Intervention

Holding the small seal in both hands, Li Xuanfeng knelt quietly on the ground, feeling the icy touch against his palms. The seal was truly dainty—a square stamp barely two fingers wide and only three fingers tall. Coiled atop the seal was a bizarre serpent, quite similar to the hook snake Li Wushao back home, yet it was densely covered in feathers, with two long wings extending downward to drape over both flanks of the stamp. ‘Resembling a hook snake, and considering the name of this seal alongside Yuansu’s immortal foundation, could it be the Lushui feathered serpent of antiquity?’ The small seal was pale gold throughout, completely pure without a single blemish, flowing with ribbons of deep azure. Merely holding it in his hands made his skin run cold, yet it felt weightless, as though he held nothing at all. ‘This object is unquestionably a spiritual treasure. Word has it that it was gifted by Real Person Donghua, so it is most likely an ancient spiritual item—perhaps even an elite among them—to have maintained Yuansu’s renown.’ Li Xuanfeng remained silent, waiting for the figures in the sky to speak. Drawn by the divine power and magical potency stirred by Yuansu’s passing, the small seal emanated a gentle glow, illuminating his collar with a blend of azure and gold. He waited for a long time, but from start to finish there was only silence. The flute music resonated for a moment before the rigid-faced Qingchi Purple Palace master in azure robes—Yuanxiu—finally spoke, his voice spreading evenly: “The Xinyou Swimming Marsh Seal belongs to my Qingchi Sect. Naturally, it should be returned to its original owner.” Xiao Chuting hovered silently in midair. The purple-robed female cultivator sneered coldly and snapped, “Si Boxiu, whether this belongs to Qingchi or the Ning family is something you had better distinguish clearly! Do you really think the Xinyou Swimming Marsh Seal should be handed over into your hands?” “You are welcome to try.” Just as tensions flared, a grey-robed youth materialized, holding a floating grey jade bead that spouted tendrils of grey qi. Taking advantage of the moment everyone was caught off guard, Qing Jifang drifted lightly down before the spring. Looking at the silent Li Xuanfeng, he smiled faintly. “Turning killing intent into suppression, using the interplay of two metals to drive Lushui—truly a wondrous technique. When this seal descends, Xinyou unleashes its murderous intent, transforming level ground into a lush marsh. It is indeed a fine treasure worthy of becoming a Dharma treasure.” He studied the veteran before him. Li Xuanfeng’s eyes were greyish-white and his brows sharp. Though showing signs of age due to never having consumed longevity medicine, he carried a familiar fierce, overbearing aura. Suddenly, a strange sense of familiarity struck Qing Jifang. As a Purple Palace cultivator who had long cultivated divine abilities, Qing Jifang traced where that sensation came from, froze slightly, and laughed in disbelief. “I was wondering! This face is so familiar to me, what an uncanny coincidence… what a coincidence! So it is you!” He bared his snow-white teeth, seemingly recovering from his amusement, and shouted, “Jiang Boqing! Jiang Boqing’s methods are truly profound! ‘Father alive is Yang, the eighty-four true talismans; mother dead is Yin, the shamanic blood registers.’ Wonderful, Jiang Boqing’s methods are profound indeed!” His laughter and cold words immediately drew the gaze of the Purple Palace masters in the sky. Li Xuanfeng raised his brow to glance at him, remaining motionless. Real Person Zipei frowned and asked coldly, “Qing Jifang, what business does your Mount Changhuai have coming here?” Qing Jifang smiled. “Senior must be joking. Why could I not come? My Mount Changhuai in the Wu Region is also one of the six lineages of Chongming. For such a major event, coming to investigate and contribute our part is only natural!” Xiao Chuting held his white jade fishing rod, eyes downcast and submissive. The appearance of Mount Changhuai and the implication of a True Monarch stepping in gave the surrounding Purple Palace masters an ominous premonition, though each kept their expression carefully composed. Li Xuanfeng listened, grief touching his features. He had followed Yuansu for so many years. Though in the early years there had been an element of coercion, Yuansu had later personally sought cultivation methods and spiritual armor for him, even giving a junior relative to him in marriage. Although it was an overt scheme, there was genuine reciprocity in it, and Yuansu had resolved many troubles for Li Xuanfeng. Even toward the end, when Yuansu compelled him to eliminate the cultivators on the list, Li Xuanfeng understood it was Yuansu arranging affairs for after his demise, and he could not bring himself to hate the man. He also understood that Yuansu had guided his fourth uncle Li Chijing into the Southern Border, but by now he felt somewhat lost. They say everyone harbors hatred, but whom should one hate? Whom does one dare to hate? Now that this Purple Palace patron had passed away, it was impossible to say there was no grief in his heart. Yet from this grief, he tasted the burning flavor of betrayal. Li Tongya’s sorrowful face when Li Chijing died surfaced before him once more. Li Xuanfeng bit his lip until it bled. In just an instant, Li Xuanfeng reined in all his emotions, pressing them back into his chest, condensing them once more into a posture as hard and cold as iron. Zhang Qiushui of the Jinyu Sect stepped forward to mediate. Her face remained concealed behind a black veil as she spoke gently: “Seniors, please do not be anxious. The Xinyou Swimming Marsh Seal is Senior Yuansu’s relic. Naturally, it must be handed to his descendants. With so many Masters present, all can bear witness. Senior Yuanxiu can properly handle affairs here, return to the sect first, and bring back Yuansu’s descendants. The three of us will personally watch the spiritual artifact acknowledge its master, and all will be considered fair. Today, my Jinyu Sect holds the same view. Since Mount Changhuai has good relations with Jinyu, why not grant me some face?” Real Person Puyi of the Quhai Sect smoothed things over as well, murmuring, “How about this: if the two seniors still trust me, let the Xinyou Swimming Marsh Seal remain with me for now, and I will travel along to Ziyan Gate for a stay.” With Master Qiushui stepping in, the dispute in the sky finally cooled down. Qing Jifang looked deeply at Real Person Zipei. He was only at the middle stage of Purple Palace and clearly no match for Zipei, who stood at the peak of Purple Palace. The atmosphere grew taut, like a drawn bow. After a dozen breaths, Qing Jifang sneered, “Real Person is on the verge of breaking through; you had better look after your own life!” Zipei replied icily, “That is none of your concern!” Qing Jifang gave a cold laugh. Before he could move, the grey qi around him clashed violently as if locked in combat with something, ringing with metallic clangs. He suddenly raised his brows and glanced toward the sky, where the Venus star shone brightly. Real Person Puyi, clad in his blue-and-white robe, nodded and smiled, pinching a hand seal with two fingers. The grey qi in Qing Jifang’s hand surged frantically, but a purple immortal sword had already come to rest before his face, held by a fair, slender hand. Only then did Qing Jifang’s expression soften. Knowing the True Monarch above was watching, he could only yield. He turned to the purple-robed woman and said, “Kan Xuyu, you… you had better take care of yourself!” With that, he broke into the Great Void and vanished. Having seen him off, Zhang Qiushui said little more, retrieving a crystal-clear jade flagon. Tipping it gently, she poured clear liquor into the air, which splashed onto the reefs below with steady dripping sounds, spreading a wonderful fragrance of wine. After pouring the flagon, she stowed the vessel, her figure gradually fading into nothingness. Within two breaths, the other Purple Palace masters dispersed one after another. Out of respect for Zipei’s peak cultivation and caution toward Ziyan Gate and Qingchi Sect, they quickly departed. The flute music carried supernatural power; fish and prawns swept onto the reefs lay listless, and faint, mournful weeping drifted from the deep sea—likely aquatic demons unable to restrain their grief upon hearing the tune, wailing beneath the waves. Yuanxiu’s expression was grim. Real Person Puyi could only say, “This is Chongming’s internal affair. I only hope for a respectable outcome, without losing propriety.” Yuanxiu had no choice but to let the matter drop, flicking his sleeves and leaving. Zipei swept her sleeves, sending out a haze of purple qi as her eyes inspected the Great Void thoroughly. She said coldly, “You need not wait here any longer. No matter what, this item will never fall into the hands of outsiders!” Turning toward Li Xuanfeng, she drifted down like a gentle breeze. Li Xuanfeng stood up, but before he could react, his vision blurred, and the small seal in his hands was already resting in Real Person Puyi’s grasp. Puyi marveled, studying the patterns on the seal. “So the true feathered serpent looks like this! Only the lineage of Real Person Donghua would know. After all, the Mansion Lord of the Immortal Mansion saw it with his own eyes. If the Immortal Mansion’s depiction isn't accurate, then nothing under heaven is.” Puyi pinched his fingers to calculate. Li Xuanfeng noticed faint traces of blood appearing in Puyi’s hand; this Real Person Puyi was quite uncanny, evaporating the blood into wisps of magical power to make continuous deductions. Zipei remarked coldly, “I wondered why you were so generous. Turns out you went through all these twists and turns just to obtain this spiritual artifact to make deductions. You truly went to great lengths!” Puyi chuckled and continued his study. After a long pause, Zipei said to Li Xuanfeng, “Follow me back to Ziyan Gate.” She guided them through the Great Void. Soon, they emerged into a realm filled with swirling purple qi. Peaks rose in tiered ranks, summits large and small revealing themselves alternately amidst dense purple clouds. The purple qi drifted and ascended like silk ribbons, exuding an ethereal immortal charm. Splendid pavilions and multi-storied terraces stood amidst the peaks, and cultivators riding clouds flew to and fro—a magnificent immortal scene. This was naturally the mountain gate of Ziyan Gate—the Purple Qi Blessed Land. Real Person Puyi raised his head, scrutinized the surroundings, and praised, “What a fine blessed land! Back when True Monarch Taixu attained the Dao of True Monarch here and mastered the Path of Purple Qi, my grandmaster also came to offer congratulations, bringing back some morning rosy purple qi to craft a Dharma artifact for my master.” At the mention of this topic, Real Person Zipei’s expression softened considerably. She murmured, “True Monarch Taiyue and True Monarch Taixu were truly a great pity. If the two had not successively returned to heaven and earth, perhaps the Qingsong Daoist lineage could have accomplished great things once more.” Puyi sighed, “Back then, the six lineages of Chongming were so prosperous, yet today they have fallen to such a state… If the founding patriarch had not met with misfortune, it would likely never have come to this.” The two chatted about the scenery of the blessed land without shunning Li Xuanfeng. Finally remembering him, Real Person Zipei looked over and said softly, “Rise… Li Xuanfeng.” Li Xuanfeng bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Real Person Zipei!”