"Senior Bai Rong harbors no ill will toward me... But when Mount Dali is involved, the dragons and the foxes previously had poor relations. And now, this matter must be conveyed through me... Perhaps this is also an attempt between the two races to mend ties."
Recalling Bai Rong's words carefully, things gradually cleared in his mind:
"The easing of relations between the two races certainly stems from the death of Dongfang You, their greatest source of conflict... Yet bad blood is not smoothed over merely through the death of a nemesis... The foxes are acting very proactively, and the dragons are giving plenty of face. Most likely, they are being forced by external pressure..."
"If they share a common enemy, and this attempt hinges upon probing the secrets of Mount Luoxia... using me, a Wei Li who harbors deep blood vengeance against Mount Luoxia, as the connecting link, the answer seems ready to emerge."
A proper smile graced Li Zhouwei's face, not a trace of harshness in his golden pupils, but his thoughts grew increasingly lucid:
"It is Mount Luoxia forcing both sides to turn from foes into friends... Then why take action only now? Is it because Mount Luoxia has done something... or is about to do something...?"
The Bishui scale beast traveled with utmost smoothness. Within the hall, music drifted in waves, spiritual fruits gave off fresh fragrance, and fine wine rippled. Yet Li Zhouwei felt as though he sat at the eye of a storm. Clouds and winds gathered in the sky above, rosy twilight rippling—Luoxia, dragon, fox, and countless other powers lurking who-knew-where...
"Compared even to the weakest among them, the foxes, my Li family is barely larger than ants..."
"Most importantly... does Mount Luoxia know? And how does that person view this...?"
Dingjiao had repeatedly guaranteed that today's events could not be deduced by anyone, but Li Zhouwei had never taken those words to heart, treating them purely as polite pleasantries. His worries had not eased in the slightest:
"Earlier, when I was invited to the Flood Dragon Palace, how could the Violet Palaces of Jiangnan not know? My family sought the foxes several times—how could the neighboring Violet Palaces not know? Even my departure from the lake and boarding the Bishui scale beast in the South Sea was done under watchful eyes and could hardly be kept secret!"
"Why would anyone even need divine divination for this? Just piecing together the causes and consequences reveals seven or eight parts out of ten! What exactly is Dingjiao trying to keep secret... merely entering the abyss?!"
Facing the dragon prince smiling warmly at the head of the hall, Li Zhouwei did not relax at all, his heart still as a lake:
"This prince's standing is higher than an ordinary Violet Palace... While he is certainly befriending me... could he have no other scheme...?"
Amidst the fog before him, no true lead emerged. By now, the black-armored monster general had brought forward the stone box, presenting it before him. The lid was lifted, and a speck of bright light appeared, rippling inside the box.
Showing no change in expression, Li Zhouwei cast his gaze upon it and found that the box held a case of clear, transparent spiritual water, its tint so faint as to be barely visible. A bright yellow reflection floated upon the water's surface, and nothing else.
Li Zhouwei swept his spiritual sense over it, feeling only that the case of water before him possessed daunting spiritual energy, while the reflection appeared entirely without origin, with no source to be found.
Dongfang Dingjiao let out a chuckle, waving his hand to halt the singing and dancing in the hall, and said softly:
"Minghuang, this item is [Subduing Plunder Gold], formed when the essence of the sun falls into the deep sea. It cannot be seen with the eyes, nor detected by spiritual sense. Even if placed plainly before one, unless one has cultivated a divine ability, one cannot discern the slightest bit of it."
"Inside the case is [Hui Origin Spiritual Water]. We dragons use it to wash the horns on our brows, while humans often use it to cultivate ocular techniques. [Subduing Plunder Gold] can cast a reflection only in spiritual waters of this sort; illuminating it with this spiritual water makes it convenient to locate."
Li Zhouwei had heard of the reputation of this [Hui Origin Spiritual Water]. There was a similar [Clear Origin Spiritual Water] inland, which his family used to cultivate ocular techniques and considered quite precious, yet here was an entire case of it.
"It is merely spiritual water used to illuminate the [Subduing Plunder Gold], where a thin layer at the bottom would suffice, yet they filled a whole case—proof enough of the dragons' immense wealth..."
Dingjiao even said that dragonkind used this stuff to wash their horns, treating it as nothing rare without a shred of regret. Focusing instead on the invisible Subduing Plunder Gold, he said softly:
"This is a spiritual item of the solar path, somewhat unique. It can be placed into the Shengyang, Juque, or Qihai acupoints to assist in cultivating Dharmic radiance, offering great benefits to the vast majority of Dharmic radiance!"
Hearing this, Li Zhouwei quietly circulated the Shangyao Fuguang within him. Though his spiritual sense could not see the object before him, he could feel his Dharmic radiance stirring with eager anticipation.
"This spiritual item is indeed exceptional. It must be a rare and peculiar treasure of the solar path; otherwise, given Dingjiao's temperament, he would certainly never bring it out..."
The dragon prince had brought out an ancient spirit tool at their first meeting; how could ordinary goods catch his eye? Even the [Hui Origin Spiritual Water] was merely used to illuminate this spiritual item. Li Zhouwei therefore nodded solemnly:
"I merely made a journey and exerted little effort. I truly feel ashamed to receive such a gift. I shall keep this friendship in my heart. Many thanks, Your Highness!"
Seeing that he did not refuse, the slight furrow in Dingjiao's brow relaxed. He nodded with a beaming smile, turned to look at Bai Rong, and said softly:
"This [Mystic Compassion Purple Flame] was obtained by a luan-phoenix elder by chance years ago when traveling the Western Sea. Some years back, a fire luan came to visit me and gifted this item to me."
"Yet I thought it over: we dragons are rulers of the aquatic tribes, and [Mystic Compassion Purple Flame] is of no use to us. In our dragon keeping, it is far less useful than in the hands of you foxes."
"The elders of our two clans reached an understanding long ago, so I need say no more. Bai Rong, simply accept it."
Bai Rong visibly paused, as if the value of the [Mystic Compassion Purple Flame] exceeded his expectations, and accepted it with unmistakable delight. Greatly pleased, Dingjiao clapped his hands, and a troupe of purple-clad women stepped swiftly into the hall from outside.
"Come."
Dongfang Dingjiao raised his cup, and the purple-clad women began to dance. Beneath their robes, purplish-blue shrimp tails swung back and forth—plainly shrimp demons transformed into human form, their dance quite distinctive.
"A dragon after all. Along this journey, not a single banquet or dance performance has been repeated. Shrimp, clam, crab, snake—they have it all... In this regard, dragonkind has truly spared no effort."
Li Zhouwei raised his cup, and conversation flowed amid the song and dance. Dingjiao was intent on cultivating friendships, while Bai Rong and Li Zhouwei were intent on responding in kind. Host and guests took mutual delight in the gathering, filled with harmonious merriment.
Outside the hall, the water rushed past at tremendous speed, turning into a reflection of bluish-red. The Bishui scale beast was speeding toward the East Sea, while overhead, dark clouds massed densely, surging thunder darting among the clouds.
...
Lake Wangyue.
The great hall on Pingya Islet was vast and empty. Several cultivators hurried past. Li Jiangqian strode swiftly down the stone steps. Over the past two years, his features had matured considerably. As he dashed down the long flight of stairs, several figures stumbled along behind him:
"Your Highness!"
These two were well on in years, their hair gray and white. Judging from their robes, both were tutors. Li Jiangqian, however, was swift and spry. Slipping right past a cordon of guards with a rustle, he instantly left the two far behind.
The two tutors had no choice but to stop, sighing and groaning.
Li Jiangqian had grown a little older and had gradually lost interest in elementary primers, making skipping class a common occurrence. Looking in this direction, he was certainly going to find Li Quewan. The tutors were not permitted into the inner palace, so they naturally had to stop.
"In years past, we marveled at how intelligent His Highness was... How is it that now he dislikes studying?... Quewan, on the other hand, is eager to learn and possesses great benevolence..."
"Indeed..."
The two sighed and had to withdraw. Li Jiangqian, meanwhile, ran at full tilt all the way into the hall, pushing open the hall doors with a creak.
Inside, the desks were neat and orderly, and the books on the shelves stood meticulously aligned. As he swung the doors open, golden light bathed the young girl before him.
"Quewan!"
Li Shuwan had already returned to the lake, resuming her clan name as Li Quewan. Her attire had become bright and colorful, her complexion far healthier. Her eyes were bright, and a small peach blossom was pinned in her hair. She covered her mouth with a giggle:
"Brother Qian has slipped away again... Tomorrow you'll get scolded for sure!"
"What of it? Those old men can only nag. As long as they don't report it to the elders, they can't do anything to me."
Li Jiangqian took a bamboo box from his sleeve and set it on the desk with a clatter. Flipping open the lid revealed several snowy white pastries nestled within. Li Quewan thanked him, but then knit her delicate brows:
"Brother Qian, what the tutors lecture on are the great principles of human relations, the severance between immortals and mortals, uniting the prominent surnames, and ordering the various bloodlines. You will be head of the family in the future; how can you not listen?"
Li Jiangqian chuckled and looked at her with a smile, pulling out a few copies of cultivation manuals as he shook his head:
"That's just lacquermaker's talk. Hearing it once is plenty."
The *Tianli Rize Sutra* and *Houshu Golden Scripture* were Violet Palace cultivation methods and naturally could not be left lying around in the hall; they had long been put away, and both of them had already memorized the contents, requiring no further reading. What they could take out and study were merely some cultivation secret summaries.
Hearing this, Li Quewan looked at him in confusion and asked him about it. Li Jiangqian flipped open his cultivation scrolls, found the notes he had made last time, and remarked casually:
"All immortal clans and sects are like palaces. What those people preach is just gold lacquer for the palace halls, meant to decorate the facade. Each family has its own rationale and uses its own lacquer. Be it bright or dim, it is all just lacquer."
He raised his brows to look at the girl across from him, hesitated a moment, and corrected himself:
"Perhaps it is important, but I've grown sick of hearing it."
Li Quewan did not let it drop so easily. After a moment of contemplation, she shook her head:
"Though you are brilliant, Brother Qian, I do not think it is merely lacquer... nor are those words just facade decoration... Once the words are spoken, the people under our family's care have something to rely upon."
"Perhaps to you, Brother Qian, the choice of lacquer doesn't matter, but the common people can only look up and see the color of the lacquer. To them, it matters very much."
Her words gave Li Jiangqian pause. He looked seriously at the girl opposite him and frowned:
"Yet popular goodwill is merely something to be manipulated at will; a single spell, a single divine ability is all it takes... What they think is neither important nor meaningful."
"Look at those Buddhist cultivators of the north. How miserable are the common folk? How lost from birth to death? The lives they lead would be considered wretched beyond compare in Jiangnan, yet their hearts and minds are bent solely on the next life, worshiping the Masters with utmost reverence. What negative reputation is there to speak of?"
Li Quewan fell silent for a moment. Her eyes quietly watched Li Jiangqian across from her as she murmured:
"Yet how they live—that is very important."
Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment, then responded with sudden realization:
"Quite right... After all, that is a matter of fundamental importance to our family."
The young girl pursed her lips, understanding that Li Jiangqian's thoughts had turned to the talisman seeds. Hesitating to speak, she thought about it carefully and smiled secretly to herself:
"It seems there's no difference after all. If one judges only by actions, who cares about motives? Brother Qian is brilliant, far beyond my reach. As long as he has the resolve, no one will ever bully our family in the future!"
Li Quewan chuckled softly. Thinking of working hand in hand with someone like Li Jiangqian, the road ahead seemed to smooth out considerably. She turned the page and resumed reading. Li Jiangqian, meanwhile, stole a glance at her:
"Her talent is extraordinary. I must maintain good relations with her. Whatever happens, having a genius helping out is best!"
Though they had just debated, strangely, they seemed to hold each other in even higher esteem and warmer regard. Li Jiangqian mused secretly:
"Both she and I are clever and exceptionally talented. Two clever people born into the same alignment will rarely find reason for conflict."
After the two had studied intently for a while, someone arrived in the outer palace, calling out twice:
"The Fourth Prince has arrived."
This naturally referred to Li Chenghuai's son, Li Zhouluo, who counted as their Fourth Uncle. Li Jiangqian packed his things and quickly got up to head out. Just as he stepped out of the inner palace, he encountered Li Zhouluo pacing with a hint of unease.
"Fourth Uncle!"
Li Jiangqian was visibly much more outgoing, while Li Quewan, still somewhat unfamiliar, followed quietly behind.
Li Zhouluo responded politely, looking deeply troubled. With a soft sigh, he shook his head:
"Something happened on the lake. My father was busy the entire night, and even the Old Master went to Qingdu to confer. Early this morning, he rushed me here... to wait here. Several cousins and brothers will come as well; Senior White Ape is supposed to escort us to Qingdu."
"Oh?"
Though young, Li Jiangqian was full of ideas, and merely asked:
"What kind of matter is it?"
Li Zhouluo had stayed by his father's side and was somewhat familiar with clan affairs. He sighed:
"A mortal deer was found on the eastern shore. Though unable to speak, it moves like a human. It brought several people along in tow, kowtowing and weeping tears all the way to the foot of the mountain... With ink dipped on its hooves, it could even write words."
Hearing this novel tale, Li Quewan opened her eyes wide to listen. Li Zhouluo said softly:
"My father investigated for a whole night. None of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in our family can speak the language of beasts, but fortunately Senior White Ape is a monster and knew some methods. After questioning it all night, they finally got to the bottom of the matter."
"This deer was originally a mortal making a living on the eastern shore. His father was fond of gambling and had only just passed away, leaving the household utterly impoverished, while his wife lay bedridden with illness. So he set out, intending to go into the mountains to hunt a couple of deer to relieve their plight."
"The hunter entered the mountains and had good fortune, bagging two deer. He was returning in high spirits to save his wife, but halfway back he encountered a Buddhist monk..."
Li Zhouluo showed some indignation, shaking his head:
"The monk was enraged that he took lives. The hunter immediately begged bitterly for mercy, but the monk said that he had harmed two lives for the sake of one. With that, he cast a spell to turn him into a deer as well, saying it was so he could taste the feeling of being hunted himself."
"This..."
A look of bewilderment appeared on Li Quewan's face, while Li Jiangqian's expression instantly darkened. He muttered in a low voice:
"Where did this bald donkey come from...? Why not just turn everyone under heaven who takes life into beasts? Where is Master Kongheng? Is there any word?"
Anxiety surfaced on Li Zhouluo's face as he shook his head:
"That is precisely where the trouble lies. Master Kongheng inspected it... and said the one who cast the spell possesses exceptionally profound cultivation. Not a trace of Dharmic power could be detected upon the deer, so their attainment definitely surpasses the Master's."
Li Jiangqian frowned. Li Quewan waited until the two had finished speaking before softly asking:
"Since he was turned into a deer, what about his bedridden wife?"
"She..."
Li Zhouluo shook his head:
"She was already plagued by severe illness and hadn't eaten for a long time. By the time they found her, she had already passed away..."
Chapter 671