Yanyang

Spring rain fell continuously. Li Tongya's cemetery had been refurbished ten years ago, but the tombstone remained the same one from back then—simple, elegant, and standing quietly amidst the spring rain. Bai Rong stood before the grave for only a few breaths. Looking up at the forest of stone tablets, he flusteredly muttered a few words before stepping back. Somewhat dazed, he said, "Let's leave it at that. I'll pick another day to return. For now, let us go down and sit." Sensing that he was ill at ease, Li Xijun led him to the great hall. An order had already been sent down beforehand, and a servant promptly came up presenting a storage bag. Li Xijun said respectfully, "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior. We have prepared a meager gift; please accept it with a smile." Bai Rong was a demonic creature after all, so he did not stand on ceremony. He took the storage bag, casually hooked it onto his belt, and sat down. Small in stature, he sat cross-legged on the chair, turned sideways, and asked, "Coming out of seclusion this time, I paid respects to the Purple Palace master and heard only that the winds and clouds are shifting—Master Shangyuan is about to attempt a breakthrough. Is that true or not?" Seeing Li Xijun nod, Bai Rong said, "The great upheaval approaches. If Master Shangyuan succeeds, it will likely be a momentous event unseen in seven hundred years..." Li Xijun said, "If one more Shangyuan True Monarch emerges, to say nothing of anything else, perhaps all the cultivation arts will change along with him." Bai Rong paused briefly, his expression turning solemn as he nodded. "Indeed! If Shangyuan succeeds in his breakthrough, he will not only become the first Golden Core in seven hundred years, but will also have forged the Yuzhen Six-Four Unified Emptiness Nature, becoming the master of the Yuzhen Fruit Position. We shall all witness the shifting of heaven and earth." Li Xijun asked, "Is the Fruit Position of the Yuzhen Dao currently vacant?" Bai Rong nodded, a hint of irony in his smile. "I heard the elders in our cave are heading to the North Sea in a few months to observe the ceremony. It is mostly for Shangyuan's great breakthrough. The likes of us should avoid rushing to the North Sea; who knows if Golden Cores might clash? Still, an occasion like this comes only once in decades, and it is Shangyuan—the premier sword immortal of the past century. To think that everyone, inland and overseas, from Embryonic Breathing to Purple Palace, is watching... It is quite a spectacle." He smiled, a fox-like slyness appearing on his face. "Though it is difficult for us to go to the North Sea in person, we can watch from afar. Who knows if an epiphany might come of it?" Li Xijun asked, "Dare I ask, Senior... My elder brother's master fell into that cave heaven... There has been no news to this day, and I know not whether it bodes fortune or disaster." Bai Rong stepped forward and said respectfully, "My master said that strife arose within the immortal paths due to internal discord. The Leiyun Cave Heaven, which they had dragged their feet and wrangled over with the dragon race, has effectively been abandoned. Over a dozen Purple Palace cultivators entered the cave together to reap a fortune and swiftly departed." Li Xijun did not understand the mysteries of the so-called Leiyun Temple Cave Heaven. It seemed that even if Purple Palace cultivators entered, they might not be able to sweep away all its treasures. He sighed inwardly, *A pity our clan never had the chance to share in the spoils. Originally, I thought it might have been an opportunity for Aunt...* He then voiced his concern: "Zhi-ge'er never mentioned it! If Dragon Lords surround that cave heaven and he searches his way there, wouldn't his life hang in the balance?!" Bai Rong babbled incessantly, chattering away. Seeing that they had arrived at this topic, Li Xijun immediately took the opportunity to inquire further. Bai Rong propped his feet up, leaned back limply against the chair, and said casually, "You must understand, that cave heaven is Leiyun Temple. In its glory days, it called itself the Ce Lei Bo Yun Fa Dao, and its founding patriarch came from the north—he was the foremost disciple of the ancient Yanyang Temple!" "Yanyang Temple?" "That temple's original master was called Shenyanzi. In ancient times, he studied under the Dao Fetus sect as a nominal disciple. Later, a whim struck him, and he sought to merge the Immortal and Buddhist paths into one." Bai Rong took a sip of tea and answered, "No matter how fallen the Ce Lei Bo Yun Fa Dao has become, it remains a legacy of the human race. With several dragons encircling it, how much favor could they possibly receive? Naturally, they must find someone who fits the lineage... to send in as a key." Li Xijun understood at once, realizing that Bai Rong's words did not refer to an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, but to Li Qinghong. Li Xijun followed his train of thought and whispered, "I see! I suppose the Dragon Lords hope to rely on the connection between Leiyun Temple and Qinghong to extract more from that cave heaven." The rest went without saying. Li Xijun thought inwardly, *No wonder Qinghong vanished without a word; it seems she had no choice. These matters circulate among True Monarchs and Purple Palace lords—no matter how clever she is, how could she have guessed it? I fear Qingchi sent her out, and several Purple Palace dragons were waiting for her there. She was completely powerless.* *Back then, Chi Wei wanted to refine pills, and Qinghong stubbornly held back from breaking through to Foundation Establishment. I wondered why Qingchi demanded her everywhere, assuming it was only because our ancestors' immortal foundation was superior. Seen now... she has so many uses, bound to come in handy sooner or later!* Before his eyes rose the image of Li Qinghong silently suppressing her cultivation on the mountain while Chi Wei and the others sat among the clouds with sneering, mocking smiles. He drifted into a daze for a moment. Bai Rong seemed not to notice him; reaching into his sleeve, he produced a cluster of fruit and popped one into his mouth. Li Xijun, having finally obtained this rare chance, was unwilling to let him leave easily and hurried to ask more. Bai Rong said, "Our Dali Demon Cave sits here watching the shifting winds and recognizes that Yuan family. What their clan cultivates is the Qingxuan lineage's Qingyan Divine Peak Fuyuan Nature. Nowadays, very few under heaven cultivate Earth Virtue, so the Yuan family still enjoys some renown. That Yanyang Temple was rather interesting back then—it was the very lineage obtained by the Yuan family's forebears!" That name was quite familiar. Li Xijun was thoroughly versed in the Clan History and had personally overseen the Six Yan Fate-Matching Rite for Li Wushao, so he recalled it immediately. *Members of the Yuan family? Cultivating the Qingxuan lineage? It seems this tribulation was inevitable!* Bai Rong continued, "The Yuan family believed no one was paying attention and did not even take precautions. Yet how could they escape the discerning gaze of a Golden Core? With a single glance, it was recognized that what they obtained was once the northern Yanyang Temple's lineage! As for Yuan Chengdun... he probably realized it later on, and heroically departed for the East Sea, intending to leave a fallback for his eldest son. Yet his own clan elders sold him out cheaply... Bah! The Yuan family is just like that! You great clans are hardly any different from the demonic beasts our family rears on the peaks..." Li Xijun felt a touch of grief for their fallen peers. Thinking back to when Li Tongya perished, the Yuan family must have felt the same way—schemed against thoroughly from life unto death, such that a sense of dread rose in his heart. Dread gripped him, but since he could not contact Li Xizhi right now, he could only suppress it. He hurriedly summoned a servant and leaned close, whispering instructions for someone to pass word along. Bai Rong asked, "However, there are rumors in our cave that your clan consists of Mingyang descendants?" Li Xijun sighed inwardly, sensing that this rumor was spreading farther and wider. After all, it was something that could not be concealed forever. He could only wave his hand, leaving Bai Rong in contemplation. After chatting for a while, Bai Rong soon grew restless and hastily wrapped up what he needed to say. Spiritual tea was something he could never get used to drinking after all; fruit tasted far better. Li Xijun saw him off down the mountain and watched him fly back toward Mount Dali, anxiety still lingering in his chest. Looking beneath his feet, he saw his clan members rejoicing, the sounds of singing and dancing never ceasing. After all, expansion was indeed an excellent way to eliminate friction. With the massive cake of the Yu family swallowed whole and another family uprooted completely and banished to Shanyue, the remaining space was enough to give rise to three or four prominent clans. Everyone was rubbing their fists, full of hope. *** Inside the Central Hall, the steps were polished and smooth. Boots clicked crisply and melodiously against the stone as Li Zhouwei strode forward. The clan soldiers on both sides lowered their heads in unison. Li Zhouwei placed his halberd on the rack and carefully glanced at Chen Yang standing beside him. Seeing that he was still at the seventh layer of Embryonic Breathing, he lowered his gaze and said, "Chen Yang, step forward." Alarm bells immediately rang in Chen Yang's heart. Like lightning, he reviewed all recent affairs in his mind and found no fault. He thought to himself, *What is this ferocious tiger plotting now? It shouldn't be...* He stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Subordinate is here!" Li Zhouwei retrieved a jade vial from his robes, tossed it into Chen Yang's chest, and said casually, "This is Mingshen Powder. Take it quickly to break through." Chen Yang was taken aback, accepting it suspiciously. Wiping his weapon, Li Zhouwei said softly, "I know you are not convinced. I will report to Qingdu and do my best to allocate resources to you according to the qualifications of the main lineage. You are welcome to try and see if you can catch up to me." Chen Yang slowly raised his head to see a faint smile on that person's clear, detached gaze, looking at him openly and candidly. Chen Yang answered sullenly, and seeing Li Zhouwei wave his hand, he quickly retreated. Chen Yang had been suppressed by Li Zhouwei for several years. On the surface, he was thoroughly submissive, yet in secret, he still studied his every gesture and tried to divine his character, handling every task impeccably as capital for his own advancement. Walking out of the great hall and returning slowly to his cave dwelling, an eager look finally surfaced on Chen Yang's face. His gray eyes narrowed slightly. *Then let us try... You and I are both descendants of the Qingdu bloodline...* Li Zhouwei watched him depart into the distance, put his weapon in order, and quietly stared at the sunlight in the hall. *Chen Yang is adept at scheming, decisive, proud of his Li bloodline, and full of ambition... A pity he is not my direct brother.* Li Zhouwei returned to the jade dais, his thoughts unsettled. A few days ago, he had passed his seventeenth birthday, and the family had sent someone ahead. Having broken through to Qi Refinement and taken charge of some clan affairs, he had gradually taken over the matters of the Clan Rectory. The strangeness he carried from his mother's womb had diminished considerably; he looked much more like a living person now, often speaking with a smile. Yet whenever a subordinate committed an offense and his gaze turned sharp, it still struck terror into people's hearts. Having taken over clan affairs, he had also grown familiar with his generational peers. Li Ximing had few descendants, Li Xijun remained unmarried to this day, and only Li Xicheng's branch possessed a larger population. Looking across them, their temperaments were mostly decent, but their talent was only mediocre—they could only be promoted to the middle tier, but could hardly be brought to his inner circle. Pondering for a moment without much worry, he simply unfastened his outer robe, strode behind the courtyard, and entered the inner room. Li Zhouwei's grayish-brown eyes narrowed slightly as he sensed something amiss. His spiritual sense swept inside, where a young woman stood obediently, keeping her head lowered in silence. The young woman had a slightly rounded face, slender eyebrows, and curved eyes—features authentic to the northern parts of Jiangnan, clearly handpicked. She looked several years older than him, smiling gently even before speaking. Li Zhouwei gave an acknowledging sound, slowly approached, bid her sit, and observed her carefully. "This humble one, Xu Peiyu, greets the Shizi." Xu Peiyu was nineteen years old and had already seen plenty of flattery, knowing well how to maintain her dignity to twist suitors around her finger. Yet at this moment, she was still held captive. An inexplicable passion welled up in her heart, so intense that she did not even notice when the young man before her took her hand. Li Zhouwei was looking at her, and Xu Peiyu observed him silently in turn. She merely stole a glance at those eyes, not careless in the slightest, yet she was still abruptly seized by an overwhelming emotion. She suddenly felt as though a radiant golden expanse had halted before her; those eyes seemed brimmed with vibrant, vital color that made one crave it. She gasped, "Ah!" Li Zhouwei only quietly watched her flushed face. His eyes were candid, clear, and conveyed his desires. He asked, "You are from the Xu family? What do you seek?" It should have been a wonderful opportunity, yet Xu Peiyu was speechless. That face suited her desires so entirely that she was powerless to resist. She pondered for a breath before speaking. Born with the innate ability to perceive others' emotions, Li Zhouwei felt as though a fire burned before him, offering everything it had to him completely. A faint, unprecedented warmth suddenly rose in his heart. Li Zhouwei was taken aback; a bizarre sentiment stirred within him, an intense passion he seemed never to have experienced before. Unable to resist, he smiled faintly and spoke a few pleasant words. She felt immense comfort in her devotion, as if sheltered under the shadow of a colossal entity, a deep sense of security rising within her. Even if he were to devour her flesh like a tiger or leopard, she would rejoice at the thought. *No wonder they fear you!* All her prior schemes were forgotten cleanly before that face and those eyes. Before Xu Peiyu even realized it, they had vanished without a trace, and even upon reaching the couch, she had not recovered her senses. He was only seventeen years old after all. However shrewd he might be, the books he had read taught him only how to cunningly confront enemies and divide factions to maintain his status; they had never taught him about love. Holding her, he simply conversed with her in the manner learned from books, suddenly harboring a touch of anticipation: *Most in our second branch have devoted themselves to one person for a lifetime... taking Ancestor Tongya as their exemplar... Even if I cannot give you the formal status of a wife, you could be the only one...* As he was thinking, he noticed that Xu Peiyu did not seem to be listening to his words. She only stared blankly at the bridge of his nose, her slender hand resting on his shoulder, quietly stroking downward until it reached his chest. Li Zhouwei's eyes narrowed slightly, and his emotions instantly calmed. He studied her closely with just two glances, and understood immediately. He cooled down and gave a self-mocking laugh, suddenly grasping a simple truth: *To deal with those whose resolve is not firm, a highly alluring Mingyang body is all it takes. For a man like the young master, gaining benefits without returning favor only makes a woman love him more. Regrettably, I was born extraordinary; to me, the vast majority of people under heaven possess weak resolve. She is a mortal—how could she possibly withstand my trial?* He lowered his eyes, as if an illusion was shattering within him. He had no choice but to push her away and sit back upon the seat of honor. Looking at the infatuation in Xu Peiyu's eyes, he pondered in silence.