Li Xizhi stayed within the bounds of Fuchen Peak for several months, and the injuries within his body finally stabilized. His Caiche Yunqu was adept at neutralizing foreign dharmic power in his meridians, providing immense help to his recuperation.
Examining himself more closely, the worst of it was losing merely a dozen or so years of lifespan. The Qingchi Sect's medicinal pills were remarkably potent; back then, his father, Li Yuanjiao, had relied entirely on his own dharmic power to heal, often having to enter secluded cultivation for years after every injury. Li Xizhi, on the other hand, had taken the pills and begun seeing results in just a few months.
He had intended to remain in seclusion to continue his healing, but before long, a visitor arrived at his door. Li Quantao sent word to convey greetings, and it turned out to be Yu Yuwei seeking him out.
Li Xizhi was somewhat surprised, but having just escaped a life-and-death ordeal alongside the man, there might well be critical news. He hurriedly came out of seclusion to receive him.
Li Quantao was waiting before the array. This clan brother was of a similar age to him and often wore a warm smile. Li Xizhi felt grateful toward him and thanked him once again, murmuring, "Quantao, we are both of the Li clan. From now on, you may treat us as your own brothers!"
Li Quantao's arms were sturdy, and he possessed a rather bold, gallant air. He replied, "Nothing could be better! Brother Zhi, there's no need to stand on ceremony!"
The two stepped out of the cave dwelling together. After a moment of thought, Li Xizhi asked, "Quan Yi of Linghe Peak was slain by Tuoba Chongyuan, leaving his mother behind in the sect. He entrusted us with looking after her. Quantao, do you know anything of the situation at Linghe Peak?"
Li Quantao gave a slightly sardonic smile and replied, "That Fellow Daoist Quan was truly a man of pure filial piety. Once he returned to the sect, he... It would still be best to send someone to check on Mother Quan first. People in the world are snobbish. If you wait until you return to the sect in a few years, the old lady may have already suffered much mistreatment, and that would be a failing on our part."
Li Xizhi had no desire to burden him and quickly waved his hand. He declined decisively on this matter, making a quiet mental note: he had merely wanted to inquire after information; having received Quan Yi's kindness, he ought to visit in person upon returning to the sect.
Having concluded their exchange, they arrived at the front courtyard. Yu Yuwei was standing there with his sleeves drawn together, coughing.
The old Daoist's face was still pale, yet his spirits were buoyant and his aura was largely intact; clearly, he had mostly recovered.
An old ginger is spicier after all. He was, in the end, a seasoned cultivator of long standing, and that great battle had not damaged his foundation.
Li Xizhi respectfully bowed and said, "Senior possesses profound strength and saved my life. Xizhi is deeply grateful!"
Yu Yuwei waved his hand and replied, "I should be thanking you! If he hadn't chased after you, I might not have escaped with my life. That you managed to survive and slip away under his pursuit—now that is truly remarkable!"
He paused, not wasting any more time on mutual courtesies, and said in a low voice, "Little friend! Tuoba Chongyuan is dead!"
Li Xizhi chimed in, "Good riddance."
Yu Yuwei seemed exceptionally patient with him. Setting his own matters aside for the moment, he smiled and said, "Dongfang Heyun has finally caught his fish!"
Li Xizhi had heard some rumors over the past few months as well. Keen as he was, hearing that Tuoba was slain by the dragons made him understand at once.
Back when Tuoba Chongyuan had proclaimed how Emperor Wu of Liang had slain dragons to establish a state, Li Xizhi had felt a premonition, fearing Dongfang Heyun might strike immediately and embroil him in the fallout. In the end, that fellow was exceedingly cunning, likely lying in wait beside the long halberd or chariot.
Yu Yuwei chuckled drily and shook his head. "I was worried Tuoba Chongyuan might return for revenge. Now it's clean and simple—he's dead. By the time he reincarnates decades from now, the grudge will have long faded."
Though Li Xizhi had been hunted by the man, he had still taken measure of his character, and murmured, "He did not seem the sort to seek vengeance from the shadows."
Yu Yuwei sighed. "Guessing back and forth matters little; Tuoba Chongyuan is dead, so there is nothing left to speculate on."
Yu Yuwei had lost two disciples, and the despondency in his demeanor far outweighed the damage to his physical body. Speaking of these matters, his brow was clouded with sorrow.
He appeared deeply troubled and said heavily, "I have tried every method, yet I haven't been able to erase that mark... Worse yet, it is an heirloom passed down from my ancestors, of paramount importance. Most of my cultivation over all these years resides in it; how could I bear to abandon it? That is a magic treasure, after all!"
Li Xizhi was far more relaxed. For one, he had not clashed head-on with that great seal, having sustained most of his injuries under Tuoba Chongyuan's spells. For another, he possessed no decent magical implements to begin with, the sword in his hand being merely at the Qi Refinement level, so he had no reason to worry.
Yu Yuwei looked at him with a slight smile and nodded gently. From his sleeve, he produced a purple cauldron and set it down with a heavy thud in the center of the hall, immediately sending a wave of heat rushing forward.
The cauldron had two loop handles and three legs, adorned with intricate patterns, its rim encircled by purple flames. Yu Yuwei patted it with evident heartache and murmured, "Back then, I used this cauldron to block his natal seal. That blow struck very hard, leaving this mark upon it. It is likely an innate property of his family's implement—so long as it lands a solid hit, an indelible mark is stamped upon it. Next time you encounter someone of the Tuoba family, they will know you were once an enemy."
Li Xizhi followed his gesture and looked closely, seeing a faint imprint on the cauldron, uneven and recessed, seemingly depicting four characters written in a soaring, vigorous style, sharp and imposing:
[Shengle Tuoba].
Li Xizhi nodded in ostensible comprehension, scrutinizing the script with great care. That feeling of familiarity welled up in his heart once more, and he thought to himself, 'I only feel this imprint is familiar...'
Frowning as he looked, Li Xizhi finally recalled where that familiarity came from, and was left momentarily dazed.
Years ago, when he returned home to see his father, he had glanced at the inscription [Wei State Li Qianyuan] on that Mystic Pattern Bottle. The calligraphy had been just as soaring and sharp, bearing at least a seventy-percent resemblance to the imprint left upon this cauldron!
Seeing him frown in perplexity, Yu Yuwei asked him a few questions. Li Xizhi replied, "I merely feel this imprint is familiar..."
He fell silent for a breath before asking, "Does Senior happen to know the origin of this script?"
Yu Yuwei smiled. Seeing his solemn expression, he searched his memory for a moment and hesitated...
Li Xizhi was surprised and praised, "It seems your noble clan might possess records of this script?"
Yu Yuwei shook his head helplessly and sighed. "Rumors of the near-ancient era outnumber official histories a hundredfold. Though my family's heritage runs long, second only to the Yuan family, records from that time have grown quite vague... But I have heard some idle gossip... It is said this seal was not forged by Tuoba Xuan himself, but was a vassal state seal carved long ago when the Tuoba tribe first settled in Dai Commandery.
"Emperor Wu of Liang, Tuoba Xuan—it was also the only magic treasure left behind after Shengle Heaven presented two pearls to obtain a True Monarch's protection... Everyone in the Tuoba family loved to carve seals, and I hear they all took Xuan Tan as their model.
"Who knows? Some also say Tuoba Xuan had a falling out with Mount Luoxia and was actually murdered by that figure from Luoxia... Others say the rise of the Tuoba family was merely a scheme directed against the dragonkin."
Li Xizhi understood in his heart but did not dare let it show, merely nodding in response. Yet inwardly, the suspicion lingered: it was truly strange—the very first time he saw that handwriting, a sense of familiarity had arisen.
***
Baixiang Valley.
More than half a year ago, Baixiang Valley had been breached by Tuoba Chongyuan. The surrounding areas, including Mount Qunyuan and Mount Nu, had been plundered clean, and vast swaths of land had turned into demonic territory overrun by demonic cultivators.
Tang Shedu was by no means incompetent. With Tuoba Chongyuan dead, he received his orders and charged into the mountains midway, severing the entire demonic territory into two...
Chapter 562