Ever since the Jiang family splintered and fragmented into a scattered mess of clans great and small, Lake Wangyue had become territory from which the Xiao family quietly extracted profit. Though they collected no formal tribute, the mines, spiritual springs, and blessed grounds along the eastern shore had been under the Xiao family’s control for over two hundred years.
In truth, in earlier years the clans around the lake had viewed the Li family as nothing more than a puppet backed by the Xiao family across the buffer zone on the southern shore. The Li family had dutifully obeyed commands to crush the Yu family’s market town, driving the Yus step-by-step toward decline.
On the grand chessboard of the realm, Xiao Chuting had casually played a single stone with minimal cost, bypassing the Qingchi Sect’s ban on cross-territory annexation to bring down the peak-power Yu family in ruins—a first-rate calculation.
Now, the Li family was expanding rapidly, having become the overlord of the lake and harboring ambitions to swallow the entire territory. This inevitably touched upon the Xiao family’s interests, making the Xiao family’s stance particularly crucial.
Seeing Xiao Yuansi ask so directly, Li Xijun nodded slightly and replied in a soft voice, “The time is drawing near. This junior intends to take the Yu family’s territory into our fold.”
He mentioned only the Yu family’s lands to signal that he had no intention of laying hands on the other clans along the eastern shore. Hearing this, Xiao Yuansi did not say much, but spoke mildly:
“A few days ago, my family’s True Person hosted a guest in the mountains—True Person Puyu of the Quhai Sect from the Hetian Sea. He mentioned that True Person Yuanwu traveled to the Eastern Sea to seek medicine, only to be politely turned away by True Person Puyu. Highly displeased, Yuanwu flicked his sleeves and departed in anger.”
At these words, Li Xijun understood at once. Xiao Yuansi continued:
“The divine ability cultivated by True Person Puyu can govern yin and yang and discern life and death... Our True Person’s meaning is that Yuanwu’s six senses are crumbling from within, his dharma essence is scattering outward, his exterior is dim and clouded, and the black light upon him portends sudden death. He likely has half a foot in the underworld already.”
Li Xijun smiled upon hearing this news. Beside them, Juwu, terrified at hearing these cultivators discuss the life and death of a True Person, kept his head buried low in utter dread. Li Xijun asked:
“Was True Person Yuanwu seeking a life-extending medicine? He seems to be only at the mid Purple Palace realm... Surely he is not attempting a breakthrough to Golden Core?”
Xiao Yuansi answered, “He sought a Purple Palace-grade Qushui Miyuan to attempt body possession. Yet his divine ability is entirely unsuited for such an art; doing so is a path of certain death. True Person Puyu is a master in this field—how could he not see through it? He refused to let him squander it.”
Li Ximing then asked Kongheng, who had remained silent at the side, “Master, what kind of figure is this True Person Puyu?”
Kongheng pressed his palms slightly together and replied, “The overseas realm is vast, and the open waters are more than twice the expanse of the inland world. Various sects dwell there, some hidden and some manifest. It is said that the Quhai Sect resides on Penglai, a blessed land that appears and disappears at intervals.”
Li Ximing said softly, “Then Master’s meaning is that the Xiao family supports our family in annexing this land.”
“Indeed,” Xiao Yuansi answered. “Whether supported or not, your family will take Wangyue eventually. With the friendship between our two families, it is far better to turn such an interest into a favor.”
Xiao Yuansi continued, “Mount Wu is indeed a place of shamanic cultivation, but its spiritual energy is quite decent and can be put to good use. Once your noble family has pacified the dense forest, send word, and our family will surely come to offer congratulations.”
He added, “I must also take this Juwu with me for further interrogation. As for Guiluan... did she fail her breakthrough and pass away?”
Xiao Yuansi sighed. “When Guitu heard of this, he was overcome with grief. But with our mountains sealed, he cannot travel, so he entrusted me to ask and convey his mourning.”
Li Ximing nodded silently. Xiao Yuansi had personally escorted the young girl when she was married into the family years ago. Li Ximing could not help but sigh softly and confirm it.
Xiao Yuansi said no more. Cupping his hands in farewell, he seized Juwu—who was wailing and begging for mercy—and departed. The two brothers saw him off to the border, then rode the wind back. Li Xijun said:
“The spiritual energy here is dense, unmatched by any mountain in our clan. We can certainly move members here to cultivate.”
Li Ximing nodded, surveying the surrounding scenery, and sighed, “The great momentum is already established. In the Shanyue lands, only Huoluo’e remains unsubdued. Let us press forward in one vigorous effort and bring him under our family’s governance.”
Li Xijun said, “All the Shanyue of the northern foothills will fall into our family’s hands. The entire southern shore of Lake Wangyue... will bear the surname Li.”
The party conversed briefly and soon arrived at Huoluo’e’s domain. Situated furthest south and very close to Mount Dali, it was sparsely populated and appeared deserted.
Huoluo’e held little presence among the Shanyue. He was said to be taciturn and solitary, keeping his head down in cultivation and rarely dealing with others. Even his cultivation site was an openly accessible immortal mountain protected by weak formations.
He had opened his mountain gates wide, allowing any Shanyue with spirit apertures to enter and cultivate, leaving them to learn as much or as little as they wished. As a result, the location of his mountain was completely known, and outsiders had infiltrated it in large numbers, including Li family scouts. Thus, the group flew straight south and quickly arrived.
Li Ximing called out, “Li Ximing of the Qingdu Li family has come to visit! May senior please open the array!”
After waiting two breaths, a figure rose on the wind—a young man of merely Qi Refinement cultivation, calm, respectful, and composed. He bowed respectfully:
“I am Duan Du’an. My master departed for distant travels several months ago and left words for me to convey.”
He relayed Huoluo’e’s message: “Huoluo’e wrongfully occupied this treasured land to cultivate and has caused much offense. Today, I travel east with the waters toward the Eastern Sea, never to return. The spiritual items and talents gathered over twenty-odd years have all been left on Mount Huoluo, at your disposal.”
‘Huoluo’e fled!’
The two brothers exchanged glances, not particularly surprised. Whether Huoluo’e was unwilling to submit or simply distrustful, avoiding a meeting was the best choice for him.
Li Xijun stepped through the snow into Huoluo’e’s cave abode and searched twice, finding only ordinary goods. The Shanyue had spoken nicely, but in reality had left nothing of real value behind.
Descending into the mountain, the disciples opened the mountain gates to surrender, kneeling in neat rows—three to five Qi Refinement cultivators and several dozen Embryonic Breathing ones. They seemed to have prepared carefully, dressed in Eastern attire and kowtowing without any Shanyue barbarian habits.
Li Ximing and Li Xijun rode the wind out. The disciples still knelt on the ground. Their cultivation arts were merely first- or second-rank and of little use, but with the territory newly expanded, these people could still be put to work. Li Ximing bade them rise and said gently:
“Since you have submitted to our family, you must rectify your character. First follow us back to Lijing.”
The cultivators complied. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators lifted them into the wind, as Embryonic Breathing cultivators could not ride the wind on their own. Looking back at the Shanyue lands beneath his feet, Li Ximing thought to himself:
‘All the Shanyue of the northern foothills have fallen into our family’s hands. The entire southern shore of Lake Wangyue... now bears the surname Li.’
***
Months later, in the royal court of Northern Shanyue.
In the sky, the radiant Huangyuan Pass shone brightly, its luster visible to all across Northern Shanyue. Forces from Eastern Shanyue and the Li family attacked simultaneously, and Northern Shanyue, already disintegrating, fell completely in short order.
Ever since crushing Xiandu beneath the pass, Li Ji and Chenyang Youjie had split into two armies, sweeping across all of Northern Shanyue like clouds driven by the wind, advancing irresistibly straight to the royal court.
Blood dripped down the steps. The silver-crafted throne gleamed, fallen lampstands extinguished in pools of blood on the floor, while two rows of clan soldiers stood in silence.
Blood still dripping from his sword, Li Ji strode forward. Having fought his way here, his temperament had sharpened. At the highest point of the hall stood a youth, looking pensive.
Li Ji had broken through to the seventh layer of Embryonic Breathing and developed spiritual sense, finally able to perceive the cultivation of others. Looking at Li Zhouwei, who was already prepared to enter seclusion for Qi Refinement at any moment, his breath caught slightly.
Li Zhouwei stood to the side. Having led an army through this campaign, he had become far more vibrant, no longer carrying that wooden, clay-doll feeling of detachment from the mortal world; he finally looked like a youth, with a faint smile on his face.
Chenyang Youjie knelt quietly below the steps, looking up at the youth standing before the throne, pondering anxiously:
‘I wonder which prince will be installed on the throne... or if Northern Shanyue will be abolished and handed to Eastern Shanyue... That would make Eastern Shanyue far too bloated...’
Chenyang Youjie prostrated himself, observing carefully. Not seeing anyone from Eastern Shanyue, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Li Zhouwei did not speak, watching him quietly. Chenyang Youjie wiped away his tears, dropped to his knees with a thud, and declared solemnly:
“The Chenyang family will never betray the clan! The Chenyang family will forever be the faithful hound of Dahe Mingfang...!”
He muttered his oaths, but Li Zhouwei placed little faith in words, listening quietly with halberd in hand. Soon, footsteps echoed before the courtyard, and several figures entered—sturdy men wielding golden hammers, white-haired elders, and at their head, a young man clad in a wolf-fur cloak, exuding powerful auras.
Chenyang Youjie paused, soon noticing the man in the wolf-fur cloak standing with hands clasped behind his back, dignified and poised, possessing Qi Refinement cultivation.
“General Li has arrived!”
“Li Ji greets the house head!”
Li Ji naturally recognized Li Chengliao and knelt in respect. Behind him, Chenyang Youjie was startled for a moment before hurriedly kowtowing as well. Li Chengliao’s brow smoothed and he smiled:
“Chenyang Youjie, the letter says you are young and capable, and offers you immense fortune and nobility. You must hold onto it firmly!”
Li Chengliao had gathered intelligence and knew of this man. Having in mind to recruit him, he used courtesy before force, speaking resonantly:
“Chenyang Youjie, step forward.”
The Shanyue man hurriedly rose, ascended the steps in a few paces, suddenly overcome with an intense premonition. Blood rushed to his head. But Li Zhouwei pointed his halberd toward the silver throne and said softly:
“Sit upon it.”
Chenyang Youjie was stunned, and walked up hurriedly. Li Zhouwei stowed his halberd, stepped down from the dais, and cupped his hands.
Chenyang Youjie sat down blankly, thoughts detonating like lightning in his mind. For a moment, he hallucinated spears resting at his throat once more. Looking up into the brilliant light:
‘Who does Eastern Shanyue think they are? The current leader is from the Zhong branch, and Dahe Mingfang personally appointed me as king! The only thing they have over me is cultivation...’
In just two months, Chenyang Youjie had risen from an impoverished clan outside the court to the ruler of Northern Shanyue. Even in his wildest dreams, he had never imagined this; he had thought ‘immense fortune and nobility’ meant becoming a noble chieftain.
Li Zhouwei stowed his weapon, glanced at him, and commanded, “Step down.”
Chenyang Youjie was dumbfounded and scrambled down.
Li Chengliao, having seen Chenyang Youjie sitting on the throne upon entering, understood that his eldest son intended to make Chenyang Youjie ruler of Northern Shanyue. He immediately declared:
“Chenyang Youjie shall be installed as the ruler of Northern Shanyue. The borders shall remain unchanged. Clan cultivators will enter to survey spirit fields and investigate spiritual energy, and all systems will follow the precedent of Eastern Shanyue.”
Li Chengliao continued, “The former territories of Huoluo’e and Fei Luoya are entirely assigned to Eastern Shanyue. As for Eastern Shanyue’s easternmost four towns, which are already mostly populated by Easterners, they shall be organized into a new commandery under the direct rule of Wutu Peak.”
Seeing his future peer—with whom he would have friction and dealings—deprived of the most fertile lands and not even granted the right to attend clan deliberations, Chenyang Youjie felt vastly relieved and secretly gloated.
These matters had been agreed upon before the campaign, now reiterated for Li Zhouwei’s ears. Seeing no objections from Li Zhouwei, Li Chengliao waved his hand for the others to lead men to survey the spirit fields:
“You may all take your leave.”
Having just sat on that throne, Chenyang Youjie’s mentality was already completely transformed. Dusting off his robes, he exited the hall, already scheming quietly.
With everyone gone, only Li Chengliao and his son remained in the hall.
Li Zhouwei bowed and greeted him, “Minghuang greets Father.”
Only then did a hint of worry surface on Li Chengliao’s face. He said softly, “Over the past few months, the various Shanyue lands have been nearly pacified. I will keep it brief.”
“There are two matters to tell you... First, Senior White Ape has entered seclusion to prepare for a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.”
Li Zhouwei paused in surprise. Having been protected by White Ape since childhood, he held deep affection for the beast. Hearing this, he asked, “What did Seventh Grand-uncle say?”
Li Chengliao nodded and said softly, “Without a Suiyuan Pill, it will likely be difficult.”
Li Zhouwei lowered his brow slightly. But Li Chengliao organized his words and revealed an even bigger piece of news:
“Your grandfather... has already entered seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment. Several uncles have gone back to look in on him...”
Hearing this, concern finally broke through Li Zhouwei’s expression. He shook his head slightly and asked, “I presume there is no Suiyuan Pill either?”
Li Chengliao laughed bitterly and answered, “Naturally not.”
“That pill has long been controlled by Qingchi. Even a power as formidable as the Xiao family has to rely on connections within the sect to exchange for one... When your grand-uncles broke through, they did not necessarily have the aid of such a pill...”
Li Xicheng’s current position had grown increasingly awkward. With more and more Foundation Establishment cultivators emerging in the Li family, Qi Refinement was losing its stature. Moreover, Li Chengliao had already taken over the family’s administrative affairs, and Li Xicheng possessed no secondary cultivation crafts, leaving him only to polish his cultivation day after day.
Seeing Li Xijun and Li Ximing rising higher and higher while Qi Refinement cultivators were reduced to foot soldiers, Li Xicheng was getting older, watching helplessly as his brothers toiled.
Li Chengliao understood his father’s feelings.
Although Li Xicheng was less talented than his brothers, he was more than ten years their senior. After polishing his cultivation for so many years, he had long reached the pinnacle of Qi Refinement. Now, it seemed, he had decided to seclude himself for a breakthrough.
Perhaps while refining his cultivation over the past few days, he had experienced a sudden surge of spiritual inspiration, finding the opportunity for a breakthrough. How could he remain idle then? It was no wonder he wished to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Li Chengliao spoke thus, yet in his heart he knew clearly—he was merely trying to keep Li Zhouwei from being distracted. His father’s breakthrough was far more than ‘somewhat difficult’; he could only sigh silently.
These matters were hard for Li Chengliao to voice, and not knowing the exact situation on the mountain, he changed the subject. He retrieved a jade box from his robes and bade Li Zhouwei come forward.
Seeing Li Zhouwei at the peak of Embryonic Breathing, Li Chengliao thought to himself, then said in a clear voice:
“An Siwei has returned from the Great Desert, replaced by someone else. This is the seventh portion of Golden Yang Huangyuan stored by our family. Take it, and prepare to break through to Qi Refinement!”
Li Zhouwei accepted it with both hands. Sweeping his spiritual sense inside, he instantly recognized it:
“Golden Yang Huangyuan!”
Chapter 510