Rumors

“I thank the Clan Head for his auspicious words.” Zhang Duanyan shifted her gaze from Cui Jueyin and replied smoothly. Master Qiushui's endeavor to attain the Quandan fruit status was what the entire Zhang clan most fervently hoped to see succeed, and it was an effort the entire Jinyu Sect was sparing no resource to bring about. The rewards brought by an additional True Monarch were simply too tempting, enough to quicken one's breath at the mere thought. Li Jiangqian's words had undoubtedly struck the right chord, bringing a slight smile to Zhang Duanyan's face. “Your noble clan's brothers... our sect has kept an eye on them. They are indeed outstanding talents of their generation. Our Jinyi Shangqing lineage also regards them with great esteem. If the opportunity arises, you may send someone to the mountain to seek entry. Although our sect maintains strict criteria for admitting cultivators from outside the grotto-heaven, with the extraordinary gifts of your clan's prodigies, there is a very high chance of success.” Li Jiangqian smiled and nodded. Not knowing how much of her words were genuine and how much mere flattery, and since she had presented no formal token, he simply treated it as polite conversation and poured tea for her. The Jinyu Sect could not be described as particularly kind to the Li clan, nor did they bear much malice; their stance had always remained ambiguous. Although they proclaimed to their own disciples that Li Tongya and Zhang Yun had been close friends, when it came down to tangible benefits, there was little worth praising. Yet this was not specifically targeted at the Li clan. Compared to the other sects, Jinyu had already shown a measure of goodwill toward Lake Wangyue. Back when Yuansu perished and custody of Li Xuanfeng fell into Yuanxiu's hands, Qiushui's attitude had been quite gentle. The current Zhang Duanyan was also approachable enough; had it been another sect, one might not have received such courteous treatment. Jinyu had always acted with a certain casual detachment. If their interests aligned, they could share profits generously; if their interests diverged, the lineage would not hesitate to cast off burdens or inflict harm. Even so, their reputation in Jiangnan remained fairly favorable. After all, for such an enormous Golden Core lineage, as long as it displayed a sliver of gentleness, people tended to forget its harshness and preferred to remember its benevolence. Now that official business was concluded, Li Jiangqian casually inquired, sighing, “Our clan has only just ascended to the Violet Palace, and we must still seek guidance from your noble sect on many matters. The superior sect in the north handed down its decree, and fortunately Jinyu came to convey it... After all, years ago Master Chu... observed the mortal realm within Qingchi's borders. Once Qingchi received the order, they completely disregarded the small clans below...” A look of resentment surfaced on his face, but his words were deeply calculating. No one knew whether Mount Luoxia had issued any order to Qingchi. Posing the question this way outwardly voiced grievance, but as long as she answered, it would inevitably hint at the stances of the various sects. More importantly, it touched upon Jinyu's role in this visit... For a dignified immortal sect like Jinyu to act as an errand-running messenger was hardly a glorious matter. Zhang Duanyan took a sip of tea and first replied, “When Qingchi was previously in Master Chi's hands, they were indeed somewhat impetuous and cared little for mortal livelihood.” Having said that, she did not elaborate on Qingchi's affairs, smiling instead. “In ancient times, great emphasis was placed on lineages. Take the Qingsong Taiyang lineage, for instance: its heritage can be traced all the way back to Immortal Monarchs. As long as one inherited the Qingsong Taiyang lineage, sects would preserve some face for one another, and outsiders would yield a step upon meeting them. “The sects across Jiangbei also belong to one and the same lineage. Strictly speaking in terms of lineage divisions, my Jinyu holds a measure of jurisdiction over sects like Chengyun and Xuanmiao. The reason the north can be addressed as a superior sect follows the exact same logic.” Her answer was adroit, neatly skirting the matter of Qingchi. Li Jiangqian nodded, and a trace of nostalgia appeared on Zhang Duanyan's face as she continued: “Once upon a time... in the Forest of the Ten Directions, sects observed their own established rules, of which only fragments remain today. Your noble clan can still pay visits to the various Taiyang lineages by virtue of this. When the Yuan Mansion still existed, your noble clan would have been considered subordinate. Though counted within the Taiyang lineage, there was a clear hierarchy separating you from direct branches like Ziyan and Qingchi... Nowadays, however, that influence cannot be commanded so easily.” She touched upon the topic lightly, glanced at Li Jiangqian with a smile, and nodded. “I heard my grandfather mention that the *Jianghe Daling Scripture*... is with your noble clan?” A flicker passed through Li Jiangqian's eyes, and he gave a slight nod. Though important, there was nothing to conceal about this matter. Years ago, Zhang Yun had visited the Li clan in person to confirm it. Now that their family possessed a Violet Palace cultivator, this scripture no longer seemed so dangerously precious as to court disaster. Li Jiangqian courteously rose from his seat, bowed, and answered, “Back then, our ancestor was acquainted with Senior Zhang Yun. Together, they discovered a secret vault, divided the spiritual items between them, and obtained this method, which has since been preserved in our treasury.” Zhang Duanyan showed no surprise, remarking calmly, “The *Jianghe Daling Scripture* was lost for many years, and our sect had no way to unlock it. Thinking that Senior Tongya possessed celestial talent and would surely have the fortune to decipher it, we entrusted it to your noble clan, which could also be regarded as a continuation of Senior's Dao path. “Who could have foreseen that Jingzhan would harm Senior and his son? At that time, many voices within the sect urged sending someone to the lake to retrieve both the scripture and the Duruo. My grandfather overcame the objections and came in person, initially intending to exchange for the Wanling Flower as a substitute.” Li Jiangqian listened attentively. The woman smiled and added, “Who knew that the Wanling Flower was entangled with Yinghua? Grandfather returned empty-handed. From that point on, voices arose in the sect claiming he shared deep ties with Senior Tongya and was staunchly shielding his descendants.” *So that was how it was!* Li Jiangqian nodded in contemplative understanding, reflecting inwardly: *The news that the jade slip was the Jianghe Daling Scripture came when the Lake Wangyue market fell. Perhaps among that group of people were cultivators from Jinyu, deliberately shouting out its name to provide our family with clues.* Having finally uncovered the origin of the rumor, he naturally refrained from saying anything further and merely replied, “Many thanks to Senior!” He then inquired, “Senior Zhang entered seclusion to seek a breakthrough. Has there been any news yet?” Zhang Duanyan's expression remained unchanged as she replied, “Grandfather broke through long ago and is currently studying arts within the grotto-heaven.” “Senior is truly a genius blessed by heaven!” Li Jiangqian nodded slowly, his mind thoroughly enlightened: *No celestial phenomena appeared in the outside world. It seems... one can indeed break through to the Violet Palace inside a grotto-heaven... That means how many Violet Palaces Jinyu possesses, how many manifest in the world, and when any of them perish is virtually impossible for outsiders to discern...* *A grotto-heaven... is truly extraordinary. It makes sense why Xiuyue abandoned Jiangbei and the territory of Yue... Even if they surrender all their outer domains, an immense world still remains within the grotto-heaven.* The two conversed for a while. As the sun passed midday, she rose to take her leave. Li Jiangqian escorted her all the way beyond the islet. Just as she was about to depart, Zhang Duanyan turned back and said with a beaming smile: “Since your noble clan cannot unlock the *Jianghe Daling Scripture*, keeping it in your treasury for a hundred years or a thousand years will not change that. Why not release it into the world and let someone destined across heaven and earth obtain it? It will surely shine with great brilliance.” She seemed to be hinting at something. A flash of realization struck Li Jiangqian, and he replied, “I understand. Many thanks for the guidance, Immortal Envoy.” She then led the old man toward the north. Judging by their direction of flight, they were headed toward the Baiyedu Immortal Dao. Li Jiangqian continued to mull over her words: *There seems to be truth in that. Left in the vault, it will never open on its own. Yet once cast adrift, its whereabouts will be lost. It seems one must identify a specific person before letting it down, just as the Zhang clan did with our family back then...* *Yet how does one identify such a person? Moreover, it would be best if their cultivation method aligns...* Finding that efficiency far too low, he frowned slightly. After a brief moment of thought, a better method occurred to him: *Or perhaps a Violet Palace cultivator could use a divine ability to leave a secret seal on its surface and let it drift freely. When it is unlocked, a resonance would be triggered, allowing them to tear through the Great Void and arrive like reaping a harvest, claiming a prime Violet Palace lineage.* At this thought, he felt a sudden chill creep up his spine. *If I can think of this, could the Zhang clan not? Could the Violet Palaces who carved up the Lingyu Gate back then not have thought of it? Could it be that releasing this item... was simply waiting for a cultivator bearing a karmic mandate to activate it?* *Back then, how did Zhang Yun determine that our ancestor bore a karmic mandate? Could it be that the Jianghe Daling Scripture he saw happened to share the same qi as the method our ancestor cultivated and could continue it, and seeing his extraordinary bearing, Zhang Yun made a probing move and guessed the rest?* *If not for the Zhang clan's hint, even I would never have thought of this!* Even as ruthless and calculating as he was, he could not help but feel suspicious at this moment: *Ordinary cultivators might not think as viciously as I do. Whether such a seal exists or not, once the Real Person returns, we need only ask him to examine it to know for sure.* Lost in thought, Li Jiangqian walked all the way back into the hall. The teapot and jade cups on the table had already been cleared away. Cui Jueyin followed behind with his head lowered, seemingly dazed. Walking in front, Li Jiangqian suddenly turned back and asked, “Protector Cui, does the Cui clan know anything regarding this matter of the superior sect?” Cui Jueyin bowed deeply, his eyes fixed on the floor as he stammered, “Reporting to the Clan Head, it is truly... for a thousand years, what my clan has suffered... suffered...” This Foundation Establishment Daoist, who had always carried himself with unflappable composure and the refined grace of a great clan's scion, appeared utterly shaken. The mere mention of Mount Luoxia seemed to evoke boundless terror. “The Dongli Sect was destroyed in an instant... When the superior sect issued its formal decree, our ancestors acted rashly and defied it, nearly bringing about the extinction of three generations! Even cultivators possessing Violet Palace divine abilities dropped dead in a matter of days. How could we not fear? How could we dare not fear?! “Now that the formal decree stands before us, we can only tremble in fear, prostrating ourselves and awaiting orders!” Li Jiangqian stared at him intently. Beads of sweat continued to roll down Cui Jueyin's neck, falling drop by drop. This was the first time he had ever seen Cui Jueyin in such a state, which made him keenly aware of a far deeper, lingering dread. *If I continue to press him, disaster may spring from careless words.* Sighing inwardly, he said, “Protector Cui, go take a good rest.” Cui Jueyin stood up, offered a bow, and retreated from the side. Li Jiangqian's gaze lingered on the table. *“Tongxuan Ziying, Wuguang sees the rosy dawn; Jinyi walks this path, humbly beseeching.”* *Jinyu holds the nominal status of subordination to the north... and most of the time, it possesses the reality of subordination as well. Even with a True Monarch, Jinyu cannot refuse the north's decrees. The figure in the north is undoubtedly a Dao Fetus, and as for how many Dao Fetuses stand behind them, that is hard to say.* *Zhang Duanyan implicitly revealed that the several sects of Jiangbei share the same lineage as Jinyu. If even Jinyu cannot refuse, then all these lineages can be regarded as subordinates of Luoxia. Thus, the conflict between north and south, and the mastermind behind the fertile lands of Jiangbei, are equally beyond doubt.* A sense of powerlessness welled up within him. Refusing to dwell on it further, he turned his thoughts back to Jiangbei. *The Ding clan relocated with their entire family, practically severing ties with Jiangbei; they can be preserved. Qu Bushi and Miaoshui are merely local guest elders with shallow ties. The ones with the deepest clan interests tied to that land... are only the Wang clan.* The Jiangbei Wang clan had lived there for generations; it was virtually impossible for them to untangle themselves from that territory. No matter how thoroughly they cleaned house, karmic ties would remain. Li Jiangqian pondered: “Whoever holds the largest presence in Jiangbei right now will suffer the worst calamity... The territory of Funan can be set aside for the moment. Pull all our cultivators back and let it run wild; do not touch it at all.” He summoned an attendant and commanded, “Pass my order: invite Second Young Master to set out immediately and report to the lake for duty.” The attendant acknowledged the command and was about to withdraw when Li Jiangqian hesitated briefly before calling him back. “Consult Protector Cui. It would be best if he could personally travel to Jiangbei to deliver the order.” At present, apart from Li Jiangqian himself, only Cui Jueyin truly grasped the gravity of the situation. His own brothers were not easy to deal with, and with such an urgent matter at hand, Li Jiangqian did not want any mishaps to occur. He immediately set to work, spreading out the bamboo scrolls on his desk and noting down every potential oversight one by one: *Wang Quwan concerns the Mifan lineage; it would be best to preserve him... Yet he is deeply entangled with the Jiangbei Wang clan... truly...* As Li Jiangqian was pondering, he suddenly froze, a dark cloud of suspicion instantly creeping across his face. *Wang Quwan... Wang Quwan... It couldn't be, could it? Could he have been thrust forward early by a karmic mandate, intended to serve as a stepping stone for the True Monarch? If so, is this man not destined to die...?* His heart felt heavy. After prolonged consideration, he instructed, “Summon Qu Bushi here.” Old Qu's immortal foundation was 'Hidden Store Palace,' and he was skilled at dredging earth veins and nurturing spirit fields. He had long since finished regulating the lands of Funan. In recent years, he had been assessing spirit fields around the lake, training several apprentices, and reorganizing the classification of the Li clan's spirit fields, living a quiet and secluded life. He had plenty of leisure. With this single summons, he quickly arrived at the hall, prostrated himself on the floor, and called out, “This humble one pays respects to the Clan Head!” This old man never drew attention to himself and avoided entanglements, proving to be exceptionally shrewd. That was precisely why Li Jiangqian had sought him out. Li Jiangqian asked with a smile: “I wish to inquire about something. You know Funan of Jiangbei very well. Are there any rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators who have no connection to our clan whatsoever?” He paused briefly and added, “Preferably someone who does not act gently—someone domineering and tyrannical.” Qu Bushi felt bewildered by the request, yet he pondered deeply before replying, “Jiangbei has many rogue cultivators nowadays, but very few in Funan; most lands are managed by our own cultivators. However, I have heard... that in the Midong region, there are several rogue cultivators.” Midong had been cast into the hands of the Duxian Dao by the Li clan and had long since devolved into total chaos. Over the years, the Duxian Dao had dispatched several cultivators to manage it, but none had achieved satisfactory results. Later, they simply switched to collecting stipends, and to this day it remained a tangled mess. Qu Bushi observed his expression, guessing that he was looking for a scapegoat, and offered, “If My Lord seeks someone ignorant and muddled, your subordinate does have an idea. There are plenty of such figures overseas. Lure them, bait them, and direct a demonic cultivator to kill them for their treasures and seize their mountain gate. Once the person dies, everything vanishes. It is very convenient.” Qu Bushi had indeed survived the East Sea to achieve Foundation Establishment, grasping such matters with absolute clarity. Li Jiangqian found clarity in the idea as well, reflecting inwardly: *The Duxian Dao will likely send someone to negotiate soon. This matter does not belong to just one family. If I recall correctly, Guan Gongxiao also knows how to conduct affairs; this will be the perfect matter to handle.* *This can also be considered a forced end to the cold war between our two families over the past few years. I wonder what attitude the Duxian Dao will adopt.* He then looked up and replied, “Elder Qu, remain by my side for the next few months. When the time comes, there will be further tasks to discuss with you.”