Though Li Zhouwei showed neither anger nor impatience and spoke in a calm tone, who was Wen Wu? The man had neither accepted the tea nor exchanged pleasantries, leading right away with the remark that it was "not very peaceful." Clearly, he was dissatisfied—how could Wen Wu not realize that?
The figure before him was hardly a good-tempered master. Years ago, when stationed at the East Sea, Wen Wu had seen Situ Mo and privately thought him a formidable hegemon of this generation, a seed of the Violet Palace. Yet in the hands of the White Qilin before him, Situ Mo had been handled like a helpless chick. How could Wen Wu not be afraid?
This was not merely offending a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment; it was blatantly offending a future Violet Palace Master!
It was clearly trouble caused by Ziqi Peak, yet Wen Wu had to take the blame. Unfortunately, as the middleman, he did bear an obligation to look after her. A bitter taste filled his mouth, and he scrambled for a solution while stalling for time:
"Ziqi Peak... was once quite prominent, but things happened later, and fortune turned against it. It holds little standing within the sect, and its disciples grew used to hardship. The peak has never been quiet either... Sigh! Those fellow apprentice brothers lack composure, so it's not unusual for things to be restless..."
Having said that, he immediately tried to smooth things over, adding:
"Still, overseas tempering is a duty assigned by the sect. Li Quexi from your esteemed clan is the junior martial sister of my Muzuo Peak. She is currently in seclusion attempting a breakthrough, and in a few years, she too will come out to experience the East Sea so that she doesn't grow up too pampered. Once Queyi completes her two years here, there will be no need for her to run around outside in the future."
He tightened his robe. Because he was seated, the two spirit talismans rested upon his thighs, white above and gold below, shimmering with a gentle luster. Li Zhouwei glanced at Li Queyi, who kept her head lowered, and understood in his heart.
*Wen Wu's Muzuo Peak took in a disciple specifically to cultivate ties between the Li clan and Ziyan Gate, so Ziqi Peak was never the priority. For Ziyan to skew its resources toward one direct descendant of the Li family was already showing ample deference; doing so for more would offer no benefit to Ziyan's future, and Queyi is not one to compete...*
*What is more, if I were Ziyan, I too would be inclined to neglect a cultivator who places such great weight on her own clan... It might not be intentional; it's simply that with Quexi ahead of her, and Queyi being naturally gentle, yielding, and uncompetitive, they were all too happy to let things be.*
He rested his hand and replied, "Queyi is the daughter of my eldest brother, Li Zhoufang, a direct daughter of the Yuandu line. Senior Lingyanzi is a close friend of our family and would naturally take good care of her, but as one advances in age, it is only normal to lose track of things occasionally. I only fear that if these apprentice brothers stir up trouble, it might disrupt the harmony of Ziyan Gate."
Wen Wu felt awkward and uneasy. He knew that the man before him was only speaking so diplomatically out of consideration for Ziyan's background. Unable to deflect any further, he could only say, "Indeed... Some peaks within the sect were negligent, and the atmosphere has grown foul. It truly must be rectified..."
Li Zhouwei chuckled and shook his head. "It must not be easy for Fellow Daoist Wen to manage either. I know little of peak affairs; there is no need to speak of rectification, nor any need to make a grand fuss. Queyi dislikes commotion, so staying overseas is not bad either. Let things proceed as they should..."
Rectifying the sect's atmosphere? Li Zhouwei had no desire to turn Li Queyi into a target for everyone's resentment. The junior had withheld the truth from the clan precisely out of fear of souring relations on the peak; he had no intention of putting her in an awkward position. He said casually:
"Besides, Ziyan is a Taiyang lineage; how could there be any foul atmosphere? No cultivator in Jiangnan dares look down upon a blessed land. Our family's Master also shares close ties with Ziyan. It is best for Queyi to stay in the East Sea. Our Master is nearby as well and can look after her in all matters."
At those words, Wen Wu broke out into a cold sweat. He grasped Li Zhouwei's underlying message:
*Today it was I, Li Zhouwei, who came and showed you some displeasure. Master Zhaojing is also overseas. If, on a whim, Master Zhaojing had happened upon this... wouldn't you, Wen Wu, have a layer of skin flayed off?*
Master Zhaojing Li Ximing indeed had an amiable temperament, but that was toward fellow Violet Palace Masters. If Li Ximing had come today and witnessed with his own eyes a direct scion of his clan consigned to manual qi-gathering, and if Li Queyi had wept and knelt before him, Wen Wu would have had to strip off his coronet, bind himself, and kneel before Master Tinglan!
And was today any easier? Li Zhouwei's golden eyes were fixed right on him, holding no small amount of chill!
Wen Wu was no longer just caught between a rock and a hard place; a genuine chill gripped his heart. He hurriedly said, "This matter isn't really the fault of the sect's disciples—it was my own oversight. In all my bustling about, I neglected things and prompted Fellow Daoist to come calling in inquiry... It is truly..."
Li Zhouwei remained unangered and replied, "Fellow Daoist Wen speaks amiss. I merely came to see a junior, look after her a bit, and browse the market along the way..."
He waved his hand and led Li Queyi outside. The tea on the table was left untouched, not a single sip taken. Wen Wu hastened after him and asked, "Regarding Queyi's future arrangements..."
Li Zhouwei smiled. "The Master will likely want to see her. Just keep her here among the reefs; there is no need to reassign her."
Wen Wu could only nod and escort him down the hall. Li Zhouwei politely declined his offer of company, leaving Wen Wu to turn back, feeling exhausted and bitter. He cursed inwardly:
*A pack of fools on Ziqi Peak... I was just assigned here, and such a massive black pot was immediately slapped onto my head! If not for Senior Lingyanzi's sake... I would have slapped those bastards across the face!*
Still feeling uneasy, he pondered silently:
*I must send a letter to Master... inform the Master in advance... Such matters never follow reason. If they decide to pursue accountability later, I won't even have room to explain...*
Wen Wu went back, while Li Zhouwei led the junior toward the market. Enveloping both sides in dharmic light to isolate them from the bustling crowd, Li Zhouwei finally spoke in a low voice, "Queyi, you handled these matters incorrectly."
Li Queyi had been uneasy the entire way. Hearing this, she bowed and asked for forgiveness. Before her words of remorse could emerge, Li Zhouwei raised a hand to cut her off. The man in white and gold armor said:
"You are a direct daughter of a Violet Palace immortal clan, yet you are too gentle. Let alone an immortal sect, in any place, if you are courteous and meek, soft without majesty, people will only take advantage of you... If you take a step back, they think you are easily bullied and push forward a step further, calculating that you will never bare your fangs to bite back. At most they will receive a scolding, so they kneel and beg; if begging fails, they weep profusely. As long as they see your heart soften, the benefits they can extract from you far exceed the trifling cost of losing face."
Surveying the array of spiritual items in the market, Li Zhouwei added casually, "You must hold majesty; you must frown. Once these cultivators share a common affiliation with you that makes you care a little, they eagerly look to draw blood from you. Even if they can't draw blood, they play petty tricks. Today she claims matters are urgent and asks you to help gather qi; tomorrow she goes into seclusion, and by the time you go to ask her for help, she is nowhere to be found."
Li Queyi knew he was referring to that senior sister on the island. She nodded silently and whispered, "We are all sect members. Some knelt down weeping and begging... with elders and children at home, all relying on that one breakthrough. I only thought of helping within my means to put my conscience at ease."
Li Zhouwei glanced at her, knowing that while she was intelligent, she was naturally meek and predictable in her reactions, bearing not the slightest arrogant air. He answered, "Do not assume that giving a few spiritual items will make these senior brothers and sisters remember your kindness, nor think of them as someone of consequence. Perhaps they are acting like rascals, or perhaps they harbor grand ambitions—what of it? What does that have to do with you? Why should you provide spiritual resources to sustain them?"
Taking an embroidered pouch from his sleeve, he swapped the resources taken from Situ Mo's body, selected a batch suited to her cultivation realm, and tossed it into her hands. He said softly:
"Today, I vented some anger on your behalf, but that is because our two factions share good relations. Ziyan already has an obligation to guide you and should not stand by while you fall into hardship. But once you leave this blessed land and step away from Lake Wangyue, no one will follow you at every moment. If you are harmed somewhere, the lake can do nothing more than avenge you after the fact.
"These resources are enough for your use. Cultivate well; one's own cultivation is the only true foundation."
Li Queyi nodded in agreement and said respectfully, "I will bear Your Excellency's teachings in mind."
Li Zhouwei could only say this much. Reaching Li Queyi's generation, most descendants of the Li clan were born into comfortable circumstances and grew up without ruthless struggles, making such a disposition almost inevitable:
*It is not that it is bad, only that it is ill-suited to the times.*
He put away the spiritual items, having exchanged most of the spoils on hand. Wen Wu then brought people to invite him over once more. Dismissing the junior, Li Zhouwei suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Wen, earlier you mentioned that Ziqi Peak was once prominent... How did it decline to such a state?"
Wen Wu's expression turned awkward at once, seemingly finding it hard to speak. But having just had an unpleasant encounter, he had come precisely to smooth things over; hiding it would only show a lack of sincerity. He could only explain in a low voice:
"Fellow Daoist Li... Ziqi Peak once had a peak master who committed rather disgraceful deeds and later perished... The lineage declined as a result. Senior Lingyanzi himself knows why and has never voiced any complaint about the sect's partiality. Many cultivators within the sect know of this as well..."
Li Zhouwei nodded thoughtfully, clearly expecting him to continue. Shaking his head in embarrassment, Wen Wu dismissed those around them and lowered his voice:
"That person... took the Daoist title of Tingqian. He once instigated internal rebellion and was later suppressed and slain by Lingshu... This matter was kept strictly within the blessed land, so the various clans know little of the details, though they know there was a bout of turmoil... Ziqi Peak is his legacy, and Senior Lingyanzi... is not only his grand-disciple, but also his great-grandson."
Li Zhouwei frowned and sighed inwardly. "Senior Lingyanzi has no offspring, and almost all recruited under him are itinerant cultivators. No matter how much resentment that rebellion stirred, it should end with him, shouldn't it?"
Wen Wu nodded repeatedly and hinted, "The sect having Queyi join his lineage carries that very intent. After all, his other disciples were raised from youth and lack high talent, making them ill-suited to inherit. Queyi can take over the seat, and incidentally, the peak can be renamed to mark the end of the past."
Li Zhouwei gave a slight nod, thinking to himself:
*This Ziqi Peak is quite interesting...*
With Wen Wu unwilling to say more, Li Zhouwei exchanged a few perfunctory words, mounted his light from the market, and flew toward Zongquan to enter seclusion and cultivate secret techniques.
His Imperial Decree had reached perfection, and along the way, he had cultivated Da Wen to sixty percent. Coupled with thirty percent in Hundred Weapons Mansion, he estimated it would take two to three years to complete these two.
As for the remaining secret techniques, their progress was not as swift. Yangyuan probably would not take much time, but Li Zhouwei reckoned that mastering four secret techniques would still take three to four years at least.
"Four secret techniques only increase the chance by twenty percent. Time is somewhat pressed."
On one hand, time was running short; on the other, Li Zhouwei had no Mingfang Sky Stone at his disposal. Though hailed as a seed of the Violet Palace, cultivation was one's own affair; mastering an additional secret technique was naturally for the best.
*Yet I fear the family might struggle to cope, so I must also consider breaking through as early as possible.*
...
The South Sea, Beidan.
Ever since Master Yuanxiu Si Boxiu failed his breakthrough here, the sky over Shitang had remained overcast for three days. The wind blew erratically, shifting north one moment and south the next; fierce winds varied across regions, rising and subsiding unpredictably. At times, even cultivators of lower cultivation could not ride the winds, let alone the fishermen at sea.
Somber thunder rumbled in the clouds from time to time, yet it was starkly different from the water receding and thunder rising of the East Sea years ago. Not a single drop of rain fell, and the entire sea turned hot and humid, causing people to shrink back in dismay.
Across the islands, the Caican Wood ceased sprouting new buds, shedding its leaves until the ground was covered and bare, hard bark lay exposed, moisture condensing and dripping down drop by drop.
Amidst the howling winds among the clouds, a speck of rainbow light hung suspended in the air, gazing from afar at the vapor that seemed on the verge of solidifying. He let out a deep sigh, yet halted before the array, unable to step outside.
In recent days, spiritual resources had become abundant for cultivators, but life grew agonizing for the common folk below. Damp heat invaded their bodies, leading to countless casualties.
Li Xizhi had been busy dealing with this matter for a long time. He had dispatched all the cultivators under his command, yet their eyes were fixed solely on the emerging spiritual items, completely distracted.
To make matters worse, with Yuanxiu dead, Li Xizhi no longer had protection and had to remain on guard at all times. Though the Violet Palace Master of Tinglei Island was wary of Li Ximing and might not personally take action against him, vigilance was necessary after all.
Qingchi had finally gained Ning Wan, who was capable of succeeding as a Violet Palace Master, but she was held up by affairs in Jiangbei and naturally could not remain in the South Sea. She had only sent a letter, which likewise instructed him not to leave the island.
Li Xizhi could only gaze at the vast ocean and sigh, knowing in his heart that his years of effort to salvage Shitang had come to naught with Master Yuanxiu's demise.
*Dantai Jin came to Beidan as well, likely to observe Yuanxiu's breakthrough. Though plunged into profound grief, he must soon return to Mount Qingchi. Judging by the messages he has sent me these past few days, he intends to transfer me back...*
Following multiple heavy blows suffered by the Qingchi Sect, Li Xizhi was now one of the few prominent figures Qingchi could present. He was not surprised by this transfer. He could have remained indifferent to everything beyond the island, yet in the end, he wanted to save as many lives as possible before departing, exhausting his heart and mind over the matter.
"Grandfather!"
As Li Xizhi was lost in thought, a young man in black approached from the side and bowed respectfully to him. Just as he was about to speak, Li Wushao rushed up from the side, while Quan Yuduan was pale with terror. Without waiting for him to speak, Li Xizhi immediately looked up, his expression turning grave.
Amidst the clouds above, layers of golden light unexpectedly broke through. Bare-armed Buddhist masters stood suspended in the void, palms pressed together in devotion, their faces solemn and reverent. In their center sat a mountain-like golden body!
"A Lianmin?!"
The entirety of Beidan was actually surrounded by Buddhist cultivators! The Masters standing faintly visible in the clouds numbered at least in the double digits, while in the sea stood countless monks whose numbers were hard to estimate. Supported by unknown dharmic instruments, they stood group by group upon the sea, radiating serene peace all around, appearing exceptionally solemn.
Quan Yuduan gritted his teeth, glaring at the expanse of gold above, and said in a low voice:
"Master! It is the monks of Dakonghai Temple from Songzhou to the south entering the sea!"
Chapter 837