Turmoil

As Li Jiangqian finished speaking, the woman beside him nodded and said softly, "Consider it as you see fit. I have just returned from the old patriarch's residence; the elder asked after it as well, and his thoughts were much the same… that now is not a good time." Since Li Minggong had put it that way, Li Jiangqian naturally nodded, making a mental note of the matter. He laid two letters upon the desk and murmured, "There is one more matter—Daoist Shouding's situation has been settled." Back then, when Shouding left the Li family, he had intended to head for the Chen family, but Li Jiangqian had firmly held him back and sent letters to both the Chen family and Mount Jingyi. Now, replies to both had arrived. "One is from the Yuyang Chen clan. It is mostly filled with words thanking our family for the warning. Their courier made contact with Shouding and explained that turmoil has also broken out within the Chen clan. If he comes, he should first head to a stronghold in the Southern Border." Li Jiangqian shook his head somewhat helplessly and continued, "Though Shouding was full of doubts, he could tell it was a polite refusal, so he chose not to go. On the other end was a letter from Mount Jingyi directing him to travel through the Southern Border. Left with no choice, he despondently headed south." Li Minggong let out a faint breath, only to hear Li Jiangqian add with a hint of surprise, "This Mount Jingyi is rather peculiar as well. Their letter was courteous toward our family, yet they gave Shouding a furious scolding from head to toe. It seems that sect of theirs is quite driven by temper." Joking as he spoke, he saw Li Minggong out, his mind still dwelling on their earlier conversation. The Fei clan held a measure of autonomy on the north bank, and the Li family had left them untouched for all these years. In truth, many voices had risen within the clan. Regardless of the discussions in the hall, the two major allied surname families, Chen and An, maintained a firm stance, wholeheartedly supporting curtailing the Fei clan's autonomy or even outright absorbing them. *Chen Yang is very clever. On such a sensitive matter, the Chen clan cannot afford to make any other choice…* *As for the An clan…* The An clan's elder, An Zheyan, was still alive. Having bowed before Li Tongya in the past, his status was comparable to Chen Donghe of the Chen clan. Yet the true leader was his son, An Siwei. This Guest Official An was once one of the Li family's few Foundation Establishment protectors and had been heavily relied upon for a time. But once the Li clan produced a Violet Palace sovereign, his shallow immortal foundation became inadequate for critical tasks… Later, he had been captured by the enemy. After his return, the juniors had taken over his roles, and he had kept a low profile ever since. Yet on this matter, he had spoken up several times, pressing so hard that the Fei clan could scarcely save face. As for the various branches of the family, most remained silent. Counting from the Zhou and Xing generations, there were four people in total. Li Zhoufang and Li Zhouyang were busy securing benefits for their descendants and had no heart for such matters, virtually agreeing with whatever the clan leadership decreed. Li Xinghan and Li Zhouming cared even less about clan administration, so their voices were fainter still. The sole surviving seed of the Cheng generation, Li Cheng, was stern and eccentric, difficult to read. While Li Minggong and Li Xuanxuan had never given an explicit decree, their current attitude was likewise that it was unwise to move against the Fei clan. *Fei Qingya… As long as Fei Qingya's future remains unsettled, all arrangements regarding the Fei family are mere empty talk… But having cultivated the River Clear Qi, it won't be easy to explain to Fei Qingyi. She was brushed off with an excuse… Strange. How have the Violet Palace sovereigns made no arrangements for her?* As he pondered deeply, a soft sound came from the doorway, followed by hurried footsteps. Two figures rushed before the hall. One was burly and honest-looking, bowing deeply to the floor the moment he entered. The other did not even bother to bow, striding straight inside; though his aura was imposing, his expression was grim and his face ashen. "Greetings, Patriarch!" Li Jiangqian's heart stirred. Of the two before him, one was Li Wen, an elder who had served through several generations and oversaw Mount Yuting; the other was Li Cheng, who possessed Qi Refinement cultivation, oversaw Qingdu, and was the sole surviving seed of the Cheng generation. Li Jiangqian immediately stepped down from the dais and asked, "What has happened?" Li Cheng's face was livid, his lips pale. He said in a low voice, "Reporting to the Patriarch, Old Second's life jade has shattered." "Second Uncle?!" Li Cheng's own children had almost all perished in service to the clan, and his daughter Li Xingsai had died at the hands of demonic cultivators. He had raised his two nephews as his own sons—namely the brothers of the Zhou generation, Li Zhoufang and Li Zhouyang. These two brothers were influential figures in the clan who cared the most for their juniors, enjoying considerable prestige. Because they constantly sought patronage and protection for their relatives' descendants, they were quite an eyesore in the eyes of the clan's managers. Li Jiangqian had thus transferred them to watch over the east bank, rotating Li Cheng back to manage Qingdu—yet he never expected such a calamity to occur! "How could this happen!" Though this elder's talent was not top-tier, he was still a stalwart of the main lineage, an eminent member of the primary Zhou generation. Stunned at first, Li Jiangqian's eyes flared with anger, and he immediately asked, "Then… how is Eldest Uncle? Both elders were stationed on the east bank together… Has any word been sent back?!" Li Cheng shook his head darkly, pain etched into his rigid face. Gritting his teeth, he said, "No word has come, but fortunately his life jade remains intact and unharmed." Li Jiangqian let out a quiet sigh of relief. Though Eldest Uncle Li Zhoufang and Second Uncle Li Zhouyang had always advanced and retreated together, possessing similar status and cultivation, their standing in Li Jiangqian's heart was starkly different. For one simple reason: Eldest Uncle Li Zhoufang was the father of Li Queyi, who cultivated at Mount Ziyan, and Li Jiangzong, a rising star within the clan. Li Zhouyang was merely their uncle… Cruel as it was, a flicker of fortune truly crossed Li Jiangqian's mind. What remained was bewilderment and fury. As he looked at Li Wen kneeling before the hall, another set of footsteps sounded. Chen Yang, clad in black armor, approached from the side, sank to one knee, and presented a letter with both hands. Entering alongside him were Li Minggong and Li Xuanxuan. Li Minggong's expression was merely grim, while Li Xuanxuan was torn between grief and rage. Neither disturbed him, standing silently off to the side. Li Jiangqian bowed slightly in greeting, took the letter with a darkened face, and read it through before handing it to Li Xuanxuan. As the old man took it to read, Li Jiangqian's voice turned chillingly grim: "Today, our family was exchanging blows with Duxian Dao on the upper reaches of the wilderness… A group of Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators slipped secretly into the wilderness and raided the east bank, breaking two grand formations and slaughtering many of our people. Though Protector Cui rushed there in time… it was already too late." Having read this far, Li Jiangqian already understood. The Li family and Duxian Dao were clashing over the river, where distance and timing could be closely monitored, and any sneak attack should have been easily intercepted. Thus, someone had carefully calculated against them. "Recently, Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle were on the east bank, meant to be stationed alongside Protector An. However, Eldest Uncle had divided their responsibilities differently. Today was originally his shift, but he had repeatedly insisted that Second Uncle take his place. It was this very swap that spared his life." Li Cheng read the letter in blazing fury, passed it to Li Wen beside him, prostrated himself on the floor, and said fiercely, "Our family's informants are stationed throughout the wilderness. For this group of Foundation Establishment cultivators to slip in and out like phantoms and infiltrate the east bank, they must have had the aid of concealing magical artifacts! This is no ordinary raid! Someone did this deliberately to harm us… I beg the Patriarch to investigate thoroughly!" Li Jiangqian naturally knew this. Those who struck at his family could never be mere rogue demonic cultivators. His expression grew darker as other suspicions surfaced. Li Wen then bowed and said, "Our family holds the western portion of the wilderness. To be struck at our very core means this group came from downstream in the east. Downstream on both banks lie Duxian, Muquan, and Xuanmiao…" Li Jiangqian shook his head and replied, "With a high-grade concealing artifact, crossing the territories of those factions is hardly difficult. We shall wait for Protector Cui and question him." At these words, Li Cheng had no choice but to rein in his temper. The east bank was very close to this place; not long after the life jade in Qingdu shattered, a commotion arose outside. Cui Jueyin descended onto the islet and entered with an uneasy look. Accompanying him was Li Zhoufang. This Eldest Uncle, who had always schemed for his children, had lost every trace of his usual simple honesty. His face was mottled green and white. With a thud, he dropped to his knees, trembling as he cried, "Patriarch… Patriarch, you must avenge him!" "My brother… he worked diligently his entire life, only to be murdered by the enemy… Not even his bones remain! He didn't even leave behind many descendants!" He wept bitterly, casting a pall over the hall. Li Jiangqian found the scene thorny to handle. Now was not the time to fuss over decorum. After consoling Li Cheng and Li Zhoufang, he beckoned Cui Jueyin forward and demanded in anger, "Protector Cui, you saw the demonic cultivators. How were they dressed? Did they reveal any trace of their origin?" Cui Jueyin hesitated, glancing at Li Jiangqian and then at Li Cheng. This middle-aged man had just lost a nephew he had raised from childhood; the weight of his grief was beyond what others could imagine. Seeing Cui Jueyin hesitate, Li Cheng could barely contain himself. Catching sight of Li Cheng's volatile state, Cui Jueyin finally spoke with an uneasy expression: "Their exact numbers are unknown… but all were at the Foundation Establishment realm, armed with magical artifacts that seemed tailored to dismantling formations. Those two grand formations were mediocre to begin with, folding like paper… breaking the instant they were struck." "Two of them exchanged blows with me. Guest Official An saw it, as did Daoist Miaoshui, along with many cultivators present… One employed Heshui, their immortal foundation unknown. The other was unmistakable… using Nanchou Water… They even produced several extraordinary talismans to make their escape… They are definitely from no ordinary clan." "Afterward, I pursued them all the way into Muquan territory, only to find that Muquan Gate was also locked in fierce battle with a band of demonic cultivators. The fighting was intense, and I had no choice but to fall back." At these words, Li Jiangqian frowned instantly, understanding why Cui Jueyin had hesitated to speak. Nanchou Water! There was only one Violet Palace faction under heaven renowned for cultivating Nanchou Water: Duxian Dao, right across the river, locked in a standoff against the Li clan! *How could that be?!* Li Jiangqian was stunned. Li Cheng, however, came to a sudden realization. He fell to his knees with a thud and cried in grief, "It truly is Duxian! They held our main force on the river while secretly dispatching cultivators to slip onto the east bank and ambush us! Truly… Duxian Dao has plotted against our family for far too long!" Li Jiangqian helped him up and urged gently, "There are many users of Nanchou Water in the south; the Linggu family cultivates it as well. It is merely an immortal foundation, insufficient to draw a conclusion. Granduncle, please take care of your health…" Li Cheng refused to rise, and Li Zhoufang, tears streaming down his face, gritted his teeth and said, "There may be many who practice Nanchou Water, but among our warring enemies, there is only this one!" Li Cheng turned toward Cui Jueyin and wept, "May I ask Protector Cui—since you exchanged blows with the enemy, how profound was their immortal foundation? How refined were their spells? There must be a distinction! If they were from some ragtag lineage, they could never have been a match for you!" "To escape from your hands without leaving a single trace—who else could it be but that practitioner of Nanchou Water across the river?!" Li Cheng's hatred ran deep. The death of his daughter, Li Xingsai, had also been tied to Duxian back then. Now with Li Zhouyang added to the toll, how could he not gnash his teeth in fury? Though usually stern and eccentric, his mind worked no slower than anyone else's. He seized upon the crux of the matter at once, raising every question that Li Jiangqian and Li Xuanxuan wished to ask. Cui Jueyin sighed and answered, "That person's cultivation technique was exceptionally profound, certainly belonging to an established, prominent lineage, and their spells were not inferior to my Cui clan's. Regrettably, their cultivation was lacking, and it was only through those high-grade talismans that they managed to escape." Framed this way, that person practically had "Duxian Dao" branded across their forehead! Li Jiangqian sighed inwardly. Not everyone knew what was happening in Jiangbei. From Li Cheng's perspective, this could only be the handiwork of Duxian Dao. But Cui Jueyin and the others knew the two families shared a tacit understanding. To believe that Guan Gongxiao would go mad at a time like this and plot against their family was something Li Jiangqian simply could not accept. *Guan Gongxiao knows when to yield and when to strike, but he is certainly not the type to act without considering the consequences, nor would he commit such an act for petty, immediate gain…* He glanced at Cui Jueyin. The protector clearly looked at a loss, unsure how to articulate the matter. As Li Jiangqian pondered, he heard Li Xuanxuan let out a long breath. The elder tapped his cane against the floor, straightened his back, and said in a rasping voice, "Ninth, our family's standoff with Duxian Dao in the north is merely a standoff. Both sides are wary of collateral damage and dare not truly come to blows. Yet now, such an incident suddenly occurs, flaunting Nanchou Water without the slightest concealment. How do we know another faction isn't watching with covetous eyes, quietly stirring the flames in hopes that we and the other side fight to the death so they can reap the fisherman's spoils? If that happens, it would only grieve our kin and gladden our foes!" "A profound technique of Nanchou Water is indeed the hallmark of Duxian and the Linggu family, but that does not mean others cannot obtain it. If the other shore possessed such capability, why didn't they launch a rear attack during the great battle on the river? Why go to such roundabout lengths just to kill a petty Qi Refinement cultivator? Merely to disgust our family?" These words proved quite effective. Li Cheng's expression shifted, a flicker of doubt surfacing, though the fury in his eyes remained undiminished. Prostrating himself, he said respectfully, "The old patriarch speaks the truth; I was reckless… Yet with so many eyes watching the east bank, for such an event to occur in broad daylight, if we make no response… the consequences will be dire." Li Cheng was right. The Li clan's Violet Palace presence was not openly displayed to the public; having suffered such a sudden loss with an influential elder of the main line killed, if the entire clan remained silent, their prestige would suffer severely. Yet Li Jiangqian merely looked at Li Zhoufang with a furrowed brow and asked softly, "Eldest Uncle, what delayed you by half an hour today?" Li Zhoufang wiped his tears, abandoning all pretenses as he replied, "It is a shameful affair, but at this point, I have no choice but to speak. I brought a concubine to the east bank, only to discover traces of an illicit affair. Flying into a rage, I spent half an hour ferreting out the adulterer… and because of that… because of that…" "I understand." Only then did Li Jiangqian withdraw his gaze and change the subject: "Did the elder leave behind any relics? How should the ancestral incense offerings be arranged? Let Qingdu handle these matters first. I shall send people to inquire… Perhaps we will have an answer. Granduncle, rest assured, this matter will not be dropped… But before we vent our wrath, we must find the true culprit." "As for the east bank, I will dispatch Chen Yang to search for traces." Li Zhoufang immediately kowtowed in gratitude, weeping incessantly. Li Cheng, however, was not so easily appeased. Having received no definite timeline, he remained silent. When he raised his head, Li Minggong shot him a look, leaving him no choice but to kowtow twice more before leading Li Zhoufang away. Li Jiangqian had the hall doors closed, his face darkening completely as he muttered in a low voice, "Which faction has grown so bold… to dare stir up such trouble in the wilderness at a time like this! They truly hate our family to the bone…" Li Minggong's expression turned equally cold. "I find the east bank suspicious as well. For Zhouyang to run directly into them suggests his movements were also exposed." "That is unavoidable!" Li Xuanxuan shook his head and said, "Our Foundation Establishment cultivators were right by the river; there was naturally no need to conceal their movements. Who could have imagined a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators masking their presence to suddenly emerge from the mountains?" "The current plan must be to search the east bank thoroughly and communicate with Duxian Dao." Li Jiangqian pondered for several breaths before asking again, "Why would they do this? I believe the old patriarch's earlier words were closer to the mark: someone hopes our family and Duxian Dao will fight more fiercely, or rather, they do not wish to see us reach a covert reconciliation…" Li Minggong sighed, "Following that line of thought, Muquan, Xuanmiao, or even Chengyun are all possibilities." Li Jiangqian fell silent, unease gnawing at his heart. *Where are Real Persons Tinglan and Qiuhu? Leaving Fei Qingya's refined qi unaddressed was one thing, but for a group of people to run amok in the wilderness without eliciting any reaction from them…* From what he knew, Ning Wan was at the Salt Lake and could not pull away, which was understandable. But now Tinglan had also vanished. Events in Jiangbei had likely taken a turn, drawing that Violet Palace master further north. Li Jiangqian let out a heavy sigh and continued, "Furthermore, I fear divine abilities are at play here. Eldest Uncle escaped with his life by a bizarre twist of fate—could it be that the mastermind behind this did not wish to implicate Mount Ziyan? If that is the case, things will become exceedingly troublesome!" "Unlikely." Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. "You two do not know the details, but I do. This affair did not develop overnight. He deliberately wanted to catch them in the act, which was why he secretly had Old Second take his place while he watched from the shadows. A Violet Palace cultivator would have no need to lay such a prolonged scheme… much less influence events starting all the way back from the lake. There is no logic in that. In my eyes, it was truly… pure luck!" Hearing this, Li Jiangqian's expression eased considerably. He nodded and said, "Then I am confident. Weighing everything together, I doubt it was Chengyun or Xuanmiao. Neither has the inclination right now… Truth be told, those two factions may well see that our family and Duxian Dao are putting on a show. Taking such an action would be nothing more than courting trouble… bringing dirt upon themselves for no reason." "As for Muquan Gate, Real Person Zhugong is close friends with Real Person Tinglan. Though she governs with leniency, she would never be so lax as to allow this. What demonic cultivator beneath her would possess such loyalty as to stoke this fire?" He turned and drew out a sheet of letter paper, his expression solemn. "In this matter, I believe we ought to send inquiries toward the East Sea." Before Li Jiangqian could elaborate, another flurry of noisy footsteps approached. He had no choice but to open the doors and admit the visitor. The old man Qu Bushi hurried forward, his face a mixture of shock and astonishment, and reported, "Reporting to the Patriarch, reporting to the elders… The Huaihun Palace has crossed the Fanyun border and clashed with… Tangjin Gate!" Upon receiving this news, Li Jiangqian was surprisingly not caught off guard. Stepping down from the dais, he asked, "Tangjin Gate?" "Precisely!" Li Jiangqian raised his brow. "When did this news arrive?" "Supposedly last night." Li Minggong had a terrible impression of Tangjin Gate. Receiving this news should have pleased her, but having just lost a direct kinsman, she showed little enthusiasm, merely shaking her head: "Serves them right… Tangjin was exceedingly arrogant in Jiangbei back then, and now their day has come. How many people does their sect even have left? Most likely, they cannot stand against a ragtag band like the Huaihun Palace." "What pretext did they use?" At Li Minggong's question, Qu Bushi hurriedly replied, "Unifying the lands of Baijiang Stream… It is said that not long after the Huaihun Palace was established, the Jinyu Sect sent envoys, acknowledging their rule in Jiangbei and mentioning that the lands of the Three Rivers belong to the Huaihun Palace." "Tangjin Gate also possesses territory along Baijiang Stream, and Daoist Bai used this as an excuse to launch his offensive. Originally, those parcels of land were nothing significant; after all, Tangjin Gate has sealed its mountain, possessing only a few hills, so yielding them would have been no great loss…" "Yet beyond demanding those lands, the Huaihun Palace also wants the nearby spirit mines… The Situ family currently has no other livelihood and relies entirely on those mines to survive, so they naturally refused to agree." Li Jiangqian breathed a sigh of relief, shaking his head inwardly. *I thought time was running short, but I underestimated Daoist Bai's greed. Now that destiny is upon him, no Violet Palace cultivator will use divine abilities to guide him; this is purely born of his own rapacious desires…* "What did the Jinyu Sect say?" Qu Bushi replied hastily, "Ever since Real Person Tianhuo appeared in person, seized Tangjin Gate's treasure, and treated their members with utter disdain… the rumors in Jiangbei have died down. The cultivators of Tangjin Gate were so humiliated and incensed that they dare not claim Jinyu's goodwill. Daoist Bai… must have seen this and boldly advanced westward." Only then did Li Jiangqian nod. So much had transpired in a single day that he rubbed his temples before suddenly asking, "Doesn't Tangjin Gate still have a Situ Ku… held in our dungeons?" Situ Ku had been imprisoned by the Li family for many years, primarily through sealed cultivation and house arrest. Furthermore, because the Ding clan had previously resided in the Funan region and Ding Weizeng shared ties with Situ Ku, the old man had lived relatively comfortably through that connection. *Tangjin Gate has already been abandoned by the Jinyu Sect. After doing their dirty work for so many years, everyone north and south of the river knows Tangjin's name is foul and stained. Locking horns with the Huaihun Palace will bring them no good end.* *Such a struggle will buy time for the True Monarch to grow. Once those ore deposits are lost and the Situ family retreats into their mountain, the Huaihun Palace at its zenith will make a splendid stage for the drama to unfold.* As for the Situ family borrowing the True Monarch's momentum, that was virtually impossible. North or south of the river, the lineages the Situ family had offended could not be counted on one hand, and the Violet Palace figures they had crossed were innumerable. Their reputation was thoroughly ruined, and everyone watched in silence. Li Jiangqian's sudden recollection of Situ Ku harbored no benevolent intent either. The old man was weak and greedy, exceptionally easy to manipulate, yet within today's depleted Tangjin Gate, his cultivation was sufficiently high… *Mount Tangdao possesses a grand formation, making it unlikely that the Huaihun Palace can break inside. In the end, it will most likely conclude with a sealed mountain. Once this affair settles, Situ Ku will become an important player—an excellent chess piece after all.*