When those words left his mouth, Li Qinghong was genuinely shaken.
The Duruo Spear was the very first Foundation Establishment magical artifact acquired by her family, and it suited her hand exceedingly well. In all the years it had been in Li Qinghong's grasp, it had never fallen short against any artifact wielded by her foes. There was no name inscribed upon the spear. When Li Tongya obtained it all those years ago, he had been unable to use it and had no idea what it was called, leaving it stored in the vault until Li Qinghong bonded with the weapon and only then discovered its name was Duruo.
Yet to have the artifact's name called out by another was a first.
Before her, Miao Quan's expression was a mixture of hatred and shock. To her surprise, he made no move to attack, simply halting midair amidst his white brilliance. He demanded, "Are you of the Jinyu Sect? Or the Qingchi Sect?"
Li Qinghong lowered her spear and stood poised, answering softly, "Senior is mistaken. I belong to neither."
Miao Quan's face shifted through several expressions before he ground his teeth and snarled, "Whether you are or not, whether you admit it or not, once I capture you, a thorough interrogation will tell me all I need to know!"
He spoke with such urgency that he could not help coughing twice, a sound that brought quiet satisfaction to Li Qinghong.
*It seems that sudden blast of mystic thunder did not leave him entirely unscathed after all; he is merely forcing himself to conceal it.*
Miao Quan conjured white lightning in his hands once more, gripping the axe handle with both hands as white light flared in his eyes. Li Qinghong quietly channeled her lightning arts as well, waiting in full vigilance. With her current late Foundation Establishment cultivation, she could condense three mystic thunders in her thunder pool, and having expended only one so far, she possessed confidence and had little fear of him.
Right at that moment, several wailing notes drifted through the air. A verdant bamboo flute glowed with gentle light, heralding the arrival of a middle-aged man. He wore a Daoist crown and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring coldly at Miao Quan. The thunderous luminescence shimmering over the bare-chested, burly man quietly receded as his face set into a sullen grimace.
"Father!" Shen Yanqing called out.
Hearing those words, Li Qinghong knew an elder of the Shen family had arrived, and she suppressed the tempestuous lightning surging within her thunder pool.
Shen Yanqing urged, "Let us retreat quickly, lest our being here gets in Father's way."
Li Qinghong nodded and channeled her lightning, swiftly withdrawing alongside her. Glancing back from afar, she saw Miao Quan still staring across the distance. His eyes blazed with white light as he glared fixedly, as if declaring to Li Qinghong: *I will come for you.*
A dull ache throbbed in Li Qinghong's temples. As she rode the wind over the sea alongside Shen Yanqing, the young woman took her bearings and whispered, "Sister Qinghong, we are very close to Qingsong Island. That place is safe; let us head there first to rest."
Li Qinghong nodded, and the two flew together for a short while before Qingsong Island soon emerged in the distance.
The island was already vastly different from before. Expansive stretches of reefs and beaches had surfaced, expanding its territory several times over. Faint traces of architecture could even be glimpsed upon the exposed rocks and beaches, along with several collapsed stone steles.
Beside her, Shen Yanqing seemed to be seeing it for the first time as well. She marvelled, "I have heard that in ancient times, the Near Sea was an expanse of fertile land, and Qingsong Island back then was Mount Qingsong... It truly was so!"
The pair touched down together at the Shen family's cave dwelling on the island, activating its warding restrictions.
Only then did Shen Yanqing step forward briskly, smiling. "Sister, this time I truly owe my thanks to your intervention!"
Li Qinghong shook her head and replied gently, "I was merely passing by... Even without me, he could not have done anything to you. If anything, it was I who meddled."
Shen Yanqing demurred modestly, "Sister jokes." She then explained, "I also thought of how the Eastern Sea's water recedes and thunder rises, and have been cultivating on the island in recent years. Now that a major upheaval has occurred, I was riding the lightning back, never expecting to run into him."
She paused and deliberated for a moment before adding, "With the water receding and thunder rising in the Eastern Sea, thunder cultivators from across the four seas and the inland have all flocked here. That Miao family was originally a thunder-cultivation clan from the South Sea; who would have thought this fellow would make his way all the way to the Eastern Sea."
Li Qinghong harbored some doubt and inquired tactfully, "Does Fairy know of the 'Duruo' Miao Quan spoke of?"
Shen Yanqing pondered for a moment before answering, "I have never heard of it... The name is quite unfamiliar. Yet judging by that Miao family cultivator's reaction, there seems to be some past history behind it."
Li Qinghong had hoped Shen Yanqing might shed light on its origins, but she had not expected her to search her thoughts only to find nothing. Shen Yanqing quietly explained and ultimately made no further mention of the Mystic Thunder Heavenly Stone. Li Qinghong did not press either; after all, that was a treasure beyond her family's reach, and she was far more concerned about Duruo.
Still somewhat perplexed, Li Qinghong asked delicately, "I had thought your noble clan was a Purple Mansion lineage, and in traveling between the inland and the seas, you would surely have capable escorts..."
Shen Yanqing lowered her eyes, a trace of worry surfacing between her brows. She murmured softly, "Sister Qinghong might not know, but our superior sect, Xiuyue, has sealed its mountains and opened the seas, leaving behind vast stretches of land. Large numbers of demonic and Shakya cultivators have pushed southward, and our family happens to reside under Xiuyue's governance, bearing the brunt of the onslaught.
"Because of this, the cultivators on the island must hold their posts here, while those at home cannot be spared to come fetch us... Our family's Real Person is likely also maneuvering between the various Lianmin and demon lords, unable to attend to so many matters."
As the two conversed, colorful dawn light rippled across the western skies once more, several radiant bands streaking through the heavens. Li Qinghong observed them clearly and whispered, "A Rosy Dawn Cloud Vessel.
"Qingchi, Jinyu, and the various Shakya and demonic sects have likely already clashed in Daxu. That Rosy Dawn Cloud Vessel is most likely transporting the conscripted cultivators."
Those words struck at the heart of Li Qinghong's secret worry, stirring unease within her.
*If Qingchi mobilizes cultivators, our family will certainly not escape our quota. Among the younger generation at home, Xizhi is most likely still at Mount Xiashan, Ximing cannot be sent into battle, and if Xijun departs, the household will be left vulnerable. I am afraid I am the only one fit for this duty.*
With growing concern for affairs back home, Li Qinghong could sit still no longer. She said warmly, "Now that we are out of danger, I must hurry home to see to things and cannot linger here. Please give my regards to your esteemed father..."
She could not predict what the Shen family would arrange next; taking advantage of the elder keeping Miao Quan occupied, returning home as swiftly as possible was the wisest course.
Understanding her concern for her family, and knowing there was no telling how long her father's battle might last, Shen Yanqing nodded. "Then Sister Qinghong should head back first. If opportunity permits in the future, I will visit your home in person to express my gratitude."
After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, Li Qinghong took her leave. Emerging from the Shen family cave dwelling, she did not immediately take to the air on the wind, but thought to herself:
*Xizhi went to Mount Xiashan, but Yuexiang is still up on the peak. Who knows how the Qingchi disciples are treating her; it is better to take her back home!*
Arriving at the foot of the peak, she called out, "Li Qinghong of Qingdu requests Yuexiang to come down."
Upon hearing that she carried the surname Li, the Qingchi gatekeeper complied with great courtesy. Before long, Li Yuexiang descended riding the wind. Seeing Li Qinghong standing alone at the foot of the mountain, her face paled, and she asked anxiously, "Aunt, what about my brother?! Just a few days ago, someone came looking for him and claimed he abandoned his post..."
Li Qinghong shook her head and said gently, "Your brother is unharmed. Pack your things; we are returning home, and I will explain everything to you on the way."
Li Yuexiang let out a breath of relief and said in delight, "Understood!" She nodded at once, gathered Li Xizhi's belongings from the peak as well, and together they set off toward the west.
Chapter 538