Back then, when Chu Yi stirred up trouble in Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, it had tumbled from the Great Void. Countless spiritual items and magical artifacts fell into the mountains, causing spiritual vitality to surge across Mount Dongli. Multi-hued spiritual qi drifted everywhere, nourishing an untold number of cultivators.
Among Jiangnan's Three Sects and Seven Gates, the better-off made a fortune, while even the lesser ones managed to get a share of the spoils. Real Person Qiushui and Real Person Yuansu, who presided over the matter, had obtained no telling how many treasures…
Now, with this grotto-heaven falling, the magical sword the Li family was determined to claim was right before their eyes; it absolutely could not be lost. If such a momentous event truly unfolded, they would likely have to cross the river and fight for it.
‘It won't be easy…’
If Real Person Tinglan lingered and did not return, without this Real Person overseeing the overall situation, how could Jiangbei allow people from the Three Sects and Seven Gates to come and go as they pleased? Even if Real Person Tinglan did return, she still could not compare to Qiushui and Yuansu back then. Both of those figures hailed from the era of Li Jiangqun; Qiushui had a Golden Core behind him, and the Solar Dao lineage at that time was even able to march in file, carving up territories to scour the grotto-heaven!
This thought only deepened his worries.
If Real Person Tinglan could replicate the past deeds of Yuansu and Qiushui, then even if the probability of the sword falling into the Li family's hands was minuscule, there was still a chance to trade for it afterward. Yet if Tinglan lost control over Jiangbei, who the grotto-heaven would ultimately belong to and how it would be settled would become an utter mystery.
Li Jiangqian gathered several jade slips, instructing someone to make rubbings of them and deliver them to the clan. Li Quewan reminded him:
“With both Real Person Tinglan and Real Person Qiuhu absent, since Li Quantao has come to inquire, we must reply to him. His intentions toward our family are wholly sincere; we should still do our best… our best to help him out.”
Li Jiangqian glanced at Li Minggong beside them. Seeing her nod in agreement, he nodded as well.
“That is true. After all, it is an acquaintance of many years. Let us reply this way… Tell him to let the person pass, saying that the Real Person has disappeared for now and upheaval may arise in Jiangbei. Advise him to be cautious in word and deed, and to proceed with utmost care.”
Naturally, Li Jiangqian would not disclose too much. Before the other two could respond, he asked with suspicion, “Did Li Quantao mention that descendant of his?”
“He did not,” Li Quewan replied. “Once that young man entered Jiangbei, it was like casting a stone into the ocean—not a ripple was raised. He hasn't sent back any letters either; we only know his life jade remains intact.”
Listening, Li Jiangqian finished drafting the reply and said, “Then all the more reason not to say too much. Let it be like this… Assure him that with the prestige of Qingchi, the factions in Jiangbei won't dare harm his child… He may rest assured.”
Having waited all this while, Li Minggong finally spoke up:
“I did hear of one matter, however. That retired king of Northern Shanyue, someone named Di Liyoujie, came to the lake recently to pay his respects. He said he is preparing to make an attempt at Foundation Establishment and hopes to receive the lake's grace.”
“Di Liyoujie?”
Li Jiangqian furrowed his brows. He was somewhat familiar with the name, so he replied:
“I remember him. Sitting on the throne of Northern Shanyue for so many years, he has finally reached this point. His junior, Di Liguang, is still serving Uncle Zhou Luo as a loyal retainer. What cultivation method does he practice?”
“‘Geng Metal,’” Li Minggong answered with a smile. “He prepared that technique of his. Although it's crude and unpresentable, our clan has techniques of the same qi that can replace it, showing that he put thought into it. I plan to take him to the clan to take a look, switch his technique, and send him into secluded cultivation…”
Li Jiangqian agreed, giving his consent. Li Minggong said softly:
“Also, I heard the Thirty-Two Mansions Purple Broad Spirit Needles in the clan are nearing completion, so I came to ask you about it.”
“I know.” Li Jiangqian shook his head; he had been overseeing this matter all along and knew it best. “It is indeed nearly done. The immense inventory expended on this Purple Mansion formation is unprecedented in a century. It has almost drained our family's related spiritual resources, and even drove up the price of such resources across all of northern Yue by half a percent. In the later stages, we even subsidized it with quite a bit of spiritual rice to compensate Ziyan Gate.”
The Li family's system differed from other clans, so their yield of spiritual rice ranked among the top few across Yue's Purple Mansion powers. When things like spiritual rice were abundant, their value dropped, so Ziyan Gate had evidently done them a favor.
“The next step requires a Purple Mansion cultivator to lay out the formation. Yet Real Person Tinglan is missing… Even if she were not missing, with her absent, we wouldn't dare let another family's Purple Mansion set up the formation alone… It will likely have to wait two years.”
Li Minggong nodded. “This formation is not urgent. The important thing is that once it is finished, we see off the people from Ziyan Gate first… Tensions between north and south are currently unsettled. Daoist Cao's affair set a precedent, and if others come to the lake to take disciples, more of that will only bring trouble.”
Having said her piece, Li Minggong drifted away. Only then did Li Jiangqian sigh:
“Senior has cultivated fine flames these past years. Having forged her way through the strife between north and south, she has grown increasingly formidable.”
Although Li Minggong was not as exceptionally brilliant as Li Chengrong, as her years advanced, her cultivation had deepened, granting her the qualifications to serve as a peak master among the Three Sects and Seven Gates. Li Quewan agreed, then reminded him:
“Jiangliang is growing older. You could have him return to see Qingdu and Mount Yuting. It's time for him to walk about and test his mettle.”
Li Jiangqian nodded thoughtfully, yet did not rush to issue orders, letting her take her leave. He paced around the great hall and looked toward the north; heavy rain still poured relentlessly beneath a canopy of dark clouds.
‘If the Guiming Dark Medallion is truly Real Person Tinglan's plot… which faction does not want the Solar Dao lineage to profit from it…?’
He strode forward, only to notice the dense rain clouds in the sky parted by a streak of light flashing from afar. It landed on the islet, followed shortly by approaching footsteps. Chen Yang, clad in black armor, came before him and halted with a bow:
“Patriarch, news has come from Qingchi in the south: an esteemed lord of Hengzhu Dao has broken through to Purple Mansion and proved his divine ability, taking the Daoist name ‘Nanzun.’”
“Hengzhu Dao?” Li Jiangqian was momentarily stunned, feeling a slight twinge of regret. “From which generation?”
Chen Yang hesitated briefly before replying, “It is said this Real Person spent nearly thirty years to break through successfully, but his seniority is immense, close to Real Person Hengxing. His mortal name is Bi Chengjuan.”
“Bi Chengjuan… I have never heard of him.”
Li Jiangqian nodded silently. It was indeed a name he had never heard. He could only sigh:
“Whether Hengzhu Dao owes it to a marvelous blessed land or some clever method, their fortune is truly immense. Adding another Purple Mansion, they are now poised to become the paramount Dao lineage holding sway over Yue!
“It is only a pity that this Dao lineage… has an eccentric temperament… out of step with the others… and has even made an enemy of Jinyu. I know not whether this is good or ill!”
After a moment's contemplation, he added, “In terms of courtesy and reason, we must send someone to offer congratulations. Reply to Qingchi as well: say that the Real Person has not manifested her divine ability for quite some time, and ask if they can contact her to issue a word of caution to Dantai Jin.”
* * *
Mount Xiaoshi.
The mountain range of Mount Xiaoshi undulated with sparse, desolate vegetation. Under the rare, violent downpour, it appeared even bleaker. Pale-yellow rainwater cascaded down the mountain gullies, carrying away what little sandy soil remained.
Pouring downward, the sandy runoff followed tributaries eastward, swiftly joining the ruined course of the Ancient Huai River and emptying into Baijiang Creek.
Amidst this torrential rain, several illusory splendors of divine abilities hovered within the dark clouds. Standing in the heavy night sky was a brown-robed man with pale-gray eyes, his hands clasped behind his back as he trod upon a divine ability resembling dark light, his gaze sweeping across the mountains.
Mount Xiaoshi had once been the mountain gate of the Mifan Sect and the source of today's Mifan Dao lineage. Though it had been occupied by Buddhist cultivators once, the broken walls and ruins blanketing the mountains still carried an ancient resonance, looking all the more sorrowful in the deluge.
With just a single glance, he brought his hands together before his chest and blew out a gust of dark-yellow luster that spread across the land. He then concentrated on operating his divine ability, seemingly searching and deducing something.
To the other side stood a red-robed woman with a youthful countenance. She stood half a step behind him, keeping her head slightly lowered in great deference. She murmured:
“Master Kuiqi… have you found anything?”
This woman was naturally Real Person Zhugong. Hailing from the overseas regions, she cultivated the virtue of Earth and had been called a demonic cultivator in her early years. Facing this cultivator of the Solar Dao lineage, she was naturally filled with reverence.
The brown-robed man had resolute features. His eyes fixed on the mountains as he shook his head. “I cannot discern clearly. We must wait. In any case, the northern Buddhists cannot escape blame… and there's more than one sect involved.”
Real Person Zhugong instantly felt troubled, a trace of panic surfacing on her face. She evidently knew of the matter regarding the Praying to the Mysterious Heavens for Hearing, and whispered:
“What should we do then? If it truly is Pijia and the others, how can two early-stage Purple Mansions withstand them? If something goes wrong, it will be earth-shattering…”
“Just him?”
Real Person Kuiqi was clearly far calmer than she was, even knitting his brows in slight annoyance. He held little affection for Zhugong in his heart, only treating her courteously for Tinglan's sake. Facing such a crucial moment, he still managed to speak amicably:
“It isn't just Pijia; Pijia alone couldn't accomplish this. When Senior Zipei snatched the metal essence back then, she seized it from the hands of a crowd of monks, offending that veteran Mohe, Zhelu, who already possessed the strength of late Purple Mansion!
“I was not present at the time, nor do I know which other factions were involved… If they strike together, that will be real trouble.”
Hearing this, Real Person Zhugong grew even more uneasy, her heart sinking instantly:
‘Though this Kuiqi acts courteous on the surface, down to his bones he still has the haughty arrogance of the Solar Dao lineage. He bears me no goodwill whatsoever; getting close to him will bring no good end!’
Though on guard, her resolve to rescue Tinglan remained firm. For now, she had no choice but to follow him, lowering her brows and restraining her aura. Meanwhile, Kuiqi said solemnly:
“No need to worry excessively. Now that we have arrived here, they cannot hide for long. Tinglan and Ning Wan will suffer minor injuries at most. These Buddhist cultivators harbor their own ulterior motives; it is impossible for them to completely fall out with our Solar Dao lineage… What's more, those two possess countless treasures. Nothing dire will happen.”
Hearing this, Zhugong breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Kuiqi soon released the brilliance in his hands, as though dispelling some concealment, and began calculating with his fingers.
Yet at that very moment, the torrential rain abruptly ceased. Limitless rainbow light erupted from the heavens, transforming into an immense curtain of light that descended from the sky, bearing down with overwhelming majesty. Real Person Kuiqi reacted with astonishing speed. The deduction in his hands vanished at once, and a bronze sword flew out from his sleeve.
This bronze sword bore an iron-green hue, hung with a golden tassel. Agile as a swallow, it soared into the sky, temporarily resisting that rainbow light.
*Boom! Boom!*
Dark light and radiant colors clashed between heaven and earth, illuminating the surroundings with brilliant hues and instantly scattering the nearby dark clouds. Kuiqi's voice turned frigid:
“Which Mohe is present here?”
A rainbow reminiscent of a blessed land manifested in the sky. Within it sat a solemn, majestic golden body, coiled with a black serpent. Upon its neck rested a long head resembling a horse's, with two large, round eyes shining with blackish light. It split its maw and laughed:
“Fellow Daoist Kuiqi! Your fame precedes you!”
This Mohe was exceedingly hideous. While he might strike terror into mortal hearts, in the eyes of cultivators of equal cultivation, he was merely repulsive. Real Person Kuiqi glared at him, a look of disgust crossing his face, his expression turning even colder as he spoke:
“So it is Mohe Daixi. Instead of lingering in that wretched hole of yours, what, do you intend to make a move to bar my way?!”
Seeing his expression, Mohe Daixi's smile remained unfazed as he replied, “Your renowned name has long reached my ears, and I wished to spar a little. I wonder whether Fellow Daoist's Dahe Kui Bronze Sword is superior, or if my Kongxi Demon-Subduing Bowl is a cut above?”
As soon as his voice fell, a smooth-surfaced, massive purple bowl manifested, bound by a purplish-black rim, spewing forth raging karmic fire.
“Daixi!”
Kuiqi was well-traveled and knowledgeable, whereas Zhugong had spent many years in the East Sea and was unfamiliar with these Buddhist cultivators. Only now, upon seeing this hallmark magical artifact, did she recognize the figure before them, finally piecing together the causes and effects:
‘So it is another enemy forged by Real Person Zipei! Back then on the river, she deliberately prevented them from harvesting someone's destined lifespan, forcefully preserving that Li Xuanfeng. She caused them to lose several Masters and humiliated them, a grudge this Mohe has nursed ever since…
‘In her late years, that grand Real Person acted far too overbearing, making far too many enemies… Now that she has passed away, retribution has arrived!’
Her heart trembled with fear, yet she saw Kuiqi sneer. He drew his sword and rose, trailing a swathe of dark brilliance. Divine abilities flashed across midair as he barked:
“That makeshift treasure of yours dares to compare itself with a spiritual artifact of my Xiukui lineage? Then let us test it!”
The Xiukui lineage was bizarre and versatile, and he was outfitted entirely with spiritual artifacts—how could he fear a newly ascended Mohe before him? He even reckoned he had a chance to wound Daixi before continuing his search for Tinglan.
He did not fear, but beside him, Real Person Zhugong felt her scalp tingle, uncertain whether to stay or flee. Before she could ponder further, numerous figures manifested on both flanks amidst swirling white mist. Immense golden bodies with three heads and six arms, multitude of faces, and echoing Sanskrit chants appeared one after another.
It was indeed Mohe Daixi's host of Lianmin!
These Lianmin were not as massive as the golden body in the sky, but their expressions were varied as they gradually emerged from the Great Void, one by one.
“One, two… four, five…”
Five Lianmin!
Mohe Daixi was a newly ascended Mohe, and these five Lianmin beneath him likely represented his entire foundation! Even if there were more, it could not be by much. Deploying in full force now proved the depth of his hatred!
And five Lianmin joining forces was enough to pose a lethal danger to her life!
Zhugong stood frozen in place, watching the five Lianmin emerge in succession around them. Lacking any of Kuiqi's bravado, her expression was one of wretched dread, waves of chill rising from the depths of her heart.
‘It's over!’
Chapter 886