As soon as those words were spoken, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
*The Master Sumian from earlier was an impostor!*
Li Minggong was shaken to the core, a chill shooting straight into her mind. Brother and sister both stood frozen at the side of the hall, a suffocating dread spreading through the air that left their hands and feet cold. Behind her, the doubts in Li Cheng's heart vanished, replaced by sheer dread.
"That person came to pry for information... asking about Zhouwei... He came specifically to ask about Zhouwei..."
How could mere Foundation Establishment cultivators perceive the supernatural transformations of a Violet Palace cultivator's divine abilities? If that was not Sumian earlier, then who was it... Ye Gui? Changxiao?
The thought flashed across his mind like lightning, only for a second realization to surge forth immediately after:
*If the previous Sumian could be a fake... is this Master Tinglan before us necessarily real?!*
Tinglan lowered her gaze in contemplation. Seeing that both of them were so shaken and suspicious that they were at a loss for words, the Master in the satin robe tapped on the table. Her voice held a note of contemplation:
"It shouldn't be Changxiao... While Changxiao's destiny divine ability does not specialize in deceiving the mind, beguiling the two of you would be child's play for him. To disguise himself in Sumian's appearance... by normal logic, it should be someone whose destiny divine ability has not yet reached completion."
Her voice was soft, allowing them a moment to digest her words. She seemed to have formed her own conclusion, and asked again:
"Where is the head of your family currently in secluded cultivation?"
A momentary suffocation gripped the hall, and Li Minggong choked up.
Although Li Zhouwei's secluded cultivation was known throughout the clan, if asked about the specific location, there was indeed no precise information. Yet guessing it was hardly difficult—where spiritual qi converged and bright yang gathered, it could only be Mount Zhijing.
With the Master before them asking, Li Cheng stepped forward and answered truthfully with cupped hands:
"The matter of secluded cultivation was settled between our Master and the family head. It should be on the lake, but as for which specific mountain, we do not know either."
Hearing this, Tinglan shook her head and said solemnly:
"Very well. I will ask you only one thing: how is Zhaojing's soul lamp?"
Without hesitation, Li Cheng bowed and said:
"The soul lamp is unharmed, please be assured, Master... If anything had happened to our family's Master, the rising bright yang would illuminate an entire domain. That no anomaly has appeared over the East Sea right now is proof enough."
"I know."
Tinglan gave a grave nod and replied, "There is no anomaly over the East Sea; otherwise, your clan would not be in this state. As long as Zhaojing is alive, Li Zhouwei will come to no harm in his seclusion, though your days will be somewhat harder."
She stood up and paced down from the dais, saying softly:
"I have heard... your clan still possesses a token from my sacred ground, left behind by Lingyanzi all those years ago. It so happens that my sacred ground is taking in disciples these days, and a few places remain. Lingyanzi has little lifespan left and is anxious to pass on his legacy. Send a few people over."
With those words finished, she swept out of the hall like a gust of wind. Both of them bowed to see her off. Only after the Master had been gone for quite a while did Li Minggong rise, feeling a chill run down her back. She said in a low voice:
"Brother Cheng, Foundation Establishment cannot unravel divine abilities. Not to mention taking the guise of some Master—even if someone transformed into our own ancestor... how many of us could see through it?"
Li Cheng's expression was grim. He picked up his spear from the side and said:
"Even if we could see through it, we would have to pretend we couldn't. It is best to say as little as possible. Master Tinglan mentioned old affairs and clearly laid out the path to Ziyan Blessed Land, so she is likely not an impostor."
He fell silent for a moment, not mentioning anything concerning Li Ximing or Li Zhouwei, and only asked:
"Among the younger generation in the Jiang and Que ranks, who else is suited to go to Ziyan?"
Li Minggong saw the exhaustion deep in his eyes and knew why he refrained from mentioning them. She answered:
"Ziyan consists mainly of female cultivators, and their criteria for taking disciples are strict. I think Queyi is the most suitable, but several of the children can go and try. In the end, whoever is accepted may enter Ziyan Gate."
"Then let them make the journey..."
Li Cheng hesitated briefly, then added, "However, with the present unrest, members of our main line should not travel out in the open, nor do we have spare hands to escort them. Let us write a letter first to invite Senior Lingyanzi as a guest, and let him take them back when the time comes, lest any mishaps occur."
The young man set down his brush against the edge of the desk and said:
"It is just that... while Queyi is an obedient and well-behaved child, she lacks an assertive mind of her own. Now that trouble has befallen our family, I wonder if she will be mistreated once she enters another clan's territory..."
Li Minggong stepped forward, placed the lamp on the edge of the desk, and comforted him:
"None can say what the future holds. Once she enters Ziyan, she will have a talisman to protect her life no matter what, and one's temperament is not set in stone... In the past, the clan said that Eldest Brother was capable, that I was too gentle and forgiving, and that you were too withdrawn. Yet haven't each of us come to hold our own ground today?..."
Li Cheng finally nodded. Mentioning his elder brother Li Chengliao brought a weary look to the young man's face as he replied:
"Brother Liao... If only he were here, the family would be far more settled. The younger generation today is far from what they used to be, having lacked strict guidance. You and I took up the burden halfway, and have even less energy to look after them."
He finished writing the letter to Ziyan and handed it to Li Minggong. Just then, hurried footsteps approached outside the hall, and an old man appeared—white-haired, heavily wrinkled, and hunched over. It was none other than Qu Bushi.
The old fellow's clothing and provisions had much improved nowadays; at first glance, one might easily mistake him for the patriarch of some clan. Yet right now his face was taut with panic, completely devoid of composure, as he reported:
"My Lords! Situ Mo has made his move! Duxian's forces have also reached the river, and cries for help have already arisen from the north of our domain!"
Li Cheng's figure instantly surged forth transformed into lightning, streaking through the hall and out into the open. Li Minggong exited the hall alongside Qu Bushi. Seeing how panicked the old man was, Li Minggong consoled him in a low voice:
"Senior, there is no need to worry. Funan is heavily guarded. The forces arriving this time are only here to pin us down; their main army has set its sights on the Wilderness instead."
Qu Bushi did not know much, but Li Ximing's disappearance alone had already terrified him. The old man had drifted across the East Sea for a century, and only one truth was etched firmly in his mind:
*No matter what they covet to the east or west, as long as you have a Violet Palace, losing anything else does not matter; but if you lose your Violet Palace, gaining anything is entirely useless...*
The two rushed onward and indeed saw billowing golden qi clashing in battle to the west. Li Minggong looked into the distance. Li Cheng, whose ocular techniques surpassed hers, had already discerned the distant figures first. Decisively veering aside, he said in a deep voice:
"Duxian's stance is ambiguous, and they haven't sent many people; you all are enough to hold them off. I will go support Ding Weizeng. Situ Mo has had it too easy over the years; unless we make him feel real pain and kill a few disciples of Tangjin Gate, that old fellow will never learn restraint..."
Li Minggong handed the Chongming Dongxuan Screen into his grasp, and Li Cheng vanished into thunder immediately. Reassured by his words, Li Minggong's pounding heart gradually settled.
*Duxian Dao... why has their attitude suddenly softened?...*
Beams of light in the distant sky rapidly drew near, while from directly ahead, a figure came riding the wind. She possessed middle Foundation Establishment cultivation, her features carrying a subtle allure though dressed plainly. Holding a sword, she trod over the water—it was Miaoshui.
Miaoshui was formerly a cultivator of Miyun Cave and had once had friction with Li Minggong. However, when she surrendered years ago, Li Minggong had personally pled for leniency on her behalf. Li Minggong was generous and accommodating, willing to humble herself; after a few warm calls of "Elder Sister" in everyday life, those past grievances were naturally put behind them.
In the previous clash against Duxian Dao, Miaoshui had nearly perished, saved only by the Master's intervention. Having teetered on the brink of death, her disposition had changed considerably, and her cultivation had progressed as well. Seeing Li Minggong, her expression grew solemn as she spoke:
"Minggong, you're here... We just received word from the Beijin River King. Guan Lingdie is leading a group of Duxian Dao cultivators this way, with Gongsun Baifan, Song Yunbai, and several others behind her... six in total."
While Li Cheng and Ding Weizeng resisted the forces of Tangjin Gate, here there were only four: Li Minggong, Qu Bushi, Miaoshui, and the White Ape, along with Sun Bai in the mountain, who was originally a guest elder of Xuanyue. In terms of strength, they were clearly outmatched.
However, when Li Minggong heard that Guan Gongxiao was not present, she understood that he had led his people to attack the Wilderness, and she breathed a genuine sigh of relief. After all, apart from Li Zhouwei, no one in the current Li family could deal with this young master of Duxian Dao. Had he come here in person, it would have been a catastrophe.
"Fellow Daoist Miaoshui."
Li Minggong had come prepared. While crushing a jade pendant to have the family dispatch reinforcements, she drew a string of small cold-iron rings etched with Kan-water patterns from her sleeve. They were entirely silver, eighteen in total, each no larger than a fist.
She passed them into Miaoshui's hands and whispered:
"This is a fine dharma artifact of Duxian Dao, the Kanjin Interlinked Rings. Use it for now... It excels at entanglement and confinement, and you have tested it a few times before. I leave Gongsun Baifan to you, Sister..."
Although their side had two fewer people than the opposition, Li Chenghuai was right on the northern bank and could cross the river in mere moments. Clad in the Upper Feather Night Robe and bearing the Yang family's Secret Night Ghost Talisman, which could summon yin-qi puppets at the Foundation Establishment level, he could easily hold off two of them.
Guan Gongxiao had not come, and Guan Kan had been slain early on by Li Zhouwei. As long as they kept Guan Lingdie and Gongsun Baifan at bay, holding Funan would not be difficult, and Cui Jueyin wouldn't even need to come reinforce them, remaining free to support Xuanyue.
Receiving the dharma artifact, Miaoshui nodded in agreement. With a gentle wave of her hand, the chain of cold-iron rings shuttled through the flowing water encircling her wrist. Li Minggong rose upon blazing flames, activating the Hexagonal Red Flame Lamp and the Pure Feather Lihuo together, transforming them into countless reddish-white downy feathers that soared skyward amidst raging fire.
Sure enough, from the north flew a tall woman in a colorful dress with jade-green ribbons. Gongsun Baifan, still clad in a coir raincoat, stood at her side with his saber in hand. The clamoring Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators behind them were of no notable renown.
Li Minggong glanced from afar, recalling Li Cheng's words. Watching the group fly up before them, she slightly cupped her hands and spoke:
"Fellow Daoist Lingdie."
When Guan Lingdie had first come to battle the Li family here, she had been exceedingly discourteous. Now, however, there was scarcely any ferocity between her brows. Seeing Li Minggong cupping her hands, she even raised her hands and nearly returned the greeting out of habit. Only when her hands reached her chest did she remember that she was here to cause trouble. Pulling back her hands, she said:
"Ming... Li Minggong..."
Guan Lingdie was quick on her feet and immediately adjusted her attitude, saying composedly:
"In the battle on the river years ago, our Duxian Dao suffered a narrow defeat. Now that an opportunity has presented itself, we have come to exchange pointers with you fellow daoists!"
Not only did these words astonish Li Minggong, but even the guest elders of Duxian Dao were left somewhat dumbfounded. Only Gongsun Baifan gripped his saber thoughtfully, watching everyone with calm eyes.
Li Minggong merely summoned the feathered flame and nodded:
"Please!"
***
Shanji Commandery.
The mountain peaks of the Xuanyue sect rose one after another as they always had, yet devastation was everywhere. Palaces, pavilions, and courtyards upon the mountains were in complete disarray, all manner of items strewn across the steps, clearly looted clean.
Within the sect grounds, black-robed Duxian disciples could be seen coming and going. Some held brushes to transcribe formation diagrams, while others held jade bottles to draw in the spiritual flames and spiritual waters of the treasured grounds. Once finished, they did not smash the spirit formations; they simply strode away to deliver the spiritual treasures to the mountain summit.
Though it was an invasion of another's sect, it carried an unmistakable sense of orderly conduct. The disciples of Duxian Dao were by no means lacking in discipline; each silently went about their own tasks, occasionally tucking a bit of spiritual materials or spirit stones into their sleeves, without brawling or making a ruckus.
Ascending the stone steps, spiritual energy surged within the grand cavern atop the main peak of Xuanyue. Upon the jade throne where Changxi had sat for centuries now sat a youth in a dark blue Daoist robe. His chin was slightly pointed, and he could be considered handsome, though his complexion looked far from pleased.
The Master fiddled with a brownish-yellow token in his hand, lightly tossing it up and catching it again. Before him knelt a man in black Daoist robes, with several black marks dotted across his face and a white silk sash at his waist trailing on the ground, his head pressed respectfully against the floor.
"Greetings, Master!"
Upon hearing this greeting, Ye Gui at the head finally turned his gaze to Guan Gongxiao. This young master was exceptionally gifted and exceedingly respectful; Ye Gui had always found him convenient to use. Giving him an extra glance, he remarked:
"Obedient enough, at least."
Guan Gongxiao said respectfully:
"Master stands as lofty as Mount Taishi, gazing across tens of thousands of li, whereas this junior has only the narrow vision of a rat. I harbor not the slightest disloyalty."
Ye Gui paid no heed to his flattery, only saying in a low voice:
"This is clearly the Li clan's most vulnerable moment. Do you know... why I had you sit here without moving?"
Guan Gongxiao hesitated before saying:
"Master Zhaojing?"
Ye Gui gave him a dark look and answered:
"If you couldn't even see that, you wouldn't need to remain the young master. Right now, whoever moves against the Li family is merely acting as Changxiao's pawn to force Li Zhouwei out. That would bring not the slightest benefit to my Duxian Dao... You must understand that Li Ximing is a cultivator deeply devoted to his clan... If you severely injure him, he might just dust himself off and walk away with his tail between his legs, even greeting you cordially if you meet again. But if you were to kill Li Minggong and force Li Zhouwei into the open..."
Ye Gui paused slightly, then said in a low voice:
"Then you, Lingdie, and everyone throughout Duxian Dao must be prepared at any moment to face heavenly light falling from the Great Void..."
Guan Gongxiao nodded hesitantly and said softly:
"Yet my family has already formed a feud with the Li clan... To do nothing like this... and let them off so lightly..."
Yet the Master said softly:
"Do you think having clashed with the Li family a few times means we have formed a feud? Far from it... As long as you and Lingdie are not dead... and Li Zhouwei, Li Cheng, and the others are not dead... this entire affair can be framed as me helping him build his reputation. In essence, it is nothing more than part of the process of carving up Xuanyue.
"And the only matter truly worth arguing over is merely my driving him out of the East Sea. Even in that, I can claim to have been manipulated... Do you understand?"
Guan Gongxiao listened, looking slightly bewildered. The Master continued:
"In this world, what matters is never what the truth actually is, but what it can be made into, and what both sides desire in terms of mutual interest. Changxiao is domineering, and I was coerced by him—that alone is enough.
"When joining hands with someone like Changxiao, a single misstep means taking the blame for him... I have handled this matter tactfully enough as it is..."
Ye Gui stood up, transferred the brownish-yellow jade pendant from his left hand to his right, raised his brows, and asked:
"Since Li Ximing was willing to yield the sect grounds, and now Kong Haiying has died at my hands, what irreconcilable enmity remains between me and him? Changxiao still wants me to take the blame for him? How could things ever come so cheap in this world?"
Chapter 764