Dongfang Heyun remained as elegant and dignified as ever. This first wisp of cloud-qi exhaled when the Dragon Monarch attained fruition often acted unpredictably, possessing a particular obsession with his own appearance and deportment. Standing properly a short distance away, he smiled and said, "You truly have progressed immensely, Fellow Daoist. When I first met you, casting a single spell took several thoughts, yet seeing you now, it takes but a single thought."
"Senior flatters me!"
Li Xizhi replied respectfully. Dongfang Heyun flicked his sleeve and stepped forward. In a few strides, he arrived before the xiayao, lifted it with one hand, and turned it over, revealing its bloody underbelly. The xiayao kept its eyes open, watching.
Dongfang Heyun leaned forward slightly and said softly, "This beast came from the north and crashed into Mount Xiashan in the Heshui Sea. A few flood dragons were playing in the water, chasing and frolicking for a time, when I happened to pass by, so it was delivered into my hands. In the matter of Tuoba Chongyuan, you rendered meritorious service and were also injured. I brought it along as a form of compensation."
He chuckled and continued, "After making a round, I found you here..."
Dongfang Heyun paused. Li Xizhi hastily demurred, "Junior merely answered the summons for defense and did what little I could to preserve my own life... It was Senior who assisted and resolved many future troubles for me."
Dongfang Heyun shook his head and paced forward, saying, "Just accept it."
His voice dropped lower as a flicker of doubt crossed his face. Pacing two steps in place, he asked softly, "There is a matter I would like to ask you, Fellow Daoist."
"Senior, please speak!"
Li Xizhi replied promptly, only to hear Dongfang Heyun speak unhurriedly, "Within this Earth Abyss, there are two qis and one light—baleful qi, dawn qi, and the light of Shaoyang permeate everywhere, invading the physical vessel and coursing through the meridians. This is by no means something an ordinary person can dispel; even those monks from the north cannot linger here for long."
He paused, his eyes slowly meeting Li Xizhi's gaze as he asked softly, "Yet Fellow Daoist Xizhi seems largely unaffected?"
Li Xizhi knew what he was going to ask before he was even halfway through, and alarm bells were already ringing wildly in his heart.
Li Xizhi understood that Violet Palace cultivators were paying attention to his clan, but the Earth Abyss had been formed from Demon Monarch Shaoyang. At most, a Violet Palace cultivator could divine his general location; they could not observe specific conditions, nor was there any need to monitor him at all times.
Despite all his calculations, no one could have predicted that Dongfang Heyun would be waiting for him right here. Waiting for him was one thing, but Dongfang Heyun had actually observed him for a good while from nearby... noticing that he was virtually unaffected and thus exposing his anomaly.
*How can I explain this... A cultivation technique? A spell secret? A spiritual item?...*
Thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Ultimately, he lowered his voice and replied, "To answer Senior, the rainbow light of the immortal foundation in my qi sea possesses the effect of dispelling baleful qi that invades my body... Although it is of little use against the two qis and one light here, it can alleviate them somewhat. Furthermore, there is a cavern nearby devoid of the corrosion of light and baleful qi. Junior frequently conceals himself within it to refine and purify my magic power, which has enabled me to remain safe."
Li Xizhi finished his statement coherently in a single breath, his tone steady and respectful. Dongfang Heyun listened intently, not answering immediately.
Though immortal foundations each had their own miraculous effects, they often differed in subtle details. Li Xizhi could only attribute the matter vaguely to his immortal foundation, his heart gradually tightening.
Dongfang Heyun paused for a good while before letting out a soft laugh and replying, "Fellow Daoist Xizhi, if you put it that way, that figure on Mount Luoxia absorbed and integrated the northern orthodoxies, preserving most of the northern immortal path, which is why the path of rosy light possesses the ability to neutralize other paths."
Dongfang Heyun always spoke with an effortless elegance. Li Xizhi could not discern his true intention, unable to tell whether he was joking or making a solemn addition, and could only say softly, "Junior has been enlightened."
His reply was equally ambiguous, making sense whether interpreted straightforwardly or otherwise. Dongfang Heyun chuckled twice, pressed two fingers together against the xiayao's crown, and flicked his finger.
Layers of misty clouds instantly billowed within the dense light and baleful qi, traversed by several blurry silhouettes of light. Dongfang Heyun merely chanted a few incantations before revealing a glittering speck of light, saying simply, "Keep it safe!"
This thing was naturally the demon beast's spirit-soul. Dongfang Heyun was a spirit demon himself, so capturing a spirit-soul was easy for him. Yet to extract it so effortlessly without needing any spiritual items or formations, and even transfer it into someone else's hands, was likely beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could achieve.
Li Xizhi took in everything, estimating the demon's strength one degree higher in his heart. He received the spirit-soul into the space between his brows. Dongfang Heyun turned back to look at the xiayao, saying with a smile, "Did you hear that clearly? Just follow him. I know you possess many spells and even a spirit-soul might not completely bind you, but if you do not follow him well, the Dragon Monarch would not mind a feast of ray."
The xiayao nodded, flipped its body over, and replied in a clear, bright voice, "This small demon understands."
Dongfang Heyun adjusted his sleeves, bowed in greeting, and only then looked toward Li Xizhi, smiling, "If you have the chance, give my regards to Fellow Daoist Qinghong. I shall wait for her in the grotto-heaven."
Li Xizhi's brows snapped up. Just as he was about to speak and inquire, Dongfang Heyun had already vanished from before his eyes, leaving behind only a few scattered wisps of cloud that were washed entirely clean by the bright light of Shaoyang.
The moment Dongfang Heyun vanished, the xiayao playing dead on the ground sprang up at once, transforming into a young man in colorful feather garments. His face was not large, slightly round, his eyes clear and bright, and fine orange plumage lined both his temples. He proclaimed clearly, "Seventh pays respects to My Lord!"
Weighed down by heavy thoughts, Li Xizhi felt none of the joy of subjugating a Foundation Establishment xiayao. He nodded silently and said gently, "You are injured. Do not linger here for long. Return with me quickly to that place devoid of baleful qi and light to rest and heal properly."
"Understood."
The youth followed behind him, circulating his rosy-light magic power throughout his body to fend off the darting light and baleful qi. While Li Xizhi appeared calm on the surface, turbulent waves surged within his heart, and he concealed his anxious expression.
*Dongfang Heyun was teaching me... Explaining it that way is indeed plausible. But... what is he thinking?*
As he traveled through the earth veins, thoughts swirled in his mind.
Even to this day, Li Xizhi had not discerned what kind of status Dongfang Heyun held among the dragon kin. He could only fly forward in silence, composing his emotions before descending back into his cave dwelling.
"Young Master."
Li Wushao was clearly somewhat surprised, but he did not ask unnecessary questions, merely offering a greeting. Li Xizhi nodded, bade the colorfully clad youth take a seat, handed him medicinal pills to consume, and said softly, "It was inconvenient to speak much outside, but here it is more secure. Are your injuries serious? If you are well enough, tell me of your origins."
The youth nodded and said respectfully, "This subordinate was born in the Northern Sea. Originally, my brothers and I harvested rosy clouds and ingested qi. When the upheaval of the leak in the heavens and descending deluge arrived, we gained an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment. Our clan was sparse to begin with, and breaking through to Foundation Establishment is one in ten thousand. We never expected the deluge to arrive from the heavens, enabling us to advance with the momentum. We flew a circle around the pillar of water in the sky; most of us were captured, but among those remaining, nine brothers broke through to Foundation Establishment. This subordinate is the seventh."
Li Xizhi nodded gently. Indeed, it did not differ much from what he had envisioned. For such a xiayao to achieve this, it was nine chances out of ten due to that leak in the heavens.
The xiayao continued, "After breaking through, we scattered and fled in all four directions. I wandered the Eastern Sea for two years, and upon hearing that my eldest brother had become the spirit beast of Sword Immortal Huifu, I wished to seek him out and traveled all the way toward the Northern Sea. Who knew that my trail would be exposed at the edge of the Northern Sea? Chased and fleeing all the way, running east and scurrying west, I was chased for a hundred li by whoever saw me, until finally I crashed into the hands of the dragon kin... which brings us to today."
Li Xizhi gave a light nod and spoke, "A sword immortal of the Northern Sea?"
"Indeed," the xiayao said respectfully. "My Lord must have been in this place for some time. More than half a year ago, news arrived that Huifu of the Northern Sea attained enlightenment at the Feather Shedding Ground in Hanhai and achieved sword intent, shaking the Northern Sea and making his name known across the four seas!"
Li Xizhi sighed softly and nodded in silence, whispering, "Sword intent... No wonder. What cultivation base does this sword immortal possess?"
"That, I do not know..." The youth shook his head gently, the orange plumage trembling slightly with his movement, and said respectfully, "I fear it cannot be very high. When that flood dragon carried me to see Lord Heyun, they spoke of this... saying that nowadays, those who comprehend sword intent almost all do so before Violet Palace, before gaining a lifebound divine ability... I know not what secret lies within."
Li Xizhi nodded gently. His clan's forebear had indeed comprehended sword intent during Foundation Establishment as well. At that moment, he secretly pondered:
*When True Monarch Shangyuan attained the Dao, Jiangnan supposedly still had three sword immortals, none of whom show their traces now. Aside from the one at Wanyu Sword Gate, the rest are in the State of Wu. Across the whole world, sword immortals likely do not even number ten.*
He helped the youth up, appraised him, and questioned him thoroughly. This xiayao had only recently reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, yet his speed was terrifyingly swift; if he exerted his full power, he could likely catch up with a Xiaguang Cloud Ship.
Li Xizhi said amiably, "Since you are the seventh, and Senior sent you to me, you shall be named Li Qiyun. From now on, we are family. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
"Subordinate obeys!"
Li Qiyun bowed in response, then quickly retrieved the pills to heal his injuries in silence. Li Xizhi sat cross-legged beside the pool within the cave dwelling, quietly gazing at the water's surface.
Li Wushao had no idea why an extra youth had suddenly appeared, but the old serpent asked nothing, merely keeping his eyes closed and silently healing his wounds. Li Xizhi furrowed his brow:
*At least Dongfang Heyun has no intention of exposing me... Violet Palace cultivators cannot discern the clues behind talisman qi. Since he still needs to use me, he most likely assumes this is the handiwork of some Violet Palace master...*
After waiting a short while, Li Wushao asked, "Is Young Master heading out again?"
Li Xizhi gave a faint smile. Though he did not fear the light and baleful qi outside in the slightest, he still had to maintain the lie he had just spun, and replied, "I am finding it somewhat difficult to hold out. I shall first neutralize the baleful qi within my body and rest for a spell before deciding."
Silence fell over the cavern at once as they focused on their cultivation, while the light and baleful qi within the earth vein grew increasingly dense.
The thick light and baleful qi darted through the earth vein, flickering bright and dark. The elegant youth sat quietly upon a crimson boulder, his fair hand resting against the other side, tapping lightly.
Had Li Xizhi been here, he would naturally have recognized this person as Dongfang Heyun. He had not departed after all, still lingering in this place.
"Such turbulence... I fear Xi Yan has traded blows with someone."
At this moment, the playful guise in Dongfang Heyun's eyes had vanished, revealing a deeper gravity, as though he were caught in a dilemma.
"No one noticed the matter of the xiayao... Delivering it into Li Xizhi's hands is just right, and saves this chess piece driven into Qingchi from feeling slighted, thinking I only exploit him. Yet he still harbors quite a few secrets... Can 'Changxia Wu' truly neutralize light and baleful qi?"
Dongfang Heyun was quite advanced in age. Although a spirit demon like him perpetually maintained the demeanor and mindset of a youth, he had seen more than enough of the world, and the techniques he had read could rival the Daoist Canon of an immortal sect.
"'Changxia Wu' of the Qingchi Sect was once practiced by Lingu Xia in the past, and it had no neutralizing effect whatsoever... But Li Xizhi's ancestors were the Wei Li, gathering light and seizing flame. For it to neutralize light and baleful qi does not seem entirely unreasonable..."
He hesitated for a time. Indeed, he had detected no sign of Li Xizhi using any spirit medicines or spells; the man had simply sat cross-legged. That lingering suspicion finally subsided gradually. After waiting for a while and seeing that Li Xizhi did not come out, he rose and headed toward the depths of the earth vein, pondering to himself:
"Yingze dismembered Kuai Li, yet did not kill him. While Shaoyang is difficult to judge as good or evil, Yingze is by no means pedantic. I fear there are other calculations at play."
Dongfang Heyun's figure faded away slowly, as the thunder above the sea grew even louder.
...
Pingya Islet.
Li Zhouwei stepped into the great hall. Chen Yang ushered three people in from the side hall—two women and one man. The leading woman was dressed in white robes, her expression serene and her bearing elegant, unmistakably of noble lineage. She said softly, "Shen Yanqing of the Jiangbei Shen clan pays respects to Clan Head."
Shen Yanqing was a disciple of Real Person Zipei and the legitimate daughter of the Shen clan; her noble status went without saying, and her deportment was strictly proper as she nodded toward Li Zhouwei.
The woman behind her wore a yellow feather robe, her figure somewhat petite. Looking around, she smiled and said, "Wei Danying of Ziyan Gate pays respects to Clan Head."
The last man bowed in silence, appearing to be a guard of sorts, keeping his head down without uttering a word. Li Zhouwei was fairly courteous to them, saying softly, "Distinguished guests grace our threshold; that I failed to greet you from afar is our clan's discourtesy."
After exchanging courtesies, Shen Yanqing took a seat to the side. She praised him with a few compliments before asking softly, "Might I ask where Senior Qinghong is?"
Shen Yanqing had said long ago that she wished to visit the Li clan, but she had run into the conflict between north and south, with fierce fighting along the river that dragged on until today. Li Zhouwei knew she had come to see Li Qinghong and replied, "I have already dispatched someone to invite her. If Grand-Aunt has not entered death seclusion, she will arrive after a short wait."
Shen Yanqing nodded slightly and smiled as she moved to other topics, having no fear that this trip would be in vain:
*The affairs of the Eastern Sea are drawing ever closer; Senior should not be in death seclusion.*
She then found some conversation topics and said softly, "Originally, I intended to visit your noble clan alongside my father. Unfortunately, he entered seclusion earlier to break through to Violet Palace, so he could not make the journey."
After chatting for a few moments, Shen Yanqing noticed that Wei Danying of Ziyan Gate had not spoken a word. She quickly turned to look, only to see Wei Danying staring straight up at the dais, her expression somewhat complex.
*This...*
Without drawing attention, she nudged the girl. Only then did Wei Danying snap back to her senses, lowering her gaze to look at the tea on the desk.
Wei Danying tightened her grip on her sleeves as if awakening from a dream. Pulling her gaze away from the face of the youth seated above, a belated sense of dread welled up within her heart:
*Ordinary men must take great pains to attract others... yet he does so effortlessly. To attract a woman, he need only glance about. He is so young—where on earth did he learn this intoxicating bearing?...*
Steeling her mind, she looked back toward the youth, only to find that bearing entirely gone. Letting out a light sigh of relief, she sipped her tea. But in a daze, something vicious and aggressively overbearing seemed to loom forth. Wei Danying broke into a cold sweat, seized with fright:
*Truly terrifying—how could there be such a person under the heavens!*
Chapter 658