"No need for formalities."
Gao Xuanzi's tone felt inexplicably familiar to Li Ximing. He could tell the man's congratulations came from the heart, and the joy on his face was far more sincere than that of the other factions. Tu Longjian considered himself a junior to Li Yuanjiao, so Tujun Gate's cultivators were naturally pleasantly surprised and thrilled by Li Ximing's attainment of the Violet Palace.
Gao Xuanzi picked up a jade box from the table. Standing to the side, Li Minggong stepped forward hurriedly to receive it from his hands. Then Gao Xuanzi said respectfully, "Our True Master has prepared this *Miaodai Art Transformations* method to congratulate the Real Person."
The name of the art did not sound particularly profound, but congratulations were about the sentiment; there was no need to demand substantial gains. Li Ximing replied, "Please convey my thanks to Senior Junjian. Zhaojing has kept the favor of the Mingfang Sky Stone close to heart. Without Senior's helping hand back then, there would be no Zhaojing today."
Gao Xuanzi returned the courtesy and quickly stepped back, unwilling to say another word before the crowd.
Li Ximing took a step forward when a man approached holding a cup. His eyes were bright, a spear strapped across his back. Clean-featured and handsomely composed, dressed in crisp and capable attire, he smiled and said, "On behalf of Chengyun Gate, Zhong Qian congratulates the Real Person! Presenting a pair of White Shadow Gold Clasps!"
This man was indeed Zhong Qian, whom Li Xuanfeng had befriended years ago. Li Ximing naturally recognized him. He was no simple figure either. Waving his hand, Li Ximing said, "So it is Sect Master Zhong."
"I dare not accept such honor!"
As Zhong Qian had grown older, he appeared all the more steady and composed. Returning the salute, he said, "This humble cultivator was in seclusion in recent years, and those under my command were thoughtless. Fortunately, they understood the gravity of things and committed no outrageous offenses. I have come today specifically to offer my apologies to the Real Person."
Fanyun Cave might have harbored illicit intentions, but they had not overstepped boundaries in the end. Zhong Qian was a sect master, an acquaintance, and had come in person to apologize, so Li Ximing naturally did not dwell on the matter. He merely bade Li Minggong take the gift, then remarked, "My late granduncle once spoke of you, saying you possessed extraordinary talent and that the Violet Palace lay within your reach in the future."
Zhong Qian voiced his gratitude repeatedly. Meanwhile, at the banquet tables, An Siwei's voice reached Li Zhouwei's ears: "Patriarch, Gao Xuanzi is taking his leave."
Even though their Real Person had not arrived and their envoy was departing early, Gao Xuanzi—or rather Tujun Gate—could hardly be considered rude. Tujun Gate was situated at the border where the State of Wu, the Southern Border, and the State of Yue converged; it was not fundamentally a Yue sect. There was no obligation for them to come congratulate him at all; it was entirely out of Tu Longjian's personal goodwill.
Moreover, the sects of Wu all paid homage to Mount Changhuai, whose hegemony in Wu was several times greater than Jinyu's in Yue. Wu sects had always avoided extensive contact with Yue's sects. Tujun Gate stood amidst them all, aloof and detached, never throwing its lot with any faction.
Thus, Gao Xuanzi's arrival was already giving immense face. Li Zhouwei specifically rose from his seat to escort him out of the courtyard. Gao Xuanzi smoothed his robes and asked him a few pleasant questions with a smile.
Li Zhouwei observed Gao Xuanzi subtly. Only after stepping out of Mount Milin and arriving at Changxi Gate did the warmth of wine and the banquet's bustling air disperse. As cold air brushed against their faces, the young man spoke at once, "I am grateful to the Patriarch for escorting me. My True Master does not wish to stir up unnecessary complications, so please halt your steps here. Escorting me to Changxi Gate is more than enough."
Hearing this, Li Zhouwei understood clearly: *True Master Junjian does not wish to incur excessive karma with our family... or rather, he does not want his own karma to spill over and embroil us...*
He gave Gao Xuanzi a deep look, nodded, and replied, "While your True Master is away, if Tujun Immortal Gate ever faces difficulties, please come to Yue and inform us. Our clan will spare no effort."
Gao Xuanzi chuckled and shook his head. "I too am a sword cultivator. If your noble clan has outstanding young sword cultivators, you are most welcome to send them to Tujun to meet. Though Gao Xuan can hardly be called a sword immortal, I have attained some modest cultivation..."
Li Zhouwei was slightly surprised. Everyone knew the Li clan was a family of sword immortals; for Gao Xuanzi to say this showed considerable confidence in his own sword Dao cultivation.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Li Zhouwei voiced his thanks. Gao Xuanzi returned the courtesy, then took a closer look at Changxi Gate. He saw the plinths on both sides built of Mingfang stone, rustic yet grand, solid and imposing, carved with lake and sea motifs. Upon the beams were painted drifting snow and verdant pines, trailing dawn clouds and misty rainbows, while seventy-two ridges had been dyed with the divine ability of Mingyang Bright Flame, looking exceptionally luminous and magnificent.
He smiled. "This Changxi Gate is quite nice."
With that, he rose upon frost and snow, heading southwest. Li Zhouwei watched him depart into the distance, lost in thought. Only after a long while did he ride the light back down into the courtyard. The banqueting of the various clans and sects had concluded, and most guests were already preparing to leave.
Only the rogue cultivators, rarely blessed with such rich resources and spiritual opportunities, were reluctant to part. They sat silently in the courtyard with heads down—drinking wine, eating spiritual fruits—determined to stuff themselves full before leaving.
Some went so far as to draw in qi, taking advantage of the rich spiritual atmosphere. A few older rogue cultivators dared not act too brazenly, so they merely pinched their fingers beneath the tables, circulating their breath discreetly.
Rogue cultivators lived harsh lives to begin with, and those who refused to consume blood food suffered even more. Such a grand feast was rare, and the Li clan was naturally not stingy. Li Zhouwei called Li Minggong over and instructed in a low voice, "For those at the lower tables who are reluctant to leave, serve each of them a pot of spiritual tea. Do not let them sit there in embarrassment."
Li Minggong assented and withdrew. Attendants promptly emerged bearing tea, gliding forward gracefully with jade trays supporting spiritual pots, serving them one by one. A chorus of thanks instantly rose from the lower courtyard.
Li Zhouwei was already paying attention, his ocular techniques formidable. From afar, he saw those elderly cultivators hurriedly pouring out the tea, wrapping the tea leaves in paper to save for later use, and then rising with the empty pots to ask for more spiritual water.
"Patriarch Li!"
As Li Zhouwei watched, a clear voice sounded by his ear. A long-bearded man came forward leading several companions. Judging by their attire, they belonged to the Xiao family.
Li Zhouwei found his features somewhat familiar, and the middle-aged man was already smiling as he spoke: "I am Xiao Muyun. Does the Patriarch recognize me?"
Li Zhouwei realized immediately that this was Li Qingxiao's son, the master of the Xiao family's Yushan branch, and technically an elder of his clan. However, he was of the Xiao family, and Li Zhouwei was the clan patriarch, so he naturally would not address him by familial seniority. He simply rose and offered a salute, "So it is the Lord of Yushan... Has the Elder arrived as well?"
Xiao Muyun replied gently, "Mother is over at Great-uncle Xuanxuan's place. The old lady is overjoyed as well! Upon hearing that Real Person Zhaojing attained the Violet Palace, she was thrilled beyond words. Early this morning, she packed her bags and hurried back to her maiden home."
Before Li Zhouwei could ask further, Xiao Muyun continued, "I should let the Patriarch know that I am currently serving as the director of the Xiao clan's thirteen external branches, overseeing all external surnames under Xianyou. Our Xiao family has prepared a modest gift upon this visit."
"Oh?"
Li Zhouwei already anticipated something in his heart. After he inquired politely, Xiao Muyun took a parchment scroll from his sleeve and said with a smile, "From the eastern shore of Lake Wangyue to the border of Lixia Commandery... there are one hundred and twenty-seven clans and sects in total. Now, the territory extending west from twenty li before Guanyun Peak, comprising seventy-nine of those factions, is hereby gifted to your noble clan!"
Xiao Muyun's statement was phrased elaborately, but everyone present understood what it meant. Before Li Zhouwei could speak, Li Minggong let out a soft breath, deeply moved: "At long last, it has been taken back!"
Though the Li clan had seized Lake Wangyue more than a decade ago, their hold on Lake Wangyue had never been complete, primarily concerning the southern and eastern shores.
The southern shore was densely forested, especially the Shanyue lands adjoining Mount Dali, where crops could not be cultivated. However, the Li clan had ties with the monster caves, and the area produced abundant spiritual materials, so there was no need to develop it into spirit fields, making it worthwhile enough.
As for the eastern shore, in the era of the Jiang family, there had been over ninety factions. When the Jiang family fractured, the Xiao clan took advantage of the turmoil to vassalize those factions one by one. By the time the Yu family ruled the eastern shore, outside Milin Commandery lay thirty-nine factions of the eastern shore; anything further east was almost entirely demarcated into Lixia Commandery.
Afterward, neither the Yu family nor the Li clan possessed the qualifications to reclaim those seventy-nine factions. The Xiao family had further prohibited Lake Wangyue from establishing markets, causing them to lose more than eighty percent of commercial revenue.
Now that the seventy-nine external factions were returned, making a total of one hundred and eighteen, it expanded beyond the Jiang family's original ninety-odd. The entire map of Lake Wangyue instantly became whole. It was not merely regaining thirteen spiritual mines; it also meant the Li clan's influence radiated further, granting them the ability to intervene in the wilderness along the riverbanks.
*The Xiao family has given too much; there must be something behind this.*
Looking at the unrolled parchment scroll and running the numbers, Li Zhouwei quickly arrived at a conclusion: *This is paving the way for the Xuanyue affair.*
Between the Li clan and Xuanyue lay wild hills and shrines along the riverbank, colloquially known as the wilderness, dotted everywhere with minor Daoist shrines, most of which were likely vassals of the Kong family. The Xiao family had originally stood between them; by retreating this step, it would now be the Li clan bordering the rear of Xuanyue.
Li Zhouwei raised his brows toward the upper seats, but Li Ximing's figure had already vanished without a trace. The golden-eyed youth took a sip of tea. Having managed clan affairs and extinguished fires everywhere for more than ten years, he grasped the implications from just this single map. He thought to himself, *It seems Granduncle has already agreed to Xuanyue's request. The Xiao family does not intend to intervene, so our clan must go all out in this matter.*
He rolled up the scroll and smiled. "Such a generous gift... our clan accepts it with humility!"
Xiao Muyun smiled, exchanged a few polite words, and withdrew. The courtyard was still filled with strains of music, but Li Zhouwei's thoughts were no longer there. He rose from his seat, summoned Li Jiangqian, and transmitted his voice via secret method: "Go investigate whether the Xiao family and Xuanyue have made any territorial concessions or compromises recently."
Li Jiangqian's eyes bore an expression identical to his father's. The youth immediately perceived their clan's decision. While music continued playing in the courtyard, he lowered his brows: *The Real Person has decided to take over this Xuanyue mess... It seems Changxi possessed backup arrangements on the one hand and offered substantial benefits on the other, making it impossible to decline.*
He assented respectfully and departed as though nothing had happened. Having decided in an instant to take on Xuanyue, he immediately ceased brooding over what a wretched mess it was, instead pondering secretly, *Kong Yu is loose-lipped and weak-willed, an easy man to handle. I shall begin with him.*
...
The night was serene. On Mount Zhijing, the gardenia blossoms drifted with faint fragrance in the night breeze, their petals faintly shedding sparks of fire. At the foot of the mountain, the fire vein surged ceaselessly, puffing out wisps of purple smoke.
Heavenly light shimmered on the summit as Li Ximing reappeared atop Mount Zhijing, his expression somewhat somber.
By this hour, everyone from the various factions who should have come had arrived, and whatever was meant to be delivered had been presented. The Violet Palace Dharma assembly could effectively be declared concluded. The remaining rogue cultivators lingering in the courtyard would probably stay until daybreak tomorrow.
Li Ximing sat before the stone table and silently sipped his tea. After waiting for a moment, he saw An Siwei land on the mountain with a trace of unease. Cupping his hands and bowing low, An Siwei reported respectfully, "Real Person... someone from Baiyedu Immortal Dao has arrived..."
"Let him come up."
The envoy from Baiyedu Immortal Dao had never dared take a seat at the banquet, waiting for him at Mount Zhijing the entire time; hence, he could not be found among the tables. Li Ximing did not wish to harbor grudges with others right after attaining the Violet Palace, so his voice carried no anger.
An Siwei hurriedly withdrew. Soon, a red-robed cultivator approached with bowed head, legs trembling violently. With a thud, he dropped to his knees before Li Ximing, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice panicked and frantic: "Baiyedu Immortal Dao... this humble cultivator Duche... pays respects to the Real Person."
Li Ximing's expression grew cold. He instantly understood why the envoy of Baiyedu Immortal Dao dared not attend the banquet, or even meet him—why he reduced himself to a kowtowing insect before him! Three months ago, Daoist Wenhu had come to apologize, claiming that Daoist Chidu of Baiyedu Immortal Dao would come in person to make amends!
After all, Mount Xiaoshi's Mifan Three Sects had once brandished weapons openly, standing as avowed enemies against the Li family!
Even in the case of Zhong Qian today, though Fanyun Cave had done nothing outrageous, he had still come personally in his capacity as sect master. For any other faction, aside from Xuanyue which sought aid, who would dispatch their sect master?
Now, seeing no sign of Chidu, Li Ximing said coldly, "Where is Chidu?"
Duche hesitated for a breath, sheer panic virtually spilling over, and quavered, "Upon hearing that the Real Person achieved the divine ability, Master Chidu was terrified and gripped by dread. He rushed back from the East Sea, but unexpectedly fell into an ambush by demonic cultivators along the way, nearly losing his life. Suffering injuries so severe that he could not travel, he was forced to alight on an island to stabilize his wounds... and thus... thus dispatched me instead."
Finishing these words, he dared not look at the Real Person's face, begging for mercy and apologizing profusely. He clutched the jade box meant as a congratulatory gift tightly in his hands, his face pale and haggard with fear.
Even if Duche pleaded and apologized ten thousand times, it did not signify sincerity on Baiyedu Immortal Dao's part. Ninety-nine percent of it was simply dread that Li Ximing would strike him dead with a single palm. He broke out in a cold sweat, shuddering uncontrollably.
*Whether this is true or false rests entirely on his word...*
Li Ximing did not fly into a rage, merely saying, "Oh? Set the item down."
Duche had no choice but to offer the jade box up with both hands. Li Ximing did not even need to look closely; just observing how the man dared not even speak the gift's name aloud, what good could there possibly be inside the box?
*Creak.*
The jade box snapped open. The jade slip in the center was dim and lackluster. Li Ximing swept his gaze over it; inside lay an obscure spell, the *Light Sweeping Incantation*. It was of the Mingyang lineage, with no grade marked, and utterly crude and brief.
Duche's lips quivered. "Our Dao does not practice Mingyang. Master searched high and low through his cabinets to find this art. Though it cannot be considered profound, it carries a sense of antiquity, so... it was sent to congratulate the Real Person..."
Chidu's absence could be attributed to foul play or misfortune, but this congratulatory gift undeniably reflected Baiyedu Immortal Dao's true intent—cut from the exact same cloth as Changxiao Gate! Both offered crude, unranked Mingyang spells!
When congratulating someone on attaining the Violet Palace, factions would always pay a visit unless all pretenses of civility were thoroughly shattered; it was merely a matter of closeness or distance. Yet these two factions offered crude arts, deliberately selecting Mingyang spells without rank, branded only with "a sense of antiquity"...
*This is mocking me overtly and covertly... They couldn't care less about my opinion, putting on just enough of a facade to deny me an excuse to lash out... With no rank and no distinguished name... I naturally have no formal pretext to take offense.*
*The Real Person of Baiyedu Immortal Dao is at the mid Violet Palace stage... Who knows what background he possesses!*
Combined with this gift, Baiyedu Immortal Dao's malice was plain as day. The claim of Chidu being severely injured was nothing but a lie... Perhaps even concocted by the man before him just to save his own skin!
*Thud.*
Li Ximing casually tossed the jade box onto the table with a dull thud, scaring the wits out of Duche. Yet the coldness vanished from Li Ximing's face; he merely smiled and said, "You may withdraw!"
Chapter 698