Vassalage

With a solemn face, Si Yuanli soared on the clouds into Mount Qingdu. He noticed that the various families on the lake had all sent representatives; apart from an assortment of obscure little clans he had never heard of, only the contingent of the Fei family was presentable. Yet the Fei family behaved with utmost humility, appearing not to have fared well in recent years. Si Yuanli sighed inwardly and refrained from looking at them too closely as an array of people bowed low and chorused, "Greetings, Upper Envoy!" Before all eyes, Li Xijun was the first to emerge bearing a talisman laid flat upon a jade platter, displaying it clearly for every family to see. Li Qinghong received it first into her hands, whispering, "The [Please Hold the Golden Talisman] is here, to be returned to Senior first." Si Yuanli sighed as he took it. He secretly examined it with care, circulating his magical power through it twice. Once certain that the talisman was unaltered, he spoke without pausing, his tone apologetic: "Brother Xuanfeng stepped forward to preserve Jiangnan for my Qingchi. It was an unprecedented feat of merit, and your noble clan suffered grave depletion in this struggle. I have seen all of this with my own eyes…" His words were tactful and vague. Li Qinghong shook her head and answered, "Before my Second Uncle fell, he said that Real Person Yuanxiu had rescued him from the hands of the Mahas, preventing the rebel Tang from becoming Lianmin. Not only did he preserve the Master's life, but he also protected the safety of our clan. That kindness is profound, and fulfilling our duty was only right…" The two had little prior contact, and Li Qinghong had only spoken a single phrase during earlier counsel. Now each had delivered their subtle overtures. Fearing Si Yuanli might say more about stepping forward in sacrifice, she took a light step and murmured, "He had long since harbored the resolve to die!" "Heh." While the crowd waited outside the hall, Si Yuanli entered to pay his respects to Li Xuanfeng. When he emerged, his grief was profound. As trusted Si family confidants stepped forward to support him, the middle-aged man sighed, "The sect has suffered immense casualties, and Chi Wei has also perished. The Sect Master is in dead-door seclusion, with no telling when he will emerge. You and I halted the demons along the riverbank, yet Chi Zhiyan and the others have all vanished without a trace. Leading our people back now, I truly do not know how best to handle this." Li Xizhi comforted him, "Senior worries overmuch. Your merit is evident to both myself and the various peak masters. Real Person Yuanxiu oversees the sect, so petty scoundrels will not dare cause trouble. Returning now will be merely a matter of conferring rewards according to merit…" "As Senior has already paid his respects, it is not fitting to delay long. Why not allow me to accompany you back to the sect to report on our mission?" Li Xizhi added, "Thank you, Senior… It is just that Qingsui Peak was originally the seat of the Yuan family. The sect's arrangement was made for good reason, and the Sect Master compensated us with Changtian Peak, which counts as making amends." Si Yuanli paused, then stroked his beard and pondered, 'He speaks truly… After all, the Yuan family is an ancient clan with deep heritage and long-standing ties to my family. At the end of the day, it is merely a matter of profit. Since there is no necessary conflict, there is no need to make enemies.' 'How much kindness did the Yuan family ever show the Chi clan? Though they lack outstanding figures, the Xunlin Plain is larger than an entire commandery. If we can win them over alongside the Li family, would that not be far better than hostility?' 'They are indeed a clan forged in this harsh land. In barely a century, with strict discipline, they naturally produce talent after talent. What a fine Li Xizhi—he can spare me a great deal of trouble!' Outwardly, Si Yuanli sighed and praised, "The celestial peaks are pristine and quiet, standing solitary upon the lake—truly a fine place for cultivation." Though Mount Qingdu was considered respectable on Lake Wangyue, it appeared rather humble before a Qingchi descendant like Si Yuanli. He offered a strained word of praise before making for the White Gauze Hall. He had merely been stating his stance and had never expected anyone to pledge their entire clan at the drop of a hat. Emerging from the great hall alongside Li Qinghong, he said mildly, "Matters of the upper sect's immortals ought not to be disclosed to worldly clans. Pray allow the Li kin to withdraw for a moment." Li Xizhi paused, exchanging a glance with Li Qinghong. Seeing the poised young man remain calm, he murmured, "Please." Of course, while the Li clan and Si Yuanli shared natural alignments, he had stepped onto the shore for less than a quarter of an hour and offered not a shred of practical benefit. Li Qinghong had displayed ample warmth, which was already more than courteous. What a joke! The Li family's Foundation Establishment strength was now prominent among the various clans, and their merit was towering. Why on earth would they pledge their entire family under Si Yuanli's banner on a whim? Just as Si Yuanli was about to speak further words of praise, a streak of light sped through the distance. Only when it drew near could they tell it was a junior of his own Si family. The Li family parted their defensive array, and the youth landed beside him, stepping close to transmit his voice in secret. Seeing the junior arrive entirely alone had already made Si Yuanli's face shift slightly, and the words entering his ears tightened his expression into a grim scowl. 'Li Yuanqin is not in Yishan City, and Chi Fupo is likewise missing. Ning Hejing mobilized every last man from Yuanxing Peak. Your nephew intended to pilot the cloud boat here, but he seized control of the Xiaguang cloud boat… If Yuanxing Peak had not remained dormant for years and suffered a shortage of hands, your nephew would hardly have escaped Qingchi Sect at all… We cannot afford to delay our return a moment longer!' Standing behind him, Li Xijun watched as the youth spoke in hushed tones. Si Yuanli's countenance gradually sank. At his side, Li Qinghong seemed to sense something and murmured, "Ning Hejing…" Si Yuanli first formed a guess, then shook his head. "Chi Zhiyun might have made arrangements." Li Qinghong's words gave Si Yuanli pause, and he sighed, "Chi Zhiyun did not react slowly." The news brought back by the Si family junior was at least a day old—meaning Qingchi had made its move the day after Li Xuanfeng slaughtered the Shakya monks, or perhaps even earlier. In an era where long-distance messages could not be transmitted, such speed was terrifying. Si Yuanli exhaled a deep breath. Without even having time to bid farewell to Li Xijun and the others, he said gravely, "We depart!" Si Yuanli left in a rush, having lingered for less than a quarter of an hour. The group boarded the cloud boat, propelled by their magical power, and sped away, trailing several white clouds across the sky as they headed south under the watchful gazes of the onlookers. The various peak masters followed in their wake, vanishing into the distance. The aunt and nephew descended back to the peak. Li Ximing was holding a letter, the tension between his brows easing somewhat. Laying the letter upon the table, he said, "Aunt, the men we dispatched to summon Uncle Yuanqin will likely return empty-handed." Li Ximing's words caused Li Xijun to raise his brows slightly. Shaking out his Daoist robe, he met Li Qinghong's questioning gaze and nodded, "Nine times out of ten." Merely watching Si Yuanli depart without taking his leave, he understood that something had most likely happened to Li Yuanqin. Journeying from the riverbank to Mount Qingchi took ten-odd days of flying and resting for a Qi Refinement cultivator, several days without sleep for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, and even a full day for Li Qinghong, the swiftest of the Li family. No matter how fast the Li clan moved, they could never outpace the Si family; the trip was destined to bear no fruit. "The Chi clan has three branches in total. The brothers Chi Zhiyan and Chi Zhiyun belong to Chi Wei's primary lineage; they are Qingchi's immortal descendants and traditional candidates for Sect Master. Chi Fupo and the others, who are close to Li Yuanqin, belong to the secondary lineage, whose strength is passable. Only these two branches ever produced a Violet Palace ancestor; the remaining lines are of no consequence. Now, the primary branch is nearly annihilated in the north…" "No matter how he prepared, he could never have anticipated the situation deteriorating to this extent… The last great Qingchi war was seven hundred years ago at Lake Wangyue." "Though he was indecisive, he was devoted to his clan. He certainly would not hide behind his juniors; he has likely gone to the north in person." Li Xijun watched the grand procession of cultivators recede, his fingers resting upon his sword hilt in quiet silence. A junior came up and announced, "Aunt, the Fei clan has arrived in full force, waiting on the shore to request an audience." The three flew out together and indeed saw a dense crowd standing on the lake shore. Seeing the three arrive from the sky, men and women lowered their heads, kneeling in a rustling wave. Li Qinghong landed nearby and saw that the foremost figure was an old man, his face crisscrossed with purple-red scars that appeared exceedingly grotesque, his right hand missing three fingers. Upon seeing the three, he bowed low and spoke respectfully, "Fei Tongyu of the Fei family greets the three Masters!" Li Qinghong naturally recognized him. She had practiced spear techniques with the Fei family as a girl. Back then, Fei Tongyu had been dashing and elegant; when she visited after achieving Foundation Establishment, he had already grown quite aged. Now, his appearance was shockingly gruesome. Li Xijun was startled, quickly understanding where those wounds had come from—to have fourteen Masters buried alongside Li Xuanfeng was also the fulfillment of a hero's ambition. "You stood with us to defend the riverbank, and we share the bond of comrades… There is no need for such formality." Fei Tongyu bowed prostrate nonetheless, lifting his scarred hands high. Upon a jade platter rested a verdant seal and a storage bag. "The northern shore's Fei clan, having received your profound grace, prostrates to beg for vassalage to our Master Clan!" As Fei Tongyu knelt, the crowd behind him raised their voices in unison, "We prostrate to beg for vassalage to our Master Clan!" A roar like thunder shook the shores, sending waves rippling across the lake. The various clans lifted their heads to look: three figures hovered in the sky, lightning crackling in the center, bright radiance shimmering on the right, and frost and snow swirling on the left. Someone whispered: "The Li clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators already surpass the Jiang clan of old. The lake must now bear the surname Li." "Truly the grandeur of a great clan." *** Within the Mirror Realm. While the mortal world was peaceful, a titanic battle had raged within Anhuaitian, observed with absolute clarity by Lu Jiangxian from the side. Of the three strands of golden nature, Mount Changhuai claimed one, Real Person Zipei claimed one, and one had fled. Mount Changhuai had dispatched three Violet Palace masters and possessed the greatest strength; taking one was only natural. Six Shakya Mahas had descended into a melee, allowing Zhelu to snatch a strand, which had just exited Anhuaitian only to be caught red-handed by Real Person Zipei, who had been lying in wait. Zhelu had originally concealed the golden nature and could simply have fled. Yet the grand formation of Anhuaitian specifically targeted Shakya cultivators. Entering had been troublesome enough, but leaving proved even harder. Beset on both sides by the other two Mahas, trapped in an impossible dilemma, Zhelu had no choice but to surrender it. The contest over the final strand of golden nature was exceptionally fierce among the pursuing Violet Palace masters. By a stroke of fortune, after circling through the void, that strand unexpectedly fell into the hands of Real Person Chengyan, an early Violet Palace master of Changxiao Gate. Chengyan felt no joy, only terror. 'I made no progress for so many years after breaking through to Violet Palace. In all my secluded cultivation day after day, I merely mastered a single divine ability. How could I dare hold such a scorching potato?' His sect's senior Real Person was formidable, but he had not come to Anhuaitian. Chengyan did not hail from an illustrious immortal family. Seeing the throng of Violet Palace masters closing in, he gritted his teeth and hurled the golden nature out of Anhuaitian. First, this rid him of a deadly burden; second, Changxiao might be waiting beyond the boundary. His calculation was sound: Changxiao was indeed waiting outside Anhuaitian. Overjoyed at the sight, he was about to unleash a divine ability when a dark alms bowl shot across, intercepting him. So swift was the golden nature that Changxiao brushed past it, missing it completely. Chengyan's cast provoked furious curses from the Violet Palace masters, forcing them to rush outside Anhuaitian in pursuit. Aside from Real Person Hengli of Hengzhu Dao, who wheeled around to chase Chengyan, the rest surged out in a swarm. Someone spat in hatred, "What a waste!" Yet once that true golden nature escaped Anhuaitian, it immediately underwent a transformation. At first, the Violet Palace masters chased it as a streak of light; after several breaths, the golden nature expanded within the Great Void, turning into a gleaming lump of metallic stone. After another dozen breaths, that golden nature morphed into a stone bird. Turning its head, it drew a deep breath. A cultivator of early Violet Palace, whose divine abilities had already been shattered in the brawl, was caught entirely unprepared and swallowed whole in a single gulp. Half the Violet Palace masters turned and fled on the spot. The rest, whether believing themselves stronger or clutching at futile hope, still refused to give up. Thus, the Violet Palace cultivators could only scatter in all directions, their curses against Real Person Chengyan rising and falling. Having acquired a taste for flesh, the stone bird wheeled around with a booming laugh to hunt more people. Fortunately, possessing an uncanny and bizarre nature, it merely smacked its lips with lingering hunger before swiftly vanishing without a trace. Having watched the spectacle to its conclusion, Lu Jiangxian returned thoughtfully into the mirror. Taking out the [Minghua Huangyang Yujiaoxing], he mused inwardly, 'If that thing ever descends into the mortal realm, it will be an unimaginably terrifying existence… That Real Person Chengyan of Changxiao Gate will likely not dare step out his front door for the next century.' Indeed, the magical mirror was currently stalled at this threshold. Unless a Violet Palace master broke through and provided divine ability feedback, any gain amounted to nothing more than a faint glimmer of radiance… Remaining in the mirror, Lu Jiangxian quietly observed that talisman seed, sighing inwardly. When Li Xuanfeng swallowed the human elixir, he had already embraced death, merely waiting for a fitting opportunity to rid the world of more wicked men before dying. When Li Xuanfeng ingested the human elixir, the talisman seed should have drained his cultivation and detached, but Lu Jiangxian had forcibly suppressed it, for it did not truly belong to him. When the battle on the riverbank raged, Lu Jiangxian had again suppressed the talisman seed as Li Xuanfeng channeled his magical power, allowing him to accomplish his duty and depart in peace. Upon Li Xuanfeng's death, his karmic mandate should have dispersed with him. Yet the talisman seed had never been reasonable: it refused to give an inch, but never hesitated to take. It devoured the karmic mandate entirely and carried it back into the mirror. The talisman seed shimmered with faint golden light. Holding it in his hand, Lu Jiangxian found its magical power extremely faint, barely comparable to the Qi Refinement level. Li Xuanfeng's cultivation had been thoroughly depleted, leaving practically nothing behind. Yet in stark contrast, the astonishingly dense karmic mandate held within the talisman seed was wholly gathered inside, proving immensely alluring.