The Locust Soul Hall did not keep Li Jiangqian waiting long. Before the torrential rain had even subsided, a fierce gale of black wind swept in from the north, aggressively descending upon the northern bank.
Yet the moment it crossed Hanyun Peak and Jiangbei slipped out of view, the intruder pulled in his head at once. The black wind dispersed, the sinister aura vanished, and only a shriveled, bald old eccentric remained, skimming low over the lake. Bowing deeply before the grand lakeside array, he wailed:
"This humble one is Daoist Wugui, one of the Eight Great Protectors before the Hall of Jiangbei's Locust Soul Hall... I beg an audience with the noble lord of the immortal clan!"
Li Jiangqian had already given orders, and eyes had tracked Daoist Wugui the entire way. A cultivator stepped forward immediately to guide him inside. Daoist Wugui hurried inward. Entering the great hall, he felt an imposing, terrifying dread pressing down from every corner. Raising his head, he glimpsed those golden pupils resting deep in the shadows and dropped to his knees at once, crying out:
"This humble cultivator greets the noble lord of the immortal clan! My hall master is embroiled in a dispute with Fanyun Cave and cannot come in person, so I have come to offer my lord's apologies to your noble clan..."
With just this single glance, Li Jiangqian knew that Wugui was undoubtedly far wiser than that rat. Whether it was because he possessed a deeper understanding of Violet Palace powers or was simply timid by nature, Li Jiangqian mused inwardly:
'Mm... this name sounds legitimate enough. Who knows, he might end up serving under the True Monarch before long.'
Thus, speaking with righteous severity, Li Jiangqian replied:
"So it is someone from the north! Since your Locust Soul Hall inherited the orthodox lineage of Mifan, why have you failed to observe the rules of the immortal path? Murdering ordinary folk at will, and even dispatching this fiend to wreak havoc upon our river!"
Naturally, Li Jiangqian had no idea whether that creature had drawn on blood qi on the river, but he knew even with half a brain that not an inch of him was clean. Terrified, Wugui babbled in haste:
"My lord... My lord! That wretched beast Black Rat has committed countless atrocities, and my hall master has long been deeply displeased with him! When sending me out, the hall master gave this humble cultivator a strict order to capture him, bring him back, and mete out severe punishment. We also express our deepest gratitude to the Family Head for helping to discipline him on our behalf..."
'Could Daoist Bai ever say such words? With that donkey-kicked brain of his... could he possibly spout something like that?'
Li Jiangqian knew this man was simply playing both sides to smooth things over and fulfill his errand. Having no desire to embroil himself in this mess, he took the gracious exit offered and relented:
"The Hall Master's words are sound. He indeed ought to be disciplined properly. As the leader of a substantial faction, how could he countenance such behavior?"
Hearing this, Wugui hurriedly explained:
"Precisely! Exactly! Our hall master also mentioned punishing him by banishing him... sending him to a remote location in the east to supervise low-tier cultivators mining ore veins, leaving him with only the duties of a warehouse manager..."
Listening, Li Jiangqian shook his head inwardly. The two in front of him were both jinxes. He drew out a command token, initially planning to let the man fetch him himself. But after cautious deliberation, he thought:
'That won't do. That Black Rat is doomed to die at someone else's hands anyway, while Wugui is a proper fence-sitter. If I let him catch sight of my family's treasure, he might blab later and lead his superiors here to seize our Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda.'
So he changed his command:
"Wait here. I will have him brought up."
Wugui nodded repeatedly. Meanwhile, Li Jiangqian pulled out Wang Quwan's missive from the desk, remembering that Wang Quwan was in seclusion on Panglu Ridge. In a deep voice, he asked:
"A remote location? Reassigned to which mountain?"
The man replied hastily:
"It is near Baiku Commandery, close to the Baiyedu Immortal Dao. As for mountains... there seem to be several ridges nearby, but no proper mountains."
Li Jiangqian acted as if he had merely asked in passing and soon lost interest. Yet beneath the desk, he quietly unrolled a map and examined it closely. Sure enough, Panglu Ridge lay within Baiku Commandery, and the local clan there was none other than the Wang clan—though it belonged to Wang He's branch of Duxian Dao.
'Well, well.'
Not daring to involve himself too deeply, he watched as Qu Bushi escorted the prisoner in. Having spent merely a few hours within the wind of the Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda, the man was already trembling from head to toe. Evidently, his Foundation Establishment was terribly unsubstantial, a realm cobbled together by sheer luck through blood qi, completely incomparable even to the Wen brothers.
'Conveniently, since he reached Foundation Establishment by refining blood qi, he heals remarkably fast. Once he gets back and absorbs some blood qi to patch himself up, this minor wound will heal immediately, allowing him to deal with the True Monarch's matters at once...'
Even as he pondered, a commotion broke out in the hall.
"You cursed wretch! Running off to an immortal clan's territory to refine blood qi! If I don't beat you half to death, you cursed beast... I won't be able to face our master upon our return!"
The moment Wugui saw the man, he began raining curses and blows upon him. These words were plainly intended to save the wretch's life. Li Jiangqian waited with amused interest, letting him curse a few moments longer. Resentment quickly surfaced on Black Rat's face, and he parted his lips as if to retort.
*Smack!*
Daoist Wugui's hand struck out like lightning, sending a slap across his face that left him with a mouth full of blood. Li Jiangqian clicked his tongue inwardly and waved his hand. Qu Bushi promptly shoved the pair outside.
Wugui's scolding was shut outside. Li Jiangqian looked at Wang Quwan's letter and chose not to reply.
'An astute man like him will surely realize something is amiss the moment I fail to send a reply.'
The envoy from the Locust Soul Hall had been sent away. As expected, Daoist Bai was indeed tangled in conflict with Fanyun Cave. The master of Fanyun Cave was Pingwangzi. Back then, Pingwangzi and Daoist Wenhu had both come to pay homage to Li Ximing, extricating themselves under the pretext of Chengyun Gate's name. Now the tables had turned, and it was this old rogue's turn to suffer misfortune.
'I wonder whether he will die at the hands of the Locust Soul Hall, or meet his end sooner by Chengyun Gate... After all, he is someone with genuine standing in Chengyun Gate. And back then, there was Daoist Wenhu. If Wenhu hadn't died, he would probably be playing this role today...'
Li Jiangqian pondered this repeatedly. In those days, Wenhu had been cunning and deceitful, yet Li Ximing had reduced him to ashes with a single breath. Though Li Jiangqian had not been present, Li Chenghuai had returned from the mountain with endless sighs, even breaking into a faint cold sweat.
Sitting upon the central seat, the black-robed youth slowly lowered the letter. Facing this vast vortex of destiny in Jiangbei—one capable of ripping apart any prodigy caught within—his expression turned almost cold. He murmured softly under his breath:
"When fortune is exhausted, one cannot reach the Violet Palace; when fate is shallow, one attains no divine abilities."
Those words had been spoken by Li Ximing with deep lamentation, recounted by Li Chenghuai with lingering dread, and were now uttered by Li Jiangqian with chill detachment and profound vigilance.
Sitting with his back to the light, he crushed Wang Quwan's letter ever tighter in his grasp. A cluster of bright Lihuo leapt from his palm, red and yellow entwining, twisting and curling, swiftly burning everything to ash. The billowing flakes drifted between his fingers, scattering across the stone steps below his seat.
***
Ziyan Gate.
Within the Ziyan Blessed Land, misty clouds drifted as rosy dawn rose in a sheet of golden radiance. Entwining with the purple light flitting through the cloud banks, it merged atop the highest purple terrace into a dazzling purple-gold glow.
Before the terrace, two protectors wore solemn expressions. Looking past the cascading clouds of purple mist, the dharma seat above shone gloriously, adorned with profound patterns.
Clad in robes of autumn yellow, Master Tinglan stood amidst the sweeping sea of clouds. Today, she was not occupying the central seat; instead, she stood off to the side, slightly bowed in deep reverence.
Upon the main dharma seat sat another figure. Dressed in a purple-gold daoist robe, he held a daoist manual in hand, studying it with quiet care.
His face appeared exceptionally youthful. His eyes were like stars, his lips slender, and his features were so perfectly proportioned that he resembled a celestial sculpture in a temple. Yet he possessed a transcendent, peerless demeanor, such that even his posture of leaning down to read made it impossible for one to look away.
Tinglan's bearing was already extraordinary, yet standing beside this man who looked like an immortal idol, she resembled merely an attendant deity, not daring to take a single step out of line.
After an unknown stretch of time, the purple-gold light upon the terrace receded slightly, and the man closed the volume in his hand. Only then did Tinglan raise her hands, presenting a box of medicinal pills and speaking respectfully:
"Reporting to Martial Uncle, the Tianyi Exuding Essence Pills have been successfully concocted. We requested Master Zhaojing of the Wei Li clan, and a total of four pills were formed... They are here."
Having said this, she also brought forth the earthen kettle from before, adding reverently:
"The Measureless Water-Fire is also here!"
The man she addressed as Martial Uncle closed his eyes slightly, turning his palm to accept the pills. Revealing purple-gold upper eyelids, he pinched his fingers to divine the celestial patterns, looking for all the world like a deity enshrined in a temple.
The purple-robed master spoke in a voice like a deep bell:
"The Taizu Emperor... has manifested in the mortal realm."
Tinglan nodded with utmost deference, replying:
"Reporting to Martial Uncle... After returning from meeting you in the South Sea that day, the various Sun orthodox lineages gathered to confer. It was decided that our sect and Qingchi would handle this matter."
Hearing Tinglan's words, this man was none other than Master Zimu, who had been missing for many years! He was also the sole remaining Grand Master among the State of Yue's Sun lineages who had perfected five divine abilities!
Master Zimu had evidently only just appeared here. Hearing her answer, he said:
"Xiukui sent Houfu, while Hengzhu sent Hengxing."
Tinglan cupped her hands:
"Martial Uncle's divine abilities are boundless. Even without being present, you knew the figures sent by each sect."
Master Zimu's face, as symmetrical as a sacred statue, remained impassive, yet his tone carried plain disappointment:
"Heaven does not favor our Sun orthodox lineage."
At a loss, Tinglan fell silent. Master Zimu sat quietly and continued:
"In those years, Louxing was hailed as the Dao Child of the Xiukui Dao and regarded as the next Grand Master... Yet while his prowess in combat was peerless, his comprehension of the Dao fell short of expectations. After lingering so many years in the realm of Purple Participation, who knows how many lifespan-draining recipes he consumed to force a breakthrough. Now, even a matter of this magnitude cannot draw him out. It seems he has little time left to live."
Master Louxing was also a figure of the same era as the Three Sovereigns of Qingchi. Zimu could sigh with lamentation, but Tinglan would not even be able to withstand a single strike from the man's divine abilities; how could she dare pass judgment on him? She kept her head lowered in silence as the man continued:
"Once he and I pass away one after the other, the Sun lineage will have no preeminent figures left... The afterglow of the Qingsong Abbey's final golden age will perhaps be forced to draw to a close."
These words caused Tinglan to look up abruptly. Zimu murmured softly:
"The immense Qingchi, a grand sect-level power, nearly failed to carry on its breath. Now it relies entirely on a novice Violet Palace master cultivating frost and snow to hold up its banner. And look at the Sword Sect's former glory—striving back then to emulate the Thunder Palace and uphold the morality of Jiangnan. Over these past few centuries, it has steadily declined, and now it relies on someone named Li to back it, not even daring to step beyond its mountain gates.
"Xiukui and Hengzhu both branch from the Moon Splendor Palace. Soon, the Grand Xiukui Abbey will have only Houfu and Kuiqi left. The Hengzhu Dao is fierce and unrestrained; they clashed head-on with the Murong clan, forcibly snapping a lineage that had finally begun to show signs of resurgence. Hengli and Hengxing were barely propped up by the very last remnants of Hengzhu's heritage...
"Xiuyue has closed itself off from the world and is no longer within Yue. Once I let go like this, in this blessed land of Ziyan, you will be the only one left."
Tinglan struggled for words and replied:
"B-but no matter what, we are still the Sun orthodox lineage..."
Zimu let out a cold laugh and retorted:
"A fine Sun lineage indeed—a Sun lineage that doesn't cultivate the 'Sun'!"
Tinglan dared not speak again. The Grand Master took a step forward and spoke in a low voice:
"The Yuan Palace has shunned the world for years, and Li Jiangqun was even cornered and slain at Lake Wangyue. Where do you think the deterrent force of the Sun lineage came from? In those days, there was a dharma treasure, and there was one Lushui and one Xiuyue—those two are still contending in the heavens! As for what kind of person Lushui is, others may not know, but could you and I remain ignorant? The only one who might have stepped forward to protect us, Xiuyue, refuses to even set foot in Jiangnan, while that 'Yuzhen' left for the North Sea to establish a separate lineage!
"In the end, because we belong to the Sun lineage, all the sects could sit together. The Violet Palace of one sect was the Violet Palace of all five; a Grand Master of one was the Grand Master of the entire State of Yue. To put it nicely, it was mutual assistance; to put it bluntly, it was collusion to intimidate Jiangnan... Now with Louxing and me departing, see if all five sects combined can even match a single Jinyu Sect!
"Most critically... there are no Grand Masters left... Yuandao will not meddle in this... and so the Sun lineage has no Grand Master at all."
His gaze turned toward the distant sea of clouds as he spoke heavily:
"Li Jiangqun extended the Sun lineage's life by five hundred years, but even that has reached its end... Cultivators fail repeatedly in breaking through to the Golden Core, Qingchi ceded Shitang, and even a domineering man like Louxing did not utter a single inquiry..."
Tinglan saw his solemn, statue-like eyes turn toward her:
"Whether he is even alive remains unknown."
Tinglan pondered for a long time before asking respectfully:
"Yet how... how could the Sun lineage truly decline? Among the younger generation, there are also stunningly brilliant talents. We can gather a double-digit number of Violet Palace cultivators to lend aid at a moment's notice. If such a great war were to erupt in Jiangnan, the Netherworld would never permit it either."
Cradling the manual in his hand, Zimu spoke in a placid tone:
"The Netherworld has indulged you for too long, to the point where you rely on them as your backing. When the time comes that Jiangnan possesses neither a Grand Master nor even a cultivator with the potential to become one, who knows how long they would have to wait to harvest golden nature. Could the Netherworld not adopt a different design? Should such a notion strike them one day, the few of you will be like stray dogs."
He added indifferently:
"Wuguang and Luoxia pasture the fruit positions in this generation, leaving every one of you trembling in fear, feeling as if thorns were at your backs, guarding day and night while swallowing your grievances. Yet the Netherworld and Yin Overseers are powers on the same level as the north, and you do not fear them. It is evident that you have been kept as livestock for too long, blind even to where their pieces are being placed on the board."
Left without a reply, Tinglan could only bow:
"I beg Martial Uncle... to instruct me!"
Zimu was tall and imposing, making Tinglan appear small and delicate before him, barely reaching his shoulder. Her expression was filled with both bewilderment and unease.
Zimu smiled faintly and paced a circle upon the purple terrace, seemingly bidding a final farewell to this blessed land that had birthed and nurtured him. He reached out and lightly patted the woman's head, as if offering comfort:
"Rest assured. No matter what happens, you can always retreat into the blessed land. I will leave the spirit barrier behind for you, and there is no need to return the Measureless Water-Fire to me. So long as there is no news of my demise, the blessed land can remain secure. If I perish and my Dao is extinguished, you may offer the dharma treasure upward and follow the Tuoba clan's precedent.
"What was left behind by the Ancestral Master, Martial Senior Sister, and even Patriarch Taixu has already unraveled the mysteries of the 'Heavenly Cultivated Purple Qi Immortal Origin Nature'. I shall journey toward the far eastern lands where the purple qi rises, to seek it."
He raised his brows. A purple-gold hue surfaced in his eyes, his lips turned vermilion, and his face took on the luster of porcelain jade. Layers of purple qi surged from beneath his feet as his voice resonated like a sacred chant:
"On this journey to the far east to seek the fruit position, should purple qi rise from the east and the Pure Capital and Ziwei Palace emerge, should the vast music of the Nine Heavens echo and a hundred immortals chant in unison—then the remaining incense shall be restored, the fallen woods shall form the canon, elks and avian beasts shall all come to bow before me, and the twenty-three mountains and single territory of the Purple Qi Blessed Land shall rise from the earth, venturing beyond the heavens to become a cave heaven."
Hearing this, Tinglan dropped to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly. When she finished her ninth kowtow and lifted her gaze, the dharma seat before her was entirely empty, leaving behind only a gleaming, round, purple-gold orb.
"The dharma treasure—the Purple Qi Immortal Origin Profound Veil!"
Chapter 840