The great battle on Qingsong Island in the East Sea had raged for a long time. As the grotto-heaven departed the mortal realm, the rogue cultivators scattered in swarms. The spiritual energy, once blazing like scorching sunlight, gradually subsided, receding from its previously visible state to resemble that of an ordinary blessed land.
Within Taixu, boundlessly ethereal, streaks of flowing light were rising. The Qingsong Abbey Grotto-Heaven had completely detached, vanishing into the gloomy darkness of Taixu and dissolving into bursts of multicolored radiance that sank into the endless void.
Lights of various divine abilities flowed across Taixu, surrounding the area where several figures stood in silence, looking at the two jade boxes suspended in the very center. No one spoke, and the atmosphere grew exceedingly awkward.
Soon, a figure from the north broke the silence, saying softly, "The two boxes of Hengzhu Dao and Mount Changhuai were empty to begin with. As for the two that were lost, they belonged to Qingchi Sect and Ziyan Gate."
Nearby, multicolored light converged into a sheet of blue-gray. Yuansu stood in Taixu, sneering coldly. "A fine bunch, fighting back and forth! I reckon Hengzhu Dao knew all along that their own box was empty—they didn't even bother sending a Purple Palace cultivator."
"The remaining two belong to the Sword Sect and Great Xiukui Temple. Neither is to be trifled with. You all had best calculate things clearly!"
Yuansu already had a poor reputation, and everyone was familiar with his temper. With his lifespan nearing its end, he feared nothing. Even after being mocked, the others said little, though a few Purple Palace cultivators let out cold snorts.
None of the Purple Palace cultivators mentioned the fates of those bearing karmic mandates, as though an unspoken understanding had long been reached. Only a man bearing a sword spoke up: "I can offer you all some compensation. The contents of this jade box belonged to our founding ancestor; I, Cheng, must take it back."
The moment he said this, someone immediately cut him off with disdain: "All the spoils go to your Sword Sect, then? Are the rest of us just here as spectators?"
The sword-bearing man paused, then said, "Of the six jade boxes in Qingsong Grotto-Heaven, two were lost. Were you all aware of that?"
Spiritual senses clashed in whispered discussions among the Purple Palace cultivators. Yuansu kept his head down, waiting for something, staring intently at the jade boxes. Sure enough, a figure slowly stepped forward from Taixu.
The newcomer wore a white robe, with a sword strapped to his waist in a wooden scabbard, its hilt made of reddish-brown pine. Strolling leisurely, he came to a stop before the two jade boxes.
His face was completely obscured by mist. As he stepped lightly forward, ripples of white brilliance radiated beneath his feet, like waves upon water.
"Shangyuan."
It was Shangyuan!
None of them showed any surprise. Instead, they seized every single moment to measure the man before them with their divine abilities. All the previous disputes and murmurs seemed never to have happened; all eleven Purple Palace cultivators had been waiting for him alone.
Zhenren Shangyuan reached out and took one of the jade boxes.
The jade box that everyone had fought over without ever opening seemed utterly ordinary before him. With a gentle flick, it opened, revealing a short sword blade resting inside.
Shangyuan casually picked it up, seeming somewhat disappointed. With a flick of his finger, the blade flew toward the sword-bearing man. He said softly, "Keep it well."
The Sword Sect Zhenren was immensely grateful, cupping his hands repeatedly in thanks.
Shangyuan seemed to share some past acquaintance with him. Ignoring the other Taixu cultivators present, he chuckled softly and asked, "Why didn't you send a letter over? Have you prepared the elixirs?"
"Senior, when do you plan to attempt your breakthrough? Have you settled on a method?"
Shangyuan said nothing more. He picked up the other jade box and tossed it into the hands of the Xiukui Dao Zhenren, paying no heed to his words of gratitude, before stepping through the void and vanishing from sight.
The remaining nine Purple Palace cultivators said nothing, watching helplessly as he arbitrarily divided the two jade boxes. Not a single person dared to utter a word. Only the one in the very center sighed, gently waving a hand to cause an array of treasures to manifest in the air.
"Seventy-eight magical artifacts, two Taixu spiritual artifacts, information on three heritages, clues to four ancient ruins, and various long-lost items. Choose from among them as you see fit. If the value exceeds your share by too much, leave behind something to make up the difference."
These treasures were numerous, the most basic among them being top-grade Foundation Establishment treasures, filling Taixu completely. Most appeared to be ancient artifacts from the grotto-heaven.
One Zhenren glanced over and remarked softly, "Does anyone want this piece? It ranks as a pinnacle treasure among Foundation Establishment artifacts, called 'Azure Painting Sky Screen.'"
"Our Xiukui Dao is the same... Hengzhu and Xiukui both belong to the ancient arts. You all would do well to come and observe them; there is much to be gained."
"The Yuzhen method belongs to the ancient arts. It takes neither yin and yang nor the five elements, but draws upon the void and the real to attest to the golden nature."
"The ones that suffered the most severe damage were naturally heavenly thunder and earthly magnetism, unseen for a thousand years... Heavenly thunder was extinguished, to say nothing of the fact that even Xuanyue has only 'Fool Driving the Mountain,' which barely counts as Gen Earth."
"With so many Zhenren dividing these items, it is inevitable that there are many monks and little porridge..."
One cultivator raised his brows and drew a water-clear, crystalline stone from the pile, its surface rippling with light that sparkled like stars.
Having obtained their prizes, the Zhenren of the Sword Sect and Great Xiukui Temple were overjoyed. Why would they linger in Taixu any longer? With the goods in hand, they vanished without a trace in an instant.
***
For over a year, although the downpours in the northern commanderies of the State of Yue had ceased, a continuous drizzle persisted. The rice and bean crops never saw the sun, rotting away in the fields without yielding any harvest.
Mount Qingchi was separated from Lake Wangyue by more than half the State of Yue. Li Xizhi had changed into white mourning robes, and the group rode the wind as they set out. Wishing to avoid being seen, they flew very high, traveling above the clouds.
The spiritual energy at such heights was thin, making wind-riding arduous, so few ever flew here. Yet all of them hailed from immortal sects, so riding the wind in this place was effortless. They flew in silence amidst the rising dawn light.
Colors shifted brilliantly within the clouds, and Li Xizhi's rosy dawn light felt like a fish in water. He flew along silently for several days while the two behind him racked their brains, trying to find something to say to divert his attention.
Just then, several feathered beasts descended from high above. They were gracefully formed fish of splendid hues, with two wings sprouting from beneath their ribs, round heads, and flat snouts. The orange feathers on their wings flapped in the air, appearing extraordinarily lively.
Li Xizhi sighed. "How rare! To encounter xiayao."
The xiayao paused briefly in Li Xizhi's rainbow light, then quickly darted into the clouds and disappeared. Li Xizhi glanced at them and said, "When great waters rise, xiayao appear. It must be due to our clan ancestor's rainclouds that these spirit beasts flew so low during their journey, allowing us to spot them."
Yuan Chengzhao agreed, adding with regret, "In today's world, such spirit beasts are rarely seen. Who knows how many things were destroyed when heaven and earth were torn apart..."
Li Xizhi hesitated for a long while before finally speaking, as though he had something to say yet swallowed it back down, his heart melancholy. "Do you know why xiayao love rainbows?"
Xiayao favored water and loved rainbows. Having cultivated the Rosy Dawn lineage, Li Xizhi naturally understood them well. Had the two companions not been beside him, the fish would have fed on a few more mouthfuls of his rainbow light before leaving so readily.
Seeing them shake their heads, Li Xizhi said, "Feathered beasts follow the Lu and Deng branches, such as feathered serpents and wild birds. Scaled beasts follow the He and Bing branches, such as vipers and crows. The xiayao has feathered wings and a scaled body, standing between both categories.
"And between the two categories, when water disperses and light gathers, harmonizing and complementing each other, that is the rainbow glow.
"The previous senior who cultivated the Morning Glow Dew Plucking Incantation was named Linguxia. His mount was a gudiao, which was likewise a half-scaled, half-feathered beast."
Yuan Chengzhao chimed in. Li Xizhi sighed inwardly, understanding their intentions, and took it as a gesture of comfort. He said in a low voice, "It seems the five categories—fur, feather, insect, scale, and bare—are each intertwined with the lineages of the Dao. The learning behind this is profound indeed."
Yang Xiao'er said, "When I was young and playful, I did not understand the value of study. Now I can only look upon Senior Brother with envy."
After flying for a while, the Yuan family's Caolinyuan appeared before them. Yuan Chengzhao's expression drooped. She offered a word of farewell and descended. With Lake Wangyue now close at hand, Li Xizhi's mood sank once more.
***
In earlier years, the Li family had enjoyed bountiful agricultural harvests and had long stored up reserves. Grain was distributed household by household according to protocol. While petty corruption was inevitable, the family's foundation was solid, so no major incidents occurred.
Li Yuanjiao's funeral had concluded long ago before news of Qingsong Abbey slowly began to spread. Only then did cultivators from various regions realize what had happened, hurrying over to pay their respects and offer a few words of condolence.
After all, the Li family had slain a disciple of Yuanwu Peak and still sat secure and unharmed. Even though Li Yuanjiao had died, it nonetheless demonstrated the Li family's profound foundation and backing.
As the news spread, the Li family's residence increasingly bustled like a marketplace. Li Yuexiang wore hemp mourning clothes; as Li Yuanjiao's orphaned daughter, anyone could easily deduce that she had inherited countless fine treasures, and being lovely in appearance, she drew the covetous eyes of numerous clans, who nearly wore down the threshold with visits.
Li Xijun was in seclusion, so Li Xuanxuan had stepped out temporarily to oversee the affairs on the mountain. The two attendants with him were disciples he had personally raised. They were fiercely loyal, yet lacked a bit of decorum. With a touch of helplessness, he stopped one of them first and asked what was happening.
"Elder! People from Xuanyue Gate have arrived!"
Another attendant hitched up his trouser legs, seemingly arriving straight out of the rain, shouting, "Elder, Master has returned! Master has returned!"
"Which master?!"
"The master from the immortal sect!"
Li Xuanxuan straightened his face, showing a rare trace of displeasure, and muttered in a low voice, "How ironic! Now the courtyard is bustling like a marketplace! Go and send that letter back!
"Our ancestor too—bringing up asking Li Xuanfeng to meet Yuansu at a time like this, so tactless! Better to wait."
Li Xuanxuan dismissed the servants, his head aching somewhat. Normally, these people would never dare cause a disturbance before him, but even the Dongliu Han family had sent someone to inquire. The situation increasingly felt out of hand; if mishandled, it might offend several families. Those outsiders did not understand the true circumstances, but that did not stop them from currying favor. Li Xuanfeng could no longer be found in the Southern Border, but the Li family on Lake Wangyue could not simply walk away.
Li Xuanxuan suddenly stood up and hurried outside. Sure enough, several figures were standing beyond the formation. The old man gasped, "Oh dear!" and rushed to open the array.
Li Xizhi had been waiting outside the formation for a short while when he noticed a woman in a yellowish-orange dress standing to one side. Her features bore the likeness of northern Yue's Zhe River region—a round face, dark brows, and delicate facial contours with a sweet air, yet she pressed her lips together, revealing a trace of sorrow.
He looked her over. The woman seemed to notice and spoke up softly: "Which immortal sect is Fellow Daoist from?"
Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao'er did not like wearing Qingchi robes, yet dressed in dark-patterned feather garments, they clearly hailed from an extraordinary background. Hearing her question, Li Xizhi cupped his hands. "Qingsui, Li Xizhi."
Just then, Li Xuanxuan opened the formation and greeted her: "So it is Fellow Daoist Tingyun, please enter the array."
She finally cupped her hands and looked warmly toward Li Xizhi, saying softly, "Your father and I had many ties in life; in ordinary times, you may visit my Xuanyue often."
Li Yuanjiao had passed away quite some time ago, and since the visitors were all cultivators, they dispensed with excessive mortal formalities; Li Xuanxuan simply led them inside.
Li Xizhi nodded in return. Polished and polite, he landed on the peak, burned paper money according to protocol, offered his bow before his father's memorial hall, and soon stepped outside, where Li Xuanxuan and the others were waiting.
Li Xizhi almost failed to recognize the little old man before him.
*Grandfather has aged so much!*
With the guest still beside them, Li Xuanxuan first drew Li Xizhi over and said toward the woman in the yellowish dress, "He is sensible and well-mannered."
Li Xuanxuan did not know Kong Tingyun's exact temper and could not be sure if she was someone who understood the bigger picture, so he dared not speak too definitively or make promises. Li Xizhi, however, perceived her sincerity and nodded in return.
Kong Tingyun did not linger, departing on the wind. Only then did Li Xuanxuan turn back toward Li Xizhi, looking at him with deep emotion, and sighed, "You too have broken through to Foundation Establishment! You brothers are all promising; now we only await Xijun!"
Li Xizhi was taken aback and asked, "Xijun has entered seclusion?!"
Li Xuanxuan waved his hand, putting the topic aside, and said, "I will take you to see Xiang'er."
Chapter 477