"Back then, when Li Jiangqun traveled through the State of Yue, he once mentioned a realm. Ordinarily concealed beneath layer upon layer of grand restrictive arrays, it is not only cut off from the Great Void, but its innermost layer is veiled beneath an immortal array's restrictions—so well hidden that even a True Monarch cannot gaze inside!"
"Moreover, within this realm lies a 'Hunyi Immortal Cliff,' left behind by an ancient Immortal Monarch. Li Jiangqun stated with his own mouth that a True Monarch would find it all the more difficult to approach this place—or might not even dare to approach it!"
Chi Buzi said in a low voice, "Yet Li Jiangqun possessed a method to enter such a place. He told Ning Tiaoxiao, told Zipei and Qiushui, and even told... Xiao Xianyou! In the end, this place ceased to be a secret among the Taiyang and Jinyu lineages...
"Though beneath that immortal cliff one cannot commune with the Great Void, the spiritual aura and laws there remain identical to antiquity. People from both the Qingsong Taiyang and Jinyi Shangqing lineages frequently visited it."
Shaohui nodded as she listened. Though she had little impression of the names he mentioned, she had roughly anticipated his intent, and frowned as she said, "You mean to hide in that place..."
Chi Buzi bowed again. "If Your Ladyship possesses a suitable method and bestows some spiritual tool or resonant array, I need only anchor the location beneath the immortal cliff. Once I arrive there, I will be able to recall everything.
"Besides this... this subordinate also possesses a 'Chougui Cang' divine ability. This divine ability differs from 'Calamity-Washing Dew' in that its lineage was not severed. There are quite a few inheritances circulating in the world today, though few reach the Violet Palace stage. Lushui deliberately refrained from passing it down, so it is absent in Qingchi... The copy in Qingchi was allegedly obtained from Chunyi Dao.
"Back then, when I entered Anhuai Heaven, I did not find this method... If I cannot account for its origin, Lushui will inevitably grow suspicious..."
The underlying implication was an attempt to entrust this matter to Shaohui. Listening with a furrowed brow, Shaohui replied, "I knew this was a troublesome matter, but I did not expect it to be troublesome to this degree."
Fearing she might balk at the difficulty, Chi Buzi softly reported, "This cultivation method is not entirely without an origin. The Feathered Serpent once possessed it, and after being devoured by the chi dragon, it fell into the hands of the dragonkin... The dragonkin even hold the Violet Palace cultivation method for 'Calamity-Washing Dew.'
"The State of Wu's Mount Changhuai, the Great Xiyuan's Shengbai Hall, 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 lineages of 'Lushui.'
"The Yuan Mansion is not quite suitable, but as long as it exists in the mortal realm... it would be plausible for me to have obtained it. It is well worth an attempt."
Chi Buzi rattled off a string of names, a faint glint surfacing in his eyes, and said, "In the past, I wondered why among the five paths of Lushui, he did not sever all of them together and only severed Calamity-Washing Dew. I had assumed it was merely because he had offended the Underworld...
"Later, after listening to Lord Zhengao's explanation, I finally understood there was another reason. Those three paths of 'Chougui Cang' belong to the intercalary leap of Pinshui, not the concern of Lushui alone. Perhaps they involve certain figures scheming for Pinshui, or even several lineages that rely on Pinshui to attain the Dao, which is why they could not be severed at will...
"And toward the cultivators of Qingchi, all he could do was withhold the 'Chougui Cang' cultivation method and disseminate the 'Qingxiyu' fruit status to choke off the path of lower cultivators."
Shaohui let out a heavy sigh, signaling her acknowledgment, and whispered, "Come with me to report and inquire first, then find someone to seek out Immortal Officer Liu. After all, he was the one who pushed this task to Dangjiang, so by right it falls under his charge now... When you head back, search for the cultivation method yourself first. I lack the ability to arrange everything neatly for you."
Chi Buzi bowed respectfully and said, "Your Ladyship may rest assured."
Shaohui then rose, and Chi Buzi accompanied her, feeling slightly apprehensive inside:
'Heaven should be able to make contact with me from the Hunyi Immortal Cliff. If even Heaven cannot bypass an Immortal Monarch's methods, it will truly be a dead end!'
To the side, Dangjiang, having listened all this while, could not help but say, "If it doesn't work... wouldn't seizing the opportunity to make a push for the Golden Core realm be better than groveling and eking out an existence under him? Besides, once he returns, won't your chances of breaking through be even slimmer..."
Chi Buzi shook his head gently and replied, "Breakthrough? Where would I suddenly find the cultivation method and gold-seeking method? And how am I to know when he returns? If I make no preparations, sooner or later I will simply stretch out my neck for slaughter. No matter how long they fight, it won't last decades. Perhaps he has already returned right now, merely convalescing in his grotto-heaven."
Lowering his eyes slightly, he added, "Moreover... I doubt whether there is truly a battle taking place beyond the heavens. Who can say what plans Lushui actually has in mind?"
The three walked for a while and soon arrived before Zhengao's high dais. The immortal general was still seated there, though the decorations to his sides had shifted slightly, and the bamboo slips once resting before him were gone.
"We meet again."
Watching the three bow before him, Zhengao said indifferently, "Shaohui spoke to me earlier regarding your affair."
Chi Buzi's attempt at self-preservation was no surprise. From beginning to end, Lu Jiangxian's attitude toward him had been to stall whenever possible. From his abrupt arrival at Lake Wangyue to his submission at Zongquan Island, and even the final leap of Pinshui, each step had been forced by Chi Buzi's persistent, eager pursuit of the Dao.
Yet none of this could avoid the problem of Lushui.
'Erasing my own traces before Lushui's eyes is easy as turning my palm, but preserving Chi Buzi is vastly more difficult!'
Years ago, when Chi Buzi rashly came to the lake, Lu Jiangxian's strength was far from restored. Examining Chi Buzi's soul, he had noticed the measures left within it by Luyu Heaven. To avoid alarming Lushui during seclusion, he could not search the soul or alter memories, and thus was forced into the expedient measure of using Dangjiang—the soul of Jinlian Mohe—as a check against him.
As cause and effect unfolded, Lu Jiangxian grew ever stronger. After obtaining that immortal art and making a qualitative leap, Chi Buzi posed less and less of a threat. Dangjiang ultimately entered the Immortal Mansion, and Chi Buzi attached himself to their threshold. Yet toward this devil, Lu Jiangxian maintained a mindset of purely utilizing him.
Now, having received several offerings of Violet Palace tier, he indeed did not wish to lose such a potent asset. Only then had he given a reply to Shaohui in Zhengao's name, and Chi Buzi had offered his answer.
'The most critical aspect of Chi Buzi's situation—modifying memories—is no longer impossible. Today, as long as he opens his mind, I can bypass Lushui's methods. But whether Lushui believes it or not, whether it succeeds or fails... beneath the other's watchful eye hereafter, would Chi Buzi still possess the ability to gather demon beasts for me all over the place without reason? In that case, not only does this carry tremendous risk, but for me, there would hardly be any gain.
'Moreover, Chi Buzi deliberately withheld a few details to make the affair seem less daunting. How could Lushui fail to see which cultivation method gave rise to his divine ability? That "Chougui Cang" was formed by talisman qi stimulating the Immortal Foundation, which means only the Violet Palace chapter of his Chougui Water-Seeking Method could correspond to it. Pulling out just any random book would be completely discordant.'
The only good news was that Lushui had not bestowed the lineage himself. Qingchi's copy of the Chougui Water-Seeking Method had been obtained by the Chi family from Chunyi Dao. If this book had been bestowed by Lushui with its Violet Palace chapter held in his hands, Chi Buzi would have been doomed.
Lu Jiangxian weighed the thoughts in his heart, already sighing inwardly:
'Deceiving a Golden Core is easier said than done! Still, if Chi Buzi can obtain the Violet Palace chapter of the Chougui Water-Seeking Method, saving him isn't entirely out of the question—so long as I can ensure no trace of myself is left behind.'
In contrast, Lu Jiangxian was actually far more interested in that "Hunyi Immortal Cliff"!
One must remember that what spurred the leap-like growth of his strength was the Three Drums Cliff in Qingsong Grotto-Heaven. In the end, that Three Drums Cliff was also an immortal cliff! That meant the immortal art Lu Jiangxian had been keeping an eye out for finally had a lead!
'No wonder... No wonder when I wandered all over the East Sea with the Li family, I never caught a single trace of this thing. So it was hidden under the seabed... fortified by numerous restrictions and even an immortal array. I wonder if I can penetrate it.'
He fell silent for a moment, listening as Shaohui reported the information. Pausing briefly, he displayed a look of mild interest and answered, "A treasure land concealed from a True Monarch? Perhaps it is a trace left behind by our heavenly realm. Go there yourself and test whether you can establish contact with Heaven."
Chi Buzi immediately nodded with utmost respect. When it came to attainment in the Dao, this immortal general alone in Heaven commanded his complete submission. That discourse on the Dao—to say nothing of True Monarchs—would not be an overstatement even if attributed to an Immortal!
After saying this, Zhengao casually remarked, "For your breakthrough into the divine ability, you must seek the lower realm's Violet Palace cultivation method of the Chougui Water-Seeking Method. Written by some lower-realm cultivator from recent antiquity, how could Heaven possess records of such a thing?"
Upon hearing these words, Chi Buzi felt an immediate sense of relief, filled with both shock and delight:
'That supremely wondrous thing... indeed relied on the Immortal Foundation's resonance to conceive the divine ability!'
He was well aware that different cultivation methods yield subtle differences when manifesting divine abilities. Yet he had broken through into this divine ability without any cultivation method at all. He had feared that a corresponding method might not exist at all, his heart pounding with anxiety to the point where he dared not even ask. Hearing this now, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.
'It is truly so! Truly so! As long as the source of the Violet Palace cultivation method can be found, that is enough... From top to bottom, Chunyi Dao is full of fools; there are far too many loopholes to exploit!'
His eyes instantly brightened with vigor, and he bowed. "Thank you, My Lord, for your guidance!"
Zhengao gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and said softly, "Since you have made this decision, you will face that True Monarch sooner or later. It is best to make preparations early. Once you have acquired the cultivation method, return to report to Shaohui."
At these words, while Chi Buzi was relieved, Dangjiang grew tense and asked in a low voice, "May I ask, My Lord... how much immortal merit will this cost..."
Lu Jiangxian was eager for Chi Buzi to quickly secure his retreat so he could resume capturing demon beasts for him, so he immediately said in an amicable tone, "No need to be nervous. Charge this to Immortal Officer Liu's account... But as for you, Chi Buzi, you must make haste to exchange for the cultivation method of 'Chaohanyu.' Cultivate at least an Immortal Foundation. Only then, once your memories are gone later, will you be compelled to cultivate it into a divine ability out of necessity. On the other hand, a severed Dao path is the greatest protective talisman—sweeter than ten thousand comforting words, it will soothe that True Monarch's suspicions."
In truth, Lu Jiangxian added this remark because that cultivation method was already more than half concocted, nearly ready to be handed over to fulfill his part.
"Chaohanyu" was not particularly rare to begin with; his storehouse had eight if not ten manuals of it. The Foundation Establishment section took barely the blink of an eye to assemble, and the subsequent Violet Palace section had no requirement for high grade or secret techniques. Penning it came so effortlessly that it was entirely within his grasp.
Chi Buzi naturally understood his meaning. He wanted more than anyone to begin cultivating this formula early and was equally anxious at heart. Nodding repeatedly, he bowed and said, "Thank you for the guidance, My Lord. This lowly cultivator will depart at once."
Bowing with deep reverence, he added, "As long as I can preserve my life from Lushui's hands, Buzi will never disappoint Your Lordship!"
……
Taiyin Mansion of Huasu Yuanming Shengqing.
The bright moon hung translucent and crystalline. Lu Jiangxian stood beside the luminous white jade throne, his gaze piercing through multiple mansions in the distance to settle upon the two figures within the small pavilion.
Several streams of colorful light gushed out of thin air, converging before him and swirling within his palm, swiftly condensing into a tiny pinpoint of radiance.
'Chi Buzi truly works swiftly. Lianmin Yuguang was offered up just like that...'
This peacock was far more capable than the earlier peahen. The one refined into talisman qi had a mind filled entirely with Buddhist techniques from start to finish, whereas this one at least possessed some foundation in the immortal Dao, along with scattered arts. What proved especially valuable was that he also carried a cultivation method of Combined Fire:
The Fifth-Rank Violet Palace cultivation method, Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation, which refined the Immortal Foundation "Wucongyu."
Aside from this Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation, Yuguang also possessed one or two secret arts related to the Great Peacock Karma. Furthermore, it revealed that this demonic peacock's ancestors included a great Buddhist cultivator who was once the mount of World-Honored Suxikong!
'No wonder they say peacocks carry significant weight in the Buddhist lands. With such an origin, how could their standing not be grand?'
With a flick of his finger, he shelved the Karmic Flame Heart-Binding Incantation and separated the peacock's soul.
These Lianmins were easy enough to capture, but their cultivation was truly pitiful, and their comprehension and talent toward the immortal Dao were laughable. Yuguang was slightly better than the peahen, but only marginally so; releasing him would amount to little more than having one more person to talk to.
He could only turn his palm to seal it away for future use, gazing at the soul as he pondered:
'At any rate, it is a soul of the Violet Palace tier, immensely useful for casting witchcraft. With this soul in hand, at least I have a trump card.
'As for Lushui... he may be returning soon.'
Chi Buzi was merely a useful chess piece to him. Once Lushui returned, this piece would either die or become crippled; at the very least, he would no longer be able to offer demonic beasts to Lu Jiangxian, and he would temporarily lose his memories. Yet crippled was far better than dead. When the critical moment came, if Chi Buzi attained the Dao of Pinshui, it would undoubtedly bring a tremendous turnaround.
'A clash with Lushui will come sooner or later. Having one more piece on the board is always better than having one less.'
He settled his mind and peered outward through the mirror.
Deep in the Great Void, in a place unseen by the multitudes, a surge of copious light was slowly descending. A powerful resonance arose from afar, and the world within the mirror flashed with a brilliant luster, causing Lu Jiangxian to slowly raise his brows.
Even with Lu Jiangxian's mastery over golden nature, the wisp of Mingyang golden nature locked within the mirror began to stir. Before the entrance of the entire immortal palace, the tallest and most extravagant heavenly gate radiated dazzling light, trembling faintly.
Varied hues of Mingyang spiritual qi and Mingyang brilliance intersected across the sky, dyeing the entire firmament a radiant golden yellow.
Lu Jiangxian raised his hand. That wisp of Mingyang golden nature emerged from his fingertips like a conical burst of golden rays, rapidly expanding and shifting, condensing into face after face.
All the radiance snapped back in an instant, finally condensing at his fingertips into a single scene:
It was a pitch-black, eerie mine. The sky's first ray of sunlight was breaking through the cloud layers, spilling down onto miners smeared with a mixture of sweat and blood, each bearing a different expression. Among them, a youth with a slightly pale face and a resolute expression slowly raised his head.
'The Mingyang fruit status... has chosen its bearer.'
Chapter 872