Mu Mili

Mount Wu. The grand formation atop Mount Wu had originally been laid down by Duanmu Kui—a shamanic array at the proud Purple Palace realm. Unfortunately, after Duanmu Kui died, the various Yue peoples gladly welcomed Qingchi, and this shamanic array had long since been offered up to the Qingchi Sect. Afterward, when Jiao Zhongzi took Mount Wu, he set up a new array, tightly enclosing Mount Wu within a pitch-black barrier of light. At the foot of the mountain lay a sprawl of bones beside a boiling pool of blood. The high priest knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. A gray wind issued from the mountain and slowly halted before him, condensing into an elder in black robes whose dark, eerie eyes stared coldly at the Shanyue priest. Finally receiving a response, the high priest was terrified yet overjoyed. In panic, he reported, “Lord! Xiandu underestimated the enemy... and was routed by the rebels at the Six Towns. All his generals have been captured, and over five thousand men were killed or wounded. The rearguard was shattered as well; trampling over one another, they were driven into the Six Towns. The Six Towns surrendered at the mere sight of their banners, and their vanguard has already reached Beiting...” The Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivator’s face darkened as he listened. In a low voice, he muttered, “Useless trash.” This person was naturally Mu Mili. Smoothing his black robes, he casually swept the offerings on the ground into his pouch. Riding the gray wind into the air, he hovered aloft, pressed a finger between his brows, and listened intently. “Dahe Mingfang.” He was a cautious man. Listening carefully for a few moments, he found that the rebel army had halted a hundred li outside the royal court and remained motionless. Cursing under his breath, suspicion crept into his mind. *Could someone be trying to lure me out of the mountain? Halting precisely a hundred li away—just at the limits of my immortal foundation’s divine reach...* At this thought, an unease suddenly welled up within Mu Mili. *In these times, Weihao has come from the north, and an aura of turmoil hangs over the realm. Wolfish, tiger-like clans feign slumber by our side, and Senior Brother has not returned for many years; I must tread with caution.* Having pondered this far, he intended to ride the wind back and interrogate the priest thoroughly. But suddenly, he felt a scorching heat at the back of his head. The clouds in the sky abruptly parted, and a brilliant golden light plummeted downward, accompanied by a thunderous shout: “I have waited long for you!” Cold sweat instantly broke out on Mu Mili’s back. His figure blurred at once, and billows of black smoke surged beneath his feet as he prepared to flee. Fear seized his heart. *Who is it?!* The golden radiance was dazzlingly bright. White stone bricks materialized one after another, tightly interlocking to form a colossal pass and gate. The towering city gate stood proud and imposing, its two white gateposts etched with myriad patterns, gleaming clear and crystalline, magnificent to behold. Within the gateway, brilliant light shimmered in a hazy glow, as if facing a blazing sun. The surging light washed clean the gray wind beneath his feet. Startled, Mu Mili immediately shook his sleeves, and two tortoise shields flew out. Only now did he clearly see a figure sitting cross-legged atop the radiant pass, smiling broadly. His Daoist robes snapped vigorously in the wind, and the brilliant light illuminated the towns and rivers below in blinding clarity. The youth chuckled, “Ximing was ordered to keep watch here, and I have waited for quite some time!” Li Ximing had obtained the Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan, which stemmed from the same origin as his cultivation, and had long spent time converting all his dharmic power. Though his immortal foundation had not been formed directly from the orthodox Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan, it was even more wondrous and divine, hanging high like a brilliant sun. “Li Ximing?” Mu Mili had never expected it to truly be the Li family. For an instant, he found it unbelievable, and regret washed over him. *I was too conceited!* It was not that Mu Mili had never considered the Li family attacking. But he had fancied himself clever, assuming the Li family’s disposition would naturally lead them to advance step by step. At the very least, they would first swallow the Yu and Fei families, which had no Foundation Establishment cultivators, then take down the solitary Huo Luo'e, before finally turning their sights on him. He had merely wanted to guard Mount Wu for Jiao Zhongzi and assumed the Li family would not arrive so soon. Hence, he had delayed leaving—only to now fall straight into the tiger’s maw. “Dammit!” He silently formed a hand seal. The two tortoise shields billowed with thick black qi, each bracing against one base of the gateway. Yet a scorching, searing brilliance beat against his face, baking his flesh until green smoke rose from his skin, feeling as though it might slough off. Gritting his teeth, he snarled, “Your Li family is truly cunning and vicious! With so many Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered, you still resort to such tricks to lure me out of the mountain!” Li Ximing merely urged his immortal foundation in silence, suppressing him beneath Huangyuan Pass. He replied softly, “Mount Wu was once the abode of Duanmu Kui. Even a few remnants of his handiwork would spell doom beyond redemption for minor Foundation Establishment cultivators like us. Senior’s shamanic dao is profound; please do not belittle yourself.” Mu Mili felt as if he were sinking into a mire. The hazy light radiating from the pass set his robes ablaze. He could only deduce that Li Ximing’s immortal foundation likely belonged to the Mingyang lineage and excelled at suppression. Not knowing where Li Qinghong and the others were lurking, he swallowed his pride and spoke conciliatorily, “Ximing, what you seek is nothing more than the Shanyue lands. Just let me leave... I shall return to the mountain, pack my belongings, and never return... Why must we resort to killing?” The suppressive might within Li Ximing’s Huangyuan Pass grew ever stronger, and he was more than happy to stall for time. He simply asked, “Answer me first: where is Jiao Zhongzi?” Mu Mili clamped his mouth shut and met the question with silence. Realizing the Li family had no intention of letting him walk away alive, he pulled a wooden talisman from his sleeve with a dark face and crushed it, saying coldly, “Were Senior Brother not away, how would you dare cast your eyes northward?!” The moment the wooden talisman shattered, Mount Wu shook violently. A plume of black clouds surged from the mountain summit, accompanied by a loud rustling hiss as it rose and hurtled toward where the two were clashing. *Rumble!* Huangyuan Pass shuddered faintly. The black cloud halted and condensed, transforming into a long-tailed, black-furred leopard beast with glowing green eyes—evidently Jiao Zhongzi’s mount. It spoke in a human voice like thunder, “Mu Mili! What the hell have you dragged yourself into?! Rushing to summon your grandpa out!” Mu Mili cursed back, “Stupid beast... The Li family is after our Mount Wu!” The beast was instantly alarmed. Swirling like a cloud, it lunged to drag Mu Mili out from beneath the radiant pass. But a wave of freezing snow swept in from the east, the wind and snow so sharp and biting that it blasted the beast right out of the cloud. Li Xijun, clad in white robes with a sword across his back, came treading upon the snow. With his transcendent, handsome features, he joined two fingers and stirred up a fierce, chilling gale. The young man gave a faint nod and smiled, “Greetings, Daoist friend.” The Li family was renowned for swordsmanship. Even before Li Xijun drew his sword, the beast had already grown apprehensive. As the two brothers stood side by side in the air, they radiated the majestic aura of a great immortal clan. On the other side, Mu Mili had exchanged dozens of blows with Li Ximing, yet remained utterly unable to break free from the brilliant light. His face was covered in red blisters and his lips were pale with fury. He could sense that the young man before him lacked combat experience and knew no formidable spells. Yet his immortal foundation was terrifyingly potent. No matter what shamanic arts Mu Mili wove together, this single radiant pass suppressed him with immovable weight. Moreover, this radiant pass seemed inherently suited for suppressing and grinding down an opponent. Escape was nearly impossible. Although Li Ximing could not finish him off immediately, Mu Mili’s dharmic power and vitality were rapidly depleting, dragging him ever deeper into the mire. “Juwu, aid me quickly!” As a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator, Mu Mili saw at a glance that Li Xijun had only recently broken through. His despairing heart suddenly sparked with hope. *It isn't Li Qinghong with her Profound Lightning Dao foundation! Just a green brat newly entered into Foundation Establishment... My chance of survival lies there!* Mu Mili’s spirits lifted. If they were truly facing Li Qinghong, who could wield lightning and thunder, neither of them would have any way out. He urgently called out to the demon beast Juwu. The black leopard-like beast cast a few wary glances, then exhaled a gust of wind and gave chase. But the youth before it formed hand seals and chanted an incantation. Bringing two fingers together, he unleashed dozens of streams of white qi. Undulations of Kui light rippled forth, transforming into a dense flurry of pine-needle-thin, biting snow carried on the wind, rushing straight at the beast.