu across from him. Yet Yuansu merely chuckled.
"Senior Brother, you exaggerate! It was merely killing one disciple. You have plenty of disciples, Senior Brother. The juniors were ignorant, and when contesting for treasures, their hands were heavy for a moment. Besides, I imagine you would never have allowed Yu Muxian to attain the Violet Palace anyway; he did not have many days left to live. At most, a few spiritual items should settle it."
Yuanwu's face darkened, and he said in a low voice, "He was no ordinary disciple! Ning Tiaoxiao! Yu Muxian harbored many secrets and perhaps obtained some rare opportunity. These people killing him has ruined my affairs!"
Yuanwu barked coldly, the two spiritual artifacts beside him spinning rapidly. Yet Yuansu did not yield an inch, meeting his gaze directly and speaking bluntly.
"What good opportunity could there have been? Senior Brother, do not fall for some trick."
Yuansu seemed to know the truth behind the matter, yet deliberately laughed it off and remarked casually, "His talent was indeed not bad."
"Fine, fine. Senior Brother has always been fond of Yijin Stone. I will send some over, and let that be the end of it! Let us not delay here any longer!"
The atmosphere grew fraught with hostility. The seawater gave off a deep roar, parting as if at ebb tide. With the two men as the dividing line, one side turned into boiling pale azure seawater, while the other was mirror-still and shimmering golden.
The might of their divine abilities clashed obscurely in the sky, their battle growing increasingly fierce. On the island, Lin Chensheng and Kan Ziyan turned pale with fright; they hastily rode the wind into the water, not even pausing to tend their wounds, fleeing blindly for their lives.
Right at this moment, two more figures emerged from the Great Void. The leading Real Person wore a dark cyan Taoist robe, flying through the sky with a full head of white hair and a leisurely demeanor.
Xiao Chuting's arrival instantly broke the two men's stalemate. He stepped forward with a faint smile and spoke to Real Person Yuanwu.
"It has been so many years; it is rare to meet Senior."
"I have come to apologize. A junior of my own clan acted too rashly and cut down a Qingchi disciple... Now that the killer has already been slain, the grievance may be considered settled."
With these words spoken, Yuanwu was given a graceful way out, and his expression relaxed slightly. Yet with Li Yuanjiao dead, he had nowhere to vent his anger, and suspicion lingered in his heart. Real Person Yuanwu's expression remained grim. Glancing at the two men, he said in a low voice:
"Since both Daoist friends have spoken, I shall pay a visit in a few days to negotiate compensation."
Yuanwu felt that Yu Muxian harbored many secrets, and dying so abruptly only deepened his suspicion: 'Could it be that this boy faked his death to escape me? But the gathering in the Great Void is about to begin; I can delay no longer.'
Without waiting for their reply, he flicked his sleeves and vanished from sight.
Xiao Chuting and Yuansu seemed to have anticipated his concession long ago. Watching him disappear, the two cupped their hands in farewell. Yuansu casually lowered Li Xuanfeng and Li Qinghong down, saying softly:
"We must gather in the Great Void; this matter is not yet over. Do not wander about. Settle your clan's affairs yourself, and return to Nanjiang within three months to stand guard."
In an instant, the world fell quiet, leaving only the azure, pristine sea and the calm sky, as though the confrontation and strife just moments ago had never taken place, utterly peaceful and serene.
Only when the Violet Palace masters had all vanished did Li Xuanfeng and Li Qinghong finally set their minds at ease, taking flight upon the wind together. Li Xuanfeng felt thoroughly exhausted, lacking even the strength to answer his niece.
The two rode the wind through the air, flying all the way to the edge of the Salt Lake. Li Xuanfeng nearly tumbled headfirst from the clouds, forcing them to alight on the ground, where he sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing before entering a stone cave to heal, sealing the entrance with a formation.
Li Qinghong stood guard for him outside. She retrieved the relics Li Xuanfeng had handed to her earlier. She did not dare open the jade box to look inside, holding it silently to her chest for a time before carefully setting it aside. Remembering that name, Li Qinghong's lips curved downward, and she choked with grief.
She then took out the jade bottle from her waist, one of Li Yuanjiao's relics—a Foundation Establishment magical artifact—and examined it closely.
"It should be that Foundation Establishment magical artifact, the Mystic Pattern Bottle."
This Mystic Pattern Jade Bottle was barely four fingers wide, archaic and elegant, covered in dark silver mystic patterns. Having lost its master, the little bottle was refined by her in moments.
Li Qinghong paused slightly, then infused her true yuan into it.
The patterns upon the jade bottle visibly lit up one by one. The silver mystic patterns shifted and recombined before her astonished eyes, transforming from cloud-and-mist patterns into fractured lightning patterns, as though riddled with cracks.
From the dark purple patterns upon the silver-white base of the jade bottle, a white cloud flew up into the air, spreading densely across the sky to form a thundercloud that blasted the ground with resounding cracks!
"The power is fairly decent... at least enough to hinder a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Then, with a burst of thunder, streaks of purple lightning storms generated from within the little bottle, erupting and howling across the air with fierce momentum, striking the mountain peak and leaving behind a scorched black expanse.
"This is considerably more powerful! It almost rivals the full-strength blow of an ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
As soon as the thunder surfaced, it was immediately suppressed by Li Qinghong. She glanced back worriedly toward the stone cave where Li Xuanfeng was, stepping farther away to study it closely. Gently suspending it, she tilted the bottle to and fro.
"This magical artifact is likely not as simple as it appears on the surface. Perhaps it produces different effects depending on the immortal foundation of the one who claims its ownership... No wonder it is an ancient magical artifact! So that is why!"
Li Qinghong had also seen her elder brother use this magical artifact many times, and understanding immediately dawned upon her.
Sweeping it with her spiritual sense, she found several small characters engraved upon the patterns on the base of the bottle:
"Li Qianyuan of the Li clan of the State of Wei."
Li Qinghong silently stowed it away, only to see the formation before the stone cave dissolve. Li Xuanfeng walked out, his black gold armor gleaming brightly, his complexion looking much better than before. Glancing at the jade bottle at her waist, he asked in a low voice:
"What happened?"
Chapter 471