Baiku Commandery.
A vast expanse of yellow sand drifted across the city, surging straight into the sky under the sweep of wild winds, mixed with pervasive metallic poison that forced passing cultivators to squint.
Amid the swirling dust, an elderly cultivator in white robes rode the wind over. Buffeted until he had to squint, he could not help knitting his brows and looking downward:
*How strange. I recall this is near Duxian Dao. They are at least a Violet Palace-level power, yet they allow metallic poison to run rampant like this. Who knows how many thousands of common folk have died... They truly have no regard for benevolent rule...*
He looked down with a trace of pity, descended on the wind, and muttered inwardly:
*No wonder. I hear they are in a standoff against the Wangyue Immortal Clan on the river. Both sides have fought until real tempers flared, so who cares about any metallic poison... Hmm... the Li clan is renowned as an orthodox lineage; they wouldn't do such a thing. That means Duxian Dao did it intentionally to force the Li clan to divide their attention and save people...*
*What a sin!*
He sighed deeply, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately shook his head:
*Better go down and have a look... Back then, when I followed the General to resist the Buddhist cultivators, the local commoners never suffered such misery. Now that the immortal path prospers, such calamities happen instead...*
Passing through the clouds, the old Daoist indeed saw scattered bones and corpses, yet not a single person on the streets paid them any heed. It was as if no one even saw these mortals, all crowding toward the teahouse at the center.
Riding his magical light, he landed on an eaves and was astonished to see a Qi Refinement cultivator battling an Embryonic Breathing cultivator.
"Ah?"
He stared blankly for a couple of breaths. This Embryonic Breathing youth actually held a dharma sword, chopping apart each incoming spell. Though it seemed exceptionally arduous, not only did he hold his ground against a Qi Refinement cultivator, but his movements even possessed a certain flowing grace.
"Oh!"
The old Daoist took two steps forward, stroking his beard as he watched.
The youth had blood splattered on his face, yet he stood imposingly on the platform, his unyielding pride thrusting straight toward the heavens like a sharp sword. The longsword in his hand danced with increasing ferocity, making one involuntarily applaud in admiration.
In contrast, the brocade-clad young master beside him had an ashen face and trembling hands, unable even to hold his incantation mudra. His eyes bulged, faintly bloodshot, and he barked:
"You... you... what sorcery did you use?! How could you block my Qi Refinement spells?!"
The opposing youth was merely at peak Embryonic Breathing, yet his bearing was extraordinary. His robes were tattered, but his expression was resolute as he declared proudly:
"Frog in a well! Haven't you heard that man's will conquers heaven? I possess a chest full of fierce courage, an unyielding backbone of pride, and sky-soaring ambition! With these three alone, even if I were a mere mortal facing divine abilities, they could not harm me in the slightest, let alone a petty Qi Refinement cultivator like you!"
"You could do nothing to me when you were at peak Embryonic Breathing, and now that you've reached Qi Refinement, you are still a piece of trash!"
"Take my sword!"
As his voice fell, sheets of white qi leaped from the sword. Not only did they tear the incoming spells to shreds, but they also surged through the air and slashed across the brocade-clad youth.
Blood sprayed out. The brocade-clad youth crashed to the ground, his face pale as lead as he rolled in agony, crying out in bitter resentment:
"Why?! I cultivated for ten years without slacking for a single day... Losing to you once was bad enough, but I poured countless effort into obtaining this wisp of spiritual qi and managed by sheer luck to break through to Qi Refinement in three months! Why should I lose to your mere three months of cultivation?!"
The sword-wielding youth stepped forward slowly, leveling his longsword as he said coldly:
"Laughable. You ask why? Why not ask those cultivators whose talent falls short of yours... why, after ten years of cultivation, their progress falls short of yours? Why not ask those cultivators with worse family backgrounds... why their ten years cannot match yours? Only sheltered dandies like you still foolishly clamor for fairness... Tomorrow, a beggar in the street might pick up a treasure, and with a flick of his finger, he could reduce your ten years of cultivation to ash! Why don't you ask why then?"
The dandy was struck dumb. He squirmed two inches along the ground, dragging a streak of blood behind him. Around them, the crowd stood motionless as statues. The sword-wielding youth strode forward, planted a foot onto his face, and laughed:
"If cultivation in this world were measured by effort, the donkey turning the millstone would be the foremost immortal under heaven! My ambitions soar to the clouds, and with six months of cultivation I can slay you. Aside from accepting it, you have no other choice."
"People like you always pretend not to see what you cannot change. What you should complain about are spirit apertures and fortune! Those are the truest injustices! How many people have you suppressed with your family background? And now it's your turn to complain about background and complain about opportunities, feeling envious and indignant..."
The dandy's eyes bulged with fury as he groaned:
"I didn't..."
Yet before he could finish, all his expressions shifted. The gazes directed at him from the onlookers turned from pity into loathing, and shame surfaced on his own face as well. The youth kicked him hard in the chest.
*Crack!*
Several ribs snapped, leaving the dandy unable to move. The youth slowly lowered his head, staring down at him quietly. The expression on his face suddenly vanished, replaced by an enigmatic smile:
"The material world does not change according to your desires, understand? There is nothing unfair. My standing right here is the greatest fairness."
The dandy had no idea what he was talking about. Seeing him raise his sword, his face twisted in horror, and he hurriedly begged for mercy. Contempt flashed across the youth's face as he sneered:
"Wang Xie! Failing in the duel, you kneel and beg for mercy just to cling to a wretched life! You have neither an unyielding backbone of pride nor a heart that seeks the Dao and immortality; you have no sky-soaring ambition, only the wretched crawl of a snake or rat, wagging your tail to beg for pity! I spared your life once, yet you still refused to repent. You deserve to die!"
The dandy could only wail heart-wrenchingly, but then a thunderous roar boomed from midair:
"Insolent! Don't you dare harm my son!"
A figure manifested in the sky as a colossal palm swept through the air, pressing down with immense, majestic pressure! A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd:
"It's Wang Bakong, City Lord of Baiku!"
"Lin Feng is finished!"
Lin Feng showed not the slightest fear, standing proud and unyielding. From the other side, an old Daoist appeared and gently caught the man's spell. Beneath their feet, bones and corpses were sent flying in all directions, splattering black blood.
"This one is Bai Yinzi! It is rare to see such a genius; fellow Daoist, please stay your hand!"
Wang Bakong's face, normally imposing, warped with rage. He bellowed:
"Where did a rogue cultivator like you come from?! How dare you interfere in my affairs!"
Bai Yinzi had merely achieved Foundation Establishment by a stroke of luck, so his strength was naturally no match for his opponent. Yet, having encountered such an unpolished jade, he was loath to let him go. His scalp tingling, he quickly scooped up the youth from the ground, rode the wind into the sky, and called out:
"Since your noble son is unharmed, an apology should suffice! City Lord, why make such a fuss?!"
Standing quietly behind him, the youth cupped his fists in gratitude. "Senior acted with righteousness to save me. Lin Feng thanks you!"
"Ah."
Bai Yinzi shook his head. While keeping an eye on their pursuer behind them, he said, "It was merely an effortless gesture! Let us find a place to land in Jiangbei so we can have a proper talk!"
He had completely forgotten his intention to look into the local metallic poison. Behind them, Wang Bakong glared with wide eyes and was about to give chase when he heard the brocade-clad youth on the ground groaning. His tension breaking, the boy fainted away. Wang Bakong had no choice but to stop. His aging eyes reddened, and he cried out in heartache:
"What vicious methods this little beast uses!"
Tears brimmed in his fierce eyes as he helped the youth up, gnashing his teeth:
"Wang He refused to see me... making me wait at the foot of the mountain for several full months... all so that this fellow could take advantage of the opening and bring such a terrible disaster upon you..."
Lifting his eldest son with a grim expression, he thought viciously:
*So be it, then! So be it! I thought that since this place is close to the Duxian sect and my branch is close to Wang He, we ought to lean toward Duxian... I never expected him to be so heartless!*
Wang Bakong swept a sharp glare over the surroundings. The onlookers immediately dispersed, whispering among themselves. When the guards on both sides hurried forward, the Foundation Establishment cultivator slapped them fiercely across the face, sending them tumbling off the platform spitting blood.
*Useless trash!*
With a dark expression, he summoned someone over and whispered, "Is that Wang Quwan... currently cultivating in the Jiangbei area as well?"
The nearby cultivator nodded repeatedly and lowered his voice. "I hear he is indeed cultivating in this area... No one knows why he won't return to their branch's mountain... We've only heard that no matter which family's people go to visit, he shuts the door on all of them..."
"Understood."
Holding his son, Wang Bakong turned away. In his arms, Wang Xie, drenched in cold sweat, suddenly woke up. Trembling, his lips were still muttering words about an unyielding backbone of pride and sky-soaring ambition.
...
Lake Wangyue.
Another early autumn had arrived. The trees by the lake were dappled with falling red and yellow leaves. An old man rode the wind swiftly, landing before the grand hall. Before even stepping across the threshold, he bowed, seeing two figures standing within the hall from afar.
The person at the head wore crimson robes, holding a brush aloft in contemplation. Beside him stood a dignified woman dressed in palace attire, rolling an azure-colored round bead in her hand.
Seeing Qu Bushi come to pay respects, the man at the head first raised an eyebrow, then turned to Li Minggong:
"Grandaunt's words make sense. Since Zhuang Pingye is returning to the great desert, an admonition is indeed appropriate. Have him pass a message to Zhuang Cheng... tell them not to head toward Jiangbei."
He pondered for a moment. "Say that our family is at war with Duxian Dao, involving the Violet Palace, and it is fraught with danger. Tell the Zhuang family not to come east, lest something untoward happen... Zhuang Cheng is a prominent figure in the desert, after all, and shouldn't be deaf to advice... As for how much effect it will have..."
Li Jiangqian sighed softly and replied, "That depends on what the powers above desire. If they were meant to be involved, there will be no avoiding it no matter how they try."
Li Minggong nodded slightly. Li Jiangqian then said, "Deliver your report."
Only then did Qu Bushi step into the hall to bow, saying respectfully:
"Milord, Wang Xie has been defeated a second time... It is said he nearly lost his life this time; only his father's timely return saved him. His father intended to retaliate, but Lord... Lord Lin was rescued... by an old Foundation Establishment Daoist."
Qu Bushi was no fool. He had been involved in northern affairs all along and had contacts with Duxian Dao. Though he still did not know the full truth, he had already guessed that Lin Feng's identity was out of the ordinary. When he uttered "Lord Lin," Li Jiangqian paused slightly, but neither corrected him nor inquired about the Foundation Establishment cultivator's identity. Instead, he said with a serious expression:
"Did you carry things out according to my instructions?"
"Your subordinate strictly obeyed orders! Everything was gathered through tavern gossip. Strangely enough... perhaps because this matter was inherently entertaining, it spread with astonishing speed... It seemed everyone liked to chime in with a remark or two..."
Li Jiangqian nodded silently. Qu Bushi continued:
"On the other front... the news has already been conveyed to Lord Gong. He was deeply grateful and instructed me... saying news reached him that Protector Black Rat has uncovered the full story behind the ore vein, suspects Lord Lin, and personally traveled to Baiku Commandery, likely to meet Wang Bakong."
Li Jiangqian waved a hand to dismiss him, then looked toward Li Minggong and said softly:
"Chen Yang has been in charge of northern shore affairs. I hear Fei Qingya's cultivation speed is extraordinary. She was only at the fifth layer when she arrived, but now she has broken through to the sixth layer of Embryonic Breathing, outstripping the vast majority of our clan's direct line."
"Real Person Tinglan gave no instructions on what spiritual qi to bestow upon her... Nor did any directions arrive from Real Person Qiuhu... We can only have her consolidate her cultivation for now... We will likely have to make this decision ourselves."
Li Minggong pondered for a moment and replied, "What are your thoughts..."
Li Jiangqian smiled faintly and said, "[River clear qi]."
The Li family's *Jianghe Daling Scripture* had yet to be unsealed—how could they miss such a splendid opportunity? As long as Fei Qingya consumed [river clear qi], she would inevitably need follow-up techniques as she cultivated further. As long as she emerged from seclusion within three years and brought it up in passing, Lin Feng would very likely resolve this problem for the girl's sake!
What a host of Violet Palace cultivators could not achieve might not be impossible for a True Monarch!
Li Minggong's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. Li Jiangqian leaned back and chuckled:
"Protector Chen takes exceptional care of her. Terrified she might lack good techniques to practice, he not only gifted a portion of [river clear qi], but even found a rather respectable complementary cultivation method..."
"He said... since their techniques are similar, it will be easier to offer guidance."
Looking at his demeanor, Li Minggong shook her head with an amused yet helpless smile. "Who can blame Protector Chen for being so warm-hearted?"
Li Jiangqian laughed. "Yet Protector Chen also laments again and again that the clan's inherited scripture is sealed by secret arts, its method of opening lost, and who knows what manner of genius could possibly unravel it—a truly profound regret!"
Once the two had settled the matter, Li Jiangqian set down his brush and said:
"Protector Chen's family has certainly produced good children. They've reached adulthood now, gifted with high talent, and have already achieved Qi Refinement. They came to the clan to report their qi ingestion. One is his second son, Chen Jinxi, and there is also a nephew named Chen Jinbao. Both are quite remarkable. According to the Old Master, they are no worse than the An Xuanxin brothers."
This was the first time Li Minggong had heard such an evaluation. She looked up in slight surprise and nodded. "The Chen family is very discreet... I only knew of these few individuals, but never realized they could rival the two An brothers... Truly fine talent!"
Li Jiangqian nodded silently, caressing his jade cup as he replied, "Jiangliang has reached Qi Refinement as well, so it is just the right time to assign him an aide. The Chen clansmen are all well-known capable officials and diligent hands; rarely is any of them useless. This arrangement suits him well."
Li Minggong smiled and nodded, feeling a touch of fortunate relief rising in her heart:
*How fortunate that we have Zhouwei and a flourishing line of descendants. If not for him, relying only on Xinghan, Zhoufang, and at most Jiangzong and Zhouda, I fear we could never keep so many talents in check...*
Li Jiangqian, lost in thought, merely remarked casually:
"That Fei Qingyi is obedient enough. Now he doesn't even dare return to the northern shore, focusing day in and day out on managing affairs on the isle, seeming eager to atone for his faults. Aside from being somewhat clumsy in his actions, his attitude is quite earnest."
Li Minggong sighed and replied, "How could he not be earnest? The entire Fei family is watching with bated breath, terrified that you might be dissatisfied."
Li Jiangqian sneered softly and answered:
"This matter does not rest on me. The Fei family has their fortune. Fei Qingyi, Fei Qingyi, and Fei Qingya—whether for good or ill, these three have at least kept their lineage's breath alive!"
Chapter 880