The spell array in the hall shimmered softly. Li Qinghong suddenly recalled the days when water plummeted and snow ascended, when she sailed out to sea with He and Xue, witnessing that spectacle where True Monarch Taiyue of the Xiu Sect severed the celestial anomaly with a single sword, causing countless Li stars to plunge from the sky.
Back then, she had clearly been unable to make out the True Monarch's true form, seeing only a blurry mass of white light. Now, seeing that the head disciple in the hall was likewise devoid of facial features, she felt a profound sense of correspondence.
True Monarch Taiyue had attained a fruition status. For an existence of that stature, once one had seen him, drawing any semblance of a likeness would likely trigger an immediate realization. After weighing her thoughts repeatedly, she swallowed her words and murmured, "I only find it familiar."
Li Xijun tactfully refrained from prying. Gazing in silence for a moment, he replied, "The hall in the painting should be Chongming Palace."
"Indeed."
Though the Chongming Six Sons possessed illustrious renown, there were seven figures depicted in the painting. Li Qinghong remembered that Chunyi Dao of the East Sea also traced its lineage back to Qingsong. She had crossed hands with Xi Chang of Chunyi Dao; that sect cultivated the arts of Taiyin, which had left a deep impression on her.
"The one outside the hall should be the founding patriarch of Chunyi Dao."
The guardian-like figure outside the hall was most likely this member of the Xi clan, as the crescent moon on the sword matched perfectly. She laid out her speculations in detail. Li Xijun seemed to grasp the idea and nodded, saying, "Ziyan Gate's sect-protecting treasure, the Purple Qi Splendor Cowl, is renowned far and wide. The senior in purple robes should be Ziyan Gate's patriarch. The red robes correspond to Hengzhu, the white robes carrying a sword should be the Sword Sect, the coarse hemp cloth is the garb of Changhuai, and the head disciple at the side of the seat..."
Li Qinghong answered, "Most likely the one north of the river."
The two counted through them one by one, yet deliberately refrained from mentioning the youth in green robes and black boots. After all, they stood upon the man's territory; it was enough to understand in their hearts without speaking of it aloud. Li Xijun observed carefully and soon found several lines of script-like markings along the dark cyan grain on the side. Naturally, Li Xijun could make little sense of them, but Li Qinghong closed her eyes in contemplation. Drawing upon her connection to the ancient magical artifact, she soon discerned their meaning: "These markings are the unique profound seals of ancient cultivators. The meaning is roughly 'Jiang Bing' and 'Chen Xuanli.'"
Li Qinghong explained, "The painting upon the screen was rendered by the former, while the vessel itself was forged by the latter."
Li Xijun nodded thoughtfully, gripped the sword at his waist, and said softly, "I have heard that the Chen clan originated north of the river. Chen Taoping of Lake Central Islet should be a descendant of Chen Xuanli. Back then, he took the pseudonym Zhang Cuotian and seemed to have achieved some renown."
"Let us first test this painted screen."
Li Qinghong said no more and took to the skies with him atop lightning. The night ran deep. She unfurled the artifact, and the Chongming Dongxuan Screen suddenly spun in midair. Mysterious wind flowed across the screen, green pines swayed, and a wash of dark cyan hue scattered downward.
"This is Chongyuan. It is a technique for knocking things down, specifically countering flying swords and magical light."
Li Xijun nodded gently and casually retrieved a golden leaf-shaped artifact from his storage bag. It was only of Qi Refinement low grade. Channeling his magic power, he sent it flying out, and indeed, once it reached midair, it began to wobble, growing difficult to steer.
Li Xijun had never studied the dao of flying swords in depth, but the drain on his magic power was very real. He casually put away the artifact and nodded. "This is most effective at countering Tangjin Gate."
With the turmoil north of the river settling down, Tangjin Gate would likely reopen its sect gates soon. That immortal sect was famous for excelling in flying knives, flying swords, and magical light, and feared such knocking-down techniques the most.
Li Qinghong formed an incantation gesture and shifted her seal. The Chongming Dongxuan Screen unfurled, emitting several ribbons of pale gold illusory radiance that enveloped the surrounding three zhang. Turning slightly, she said, "This is Juecha. It is an isolation art capable of blocking scrying and obstructing spiritual sense."
This happened to align with Li Xijun's specialty. White qi surged in his eyes as he probed carefully. After a full half a quarter of an hour, he nodded in praise. "It is indeed remarkable. Even I can only catch a vague shadow."
Li Xijun's ocular arts were exceptionally formidable; with talisman qi and his ocular technique augmenting each other, he had been able to see through grand formations even back in Qi Refinement. If even he could only make out a shadow, there was likely no Foundation Establishment cultivator south of the river who could see through it.
Li Qinghong changed her hand seal once more. The eight-paneled screen trembled and circled into a ring. From all eight edges, profound light shone in unison, raising a layer of bright screen-light that looked thoroughly solid. She explained, "This is Daojin. It is a defense technique. The instructions in the art are vague, but it appears quite sturdy."
Li Xijun nodded gently. The long sword at his waist leapt up with a start, trailing a flash of frosty snow light in the air before falling into his palm. It was naturally the Li family sword cultivators' opening move: Yueque Sword Arc.
*Clang!*
Having cultivated sword origin, Li Xijun wielded it at will. This Yueque Sword Arc held not a trace of moonlight in his hands; rather than calling it a Yueque Sword Arc, it was entirely his own creation. The brilliant sword light and frost-snow reflected each other, coalescing into falling snow that drifted down with a soft rustle.
Seeing the sky full of flying snow, Li Qinghong voiced her praise. Just as the eight edges of the Chongming Dongxuan Screen shone in profound brilliance and the bright screen-light rose, both of them were taken aback.
"Eh?"
The fifth panel of the screen had stirred quietly. The radiance painted inside the hall, once frozen in time, began to flow. Pages rustled, white robes fluttered, and the long sword shone with light. The man carrying the sword on his back actually turned his featureless face toward the drifting snow!
The Chongming Dongxuan Screen released a sweep of dark cyan hue. The sword light in Li Xijun's hand suddenly lightened, and the sky full of sword origin dimmed without a sound. The falling snow froze, as if stripped of its underlying spirit, scattering down stiffly and lifelessly.
*Clink, clank...*
The sword origin struck the barrier light and rapidly vanished, splashing up faint ripples. Li Xijun turned his sword gracefully, kicking up a flurry of frost and snow like pine branches drooping under a snowfall, descending with a cascade of fine, crisp rustling.
"Threefold Moonstream!"
Three streams of sword light resembling frost and snow flew from his blade—bright, pure, and exceedingly agile. They wheeled through the air in a circle, but before him stood a magical artifact rather than a person, an upright wall of screen-light with no discernible flaw.
*Buzz—*
The Chongming Dongxuan Screen cast down another swath of dark cyan color. All three streams of sword qi hitched simultaneously as though suppressed, slamming into the screen together with a crisp, resounding crack.
*Crash!*
The sword art finally caused the Chongming Dongxuan Screen to shudder slightly, its glow dimming somewhat. Li Qinghong's hand sank as her magic power consumption spiked. Li Xijun sheathed his sword, halting the technique mid-strike, and exclaimed in praise, "What an artifact!"
The first two marvels of the Chongming Dongxuan Screen could be considered outstanding, yet they were things contemporary magical artifacts could also achieve, lacking the singular uniqueness of ancient artifacts. Though Li Xijun had voiced admiration, he had not been astounded.
Yet this Daojin was the Chongming Dongxuan Screen's primary power, and it truly gave both of them an immense surprise. Li Qinghong looked equally astonished, but she quickly came to her senses. Seeing someone beneath riding the wind to investigate, she stowed the Chongming Dongxuan Screen and descended swiftly. Li Xijun rode the wind closer and said solemnly, "When that sword struck the screen, its power was shaved by at least twenty percent!" He headed up the mountain with Li Qinghong, moved by the realization, and added gravely, "Twenty percent! If it works on all sword qi, this treasure is extraordinary! What is more, this is only one panel—there are seven figures on the screen, so how many lineages might it counter? This is a treasure to anchor a clan's fortune, something no Cuoxiang censer could ever compare to!"
Li Qinghong nodded in disbelief and murmured, "The lineages south of the river either stem from the Chongming Six Sons or were bestowed by the Yuehua Primordial Mansion. If this treasure ever advances to Zifu grade, it might well possess the caliber to suppress several commanderies south of the river!"
Aunt and nephew exchanged a look and entered the peak. The Chongming Dongxuan Screen unfurled, shrouding their perimeter for three zhang. Li Xijun whispered, "Aside from our clan-guarding treasure, this is likely our family's peerless prize. This is what a true ancient artifact is! The Biwater Pill still requires someone versed in the profundities of Fushui to unleash its might, but with this treasure in hand, every Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Jiangnan lineages will stand shorter before us by twenty percent."
His mind had always moved swiftly, and he remarked thoughtfully, "They say the State of Ning has always eyed Wu and Yue with covetous designs, and friction flared constantly later on... The Chongming Dongxuan Screen's targeted nature is all too evident! It was aimed squarely at the State of Yue, and it even possesses a specialized suppressing force against sword cultivators!"
Aunt and nephew discussed it for a while, and the artifact remained in Li Qinghong's hands. The woman said softly, "Let us not leap to conclusions just yet. Going forward, we can find suitable occasions to test this Chongming Dongxuan Screen further and see if all eight panels respond one by one."
Li Xijun nodded and brought out a report on recent clan affairs. Outside the hall, a guard stepped forward again to announce that Li Chengliao had arrived outside.
Having once served as clan head, he still wore that heavy cloak. Holding an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes in his arms, he approached the front of the hall and said respectfully, "Eighth Uncle, someone has arrived from the sea. Jiangqian has been brought back."
Li Xijun rose and stepped forward to take the bundle. The child in his arms was remarkably quiet, well-behaved and endearing. Those clear golden eyes immediately fixed on his face. Li Jiangqian was completely different from his elder brother; not only did he lack that ferocious demeanor, but he had no golden scales either, quiet and peaceful like any ordinary child.
After meeting his gaze for a few breaths, Li Xijun gently pinched the child's cheeks. Seeing no gleam of sharp white fangs in his mouth, he handed him back to Li Chengliao and instructed, "Foster him on the mountain for now. Keep close watch over him and do not let your guard down."
***
In Qingchi Sect, Li Xizhi and Yang Ruizao stepped out of Changtian Peak together. Fei Qingyi was waiting outside the array. Clad in white robes with flowing long hair, the woman waited with deep respect. It had to be said that the members of the Fei family possessed excellent looks; Fei Qingyi had bright eyes and glistening white teeth, her bearing elegant and dignified. Without need for ornate attire, standing alone in a simple white robe was enough to draw glances from all around.
"Junior Qingyi pays respects to the seniors!"
Recognizing Li Xizhi at a glance, she stepped forward swiftly to bow, her tone thorough and polite. Li Xizhi also nodded in response. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist! If Senior Tongyu knew of this, he would surely be overjoyed."
Fei Qingyi replied gently and courteously, "Our two families have enjoyed good relations for generations. Having barely succeeded in cultivating Mishui Cold, Junior came at once to pay respects to Senior. Fortunately, I arrived in time, lest my father reprimand me for neglect. The Yang family's spirit boat is already at Qingshan..."
From the moment she arrived, she had assumed a very humble attitude, speaking with easy smiles. The atmosphere among the three was quite harmonious. Little did they know, this white-robed female cultivator was secretly rejoicing in her heart: *Thank goodness I didn't hesitate! It came down to a mere half a quarter of an hour!*
As soon as Fei Qingyi made her breakthrough, she had rushed over at full speed, intercepting Li Xizhi just as he was leaving. Had she delayed even slightly, she would have missed him, and then she, Fei Qingyi, would have been left alone in the sect!
If the main hall chose that moment to settle old scores over the Tang rebellion, while Li Xizhi was away from the sect and word had not yet arrived from Lake Wangyue, she would truly have had nowhere to turn, trapped with neither path to heaven nor door to earth.
Now, having boarded the boat behind this dignified and elegant man, before her lingering relief could dissipate, Li Xizhi turned his head and said gently, "The current situation is fraught and your identity is delicate. It is safer for you to leave the sect and stay with me for now. As it happens, we can return to the lake together."
These words immediately gave Fei Qingyi a start. So it was not simply a stroke of extraordinary fortune or mere coincidence—the man before her had purposefully brought her along to take her away. Her feelings instantly grew complicated.
To the side, Yang Ruizao watched him clarify the whole matter with a single sentence, sighing inwardly: *He truly unites the bloodlines of both the Xiao and Li families. Which of those two clans is simple? And he received upbringing from both. What Yuan Tuan said back then was not wrong at all—formidable indeed.*
At this thought, Yang Ruizao suddenly realized that Li Xizhi's background was anything but ordinary. The Li clan went without saying—not only was he of the sword immortal lineage, but he was also the direct son of Li Yuanjiao.
Meanwhile, the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Guitu, was his maternal uncle, and both Xiao Yongling and Xiao Yuansi shared close blood ties with him. When it came to backing, Li Xizhi truly ranked among the very best.
Still, Li Xizhi was one of their own, so Yang Ruizao would not puncture the veil. Tilting his head, he gazed outside the boat, listening as Fei Qingyi said softly:
"In recent years, your noble clan has been flourishing with each passing day. Our two houses were originally intimate friends, yet my father could never bring himself to lower his pride, unwilling to let your noble clan think our Fei family was seeking opportunistic favors. Thus he refrained from intentionally fawning upon you. But our family has always remembered your past kindness clearly, only waiting for an opportunity to offer help when it was truly needed.
"Never did we imagine that the Li clan would save our family once again today. Qingyi truly does not know how to express our gratitude..."
With frequent correspondence passing through the Li family, how could Li Xizhi not know what kind of person Fei Tongyu was? To attribute such sentiments to Fei Tongxiao, who harbored affection for his aunt, might be plausible, but it could never be Fei Tongyu. He replied mildly, "Our family naturally understands. There is no need for repeated thanks."
Seeing that Fei Qingyi was very sensible, Li Xizhi naturally asked in passing, "How is Yuanwu Peak currently?"
Fei Qingyi answered immediately, "The Yu clan fared somewhat better, merely fined some wealth and goods. The Tang clan have all been locked within the peak, forbidden to enter or leave. I made my breakthrough in a cold pool in the mountains, so I was not among them."
As for those who had been close to the Yu family, while they had harbored indignation in earlier years, now that Yuanwu Peak had committed a grave offense, they had all scattered. Understanding what Li Xizhi wished to hear, she said in a lowered voice, "Though many were close to Yu Muxian over the years, only two truly took action to seek revenge. One died on the riverbank, and the other..."
Fei Qingyi smiled softly and replied, "He was originally a good friend of Yu Muxian, clear on his debts and grudges, his heart brimming with resentment. Yet when he was on the brink of death while defending the river, Senior Qinghong galloped through on thunder and saved him. Senior did not recognize a minor figure like him, simply saving him in passing before departing, but he was immensely grateful and inquired after Senior's name.
"Upon returning to the sect, it is said this person grew sullen and quiet, never speaking a word of revenge all day."
These words caused Li Xizhi and Yang Ruizao to exchange a glance. Yang Ruizao chuckled, "He is quite a character after all."
Li Xizhi, however, was reminded of Quan Yi, who had fought alongside him against Tuoba Chongyuan. He had taken Quan Yi's mother onto his peak, but the elderly woman had passed away in sorrow after just a few days, leaving behind several children of her nephew's generation at the foot of the mountain. *Given the chance, I will take the Quan clan descendants as disciples, so they will not need to rely on me endlessly.*
After conversing for a while, they arrived in the airspace above Lake Wangyue. Li Qinghong and others rode thunder up to welcome them. Greetings and introductions were exchanged all around. Fei Qingyi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Li Qinghong, clearly eager to draw closer. After all, female cultivators were scarce south of the river, and Li Qinghong was famous along the riverbank for saving many members of the Fei family. Moreover, she was brisk, generous, and heroic in demeanor—clearly someone pleasant to get along with—so Fei Qingyi naturally felt drawn to her.
Li Xizhi was racing against time on this trip, so without further delay, he sent Fei Qingyi on her way home. The group then rode the wind, heading toward the western shore.
Chapter 624