Peak Master

As Li Qinghong finished speaking, Cui Changfu grew suspicious and asked softly, "What kind of spiritual item does Fellow Daoist require?" Li Qinghong replied in a low voice, "These things are exceedingly difficult to find within the seas. They are Mingyang spiritual items of the Purple Palace rank, such as Brightlight Heavenly Stone, Linwu Spiritual Slough, Baidu Blood... It does not have to be any specific one; any among them will suffice." Hearing this, Cui Changfu's expression relaxed slightly, and he chuckled. "A Purple Palace spiritual item? There once was an ingredient called Mingfang Xuanyuan... but it is no more!" Li Qinghong was searching for these items to aid a junior of her family in breaking through to the Purple Palace, and she held the matter close to heart. Yet Purple Palace spiritual items were so scarce that she had scarcely harbored any real hope. Now that she had actually uncovered a lead, her spirits lifted immediately, and she asked, "Was it traded into the hands of another family? Please, I would be grateful for any information—" Cui Changfu was finally convinced that the woman before him had come solely for the spiritual item. Looking as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he let down much of his guard and murmured, "My branch... was once dispatched by Emperor Gong of Wei to travel far across the seas in search of Penglai. Emperor Gong possessed an elegant and magnanimous nature; his reign flourished greatly, and he was exceedingly generous. Thus, our treasure ships were laden with many treasures." *They truly must be the descendants of the Wei Li...* Cui Changfu continued, "Later, turmoil erupted across the seas, the Great Void fractured, and contact was gradually severed. By the time the Prince of Qi usurped the Wei, news ceased entirely. The spiritual items left behind were consumed one by one, until only two portions of Mingfang Xuanyuan remained. "One portion was given to the dragonkind long ago, which Dongfang You ingested before giving birth to a dragon son. The other portion was sent to Mount Changhuai, enabling a Real Person there to gain an heir who is said to be named Qing Jifang—named precisely in honor of the merit of that Mingfang Xuanyuan." Li Qinghong listened, and realizing both portions had already been consumed, disappointment washed over her. Cui Changfu observed her reaction and said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist need not be discouraged. Back when the Donghuo Cave Heaven fell, I heard it was presided over by the two Real Persons, Yuansu and Qiushui. There must certainly have been Purple Palace spiritual items within that cave heaven. Even if Chu Yi swept through it, the Real Persons went there in person, so they undoubtedly retained some in hand." When Cui Changfu mentioned Chu Yi, his lips twitched slightly and he cast his eyes downward, appearing somewhat ill at ease. Yet his words jolted Li Qinghong like an awakening from a dream. Understanding dawned upon her, and delight surged in her heart. She had not previously known that the Donghuo Cave Heaven had passed through Yuansu's hands. Now it was clear he must possess Purple Palace spiritual items. Her Seventh Uncle was currently serving under Yuansu, so requesting one might well prove easier. Li Qinghong hesitated for a moment before speaking once more: "Qinghong has one more request... My family also cultivates the Mingyang Dao lineage, and we have been hoping to assemble seven immortal foundations to smooth the path for our clan's cultivation..." Her expression became animated, and her eyes grew sharp. "If convenient, we would like to borrow and peruse your noble clan's Dao lineage. We can exchange scriptures for it... or magical devices and spiritual items, whatever your noble clan names." The reason she ventured to ask was relying on the ancient bond between the Li and Cui clans, hoping it might count for something, even if she merely heard their terms. Since her request was inherently bold, she kept her posture very humble, speaking gently: "After all, since the Battle of Pingmingjin during the last War of Immortals and Demons, Eastern Qi usurped Wei, Liang destroyed Eastern Qi, only to be overthrown in turn by Emperor Zhao's father Qi Yan and King of Yan Murong Dechang. More than sixteen hundred years have passed. Prior to the shifts of heaven and earth, even a True Monarch and a half would have aged to death in that span. Perhaps our ancient friendship is no longer what it once was..." Cui Changfu stroked his beard, not answering immediately. He said softly, "Our ancestors' Dao lineage—forgive me, but it cannot be lent for perusal." Seeing his outright refusal, Li Qinghong apologized, retrieved a spiritual blossom from her storage bag, and presented it to the two of them with both hands. "Thank you for the information, Senior. This is a Wanling Flower, which can prolong life and dispel sorrow. Please accept it as a token of gratitude." Cui Changfu inspected it closely and stroked his beard, nodding. He accepted it with both hands, took out a jade box from his storage bag, carefully stowed it away, and said softly, "Many thanks, junior!" Li Qinghong offered a few more polite words. Cui Wanqing appeared rather gentle, even somewhat tempted, but the elder's expression remained stern. Perceiving that Cui Changfu had no desire to become entangled in karmic ties and that his tone brooked no negotiation, Li Qinghong understood and did not press further, taking her leave without delay. Fearing that lingering would cause unease, she rose upon thunder and departed. Cui Wanqing seemed to hold a favorable impression of her, escorting her all the way out and saying softly, "Take care, Senior." After seeing Li Qinghong off, Cui Wanqing returned to the island, only to find Cui Changfu still seated where he was, his fingers tapping anxiously against the table, his aged eyes full of agitation. Curious, Cui Wanqing sat down beside the old man and asked in a low voice, "Since they are the imperial clan of old, why couldn't Grandfather accommodate them? It would only be exchanging one scripture, and our family could receive something in return... "Grandfather... that Senior Qinghong seems like a forthright person, and her clan possesses quite a few Mingyang lineages of their own. Ours is not entirely unique. At worst, we could trade with her for mutual benefit..." Cui Changfu's face darkened, and he said, "Has the pain not been enough? When Eastern Qi usurped Wei, Li Xunquan raised an army in rebellion. Our ancestors crossed the vast ocean bearing precious pearls to assist him, and as a result, their heads hung above Dianyang City for four years without being taken down! "When Li Xuan sought to restore the dynasty, our Grand Ancestor rushed to join him, taking along two granduncles who were both wise and valiant. In the end, the cause was crushed and they were slaughtered, losing six magical devices, and even our treasure ship was abandoned in Daxu! "When Dongli Sect was established, my grandfather had not yet attained the Purple Palace. He rode the wind all the way to join them, placing all of Chongzhou Island into Dongli Sect's hands. But Real Person Dongli perished abruptly, the sect was destroyed, and my grandfather died in battle. If Dongfang You hadn't happened to need that spiritual item, we would have long since... "Down to this day, we truly cannot bear any more upheaval!" Cui Wanqing could only sigh and nod upon hearing this. Cui Changfu added, "This clan is relatively clever; they were not driven by greed to style themselves the Wei Li... but that is as far as it goes. If we become too deeply entangled with them, I fear disaster will befall us!" He shook his head and murmured, "Wangyue Swamp lies in Jiangnan. When Emperor Wu marched south in ancient times, he passed through that place and even met the immortal within the swamp. Could there be remnants left behind? "We must preserve our remaining branch so that there may be a chance of resurgence in the future. If we were to follow along whenever any random branch of the Wei Li appears, that would truly be courting doom with no hope of survival!" *** The words of the two from the Chongzhou Cui clan naturally did not reach Li Qinghong's ears. Riding the wind on her return journey, she felt some regret in her heart. *Later on, when Dongli Sect was wiped out, many of the Cui clan died as well. Facing a Li clan member whose authenticity they cannot even verify, giving me a civil reception is already commendable.* Reflecting on this, Li Qinghong felt the Cui clan's reaction was understandable. Looking slightly to the west, she noticed several Xiaguang Cloud Ships tearing through the skies, radiating brilliant clouds of rosy light. These cloud ships were massive, trailing multi-colored radiance. Li Qinghong had delivered tributes before and recognized them at a glance as Xiaguang Cloud Ships. Her heart jolted in alarm. *Something has happened within the seas!* *** Qingchi Sect. Qingchi Sect was usually shrouded in clear clouds and drifting mist. Perhaps because several Foundation Establishment cultivators had failed their breakthroughs and perished one after another over the past few months, sending ominous phenomena shooting into the skies, the clouds now appeared much sparser. Amid the nearby clouds, a streak of rosy light surged swiftly forward, trailing a six-colored plume of flame. The man atop it was noble and elegant—none other than Li Xizhi. Li Xizhi rode the rosy glow, hurrying back from the outside. The moment he stepped into the sect, he saw disciples bustling about. Landing on Qingsui Peak, his junior brother Yuan Chengzhao rushed up to greet him. "Eldest Senior Brother..." Li Xizhi frowned slightly, keenly noticing that Yuan Chengzhao was dressed in thin garments of snowy white, yet of remarkably fine quality—hardly the attire of an ordinary sect disciple. Yuan Chengzhao broke into a cold sweat, which beaded on his forehead and rolled down his cheeks. Leading Li Xizhi inside to the pavilion at the mountain crest, he dropped to his knees before the desk with a heavy thud, hanging his head in silence. Yuan Tuan's whereabouts had always been unpredictable, so for many years, Yuan Chengzhao had been under the strict guidance of Eldest Senior Brother Li Xizhi. He harbored deep reverence and fear toward this senior brother. Although Li Xizhi was usually gentle and magnanimous, back when Yuan Chengzhao had been mischievous in his youth, Li Xizhi had truly reprimanded him with a cold voice and a ferule. Right now, his eyes reddened, and he stammered tremulously: "Eldest Senior Brother! This was originally yours! I know Master intended it so as well—it has always been yours! I... I had no power to refuse..." Li Xizhi's faint smile gradually faded. He quietly stepped behind him into the dimly lit room atop the mountain. There, a garment lay draped in disarray across the desk. The robe was of a pale azure hue, seamless and whole, radiating a faint luminescence. A silver pendant at the waist hung awkwardly from the corner of the fabric, left in utter disarray. Li Xizhi naturally understood what this garment represented—the vestments of a Peak Master. Looking back at Yuan Chengzhao's snowy white undergarments, they were clearly part of the same set as the robes on the desk. Because Li Xizhi had returned so abruptly, Yuan Chengzhao had only had time to hastily strip off the outer robe before rushing to meet him, forgetting that he was still wearing the inner tunic. Li Xizhi seemed to have anticipated this. His expression remained calm as his gaze lingered on the robe draped over the desk, and he asked in a cool voice, "What is this? You have new clothes to wear, it seems." Yuan Chengzhao's forehead dripped with sweat as he mumbled, "Eldest Senior Brother, I truly knew nothing of the clan's affairs!" "What is this talk of yours and mine?" Li Xizhi asked, his voice steady. "Who appointed you as Peak Master? Did the Chi family designate you in person?" "Yes... yes! They pressured me using the clan, insisting that I assume this position of Peak Master..." Yuan Chengzhao nodded repeatedly, steeling himself. "I... I won't dare do it again..." In this generation of the Yuan family, only Yuan Chengdun had possessed overwhelming prowess, a rare cultivator capable of rivaling the direct lineage of an immortal sect. Regrettably, he had perished in the Eastern Sea, and among the remaining juniors, only Yuan Chengzhao had any prospect of breakthrough. Furthermore, Yuan Tuan, who had been their pillar, had likewise fallen in the Eastern Sea. Though the Yuan clan maintained its scale, with both pillars dead, they did not have a single presentable Foundation Establishment cultivator left. Even though they now had the Chi family's backing, the pressure was immense. Staying within the sect, Yuan Chengzhao had felt all the more awkward, sitting in a daze upon the peak, not knowing how to face anyone. He had sat there blankly for a long time, staring at the silver pendant on the desk that symbolized the position of Peak Master, his hands and feet burning hot, unable to resist touching it twice. Now, standing before his senior brother Li Xizhi, he was left entirely speechless, utterly at a loss. With everything laid bare, the truth was unmistakable. Yuan Chengzhao kept his head bowed low, drenched in sweat. Li Xizhi, however, showed no fury, his voice merely somewhat cool as he asked, "Where is the sword?" Yuan Chengzhao finally came to his senses. Momentarily tongue-tied, he whispered, "This... someone from the Chi family came... they wanted me to bring out this sword to show them..." He hastily retrieved the sword from his storage bag and presented it with both hands. Before Li Chijing had forged his spirit sword, he had used this very weapon to practice the Mystic Water Sword Art. Its blade was plain, devoid of ornate engravings. It seemed that compared to the position of Peak Master, this sword that had once hung upon the wall and belonged to Li Chijing mattered far more to Li Xizhi. Li Xizhi took the sword with both hands, stowed it away carefully, and said softly, "Thank you, Junior Brother." His expression showed little change. He nodded gently, extended a hand to help Yuan Chengzhao to his feet, and with the other hand picked up the azure robe from the desk and draped it over his shoulders, smiling. "Naturally, I do not blame you for this. As for you, your cultivation is still lacking. Establish your foundation soon; only then can you command the respect needed to hold the stage." Li Xizhi gave a light chuckle and patted his shoulder warmly. "Senior Brother is not angry with me... that is wonderful..." Yuan Chengzhao murmured, genuinely moved. "I have just returned from completing my mission and must report to the Main Hall," Li Xizhi said. "Peak Master Yuan, wait here for now. Once I have delivered my report, the two of us shall share a proper drink." Yuan Chengzhao nodded in confusion. Only after Li Xizhi soared away upon his rosy glow did he frantically strip off the outer robe and cast it back onto the desk, feeling as though he were in a dream. Outside, Li Xizhi appeared elegant and poised, a well-measured look of indignation upon his face, yet in his heart there was no anger—only a cold sneer. *What a clever scheme... Chengzhao lacks cunning and craves vanity, so naturally he fell right into the trap without any room to maneuver. Qingsui Peak is nine times out of ten a consolation given to the Yuan family, and in the process, they deliver a blow to me as well... Trying to rein me in? Was this truly an oversight by Chi Zhiyun? Far from it!* He retrieved a jade slip from his storage bag, perused it carefully, and took out a map to inspect it closely, murmuring softly, "Wangyue Swamp sits amid four zones of chaos: to the west lie Taiyuan and Taiyi, to the south and east lies Taiqing, and to the north is the Shakya lineage. How could that ever be a favorable position? Li Xunquan had the aid of True Monarchs and Purple Palace retainers, yet he still met defeat and death." *Our Li clan boasts multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators, wielding mystic thunder and golden bows, Mingyang light and iridescent clouds, linked to the Xiao clan to the east. If anything happens, we can even compel the Xiao, Ning, and Yang clans to take action. Lake Wangyue possesses numerous fortified peaks and countless cultivators—all ripe for the taking, an absolute shield bestowed by heaven. How could those venerable figures bear to discard it?* At this moment, the warm and dignified demeanor Li Xizhi had cultivated since youth remained radiant and graceful, yet in his heart, he had calculated everything down to the finest detail. He was, after all, the son of Li Yuanjiao. Gentle on the outside, beneath the surface he had already seen through everything with cold clarity.