Hearing this, Wen Wu rested one hand against the boat's edge and pondered for a moment before speaking:
"Junior Sister, once you enter the sect, this older sister of yours is your closest kin. You should still stay close and affectionate with her. In the sect, having someone to look out for each other—having an older sister means having one more path open to you in all things.
"Neither you nor Queyi will be returning often to Lake Wangyue in the days ahead, but the ties to your own family must still be maintained. You cannot throw them away."
Li Quexi nodded absentmindedly. The eldest senior brother chuckled and drew a pair of talismans from his sleeve. Inscribed with a tiger and painted with a dragon, one was gleaming gold, the other radiant white. He said softly:
"These were treasures bestowed upon me by the Master when I paid homage to her back in the day. The golden talisman is a Gengjin treasure; it can shift shape freely and exert suppressing might over cultivators. The white talisman contains remnant power of Yuzhen; it can protect one's person. While inferior to the golden talisman, it carries its own wondrous subtlety."
Seeing her listening with keen interest, Wen Wu smiled and said:
"You, too, have magical artifacts like these."
Li Quexi was taken aback, but Wen Wu continued:
"Ziyan Muzuo is your golden talisman—formidable indeed. The Wangyue immortal clan is your white talisman, possessing its own wonders. Have you ever seen me discard my white talisman just because I obtained a golden one? Even if the white talisman is not as wondrous as the gold, set out here, it is something tens of millions of cultivators would fight over in vain.
"When it comes to magical artifacts, people see clearly enough; but when it comes to themselves, they often lose sight of it."
The girl fell silent at his words, clutching the hem of her clothes as she nodded. Wen Wu went on:
"Your name bears 'Li,' and then 'Que'—these two characters alone already draw the envy of others. Even if you feel little affection, you must still maintain courtesies and cordial ties to the fullest. When you find yourself stalled in your cultivation, you might rely on these two characters to share in an opportunity; or when trapped in dire peril, you might fight for a chance at survival through them—who can say?
"Even if you have exhausted the use of these two characters, and Wangyue later falls into crisis and comes begging you, the initiative will still rest in your hands. With your golden talisman in hand, whether these two characters drag you down or not will be entirely up to your word, won't it?"
Li Quexi listened, half understanding and half confused. She murmured:
"I do not understand these things; in the days to come, I must learn from Senior Brother."
Wen Wu rested both hands on the gunwale. The radiance of the Ziyan Blessed Land had begun to emerge in the distance. The man weighed the two talismans in his palm, tucked them into his pocket, let out a breath, and shook his head:
"Don't learn from me. Stationed overseas for so many years, I long ago learned conduct that lacks uprightness, and Master has scolded me several times. Nothing good comes from learning from me; don't learn from me...
"Besides..."
A grin surfaced on his face, and he let out a hearty laugh.
"You are a member of the Li clan, an immortal clan that fought its way out of that vile place Qingchi. What need do you have to learn from me? It would be more fitting for me to learn from you."
Li Quexi was at a loss, able only to pretend she had not heard. After a while, the spirit boat halted amid the vast purple mist. Cultivators came up to make arrangements. Wen Wu did not spare them a second glance, stepping off with hands behind his back.
He rode the wind, flying all the way toward the towering jade terrace at the very center of the Ziyan Blessed Land. Passing several pavilions and halls, he walked up to the heights, where a female cultivator in a white Taoist robe holding a jade vase was waiting to the side. Upon the seat of honor sat a Master clad in an autumn-yellow satin robe, scrutinizing a jade slip in her fingers.
Wen Wu bowed low, not daring to meet her gaze, and said respectfully:
"Greetings, Master Tinglan; greetings, Master. Wen Wu has returned from the lake; the matters entrusted to me have been conveyed."
Tinglan glanced at him and asked:
"How did the Li clan respond?"
Wen Wu answered respectfully:
"Li Xuanxuan oversees affairs on the lake. The old man assented to everything; he seemed unaware of the matter beforehand and appeared quite pleasantly surprised. Having received my answer, he saw me off...
"As for Mingyang hallmarks, they are not pronounced either. There are many female cultivators on the lake. Though authority is centralized, it is not as autocratic and overbearing as ancient Wei. From top to bottom, not everyone cultivates Mingyang; rather, the majority cultivate Yuzhen, Kanshui, True Fire, and Cold Qi—a rather varied mix. Even direct-line cultivators branch out into various paths of cultivation."
Upon hearing this, the white-robed woman beside them breathed a sigh of relief. Tinglan leaned against the purple jade throne and smiled:
"Indeed. I have met Zhaojing, and he does not seem like one who cultivates Mingyang either, nor does he possess the imposing swagger of the Wei Li. To be frank, he resembles someone of the Cui clan more. Perhaps his divine ability is akin to the remnant positions of Shangyao, eschewing the path of worldly engagement. That Li Zhouwei is the same... though he bears an uncanny resemblance to Bailin, he lacks that vicious rancor and extreme temper."
The female Master murmured in a low voice:
"Neither is ruthless enough. Perhaps his line came from the intermarriage with the Cui clan. No need to pay them any mind."
Beside them, Wen Wu bowed with lowered head and spoke no further. Only then did Qianlizi, Peak Master of Muzuo Peak, reply:
"Only, this disciple cannot make sense of it. Duxian Dao assumes such an attitude, acting so peaceful and accommodating now. Our blessed land belongs to the Taiyang lineage, affiliated with the Taiyin immortals, and upholds the Ziqi heritage; he cannot afford to offend us, so naturally he is deferential. Yet against the Li clan, he is equally submissive now... It smacks of being arrogant before and groveling later."
Wen Wu pricked up his ears from the ground. Master Tinglan merely smiled faintly and said softly:
"Zhaojing now deeply resents Changxiao; do you think Ye Gui does not? Even if Ye Gui could tolerate Zhaojing hating him by extension after getting away, he could never tolerate removing an enemy for Changxiao's sake, letting Changxiao reap a massive opportunity while being stuck taking the blame himself..."
Master Tinglan paused with an inscrutable expression, then shifted the subject:
"Have Master Zhugong's subordinates all been settled?"
Qianlizi nodded hastily and replied respectfully:
"Master Zhugong already gave instructions to settle the cultivators nearby. She visited the Xuanyue mountain gate this morning; Master Ye Gui must have shown her around, and most matters have been settled in discussion. She has only just returned... Only..."
Tinglan raised her brow to see Qianlizi looking half embarrassed and half disgusted as she said:
"Master Zhugong's subordinates are East Sea cultivators after all. Those Foundation Establishment cultivators, down to the Qi Refinement lot, have foul temperaments. Under the pretext of scouting the terrain, they went out raiding. Plundering in the wilderness and Shanji Commandery is still within permissible bounds, but a few have reached all the way to the eastern shore of Lake Wangyue... putting the Wangyue immortal clan on high alert."
Master Tinglan seemed to have anticipated this and dismissed the two. A young girl of about sixteen or seventeen in a red jacket appeared upon the jade terrace, her hands clasped behind her back. Though Master Tinglan looked seven or eight years older than her, she bowed slightly and said:
"Elder Sister is here."
Master Zhugong stepped forward and said:
"Sister, judging by Ye Gui's attitude, Kong Haiying is dead. This whole affair was Zhaojing's scheme, delivering him disguised as Fu En. You said he was sincere, refined, and magnanimous, a person of steady temperament, but I think otherwise. If another Li Zhouwei emerges in the future, wouldn't they shoot straight for the heavens?"
"So he really is dead..."
Tinglan pondered briefly and shook her head.
"This matter bears further consideration. In any case, since Li Ximing is recuperating in the East Sea and Changxiao's whereabouts are unknown, you should give the Li clan some face. When the time comes, I will handle speaking of Xuanyue's affairs; Sister need only maintain proper discretion."
"Very well..."
Master Zhugong smiled and nodded in reply.
"The Kong clan has a Kong Qiuyan, and I happen to have a nephew of my clan. As for the younger Kong Xiaxiang... there are also clan women for him to choose from. With the grace of rescuing them from peril, and treating the Kong clan with such grand ceremony... charcoal in the snow is all the more precious.
"This move is entirely aboveboard. Future generations of the Kong clan will be eternally grateful. Downward, it can rally the hearts of Shanji; upward, it can rein in these demonic habits."
The wind atop the jade terrace grew stronger. Tinglan poured tea for her. With a single sentence, Master Zhugong had sealed the marriages of the Kong clan, and in the unsaid words, the life and death of several Kong family members seemed dimly preordained. She heard Tinglan caution her:
"There is still Kong Gumo on Mount Jingyi. Word is that Xuanyi is fond of him. You have always been close with Xuanyi; do not take things too far."
Zhugong hesitated, set down her tea, and answered:
"That is indeed troublesome."
***
Haijiao.
The flames within the earth vein raged fiercely. Water and fire clashed, filling the space with white steam. Li Ximing sat cross-legged in the center, breathing out flames that spread in all directions.
The longer the Nine Mysterious Cultivation Method of Sangyu lingered in his body, the more ferocious the black flames around him grew. They baked his glazed body until crisp cracking sounds echoed, tiny fissures spreading everywhere. Still reluctant to divert the fire into his Juque Court and ruin all prior efforts, Li Ximing merely brought out Huiyuan Spirit Water from time to time.
Yet what unnerved him was that as the flames of the Nine Mysterious Cultivation Method of Sangyu burned longer, they gradually grew resistant to the Huiyuan Spirit Water, reducing its effectiveness. Li Ximing could not help thinking:
'Were I not an alchemist... able to gauge my injuries accurately and knowledgeable about fire, this spell would truly be difficult to resolve. The Douxuan lineage... I must be cautious of them in the future.'
He suddenly opened his eyes. His spiritual sense swept out through the earth's surface, dimly catching the sound of an uproar. A rather effeminate voice stood out in particular:
"You, Xia! The place is right here?"
"Reporting to my lord, precisely so..."
Excitement finally surged in Li Ximing's chest.
'Good, good, good! This woman surnamed Xia truly has her uses. After all, it's just a monster dwelling at the edge of the world, lacking any background—how could it recognize many traps? This Foundation Establishment beast actually brought a whole mob of subordinates with him!'
Once his excitement subsided, he immediately murmured internally and invoked the Immortal Mirror's probing power. Sweeping his gaze through the surrounding Great Void until everything was clear, he ensured no Violet Palace cultivator was lingering here before looking upward.
A vast swarm of monsters large and small—shrimps, snakes, turtles, crabs, some humanoid and some not—clustered in a dense dark mass around an effeminate man holding a folding fan and astride a giant tortoise, slowly approaching from midair.
The woman Xia Shouyu was in a wretched state, suspended midair by several monsters. Both of her calves had been gnawed clean away, baring jagged white bone. Her hair disheveled and her body drenched in blood, she still had to force a flattering smile onto her face.
Suppressing the urge to fly out, Li Ximing watched quietly. Seeing the effeminate man glance down at the hot spring—a Foundation Establishment beast after all—surprise immediately flickered in his eyes. He barked orders:
"You! And you! Go down and look at once."
Two monsters eagerly dove into the water. Xia Shouyu pleaded mournfully:
"My lord! If we can undo the seal below, I beg you to spare my life..."
Looking at the scene, Li Ximing had already guessed most of it. The monster had not believed the woman's claims; who knew how many stories she had been forced to tell and how much torment she had suffered before he dared believe her. Seeing her still crying out up there, he cursed inwardly:
'Foolish creature with no sense of gravity! I am a Master... not a True Monarch. Missing limbs take merely a wave of my hand to mend, but if you drop dead right here, woman, all I can do is erect a tombstone for you...'
While Xia Shouyu clamored above, the two lesser monsters rapidly drew near. Though Li Ximing had not coordinated with her beforehand, a thought struck him, and he revealed the earlier white skeleton along with the storage bags on the ground.
Since he was angling for bigger fish, he naturally could not let these lesser minions snatch the goods. He unleashed a burst of flames. Unable to endure the heat, the two little monsters scrambled out on hands and knees, shouting:
"King! It is truly just as that person said!"
The monster rejoiced at once and hastily dismounted from the giant tortoise. Living at this remote edge of the earth, he was penniless, knowing fewer spells than the fingers on one hand, let alone owning any magical artifacts. Hearing that there were likely good treasures in the flames, he strode in eagerly, not forgetting to swoop down with a whoosh and seize Xia Shouyu.
Xia Shouyu's face turned deathly pale. The monster snapped impatiently:
"Lead the way quickly! If you force me to search your soul, mind your little life!"
'Bluffing, my ass! If you could search souls, would you have needed to capture me?'
Xia Shouyu had felt quite a bit of dread before. The being before her was a native beast turned spirit. Earlier, when some information had been leaked intentionally, this creature had searched a person's soul only to kill him and sever the lead; otherwise, why would Xia Shouyu have needed to brave danger herself?
Now inside the fire, the effeminate man spotted the withered skeleton at a glance. He was overjoyed, yet suspicion remained in his heart. He barked:
"Go fetch it for me!"
Xia Shouyu cursed bitterly in her heart. Missing both calves, with the fire here so fierce and riding the wind made difficult, she collapsed halfway with a thud. Raising her head, she stared dumbfoundedly at the skeleton:
'Old bastard, you're still not striking? Can this old bastard really not beat this fellow?!'
Li Ximing understood the speechlessness in her eyes clearly. The monster was already a turtle caught in a jar; he had merely been checking whether the monsters outside were running off to feed on the wild mortals. Feeling somewhat sheepish, he stood up, adjusted his posture, and let out an eerie, sinister laugh:
"Jie-jie... Little friend, how have you reduced yourself to such a state?"
Seeing the skeleton frame stand up, the effeminate man looked as though he had seen a ghost. Like a madman, he poured every ounce of power into his immortal foundation and yanked a talisman from his sleeve, only for his vision to flash brilliant white. Firelight flickered, celestial brilliance shone down, and he screamed:
"Aiya!"
In an instant, the man dissolved on the spot, turning into a shimmering blue segmented marine worm. With a plop, it fell onto the flames and thrashed in agonizing torment. How could he not realize he had run into a truly terrifying figure? Having no mouth in his true form, his writhing underbelly seemed to be pounded by a baby's hands, letting out frenzied cries of pleading:
"This lowly demon... this worthless demon failed to recognize the Master's presence and offended the Master... I beg... I beg..."
The beast could hardly be blamed for being foolish. The circumstances were simply too extraordinary; even in the Near Sea, not even the core disciples of an immortal sect would ever imagine that a dignified Violet Palace cultivator would hide inside a cave dwelling just waiting for a monster to stumble into the trap.
Li Ximing did not spare the beast a glance. He lifted the woman up and blew a breath as before. With a soft whoosh, two fair, tender calves sprouted like fresh scallions. Xia Shouyu stood firm, still dazed and unable to process what had happened, stammering blankly:
"You... you..."
Xia Shouyu had known the beast could stir no waves before him, but this was a Foundation Establishment monster after all! It was one thing for a Qi Refinement cultivator like herself to be fragile as tofu before him, but even Foundation Establishment was more helpless than a baby chick in his presence—catching a chick at least required reaching out a hand.
'A divine ability... So this is a divine ability...'
The marine worm bounced on the ground like a lump of meat. The exhilarating gratification of having avenged her grudge vanished instantly, replaced solely by trembling terror before a dreadful being who could burn her to ash with a mere breath. The woman fell to her knees with a thud, shivering all over as she stammered:
"C-Congratulations, Master!"
Chapter 783