"Back then, when Li Jiangqun traveled across the State of Yue, he once mentioned a certain place. Under ordinary circumstances, it remains concealed beneath layers upon layers of restrictive grand formations. Not only does it shut out the Great Void, but its innermost layer is shielded beneath the restrictions of an immortal formation—such that even True Monarchs cannot peer inside!"
"Furthermore, within this place stands a Hunyi Immortal Cliff left behind by an ancient Immortal Lord. Li Jiangqun said with his own mouth that it is difficult for True Monarchs to approach it, or rather... they dare not approach it!"
Chi Buzi lowered his voice:
"Yet into such a place, Li Jiangqun possessed a method of entry. He told Ning Tiaoxiao, he told Zipei, he told Qiushui, and he even told... Xiao Xianyou! In the end, this place ceased to be a secret among the lineages of Taiyang and Jinyu..."
"Although one cannot communicate with the Great Void beneath that immortal cliff, the spiritual atmosphere and rules there are no different from ancient times. People from both the Qingsong Taiyang and Jinyi Shangqing paths have frequently ventured there."
Shaohui nodded as she listened. Though the names rolling off his tongue meant little to her, she had roughly anticipated his drift. Frowning, she asked, "You mean to say... hide it in this place...?"
Chi Buzi bowed once more:
"If Your Ladyship possesses a suitable method and bestows some spiritual artifact or resonance formation, I need only anchor the trigger beneath the immortal cliff. Once I arrive there, I will be able to recall everything."
"Aside from that... this subordinate also possesses the divine ability 'Chougui Cang.' This divine ability is unlike 'Calamity-Washing Dew,' which was severed entirely. There are quite a few inheritances of it in the mortal realm, though not many reach the Violet Palace. Lushui intentionally withheld it from transmission, which is why it is absent in Qingchi... The copy in Qingchi, I hear, was obtained from Chunyi Dao."
"Back then, when I entered Anhuaitian, I failed to find this method... If I cannot account for its origin, Lushui will surely grow suspicious..."
The implicit plea was to ask Shaohui to resolve this dilemma. Shaohui's brow furrowed deeper as she replied, "I knew it was troublesome, but I didn't expect it to be troublesome to this extent."
Chi Buzi, dreading that she might shrink from the difficulty, hurriedly reported in a low voice:
"This cultivation method is by no means without an origin. The Feathered Serpents once had it, but after they were devoured by the Hornless Dragons, it fell into the hands of the dragonkind... The dragonkind even hold the Violet Palace cultivation method for 'Calamity-Washing Dew.'"
"In the State of Wu, Changhuai Mountain, Shengbai Hall of the Great Xiyuan, and the subordinates of Lady Beiyao of the North Sea have all produced Real Persons of 'Chougui Cang.' Both the Yuan Mansion and Chunyi Dao possess 'Lushui' lineages."
"The Yuan Mansion is not quite suitable, but as long as it exists in the mortal world... obtaining it would make complete sense. It is well worth an attempt."
Chi Buzi rattled off a string of names, a subtle gleam flashing in his eyes, and continued:
"Years ago, I used to wonder why Lushui did not sever all five paths together and only cut off Calamity-Washing Dew, thinking it was merely because he had offended the Underworld..."
"Only after listening to Lord Zhengao's explanation did I realize there was another reason: the three paths of 'Chougui Cang' are the intercalary of Pinshui, not the business of Lushui alone. They likely pertain to certain individuals' schemes regarding Pinshui, and perhaps even to multiple lineages that rely on Pinshui to attain the Dao. Hence, they could not be severed at whim..."
"As for the cultivators of Qingchi, all he could do was withhold the 'Chougui Cang' cultivation method and disseminate the 'Qingxi Yu' Right Fruit to lock down the path for lower cultivators."
Shaohui sighed heavily and gave a slight nod to show she understood. She murmured:
"Come with me to report to the lord first. Then we'll have someone seek out Immortal Officer Liu—after all, he was the one who pushed this task onto Dangjiang, so by right it falls under his purview now... When you head back, search for the cultivation method yourself first. I lack the ability to arrange every last thing for you."
Chi Buzi bowed respectfully and said, "Rest assured, Your Ladyship."
Shaohui rose, and Chi Buzi followed behind her, feeling faint unease in his heart:
'Heaven should be able to reach me from Hunyi Immortal Cliff. But if even Heaven cannot bypass the means of an Immortal Lord, then I am truly at a dead end!'
Beside them, Dangjiang, having listened all this while, could not help but chime in, "If all else fails... why not seize the opportunity to push for the Golden Core realm first...? Wouldn't that be better than groveling and eking out an ignoble existence under him? Besides, once he returns, wouldn't your chance of breaking through be even slimmer...?"
Chi Buzi shook his head gently and replied, "Break through? Where would I suddenly acquire the cultivation method and the technique to seek gold? And how would I know when he returns? If I make no preparations, I will merely stretch out my neck for the executioner's blade sooner or later. No matter how long they clash, it won't last decades. For all we know, he has already returned and is merely healing his wounds in his grotto-heaven."
His eyes lowered slightly as he added, "Moreover... I doubt whether they are truly fighting beyond the heavens at all. Who could possibly know what Lushui is actually planning?"
The three walked for a time and soon arrived before Zhengao's elevated platform. The immortal general still sat in that place, though the decorations to either side had changed slightly, and the bamboo slips once resting before him were gone.
"We meet again."
Looking down as the three bowed, Zhengao said indifferently, "Shaohui spoke to me of your predicament earlier."
Chi Buzi's effort to save himself was no surprise. From beginning to end, Lu Jiangxian's attitude toward him had been to delay as long as possible. From Chi Buzi's sudden arrival over Lake Wangyue, to his pledge of allegiance on Zongquan Island, and even to the final intercalary of Pinshui, it had all been driven by Chi Buzi's step-by-step, ardent pursuit of the Dao.
Yet none of this could circumvent the problem of Lushui.
'Erasing my own traces before Lushui is as easy as turning my palm, but keeping Chi Buzi alive is far more difficult!'
In earlier years, when Chi Buzi had rashly arrived over the lake, Lu Jiangxian's strength was still far from restored. Examining Chi Buzi's soul, he had detected the methods left by Luyutian within it. To avoid waking Lushui from seclusion, Lu Jiangxian could not search his soul to alter his memories, so he had resorted to this inferior ploy—using Dangjiang, the soul of Mohe Jinlian, as a contingency constraint.
Every cause bears its fruit. As Lu Jiangxian grew ever stronger and obtained that immortal art, achieving a qualitative leap, Chi Buzi posed less and less of a threat. Dangjiang ultimately entered the Immortal Mansion, and Buzi also attached himself to its threshold. Yet toward this devil, Lu Jiangxian had always maintained an attitude of pure utility.
Having received several tributes of Violet Palace offerings now, Lu Jiangxian truly had no wish to lose such a potent asset. Only for this reason had he given Shaohui a response in Zhengao's name, and Chi Buzi had presented his answer.
'The most critical part of Chi Buzi's predicament—modifying his memories—is no longer impossible. So long as he opens his mind, I can bypass Lushui's methods. But whether Lushui believes it or not, whether it succeeds or not... living under that man's watchful eye from then on, would Chi Buzi still have the ability to gather demon beasts for me all over the place without rhyme or reason? If not, then this affair not only carries tremendous risk, but brings practically no reward to me.'
'What is more, Chi Buzi is deliberately holding back parts of the truth to make the matter seem less daunting. How could Lushui fail to discern which cultivation method forged his divine ability? That Chougui Cang was produced when talisman qi triggered the immortal foundation; that is to say, only the Violet Palace volume corresponding to his Method of Chougui Seeking Water would match. Pulling out just any text would be completely incongruous.'
The only piece of good news was that Lushui had never bestowed an inheritance. Qingchi's copy of Method of Chougui Seeking Water had been obtained by the Chi family from Chunyi Dao. If this book had been bestowed by Lushui and its Violet Palace volume remained in Lushui's hands, Chi Buzi would have had no way out.
Deliberating within, Lu Jiangxian was already sighing inwardly:
'How difficult it is to deceive a Golden Core! It is easy to speak of, but if Chi Buzi can obtain the Violet Palace volume of Method of Chougui Seeking Water, lending him a hand is not entirely out of the question—at the very least, I must ensure no trace leads back to me.'
In contrast, Lu Jiangxian was far more interested in the Hunyi Immortal Cliff!
After all, what had propelled his strength to leap forward was the Three Drums Cliff within the Qingsong Grotto-Heaven. In the end, that Three Drums Cliff was also an immortal cliff, which meant that the immortal arts he had been keeping an eye out for finally had a lead!
'No wonder... No wonder I followed the Li family as they roamed all over the East Sea and never found a single trace of this thing. It was hidden beneath the seabed all along... shielded by several restrictions and even reinforced by an immortal formation. I wonder if I can penetrate it.'
He fell silent for a moment. After listening to Shaohui deliver the report, he paused, allowing a hint of interest to show on his face as he replied, "A treasure land that conceals itself from True Monarchs? Perhaps it is a trace left behind by our Heaven. Go there and test whether you can establish a connection with Heaven."
Chi Buzi immediately nodded with utmost respect. When it came to attainment in the Dao, this immortal general in Heaven was the only one who truly commanded his submission. That discourse on the Dao had been so profound that calling him an immortal, let alone a True Monarch, would not be an exaggeration!
After saying this, Zhengao casually remarked:
"Regarding your breakthrough to the divine ability, you must seek the mortal world's Violet Palace cultivation method for Method of Chougui Seeking Water. Who knows which modern cultivator in the lower realm authored it? How could Heaven possess records of such a thing?"
At these words, Chi Buzi felt an immense weight lift from his chest, filled with both shock and delight:
'That wondrous entity... indeed relies on the resonance of the immortal foundation to gestate the divine ability!'
He naturally understood that divine abilities achieved through different cultivation methods differed slightly. Yet he had broken through to this divine ability without any cultivation method at all, so he had worried that no matching method could ever be found. His heart had been pounding with anxiety, not even daring to ask out loud. Hearing this now, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
'It truly is so! It truly is so! As long as the source of the Violet Palace cultivation method can be found, all is well... From top to bottom, Chunyi Dao is full of fools; there are far too many loopholes to exploit!'
His eyes instantly sparkled with renewed vigor, and he bowed deeply:
"Many thanks for Your Lordship's guidance!"
Zhengao gave a slight nod to indicate his acknowledgment and said softly:
"Since you have made this decision, you will face that True Monarch sooner or later. Best make your preparations early. Once you have obtained the cultivation method, come report to Shaohui again."
At these words, Chi Buzi was relieved, but Dangjiang grew tense and asked in a low voice:
"May I ask, Your Lordship... what would be the cost in immortal merits...?"
Lu Jiangxian was eager for Chi Buzi to quickly secure his escape route so he could resume capturing demons for him, so he immediately replied in an amiable voice:
"No need to be nervous. Charge this to Immortal Officer Liu's account... Only, Chi Buzi, you must seize the time to exchange for the cultivation method of 'Zhaohan Yu' and at least cultivate its immortal foundation. That way, once your memories are gone later on, it will appear as though you were forced by circumstance to cultivate it to a divine ability. On the other hand, a severed path of cultivation is the finest protective talisman of all—sweeter to his ears than ten thousand words—and will soothe that True Monarch's suspicions."
In truth, Lu Jiangxian only brought this up because he had already forged more than half of that cultivation method and could soon hand it over to fulfill his part.
'Zhaohan Yu' was hardly rare; the vault held at least eight or ten variants of it. Composing the Foundation Establishment portion took barely the blink of an eye. The subsequent Violet Palace portion required neither high grade nor secret techniques, and writing it flowed with absolute ease, making it effortless to complete.
Chi Buzi naturally understood what he meant. More than anyone else, he wished to cultivate this mantra as early as possible. Full of urgency, he nodded repeatedly and bowed, saying:
"Thank you for Your Lordship's guidance. This lower cultivator shall go at once."
He bowed respectfully and declared:
"So long as I can preserve my life from Lushui's grasp, Buzi shall never disappoint Your Lordship!"
...
Taiyin Mansion of Huasu Yuanming Shengqing.
The bright moon was crystal-clear. Lu Jiangxian stood beside the translucent white jade throne, his gaze piercing through multiple mansions in the distance to settle on the two figures within the small pavilion.
Several ribbons of colored light surged out of thin air, converging before him and swirling in his palm, quickly coalescing into a tiny mote of radiance.
"Chi Buzi truly acts briskly. To think he has already offered up Lianmin Yuguang..."
This peacock was far more capable than that female peacock from before. The fellow who had been refined into talisman qi had nothing but Buddhist methods in her head from beginning to end, whereas this one at least possessed some grounding in the immortal Dao, along with a smattering of arts. What was truly precious was that he also carried a cultivation method of Combined Fire:
A fifth-grade Violet Palace cultivation method, the Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation, which tempered the immortal foundation 'Wu Congyu.'
Aside from this Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation, Yuguang also carried one or two secret arts related to the Great Peacock Karma. Furthermore, Lu Jiangxian learned that among this peacock demon's ancestors had been a great Buddhist cultivator who once served as the mount to the World-Honored One Suxikong!
'No wonder they say peacocks carry great weight in the Buddhist lands. With such a background, how could their voice not be loud?'
With a flick of his finger, he shelved the Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation, and the peacock's soul was separated out.
While these Lianmin were easy enough to capture, their cultivation attainment was truly pitiful, and their understanding and aptitude toward the immortal Dao were downright dismal. Yuguang was somewhat better than that female peacock, but only marginally so. If Lu Jiangxian were to release him, it would merely add one more idle talker.
He had no choice but to turn his hand and store it away for future use, contemplating heavily as he gazed at the soul:
'At any rate, it is a soul at the Violet Palace level, extraordinarily useful when casting shamanic arts. With this soul in hand, I have at least another trump card.'
'As for Lushui... he may indeed be returning soon.'
To him, Chi Buzi was merely a useful chess piece. Once Lushui returned, this piece would either die or be crippled. In either case, he would no longer be able to offer up demon beasts, and he would temporarily lose his memories. Yet being crippled was still far better than dying. When the critical moment arrived, if Chi Buzi attained the Dao of Pinshui, it would undoubtedly bring a colossal turning point.
'Sooner or later, I will clash with Lushui. Having one more piece is always better than having one less.'
Calming his mind, he looked outward through the mirror.
Deep in the Great Void, in a place unseen by the multitude, a surging, boundless radiance was slowly descending. A powerful resonance arose from afar, and the world within the mirror likewise shimmered with brilliant light, causing Lu Jiangxian to slowly raise his brows.
Even with Lu Jiangxian's mastery over golden natures, that wisp of Mingyang golden nature locked within the mirror still began to waver. Before the entire immortal palace, the tallest and most extravagant heavenly gate radiated dazzling light, trembling faintly.
Mingyang spiritual qi and Mingyang brilliance of varied hues converged across the sky, dyeing the entire firmament a magnificent gold.
Lu Jiangxian raised his hand. That wisp of Mingyang golden nature emerged from his fingertips like a conical bundle of golden light rays, rapidly expanding and transforming, coalescing into face after face.
All the brilliance suddenly contracted, finally transfiguring at his fingertips back into a single scene:
It was a pitch-black, eerie mine. The first ray of sunlight in the sky was spilling through the cloud cover, falling upon miners smeared with sweat and blood, each bearing a different expression. Among them, a slightly pale, resolute-looking youth slowly raised his head.
'The Mingyang Fruit Position... has chosen someone.'
Chapter 843