Lake Wangyue.
A dark shadow flickered past. A man in black robes sped forward atop the wind, clad in feather-like black garments that left a trail of bone-chilling frost in midair, raining gray mist across the ground.
Tied to these garments were fringes and tassels of patterned yak hair, each over a foot long. The tips of the long black hairs shimmered with brilliant light, subtly shifting through a spectrum of colors, blessing the man and driving his speed ever faster.
Without exaggeration, the Shangyu Night Robe was the finest dharma robe the Li clan had ever seen. Li Xizhi had gone to great pains to obtain it; among cultivators beneath the Violet Palace south of the Jiang, one would be hard-pressed to find a better one.
Yet the two-finger-long piece of ink jade held in his hand was unassuming, appearing to be nothing more than an impure stone. Li Chenghuai, however, knew that this Night Ghost Secret Talisman was even more extraordinary.
The Li family only knew that the Night Ghost Secret Talisman could summon Foundation Establishment combat power, but Li Chenghuai understood that this object was a genuine ancient magical artifact. Far from merely summoning night ghosts, it could unleash far greater effects; his own cultivation was simply insufficient to draw them out.
Before long, the scenery of Funan emerged ahead. Flames raged across the sky in an intertwining pattern of red and white. Li Chenghuai increased his speed, rising on the wind as his figure blurred and faded like water.
Li Minggong stood in midair holding a lamp, spiritual fire rolling outward to hold Guan Lingdie at bay. Miaoshui, the White Ape, and even Qu Bushi were locked in fierce combat in the sky. Outnumbered, they fought with pale faces, hard-pressed on all sides.
"Elder Brother isn't here..."
Li Chenghuai pondered briefly. Li Cheng must have gone to rescue Ding Weizeng. He drew the ink jade from his sleeve, rested it on his palm, and tossed it gently upward.
Instantly, a violent gale rose in the sky. Bit by bit, dark yin qi swirled, black vapors dancing in the air, from which emerged a burly, horned yaksha. Brandishing a long pitchfork of black qi, it charged straight into Duxian Dao's ranks.
This yaksha possessed formidable strength. Transforming into black mist as it plunged among the cultivators, it first rippled with chilling yin qi that interrupted the spells of several cultivators, then swung its long pitchfork, throwing Duxian Dao's formation into immediate disarray.
Meanwhile, Li Chenghuai materialized from the shadows beside Guan Lingdie, drew his sword, and flicked out a brilliant white curtain of sword light as vast as a ship's sail.
Guan Lingdie was slightly startled, and her figure dispersed like smoke at once. Li Chenghuai flicked his robes, his silhouette shifting and blurring, when a soft whisper reached his ears:
"Little Brother, no need to be too fierce!"
Li Chenghuai naturally recognized the voice of his eldest sister, Li Minggong. Though startled and alarmed, his hands reacted swiftly, deliberately slowing by half a beat so that his sword light struck empty air. He sent a voice transmission:
"What is this...?"
Li Minggong had already formed her conjectures, answering tersely:
"Duxian Dao is merely going through the motions. Their real aim is to destroy Xuanyue's foundation... At this point, there is no need to fight them to the death. Just keep them occupied and hold your ground."
Li Chenghuai understood at once. Wielding his sword, he engaged in combat. His spells and swordplay were both solid and practiced as he pressed forward with successive strikes. Facing two opponents, Guan Lingdie took the opportunity to fall back, not pushing too aggressively either.
Guan Lingdie was the stronger cultivator; even while treating the fight as a mere sparring match, she had previously suppressed Li Minggong. Now that Li Minggong finally had breathing room, Duxian Dao's attitude, combined with Real Person Tinglan's words, welled up in her mind, giving her space to ponder:
'If... in the end, it isn't Duxian Dao, but Changxiao who wants to harm our family... could pursuing our Master all the way into the sea truly be that Real Person's only plan?'
She channeled dharmic power into the magical artifact in her hands, the Hexagonal Red Flame Lamp. Fluff-like wisps of red-and-white Pure Feather Lihuo swept outward alongside the flames.
'Judging by Real Person Tinglan's words... that fellow Changxiao likely hasn't returned either... But if he had already laid plans to scheme after our family's treasures... wouldn't they manifest right now?'
'If so, the Real Person who disguised himself as Sumian is very likely Changxiao Gate's other Violet Palace—Real Person Chengyan!'
For unknown reasons, Real Person Chengyan had always remained in seclusion, never showing his face. Yet given the current circumstances, it was not unreasonable for him to appear. Li Minggong's heart gradually tightened:
"What instructions did Real Person Changxiao leave for Chengyan...? That Real Person came seeking intelligence, so he must be making a move right now!"
She felt as though she were standing amidst a dense fog, unable to see anything clearly:
"Is defending Funan right or wrong in the end? But even if we could bring ourselves to abandon this place and retreat to the northern bank, so long as our Master does not return for a single day, will there ever be a day of peace? We would simply be targeted on the northern bank instead!"
***
Funan.
The sky was overcast and gloomy. Violent winds howled, golden light swirled, and thunder resonated through the air.
Li Cheng's robes fluttered in the wind. Holding his spear horizontally, he stood atop thunderbolts. Lightning cascaded from the heavens, striking down in front of him one bolt after another, condensing into a torrential thunderstorm that poured down with a roar.
Arriving on the thunder, he had struck by surprise. Descending from the heavens with the Six Thunders Xuan Punishment Tokens, nine consecutive flashes of lightning had struck down a retained guest elder of Tangjin Gate and rescued Ding Weizeng. At present, excluding Situ Mo, three of Tangjin Gate's remaining five Foundation Establishment cultivators were gathered around Situ Biao, holding off Ding Weizeng.
This was also Li Cheng's first time crossing paths with Situ Mo. While he held no advantage in cultivation lineage, his magical artifacts happened to counter Tangjin Gate. Joining forces with Ding Weizeng, he succeeded in suppressing their opponents.
Now, with a wave of his hand, the six thunder punishment tokens spun around his wrist. Silver-white radiance rippled and gushed forth:
"When Yang culminates, it breathes forth, giving birth to the six thunders!"
At once, a dazzling swath of bright white erupted. The six slender, elegant tokens flashed in unison, runes lighting up one after another. Facing them, Situ Mo casually hurled a golden shield:
Rumble!
Rolling black smoke billowed upward. Fortunately, the golden shield was not an artifact of blood qi, weathering the blast soundly. Situ Mo immediately drew his saber, parrying the thunder spear emerging from the black smoke with a metallic clang.
Clang, clang, clang...
Li Cheng wielded his thunder spear, his every move suppressing the master of Tangjin Gate before him, yet his expression showed no ease.
'What is this Situ Mo... up to...?'
It was too bizarre... The Situ Mo before him was simply not fighting at the level of a Tangjin Gate master!
One had to realize that Situ Mo was a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator who had begun cultivating secret arts long ago. Even with the Chongming Dongxuan Screen in the sky suppressing his golden needles and golden saber, he should by no means have been an easy opponent to deal with!
Li Cheng looked over with a grave gaze. The opposite sect master of Tangjin Gate appeared somewhat dazed. His elder sister had described Situ Mo as "suspicious, cunning, sinister, and vicious," yet now he seemed nothing more than a silent cultivator.
To the side, Ding Weizeng had grown uneasy long before. He had interacted and clashed with Situ Mo many times and knew him intimately. Right now, eyes that should have been brimming with malice and treachery had changed entirely, revealing instead a silent, chilling calm that filled Ding Weizeng with deep foreboding.
He transmitted his voice secretly:
'Lord Cheng, I fear this man is plotting something...'
Li Cheng asked doubtfully, "Since you all say he is treacherous, capricious, and unpredictable, if he had a plot, why would he show such a state, only to arouse suspicion in vain?"
In contrast to the Li family duo's growing suspicions, Situ Mo simply rode on golden light, stepping through the wind against the sky full of thunderbolts. Just as he channeled his dharmic power, the bronze-green screen in the sky cast its radiance downward, fixing his two magical artifacts in midair, unable to budge.
Situ Mo could only pinch incantation gestures with his hands, emitting radiance to meet the lightning, fighting in a stifled, dull manner. Yet his face showed little expression as he silently endured the assault.
Situ Mo had clashed with the Li clan back in Li Yuanjiao's time. He had achieved Foundation Establishment even earlier, old enough to be considered a senior on par with Li Xuanxuan. To be suppressed by Li Cheng, a junior among juniors, by relying on magical artifacts, ought to have been a pathetic and humiliating affair. Yet he merely watched in silence.
When Situ Mo set out today, he had received three flying missives, all emerging from the Great Void. Two demanded that he kill Li Cheng; one demanded that he kill Ding Weizeng to force Li Zhouwei out.
Accompanying the letters was a gray cable inscribed with mountain and river patterns, edged in gold with white halos; and a violet talisman imbued with ethereal divine ability, rippling like violet water, ice-cold to the touch, piercing straight into the depths of his heart.
He could not discern the violet talisman, but the gray cable was all too familiar to Situ Mo—he had read about it countlessly in records. This was the cherished treasure of his own clan's Real Person, Situ Huo, a spirit artifact of the Violet Palace grade.
The Shanming Dongyue Cable!
His clan's Real Person, Situ Huo, was in exile overseas, his life or death unknown; rumors said his dharma body had been severely crippled by Yuansu, losing an arm, leaving him too fearful ever to return inland. Why would he wade into these muddy waters? What need had he to wade into this mess?
Situ Mo had tangled with the Li clan for so many years, always treading carefully along the edges of the rules. Back then at Jindou Island, when Li Xuanfeng waited in the sea holding his bow, Situ Mo had cowered on the island unable to move. In all honesty, his dread back then could not compare to today.
Tangjin Gate, ever since its third generation, had seen countless sect masters die suddenly, commit suicide, or be slain by their own brothers. Born of Tangjin Gate, Situ Mo had climbed to power by murdering his own brother. Having survived in the cracks until this day, his discernment was by no means lacking, and in his heart, he understood all too clearly.
'Right now, the only one who can kill a direct descendant of the Li clan—and do so within the bounds of the rules—is me alone.'
What the Li family relied on was Li Ximing abroad, and the Situ family's meager survival also hinged on Situ Huo abroad. At this very moment, no one was better suited to do this deed than Situ Mo.
In terms of enmity, Situ Mo had deep grudges with the Li clan. In terms of backing, Situ Mo was likewise the scion of a Violet Palace, a scorching potato that was dangerous to touch and awkward to discard... The only difference was that Situ Huo cared nothing for Tangjin Gate.
Once Situ Mo killed Li Cheng, whom would Li Ximing seek out for revenge? A hollow Tangjin Gate with only two or three stray cats, ready to shut its gates, retreat into its mountain, and play dead at any time? Or Changxiao? Ye Gui? Could those who sent this spirit artifact and talisman not have foreseen this?
And what of Situ Mo himself? Could he peacefully retreat to Tangjin Gate to enter seclusion and seek a breakthrough? Utterly impossible!
The gold-armored man merely stood cold and rigid. On the surface, he was beaten into helplessness, unable to break free; yet inside, it felt as if he were holding a bone-chilling, venomous dagger, hesitating without moving an inch.
Yes, Tangjin Gate possessed a Violet Palace formation, but what use was that grand array? The formation disc was locked down by divine abilities, completely frozen. Not only did Jinyu Sect possess the jade tokens to open the formation, but Qingchi and Xiuyue sects had them as well. No matter how formidable that Violet Palace formation was, it could never protect Situ Mo!
The moment this Violet Palace spirit artifact was unleashed to kill Li Cheng, the Real Persons of Jinyu Sect would likely arrive upon hearing the news—first, to execute Situ Mo to appease the Li clan; second, to seize the Shanming Dongyue Cable for their own use. Where would there be any pity or mercy!
"Yet if I do not kill him, having taken the items of two Violet Palaces and defied the commands of three Violet Palaces, who under the heavens would grant me refuge?"
Situ Mo had once considered presenting the Shanming Dongyue Cable to Jinyu in an effort to survive in the cracks, but he understood that at this juncture, everything unfolding on Mount Tangdao fell under Jinyu Sect's watchful eyes. Such utter silence made their attitude abundantly clear:
"Real Person Qiushui has been in seclusion in recent years, and Real Person Tianhuo emerged to oversee Jinyu's affairs... That Real Person has already tacitly consented... Perhaps... one of those letters is even his decree!"
Whatever else he was, Situ Mo was still Jinyu's dog. If not for Jinyu's tacit consent, who would dare act so brazenly!
Situ Mo gripped the spirit artifact in his sleeve tightly. As the minutes and seconds ticked past, it felt as though his own life were slowly trickling toward its end... The man finally lifted his sleeve and said in a low voice:
"Li Cheng!"
The man opposite glanced at him, eyes striking as droplets of dark ink. Thunder resonated, coursing along his robes. Situ Mo stared at him in a momentary daze, his teeth grinding with a creak.
'There is only one path to survival... only one path to survival...'
Li Cheng likewise looked upon the man before him. Situ Mo's golden robes whipped in the wind, shedding various golden hues. Agitated beyond measure, the man bared teeth that were stark white and sharp, while his body hunched inward like a cripple, emitting strange sound after strange sound.
'Metal resides in Geng and Xin, of lofty renown and vast majesty; Earth forms the mountains and peaks, upright and unmoving; creatures of vicious malice shall be bound thereby...'
Realizing something was wrong, Li Cheng took a step back, only to find the man before him suddenly snapping his head up, letting out a roar-like shout:
"Halt!"
Time seemed to slow down before his eyes. Li Cheng clearly saw a gray cable slithering inquisitively out from Situ Mo's sleeve, inscribed with layer upon layer of mountain and river patterns, edged in gold and enveloped in a white halo. Everything before his vision plunged abruptly into darkness.
Bang!
As if struck by a tremendous blow, the Chongming Dongxuan Screen in the sky let out a dull, thunderous boom and was blasted backward like an arrow off the bowstring. Vast swarms of golden needles pressed down, while sharp, fish-like sabers shot forward, filling his ears with piercing shrieks.
In the next instant, the Six Thunders Xuan Punishment Tokens suspended in midair releasing thunderous light detonated with a resounding crash. Battered, they scattered in all directions. All the lightning halted the gray cable for barely an instant before being wiped clean away in a flash.
"A spirit artifact!"
Alarm bells screamed in Li Cheng's mind, yet the spirit artifact had already swept forward like a gust of wind, transforming into a nimble serpent that leapt with a snap onto the spear in his hand.
Though Li Cheng was among the foremost figures of the Li clan, and the spear he wielded was indeed a Foundation Establishment magical artifact, it was merely an ordinary piece, far inferior to Li Qinghong's Duruo. Even if he held Duruo, he would fare little better against a spirit artifact.
With a sharp clatter, the lightning on the spear dissolved, its dharmic power dispersing as the gray cable bound it tight. With a whip and a sweep, it too was knocked down to the earth.
Yet in that fleeting instant, Li Cheng had already summoned an antique bronze mirror from his sleeve. Palm-sized, its two concentric rings depicted various galloping beasts with ornate engravings.
The Tongchi Liangbai!
This mirror artifact had been seized from Duxian Dao. Though ornate in appearance, it was not of particularly high grade—only somewhat stronger than the spear. Leaping lightly forward, it collided with the gray cable. With a crisp, loud clang, the mirror was sent flying backward, emitting pained creaks and groans.
These artifacts' interference had not been in vain. Ding Weizeng was close at hand and had already swung his staff; Li Cheng had likewise bought himself enough time. He immediately opened his mouth, drawing forth a speck of white from his thunder pool.
"Violet Talisman Primordial Light Secret Method!"
Chapter 767