Having spoken those words, Yuansu rose from the jade throne on his own, stepped down, and paused beside Li Xuanfeng. With a gentle brush against the jade sprout at his waist, a surge of white clouds instantly billowed forth.
The cloud qi gathered beneath their feet, bearing them upward with a soft, buoyant force, and swiftly carried them out of Yuansu's cave dwelling. He did not head directly north, but flew eastward in a single swift flight.
Azure waters surged beneath them, dotted with scattered islands across the expanse of the sea. Flying in from the south, the two dashed unabashedly over the mountain gates of several immortal sects and soon entered the Eastern Sea.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Ning Tiaoxiao suddenly asked, "Is your spirit aperture in the palm of your hand?"
Li Xuanfeng, who was observing the terrain below, was slightly startled by the question. The fact that his spirit aperture lay in the center of his palm was his greatest secret, second only to his family's talisman seed and talisman qi.
A spirit aperture was originally a window through which one absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth during Embryonic Breathing, capable of locking in the drawn energy to prevent it from leaking away. Once a cultivator reached Qi Refinement and could naturally breathe spiritual energy in and out with every breath, it became difficult to notice the spirit aperture anymore.
After arriving at Qingchi, Li Xuanfeng had researched the matter thoroughly on his own, but finding no records whatsoever, he had simply kept his doubts buried deep in his heart. Now, questioned directly, he could only reply, "Reporting to True Person, it is indeed in my palm. This junior has been puzzled by it for years."
"It is no major matter, merely somewhat rare," Yuansu explained. "The Chi family possesses a cultivation technique specifically designed to use such a physique to perform the Technique of Harmonizing Divergent Apertures, which is why no relevant records can be found within Qingchi.
"Fortunately, you are not a Qingchi disciple. Had you taken the path of entering the sect to cultivate at the age of seven, someone would have long since imparted a sinister technique to you, leaving all the cultivation you amassed to serve merely as a stepping stone for another.
"While such a physique is exceedingly rare, it is of little practical benefit to cultivation. At most, it offers some boost when cultivating specialized arts, qualifying as an innate eccentricity, but it is nothing compared to natural Daoist Physiques or True Monarch bloodlines."
Yuansu paused briefly, then suddenly asked, "How is Lake Wangyue?"
Caught off guard by the abrupt shift in topic, Li Xuanfeng cupped his hands and replied, "Thanks to True Person's protection, the Li family has already secured more than half of Lake Wangyue, merely waiting for the reassignment of the immortal peak's jurisdiction."
Yuansu nodded and said softly, "I know your heart lies with your family, but since you are to be utilized by Chi Zhiyun, you must arrange Yuanqin well. That couple are by no means weak of mind, and they should understand how to conduct themselves."
He collected his thoughts and immediately added, "The Tangjin Gate possesses a scripture called the *Tianxu Zengjin Jing*. If you ever intend to break through to the Purple Palace, your path will ultimately have to rest upon this scripture. The Situ family still has a Purple Palace cultivator; if you wish to scheme for it, do not be overly rash.
"Your cultivation talent is quite good. To have walked out of that remote wilderness and reached this point means you have pushed your potential to the utmost limit. Yet, compared to the direct lineage of an immortal sect, you are still slightly lacking. The Purple Palace is an arduous ascent; think carefully before you act."
Yuansu let out a low chuckle and said, "If I perish, the Ning family will inevitably submit to the Chi family, suppressed and divided, no longer able to remain independent in the Southern Border as we are today. Heyuan is still fairly obedient right now; if you have matters to handle, you may consult with him.
"Although Hejing is that boy's trusted confidant, Heyuan also has close ties with Chi Zhiyun and his brother. The two will surely adopt a policy of balance. At least until news of Wan'er emerges, no one will dare act rashly.
"Once news of Wan'er comes out, whether she succeeds or fails in her breakthrough, things at least won't degenerate too terribly."
The old man had finally cast aside his cold demeanor and said softly, "I, Ning Tiaoxiao, have cultivated for so many years, yet in the end I was ruined by my own obsessions. You must take warning from this."
Li Xuanfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, nodded, and replied, "Rest assured, True Person. Xuanfeng will certainly assist Heyuan and protect the clan."
Yuansu's lips twitched; unknown emotions stirred within him, but he merely let out a long sigh and said warmly, "There is no need for such ceremony, Xuanfeng."
Li Xuanfeng listened silently. Even to this day, he could not tell whether Yuansu's words were sincere. Yet regardless of the old man's motives, he had directly and indirectly helped the Li family a great deal.
Li Xuanfeng acknowledged his instructions one by one. Yuansu spoke no further; pinching hand seals with a few fingers, he steered the cloud to fly faster and faster, as if waiting for something.
Yuansu adjusted their course slightly and flew over the sea for a while. Standing upon the mist Yuansu had summoned, Li Xuanfeng observed quietly. The sea below soon turned deep blue, signaling that they had entered the Heshui Sea of the dragonkind.
This was the dragons' ancient stronghold, teeming with demons of profound cultivation and formidable strength. Compared to the Zhulu and Qunyi Straits, few humans ever ventured here; Li Xuanfeng had only come here a few times, all for the sake of slaying demons.
Yuansu said not a word, driving the cloud forward at great speed. Soon, a wisp of pure qi emerged ahead, materializing from the void into tangible form. It turned out to be a Purple Palace cultivator taking the form of a young man, dressed in a blue-and-white robe, handsome in appearance, who greeted them warmly: "Greetings, Senior Yuansu."
This person was none other than the sect master of the Quhai Sect, Real Person Puyu, who was said to govern yin and yang and discern life and death. He possessed a delicate, somewhat feminine beauty. With a crinkle of his eyes and a smile, he greeted them.
Li Xuanfeng recognized this Purple Palace cultivator. Years ago, this man had visited Yuansu and even brought news that Tang Yuanwu was on the verge of falling.
Real Person Puyu had evidently known of this matter long ago and gave a nod. He was of a mild demeanor, but Li Xuanfeng did not dare take him lightly. Real Person Puyu was an Eastern Sea cultivator, and during their previous encounter, he had even asked Yuansu whether he wanted to dwell inside his own body—a sign of a somewhat sinister nature. Li Xuanfeng merely bowed in return.
Real Person Puyu did not speak much to him, quickly turning back to Yuansu with a smile: "Senior! My estimation was not far off—by a margin of only a single month, Tang Yuanwu indeed perished. When I saw the golden rain falling across the State of Yue, I knew he had fallen. His foundation was quite substantial... it caused quite a stir."
Yuansu curled his lips into a cold smile and simply said, "Since that is the case, why don't you take a look at me and tell me how much time I have left?"
Real Person Puyu contemplated for a moment, seemingly wary. From his sleeve, he took out an exquisite, petite pearl resting quietly in his palm. It radiated a hazy purple glow that enveloped the three of them. Only then did he finally speak: "Strangely, I feel that Senior's aura is hazy, as if undergoing a massive fluctuation. I cannot discern it clearly for the moment; allow me to deduce it carefully."
Yuansu immediately lost interest, waving his hand to dismiss the matter.
On his side, Li Xuanfeng noticed that everything before him was gradually dimming. Colors completely vanished, turning into a pitch-black void, leaving only the two True Persons standing on the cloud with hands clasped behind their backs, their colors intact.
Seeing complete darkness above, below, left, and right, devoid of light and with no sun, moon, or stars in sight, Li Xuanfeng realized that they had unconsciously entered the Great Void. Relying entirely on the cloud beneath their feet for protection, they traversed swiftly through it.
This was his first time traveling through the Great Void. It was not as smooth as he had imagined; instead, he felt currents of water drifting about, sometimes turbulent, sometimes gentle, and there were even towering terrains that required them to climb upward.
Li Xuanfeng took the opportunity to observe. The darkness was alternately thick or light; the ocular technique he practiced was of no use here. Beyond the cloud, everything was hazy and indistinct. The void beneath his feet was startlingly black, as if it would swallow a person's soul clean. Overhead, specks of white light, large and small, dotted the void, too indistinct to make out clearly.
Li Xuanfeng knew Yuansu's temperament, and with two True Persons conversing, it was improper for him to ask aloud, so he could only silently take it in.
Standing in this place where neither heaven nor earth could be seen, Li Xuanfeng mused secretly, *I hear that the Great Void is intimately linked to the spirit mechanism. Perhaps the spirit mechanisms vary across different regions, causing passage through the Great Void to feel different as well.*
While pondering silently, he did not miss the conversation between the two True Persons. Yuansu spoke little.
Real Person Puyu said warmly, "Senior Yuansu, I have a question to ask."
Yuansu directed his gaze toward him, signaling him to speak.
Real Person Puyu furrowed his brow and asked softly, "Most of the six sects and one gate within the State of Yue trace their origins back to the Qingsong Abbey lineage, do they not?"
Yuansu nodded and replied softly, "Indeed. Most stem from the six sons of the Chongming Hall of Qingsong Abbey. Their lineages are interconnected, and they generally live in harmony."
Real Person Puyu fell silent in thought, then said in a low voice, "The adults went outside, and several naughty children teamed up to tear the roof off the house. Only the eldest son took a beating, remained dutiful and obedient all along, and dared not make a move. Yet as time passed and the eldest son reached a bottleneck in his cultivation, he began recalling the elders' goodness, thinking of calling them back. After all, having played the well-behaved child for so many years, he expected some rewards. If the master were to die outside, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?"
He spoke playfully, unafraid that Yuansu would take offense at such a sensitive topic, nor did Yuansu's expression shift.
Real Person Puyu seemed puzzled, while Yuansu let out a soft sigh and finally answered, "Who would dare believe it?"
Yuansu gave a heavy nod and murmured, "Over these past few hundred years, those who believed first were the first to stand out. The six sons of the Chongming Hall were indeed in the limelight, yet among those six, those who didn't believe still met their ends. As for someone like me who still refuses to believe to this day, I can only slowly wait to die of old age."
Having heard these words, Real Person Puyu did not speak for a full dozen breaths. With lowered brows and downcast eyes, he finally said softly after a long pause, "The True Monarchs are all cautious. I fear there are backhanded contingencies attached to that Fruit Position. Ordinary people would tremble to ascend to that Fruit Position, let alone someone of Shangyuan's temperament.
"Real Person Shangyuan conducts himself with utmost rectitude and cultivates the Yuzhen lineage. That lineage once belonged to the Yuehua Yuan Mansion, and those who once occupied that Fruit Position were immortals of the Celestial Mansion.
"A True Monarch can attain longevity, and sitting on that Fruit Position can even stave off a hundred cycles of reincarnation. If you claim an immortal simply perished without a trace, I truly dare not believe it."
He paused, then asked softly, "The Daoist path is already waning by the day. If another Golden Core Fruit Position were to emerge, it would surely inspire the world and bring great flourishing to the Daoist lineage. With two True Monarchs guarding the north, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? Why must they block each other like this, allowing the dragons and Buddhist cultivators to profit?"
He suddenly looked toward Li Xuanfeng and said in a low voice, "If you ask me, there are no deep grudges among the few Golden Cores within our lands; they can even be said to have some friendly ties. Even if Shangyuan breaks through, he wouldn't necessarily be of one mind with True Monarch Taiyue. Why must they obstruct each other like this? Could it be that for the sake of a junior's breakthrough, two Golden Cores are going to clash in earnest?!"
Yuansu paused slightly. In the inland realms, not a single person dared voice such words. He merely said, "Perhaps more than that.
"It seems they have all arrived!"
Thereupon, the blackness around them slowly faded, replaced by grayish-white striations, and various colors emerged once more. A fierce, biting cold wind blew against their faces, carrying dense snowflakes.
"We have arrived at the North Sea."
This time, Yuansu did not conceal his face, openly revealing his true appearance. Real Person Puyu glanced at him with slight puzzlement and said softly, "In all my years since attaining the Purple Palace, I have often traveled the four seas, yet through strange coincidences, I happen never to have seen Real Person Shangyuan. I have only heard that he never shows his true face, so it is difficult to inquire about him."
Looking around, Li Xuanfeng found that heaven and earth were entirely white. In the distance were endless snowy ice mountains, icy peaks, and snow clouds, with a few white eagles circling above the glaciers as snowflakes fluttered.
The cold wind, mixed with ice and snow, struck his armor with a crisp clinking sound. He casually blocked it with his magic power.
Li Xuanfeng raised his eyes and saw various colored lights appearing in the sky, already indicating the identities of those Purple Palace cultivators. He slowly lowered his gaze. Yuansu's expression beside him was still fairly gentle; turning to him, Yuansu said in a low voice, "These True Persons need to discuss some crucial matters within the Great Void, so it is inconvenient to bring you along. Fly down on the wind and find a footing; a local sect will come to receive you. I will return in three days."
Li Xuanfeng nodded in acknowledgment. Riding the golden wind down from the clouds, he indeed saw a cultivator dressed in plain white approaching to welcome him, looking very respectful and polite.
"I am a disciple of the Beihuan Sect of the North Sea. Senior, please follow me," the cultivator said. "May I ask which country and sect Senior hails from? Which Purple Palace did you accompany? I must request you leave your name and title."
The man's attitude was respectful. Not knowing what rank this immortal sect held, Li Xuanfeng replied softly, "Qingchi Sect, Li Xuanfeng, accompanying True Person Yuansu."
*No wonder! So he comes from the Qingchi Demon Sect...* the disciple muttered inwardly. *He must be a cultivator who has lingered at Foundation Establishment for a long time. Clear qi surrounds him, so he doesn't look like a demonic cultivator, but judging by this killing intent, he is certainly no one to be trifled with.*
Li Xuanfeng nodded and walked forward with him. Seeing Li Xuanfeng clad in weathered golden armor, carrying an astonishingly shaped longbow on his back, and sporting an eagle-sharp gaze that was unintentionally intimidating, the disciple grew inwardly wary.
Mulling over this in his heart, the disciple guided him into the ice mountains, where many figures were already seated cross-legged on the peaks.
Before them stood a white-robed cultivator, standing quietly with a placid expression. Cupping his hands, he said, "Greetings, Daoist Xuanfeng. I am Xie Zhanchang of Beihuan; greetings, fellow Daoist."
Li Xuanfeng raised his brows slightly. Seeing that this young man was well-mannered and polite, he gave a faint smile and replied courteously, "Fellow Daoist Xie need not be so polite."
This person had a late Foundation Establishment cultivation and carried a long spear on his back; his strength appeared quite respectable. Li Xuanfeng exchanged a few brief words, stated his identity, and did not engage in much conversation, finding a spot to sit down by himself.
He had no intention of breaking through here anyway; his visit was mostly to join in the excitement.
Unexpectedly, just as Li Xuanfeng sat down, someone stepped briskly toward him. Li Xuanfeng frowned and looked over to see a person with delicate brows and large eyes, elegant and natural. Standing before him, the newcomer adjusted his sleeves and said warmly, "I am Dongfang Heyun."
Chapter 523