Li Zhouwei fell silent for a breath, carefully weighing the fox demon's words.
The Mount Dali Monster Cave had always been on good terms with his family, and there were many rumors favoring them. Though it was hard to tell how true they were, Bai Rong's friendship with Li Tongya clearly carried significant weight in Bai Rong's heart.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking:
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior. Senior shared a deep bond with my ancestor, and we junior generations all treat you with the propriety due an elder. Since Senior has spoken, you surely would not harm this junior; I will naturally comply."
These words visibly pleased Bai Rong, bringing a nostalgic look to his face. Li Zhouwei paused, feigning puzzlement:
"However, though I possess some talent, my family has declined after all. There is naturally no question why Dragon Prince Dingjiao would cultivate goodwill with Senior, but going out of his way to befriend me... why is that...?"
The tail beneath Bai Rong's robe swept back and forth. Tossing a piece of fruit into his mouth, he pointed at Li Zhouwei and said in a low voice,
"You are a white lin."
He then turned to point at himself, murmuring,
"I am a white fox."
Seeing Li Zhouwei nod, he said decisively,
"And Dingjiao is a white flood dragon, isn't he?"
Li Zhouwei grew thoughtful. Bai Rong chuckled and said,
"The dragon kindred are just like this—haughty and arrogant, harboring the heart of a sovereign. It began over a thousand years ago... courting all the demons, generously lending a hand to fallen demon creatures..."
"You must understand, from ancient times to this day, the dragon kindred have dreamed the dream of becoming True Dragons. And what kind of being is a True Dragon? Their ambitions are colossal; they consider themselves demon emperors, believing that all creatures of the same hue are their subjects. Having a white lin under his banner naturally brings him benefits."
Here, he paused, a pensive look flitting across his face as he muttered,
"Years ago, I seem to recall hearing Zhenren say that that Guo Shentong fellow... received plenty of help from the dragon kindred as well."
Li Zhouwei paused. He nodded outwardly in agreement, yet questions still lingered in his mind. Able only to accept the explanation for now, he went quiet for a moment, then exhaled and said in a deep voice,
"Yet this junior is human."
Bai Rong gave a soft snort. The smile slowly vanished from his face, and his tone turned solemn as he murmured,
"White lin, there is no difference."
His voice echoed within the cave manor. The old ape raised his head to look at him. Bai Rong's voice grew somewhat thin and high:
"You will reach the Violet Palace. This is merely a mortal frame... An ordinary Violet Palace cultivator can already abandon the physical body at will, turning into a man or a woman as they please. If you no longer wish to be human, molding yourself into a bird or beast is no trouble at all... In the ways of divine ability transformations, the beast is me, and the human is me. What difference is there?"
Having said this, he looked closely at the youth before him and said softly:
"You are even more extraordinary. You carry the bloodline of the Wei Li—simply put, you are a descendant of a True Monarch. When your cultivation reaches the end, you will be a white lin. Blessed with divine abilities, with merely a stir of your thoughts, you can transform in an instant into a genuine white lin."
"How could a human body compare to the form of a white lin? In those days, the Wei Li imperial house was entirely like this, frequently walking the mortal world in demon bodies, only assuming human forms like demons when circumstances made it inconvenient."
He blinked his foxy eyes and took a sip of fruit wine, continuing:
"The distinction between man and beast was never great to begin with, let alone for a descendant of a Golden Core—that is a True Monarch!"
"A True Monarch holds an office of heaven and earth, transcending both humans and beasts. The moment one attains True Monarch, one ceases to be human at all! You carry their bloodline, so naturally you take on their form!"
The fox demon let out a couple of chuckles and pointed upward:
"Take True Monarch Lushui, for instance... With a single thought, He becomes the clear waters of heaven and earth; in the blink of an eye, He sweeps across the green pools of the north and south. Does He truly consider Himself human? He is the clear water and the green pool, the cavern spring and the tribulation dew... even the feathered serpent, the green flood dragon, talismans, and incantations. A few centuries of cultivating in human form are as thin and fleeting as a single drop of clear water in a deep pool."
Li Zhouwei listened in silence. When Bai Rong finished speaking, the fox added softly:
"There is no need to fret over this. In the end, all cultivation boils down to essence and life. If one day you can attain the gold nature, you will understand the profound mystery in all of this even better."
"This junior has learned much."
Li Zhouwei responded softly, a pensive look surfacing on his face. Bai Rong nodded, and his solemn expression vanished at once. He gave a mischievous chuckle and replied,
"That was how my master explained it. I listened closely from the side, so I thought I'd share it with you for reference."
"Then please convey my thanks to the master..."
Li Zhouwei thanked him, and Bai Rong smiled.
"Then let us not delay. We shall make a trip to the Flood Dragon Palace together. The Bishui scale beast is remarkably fast, which spares us the trouble of flying ourselves."
Li Zhouwei answered,
"Please grant me a moment to arrange family affairs; I will be ready shortly."
Bai Rong, however, was full of enthusiasm. He rose hastily, flicking his cyan-blue robe, and said:
"No matter, I will go with you. It will also give me a chance to see that old man."
***
The East Sea surged with boundless waves.
Two streaks of thunder-light, one silver and one purple, streaked across the sky. The silver-robed youth gazed into the distance, seemingly admiring the unique, splendid scenery of the East Sea. He smiled and said:
"Senior, I hear there is a Miao family in the South Sea whose lightning arts are particularly extraordinary. I wonder if Senior is aware of them?"
Li Qinghong shared no small bond of fate with the Miao family. She said softly:
"I have clashed with them twice. Their strength is by no means weak. Back then, my wings were not yet fully grown, and I even suffered a minor loss at their hands. Now, perhaps we might encounter them again in the grotto-heaven."
"This clan is rather peculiar; they cultivate demonic arts, truly one of a kind under heaven."
Li Qinghong and Xi Zikang had traveled all the way, flying for over half a year before finally reaching the territory of Dongliu Island. Red and black hues covered the land. The billows of smoke filling the sky had subsided significantly, and most of the outlying islands had already been captured.
The islands were scorched pitch-black, and mortals were nowhere to be seen. Several battered, dilapidated grand formations were also controlled by cultivators, with ruins and debris strewn everywhere.
The main island of Dongliu Island remained relatively stable. Although it had been besieged for a full five or six years and its protective brilliance was extremely dim, it had not yet reached the point of collapse. The ring of cultivators surrounding it seemed in no hurry, taking turns in rotation to steadily grind down the formation bit by bit.
On the mainland, remnants of the orthodox sects still lingered after all, and campaigns of conquest there had to be resolved swiftly; rarely did they drag on for years. But the East Sea lacked any moral reputation or constraints. These people cared only about profit, so slowly grinding away was naturally more fitting.
The two flew all the way to the edge of the main island without anyone noticing. The few Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there were truly not very skilled—typical fortunate survivors piled up from raw vigor, arduous cultivation, and throwing lives away. Having practiced no ocular techniques, they naturally failed to sense the pair.
Xi Zikang accompanied her in observing for a moment, then smiled and said:
"Senior, do you intend to take action? This junior's cultivation is decent enough; I can lend a hand."
"Merely a band of rogue cultivators... there is no need."
Li Qinghong was not troubled by this group. The cultivators besieging the Han family were clearly an alliance of several surrounding factions, unified in appearance but divided in heart, and their individual strength was meager at best—otherwise, the Han family would not have held out for so long.
She was considering the best approach, ideally without coming to blows. Xi Zikang, however, had already seen through her concerns, smiling as he said:
"There is nothing difficult about this. I will drive them all away, and Senior can simply let the people depart."
Chapter 665