Those words stunned everyone present. The Hexagonal Red Flame Lamp in Li Minggong's hand gave a tremor, and its flames subsided slightly. Turning her bright eyes toward the scene, understanding dawned on her, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Seeing how imposing this King of Beijin River looked, and hearing that he was an honored guest of the dragon prince, I thought we would have to negotiate a bit... I didn't expect it to be this easy..."
The two demonic cultivators beneath the earth were dangling by half a breath in Qu Bushi's grip, unable to move a muscle. The old man's face was flushed in disbelief and profound shock. Experienced and knowledgeable, he secretly sensed that something was amiss:
'This isn't how one treats a Violet Palace immortal clan. Even toward Zhaojing himself, the King of Beijin River wouldn't need to be this humble! No wonder Li Chengkun showed no fear whatsoever—and here I was thinking he had lost his sense of caution...'
Not to mention the varied expressions of the two, even Li Chengkun looked surprised. The youth clad in silver armor and black robes furrowed his brows:
'From the look of this, that claim about the King of Beijin River being highly regarded by the dragon prince... is likely untrue.'
Yet no matter how astonished the others were, none could match Miaoshui. The Daoist nun's face had gone pale all the way down to her neck. The spellcraft in her hands dissolved into a scattered mess, and where Li Minggong's Lihuo scorched her robes, several blackened burns appeared. The force behind her struggle had clearly dwindled.
"Subordinate obeys!"
That old demon Shui Zhao hastily rode the water down.
Shui Zhao's true form was most likely a black softshell turtle, and he was the genuine steward of the water mansion. Just moments ago, upon hearing the King of Beijin River say "Say no more," he had put on a cold face. Who could have known his master would instantly grovel in abject subservience, not even daring to raise his head? Shaken to the core by this stark contrast, Shui Zhao had begun doubting himself.
'Say no more... So that was the meaning of "say no more"... The cold rebuke was meant for Manghuazi! It was my eyes that failed me after all!'
Fortunately, he hadn't committed any serious offense earlier. Hurriedly flying down from the carriage, he hitched up his sleeves, stomped onto Manghuazi's tongue, and cursed:
"You patterned loach! How dare you use my Great King's name to swindle and deceive!"
The old turtle was a polite and cultured demon; his scolding lacked punch. He merely raised a palm to strike down on Manghuazi's crown, but then the great halberd shifted slightly. As daylight shone down, Li Zhouwei's voice came from afar:
"No need to trouble yourself, your honor."
The old turtle drew his hand back as if scalded. Hierarchies among demonkind were rigid, and within the dragonkind, even more so. Servants of the dragonkind like them might look glorious before outsiders, but they alone knew their own bitter miseries. Dripping with cold sweat, he knelt down and waited respectfully beside the great halberd.
The King of Beijin River felt his legs go even softer.
No one present knew the weight of the man before them better than he did. Dragon Prince Dingjiao had feasted and drank with him, while he and that Baolin crossing beast of Zhulu Sea had fought to the death purely for the prince's amusement. Though he had gilded his own face and borrowed much momentum, before this person, it would all be punctured with a single poke!
This demon had a very majestic appearance, but his attitude was utterly humble. He said respectfully:
"This small demon, Ying Hebai, unworthily serves as the head of the Three Streams' aquatic clans. Now that your Excellency has arrived, please give whatever commands you wish..."
Ying Hebai stood bracing himself, having no idea how Li Zhouwei would expose him. He exhaled quietly and braced himself to lose all face.
As this green-necked flood dragon hesitated, Li Zhouwei had his own calculations. The green-necked flood dragon had borrowed Dingjiao's momentum to bluff and intimidate others, but hadn't his own family done the same? Dingjiao had shown him and Bai Rong some deference, but his true purpose was still hard to guess...
Were it not for Dingjiao, Ying Hebai would never have given the Li clan any pleasant looks. Li Zhouwei chose not to expose him, saying with his hands behind his back:
"So it is you. We did meet once back then; I didn't expect you would be serving here."
"Yes... I was fortunate enough to behold your Excellency's esteemed countenance, and to this day I have not dared forget it!"
Ying Hebai was stunned for a moment, then felt genuine relief wash over him. Understanding that the other party was saving face for him, he was so grateful he hardly knew how to respond, until a faint, airy voice sounded in his ear:
"The matter between me and Dingjiao that day was confidential. It is improper to reveal my identity, nor should you mention it."
Li Zhouwei did not want the dragonkind to think his family was throwing Dingjiao's weight around. After all, the other was a dragon; one could brush against his coattails to borrow some momentum, but one could not act like an outright fox borrowing a tiger's terror. If he displeased that dragon, it would spell big trouble.
Hearing this, Ying Hebai understood it was a voice transmission of dharmic power. Now he was in a quandary—he could not appear overly flattering, yet he feared causing offense. He said respectfully:
"May I invite you all to sit awhile in my mansion?"
Manghuazi had previously mentioned that Baiyedu Immortal Dao had held multiple discussions and hatched many plans with King of Beijin River Ying Hebai. Since his family was unfamiliar with the people and land here, he certainly needed to have a talk with Ying Hebai. Li Zhouwei was not afraid of any foul play, but Miaoshui and the others were still right here, freshly captured. Miyun Cave might not even know about it yet, let alone Baiyedu Immortal Dao. Li Zhouwei did not want to lose the initiative, so he said:
"I have important matters to attend to on my end and cannot get away for the moment."
"No trouble at all... No trouble at all!"
Ying Hebai said deferentially:
"This small demon shall simply wait by the river."
Seeing that this green-necked flood dragon intended to wait by Baijiang Creek for Li Zhouwei and the rest, which would still draw too much attention, Li Zhouwei gave it brief thought and said softly:
"The King of Beijin River has extended a gracious invitation, and by right I should pay a visit. Once I have settled matters here, I will naturally send someone over."
"Understood."
Discerning his displeasure, Ying Hebai immediately prepared to take his leave. Not having to invite Li Zhouwei into his residence visibly relaxed him. Having Shui Zhao pull the carriage, he apologized while quickly heading into the river.
Once the water demons departed, Li Zhouwei turned his gaze to Miaoshui. She was absently defending herself amidst the Lihuo; red and white goose feathers fluttered about, scorching her dharmic power until it sizzled continuously.
The Jinyu Sect's Hexagonal Red Flame Lamp was not adept at slaying enemies, but it was an excellent magical tool for channeling Lihuo to trap foes, taking an insidious route akin to a blunt blade scraping bone little by little. Having lost the initiative and suffered injury, Miaoshui was trapped inside, unable to advance or retreat.
As Li Zhouwei drew near, her despair deepened, and her expression turned increasingly fierce. Yet she heard Li Zhouwei call out clearly:
"There is no need to struggle; it is a waste of effort. Recall your magical tool and come forward yourself, saving me the trouble of seizing you."
Upon seeing the King of Beijin River leave, Miaoshui had been pondering whether she should fight with everything she had in search of a sliver of life, having prepared herself to abandon everything except her life. But there was never any real hope of escape. Seeing that Li Zhouwei's killing intent was not heavy, her ruthless resolve softened at once. Raising her brows, she called aloud:
"This humble woman pays respects to your Excellency! I have long heard of your noble clan's benevolent reputation and yearned for it in my heart. It is only that having drifted through the mortal realm in past years, I have gathered some foul turbid qi upon me, and fearing I might tarnish your clan's immortal reputation, I dared not surrender."
Hearing her words, the two demonic cultivators also looked up. The cultivators of Miyun Cave were slightly better off than those of Fuyun Cave, but even so, seven out of ten had dabbled in unclean things. How the Li clan dealt with them would virtually decide the fighting spirit of all Miyun Cave moving forward.
Cultivators like Miaoshui who hailed from north of the river or the northern regions had some scruples; they had not gone so far as demonic cultivators who slaughtered indiscriminately to advance their cultivation. Even so, when it came to blood qi and blood pills, they would occasionally close their eyes, feign ignorance, and swallow them down. When gravely wounded and facing death, they had no qualms about consuming rice flesh either.
These people actually shared much the same attitude toward survival as small clans like the Yuan family and the Yu family; while they could not compare to the Xiao clan or the Li clan, they were somewhat better than demonic cultivators and East Sea cultivators.
Miaoshui was no fool. The Li clan's next move would most likely be against Miyun Cave; even if they didn't make a move, keeping her as an example would greatly weaken Miyun's will to fight. As she made this tentative inquiry, Li Zhouwei remained silent, but Li Minggong surprisingly spoke up:
"Patriarch... Fellow Daoist Miaoshui has not incurred excessive slaughter. Blood pills are ubiquitous south of the river, so it is only normal to be tainted with a bit of turbid qi..."
These words caused Miaoshui to look up in astonishment. She had in fact met Li Minggong only a few times, and in years past had even clashed with and wounded her. Of all the people who might plead for leniency, she never would have imagined it to be Li Minggong, and she turned her head in bewilderment.
Li Minggong, however, had not thought of personal grudges. Behind Miyun Cave stood Baiyedu Immortal Dao. Although the Li clan had Li Zhouwei and Li Chengkun, their manpower was tight after all. Even if they took action, they certainly would not want to face a monolithic Miyun Cave where everyone fought to the bitter end...
'Even if we are to settle scores over this... that is a matter for after the harvest, definitely not for right now! Miaoshui has a bit of womanly soft-heartedness and already counts as one of the cleaner ones in Miyun Cave. If we kill her, everyone in Miyun Cave will know they cannot survive in our family's hands.'
With her speaking thus, Li Zhouwei took the opportunity to relent. He was already planning to catch Miyun Cave off guard before they could react, so naturally he could not kill Miaoshui and alert Daoist Wenhu.
He then said in a deep voice:
"Since my aunt vouches for you, I shall spare your life for now. Recall your magical tool and stand up."
Miaoshui hesitated for one final moment before the water sword in midair flew back. Li Minggong's Lihuo vanished a step behind. Miaoshui sped straight before Li Zhouwei and cupped her hands with slight awkwardness:
"Greetings, your Excellency."
Li Zhouwei nodded. The two demonic cultivators were still held in Qu Bushi's hands. However, one look showed they cultivated the *Xuemo Dharma Book*—lucky fellows who had achieved Foundation Establishment by slaughtering people to refine resentment and evil fiends. The demonic qi atop their heads almost surged into the heavens.
The brothers Wen Yi and Wen Shan, who were sorting out the fire veins in the mountains, were at least orthodox East Sea demonic cultivators. These two before him had frivolous cultivation, were completely useless, and were heavily tainted with slaughter. Li Zhouwei did not even spare them a second glance, merely saying:
"Bind them and detain them in the mountain. We will deal with them upon our return."
Watching this, Miaoshui felt a chill in her heart. She thought to herself:
'Who knows how they will handle me when the time comes... I can only take things one step at a time... My only worry is that the one from Baiyedu Immortal Dao is at the mid-stage Violet Palace. If Real Person Zhaojing cannot match him, I will have no way to live.'
As cold dread gripped her heart, she heard Li Zhouwei say offhandedly:
"You must have realized that Baiyedu Immortal Dao stands behind Miyun Cave... Yet having a Violet Palace power backing you is one thing; being a Violet Palace power in your own right is another. Leaving a puppet like Miyun Cave to submit to my clan... is a matter that wouldn't even warrant Ye Gui's inquiry.
"However, if you are feigning surrender... that would be leaping from before a Violet Palace into a Foundation Establishment faction. Regardless of how things end, it would be entirely reasonable and effortless for my clan to slay you, and no one would protect you. Measure the gravity of the situation well, and do not bring about your own ruin."
His words struck Miaoshui with awe and shook her heart deeply. She had no familiarity with the struggles between Violet Palace powers. If she truly could submit to the Li clan in the future, she would be overjoyed; she only feared having scores settled later.
Hearing these words now, she dared harbor no resentment:
"This subordinate has received your grace and harbors no second thoughts!"
Li Zhouwei cared little for her private thoughts and remained quite guarded against her. He asked:
"How are the arrays arranged across Miyun Cave's territory?"
Miaoshui adapted her mindset very quickly and answered at once:
"Miyun Cave's territory has eleven peaks and twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators. Seven among them are Foundation Establishment guest elders recruited from overseas; their strength is mediocre, and they practice demonic arts, so they are of no great concern. Of the remaining five, excluding myself, Wenhu is the strongest, while the other three each have their own foundations... The two outstanding ones might be able to hold their ground against figures on the level of Qingchi peak masters."
This differed little from the information gathered by the Li clan. Miyun Cave was ultimately a puppet, with many guest elders mobilized from overseas by Baiyedu Immortal Dao, yet their total strength was not far behind the Li clan's. Li Zhouwei calculated:
'Wenhu will naturally be left to me. Uncle Chengkun, Aunt Minggong, and Miaoshui can handle those two. However, Qu Bushi cannot fight multiple demonic cultivators, and even with White Ape and An Siwei added in... they still cannot match the remaining demonic cultivators... not to mention the arrays.'
If Miaoshui had genuinely surrendered, his family was not inferior to them in peak combat strength.
Moreover, Wenhu clearly had not anticipated that his clan would strike so suddenly. With preparation against an unsuspecting enemy, it would not be a simple matter of one-on-one duels; as long as they acted quickly, they could definitely wipe out those demonic cultivators...
'Does the one from Baiyedu Immortal Dao possess a destiny divine ability... And what arrangements have our clan's Real Person and Changxi made...'
Seeing Li Zhouwei lost in thought, Miaoshui hurriedly added:
"Only the array on the main peak is at the Foundation Establishment level; the rest are merely Qi Refinement grade and need not concern us. As for Wenhu, I do not know where he currently is..."
Li Zhouwei merely drew out his long halberd, sealed Manghuazi's cultivation, and hoisted him up. Summoning the two minor demons, he instructed:
"No matter who comes, tell them Manghuazi is in closed-door cultivation and seeing no one."
Having witnessed everything, the two minor demons had long been frightened out of their wits. Crying out "Grandpa" repeatedly, they agreed on the spot. Li Zhouwei cast his eyes across the direction and said:
"It is just along the way to Fuyun Cave. We will drop these people off, then continue north to join An Siwei and the others stationed there, and head straight for Miyun Cave's territory."
...
Mount Zhijing.
Gardenia blossoms fell like rain under the bright daylight. Li Ximing manifested his figure here. Before a low table sat an old man with hoary white hair, brows tightly knit, looking burdened by many troubles—it was none other than Real Person Changxi.
It was impossible for this venerable old Real Person not to notice the changes in the spiritual atmosphere south of the river. He possessed an Earth Virtue divine ability himself, so he was all the more aware of whether it brought benefits or harm. With three of his juniors still in closed seclusion, encountering such an event naturally left him haggard and exhausted.
To make matters worse, Kong Tingyun and the other two were attempting breakthroughs into the Violet Palace, unlike ordinary seclusion; they could not be moved at all. Otherwise, they could have been relocated from south of the river to another territory...
"An unexpected arrival—Zhaojing, pray do not take offense!"
Seeing Li Ximing appear, the anxiety between Changxi's brows cleared away immediately, and he smiled as he greeted him.
Li Ximing had originally been observing the situation from the Great Void north of the river. The divine ability mark he had left on Mount Zhijing was triggered, prompting him to tear through the Great Void and return, and it turned out to be Changxi indeed.
Holding a jade kettle, Li Ximing poured tea for him, sat across from him, and said with a smile:
"Venerable senior arrives at just the right time. I had originally been pondering having a meeting with you as well."
"Oh?"
Changxi raised his brows. He was as courteous to Li Ximing as courteous could be, assuming an attentive posture. Then Li Ximing asked:
"Does senior have any remedy for an injured dantian?"
"What was I expecting!"
Changxi laughed and shook his head:
"Do you still remember Old Real Person Qi of Xuanmiao Temple? What he cultivates is precisely 'Precious Earth.' Its nourishing power is extraordinarily potent; while it may not compare to 'Female Water' or 'Horn Wood,' it is more than sufficient for such an injury."
Chapter 711