Although Li Zhouwei was neither hot nor cold and spoke in a calm tone, what sort of man was Wen Wu? The other party had neither accepted the tea nor exchanged pleasantries, opening immediately with the remark that it was "not peaceful." It was obvious he was displeased—how could Wen Wu fail to realize that?
The figure before him was hardly some gentle, mild-tempered master. Back when Wen Wu was stationed in the East Sea, he had seen Situ Mo and privately regarded him as a formidable overlord of the current era, a Violet Palace seed. 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 terrified?
This was not merely a matter of offending a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator—this was blatantly offending a future Violet Palace!
It was clearly Ziqi Peak that had sown this trouble, yet Wen Wu was the one forced to take the blame. Still, because he served as the intermediary and truly had an obligation to look after her, his mouth was filled with bitterness. Even as his mind raced frantically for a solution, he stalled for time:
"Ziqi Peak... was once very glorious. Later, some unfortunate events occurred, and things went downhill. It has little standing within the sect now; its people have grown accustomed to hardship, and the peak itself isn't peaceful... Sigh! Those fellow disciples are rather unreliable, so it's true there might be a lack of peace..."
Having said this, he immediately scrambled to patch things up, adding:
"However, training overseas is a sect assignment. Li Quexi of your noble clan is the junior sister of our Muzuo Peak; she is currently in seclusion attempting a breakthrough and will also come out in a few years to experience the climate of the East Sea, lest she be pampered too delicately. Once Queyi completes these two years of service, she won't need to run out here in the future."
He tightened his robes. Because he had sat down, those two spiritual talismans draped across his thighs, white on top and gold on the bottom, shimmering with a mellow glow. Li Zhouwei glanced at Li Queyi, who had her head lowered, and understood everything in his heart.
'This Wen Wu's Muzuo Peak specially took in a disciple to foster good relations between the Li clan and Ziyan Gate, so Ziqi Peak was never the priority. For Ziyan to tilt its resources toward one direct descendant of the Li clan was already giving ample face; granting more would bring no benefit to Ziyan's future. And Queyi is not one to compete...'
'Furthermore, were I in Ziyan's place, I would also be more inclined to leave a cultivator who places great importance on her own family to fend for herself... It might not even be intentional; it's just that with Quexi already favored before her, and Queyi possessing a gentle, weak temperament that never fights or vies, they are only too happy to let things take their course.'
He rested his hands 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 my family and would naturally take good care of her, but as he has grown old, it is only normal that he cannot always keep track of everything. I only fear that if these fellow disciples stir up trouble, it will harm Ziyan's atmosphere of stability."
Wen Wu was awkward and ill at ease. He knew that the man before him was already couching his words tactfully out of deference to Ziyan's background, and there was no shirking the blame now. He could only say:
"Indeed, indeed... A few peaks within the sect have been remiss, and the atmosphere is indeed unwholesome. It must be rectified..."
Li Zhouwei let out a soft laugh and shook his head.
"Fellow Daoist Wen, it must be difficult for you to intervene, no? I know nothing of internal affairs on that peak; things haven't reached the point of requiring rectification, nor is there any need to make a big fuss. Queyi does not care for hustle and bustle, so staying overseas is not bad either. Let things proceed as they should..."
What rectification of the atmosphere? Li Zhouwei had no desire to turn Li Queyi into a target for everyone's resentment. The junior had kept silent to the clan precisely out of fear of damaging relations within the peak, and he did not want to put her in an awkward position. He added casually:
"Furthermore, Ziyan carries the Taiyang lineage—how could there be any unwholesome atmosphere? Cultivators across Jiangnan dare not look down upon the blessed land, and our family's True Person shares deep friendship with Ziyan. Queyi remaining in the East Sea is for the best; our True Person is nearby as well and can look after her in all matters."
Once these words were spoken, a genuine layer of cold sweat broke out on Wen Wu. He realized Li Zhouwei's implication:
'The one who came today was I, Li Zhouwei, merely showing you a stern face. But True Person Zhaojing is also overseas. If, on a passing whim, True Person Zhaojing happened to come across this... wouldn't you, Wen Wu, have to lose a layer of skin?'
True Person Zhaojing Li Ximing indeed had an amiable temperament, but whatever the case, that was his demeanor toward fellow Violet Palace True Persons. If Li Ximing had come today and witnessed with his own eyes a direct descendant of his own bloodline assigned to the menial chore of gathering qi, and if Li Queyi were to weep and kneel before the True Person, Wen Wu would have to remove his cap, bind himself, and kneel before Tinglan!
Yet was today any easier? Li Zhouwei's golden eyes were fixed right on him, bearing no small amount of chill!
Wen Wu was no longer merely trapped on the tiger's back; a deep chill had gripped his heart. He immediately said:
"This matter is not the fault of the sect disciples; it was my oversight. In all my scurrying about, I caused Fellow Daoist to come questioning in person... It is truly..."
Li Zhouwei remained without anger and answered:
"Fellow Daoist Wen, you mistake my purpose. I merely came to visit a junior, check on her, and browse the market along the way..."
He waved his hand and led Li Queyi outside. The tea on the table remained untouched, not a single sip taken. Wen Wu hurriedly rushed after them and asked:
"Queyi's future arrangements..."
Li Zhouwei smiled and said:
"The True Person will likely wish to see her. Just keep her here at these reefs; there is no need to reassign her."
Wen Wu could only nod, escorting him all the way to the foot of the palace. Li Zhouwei tactfully declined his kind offer to accompany them, so Wen Wu had no choice but to turn back, feeling both bitter and exhausted. He cursed internally:
'A bunch of fools on Ziqi Peak... I had just been assigned here, and a massive pot of blame gets dumped right onto my head! If not for Senior Lingyanzi's face... I would surely slap those bastards across the mouth!'
Anxiety still lingered in his heart, and he pondered secretly:
'I still must send a letter to Master... inform the True Person in advance... Such matters are never reasonable. When accounts are settled later, I won't even have room to explain myself...'
Wen Wu made his way back. Li Zhouwei led his junior into the market, cloaking their surroundings in dharma light to partition them from the bustling crowd. Only then did Li Zhouwei speak, saying in a low voice:
"Queyi, you handled these matters incorrectly."
Li Queyi had been ill at ease the entire way. Hearing this, she bowed to plead guilty, but before words of regret could leave her lips, Li Zhouwei waved his hand to cut her off. The man in platinum armor said:
"You are a direct daughter of a Violet Palace immortal clan, yet you are too gentle. Forget immortal sects—in any other realm, if you are courteous and gentle, soft without majesty, people will always harbor doubts about you... When you take a step back, they think you are easily bullied and push forward another step, confident you will never bare your fangs to bite. At most they will receive a few reprimands, so they kneel and beg; if begging fails, they weep bitterly. As long as they see you can be softened, the benefits they can extract from you far exceed the meager loss of dignity."
Surveying the numerous spiritual items in the market, Li Zhouwei remarked casually:
"You must hold majesty; you must frown. Once these cultivators have an identity that makes you care a little, they itch to suck a bit of blood from you. Even if they cannot suck your blood, they will engage in petty tricks. Today she claims matters are pressing and asks you to help gather qi; tomorrow she can enter secluded cultivation and refuse to emerge. By the time you need her help, she will be nowhere to be found."
Li Queyi knew he was referring to the senior sister on the island. She nodded silently and murmured:
"They are all fellow sect members, and some knelt down weeping and begging... With young and old at home relying solely on that one person's breakthrough, I thought to help within my power, so my conscience could rest easy."
Li Zhouwei glanced at her. He knew that while she was intelligent, she was inherently gentle and yielding, easy for others to read, and lacked any haughty airs. Thus he answered:
"Do not think that by giving a few spiritual items, these senior brothers and sisters will remember your kindness. And do not think they are remarkable figures. 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 be the one to sustain them with your spiritual items?"
He retrieved an embroidered pouch from his sleeve, having exchanged the cultivation resources taken from Situ Mo and set aside a batch suited to her cultivation level. Tossing it into her hands, he said softly:
"Although I vented your frustration today, it is because of the ties between our two families. Ziyan already has an obligation to guide you and should not look on while you are in distress. But once you step outside this blessed land and leave Lake Wangyue, no one will follow you at every moment. If you are harmed somewhere, the Lake can only avenge you after the fact."
"These resources are enough for your use. Cultivate well; your Dao attainment is all that is real."
Li Queyi nodded in agreement and said respectfully:
"I will etch my lord's teachings into my heart."
Li Zhouwei could only say this much. Reaching Li Queyi's generation, most members of the Li clan had grown up in comfort without fierce struggles, so such a disposition was hard to avoid:
'It is not that it is bad, merely ill-suited to the times.'
He put away his spiritual items; the loot he had seized was now mostly exchanged. Wen Wu brought people to invite him once more. Sending the junior away, Li Zhouwei suddenly asked:
"Fellow Daoist Wen, you mentioned earlier that Ziqi Peak was once glorious... How did it decline to such a state?"
Wen Wu's expression turned awkward at once, as if it were difficult to speak of. Yet after the unpleasantness earlier, he had come precisely to smooth things over; hiding it would only make him appear insincere. He had no choice but to explain in a low voice:
"Fellow Daoist Li... Ziqi Peak once had a peak master who committed rather disgraceful deeds. Later, he died... and the lineage declined further. Senior Lingyanzi himself knows full well why, and has never harbored any complaints about the sect's partiality. Quite a few cultivators within the sect know of this as well..."
Li Zhouwei nodded thoughtfully, clearly expecting to hear more. Wen Wu shook his head awkwardly, dismissed the attendants on either side, and whispered:
"This person... held the Daoist name Tingqian. He once stirred up internal rebellion and was later suppressed and slain by Lingshu... This matter was kept strictly within the blessed land, so the various clans do not understand it deeply, though they know there was a bout of turmoil... Ziqi Peak was his heritage. Senior Lingyanzi... is not only his grand-disciple, but also his great-grandson."
Li Zhouwei frowned and sighed inwardly, replying:
"Senior Lingyanzi has no descendants, and those he recruited under his banner are almost all rogue cultivators. However bitter the grudge over that rebellion, it should end here, should it not?"
Wen Wu nodded repeatedly and hinted:
"The sect had Queyi enter his tutelage for precisely this reason. After all, his other disciples were raised by him from childhood and lack the talent to properly inherit the position. Queyi can take over the seat and rename the peak along the way, and the matter can be considered behind us."
Li Zhouwei nodded slightly in his mind, thinking:
'This Ziqi Peak is interesting indeed...'
Wen Wu was unwilling to say more. After exchanging a couple of perfunctory remarks, Li Zhouwei rose into the air upon light from the market and flew toward Zongquan to enter secluded cultivation and practice his secret arts.
His Imperial Decree had reached completion, and along the way Dawen had reached sixty percent mastery. Adding Baibing Mansion at thirty percent, he estimated it would take two to three years to complete these two arts.
As for the other secret arts, their progress was not as rapid as these two. Yangyuan probably would not take much time, but Li Zhouwei considered that mastering four secret arts would still require at least three to four years.
"Four secret arts only increase the probability by twenty percent, and time is somewhat tight."
On one hand, time was running short, and Li Zhouwei had no Mingfang Sky Stones to use. Though hailed as a Violet Palace seed, cultivation was one's own affair; mastering one more secret art was naturally better if possible.
'I only fear the family cannot hold out, so I must also consider breaking through as soon as possible.'
……
South Sea, Beidan.
After True Person Yuanxiu, Si Boxiu, failed his breakthrough here, the sky over Shitang remained overcast for three days. The wind direction lost all constancy, shifting north one moment and south the next. Wild winds differed from place to place, rising and falling erratically. At times, even cultivators of lower cultivation could not ride the winds, let alone the fishermen at sea.
Somber thunder rumbled within the clouds from time to time, yet it was completely different from the water receding and thunder rising seen in the East Sea in past years. Not a single drop of rain fell, and the entire sea region grew hot and humid, deterring any who approached.
The Caican Wood on the various islands ceased sprouting, shedding all their leaves across the ground to stand bare, their hardened bark exposed and condensing water that dripped down drop by drop.
Amidst the fierce wind above the clouds, a speck of rainbow light hung suspended in the air, gazing from afar at the vapor that seemed on the verge of congealing. He let out a deep sigh, yet halted before the formation, unable to step outside.
In recent days, cultivators found their spiritual resources enriched, but life became miserable for the common folk below. Damp heat invaded their bodies, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.
Li Xizhi had been busy dealing with this matter for a long time. He had dispatched all the cultivators under his command, but every one of them kept their eyes fixed on the emerging spiritual items, utterly distracted.
To make matters worse, with Yuanxiu dead, Li Xizhi no longer had protection and had to stay on guard at every moment. Although the Violet Palace of Tinglei Island still had to be wary of Li Ximing and might not personally make a move against him, vigilance was necessary after all.
Qingchi had finally found someone in Ning Wan who could take up the mantle of a Violet Palace, but she was tied down by affairs in Jiangbei and naturally could not remain in the South Sea. She had only sent a letter, which likewise told him not to leave the island.
Li Xizhi could only gaze at the vast ocean and sigh, knowing in his heart that all his years of effort to salvage Shitang had come to naught with True Person Yuanxiu's death.
'Dantai Jin also visited Beidan, likely having come to witness Yuanxiu's breakthrough. Though deeply grieved, he will soon return to Mount Qingchi. Judging by the messages he has sent me these past few days, he intends to transfer me back...'
With the Qingchi Sect having suffered multiple heavy blows, Li Xizhi was now one of the few capable figures Qingchi could present. He was not surprised by this reassignment. He could have remained indifferent to everything outside the island, yet in the end, he wanted to save as many as he could before departing, exhausting his heart and mind over this matter.
"Grandfather!"
Li Xizhi was lost in thought when a youth in black robes approached from the side, bowed respectfully to him, and was just about to speak when Li Wushao rushed up from nearby. Quan Yuduan's face was filled with horror. Before anyone could speak, Li Xizhi looked up immediately, his expression grave.
Within the clouds at the vault of heaven, layer upon layer of golden light shone through. Masters with bare arms stood poised in midair, hands pressed together with pious expressions, while seated right in the center was a mountain-like golden body!
"A Lianmin?!"
The entirety of Beidan was actually surrounded by Buddhist cultivators! The Masters standing faintly in the clouds of the sky numbered in the dozens, while in the sea stood an incalculable number of monks, buoyed by unknown magical implements, resting in vast swathes upon the waters. All around was tranquil, appearing extraordinarily solemn.
Quan Yuduan gritted his teeth and stared at the golden expanse above, saying in a low voice:
"Master! It is the Buddhists of the Dakonghai Temple from Songzhou to the south entering the sea!"
Chapter 865