Boundless

The waters of the vast marsh stretched endlessly. Chengshui Marsh was thick with towering firs, its surface smooth as a mirror and cast in shades of verdant blue, bearing an appearance wholly distinct from the lakes. Li Ximing advanced riding the heavenly light, moving in utter silence, colors concealed. After flying more than ten li, he noticed that cultivators had grown surprisingly numerous, each looking down and searching for something. Farther off stood a small water cave, beside which several pavilions had been erected, heavily guarded by a contingent of cultivators. Li Ximing swept his spiritual sense over the area and immediately perceived the surging, extraordinary water veins flowing beneath. His senior, Li Qinghong, had mentioned this place before: a rare channel where earth veins and water veins ran continuously straight to the East Sea, connecting all the way to the maritime domain of Chunyi Dao. Looking at it now, the Chengyun Sect had already taken control of it. Yet what brought him to a halt was not the peculiarity of the site, but a shard of a magical artifact that the cultivators below were scrambling to seize. It gleamed purple-red, smooth and sharp. Li Ximing glanced at it and gave a light flick of his sleeve. A gust of howling wind stirred, accompanied by heavenly light streaming downward that forced all the cultivators to squeeze their eyes shut. In the blink of an eye, the shard leapt into the air, flying up into the hands of Li Ximing high amidst the clouds. It struck him as familiar. Looking closely, the fragment appeared to have broken off a massive purple-red cauldron. Judging by the patterns on its surface and the fine texture of the fracture, it had likely shattered into hundreds or thousands of pieces, scattered far and wide... "It belonged to Yu Yuwei... The bronze cauldron stamped with an imprint from the Tuoba clan fell into my hands... and I gave it to Li Quantao... No wonder hundreds of cultivators are gathered here searching for it. After all, it is the shard of a Foundation Establishment magical artifact. Small as it is, it is still of considerable value." Yu Yuwei had been slain by Chunyi Dao, and the artifact had fallen into Qiuxin's hands before ultimately being presented to Li Ximing. The Yu family was a scattered heap of sand incapable of achieving anything, which ended up benefiting Li Quantao. Because it had passed through his hands, the memory remained fresh, and seeing it now, it was indeed that cauldron. The cauldron had been an heirloom of the Yu family, forged from materials that were by no means poor. In the past, even when struck by an ancient artifact of the Tuoba clan, it had merely sustained a mark. To shatter this cauldron into such a state required might that hardly resembled that of Foundation Establishment. His brows twitched, and he thought, *Li Quantao was truly recalled on an emergency? Yet he never sent a single letter back to the clan after returning to the sect...* The arrangements made by Ning Wan and Tinglan had subtly pointed toward the Hongxue Sect. At that time, Jiangbei was in total chaos; the Taiyang lineage could barely look after itself, scouring every quarter for allies to aid them. Li Quantao's demise would not have been surprising, nor was there any need to hide it... Yet they insisted on saying he had been recalled, only for him never to show his face. That was truly food for thought. *If he isn't in seclusion to nurse severe wounds, then Qingchi must have stumbled upon some great opportunity... With Ning Wan having to keep her eyes on the north, she has no energy to spare for such meddling. After all is said and done, who knows whose fortune this will turn out to be!* If Li Quantao had truly obtained a stroke of luck, Ning Wan was inherently generous and principled, not one to resort to extreme measures. But for Li Quantao, with the Violet Palace masters tied up elsewhere, would it not be better if he did not have to share it with others? Li Ximing merely chuckled and shook his head. Tossing the shard back down, he mounted the light and took off. After flying for only a short while, he suddenly noticed the jade talisman at his waist growing faintly warm—clearly indicating someone on their side was nearby. Li Ximing was slightly taken aback. Releasing the divine ability suppressing the talisman, he saw water ripples stir, and a figure came soaring upon the wind. The man possessed a fairly proper countenance, yet his black robe was densely covered with eye-like designs, lending an eerie aura to his otherwise respectable face. Li Ximing recognized the garment at once and took a step back, answering cautiously, "Fellow Daoist Luo!" This person was none other than the native Real Person from the Southern Border's Wu State, Real Person Luo, who had joined hands with them to lend assistance in the past! The Real Person came forward with a smile, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing! Long time no see!" He had originally been one of the Shanyue people, bearing an ungainly name like Jiao Zhongzi or Fu Daimu, but because it began with the sound *luo*, he claimed the surname Luo to flatter the Taiyang cultivators. At present, his face was all smiles as he said, "Having received the word from Fellow Daoist Ning, I just came out of Mount Tangdao and rode the wind over to assist you, Fellow Daoist!" Li Ximing turned the thoughts over in his mind and immediately grasped the situation. *Kuiqi plans to travel with Chunyi Dao. Even if they are not all of Taiyang origin, they are at least orthodox sects of pure pedigree, so taking him along would be awkward. Who knows—the moment Chunyi Dao lays eyes on him, they might draw their swords first...* *Tinglan probably has helpers on her side, making it inconvenient to employ him there as well. Meanwhile, I am here on the flank at Mount Cai, and having met him once before, they simply pushed him over to me...* *This should have been discussed with me, but Zhusheng's interruption made it inappropriate to conduct such underhanded dealings before him... so it was left as it was.* Though Kuiqi came from Xiukui and carried an air of proud reserve, he was clearly astute. At a time like this, when every scrap of strength needed to be rallied, all necessary arrangements had been carried out impeccably. Despite the jade pendant, Li Ximing remained vigilant toward the man, asking, "That alone is hard to prove." Real Person Luo burst into hearty laughter and spoke with complete confidence, "I asked Lord Kuiqi beforehand, and he had me bring this jade pendant, anticipating you wouldn't believe it, Fellow Daoist!" He made an inviting gesture with a smile. Thereupon, a wisp of purple qi descended from the Great Void, manifesting as a female immortal clad in purple. Seeing her fair features, oval face, and bright eyes, one could tell it was Tinglan's incarnation arriving. "Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist!" She gently handed over a stone casket. Walking this far seemed already to stretch the incarnation to its limit, and with a nod, she dissipated. Li Ximing cast a quiet glance after her; though Tinglan's face had worn a smile, worry remained hidden deep in her eyes. The stone casket felt slightly heavy in his hand. Without a second thought, Li Ximing could sense that familiar, intimate power of Mingyang through the stone. *The Chongyang Xiaxing Treasure Plate!* The Chongyang Xiaxing Treasure Plate was a prized artifact of Xiukui. Anyone walking the path of Mingyang who had used it once could never fail to recognize it. Li Ximing sank his spiritual sense into it, and sure enough, he saw the golden-white treasure plate. He quietly tucked it into his sleeve, pondering, *Strange... Kan Ziyu's breakthrough was likely too sudden for it to be retrieved in time, but sending it over now... is still not too late!* Li Ximing put it away, feeling a degree of relief. *Real Person Luo has attained two divine abilities after all. Even if he holds back, he is still a considerable aid, which eases my mind somewhat...* With that, he entered the Great Void with him. Finding a random spot to rest, Li Ximing chatted perfunctorily with his companion while naturally releasing his mystical arts to observe Mount Cai from afar. His commanding perspective swept across the mountain range, bringing every scene into view. There were merely four golden bodies and no one else—nothing to fear. Yet after the last crushing defeat, the deficient Buddhist cultivators of the Kongwu Path had either begun their cultivation anew or perished. Among these four, at least two were under the seat of Fahui and held treasure artifacts. One of them did not even resemble a Buddhist cultivator of the Kongwu Path; he looked like an ordinary mortal without a towering golden body, yet the other three treated him with utmost reverence. Even so, two of them possessed mediocre strength. Li Ximing and Real Person Luo striking together would truly be using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken. *With such a miserable lineup, sending this Luo fellow alone would have sufficed. Though he couldn't defeat all four, stalling them would be no trouble at all!* *Now that both of us are here, not to mention stalling them, slaying a few won't be an issue!* He relaxed at once and exchanged a few words with Luo. To his surprise, the fellow acted out of character, clasping his hands together: "I truly must entrust this matter to you, Zhaojing! Please do your utmost—it would be best if we could eliminate the opposition... After all... I really cannot afford to miss this opportunity!" These words should not have come from his mouth. Li Ximing was momentarily stunned. Before he could speak, the demonic cultivator took the initiative, his face grave and even somewhat humble: "I am not qualified to enter that True Qi Anhuai Heaven. I have sought cultivation methods for so many years, and only with Fellow Daoist Ning did I find a trace. Aiding them last time finally secured me definite news, and the quality is far better than what I had sought. If I miss this... I won't even have the qualifications to touch the violet realm in this lifetime!" He had already attained two divine abilities, so he was likely missing only this last one to touch upon participating in violet, and he needed ample time left for his subsequent cultivation. Such an opportunity was clearly exceedingly precious. Li Ximing was in no rush, asking simply, "What lineage do you cultivate, Fellow Daoist?" Real Person Luo hastily answered, "It is an obscure lineage... called Gathered Wood. There is little stir about it nowadays; please do not laugh at me, Fellow Daoist!" "Gathered Wood..." This was indeed rare; most Wood Virtue lineages were situated in the north. Li Ximing murmured inwardly, while the demonic cultivator hurried to curry favor with him, smiling as he said: "Gathered refers to birds perched upon wood, signifying cultivators assembling like a flock coming to rest. It was originally an immensely broad lineage cultivated by many, though it is obscure today. Fortunately, it is quite harmonious with the Three Yangs, so there will be ample room for cooperation in the future!" Those words were true enough, but Li Ximing could hardly bring himself to grow too close to him. Without saying more, a few days passed in the blink of an eye. As the jade talismans at their waists flared simultaneously, they nodded in unison and flew out of the Great Void. At this moment, the sky was gloomy, and dense clouds gathered in the north. The sea of clouds in the heavens surged like rolling waves, as though some colossal creature were swimming within them. Li Ximing raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease. *This is no good omen... Has something happened in the north...?* Yet the arrow was notched to the bow and had to be loosed. Li Ximing had no choice but to step forward. Channeling his divine ability, he barked, "Strike!" Brilliant heavenly light cascaded from the heavens, and kaleidoscopic clouds rose and perished above Mount Cai. Buddhist cultivators never possessed spirit arrays to begin with; their formations had always relied on the Lianmin themselves as nodes to receive the light of the Buddhist Land, excelling at surrounding and slaying foes. Thus, before any divine ability was even seen, the tiered monasteries clinging high and low like thick moss trembled, spewing sand and stones across the ground. Rolling with grey winds, they collapsed with a thunderous roar! A brilliant white heavenly gate dropped from the sky. Regrettably, the four Lianmin were not seated together. As this blazing divine ability bore down, it immediately suppressed two towering golden bodies that had abruptly risen. The remaining two looked on dumbfounded. One gasped in horror, "Audience at the Heavenly Gate!" The other, who appeared like a mortal, showed no fear but flew into a rage, cursing, "Insolent badger!" Yet they were given no time to react. Rolling dark-green smoke billowed from the mountain, appearing extraordinarily dense beneath the radiant illumination. Real Person Luo, clad in his demonic robe of a thousand eyes, stepped out across the void with a sharp artifact in hand, laughing with wicked glee, "Bald donkeys!" With a flick of his hand, he tossed out a pot that sparkled brilliantly. Pale white spray splashed out from it, dispersing the smoke and subduing the dharma winds, causing floating light to recede while black qi erupted, ensnaring the two golden bodies. He fought in the true manner of a demonic cultivator, black qi churning so intensely that Li Ximing's face darkened slightly. Yet the demon showed no restraint. His pot did not appear remarkably powerful and could not stall them for long; having briefly tied down the two, he lowered one hand in a lifting motion. Two streaks of jade light surged from the mist—one light as wind, drifting several rods high, and the other heavy as soil, gliding along the earth. Real Person Luo took a step forward, shaking the mountain as he laughed, "Rise!" The jade light upon the ground burrowed into the earth. Ripples of azure billows surged from the sand and soil, sprouting stems and ears of grain, turning the entire ground into a shimmering azure sea. The Lianmin's golden bodies wavered, emitting discordant sounds as if their minds were unsettled. Each wore an ugly expression, clearly unable to break free for the moment. Neither attacker was facing a Lianmin for the first time; these Buddhist cultivators possessed limited methods, and what they feared most were all kinds of mystical arts. Once suppressed at the outset, it was exceedingly difficult to turn the tables. Yet the moment Real Person Luo made his move, Li Ximing cursed inwardly: *What kind of mystical art is this... Last time he struck... he truly threw the match into the East Sea! Only when real interests are at stake does he finally exert his strength...* Curse as he might, his hands did not slow in the least. Though he had only a few tricks up his sleeve, against Buddhist cultivators they were like needles stabbing directly into the spine, both freezing and agonizing. Spitting out flames, he circulated his divine ability. Yet as Li Ximing looked closely, although the Buddhist cultivators below were caught off guard and thrown into disarray, they did not display much panic. In fact, they appeared quite composed, doing their utmost to resist with their golden bodies, their eyes and words filled far more with malice and hatred. The worry in his heart gradually deepened. Hesitating for a fraction of a breath, he drew Shichuan and stepped into the fire. With Li Ximing suppressing his side, the one pinned down was mediocre to begin with, so nothing could go wrong. But no sooner had Real Person Luo trapped two with his mystical art than the mortal-looking figure of highest status suddenly changed countenance, drawing in a sharp breath. The treasured belly he supported with one hand swelled rapidly like an inflated bladder, instantly growing to the size of a house and breaking free from the azure sea below. In the next breath, it expanded by two more rings. A burst of splendid radiance bulged from the center of the jade-white belly, and two bare-chested Arhats bounded out from within. These Arhats looked imposing and mighty, their bodies robust and muscular. One held a cudgel while the other gripped a sword. Rolling black beads hung about their necks, and they rose upon dazzling radiance, pouncing toward Real Person Luo. "The Compassion Path!" Real Person Luo's face fell instantly. Lifting both sleeves, surging blue-black qi rose and churned along his robe as he shouted, "Go!" The two streams of blue-black qi turned into cords, suspending the two Arhats. Yet the treasure light flashed, scorching the blue-black qi until it hissed and sputtered. What was worse, with the two Arhats having escaped, the pot-bellied monk's massive stomach abruptly shrank, though it remained the size of a person. Riding the wind, he lightly rubbed the jade-white surface of his belly, causing the skin to swell and open two eyes and a mouth! The two eyes gleamed with deep purple light, simultaneously releasing a blinding glare that possessed an imposing might for subduing demons, searing straight toward the demonic cultivator. Yet Real Person Luo was no ordinary character. Shaking his robes, the thousands of eyes all unleashed dazzling golden radiance, scattering and dispelling the glare. The demonic cultivator wore a ferocious expression, barking, "Your Compassion Path again! This spiritual robe of mine was refined specifically to counter Compassion!" Yet the good fortune did not last. After just those two exchanges, the Lianmin under the seat of Fahui on the ground had already broken free, dispelling the white water and soaring upon the wind. "Demon!" Possessing two divine abilities, Real Person Luo was not afraid; instead, he rejoiced secretly in his heart: *If I stall things here, can you harm me, or can you kill me? But how could you ever hold out against Li Ximing over there?* The actions of the two were undoubtedly correct. Li Ximing's divine abilities might not be drastically superior, but he was far more effective at severing the connection to the Buddhist Land. The demon clashed with the Buddhist cultivators for a time, stirring up glittering golden light, scattering azure-grey qi, and causing his demonic robe to flutter. The sky gradually darkened. His hands had just warmed up, before he could fully enjoy the fight, when the sound of shattering glazed glass rang out. *Rumble!* Pink light surged amidst the Mingyang radiance, and a rain of blossoms cascaded from the sky. The heavens darkened at tremendous speed. Li Ximing drew his axe amidst the raging true fire, having already forced one of them to his death. Without Measureless Water-Fire, dealing with two opponents was naturally not as easy as during the great victory at Mount Tangdao. Li Ximing slew one first, unleashing boundless pink light that shook the Audience at the Heavenly Gate. The other had long been waiting. Raising his four arms, he rode the shockwave of his companion's demise to heave upward, rocking the heavenly gate. The face of his golden body twisted viciously, his lips parting faintly: *Die, you demon!* Buddhist cultivators could indeed reincarnate, but losing a dharma body was always a grievous blow. The more fearlessly confident he acted, the more uneasy Li Ximing became. Yet how could he let him escape? Pinching an incantation with one hand, four bright white ribbons of silk immediately materialized over the golden body, winding tightly around it to bind it fast: *Bright Heavenly Billows!* Heavenly light flared between his brows as the Shangyao Subduing Light locked onto the target. Yet before the brilliant light could burst forth, a chill rose in his heart, prickling his back like thorns. Without hesitation, he broke off the Shangyao Subduing Light, sat cross-legged in empty air, and dissolved his form, coming to rest squarely atop the heavenly gate! *Buzz...* As the man in the white-and-gold Daoist robe took his seat from the void, a sheet of heavenly light rippled outward, sweeping through the layered clouds. It added a swath of radiance to the dreary sky, faintly stirring something and producing a subtle sound. Taking his seat in this manner undoubtedly cost him his timing, nearly allowing the foe to slip away. Fortunately, the opponent was no formidable figure; Shichuan checked him, and the Bright Heavenly Billows pulled taut until they burst, barely managing to keep him imprisoned. Circulating his divine ability with full force, Li Ximing narrowly managed to suppress the man beneath the pass, rendering him immobile. Yet Li Ximing sat cross-legged without sparing a shred of thought for him. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his divine abilities, drew the true fire back into his body, and quietly faced the sky, staring at the dark clouds above, his pupils faintly dilating. A man stood amidst the gloomy clouds. He possessed striking features, appearing no older than thirty or forty, with a high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes bearing the countenance of the northern wastes. His face was stern and aloof, his hands clasped behind his back. The man wore black-and-silver armor, his outer robe fluttering in the wind. At his waist hung a longsword, a short blade, and a dharma whip—three implements in all, arranged neatly and emitting sparkling brilliance. Behind him, one could still faintly make out the pale, lingering escape light of a divine ability that had not fully dissipated... He had evidently just arrived. What truly silenced Li Ximing was the opponent's cultivation level: *Mid Violet Palace! This is an orthodox cultivator!* Meeting his gaze, the middle-aged man showed no haste. He seemed indifferent to the Lianmin trapped beneath the heavenly gate, merely gazing at Li Ximing as he spoke slowly in a deep, resonant voice: "Helian Wujiang of the Tiefu State greets you, Fellow Daoist." His voice rang out in the night sky, echoing incessantly. Not only did it drain the color from Real Person Luo's face and send the two Lianmin into raptures of joy, but it also prompted the Masters in the ruins below to cheer with delight, prostrating themselves in worship. *The Helian clan!* A chill ran through Li Ximing's heart. The name flashed in his mind for a moment, and his next thought was: *Mid Violet Palace! He cannot possibly be a new Violet Palace of the Helian clan. Nine times out of ten, he is the pillar who has supported the Helian family all these years, and now they have dispatched him as well!* *What is the meaning of this?!* He had long known that the Tiefu Helian clan was no obscure house, only cursed with poor geography. They had produced a prodigy named Helian Fan, but he was surrounded and slain. For nearly a century, they had failed to produce any notable talents, remaining trapped in dire straits until recent years, when a new junior broke through, granting them some breathing room. Even as a cultivator far away in Jiangnan, he knew of the Helian clan's plight, beset on all sides by wolves and tigers, which showed how difficult the Helian family's years had been... If dispatching Helian Wumeng was because they had gained breathing room and sought to stretch their wings to reap harvests in the south, the emergence of Helian Wujiang now rendered the entire matter completely different... *To allow the Helian clan's two Violet Palace masters to head south without worries about their rear, someone must have mediated the situation in the northern wastes! What does this mean? Was the mediator the Compassion Phase?!* One had to understand that the Helian clan was situated in Hetao, possessing a state of their own titled Tiefu. They faced the frontier of the Zhao State directly, situated near Longxi, and had always submitted as vassals to Zhao. Meanwhile, the Murong clan of the Compassion Path was far away in the Yan State—one in the west and one in the east, separated by an immense distance! It was not that the Compassion Path lacked the power to mediate, but it truly lay outside their sphere of influence; there was no need to go to such trouble. Furthermore, judging by the situation, the man had only just arrived. Why was the timing so coincidental? *Kuiqi's scheme must have had some success; otherwise, he wouldn't have just arrived now, but would have ambushed this place long ago, nor would these Buddhist cultivators have been caught unprepared instead of feigning unreadiness to quietly assemble a formation...* And if a tiny place like Mount Cai warranted the arrival of Helian Wujiang, who was leading the forces on the boundless Luoxia Plains? What about Mount Xiaoshi, which guarded the tail of Mount Tangdao as a flanking gateway? *Is this still merely a southward push by the Buddhist cultivators?!* The thought made him turn cold from head to toe. Yet the situation gave him no leisure to ponder. The man before him had already placed his hand on his waist. He lowered his head slightly, his deep eyes still fixed on Li Ximing: "Under orders from the State Preceptor, I have traveled south to garrison Mount Cai, rushing day and night for fear of delaying the command. I never expected to cross paths with an imperial scion. Forgive my offense." Though Helian Wujiang spoke of offense, his face remained devoid of expression. His pale hands slowly brushed past the sword, the blade, and the whip in turn, finally gripping the spiritual whip. With a sharp snap, it came loose in his hand. *Rumble!* Dazzling lightning flashed, and torrential rain poured from the heavens. Li Ximing's spine turned instantly cold. As the man raised his hand, thick black shadows could be faintly seen darting through the rain, weaving near and far. The brilliance between Li Ximing's brows suddenly flared, but after looping through those serpent-like shadows, it shattered into drifting specks of broken gold. Li Ximing's eyes brightened abruptly as layers of Taiyang Yingli Light surfaced before him, turning into barriers that shone simultaneously amidst the downpour. *Bang!* The blue-yellow radiance of Shichuan rippled through the air, cascading from the heavens like waves of water. With a loud explosion, the Taiyang Yingli Light burst into a shower of bright white sparks, instantly vaporizing the rain within the surrounding area. *Rumble!* Thunder rolled once more, light and shadow intertwining. Li Ximing heard the man's resonant voice drifting through the rain: "Shangyao Subduing Light... the methods of the Cui clan."