Kong Tingyun was dressed as usual in xiang-colored robes, yet their golden hue was deeper than before and of luxurious quality. Golden mountain patterns were embroidered along the collar and sleeves, fastened by two buttons woven of gold and jade that shimmered with radiant brilliance.
Two people followed behind her, a man and a woman, both at the Foundation Establishment stage and seemingly quite young. They took in their surroundings, looking toward Li Qinghong with a touch of reverent awe.
The group flew across the great lake in the fresh morning breeze under a clear sky. Li Qinghong led Kong Tingyun down into the hall. Kong Tingyun dismissed her two companions: "You may keep watch outside the mountain."
"We obey your decree!"
The two bowed and withdrew. Li Qinghong heard them clearly and, observing Kong Tingyun's current attire, offered her congratulations: "I must also congratulate Sister on taking charge of Xuanyue and becoming the master of a sect."
Kong Tingyun gave a gentle laugh. Her lineage was hardly a dominant one within the sect; reaching this height solely through Senior Changxi's favor had been far from easy. Her heart was naturally filled with joy. Returning the congratulations, she entered the hall alongside her.
Li Xijun followed at their side. Before Li Qinghong could say much more, Kong Tingyun spoke in her customary warm, intimate tone: "Does Qinghong know? The barrier over at Mount Bianyan was tricked open. They hired a demonic cultivator from the South Sea whose family has specialized in such arts for generations—one named Yu Jiang.
"The South Sea is full of small islands like Lüfang and Songzhou, with names that go on forever. He hails from Danrong Wuluo and cultivates Wu talismans."
Hearing her say this, Li Qinghong immediately recognized the man and took careful note. Listening to Kong Tingyun chat about recent affairs, she asked softly, "About that matter... Sister, there is something I must trouble you with. You previously mentioned the matter of Violet Palace spiritual items. Changxiao Gate's Yufuzi is still overseas, and this person has a deep background. His master, Zhou Han—known as Xiongyizi—is said to be quite formidable as well, having gone into seclusion years ago to break through to the Violet Palace. The spiritual items in their hands cannot be given away easily. Is there any other news?"
Kong Tingyun answered, "This matter traces back to the Qingsong Grotto-Heaven. Zhou Han, Changxiao Gate's Xiongyizi, fought with True Master Junjian for a portion of Taiyin Lunar Essence within the grotto-heaven before his seclusion. In the end, he was no match for the True Master, losing all face and leaving empty-handed.
"Humiliated and enraged, he turned to vie for Gengjin.
"Yet I took it a step before him. Having failed repeatedly, he harbored a bitter grudge, resenting both me and Xuanyue.
"Later, a direct descendant of our sect, Kong Gushun, passed by their outpost at Chongzhou Island in the East Sea. He clashed with Yufuzi and parted on bad terms, and before he had traveled even a hundred li, he was murdered."
Li Qinghong asked, "Sister previously mentioned that Kong Gushun had some friction with your sect. Might I hear the details?"
"Gushun's lineage was never on particularly good terms with mine," Kong Tingyun replied. "Yet he was always respectful toward me and listened to my words. There was some sentiment between us. Besides, if it causes some grief for Changxiao Gate, all the better.
"Back when the Hengzhu Dao-Heaven fell, Chu Yi plundered most of the spiritual items within. The rest scattered among various cultivators. The sects waited by the stump for the hare, and most of the treasures ended up in the hands of the immortal sects and gates. There is a limit to how many can be used in alchemy and artifact refinement, so some ought to remain. Perhaps they can be traded for from those sects."
As she spoke, the woman seemed to lower her brows, yet her eyes quietly observed the reactions of the two before her. Seeing Li Qinghong listen with calm composure, deep in thought, while Li Xijun nodded without the slightest unnaturalness, Kong Tingyun took a sip of tea, the golden mountain pattern on her xiang-colored robes glimmering in the sunlight. She said solemnly, "True Master Junjian's immortal carriage will soon arrive. I cannot stay long, so please forgive me."
Li Qinghong caught her underlying meaning. The Li family had to obtain the Suzhu spiritual items, but whether the feud with Yufuzi had to be settled through blood needed to be made clear in advance between both houses to prevent awkwardness later on. Thus she replied, "Qinghong understands."
Kong Tingyun chatted with her for a brief while longer before taking her leave. Li Qinghong naturally escorted her out. Returning to the hall, Li Ximing was invited up. Looking at her two nephews, Li Qinghong remained silent for a moment before Li Xijun spoke up, "Aunt, as things stand, our only option is to trade."
Li Ximing chimed in, "Aunt... Tujun Gate has only just been established, and we do not know how deep its waters run. I fear eyes from every quarter are watching. If we cannot meet the True Master in person and the message must pass through others, news is likely to leak.
"True Master Junjian went to the Hengzhu Dao-Heaven back then. With his capabilities, he might well possess Suzhu spiritual items. Tujun Gate is in need of rebuilding from the ground up, so it wouldn't hurt to ask."
Li Xijun had met Tu Longjian right after the Hengzhu Dao-Heaven collapsed and had already searched through his storage bag. He could only hope the True Master had encountered further fortunes. Li Xijun agreed, "Brother is right. As things stand, our only option is to trade."
"He might not be willing to trade," Li Ximing noted softly.
"Even if we do trade, we cannot do so in our clan's name. In short, hopes are slim... Fortunately, the dispute between Changxiao Gate and Hengzhu Dao has not yet ceased."
Li Ximing listened carefully and said softly, "Xuanyue Gate's meaning is quite clear. Xuanyue indeed has bad blood with Changxiao, but it has not reached the point of taking the lives of such important figures. Revealing his whereabouts to our clan and offering a helping hand at a critical moment is already enough to spite Changxiao."
Li Qinghong sighed softly and answered, "He is one of the most outstanding figures in Changxiao Gate. True Master Changxiao is renowned among the Violet Palaces, and the other, True Master Chengyan, rarely shows himself. We cannot kill him."
Pinching an incantation, Li Qinghong activated the Chongming Dongxuan Screen within her sleeve. The screen unfurled, emitting several ribbons of pale golden illusory hues; [Juecha] could only shroud an area of eight zhang around them. She turned and said, "We must either trade for it from Yufuzi or trade for it from Hengzhu Dao... Let us set out first and take a look overseas.
"Have White Ape watch over the home, and we shall ride the wind together."
The East Sea surged with rolling waves. Three streaks of light tore through the void, masked beneath clouds of mist. Neither thunder nor frost was revealed; merely riding the wind, they headed all the way south.
Bypassing the near sea and flying north, east of the three seas lay the sparsely populated distant sea. The Li cultivators made a turn and flew south, entering the boundary between the Zhulu Sea and the Near Sea.
The East Sea was roughly divided into three sections, from north to south: Hetian, Fenkuai, and Zhulu. The richest area was the waters of Fenkuai Island adjoining the mouth of the Salt Lake, which properly should have been named the Fenkuai Sea. However, because the six most densely populated commanderies of Jiangnan had sunk beneath the waters in the great war of antiquity, the sea was shallow and close to land, earning it the name of the Near Sea.
"No wonder Changxiao Gate and Hengzhu Dao have been clashing for so long without any news reaching inland. It turns out they have been fighting this bitter war out at sea."
Li Qinghong, having spent years maneuvering overseas in the past, understood the situation well and was not surprised. She said softly, "The inland, after all, is the domain of the True Monarchs, and the commanderies held by the various sects house their own kinsmen. Spiritual veins and spiritual energy are exceedingly vital and cannot bear such devastation. Unless matters have truly reached the point of tearing away all pretense to annihilate an entire sect, none would enter the inland commanderies to assault mountain gates... The maneuvering of the three sects and seven gates mostly plays out overseas."
Overseas, there was no concept of slaying demons on sight; in fact, the three seas were the domain of beasts, answering to the dragons above. On the vessels, demonic creatures wore robes and exchanged bows, while demonesses plucked the pipa and sang melodies, no different from humans.
Li Ximing watched for a time, noticing a large ship sailing over the sea amidst boiling clamor. The faint sound of pipes and strings drifted across the water, and several crabs and prawns stood upright in robes, drinking and merrymaking.
"It truly is a different scenery. Along the way, we have even seen many cultivators fighting."
Li Xijun rested a hand on his sword and answered, "Indeed."
The hierarchy among the immortal sects was on full display here. Tangjin Gate's Jindou Island was far inferior to Xuanyue Gate's Yuezhou Island; not only was it smaller in area, its resources were vastly lacking. To put it bluntly, it was merely an open market.
Changxiao Gate had risen rapidly over recent years, transforming day by day, while Hengzhu Dao boasted an ancient heritage and deep foundation. Both of their domains occupied prime locations among these scattered reefs.
Over seven thousand li south of here lay Tangjin Gate's Jindou Island and Xuanyue Gate's Yuezhou Island, while less than a thousand li east lay Hengzhu Dao's Donghuodong Reef.
Changxiao Gate's Chongzhou Reefs and Chongzhou Island were situated here. The main island was shaped like a boat, narrow and jagged with numerous peaks, surrounded by scattered islets. Cultivators came and went, spiritual vessels rose and dipped, and various spirit beasts swam across the radiant turquoise-red sea, creating an exceedingly bustling scene.
Li Ximing appeared somewhat restless, gazing blankly as Li Qinghong led them through the sea. His eyes swept across the reefs scattered beneath their feet. Calculating their area, they were by no means small.
Li Qinghong nodded and said softly, "The island area alone is probably half a commandery, not to mention the boundless sea attached to the reefs!
"Three Foundation Establishment cultivators descending together would be too conspicuous. You two scout around the vicinity, checking Chongzhou Reefs and Donghuodong Reef respectively, and come back one after another in a few days."
Li Ximing suggested, "Jun-di acts prudently; it would be best for him to head to Chongzhou Reefs, while I look around the vicinity."
The Suzhu Island in the center was shaped like a disc, its market glowing brightly. It did not employ the popular formation techniques of the current era; from time to time, several crimson talismans leapt up, echoing the spiritual mechanism of heaven and earth.
Both men agreed. Li Qinghong deliberately dispelled her lightning light and descended upon the wind. Hengzhu Dao's grand array reacted, a crimson talisman dropping back to the island, and a Hengzhu Dao cultivator immediately came out to greet her, evidently sensing that she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Li Qinghong conversed with him briefly and entered the array.
Li Xijun nodded, his white robe fluttering in the sea wind as he held the frost-blue sword Hanlin in his arms. He said softly, "Understood." With a firm nod, he flew north riding frost and snow, leaving Li Ximing clutching his Daoist robe, standing in place. After hesitating for a long while, Li Ximing made his way south.
Hearing the words "Donghuodong Reef", Li Ximing had furrowed his brows, seemingly reminded of something, lost in thought.
Clouds drifted overhead and the seawater was a deep turquoise-red. With knitted brows, he gritted his teeth and checked the sky. Flying south for a hundred li, he soon spotted a patch of salt reefs exposed above the sea.
His heart thumping wildly, he flew another sixty li south. Watching the pale, frosty salt reefs multiply, Li Ximing pursed his lips and thought, "Back then, she said that the Li Fire in her family was vigorous and the earth vein was fierce, so the hollows of the reefs often had sea water evaporating, forming layers of salt frost. It shouldn't be wrong."
Li Ximing landed silently on the largest salt reef. His spiritual sense swept across and instantly detected an anomaly beneath a large rock: a square indentation. An ordinary cultivator would never have noticed, but with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, how could such a trick deceive him?
He gazed silently at the sea, realizing the person reflected on the surface was quite unfamiliar. Clearly appearing like a young man, his eyes betrayed an aged look, and his Daoist robe hung loosely without a hint of elegance.
"Over sixty years have already passed!"
Li Ximing was about to channel his magical power when he suddenly realized something. He reached up to touch his chin and found he had grown a beard two fingers long, which he had never noticed before.
"How peculiar..."
Li Ximing hurriedly shaved his beard and changed his robe. Looking closely again, he felt it looked even more awkward and mismatched, worse than before, and immediately regretted it: "Too deliberate!"
He fumbled hurriedly across his person and retrieved a delicate, handsome jade box gilded with golden threads from his storage bag. The man lifted the lid, and the sea breeze blew, nearly scattering the white paper within.
Li Ximing quickly protected it with magical power and unfolded the stack of white sheets. Sheet after sheet, they were all portraits of him in his youth. Most depicted him with a cold expression, standing alone in a courtyard. Occasionally, a few showed him seated, with a woman resting on his lap, a pale blue orchid worn in her hair.
He did not look further, only retrieving the jade pendant wrapped at the very center, then immediately put away the jade box. Holding the jade pendant against the reef, he aligned it; sure enough, it fit the indentation perfectly.
He let out a sigh, magical power surging from his hands. The stone reef before him slowly parted. Li Ximing looked up. Within the array, the most prominent feature was a large crimson plaque, inscribed in flying, dancing strokes with two characters:
"Meng Residence."
Chapter 629