"Wumu! What are you doing!"
Chiluo never imagined that the Lianmin before him—the one with the wondrous lotus-like hands behind his back—would remain completely motionless, floating serenely in the air despite having a face full of fury.
The Measureless Water-Fire on Wumu had clearly extinguished long ago, and he still retained eighty to ninety percent of his aura. Among this group of Lianmin, he was arguably in peak condition. Yet this old bastard refused to budge an inch.
"You—!"
Before Chiluo could finish his curse, the Great Void trembled violently, and an ear-splitting roar detonated beside his ears like thunder:
*"Roar—"*
Upon Mount Xiaoshi, the monks raised their heads. Fissures large and small connecting to the Great Void ripped across the sky. Dazzling golden qi mingled with precious radiance and poured out, only to turn into swaying pink lotuses and fluttering golden sand the instant they touched the mortal realm.
A streak of bright golden light escaped midair amidst scattering petals and golden sand. The pattern-covered Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus spiraled in the air with a mournful wail, looking extraordinarily dazzling against the white snow. Chiluo was momentarily stunned, crying in horror, "Daixi is injured!"
That single streak of light seemed to herald the collapse of the entire battlefield. The purple immortal pavilion floating in the air grew brighter and brighter. A middle-aged man with graying hair and beard stood atop the pavilion, positioned right before Ning Wan, the Autumn Lake Maiden.
Resting in his hand was that very Zifu spirit sword—pristine white throughout, etched with the Dark Snow Taiyin along its spine and adorned with scenes of autumn turning to winter.
*Ling Mei!*
Master Ling Mei of the Sword Sect! Ling Mei wielding Daxue Juefeng!
The difference between Daxue Juefeng in Ning Wan's hands and in Ling Mei's could truly be described as night and day. The Pure Land across the sky dissolved almost instantaneously. The multicolored lights, the thrones, the golden bodies—they all fled even faster than they had arrived, leaving behind only the swirling white snow.
Only now did Chiluo belatedly understand Wumu's behavior. Earlier, Ling Mei had undoubtedly used Li Ximing as bait, delivering a strike right off the bat that wounded Daixi despite his possession of the Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus! If it had been Chiluo instead, he might not even have had the chance to retreat to the Pure Land!
For hundreds of years, he had been at odds with Wumu. Yet today, he had been saved by the old monk's caution. Full of mixed feelings, he plunged into the Great Void at the very first moment.
*How cunning! Rumors had it this old bastard was moody and temperamental lately, slaughtering his own disciples. Where does he look even slightly senile? He is only growing more and more deceitful... He must be scheming for the Kongwu Path's next seat of enlightenment...*
Little did Chiluo know that on the other side, Wumu was also terrified to the point of weakness, not daring to look back at all. Muttering all sorts of frantic prayers in his heart, he bolted straight into the Great Void. The rest of the Lianmin likewise scattered in flight, each scrambling for their own survival.
Who would be willing to stay? Even Zhelu had dispersed his Pure Land! The only reason this Mohe remained behind was to prevent too many Lianmin of the Kongwu Path from falling. Otherwise, against a Master of the Taiyang lineage possessing Sword Dao Metal Virtue and armed with a Zifu spirit sword renowned for centuries, it would take the deaths of several golden lotus subordinates to satisfy his blade!
At the same time, fleeing in sheer terror was Master Luo, cloaked in black and dripping with sinister yin qi. The moment this Master laid eyes on Ling Mei, half his soul was scared right out of him. Pouring all his effort into driving his divine ability, he abandoned any thought of claiming credit and turned tail to flee.
The snowfall in the sky grew heavier. Mohe Zhelu had clearly grown wary. The thousands of eyes on his body blinked in unison, gathering pink and golden radiance. Master Kuiqi's expression relaxed; he landed beside the radiant purple pavilion, cradling his sword in silence.
Zhelu was visibly distinct from Daixi. His golden body was profound and vast, reaching to the heavens. His thunderous voice cascaded down through the heavy layers of clouds:
"So it is Fellow Daoist Ling Mei. Seeing such Sword Dao divine abilities, this Venerable One thought it was Louxing."
Ling Mei did not say a word, merely condensing golden qi onto his blade. Daxue Juefeng had not tasted the hands of an elite sword cultivator in many years; its light flickered, as if trembling with excitement.
At the mention of Louxing, a flicker of cold anger crossed Master Kuiqi's eyes. He was never one of mild temper, so how could he hold back? He opened his mouth and cursed:
"Old bald donkey, who the hell are you putting on airs for? If our Grand Master were here, would you dare bare even half your shiny bald head? If you're going to scram, scram sooner!"
"Back when the Grand Master of our house ran rampant with sword in hand, did you, Zhelu, dare let out a single squeak? Now that the Grand Master has been in seclusion for a few years, here you come barking like a mad dog!"
Kuiqi sneered without a shred of fear. "If you push our southern lands to the brink, let's see whether your golden body gets shattered first!"
Kuiqi's scathing curse smoothed Ling Mei's brow. Ning Wan, having been besieged inside the formation for days, also let out a breath of relief despite her naturally reserved demeanor, silently taking an elixir.
Meanwhile, Li Ximing emerged from the Great Void and supported Chen Yin in midair. The ancestor of the Chen family was deathly pale and had clearly sustained heavy injuries. Without hesitation, Li Ximing pulled out a Xuanque Heart-Channeling Medicine from his sleeve, pressed it into Chen Yin's hand, and whispered:
"Rest assured, Senior. This medicine was refined in the Lushui Path, specializing in healing and circulating qi... It aligns perfectly with your divine ability. Please consume it quickly."
Though both were Zifu Masters, Chen Yin's scarcity of elixirs clearly could not compare to someone like Li Ximing. The others belonged to the Taiyang lineage and lacked no fine treasures, leaving him in the most awkward predicament. He hurriedly offered his thanks and accepted it.
Subjected to this tirade, Zhelu in the sky showed neither anger nor haste. His tone remained measured, clear, and resonant:
"Though this Venerable One is no match for him, should I have the good fortune to receive Fellow Daoist Louxing's guidance, it would surely bring infinite benefit and immense joy..."
In the end, Master Ling Mei had not stepped past the threshold of Canzi. Though Zhelu was wary of him wielding a spirit sword, it was naturally not to the extent of fearing Grand Master Louxing. Master Ling Mei met his gaze coldly and said softly:
"No need to trouble the Senior. I shall seek your guidance instead."
The moment his words fell, Zhelu had already retreated into the Great Void. Kuiqi vanished from the purple immortal pavilion at the same time. The colors over Mount Xiaoshi dissolved as dark clouds reclaimed the sky, leaving the world gloomy and dim, with only the thick layer of accumulated snow upon the ground.
The kaleidoscopic hues of Daxue Juefeng pierced into the Great Void, transforming into myriad shapes. Gentle moonlight mingled with chilling radiance, instantly flooding the pitch-black void.
The Great Void was supposed to be completely empty, yet now even the darkness receded like a tide. Zhelu's golden body was equally terrifying in size, with thousands of arms sprouting from his back. At the center of each palm opened an eye, appearing both noble and grotesque.
As these tens of thousands of eyes opened simultaneously, each pupil took on a dark cyan-black shade. With slight tremors, they cast forth dazzling pink brilliance, resembling a peacock spreading its tail in blinding splendor.
Master Ling Mei unleashed only a single strike.
Flowing with white snow and reflecting the light of autumn, this sword strike surged upstream against the river-like pink brilliance, thrusting straight toward Zhelu's face. In an instant, the Great Void shook and rumbled, detonating with boundless radiance.
With such a battle erupting in the Great Void, ripples constantly mirrored into the mortal realm. Cascades of golden snow darted through the sky, dissolving before they could even hit the ground. The several Zifu cultivators all showed varying expressions of astonishment.
*What an awe-inspiring sword light!*
Lingering so close to the northern Buddhist cultivators was already extremely dangerous. With Ling Mei and Zhelu locked in battle in the Great Void, the clear priority was for the others to depart swiftly. Li Ximing glanced around and flew closer on his light. Ning Wan atop the purple immortal pavilion coughed twice, spitting up a bit of blood that sent a dusting of fine snow drifting over Mount Xiaoshi once more. Her complexion, however, gradually regained some color, clearly improving.
Seeing Li Ximing approach, Ning Wan raised her willowy brows and said softly, "Greetings, Zhaojing... My sincere thanks for this day."
It was Li Ximing's first time meeting her as well. He cupped his hands politely and replied, "It was only right."
At this moment, the purple immortal pavilion beneath their feet finally shifted. Streaming light scattered as it shrunk into a palm-sized pavilion. Master Tinglan finally revealed herself, cradling the small pavilion in her hands.
The divine ability and magic power of this woman were dim and lusterless, her face drained of color, looking thoroughly exhausted. Most critically, her foundation seemed to have been shaken; purple qi roiled and dispersed around her, and her divine ability flickered unstably. Compared to her, Ning Wan had barely suffered any significant harm.
Seeing Li Ximing, Tinglan pulled herself together, looking slightly surprised. Exhaling a breath, she said, "I have troubled you all, Fellow Daoists... Fellow Daoist Zhaojing was far away in the East Sea, yet you still had to make this trip..."
Li Ximing was more familiar with her than with Ning Wan. Seeing her condition, he bowed in courtesy and replied, "You were trapped, Fellow Daoist; naturally, I had to return to aid you!"
Chen Yin was clearly unfamiliar with the two women. He merely nodded without saying much. Together, the four vanished into the Great Void, crossed the river, and made their way back to the Ziyan Blessed Land. Tinglan swallowed another elixir and lowered her gaze:
"I will not waste words on thanks. My injuries are severe and cannot be delayed. I shall hold this assistance close to heart. Allow me first to stabilize my divine ability... I will leave matters to Daoist Ning for now..."
From her sleeve, she produced a circular formation plate with a gray-gold base etched with purple patterns, along with a jade slip, and handed both to Ning Wan. Only then did she offer Li Ximing a faint, strained smile:
"Your clan's grand array... there is no need to worry. Master Ning possesses astonishing talent in the Dao of formations. Unlike a half-baked dabbler like me who forced herself to learn, her cultivation will soon surpass mine, and she has far more wondrous ideas. It is best entrusted to her."
Ning Wan nodded silently. Having struggled together between life and death, she had grown much closer to Tinglan. She said softly, "Leave it to me, Elder Sister. Please focus on nursing your wounds."
Tinglan held fast to the purple jade pavilion, seemingly using it to temporarily suppress her injuries, then transformed into a streak of purple qi and darted down into the blessed land.
Li Ximing breathed a faint sigh of relief, feeling that this ordeal had finally concluded, and let down his guard.
Without the Chongyang Governing Star Treasure Plate, Kuiqi's task would undoubtedly have been treacherous, and injury would have been guaranteed. Fortunately, Great Xiukui Abbey had been generous with their rewards. Throughout the ordeal, the only real peril had been Daixi, but that Mohe was forced back by Ling Mei's single strike, allowing Li Ximing to emerge completely unscathed.
Yet reflecting on the matter, he still found it incredible. Others might not know the full picture, but Li Ximing had witnessed it with his own eyes:
*Just one strike...*
One had to remember that Daixi had exerted his full might, deploying the renowned Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus. Yet Ling Mei's single sword strike had first damaged the Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus—scarring the precious artifact and cleaving away its colored brilliance—then shattered Daixi's protective treasure light, and finally slashed his throat with a strike that sent him fleeing in disgrace!
Even though Ling Mei had gathered momentum in advance and seized the absolute initiative, Daixi's artifact was also a borrowed treasure. Had it not been for the Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus, that horse head of his likely wouldn't have been preserved...
"Master Ling Mei truly possesses the might of a sword immortal..."
Li Ximing could never believe that someone capable of unleashing such a sword strike lacked sword intent. As he voiced his sigh of admiration, Chen Yin beside him, also a practitioner of the sword, sighed in agreement:
"Senior Ling Mei's attainment in the Sword Dao has reached the pinnacle. Even without sword intent upon him, he commands immense reverence. Even the Tomb-Robbing Sword Immortal of Lake Qize in the State of Wu often visits to pay respects, admitting inferiority and never managing to gain an advantage in their spars."
"Without sword intent, he already commands the might of a sword immortal. If he were to grasp sword intent, his sword light today... would surely be even more terrifying."
Li Ximing nodded in marvel on the surface, but doubt crept into his heart. Riding the wind toward the lake, he asked, "I am somewhat puzzled. After sword origin comes sword intent... Without passing through sword intent, how could one achieve a sword might surpassing sword intent itself? It seems the Sword Sect's sword manual must truly be world-shaking..."
Chen Yin nodded slightly, seemingly holding the same conjecture. Ning Wan's expression was complicated, as if she had not fully recovered from the northern encirclement. Hearing Li Ximing's question, she replied with waning enthusiasm:
"Sword intent must precede divine abilities. Once a divine ability is formed, no matter how profound one's Sword Dao cultivation is... one is forever cut off from sword intent. Unless it is that method from the ancient texts, 'Nurturing the Azure Sky'..."
*'Nurturing the Azure Sky'... the Young Sword Immortal Wang of yesteryear...*
Li Ximing nodded, lost in thought as they traveled over the lake. The trio emerged from the Great Void and descended onto Mount Zhijing, which was blanketed with gardenia trees. The white jade pillars, some fallen and some standing, remained in their places, yet the ground had been swept clean, and the round table and stools were arranged just as before.
The jade pitcher had even been filled with fresh water, prepared for Li Ximing's return at any time.
Li Ximing had not returned for many years. Seeing this familiar scene stirred his emotions. Sweeping his sleeve, he said, "My humble abode is plain. Please pardon the simplicity, you two."
The two did not stand on ceremony and took their seats one after the other. Li Ximing began brewing tea. Ning Wan appeared somewhat uneasy, lowering her eyes as she spoke softly:
"This time... it was all thanks to Senior Tinglan's full protection that I avoided major harm. As for the affairs along the river... now that they have been entrusted to me, I must trouble Zhaojing for your assistance in the future."
"That goes without saying."
Li Ximing still felt unsettled in his heart. This time, he had preserved himself, and the overall situation had not turned sour; he had escaped uninjured. Yet seeing Tinglan's state just now... no matter how miraculous the spirit elixirs of Ziyan were, she would have no strength to act anytime soon. He asked, "How did matters reach such a state?"
Ning Wan shook her head. "There was abnormal movement on Mount Xiaoshi, and Tinglan suspected someone was making a move. Little did we expect our fates had tilted toward the northern Buddhist cultivators, allowing the Kongwu Path to take advantage and orchestrate an ambush against us... We never anticipated the Buddhist cultivators could divine our tracks, so we were careless."
"Fortunately, we had the Zizuo Muling Pavilion. Such a spirit treasure possesses wondrous power to repel external enemies, and Zhelu was wary of the trump cards in our hands. With Daxue Juefeng also in my possession, we had intended to break out of the array... but Tinglan was guarded against other Mohe waiting outside, fearing we would be suppressed again the moment we broke free, so we held our ground."
"Later, the grand array shook several times, and we noticed the traces of many Lianmin vanishing. Knowing reinforcements had arrived to rescue us, we finally gritted our teeth and shattered the array..."
Chen Yin, clearly seeing the bigger picture, added, "Senior Ling Mei was also waiting for the right moment... Had he intervened rashly, not only would it have been difficult to ensure our safe retreat, but he would also have struggled to answer to his sect... Once Master Ning and Daxue Juefeng showed themselves, he had justification to strike..."
Li Ximing pondered his words thoughtfully. Ning Wan said, "I have heard that the Sword Sect is excessively rigid... Those elders genuinely wish to withdraw from the world, yet the Chenghua Hall allows the disciples to petition collectively and summon the Sword Canon for oversight. If Senior Ling Mei had not stabilized the Cheng family in advance... how could there be even this bit of freedom today?"
Chen Yin was not of the Taiyang lineage, so he naturally remained silent, saying not a word. Li Ximing said nothing either, pouring tea for her. After a long while, Chen Yin set down his cup and finally spoke:
"Regarding today's matter... Fellow Daoist Luo from the Southern Border also contributed. It is just that when he clashed with the Lianmin earlier, he may have sustained injuries... and having little trust in us, he took his leave first."
Having invited the man, Chen Yin was bound by obligation and could hardly stay silent about him. He clearly did not want further dealings with the man either, yet he had accompanied them all the way to the lake precisely to deliver this single statement.
Sure enough, Ning Wan frowned in doubt. "Master Luo... I have never heard of him..."
Though Chen Yin had to mention him, the man was no righteous character, and the party across the table belonged to the Taiyang lineage, so Chen Yin did not cover for him in the slightest. He replied:
"Daoist Ning need not worry. He is no old acquaintance of Qingchi. He merely has flaws in his lineage that need mending, and harboring designs on a certain secret manual within Qingchi's hidden vault, he stepped forward to help."
Ning Wan sank into thought. Chen Yin lifted his sleeves and said with polite formality, "Now that I have left the Chen clan and revealed myself on the river, petty schemers will inevitably plot against us. I must return swiftly to handle the shifting situation, so I will not intrude any longer..."
Seeing that he was about to depart, Li Ximing hesitated slightly and asked, "What of Senior Ling Mei's side...?"
"No need to worry. Even if Master Cheng is devoted to cultivation and rarely appears in the world, he would certainly keep watch over such a major event... His Sword Dao and cultivation may not match Senior Ling Mei's, but he is nonetheless a high cultivator of Metal Virtue. Nothing will go amiss..."
Ning Wan also looked up and remarked, "Among all the sects, the Buddhist cultivators fear the Sword Sect most. No matter how powerful other lineages are, leaving behind contingencies is never easy; some predecessors cannot leave behind anything at all... Yet sword intent can be preserved within a blade, passed down through generation after generation... Such trump cards are the greatest among all the sects."
"Perhaps our methods could at best destroy one of his golden bodies, but if the Sword Sect is pushed to the brink, slaying a Mohe would be no difficult task... and it wouldn't even shake much of the Sword Sect's foundations."
Chen Yin nodded, let out a sigh, offered a hurried bow, and rode the wind away.
With his departure, Ning Wan relaxed considerably. Leaning against the jade table, a trace of exhaustion showed on her face as she said softly, "The Li clan has had it hard all these years. If Junior Brother Chijing were still here, he too would be a foremost figure today... The Chi family got what they deserved... I warned them long ago, yet I never expected Heyuan to be dragged down with them."
This was reminiscing. As for whether the Chi family truly got what they deserved, perhaps Ning Wan thought so, but Li Ximing harbored no such lofty notions. Had Chi Buzi remained in the sect, the Chi family would still be thriving happily today, and Li Ximing would still have had to bow his head before Chi Buzi... Thus, he merely replied:
"Their fortunes waned and their power deteriorated, aligning with the vengeance of those under their rule. The Ning clan has also gained liberation..."
Ning Wan smiled, retrieved a small box from her sleeve, set it on the jade table, and said softly:
"It has been hard on you to make this journey, Fellow Daoist. I am not well acquainted with Senior Chen Yin and will have to visit his doors later to express my gratitude, but between our two families, there is no need for empty formalities... Having disrupted your cultivation to rush tens of thousands of li from the East Sea, you must be compensated."
"This is a cultivation material known as the Chongli Treasure Leaf. It was obtained from the Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, fallen from a spiritual flower planted beside the Suyuan Flower. It is a Zifu cultivation material of the Lihuo Path..."
She opened the box. Neatly resting inside was a crimson elongated leaf curled within the container, its purple-black veins faintly glowing. Ning Wan had only recently achieved Zifu, so where would she get so many fine treasures? Naturally, it was left behind by Master Yuansu of the Ning clan.
*A Lihuo cultivation material?*
Li Ximing had once received a Jiaomu cultivation material as a return gift from the Sword Sect. Zifu cultivation materials could not compare to spiritual items; though of the Zifu grade, most were merely peripheral scraps of Zifu spiritual items, yet they were still far from easy to come by. For Ning Wan to present this specifically caught Li Ximing off guard.
Coming to Ning Wan's rescue was indeed a small favor, but Kuiqi had led the effort and even paid the compensation for his aid. Ning Wan's gesture was an unmistakable bid to forge deep ties. She said softly:
"Lihuo clashes with my path, so keeping it serves no purpose for me. Since Zhaojing excels in alchemy, it will only find its greatest use in your hands."
Holding it felt somewhat hot to the touch, and Li Ximing could only say, "I thank you for your kind intentions, Fellow Daoist. But I can hardly accept such a weighty gift. Let us treat it as your entrustment; should it be refined into an elixir one day, I shall send one to you."
After all, Lihuo items were of great value to the Li clan. Not only was Mingyang connected to Lihuo, but Li Jiangqian also cultivated the Lihuo Path below, so Li Ximing naturally could not bear to return it. Ning Wan, however, took his words as mere polite formality and nodded gently:
"Matters between the north and south are troublesome right now, and the Buddhist cultivators are meddling once again. The Zifu grand array cannot be delayed; if it is not erected, future matters will only become more vexing."
"I read the jade slip on the way. Senior Tinglan's design is exquisite, but the trickiest part is the thirty-two profound nails. Give me three days; once you and I drive these thirty-two profound nails into the island to commune with the earth veins, we can proceed."
Li Ximing wished nothing more than for her to act sooner. His divine ability was still slightly turbulent and required a brief period of breath regulation, but having already swallowed an elixir, these things would naturally recover with time. Casting caution aside, he said seriously:
"No matter. I have the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger, so communing with the earth veins is well within my power. Regulate your magic power first, and I shall drive the mountain-piercing profound nails!"
For the first time since their arrival, Ning Wan showed a genuine smile and chuckled. "There is no need to rush, Zhaojing. Elder Sister Tinglan fixed the positions several years ago; if there have been shifts in the earth veins over these past few years, the critical nodes might be misaligned... We also need to wait a few days for the two Masters; it is best to meet with them both."
Ning Wan was evidently quick-witted. She let out a light laugh and reminded him, "Moreover... Senior Kuiqi possesses quite high attainment in the Dao of formations. The lineages of Xiukui and Hengzhu are complete, excelling in both alchemy and formations... Those are all inheritances of the Yuanfu tier! Just asking for his input could bring tremendous benefit to your clan's array!"
"Rest assured, I won't need to show him the formation plate. I will merely ask for his perspective on the earth vein nodes. Once Tinglan's profound nails are driven in, the shifts in the earth veins will blend into the array, so there is no need to fear any secrets being leaked..."
Li Ximing nodded inwardly. This woman was truly thorough. She had clearly spoken under the assumption that Li Ximing possessed some knowledge of formations. Unable to comprehend the technicalities anyway, he merely nodded with solemn conviction.
Thereupon, he sat cross-legged atop the jade pillar. As light and darkness intertwined across heaven and earth, he still carried the spirit artifact from Xiukui in his sleeve. The Chongyang Governing Star Treasure Plate emitted a faint Mingyang radiance, making his Audience at the Heavenly Gate even more vibrant.
Chapter 894