The furious roar crashed like thunder, leaving the ears ringing. The demonic cultivators surging in from both flanks to reinforce their leader were startled by the blast. Right on its heels came a long staff brimming with crimson radiance, sweeping forward and back with dazzling, phantasmal colors.
*Boom!*
The two demonic cultivators trailing nearby were mere scoundrels from the East Sea; how could they possibly endure such power? The one on the left was marginally wealthier, managing just in time to summon a shield-shaped magical artifact. Yet when the staff struck, Yin Qi evaporated in an instant, filthy blood aura scattered, and the artifact emitted an ear-piercing whine. The cultivator spewed a mouthful of blood and plummeted like a falling star.
The cultivator on the other side possessed an even weaker cultivation and lacked even a single magical artifact, yet had still rushed forward to curry favor. When the staff struck his chest, it blew a hole the size of a bowl right through him.
He had only joined in to add to the numbers, never expecting the foe to be this ferocious. Furthermore, the crimson light of the Dianyang Tiger bore down upon him, racking all his internal organs with searing agony. He cared for nothing else, turning on his heel and fleeing into the distance.
Though demonic cultivators' bodies were not as fragile and most parts could be discarded, sustaining injuries from a mere two strikes of a staff left Daoist Bai gasping in cold terror.
*This man is actually this ferocious! Such dominance! I heard he is proficient with weapons long and short, yet this is only a long staff. Even the legendary Situ Mo or Li Zhouwei could hardly surpass this!*
Daoist Bai's heart hammered in fright. The command plaque in his hand leaped, instantly enveloping him in black-and-white light. He rapidly chanted incantations, seeking only to break away as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, Ding Weizeng did not press his attack. Gripping the long staff, he watched the two demonic cultivators flee in panic without giving chase, instead planting himself before the Locust Soul Hall Master.
*A piece of trash like this… was actually chosen by a Purple Palace lineage!*
Ding Weizeng was a seasoned fighter. Over the years, he had traded blows in the east and quelled demons in the west, forging an imposing reputation. With only a sweeping glance from his pupil arts, he weighed the man's caliber and felt nothing but disdain.
He had only heard that Daoist Bai was the inheritor of the Mifan lineage and carried a favor from a Purple Palace expert, making him somewhat esteemed. Otherwise, Ding Weizeng could have bashed someone like this to death with his own staff. For such trash to dare bully their way to their door was practically an insult to him, chilling his gaze.
Beside him, Cui Jueyin was far more cautious. He was not watching the man before him; he only feared that Ding Weizeng might act rashly and cripple the man with a strike, causing trouble that would ruin matters in the north. Nine-tenths of his attention remained fixed on Ding Weizeng, his hands holding an unbroken seal.
Daoist Bai's blazing anger and lingering hopes sputtered out in an instant as he finally grasped the reality of his predicament.
*What in the world is Guan Gongxiao's bunch doing?! Such a golden opportunity to make the Li family lose face, yet instead of pinning them down on the river, they let them cross over! Incompetent fools!*
Whether it was the Dianyang Tiger or the Changming Steps, either one could easily counter his Huaiyin Ghost. Furthermore, the Changming Steps possessed binding and entangling properties, threatening his very life!
*Put some distance between us first!*
As the spell in his hand flashed, Daoist Bai vanished from his spot and reappeared a short distance away. Just as he was about to speak, he realized the entire situation was spiraling out of control, having already erupted into a chaotic melee.
Though the puppet refined from Situ Biao had possessed decent cultivation in life, it was far inferior once forged into a magical artifact. Gengjin was naturally resilient against True Fire, but the Yin Qi clinging to it became a glaring weakness. Bound by the True Fire, it could not advance an inch, allowing Li Minggong to free her hands and intercept demonic cultivators on the other side.
Chen Yang also drew his sword and surged forward. Practicing the Jing Dragon King art, renowned throughout Jiangnan, he had no trouble holding off several enemies. Qu Bushi and An Siwei were somewhat weaker, only managing to fight evenly against demonic cultivators of comparable cultivation.
Li Jiangqian, wrapped in apricot-yellow fire and holding his golden hammer, chased down demonic cultivators to strike. Regardless of whether they could fight him, the people below were no fools; none dared pursue the Li clan patriarch, all choosing to veer out of his way.
Yet Li Jiangqian did not plunge recklessly into their midst. Though he appeared unrestrained, he stayed close to Cui Jueyin and Ding Weizeng, his eyes vigilantly scanning the cultivators before him, seemingly searching for something.
Soon, he caught sight of a young man among the demonic crowd.
Clad in black, the youth had only just reached Foundation Establishment, yet his Dharmic light did not appear overly murky. He stood quietly among the cultivators without making a move.
These demonic cultivators had all broken through in the East Sea. Ten out of ten were aging men who had relied on surging blood Qi to barely scrape into Foundation Establishment, practicing all manner of crooked arts that left them grotesque in appearance. In this motley crew of crooked melons and twisted dates, the sudden emergence of a handsome, youthful figure made him hard to overlook.
Li Jiangqian made no attempt to engage him. Observing the youth standing with a sword at his waist, he swiftly pulled back, committing the sight to memory and growing wary in his heart.
*Locust Soul Hall is not simple beneath the surface. It isn't wise to get too entangled with them!*
While Li Jiangqian made his discreet observations, Daoist Bai finally managed to break away using his spells. Glancing at the battle, his face turned livid.
Although Locust Soul Hall had far more cultivators, their quality was abysmal. Devoid of loyalty, they huddled together to shirk work, leaving hardly anyone free to descend and conduct the search, which chilled Daoist Bai's heart even further.
*Not to mention Ding Weizeng and Cui Jueyin—if those two tear in, it will be like tigers among sheep…*
Yet, remembering the Guiming Dark Plaque at his waist, Daoist Bai knew that unless a Purple Palace master appeared in person, his life was not in danger. His terror eased slightly. Stung by Ding Weizeng's earlier insult and scorched by the Dharmic light of dispelling yin and crossing karmic tribulations radiating from the man, he turned toward Cui Jueyin and forced a laugh.
"We only wished to spar, and we have already exchanged a blow or two. Fairy Minggong of your noble clan truly hides her strength well, having refined her spells to such a stage!"
Ding Weizeng remained expressionless, his large hands gripping his staff as if ready to smash it down upon the man's head at any moment. Seeing Li Jiangqian's signal, Cui Jueyin cupped his hands and replied:
"The Wilderness is land sheltered by my clan for generations and is not suitable for a search. Your hall had best seek another method. If our two sides come to blows, it would only benefit those with ulterior motives."
"Quite so!"
Given a way out, and chastened by Ding Weizeng's two staff strikes, Daoist Bai nodded repeatedly. Casting an unwilling glance at the ground, he turned back without another word.
The demonic cultivators below were opportunists to the core. Though they had blustered earlier, none had dared fly down; now that it was time to run, each fled faster than the last, retreating in his wake.
After only traveling a short distance, Daoist Bai ran into the people from Muquan Gate. Too embarrassed to hold his head high, he hurried past, only to spot a streak of escaping light flying rapidly from the opposite bank of the river—a sect disciple in black.
Covered in blood and looking thoroughly battered, the man arrived before them and wept in despair:
"Hall Master! My lords! The treasury of Baiku Commandery… Baiku Commandery's vault was secretly breached! Someone broke inside and plundered every precious treasure and magical artifact amassed over the years!"
"The thief's movements were uncanny, their strength astounding… With all the lords away, this humble one could not stop them!"
Hearing this, Daoist Bai was struck as if by lightning. In sheer disbelief, he roared:
"What?!"
The Baiku Commandery region possessed numerous spirit mines and sat close to the great families of Midong, making it an exceptionally vital location. Nearly all the spiritual resources and magical artifacts amassed in recent years were stored there. They had even stationed Heishu, one of the Eight Great Protectors, to guard it, showing how critically important it was. Encountering such a disaster filled him with shock and fury. He demanded:
"Where is Heishu! Where has that bastard died off to!"
The black-robed man shook his head, crying piteously:
"Reporting to my lord… Protector Heishu was the first to notice and gave chase alongside Wang Bakong, Governor of Baiku Commandery. Unexpectedly, though that person was only at Qi Refinement, their escaping light was astonishingly fast, and they got away!"
Daoist Bai had just suffered a massive loss of face, and now had lost treasures he considered vital. His mood had already been dreadful, and this sent darkness swimming before his eyes. He cursed:
"Worthless wretches! Two Foundation Establishment cultivators! One early Foundation Establishment and one mid Foundation Establishment, and they let a Qi Refinement ant escape?!"
"Do we know who it was?!"
Seeing his explosive rage, the man trembled in fear and answered:
"It is a rogue cultivator from Baiku Commandery who struck the young master of the Wang family earlier… He was rescued by the rogue cultivator Bai Yinzi from the desert. Who could have thought the two would hit it off and actually turn back… to steal our goods…"
Hearing that it was only two rogue cultivators, Daoist Bai erupted into a violent rage, barking fiercely:
"Investigate! Return with me! Even if we have to turn Baijiang Creek upside down, you will find the trail of these two!"
At his furious shout, the Guiming Dark Plaque at his waist emitted a gentle, illusory radiance that did not dim in the slightest beneath the torrential rain, drawing every eye so intensely that one could hardly look away.
After barking his command, he turned to look and found the surrounding cultivators bowing respectfully, eyes burning with fervor, each appearing far more enthusiastic than before.
Seeing this, Daoist Bai was reminded of his encounter with the Li family moments ago, and a wave of stifled frustration surged within him.
*When attacking the Tangjin Sect, they rushed to plunder the mines more eagerly than anyone, wishing they could strip Situ Biao clean. They couldn't even be reined in, nearly fighting amongst themselves! Yet the moment they reached the Wilderness, they turned into wooden chickens, moving sluggishly, practically wishing they could act like grandsons before the Li family!*
*Now, hearing that a Qi Refinement ant made off with a commandery's worth of treasures and resources, their eyes gleam with greed, clearly eager to pocket it for themselves!*
These demonic cultivators were nothing more than a rabble. Where there was profit, they would charge and fight; without profit, they would lift not a finger, each acting as a petty tyrant in whatever territory they were granted. Even the so-called Eight Great Protectors were not the strongest, merely the closest to him.
Reaching this point, Daoist Bai could no longer afford to be stingy. He said coldly:
"Those of you who fought alongside me just now, return to the hall with me shortly. Your rewards will not be lacking!"
The three were overjoyed. Hearing something of such immense importance, the disloyal crowd of demonic cultivators began clutching their arms or legs, wailing that they too were injured and crying out piteously.
A few others stood nonchalantly in the crowd, saying nothing, yet their eyes quietly traced the Guiming Dark Plaque at Daoist Bai's waist, revealing a mix of greed and dread.
*What on earth did that person take to make him mobilize so aggressively, not hesitating to offend Lake Wangyue… entirely disregarding a Purple Palace power just to search their land…*
***
The Wilderness.
Li Jiangqian watched the retreating cultivators, then looked down. The clans of the Wilderness, large and small, were all looking up. His golden eyes swept across them as he pondered in silence.
*This person crossed the river, was sheltered by my clan, and triggered a clash in the Wilderness… I wonder whose play this is, or whether it involves the lords of the north… Regardless, the Wilderness must be handled properly.*
If it was Lin Feng who had killed Daoist Bai's people and brought the items across the river, it was certainly a good connection to forge. However, Lin Feng lingering in the Wilderness was no good thing; the more people who interacted with him, the greater the trouble brought upon their family. It was not wise to approach him.
Yet if it was not Lin Feng, but some family deliberately sabotaging the layout, or an operative from the opposite bank, then mingling with them heedlessly was even more ill-advised. It would only drag them into trouble.
As he pondered, the cultivators from both sides gathered around. Ding Weizeng stepped forward with a grave face and bowed.
"Greetings, Patriarch. Now that matters here are settled, we must swiftly return to reinforce the river. Although Duxian Dao pulled back because of trouble in the north, we must guard against them taking risks to cross over!"
Ding Weizeng harbored deep hatred for Duxian Dao and was the most vigilant against the north, still focused on affairs at the river. Li Jiangqian went with the flow and nodded.
"Thank you for making this trip, Protector Ding. It will suffice for Protector Cui to remain. As for matters by the river… I will trouble you to keep close watch."
Ding Weizeng departed on the wind first. Cui Jueyin followed closely behind, whispering:
"Patriarch, Locust Soul Hall crossed the river under everyone's eyes. The person who was rescued should still be in the Wilderness. How should we handle him?"
Li Jiangqian exchanged a look with Li Minggong. Naturally, he was unwilling to interfere too deeply, and answered:
"Let us not be hasty. We do not know what kind of figure he is, so we need not involve ourselves too deeply. Let him remain here, and make no effort to seek him out, lest we be drawn in. Leaving him a single favor is enough."
Cui Jueyin assented, and the group rode the wind back. Before reaching the lake, they saw Li Xuanxuan standing in the rain, stroking his beard in deep unease. He had clearly been waiting for some time. Li Jiangqian hurried over to explain matters and put his mind at ease, then had Chen Yang escort him back.
Soon, they arrived at the grand hall, where they found Li Quewan waiting, silently looking at several jade slips in her hands.
Seeing Li Jiangqian, worry surfaced on her face as she asked:
"How did it go?"
At Li Quewan's question, Li Jiangqian shook his head.
"Hard to say. Daoist Bai is astonishingly weak; aside from a single command plaque, he possesses no merit. The demonic cultivators beneath him are even more chaotic. It must truly be hard on him… after two years of struggling, he hasn't found a single confidant."
He seated himself properly in the master's seat, then adopted a solemn tone:
"However, this also proves one thing: that Guiming Dark Plaque is truly extraordinary. Taken on its own, it is at least an ancient magical artifact, and there is no telling how many measures the True Person left inside. Who knows if it contains one or two Purple Palace divine abilities to save his life?"
"The lords of the north naturally have nothing to fear, but if we pushed him too far and he brought it down upon our heads, it would ruin everything. That is why we did not press him too hard and let him retreat."
Li Quewan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and shook her head.
"It is best that he stays far away… No core descendants are assigned to the Wilderness right now, so let them cause whatever trouble they wish."
"Indeed,"
Li Jiangqian sighed.
"I saw several unusual characters under his command; trouble will likely brew there later. That fellow is no different from a plague god. Striking him would only dirty our hands, so it was best to send him off early."
After hearing this, Li Quewan's expression grew troubled. She placed the jade slips on the table. Each was dark in texture, appearing to carry considerable age. She said softly:
"Just as you set out with the protectors and guest elders, someone arrived from across the river to report. He claimed to carry orders from Li Quantao, who guards Salt Lake, bringing these items to ask for our family's counsel."
Li Jiangqian's suspicion was immediately piqued. He asked:
"What did he say? Where is the person?"
"He is still on the islet."
Li Quewan showed a hint of helplessness, replying gently:
"Li Quantao guards Salt Lake, which is close to several river mouths leading to the sea. A few days ago, he spotted a suspicious group. His subordinates detained and interrogated them, only for the group to claim they belonged to Locust Soul Hall!"
"Naturally, the people at Salt Lake did not believe them. No matter how wretched Locust Soul Hall might be, its members carry tokens. So they opened their storage bags to inspect their identities, only to discover that these people practice the Mifan lineage of Mount Xiaoshi!"
Li Jiangqian listened and fell into thought. Li Quewan continued:
"Only then did those people realize they had stirred up trouble. They reported to Li Quantao, and after questioning them one by one, he learned they were all descendants left behind by Mount Xiaoshi back then. Having heard that the Mifan lineage was flourishing and that someone had obtained a command plaque bestowed by a Purple Palace master, establishing a lineage recognized by the various sects, they finally came to seek refuge."
Listening to the account, Li Jiangqian felt something was amiss. Pondering for a long while, he asked suspiciously:
"Could a genuine bunch have arrived?!"
Before Li Ximing broke through to Purple Palace, there had been the Floating Cloud, Dense Cloud, and Brahma Cloud sects north of the river. In truth, the various Purple Palace masters had fabricated these lineages to lure out the surviving descendants of Mount Xiaoshi in order to unseal the secret treasury. The scheme had worked, drawing several people and allowing Chengyun Gate to assemble the necessary components, which led to the underground palace incident.
Sure enough, Li Quewan nodded, evidently harboring the same doubts, and replied:
"Back then, more than one or two branches of the Mount Xiaoshi lineage were lost abroad. Chengyun Gate set a trap and snared one or two, but there were bound to be others outside. It seems that with all the commotion stirred up for the lord of the north, the overseas remnants took it seriously, genuinely believing Locust Soul Hall to be the restored lineage enjoying protection and favor."
This development was unexpected, yet thoroughly logical. Lacking full context, Li Quantao had genuinely grown wary. With Qianli Zi away and Ning Wan unreachable, he had sent the matter to the lake.
"These people remained hidden overseas for so many years without exposing themselves, yet got captured just crossing Salt Lake… For Li Quantao to get tangled in this out of nowhere, he must be sinking deeper into the game."
Li Jiangqian found it both absurd and troublesome. Li Quantao's action was clearly driven by favoritism. After all, the seals on these jade slips had been broken, making them readable by anyone, so adding them to the treasury was quite a gain. Yet having traveled thousands of li from overseas, who knew what role these people were meant to play? They were not someone to provoke lightly right now!
Li Minggong took one of the jade slips and asked softly:
"Does the old elder know?"
Not understanding the reason for the question, Li Quewan hesitated before replying:
"The old elder had been waiting outside the lake for your return, so he does not know yet."
Li Jiangqian, however, understood Li Minggong's meaning.
Li Xuanxuan had already felt pained when Li Quantao was used by the Ning family to scheme for the Hongxue inheritance. Now, with the True Person missing and danger mounting by the day, Li Quantao still thought of Lake Wangyue. They only feared the old elder would grieve upon hearing this.
Pacing a few steps before the hall, he asked:
"How are these cultivation methods?"
With a complex expression, Li Quewan answered:
"The others are methods we already possess, but one art… is quite intriguing. It is called the Huaishui Ghost Yin Refining Method. It uses a cultivator's mortal remains to craft a magical artifact. The spell must be cast before death to preserve the corpse and prevent it from dispersing into spiritual essence. It is exceedingly sophisticated, but… it has special requirements for the Immortal Foundation."
She drew out the jade slip and showed it to the two, explaining:
"Not just anyone can refine this magical artifact, and one can only ever refine a single one. What is produced is called a 'ghost corpse.' It is best refined by a cultivator of Juguiyin. Failing that, Shangwu, Xiukui, or Sha Qi are acceptable second choices. At the very least, it requires the broader Binggu category… Most others have virtually no chance of refining it."
Li Minggong scanned the slip briefly, recognizing it instantly even without a full reading, and replied:
"Gloomy and sinister—it clearly isn't anything good. This is the method Daoist Bai used to refine Situ Biao…"
Li Quewan nodded gravely. Seeing Li Jiangqian's thoughtful look, she deduced:
"This proves at least one thing… Daoist Bai did not come away empty-handed; he must possess a considerable portion of the Mifan lineage. As for how he acquired it, that is open to question."
Li Jiangqian nodded.
"He destroyed Brahma Cloud, so perhaps he plundered it from somewhere. After all, his pretext back then was that Pingwangzi refined infants, defiling the Mifan lineage, and that he was upholding justice by eradicating him… Perhaps that too was some demonic art…"
"Yet if it did not come from Brahma Cloud…"
Li Minggong recalled carefully, then whispered:
"I saw Situ Biao's ghost corpse fly out from the Guiming Dark Plaque. Either that artifact is capable of containing such an object, or the technique itself came from the Guiming Dark Plaque!"
Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan suspected the latter as well. Li Jiangqian paused for a moment to ensure no Purple Palace presence was nearby, then said in a somber tone:
"If it truly came from the command plaque, then Ziyan must hold a vast amount of the Mifan lineage… This magical artifact might not have been forged on a whim based on my words back then. It was meticulously designed, likely planned long ago… My casual mention of the Mifan lineage simply played right into their hands."
"Thinking carefully, it is hardly surprising. The most renowned lineage in Jiangbei is Mifan. The various Purple Palace masters laid the groundwork several times before. From Foundation Establishment cultivators down to mortals on the ground, everyone knows the name of Mount Xiaoshi. Even if I hadn't brought it up, anyone seeking to raise a banner in Jiangbei would think of Mifan, and only Mifan would be believable!"
He lowered his voice:
"In other words… a consensus on this matter was likely reached long ago, fixing on Mifan from the start. Qianli Zi mentioned that each time the lord arrives, blessed lands and grottos descend. This time, it will likely be Mifan descending…"
Li Jiangqian's voice grew even lower as he continued:
"Then… could it be… that the Guiming Dark Plaque is not some temporary makeshift item… but a genuine, peerless treasure capable of opening the Mifan secret vault?!"
Li Quewan's expression turned grave. She met Li Jiangqian's gaze, and the same four words surfaced simultaneously in both their minds:
*A Mirror shard!*
Chapter 855