Li Zhouluo walked ahead, introducing several cultivation sites on the islet to Wen Wu. Wen Wu was very accommodating, nodding repeatedly as he replied:
"I have heard of this! Rumor has it that this place was once a market square. My Master cultivated here back then as well, and she once remarked to me with nostalgia how fine this place was, and that a few key locations were not inferior to our blessed land."
Li Quewan listened carefully, but noticed that Li Quexi beside her was walking very quickly. The child was nearly a full stride ahead, almost catching up to Wen Wu, and asked with great curiosity:
"Eldest Senior Brother, how does this place compare to Muzuo Peak?"
Wen Wu chuckled jovially and answered evasively:
"Muzuo is the second peak of our blessed land; its spiritual energy is so abundant that it ranks high across all of Jiangnan. But according to Master, when she cultivated in this market back then, the most expensive quarter was not inferior to Muzuo either."
Pingya Islet was fine indeed—benefiting from spiritual mechanisms that were balanced and robust everywhere compared to the lakeside—but Li Zhouluo naturally knew it could not compare to Ziyan Blessed Land, let alone an immortal peak like Muzuo...
Wen Wu had put it tactfully: the former Lake Central Islet might once have rivaled Muzuo Peak, but after the great battle wiping out the Chen clan remnants and decades of torment under the Forbidden Formation, it had long diminished beyond comparison. Li Zhouluo smiled and said:
"Naturally, there is no comparison. Your blessed land holds the thousand-year heritage of the Qingsong Sun orthodox lineage; our family falls far short!"
Since Li Zhouluo put it so frankly, Wen Wu could only swallow his slight awkwardness and reply:
"Your noble clan rose from humble beginnings, and the noble bearing and aspirations left by your predecessors are something we in Ziyan have long admired."
The girl in front took another step ahead. Li Quewan was not the primary host and could hardly walk ahead of their guest. With Li Quexi pulling awkwardly at her grip, she had no choice but to let go, holding only her sister Li Queyi's hand.
The group arrived at Li Quexi's home. Li Zhouluo and Wen Wu brought the girl into the courtyard, which was immediately filled with cheerful laughter, compliments, and flattery. Holding Queyi's hand, Li Quewan halted outside, deciding not to enter at all. She straightened her younger sister's collar and said softly:
"Your sister Xi is still young and does not understand much. A girl who has not even reached the age of pinning her hair... it is only natural for vanity to take hold. How could one expect her to handle matters with grace? Once in the blessed land, there will hardly be anyone to guide her properly. If you get the chance to see her, remember to give her a few words of caution."
"Eldest Sister..."
Though Li Queyi looked cute and young, she was older after all, and said tactfully:
"I observed the blessed land along the way. Life on Ziqi Peak is difficult... Yet it happened to form ties with our family. The sect feared neglecting that debt of goodwill, so Sister Xi was the one truly accepted, while I was merely a makeweight and an excuse. Once we enter the sect, our standings will be vastly different. I may even have to rely on her sisterly affection to pull me along. Even though I have lived a few more years, it would not be my place to lecture her."
Although Ziyan Gate revered ancient customs and did not divide disciples into inner and outer sects, distinctions between the strong and the weak existed everywhere, naturally giving rise to many hierarchies in status. Li Quewan understood this well and sighed inwardly:
'Sister Xi is still a child after all. She believes her talent is extraordinary and peerless, and that catching the eye of a great cultivator was entirely earned through her own merits. Little does she know that it was merely an obligation born of ties with a Master... Had Queyi been born three to five years later, Sister Xi would have had no part in this.'
Li Quewan waited for a while and raised her eyes to look. Having cultivated an eye technique, her eyesight was exceptional, and she immediately spotted Li Xuanxuan and Lingyanzi strolling not far away, evidently having followed them along the way.
She quickly pulled her sister forward and greeted with a smile:
"Greetings, Senior! Greetings, Old Master!"
Lingyanzi nodded repeatedly, and Li Queyi also addressed him as Master. Seeing the somber atmosphere between the two old men, Li Quewan, as an elder sister, quickly chimed in:
"To receive Senior's tutelage is truly a blessing for my sister. If she ever encounters any difficulties in the sect, or if our family has not provided sufficient resources and she is too young and shy to speak up, please write to us, Senior."
Normally, once one joined an immortal sect, resources from home were provided only with careful discretion, with no notion of whether they were sufficient or not. However, Lingyanzi had to go out and fight for his own Foundation Establishment resources, which showed just how straitened Ziqi Peak was. If Li Queyi's resources were provided by her clan and could be shared with her fellow disciples, she would naturally win much goodwill.
Moreover, mentioning a letter was giving Lingyanzi an out, sparing him the embarrassment of asking a disciple for resources as a master; he could simply ask the Li clan directly. Lingyanzi understood this and nodded slightly:
"Her senior brothers and sisters are all decent people. Queyi will not be wronged on my peak."
Li Xuanxuan walked alongside with his hands clasped behind his back, having lost his earlier joy. Li Zhouluo soon hurried over and led Lingyanzi and Li Queyi to meet her family elders.
Once all arrangements were concluded, Wen Wu prepared to take his charges back to the sect. The two families bade farewell with lingering reluctance, while Wen Wu briskly stepped up to Li Xuanxuan's side and said with a smile:
"Senior, please step into the hall with me for a private discussion."
Li Xuanxuan immediately understood. Dismissing those around them, he entered the hall with him. The man said politely:
"Senior, Master Zhaojing left a Violet Palace formation with our Master. It was originally agreed that upon the delivery of the Master's pills, she would come to the lake to deploy the formation. Now that the Master is away, the matter has been delayed..."
"A Violet Palace formation?!"
Li Xuanxuan felt his breath catch, his heart pounding. Ever since this grandson of his became a Master, he had not communicated much with the family; who would have thought he had quietly arranged for a Violet Palace grand formation! The old man asked with pleasant surprise:
"What does your Master mean to do?!"
Wen Wu replied in a low voice:
"My Master asked our Sect Master. Seeing that Master Zhaojing has not yet returned and that this is a critical juncture, she plans to come to the lake once she finds a spare moment to set up the formation first."
Li Xuanxuan was filled with shock and joy, though he hesitated:
"Our Master... has been delayed and has yet to return, unable to fulfill his promise. For Master Tinglan to show such profound righteousness, we of Wangyue... feel exceedingly uneasy yet deeply grateful, hardly knowing how to accept such grace!"
Whatever transaction Li Ximing had made with Tinglan aside—alchemy perhaps being one part of it—the fact that Master Tinglan was willing to come to the lake to set up the formation in advance was far beyond expectations. Hearing his somewhat incredulous inquiry, Wen Wu replied:
"This matter... had actually weighed on our Master's mind for a long time. That day, when I accompanied my Master to meet her, the Master sighed repeatedly, remarking that Changxiao's actions were beyond expectation and that it was her miscalculation in failing to assist Master Zhaojing. Laying down this formation beforehand serves as an amends.
"We of Ziyan Blessed Land follow the righteous path and are not like those who migrated inland from overseas. Please do not worry, Senior."
Seeing the old man nod, Wen Wu added:
"There is just one thing I must explain to you, Elder. Our Master is currently busy with an urgent matter, which will take about a year or so. Once this period passes, Duxian Dao will withdraw."
With this piece of news from Wen Wu, Li Xuanxuan felt grounded. The man continued:
"Now that the two young ladies have entered the blessed land, sect rules must be observed. As women, their joining does not hinder the continuity of your immortal clan. However, the marriage of both girls must be decided solely by themselves and our blessed land. As disciples of our Ziyan, they cannot be married off through clan alliances."
"That is only natural."
Li Xuanxuan's voice was low and gravelly:
"Ever since the precedent set by my sister, our lakeside has largely abandoned such practices. Unless both sides are willing, I have blocked any such thoughts. Later, when Qinghong and Minggong attained their cultivation, their examples showed the clan that we do not restrict anyone based on gender. It is merely that the Jueyin Dao does not manifest easily, so naturally female cultivators are fewer, making the men seem more numerous."
Li Xuanxuan understood that Ziyan was led predominantly by female cultivators, so he spoke with extra care and offered a thorough explanation. Wen Wu nodded gently, clearly having known this beforehand, and said:
"Though our blessed land follows ancient customs, most things must still be fought for on one's own. The young ladies will inevitably suffer some hardships, so please forgive us in advance."
He was referring to none other than Li Queyi. The two walked out together. The spirit boat was waiting only for Wen Wu, yet it was completely silent, with no sign of impatience. Li Queyi stood to one side beside Lingyanzi; after all, Lingyanzi was well acquainted with the Li clan, so their position was closer to the front than when they had arrived. Li Quexi stood at the prow of the boat, her eyes reddened, yet basking in everyone's gaze, appearing glorious and proud.
The violet qi drifted away into the distance. Most of the cultivators around looked on with some envy, but Li Zhouluo merely cast a glance before turning back. He entered the hall with Li Xuanxuan and the others. With no one else around, Li Zhouluo frowned and said:
"Old Master, I feel that the child Quexi is too frivolous. Now that she has received an orthodox heritage, I do not know whether it is a blessing or a curse."
Li Xuanxuan had grown so old that he saw through everything long ago. But having received news of the Violet Palace formation, he was in good spirits, and spoke in an aged voice:
"It is human nature; do not be too harsh. Quexi is not the only one. Which junior on the lake, upon being favored and standing at the prow of that boat, wouldn't hold their head high? It's just that she seemed a bit too eager to push forward."
Li Quewan said gently:
"I think we must treat her well from now on. Regardless of whether she cares for the clan, the clan must treat her well. Even if she becomes a high-level cultivator of Ziyan Gate, her name will still bear the surname Li."
Both men nodded. When the old man asked about family affairs, Li Zhouluo replied:
"Everything around us is quiet and peaceful. News has come from the Xiao clan; the Yushan branch originally wanted to return for a visit, but that area has not been peaceful lately either, so their attempts have repeatedly fallen through."
"As for Qingxiao... she just needs to take good care of herself."
Seeing there was no one around, Li Xuanxuan recounted what had just transpired. The other two were equally pleasantly surprised. Li Zhouluo paced around the hall twice and murmured:
"Still a year or two... I wonder if it is because Changxiao has yet to show himself... I only hope we can get through this safely."
Li Quewan then remarked:
"Since Duxian Dao will be withdrawing, the vacated wilderness should still be given back to Xuanyue. Our family has done everything benevolence and duty require in this matter; we should not meddle further. In my humble view, we should place Xuanyue in their original territory in the wilderness and let them establish their own sect. Let this matter come to an end here, without dragging it out any longer."
"Indeed," Li Zhouluo agreed.
Xuanyue Gate was boundlessly grateful, and the Li clan had gained substantial benefits from Xuanyue's collapse. Yet even a Master had gone missing now; whether Li Ximing had done so intentionally or held some deeper scheme, the members of the Li clan were truly somewhat frightened by now.
As the three were talking, calls suddenly came from outside. Li Zhouluo released the formation and asked with a frown:
"What has happened!"
The visitor was Di Liguang, who bowed to the ground and announced joyfully:
"Master, Old Master... Master Cui has brought Guardian Ding back to the islet!"
"Wonderful!"
With the return of these two formidable Foundation Establishment battle assets, Li Xuanxuan felt a heavy boulder lift from his chest. Li Zhouluo stepped forward, overjoyed:
"Quickly, invite them in!"
Before long, Cui Jueyin, dressed in fine robes and a splendid coronet, stepped forward. Behind him followed a burly man with the chin of a swallow and whiskers like a tiger, possessing a majestic frame and sharp eyes. A wondrous power rotated within his two eyes, such that anyone who met his gaze felt a chill behind the head and sweat upon their back.
It was none other than Ding Weizeng!
"Good, good, good!"
Having heard good news one after another, Li Xuanxuan stepped down the stairs. Cui Jueyin immediately bowed his head in salutation, while Ding Weizeng stepped forward to gently support the old man. Li Xuanxuan said:
"With the two of you back, the lake is free of worry!"
Ding Weizeng felt slightly awkward, while Cui Jueyin recounted the whole sequence of events in detail. Hearing it, Li Xuanxuan's aged eyes turned slightly red, and he said:
"It is enough that you have returned safely..."
Yet Ding Weizeng dropped to his knees with a thud and said respectfully:
"Reporting to Old Master, my return this time is only to make brief adjustments. Once I have gathered pills and provisions, I will depart immediately for the East Sea to search for the Master!"
"What?"
Li Xuanxuan was stunned for a moment, almost thinking he intended to seek service elsewhere. Cui Jueyin had to explain Ding's intention from the side, prompting deep sighs from the old man. Ding Weizeng, however, stubbornly remained kneeling. Li Quewan urged from the side:
"Guardian Ding, if you go to the East Sea and enemies follow your trail to find the Master, wouldn't your good intentions do more harm than good?"
Ding Weizeng shook his head slightly and said respectfully:
"I do not possess the bloodline of the lakeside; I leave no familial trail, nor would the Master necessarily see me. But if I resolutely venture deep into the sea, I can draw the attention of the Violet Palace cultivators, making things easier for the Master."
Li Quewan wanted to speak further, but the old man stopped her. Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard. Although the old man worried for his grandson, he understood in his heart that if Ding Weizeng went all the way to the East Sea, it would most likely cause a great disturbance. Not only might this man lose his life, who knew how much trouble it might stir up?
'If Ximing can escape, why would he need him? If Ximing cannot escape, how could he possibly help?'
'Judging by the soul lamp right now, Ximing is not at the brink of death. The East Sea is boundless—where could one even begin to find him?'
He thus said quite calmly:
"Did the Master leave any orders for you?"
"None..."
Ding Weizeng hesitated slightly. Li Xuanxuan continued:
"Since you received no orders, how do you know the Master was genuinely injured? Could he not have feigned injury and dived into the sea to lure out enemies? If you rush rashly to the East Sea and ruin the Master's stratagem, what crime would you bear?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Jueyin was struck with sudden realization, while Ding Weizeng was shocked into speechlessness. Even Li Zhouluo and Li Quewan stood frozen where they were, and silence fell over the room.
Ding Weizeng broke out in a cold sweat. Hurriedly bowing, he said with lingering fear:
"Thank you for your guidance, Old Master! Were it not for your prudence, I would have committed a grave mistake! Now your subordinate will rest easy and guard the lake islet, awaiting the Master's return!"
...
The Violet Qi Spirit Boat.
This spirit boat of Ziyan Gate was quite spacious, its interior much larger than it appeared on the surface. While it could not match Qingchi Sect's world-renowned Xiaguang cloud boat, it was nonetheless among the top tier of luxurious magical artifacts.
Departing from the lake, it soon arrived over the wilderness. After getting everyone settled, Wen Wu returned to the prow, where his little junior sister Li Quexi was leaning against the railing, watching the scenery.
Wen Wu clasped his hands behind his back and paced over. The girl looked up immediately, her smile still that of a child, reminding Wen Wu of his own daughter. She beamed:
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
Wen Wu nodded slightly and asked:
"Little Junior Sister, why aren't you staying with your sister?"
Li Quexi replied in a low voice:
"Sister and I are not very close. When I was nine, my innate talent proved sufficient, so I was brought to the islet, and only then did I meet her. Usually, we just greeted each other in passing. Back then, there were too many people fawning over her; I didn't join the crowd, so we rarely spoke more than a few words."
Chapter 782