Yishan City.
The array atop Yishan City gleamed, its patterns appearing exceptionally sharp amidst the winter snow. A streak of golden light swept in from afar and landed upon the battlements.
“Greetings, General!”
Li Xuanfeng arrived riding the wind, still clutching a scaly demon beast in his hand. Its green eyes stared blankly toward the sky, dead for quite some time. The guards on both flanks drew back one after another, calling out their greetings to the general.
He nodded, descended the stairs, and made his way to his residence. Pushing the door open, he found no servants within; the halls were even somewhat dim. A youth was crouched inside, holding a longbow and carefully tuning it.
The moment the door creaked open, the youth raised his brows. His facial features bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Li Xuanfeng’s, especially a pair of sharp brows that held an untamed air. With that glance, the youth arched an eyebrow and said, “Father is back.”
He showed no excitement; his lips merely trembled with some indistinct emotion as he called toward the courtyard, “Mother!”
Li Xuanfeng stood quietly. The temperature in the residence dropped considerably from the condensed water qi radiating from the demon beast in his grasp. The old man watched helplessly as the youth turned his back, his expression remaining very calm.
Ning Hemian hurried out from the courtyard. She was getting on in years as well, possessing late Qi Refinement cultivation. Stepping swiftly before him, her gaze paused upon the grisly wound on his neck, and she choked out softly, “Husband!”
Li Xuanfeng patted her back, tossing the scaled tail he had been clutching to the side. Densely packed wounds resembling fish scales covered his hand. He said in a low voice, “They were mostly a bunch of juniors. I was just in a hurry to kill them, so it was hard to avoid a few injuries.”
Li Yuanqin stood off to the side, glancing at the wounds on his father's hand. With one hand tucked into his sleeve and the other gripping the bow, he seemed lost in thought.
Ning Hemian wept against his chest for a moment, then quickly composed herself and answered, “Now that you're back, go see the Real Person at once. In recent years, his temper has grown erratic, and my brothers have suffered many rebukes.”
Li Xuanfeng gathered the spoils, concealed his figure, and quietly slipped out of the residence.
Li Yuanqin saw it clearly and remained silent on the side. Only when Li Xuanfeng had disappeared did a flicker of realization and gloomy resentment rise upon his face. Ning Hemian called him twice before he finally snapped out of it, saying softly, “Mother.”
Ning Hemian frowned and said in a heavy voice, “Your father only has time to return a few times every ten years. Why didn't you show even a hint of a smile?”
Li Yuanqin looked at the longbow in his hand with keen interest and said offhandedly, “The moment he stepped through the door, he went to find the Real Person. How would I know what he has planned? I only ever wanted his archery skills, yet he always refuses to teach me!”
Ning Hemian was somewhat displeased, but did not say much.
Suddenly, a youth's clear voice sounded from outside the manor gates: “Brother Yuanqin!”
Li Yuanqin took up his bow and briskly walked out of the courtyard, a radiant smile surfacing on his face. Pushing open the manor gates, he saw two youths standing outside, both at the Qi Refinement realm.
The three greeted each other very warmly and walked together onto the street. Li Yuanqin seemed completely unaffected by his father's wounds, appearing leisurely and carefree. The two brothers exchanged glances, and the leading youth said, “Let's go drink!”
“Drinking it is!”
The two laughed loudly, while Li Yuanqin strutted down the street with his hands clasped behind his back, flamboyant and arrogant, raising his brows as he bantered.
The two brothers exchanged glances and crowded around him as they walked forward, their eyes filled with insolent laughter. The Chi brothers merely followed silently behind him. One of them laughed inwardly and sent a message via spiritual sense: ‘Li Xuanfeng has been away for ten years, leaving this kid unattended for ten years. He's long since turned into a dandy whom you and I can manipulate at will! The clan's arrangement is truly brilliant! As long as this boy is in our hands, when Yuansu dies, Li Xuanfeng will be constrained on all sides to protect his lineage, and in the end he'll have no choice but to be our hound.’
‘Not to mention Li Yuanqin’s seniority is exceptionally high. In another seventy or eighty years, he’ll be among the highest in seniority in that Li clan. If he's sent back to Qingdu, the Li clan will lose half their autonomy.’
Reaching this satisfying thought, the two looked toward Li Yuanqin ahead of them. Li Yuanqin was smiling as well; taking after his father, he was born with a fierce look, and when he smiled, it carried an inexplicably chilling coldness.
……
Li Xuanfeng rode the wind into the cave estate, greeted by white mist covering the ground. The main gate was already open, awaiting his arrival.
He strode inside. Real Person Yuansu sat on the high dais as always, but now a shroud of clouds and mist veiled his face completely.
Seated opposite him was a young man in a blue and white robe. His features were handsome with curved brows and eyes, bearing somewhat feminine grace. In his hand, he held a jade cup, savoring it carefully as he looked down with a faint smile.
Judging purely by this man's bearing, he was eight or nine out of ten chances a Real Person as well. Li Xuanfeng bowed deeply like a falling mountain of gold and collapsing pillar of jade. The handsome youth nodded, while Yuansu waved his hand.
“This is Real Person Puyu, Sect Master of the Quhai Sect of Penglai.”
“Xuanfeng pays respects to the two Real Persons.”
Li Xuanfeng bowed again, but Real Person Puyu spoke first, saying warmly, “No need for ceremony. My sect's founding patriarch was a cultivator from the state of Wei, so there is some affinity after all.”
As he spoke, a light faintly glowed within those handsome eyes, a deep shade of azure, settling upon Li Xuanfeng before he let out a soft exclamation of surprise. “His blood vitality is quite extraordinary, born with divine strength—truly a fine body. Is Senior Yuansu intending to inhabit this body?”
Real Person Puyu nodded and said warmly, “This child possesses a resolute character, has severed worldly ties, and has a promising future. Why doesn't Fellow Daoist storm the Tangjin Gate and retrieve that 《Tianxu Zengjin Classic》?”
The clouds and mist across Yuansu's face churned, the countenance beneath somewhat sinister, as he merely replied, “Forget it. I am not accustomed to using another's body, and even less inclined to practice those numerous techniques. If I had the inclination, I would have reached the peak of the Purple Palace long ago; why drag out an ignoble existence today?”
Real Person Puyu fell silent, murmuring, “If you were to execute the art of extending your path, Chi Wei would laugh himself back to life, and that Bili Immortal Sword would probably slash through the Great Void to lop off your head.”
Yuansu burst into laughter and replied, “The mainland is rigid and dull, and that Chi Wei was the foremost among the rigid.”
Having spoken to this point, they brought up Yuanwu for a round of ridicule, and their urge to converse drew to a close. Real Person Puyu cupped his hands in farewell and smiled as he glanced at Li Xuanfeng.
Real Person Puyu could govern yin and yang and discern life and death. As he was an overseas cultivator, if Yuansu did not conceal himself, with Yuanwu's precedent before them, he feared falling into some calculation or scheme. Yuansu had thus kept his face veiled in clouds and mist the entire time.
The moment Real Person Puyu vanished, Yuansu finally dispersed the clouds and mist from his face.
Seeing that the visitor had departed, Yuansu finally relaxed, looked at Li Xuanfeng, and asked, “How did it go?”
Li Xuanfeng replied, “Regarding the Real Person's command, I have accomplished eighty percent. The remainder are either hiding in the mountains or refusing to leave the island. Xuanfeng was incompetent and could not find an opening.”
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, flipped over the scaled water beast, slit open its belly, and retrieved dozens of embroidered pouches tied into a cluster, hanging bloodily from a jade talisman.
Yuansu waved his hand indifferently, taking up the cluster of storage bags from the ground. Seeing that none had been opened, he tapped the table twice and asked, “Did you find those two Demon-Subduing Bronze Staffs?”
Li Xuanfeng shook his head.
Soon, footsteps sounded before the cave gate. Ning Heyuan hurried inside. Yuansu took the cluster of storage bags and casually tossed them into his arms, saying offhandedly, “Take them to Chi Zhiyun! As for what to say, you know best in your heart.”
Ning Heyuan bowed deeply and swiftly withdrew. The mist drifted, leaving only Yuansu and Li Xuanfeng once more.
Yuansu slowly leaned back against his jade throne, looking somewhat fatigued, and said softly, “The Situ brat is not dead; I fear he may be plotted against.”
Li Xuanfeng's expression did not change as he listened in silence. Yuansu chuckled dryly, the mist on his face wavering slightly as he said lazily, “Since it's already been discovered, there's nothing to hide. Just wait some time; the Xiuyue Sect should send an invitation to observe the ceremony.”
“What is the situation in the Northern Sea?”
“Qing Jifang and the others found signs of spiritual aura shifts in the Northern Sea. Going all the way to the northernmost part of the Northern Sea, a rain of jade clattered down, frightening them so much they ran for their lives.”
“So it is in the Northern Sea.”
“Xiuyue's squabbling back and forth was all just a show. They had long prepared in the Northern Sea. In my view, Qing Jifang was also acting on orders from that one on Mount Changhuai, specially dispatched to find that spot.”
Yuansu then instructed, “Do not wander outside these few days. Yuanwu is bound to go mad during this time. Once he passes away, you will accompany me to the Northern Sea to observe the ceremony.”
Li Xuanfeng complied and slowly backed away. Only when he had retreated outside the cave estate did he raise his head. In a daze, he saw that atop the jade dais veiled in white mist sat not Yuansu, but a pool of limpid, clear azure water.
A mournful, weeping sound of a vertical bamboo flute drifted past his ears. Only after leaving the cave estate did Li Xuanfeng slowly recover, sighing inwardly, ‘Yuansu does not have much time left.’
……
Qingsong Island.
Qingsong Island was not very large, but having been nourished by spiritual aura over these years, its earth veins had expanded. The entire mountain had risen several times in height, and the mountain ranges beneath the sea had gradually surfaced. Beyond the territories originally divided by the various sects, several overseas Foundation Establishment factions had established outposts here as well.
Yet ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. The spiritual aura on Qingsong Island waned year by year. After all, it was never a blessed ground; it was merely where an ancient grottocelestial had once settled, causing the spiritual aura to surge, and now it was steadily returning to its original state.
As a renowned sect within the realm, the Qingchi Sect occupied a solitary peak, covered in green pines with biting winds howling across.
Li Yuanjiao sat quietly upon the mountain. Standing beside the jade table was Li Jiangqun, elegantly attired and holding a sword, faint sparks of fire radiating from him. Benefiting from the spiritual aura here, Li Jiangqun had made rapid progress in recent years, already breaking through to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.
Li Yuanjiao remained poised and composed as always. Having broken through to the mid Foundation Establishment realm, his spells had become even more refined. As he quietly contemplated his spells, various shimmering rainbow lights surfaced around him, looking rather mystical.
After a short wait, someone soon came up to report, “Informing the Daoist, Han Shizhen has arrived to pay a visit.”
This man was the patriarch of the Dongliu Han family, possessing decent cultivation. Back when he was still the young master, he had personally visited the Li family, establishing a connection and trading 【Wanling Flowers】 alongside them.
The Han family was located relatively close to this place. Han Shizhen was naturally sociable and skilled at forging connections, and willing to humble himself. He mingled very well. Upon hearing that a Daoist of the Li family was stationed here, he immediately took an interest. He had visited over a dozen times, offering gifts and seeking intimacy, until he finally managed to set foot upon this mountain.
Since this man already had ties with his family, Li Yuanjiao let him be. After several years of perseverance, the man truly managed to build a rapport.
Hearing that Han Shizhen had arrived, Li Jiangqun found an excuse and quickly withdrew. Li Yuanjiao put away his jade slip and saw a middle-aged man ascending, sporting a hearty smile, calling out, “Is Brother Jiao in his residence?!”
Han Shizhen smiled warmly, exchanged a few polite pleasantries, and only then said, “Hearing that the General has returned to the city, I wonder how things are? Coming here this time, I have a piece of news to report to the Daoist. Daoist, I have obtained some clues: Yuan Chengdun may have already perished!”
“What?”
Finally receiving clues regarding Yuan Tuan, Li Yuanjiao was greatly stirred and immediately asked, “What is the situation?”
Seeing Li Yuanjiao frown, Han Shizhen hastily took a piece of green stone from his sleeve, presented it before him, and said gravely, “A few days ago, a group of rogue cultivators arrived at the Qunyi Strait, bringing back many spiritual items to sell in my family's market. My subordinates kept reporting upward, saying these spiritual items were unheard of.”
“I went to inspect them personally, flipped through several ancient records, and only then recognized it as 【Evil-Suppressing Stone】. It has long been extinct overseas, existing only within the realm... I questioned those rogue cultivators carefully and learned that it had been spat out from thin air, falling into the sea.”
“I heard that Yuan Chengdun practiced the 『Fuqingshan』 art, and upon death, he transforms into precisely this spiritual item! Suspicion arose in my heart, so I went to search thoroughly, and sure enough, I found quite a lot of it on that seabed.”
Li Yuanjiao was knowledgeable and instantly understood his implication, murmuring, “You mean... he perished inside some secret realm, transformed into spiritual items to return to heaven and earth, but was expelled by that secret realm and dumped entirely into the sea?”
Han Shizhen promptly flattered him, “The Daoist truly has great insight!”
Li Yuanjiao was indebted to his master's grace and cared deeply about Yuan Tuan. Over the years, he had searched all over the Eastern Sea. Han Shizhen knew his heart lay there, so the moment news arrived, he came straight to report it.
Li Yuanjiao pondered for a breath and immediately deduced, saying softly, “If Yuan Chengdun truly met his end, those two Demon-Subduing Bronze Staffs were likely retrieved by them long ago. They must be on those rogue cultivators, but because they are too valuable, they concealed them carefully and refused to tell you.”
Han Shizhen was slightly startled, then caught on at once, saying in chagrin, “It was my carelessness! Once I made the deduction, I didn't dare dawdle and immediately came to find you, Daoist. I should have apprehended them earlier.”
Li Yuanjiao had long known that Eastern Sea cultivators had little in the way of moral baseline, so he was not surprised. He said gravely, “I shall accompany you to that market, and take the opportunity to see where in the Qunyi Strait this took place.”
……
Zhulu Sea, Zongquan Island.
Clouds drifted above Zongquan Island amid damp moisture. A bronze-colored ritual altar loomed high, covered in intricate patterns carving various scenes of rain, mist, and thunder, the bronze and iron colors gleaming in harmony with the green stone.
Li Qinghong had cultivated here for over ten years. With coming and going inconvenient, she had instructed Zong Yan to construct another...
Chapter 511