Peacock

At Li Wushao's question, Li Xuanxuan shook his head at once and replied, "Naturally, nothing has been settled yet... Back then, Chenghuai's marriage was only decided when Zhi'er and Xiao'er returned to visit the family. Right now, he is the only child left in that line, and with no word from the sect... the clan can only put the matter aside... "What is more, Zhi'er is not who he used to be; he is a prominent figure in the South Sea now, so this matter calls for even greater caution..." When Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao'er had returned home to visit several times in earlier years, Qingdu Peak had not even finished building its Foundation Establishment grand formation. The clan could not compare to its current standing as a Violet Palace immortal family, to say nothing of Li Xizhi holding the stature he enjoyed today. Once the old man finished, Li Wushao nodded. "Master and the Mistress said that back then, they only hoped the young master would grow up safely and carry on the family bloodline, so they specifically selected the Ding clan. Now that Zhouluo has grown up, his marriage is of paramount importance. Several families and sects have shown interest, and some have even paid visits to Master. In recent years, ever since the young master took charge of clan affairs, their visits have grown even more frequent..." Li Xuanxuan nodded repeatedly. Naturally, he hoped Li Zhouluo would find a good wife. The old man said somewhat tactfully, "We must still take care that both sides are willing... If things turn awkward and unsightly when the time comes, it will only end up offending people." "That goes without saying." Unsure whether he truly understood his meaning, Li Wushao cupped his hands and said, "Master's intention is... before Zhouluo establishes his foundation, he should first travel to the South Sea and stay with Master for a period of time. He can meet the young mistresses of several prominent families and sects, foster some sentiment, and hold the wedding there. Once everything is properly arranged and he has broken through to Foundation Establishment, it will be up to his own wishes whether to return." Li Xuanxuan clicked his tongue in wonder and asked, "Isn't that... putting on too much airs? Wouldn't that leave those families disgruntled...?" "Haha!" Li Wushao laughed and shook his head. "Not in the slightest! The venerable elder has not been to the South Sea and does not know... Master is an honored guest wherever he goes in the South Sea these days. Zhouluo is the dignified head of a branch of a Violet Palace immortal family, the grandnephew of a Real Man, bearer of the State of Yue's royal bloodline, and grandson of the Jiutian Pavilion Master. On top of that, he is a first-rate talent in his own right. Which family wouldn't rush forward to court him?" Li Xuanxuan had a clear picture in mind and pondered secretly, *Ximing said... back then, that Yang Tianya was still lurking in some shadowy corner, so Zhouluo is indeed of a Yang family Real Man's bloodline. It is true...* Li Wushao kept talking without pause. "Aside from this, there is also the matter of Xieqi Peak. The current peak master of Xieqi Peak is Peak Master Lin Wuning. Hearing that I was coming to the lake, he visited repeatedly and asked me to deliver a message. He said that Qingchi gathers five kinds of qi from the lake, three of which cannot be found anywhere else. Now the bastards have turned polite, talking about hoping to designate a location with the Wangyue immortal family to serve as a foothold for the Qingchi Sect, so that when they come to harvest qi in the future, there will be proper procedures to follow." A grin spread across his face as he chuckled, "To think Qingchi has such a day—it is truly satisfying!" Li Xuanxuan considered it for a moment and knew it had to be something like Lake Golden Autumn, most of which were unique to Qingchi. The Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Formula was widely renowned; their clan had Taiyin Moon Splendor in hand yet dared not use it, which was quite a dilemma. A thought struck him, and he asked, "What kind of people usually gather these qi? They probably won't send Foundation Establishment cultivators, who have all sworn the Xuan Scenery Spiritual Oath..." "Indeed." Having gained experience in Qingchi, Li Wushao caught his drift immediately. Pulling him into the hall, he whispered, "Venerable elder, Xieqi Peak naturally won't send Foundation Establishment cultivators to harvest qi. After all, the art of harvesting qi has always been of paramount importance. The key to Lake Golden Autumn lies in the Huchao Method, unless one searches their souls..." Li Xuanxuan chuckled instead and replied, "No rush. Just let their people come and gather the qi." Li Wushao nodded heavily. Soon, Quan Yuduan and his companion returned. However, the two Qingchi disciples made a conscious effort to keep their distance from the other side upon their return, seemingly reluctant to cross paths with the cultivators from Ziyan Gate. They had not enjoyed themselves to the fullest, appearing constrained. Wang Quwan was already waiting on the lake, so Li Xuanxuan had to lead Li Wushao out. Seeing them from a distance, Quan Yuduan smiled and called out, "Senior, we shall head over now. Once our business is concluded, we will return to see you." Li Xuanxuan nodded. "Take care in all things." The group headed north together. Li Xuanxuan saw them off beyond the lake. The sky darkened once more, and all sound ceased across the lake. The Ziyan Gate cultivators, who had previously stayed hidden on the islets, emerged as well. Several streaks of purple qi soared into the sky, drifting swiftly away. *** The Peacock Sea. The further north one traveled, the more magnificent and dazzling the waters of the Peacock Sea became. By Dacitongcai Temple at the northeasternmost edge, the sea beneath Mount Citong displayed a kaleidoscopic array of shifting colors, morphing repeatedly under the sunlight. Patches of coral floated up like living fish and serpents. Looking down from Mount Citong, one could see several dark dots creeping across the sea surface, taking a step and prostrating with each pace as they drew near the spiritual mountain. Coral naturally rose up to bear them, allowing them to walk upon the water as though on solid ground. Yet the mountain was full of peacocks leaping and bounding, tails upturned as they frolicked across the spiritual peaks. When several mortals reached the mountain foot through their prostrations, the peacocks pecked wildly at them. These people were already emaciated and sickly; how could they endure such torment? Covered in blood, they plunged into the sea. At that moment, several novices attending to the peacocks on the mountain watched with keen interest and even burst into laughter. "Fickle minds, they truly deserve it! Prostrating with every step is meant to cultivate a Buddhist mind. If one cannot abandon self-respect, self-love, self-thought, and self-will, how can one be called devout? How can one seek emptiness?" As they laughed, a gust of wild wind swept across the level ground. These novices had little cultivation to speak of and were immediately swept up by the gale, along with a throng of mortals from the ground, tumbling onto a carpet of vibrant, multicolored feathers. Before they even landed, the novices were already laughing in ecstasy. "We have been chosen by a blessed land!" "Seven-Colored Whispering Peacock Back! It is one of the supreme blessed lands!" The novices quickly seated themselves securely on the peacock's back and began reciting scriptures devoutly. The dozen-odd mortals, emaciated and broken-limbed from the fall, saw them and followed suit, and miraculously felt no pain at all. The enormous peacock spread its wings and soared eastwards, radiant light flowing within its jewel-like dark eyes. The East Sea was vast, and the peacock grew thoroughly bored as it flew. After a while, it snapped up a person with its beak and received them into bliss, drawing a cheer from its back. The novices, having the best flavor, were saved for later. Seeing a mortal enter the blessed land first, they felt indignant instead, suppressing their jealousy and chanting sutras with every ounce of their strength. The peacock flew swiftly along, and upon reaching the cape, having finished its snacks, transformed into a woman draped in five-colored robes, dignified and benign in appearance. She dove straight to the seabed, cast a spell, burrowed underground, and flew into a cavern, finally coming upon a pool of emerald water. She smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "Greetings to Grand Real Man Buzi!" The subterranean pool rippled slightly, and a feeble voice emerged, sounding full of vicissitudes: "Fellow Daoist Yuse, thank you this time... Did you bring that Blood Emerald Orb?" Yuse Lianmin smiled and nodded, answering, "You are a great cultivator who has crossed the Threshold to Violet; there is no need to be so courteous. To be able to assist Grand Real Man in this perilous land is also a twist of karmic affinity. I only hope Grand Real Man will nurse your injuries and capture that great demon! "I only hope... to see that flower first." The green pool rippled for a moment, and Chi Buzi's voice came forth: "As it should be." The water swayed, and a bright white flower emerged from the surface of the pool. Yuse Lianmin's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "It truly is a rare Taiyin treasure! Worthy of the Taiyang lineage... It truly opens the eyes of a minor cultivator from the hinterlands like me..." She took a closer look, only to hear a clear voice tinged with laughter by her ear: "Is it beautiful? Good, it's meant to be!" Yuse Lianmin was startled and turned around hurriedly. Sitting on a large boulder behind her was a green-robed cultivator with disheveled hair, looking at her with a broad smile. A chill ran through her heart as she asked, "Real Man... what is this..." Before she could finish her sentence, she saw a sheet of glistening crystal surge before her eyes. Every hair on her body stood on end. She formed an incantation seal with her hands, sending up layers of multicolored light to meet the crystal, only to find her vision blurring, chilled to the bone. An icy sensation washed over the soles of her feet, carrying the freezing touch of ripples—she had unexpectedly stepped right into the green pool. *Chougui Cang*! Yuse Lianmin was a newly ascended Lianmin and was by no means a match for Chi Buzi in battle. She formed an incantation seal immediately and pleaded urgently, "Grand Real Man! My karmic mandate lies in the hands of Shanxia Mohe. Slaying me will tie a karmic knot... I beg you to act with prudence!" Yuse Lianmin had never imagined that Chi Buzi would make a move against her. Shanxia Mohe was already in his ninth reincarnation, and Chi Buzi was not someone who harbored hatred toward Buddhists. Slaying her, Yuse Lianmin, yielded no benefit whatsoever! Lianmin and Mohe were both Buddhist cultivators who had attained the Avaivartika stage, comparable to the Violet Palace. The greatest distinction between the two also lay in the Avaivartika stage: a Mohe's Avaivartika stage rested upon their own Mohe station, with non-retrogression in station, form, and thought—virtually immortal unless their true spirit was locked away. Meanwhile, the Avaivartika stages of Lianmin were each tethered beneath their corresponding Mohe station. The highest was beneath the Golden Lotus Throne, also once known as beneath the Lotus Throne or beneath the Great Puksati, where both form and thought were non-retrogressive; even if their dharma body was shattered in the outside world, returning to the Buddhist Land would allow them to recover just the same. A Lianmin of this rank already possessed the potential to attain Mohe, though the requirements were exceptionally harsh. The Buddhist cultivation system was remarkably wondrous; otherwise, how could it have emerged from the chaotic times of immortals and demons to seize the entirety of the north in the turmoil? There was good reason why the Seven Paths of Buddhist cultivation and the northern mortals were so morbidly obsessed with the Buddhist Land: it was simply far more convenient and secure than seeking one's own innate nature... And while Yuse's Avaivartika stage was not yet attained beneath the supreme Golden Lotus Throne, it had reached the subordinate Generating Wisdom Throne. Her spiritual thought was non-retrogressive, allowing her to retreat to the Buddhist Land. More importantly, as a descendant of the peacocks, her standing in the Path of Compassion was extraordinary; Shanxia Mohe himself would pay attention to her death! For Chi Buzi, killing her would bring no gain other than shattering her dharma body and offending the ninth-reincarnation Shanxia Mohe and the entire peacock clan... Otherwise, why would Yuse have rashly contacted Chi Buzi in the first place?! Even though events had unfolded far beyond her expectations, Yuse remained calm, pointing out the stakes in a single sentence as she formed hand seals. Yet she saw the green-robed man leaning against the stone, chuckling: "Little peacock, I am not killing you! I am merely trapping you for a while." The limpid water rippled beneath her feet. Facing Chi Buzi of the Taiyang lineage, Yuse had already lost most of her courage, yet she still sought to leap out of the green pool right away. Channeling her dharmic power, she stepped into thin air, only to discover that the green pool followed her like a shadow, remaining beneath her feet. Chi Buzi raised his brows, watching her, and said casually, "A peacock is still just a peacock in the end. Monster beasts are inherently inferior, and cultivating as a Lianmin, you don't even have a single divine ability, nor have you learned any decent spells. If you met anyone else, you'd have been slapped to death in two strikes!" He appeared to be sitting carelessly upon the rock, yet in his hand he toyed with a small tripod cauldron radiating a lustrous green glow. A powerful sense of stasis filled the meticulously prepared cave, so dense that a faint green mist rose—clearly primed to strike at any moment. In truth, peacock descendants also possessed Violet Palace bloodlines. Though inferior to dragons and simurghs, they were no lesser than others. Unfortunately for her, she had crossed paths with Chi Buzi, the greatest genius of the Chi family in three hundred years. The green pool beneath her feet worked in tandem with the green mist in the air, binding her so thoroughly that she could not escape into the Great Void. Yuse forced herself to maintain courtesy: "I wonder what demands Real Man has? You need only speak properly with this junior; why must you be so aggressive..." Yuse possessed non-retrogression of thought, not of all three aspects, and this dharma body along with her Lianmin station were immensely precious. Knowing deep down that he could not kill her and had no motive to do so, she ultimately hesitated to act recklessly. Chi Buzi raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, and chuckled, "In recent years, I have been practicing a spell that requires peacock blood, peacock feet, and peacock feathers. Coming here this time, I wish to borrow Fellow Daoist's dharma body." Yuse let out an immediate breath of relief. After all, no matter what, these things were better than losing her entire dharma body. Had she not been trapped here, she naturally would have been unwilling to give them up, but now it felt reasonable. She said softly, "I..." *Rumble...* Before she could finish, the small cauldron in Chi Buzi's hand appeared directly above her head, the dense power of limpid water crashing down. In the split second of Yuse's hesitation, intricate formation runes rippled across the green pool beneath her feet. A chill seized Yuse's heart, but the power stored within Chi Buzi's cauldron had been gathering for who knew how long; as it pressed down, it suppressed her dharmic power until it scattered, leaving her unable to move. Chi Buzi remained seated upon the rock, motionless, his gaze mocking: *Falling for a trick once wasn't enough; she had to fall for it a second time... Truly stupid... The Buddhist Lands only breed such foolish creatures...* Even though Chi Buzi was a Grand Real Man who had crossed the Threshold to Violet, Yuse was not someone he could slay with a flick of his hand. Within a short time, he could merely shock her, force her back into her original form, and trap her upon the green pool. A sudden wave of dread swept over Yuse. This was her moment of weakness where she was paralyzed; if he unleashed any spiritual tool, he could easily wound her severely. Yet she was still hesitating: *At most he covets my entire dharma body... Could he truly produce a magic treasure to kill me?* At that very instant of hesitation, the grand formation beneath her feet flashed with white light. Yuse's figure faded away abruptly, and a dignified Lianmin beneath the Generating Wisdom Throne vanished without a trace, leaving only shifting prismatic light drifting within the empty cave. Chi Buzi's eyes turned dark. Feeling the weightlessness creeping over him, he understood clearly: *To think Yuse could be drawn away even like this... It clearly wasn't Him making a move... In the Heavens, there are multiple True Lords...* *Spiritual tools cannot do a thing, and even without being inside the formation, I can still be caught and pulled into that grotto-heaven... I'm afraid that even fleeing to the Ends of the Earth would offer no escape. The Heavens are not only far above the Buddhist Land of Compassion, but in the end, they are not within the Great Void; they are Beyond the Heavens...* *Peacocks truly are foolish and clumsy... After taking a detour, perhaps I can even come back here to catch another one. Ah, but that means having to see that chatterbox of a stupid donkey again...*