Suspicion

Salt Lake. The Salt Lake connected to the East Sea, its waters being true seawater. Beneath the midday sun, the lake's surface shimmered and sparkled. Several demonic soldiers and crab generals patrolled the waters, far greater in number than in previous years—evidently, with war breaking out between Duxian and Xuanyue, the nearby monsters were exceedingly on edge as well. Just as all seemed tranquil, the Great Void suddenly tore open, and a majestic plume of purple flames erupted outward. In an instant, the pale, luminous surface of the lake sank inward from the scorching heat, evaporating a vast quantity of steam. Yellowish-white salt crystals formed over the reefs, and in mere moments, the reefs themselves melted away. Clad in platinum-white Daoist robes, the Real Person flew out from the purple flames astride his tiger. Just as he touched down above the lake's surface, the Great Void directly overhead to the north tore open once more, and three streams of yellow light shot forth. Li Ximing had no choice but to forcefully veer off, fleeing southward. He had barely reached the estuary where the Salt Lake met the sea when the three yellow streamers came hurtling toward him. Li Ximing felt a chill down his spine, inwardly lamenting: *What kind of spell is this!* Thunder roared in the Great Void, and true fire surged. He could faintly sense the sealing power of Xitianyuan sweeping in from the west; Ye Gui was undoubtedly closing in. With no time to counter the spell, Li Ximing swerved to put distance between them. *Fortunately, I purged the true fire early... leaving no trace in the Great Void... Yet to think the Sanxu Sesu Profound Light has locked onto my aura. Ye Gui likely doesn't know this... In other words... so long as I evade the Sanxu Sesu Profound Light, I can make a clean escape!* The Sanxu Sesu Profound Light traveled at astonishing speed, arriving right before him in the span of a single thought. Li Ximing paused briefly, slipping into the Great Void. Only after taking several strides did he see the Sanxu Sesu Profound Light fly in. *Indeed! It is merely a spell after all. Its ability to traverse the Great Void cannot compare to me riding the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger—it falls a notch short!* Riding the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger, he flickered in and out of sight, shuttling repeatedly between the Great Void and the mortal world. Though this spell could traverse the Great Void and possessed greater raw speed than his, it lacked his agility. As they shuttled back and forth, its speed gradually slowed. Not knowing whether Ye Gui could sense him, Li Ximing could only do his utmost to open up distance from the spell. He dashed across the sea for over half a quarter-hour without any sign of Ye Gui, only this spell speeding in pursuit. Finally, he turned back and exhaled a burst of purple flame, freezing the spell in place. Just as he was about to unleash a divine ability, he watched as the Sanxu Sesu Profound Light scattered effortlessly like windblown sand, leaving behind only a hazy yellow mist. From within it, Ye Gui's voice drifted out: “In accordance with Ziyan's arrangements, I exchanged pointers with Fellow Daoist, bearing no intent to harm. If I have caused offense, pray do not take it to heart! Having sparred today, I have gained much. If opportunity permits in the future, we may certainly spar often!” The voice echoed within the Great Void. Li Ximing glanced around; indeed, Ye Gui was nowhere to be seen. The flames in his hand gradually dissipated, and the wounds on his body began to throb with pain once more. *What madness has gotten into that old fellow!* *Wounds scorched by true fire are exceedingly difficult to heal. Fortunately, the injury isn't severe, so it won't take too many years...* He stared grimly at the dissipating spell, quietly taking two steps back. The Gen tiger beneath him plunged into the Great Void once more, heading inland. Yet after taking merely two strides, Li Ximing's expression suddenly grew tense, giving way to deep suspicion and alarm: *No... this is not right...* Exchanging pointers? Impossible! *Ye Gui's objective was definitely not to spar! There is definitely something wrong here!* Ye Gui had only recently mastered Xitianyuan and had likely never displayed it before others; that was why Li Ximing had never heard of it before. The reason he had been reduced to such a wretched state was eighty percent due to this divine ability—if it were merely Mount Dongyu, how could it have forced him into such disarray? Moreover, the Duxian heritage had been secluded from the world for many years, enigmatic and unfathomable. What did an unheard-of Xitianyuan signify... Could Ye Gui not know that?! Furthermore, Xitianyuan was so domineering that catching someone off guard with it could inflict severe harm on a Violet Palace master and secure immense benefits. Why would he squander it solely on a duel with Li Ximing? By exposing it like this, whenever he dealt with anyone in the future... he would no longer have the element of surprise! For Ye Gui to take such pains to orchestrate this, it could never be as simple as an exchange of pointers! *Someone is trying to drive me to the East Sea! Someone wants to harm my family...* Yet the moment that thought flooded his mind, Li Ximing froze: *No... no... If they want to harm my family, the first person they must eliminate is me, Li Ximing. Whether or not I realize there is a conspiracy, I will certainly rush back, which means the path home might be laid with arrays or ambushes...* *Allowing me to realize there is a plot would be even better... I would likely rush back in a panic, making me even more prone to lapses in vigilance... It is better for me to stay outside... As long as I am not trapped by an array outside, I can ensure the family remains largely safe... As for the rest... if sacrifices must be made, so be it!* Li Ximing abruptly wheeled the Gen tiger around, desperately pouring all his divine abilities and magic power into the spirit tool. Pushing its concealment and escape capabilities to their absolute limit, he plunged headlong into the Great Void, intending to flee at top speed toward the depths of the East Sea. Yet in merely a flash, his suspicions reached another peak, and he halted once more. *No... I am no ordinary Violet Palace cultivator. Any array along the way... can be detected with the Immortal Mirror! I can perfectly well return... They cannot ambush me...* His hands reacted faster than his thoughts, bringing the Gen tiger beneath him to an abrupt stop. He wheeled around again, flying back west toward the mainland. His magic power surged with such violent intensity that the eyes of the Gen tiger beneath him ignited with blinding white radiance. The magical patterns of Genhu Dao swiftly spread across the stone statue's body, trailing long streaks of white luminescence. Li Ximing had turned around and was only halfway through chanting his prayer when he abruptly choked off. The Gen tiger beneath his feet lost all its brilliance and ground to a sudden halt, standing all alone in the pitch-black Great Void. The Great Void was pitch-black. Striding toward him from afar was a figure. This person strolled with unhurried ease, yet his pace through the Great Void was faster than even Ye Gui's. Wherever he passed, the surroundings illuminated, as though he were a moving sphere of brilliance. The moment Li Ximing halted, the figure vanished from the distance and materialized directly before him. Feeling that domineering aura that saturated the Great Void, Li Ximing felt as though cold snow had seeped into his chest, making him shiver with dread: *Heading west or heading east... it no longer matters. Coming in person to take it... What a grand gesture, coming in person...* He raised his gaze to look. The man wore a yellow-and-white feather cloak. Each feather was inscribed with delicate circular patterns, making them resemble scales instead. Beneath it, he wore a bright white robe, and a sword was slung across his back. His exposed fingers were fair-skinned, holding a twelve-angled glazed-crystal lamp with a bronze base that cast a gentle, pale-yellow light, illuminating the surroundings. The Real Person's features were kind and gentle, with a high nose bridge and a broad jaw, carrying an aura of scholarly elegance. Yet his willow-leaf eyes bore a trace of chilling majesty that struck dread into one's heart. He was currently raising his brows, looking over with an amiable gaze. Li Ximing, however, felt that chill rush straight from his heart to his mind, while the pain in his dharma body grew increasingly sharp. Forcing his expression to remain unchanged, he said: “The late Violet Palace great cultivator, Changxiao!”