The Opening Act

“Shaohui.” Lu Jiangxian had molded this Shaoyin fairy maiden. Though her past memories had been washed away, the Shaoyin orthodox heritage of Fuyu still lingered in her mind. Her immortal title and name were both filled in by her according to that lineage, and it certainly possessed the distinct flavor of Shaoyin. Only her tea-white robes set her apart from that demon beast Fuyu, appearing far more graceful and generous. The pipa cradled in her arms was also a treasure, in no way inferior to any ancient spirit tool in the mortal realm. Lu Jiangxian could mold as many as he pleased; it was entirely up to his whim. He studied the fairy maiden. She counted as the second living soul within his mirror. Most of the stone spirits and celestial soldiers he had molded earlier possessed merely a trace of instinct, moving only upon command. Though they filled the courtyards and created a lively scene, they were ultimately nothing more than exceptionally formidable puppets. ‘The matter with Chi Buzi was an urgent improvisation at the time, yet carrying it through may not necessarily be a bad thing. In the future, whether gathering intelligence on ancient affairs or taking in subordinates, I must at least construct a background imposing enough to match the methods of Divine Summons and blood sacrifice.’ ‘Gradually filling it out… Perhaps it will serve even greater purposes in the future, and I will not have to endure solitary silence within the mirror.’ Watching the white-robed fairy maiden bow respectfully in the courtyard, Lu Jiangxian said softly, “Shaoyin has not yet returned to its seat to open its mansion. A turn of fortune has allowed you to reclaim your immortal rank ahead of time… For now, report to Zhengao to assume your duties and temporarily take orders from the Taiyin Mansion.” Shaohui hurriedly bowed in obedience. Even though the figure above was not her direct superior, he was a preeminent presence among the Mansion Lords. Naturally, she obeyed with utter reverence, cradling her pipa as she withdrew. She exited the grand hall and descended along the misty white-jade steps. Celestial officials on both sides bowed their heads in greeting. Although Shaohui was a Shaoyin fairy maiden, she had frequented the Taiyin Mansion many times in the past. She nodded to dismiss them and made her way along a familiar path toward a high terrace carved with bright moon patterns. The high terrace was jade-green, radiant, and pure, with chilling snow drifting down. Flanked on both sides by spirit waters, several imposing celestial soldiers guarded the riverbanks. Stepping onto the terrace, she saw a handsome celestial general engrossed in reading a scroll. “Fellow Daoist Zhengao!” Shaohui greeted him with considerable respect. The handsome man looked up in mild surprise and replied, “Long time no see! Have you reincarnated and returned, Fellow Daoist? Congratulations!” Although Shaohui’s immortal rank was equal to his, she neither possessed his razor-sharp immortal sword and immense authority nor was she on her own home ground. Living under another’s roof, she answered politely, “It was not achieved through reincarnation and cultivation, but an early return. My memories are hazy; it was likely due to shifts in the Wu and Gui aspects of the Shaoyin path. With my Mansion Lord yet to return to his seat, I understand even less.” Zhengao nodded, his armor as cold as frost. “Shaoyin has not yet been restored. It seems the Venerable Lord has instructed you to serve Taiyin for now.” “Your vision is as keen as a torch, Fellow Daoist. I am here to receive orders.” Shaohui was not introverted by nature and offered a bright smile. Zhengao consulted his dossiers and nodded. “After all, you hold a Shaoyin seat; it would be awkward for you to settle into the Taiyin Mansion. I will not put you in a difficult position. I shall designate a small pavilion at the edge of the sky for you to compile Shaoyin scriptures and oversee the nearby celestial officials.” Shaohui offered a grateful smile and thanked him repeatedly. Zhengao continued, “There are no celestial officials around that need supervising anyway; it is merely a titular post. There is only a minor deity elevated from the mortal realm. You need only hand over some duties.” He paused, looking somewhat exasperated. “That fellow is a smooth talker. Right now, he is sitting in the Third Eastern Mansion, fretting over a few twigs and leaves. You might as well bring him back with you on your way; it will serve as an introduction.” Shaohui was well pleased. If she were assigned actual Taiyin celestial officials, their differing divine seats would make them difficult to manage, whereas someone elevated from the mortal realm carried few such reservations. Accepting the command token, she expressed her gratitude: “Many thanks, Fellow Daoist! In years past, I only heard of your illustrious martial fame, never imagining you would be so amiable.” Zhengao retrieved a jade box from his desk and smiled. “Do not be too hasty to thank me. This box contains spells and cultivation methods of the Shaoyin nature, which require your revisions.” Shaohui readily agreed, listening as he added, “There is only one rule: the Heavenly Gates are not yet open, so none may come and go freely. If you travel outside the heavens and wish to return, you must detour through my Taiyin Mansion and enter only after receiving orders.” She smiled. “Since the Shaoyin Mansion has not opened, I have no desire to wander around. Reading and writing in a pavilion to advance my Dao attainment without wasting time outside is something I could only hope for.” Shaohui did not possess Dangjiang’s restless, flighty temperament. Once the affairs were settled, she departed the high terrace and went to look for Dangjiang. Descending toward the designated area, she indeed found a youth standing beside a maidservant, inquiring about something. Seeing her land, the maidservant immediately bowed in awe and fear, not daring to utter a sound. Having reported his merits, Dangjiang was still asking around for news of the Moon Laurel Golden Branch. Seeing the maidservant drop to her knees and remain motionless, quieter than a corpse, he felt his heart leap into his throat. Glancing up, he saw a fairy maiden clad in tea-white robes holding a pipa. Her features still held a touch of youthfulness, but judging by her attire, her status was extraordinarily high. How could Dangjiang fail to realize he had encountered an important figure? He hastened to drop to the ground as well, bowing respectfully: “This subordinate pays respects to the Fairy!” Dangjiang was utterly beside himself with anxiety, his posture on the ground thoroughly awkward. He had casually taken something from Heaven to give to Chi Buzi. Though it had fallen within Lu Jiangxian’s calculations, if this fellow were not taught a lesson, there would be a second time after the first. If he took down all kinds of bizarre items in the future, Lu Jiangxian would be unable to manifest anything that was not a Taiyin spirit item! At present, Dangjiang was completely penniless. Having taken a spirit item through carelessness, he had learned that there was no such thing as credit in Heaven. As soon as the maidservant reported back to the mansion, someone had come looking for him. Dangjiang had barely warmed his seat before facing the risk of losing his post—how could he possibly keep his composure? In her past life, Shaohui had been a playful avian spirit. Though her memories were erased, her nature remained unchanged. She immediately asked, “What is the commotion about? Let me hear it.” Dangjiang promptly recounted the entire affair from beginning to end. Shaohui chuckled. “A ‘Moon Laurel Golden Branch’? You certainly know how to pick. In an entire year, there are only a handful of days when Taiyin and Shaoyin items are at their priciest, and you managed to pick the exact right moment.” Dangjiang grew even more embarrassed, only to hear Shaohui say, “Immortal Officer Liu has departed on official business, so I will be the one overseeing you from now on. I cannot leave you standing here at your wit’s end. Put it on my tab for now; once you have accumulated some savings, you can repay me.” Dangjiang was stunned, then flooded with gratitude. He bowed deeply. “Thank you, My Lord! May I know Your Honor’s esteemed name?” Shaohui smiled. “I do not belong to your Taiyin Mansion. I hold the Wu and Gui seat of Shaoyin, and my Daoist title is Shaohui.” Only then did he realize she was a figure on par with Zhengao. Scrambling up with lingering hesitation, bitterness still churned in his heart: ‘Chi dog, oh Chi dog… Hurry up and kill some Violet Palaces to sacrifice upward! Let me bask in a bit of reflected glory! If this continues… how many cultivation methods will I have to write to make up for this!’ Dangjiang quietly trailed behind the fairy maiden in tea-white robes. Heavy worries and awe toward a superior kept his mouth shut for once. In the blink of an eye, the scenery blurred before his eyes, and he found himself deposited inside his own courtyard. A sharp pang still gripped his heart: ‘In a few months, I will definitely go urge him!’ *** Lake Wangyue. White petals drifted across Mount Zhijing. The Real Person in a white-and-gold Daoist robe sat cross-legged beside a table, dense white light flowing across the ground like water, sweeping past several jade pillars to release rippling halos of brilliance. Li Ximing cultivated for a brief spell, and more than half a year slipped by like flowing water. His cultivation had progressed slightly, and his divine ability had grown somewhat more refined. After all, his innate talent for cultivation was by no means lacking, so his efforts were never in vain. The sunlight was bright and clear—prime time for cultivation—yet he suddenly opened his eyes. Taking a step forward, his figure materialized above Lake Wangyue, gazing toward the east. Above Shanji Commandery, an inky purple qi was steadily coalescing, staining the entire sky a somber, gloomy hue. With his Violet Palace-level eyesight, he could even see an escaping light rising rapidly at the horizon, streaking toward Lake Wangyue at breakneck speed. “Ye Gui has made his move.” Sure enough, an urgent escaping light surged up from below. Li Jiangqian came to a halt before him, his expression solemn as he bowed respectfully. “Reporting to the Real Person, Real Person Ye Gui has appeared at Xuanyue’s mountain gate in Shanji Commandery, using his divine abilities to suppress the great array. The East Shore is shaken, and several regions have dispatched messengers to report.” Li Chengkun arrived a step behind, riding the thunder alongside several others, his countenance equally grave. Compared to the unease and battle-readiness of the crowd over the lake, Li Ximing remained far calmer. He asked, “Were the people within the mountain gate evacuated early on?” “Reporting to the Real Person, six months ago, everything was carried out according to your instructions; all were withdrawn together. Only a few elderly Xuanyue disciples inside the mountain gate refused to leave.” Li Ximing had not discussed the matters concerning Xuanmiao Temple in detail with his family. First, Li Minggong and Li Chengkun did not possess talisman seeds; hearing certain matters could easily lead to inadvertent leaks. Second, this affair did not require much involvement from the family’s cultivators. Some things were schemes among the Violet Palace; Li Ximing believed it best kept buried in his own heart. If any complications arose later, it would at least spare the Li family from being placed in too difficult a position. The horizon was already radiant with the deep-purple chromatic brilliance of a divine ability, yet Li Ximing remained unhurried. The Hundred Mountains Concealing Spirit Array of Xuanyue was not something Ye Gui could breach in short order, and the Xuanyue cultivators had long lost the ability to operate the array actively. He simply asked, “What of the Xuanyue spirit materials, rations, and other stores?” Li Jiangqian replied respectfully, “Over the past half year, Kong Guxi relocated three mountains to the wilderness, only stopping when the earth veins in that wilderness could no longer bear further disturbance in the near term. The treasury has been mostly emptied, and the cultivation heritage and methods have all been transferred out. Most of what could and could not be moved was largely relocated. Most of the low-grade provisions required sealing within the great array; given the rudimentary conditions in the wilderness, they were not moved.” “Good.” Li Ximing was well aware of the situation. The Li family lacked neither spirit rice nor spirit herbs; leaving those behind at Xuanyue would serve as a plausible pretext regarding the spirit materials. Any other losses in the treasuries were of little consequence. He then instructed, “Withdraw all our people from Shanji Commandery.” The moment his voice fell, his figure vanished from above the lake. Stepping through the Great Void, he materialized above Shanji Commandery in the span of a single breath. Black and purple qi billowed across Shanji Commandery, shrouding the entire commandery city in darkness. Below, a horde of Duxian Dao disciples encircled the foot of the mountain. The peaks sculpted through the lifelong efforts of Real Person Changxi were shielded beneath a pale-yellow light barrier. Yet no sooner did this halo flare than it was swiftly suppressed by the black-purple divine ability. Li Ximing raised his eyebrows. Above the Xuanyue mountain gate, a mountain peak formed of condensed white qi pressed down, towering into the clouds and displaying a majestic, magnificent stance amidst the swirling black and purple. Several Xuanyue disciples scurried like ants, riding the wind in flight through the black qi. He stepped forward, materializing nearby. Instantly, more than half the sky above the mountain gate brightened. Multicolored clouds rose as the dark qi receded, forming a stark, clean boundary. Seeing a ray of salvation, the disciples rode bloody light to flee into the radiant sky. The Duxian Dao cultivators behind them, who had been laughing arrogantly like cats playing with mice, instantly composed themselves and wheeled around to depart. A few pursuing at the very forefront even called out respectfully to the Real Person, bowing before retreating. Li Ximing did not spare them a second glance. Facing the colossal entity of Mount Dongyu and the assembly of Duxian Dao cultivators in the sky all on his own, his aura did not yield an inch. Sunlight illuminated the expanse, claiming half the sky. No matter how many Duxian Dao cultivators were present, in truth, only Ye Gui and Li Ximing mattered here. They were all disciples of prominent sects, so who among them failed to understand this? Each stood as quiet as cicadas in winter, keeping their mouths firmly shut. Li Ximing looked toward Ye Gui atop the divine ability Mount Dongyu. The Violet Flame of Bright Yang flared slightly behind him as he asked, “Senior Changxi has not been gone long, yet you are already so eager to swallow Xuanyue, Fellow Daoist… Is this not overly hasty? Have you consulted Senior Sumian?” From above came Ye Gui’s chuckle as he replied, “You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist. I recognized a demonic follower hiding within the mountain and have come purely to eliminate a scourge. If I harbored any ill intent toward the Xuanyue orthodox lineage, would it not be far simpler to march straight into the wilderness? I have not come for this mountain gate; once my search is complete, I will naturally withdraw.” ‘A fine excuse…’ Li Ximing knew full well what was truly taking place, yet he had not expected Ye Gui to take advantage of the pretext and adopt such a self-righteous veneer. He sighed, “You merely wish to eliminate future troubles, Fellow Daoist. Why must you fabricate grand charges? Allow me to ask for some guidance!” “After you!” Ye Gui showed no sign of shame or anger. Their tones were as calm as two friends conversing. The moment the words fell, both carried their divine abilities into the Great Void and vanished from sight. The purple qi and multicolored clouds blanketing the entire horizon instantly dissipated. The towering white-qi mountain peak vanished into thin air as well, and the sky regained its clean, brilliant clarity. Down below, the trembling, terrified common folk of Shanji fell to their knees in worship. It had all unfolded too fast, leaving behind only an empty expanse of sky. In the firmament, only the cultivators of Duxian Dao remained, standing upon their gathered qi. The leader wore a black Daoist robe tied with a silk sash, its lapels silver-white. With high brows and deep-set eyes, he was none other than Guan Gongxiao, the head disciple of Duxian Dao. His eyelids twitched, clearly caught completely off guard. He stood quietly before the massive Violet Palace array as the cultivators around him turned their gazes his way. Guan Gongxiao understood their meaning all too well, yet he too was staring blankly at the Violet Palace array before him. ‘Leaving us behind? To attack a Violet Palace array?’ Ye Gui and Li Ximing had soared off into the Great Void to battle with complete detachment, seemingly giving no thought to the fact that their cultivators had come to besiege a mountain. What could a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators possibly do against a Violet Palace array? No matter how unsuited Xuanyue’s array was for offensive strikes, only a mere handful would dare take the brunt of its counterattacks! Guan Gongxiao could almost picture Li Zhouwei bursting out of the array with a contingent of troops, battering their forces into ruin. Barely managing to maintain his composed facade, he forced himself to say, “Maintain the siege and wear it down with peace of mind! The Real Person has long made arrangements!” He said this aloud, yet Ye Gui had always acted entirely on a whim. The moment he emerged from secluded cultivation, he had simply brought everyone here. Guan Gongxiao not only knew nothing of the plan, but he also possessed no means whatsoever to breach the array. ‘How difficult it is to fathom the Real Person’s mind… What meaning is there in guarding this place? Does it not merely expose our vulnerabilities? Could it be that as we fight, the great array will simply unlock its seals and collapse on its own?’