Once Li Zhouda spoke these words, everyone chimed in with agreement. Li Zhouluo flicked his black robe, pressed his hand to his sword, and strode ahead by several quick paces, soon returning to the lake first. At his side, Pang Yunqing turned to console him:
"People often misspeak in the heat of the moment... It wasn't necessarily aimed at anyone in particular..."
In his moment of urgency, Li Zhoufang had said that aside from Li Minggong, no brother cared about Li Cheng; yet in doing so, he subtly implied that Li Chenghuai cared nothing for family affairs and had gone away to cultivate. How could Li Zhouluo fail to understand that?
Regarding the events of the past, one could not say he harbored no grudge, only that he avoided bringing them up. Now that Li Zhoufang had brought it up anyway, Li Zhouluo held his tongue out of consideration for his overwhelming grief, but he was naturally displeased in his heart:
"Going away was approved by the family elders—it was a settled matter! I know some of them usually feel it was unfair, while others are envious, but I never expected Eldest Brother to fail to see it clearly as well!
"What did he mean by that... He was saying my father did not go to Mount Tangdao with them, nor did he care about Li Cheng's life or death! Father is currently in secluded cultivation seeking a breakthrough. When this suddenly occurred, where would he have found the opportunity to go rushing about!"
Pang Yunqing hailed from the Zhuxi Pang clan under the governance of Chunyi. His family had a long history, and he was himself a genius of the main line, possessing no narrow perspective. He merely soothed:
"People nowadays hardly have much affection even for their own children or parents. Once kinship passes three generations, how many can truly call each other brothers? What he said was inappropriate, but don't take it to heart."
"Sigh! I can't explain it clearly to you... The Li clan is different from the Pang family..."
Li Zhouluo only shook his head. Hesitating for a moment, he replied:
"In fact, thinking about it now, only Fifth Brother is the most endearing. With his aptitude, reaching Foundation Establishment is too difficult. Nothing must happen to him..."
The two headed into the mountain together. Pang Yunqing smiled and shook his head, saying:
"It is indeed quite different. I only heard that he's a henpecked playboy, yet from your mouth, he sounds endearing."
Soon they descended beneath the mountain covered in cape jasmine flowers. The two politely asked someone to announce their arrival, then respectfully passed through the woods. Ahead, golden radiance shone brilliantly. Seated in the head position above was a man.
Clad in scale armor and black boots, he leaned halfway against the back of his chair, his golden eyes deep and quiet. A halberd with a bent crescent branch rested across his knees. One hand stroked the crescent branch, cradling a bright, dazzling radiance, seemingly nourishing the magical artifact.
Beside him stood Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan, whispering to each other about something.
Li Zhouluo hurried forward to bow, saying respectfully:
"Zhouluo pays respects to the Real Person!"
Even when Li Xizhi met Li Ximing, he bowed and addressed him as Real Person, to say nothing of Li Zhouluo and Li Zhouwei, who were merely clan brothers not particularly close since childhood. Naturally, he did not dare address him as brother anymore.
He was slightly better off, daring to look up, while Pang Yunqing beside him did not even dare lift his head. Pang Yunqing simply bowed beside him, waiting until the man above smoothed his brows and said:
"Fourth Brother has returned. There is no need for formality."
"Hearing that the Real Person has achieved his divine ability, I brought Yunqing along to pay respects to my elder brother."
Li Zhouluo hurriedly answered. Li Zhouwei nodded. Hearing a bustle of activity below, a crowd stepped forward. The first was Li Zhoufang, tears streaming down his face as he knelt upon the mountain, yet he offered congratulations:
"Congratulations to the Real Person! Heartfelt congratulations to the Real Person!"
Li Zhouwei gently released his grip, and the halberd in his hand vanished in an instant. Seeing his state, he helped him up and said softly:
"Uncle Cheng's children all perished in service of clan affairs, and now he too has fallen in battle. As for his ancestral incense, the Bo branch may handle it amongst yourselves... The clan will also provide compensation. Fei Qingyi deserted before the enemy, causing Uncle's death and colluding with demonic and Buddhist forces. He has now been escorted to Taiyang to be dealt with, and the rest have been sent to Huyi... News will arrive soon."
Once he said this, Li Zhoufang could only remain kneeling, weeping as he offered thanks:
"I thank the Real Person... The Fei clan deserves death, and the Buddhists of Mount Xiaoshi also share blood debts with us..."
At the mention of the northern Buddhists, cold light flickered in Li Zhouwei's eyes, and he merely said:
"Naturally."
Li Zhoufang bowed and wept once more, then cupped his hands and stepped down to attend to the funeral matters. Li Zhouwei swept a silent glance across the surroundings and saw that the people on both sides wore sorrowful, troubled expressions, not daring to speak. Whether Chen Yang or An Xuanxin, everyone kept their heads lowered in silence. Cui Jueyin had never been one to express opinions, while the other guest elders and dharma protectors all looked anxious.
Only Li Zhouda gnashed his teeth in bristling fury, lightning flickering in his eyes as he cursed under his breath:
"Damn bald donkeys!"
Li Zhouwei turned back and took his seat, listening as Li Zhouluo whispered:
"The Real Person has attained his breakthrough. By custom of past years, there should be a celebratory banquet, but now..."
"There is no need."
Not to mention whether the cultivators of Jiangnan had any heart for banquets, Li Zhouwei himself was in no mood. If he were the first Zifu, such a banquet would have been unavoidable. But now that the Li clan was already a Zifu immortal clan, there was no need for grand fanfare. Li Zhouwei merely said in a deep voice:
"Now that the north has fallen, the riverbank must have defenses. Station your men and keep a close eye on the north. As for the matter of Hanyun Peak..."
He paused for a moment, and Li Jiangqian immediately picked up:
"Arrangements have already been made to re-establish the manor peak and deploy personnel there as appropriate."
At these words, Li Zhouwei slowly raised his gaze, sweeping it across the faces of those from the An and Chen clans. He lifted a hand and instructed:
"You may withdraw."
The crowd dispersed in orderly fashion, turning into a bustling cluster of flowing light outside the mountain. Li Jiangqian's expression grew cold. Li Quewan said in a low voice:
"The incident at Mount Tangdao was quite a heavy blow, and Fei Qingyi set a terrible precedent. It is only natural that they... feel unease in their hearts. After all, once the Buddhist cultivators reach the Three Streams region, what happened with Fei Qingyi might very well repeat itself."
The Li family had not established a manor peak for many years. In past years, had such news arrived, the subordinates below would certainly have rejoiced and cheered. After all, new positions meant new pieces of the pie to divide, which was also why the various families had consistently kicked the Fei family while they were down and poured oil on the fire.
Yet although the Fei family had fallen, none of them had anticipated that Mount Tangdao would be breached and the Baijiang Stream region would fall into the hands of Buddhist cultivators. The north bank suddenly turned into a hot potato. While the north might not march south in full force, magical battles and skirmishes were bound to occur. Upon hearing this, the various families and even the various clan branches immediately lost all their enthusiasm...
Li Jiangqian's expression turned frigid as he replied:
"Indeed... It was they who coveted the numerous posts on the north bank and wished they could grind the Fei family to dust, yet now, it is also they who cower in fear and dare not make a move. For one, getting into magical battles might cost them their lives; for another... they probably also fear that they or their younger generation might become another Fei Qingyi.
"Those with prominent surnames have families to carry and harbor worries. As for the guest elders... many have no offspring, possessing only a wife and concubine on the lake, along with a few relatives and small estates, leaving them without even lingering concerns...
"And this is already the result of severely punishing the Fei family. Had we executed only the ringleader that day, they would now be rejoicing and thinking they would have a way out even if they went to the north!"
Under the current circumstances, even Li Quewan saw things clearly, to say nothing of someone like Li Jiangqian, who always anticipated the worst and had not a shred of trust in the subordinates beneath him.
And how could Li Zhouwei not know? A grave look filled his golden eyes as he gently turned the jade cup on the table and said:
"The An and Chen families are not like the Fei clan. Even if the situation deteriorates and someone defects to the north, they cannot be touched. The remaining families... amount to nothing and need not be worried over."
Seeing him lay the matter bare so openly, both Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan fell silent.
The Chen and An clans had been loyal pillars for many years, already deeply intertwined with the four branches. The Li clan rarely married outside, mostly arranging marriages within the lake. Of the former Tian, Xu, Liu, Chen, and Dou families, each had declined one by one; only the Chen family and the later An family had managed to flourish uninterrupted, virtually inseparable from the clan.
While this was partly because the elders in their clans remained alive and well, the most crucial factor was that generation after generation produced geniuses and spirit aperture bearers, binding them firmly into the bloodline inheritance.
To put it bluntly, even if Chen Yang were converted by Buddhist cultivators, could the lake really react against him? Not only was his mother the sister of Li Xicheng, but Li Jianglong also had to call him maternal uncle!
As for Li Jiangqian, his mother was surnamed An. What could Li Jiangqian say other than remain silent? Beside him, Li Quewan protected herself even more when encountering such sensitive matters. On the lake, there were already covert doubts regarding her humble origins. In ordinary times, keeping her doors closed to cultivate was fine; at this moment, uttering even a single word would stir up gossip and rumors.
Seeing the two fall silent, Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea and said quietly:
"It is enough that you understand. There should be no need for me to elaborate. The matter of the Fei family could be punished severely, but the remaining families can only be appeased. The situation is not yet clear; let us see what move the north makes.
"You may withdraw."
The two acknowledged the order and withdrew. Li Zhouwei rose to his feet, his expression slightly somber. Taking a step through the Great Void, he appeared by the lakeshore and looked into the distance.
Across the horizon, brilliant light cascaded like a waterfall while black light dissipated. Streaks of golden light darted past. A patch of heavenly brilliance approached from afar, passing through the grand formation to land on the mountain. Accompanying it was a violet shadow that materialized into a man in a deep blue Daoist robe. Holding a longsword radiating a soft halo in his arms, he arrived with a smile.
It was actually Li Ximing and Ye Gui arriving together side by side.
Seeing Li Zhouwei, the man had an expression of astonishment in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said:
"I have long heard of your illustrious name!"
Though no one had expected this scene, with the Buddhist cultivators advancing to Baijiang Stream, even two sides at each other's throats would instantly turn around and act like sworn brothers. What was more, the two houses had maintained ambiguous ties over the years, and Ye Gui had just done them a favor.
Li Zhouwei said amiably:
"Greetings, Senior Ye Gui."
Back then, when Li Zhouwei beat Guan Gongxiao until he scurried away with his head in his hands, Ye Gui had worn a sullen face. Now, without the slightest awkwardness, he looked at Li Zhouwei with joy, offering hearty congratulations before taking a seat to the side and chuckling:
"You are a peerless figure... I knew it long ago. Now that you have become a Zifu, you are a powerful ally to us!"
Li Zhouwei exchanged pleasantries, then cast Li Ximing an inquiring look. Li Ximing immediately shook his head and said with a grim face:
"It has been decided to abandon Mount Tangdao. It was originally established with formation plates to begin with; it could not even form any proper seals or restrictions, and no one dared disturb the earth veins. It likely won't leave behind any trouble."
Sitting to the side, Ye Gui waited until Li Ximing finished speaking, then said solemnly:
"The current situation must be discussed. I have some connections in the north and obtained some news, so let us talk about that first.
"First, although the forces of the north have not yet taken Mount Tangdao, the State Preceptor of the Great Zhao—who is also the current Path Master of the Guanhua Tianlou Path, Wei Xuanyin—has already been hastily summoned back to the north to report to the Emperor of Zhao. For his merits, he was enfeoffed as the King of Han."
He paused, a profound look in his eyes, before explaining:
"This Wei Xuanyin represents the Guanhua Tianlou Path, cultivating Jueyin. It once shone brilliantly during the Great Liang dynasty, inextricably linked with the Shaoyang lineage's Zitai Xuanxie Sect; together, they were known as the Guanxie faction. I heard that back then, the Demon Lord... hailed from the Zitai Xuanxie Sect!"
Li Ximing frowned slightly, his pupils dilating. Hearing that name, a chill went through his heart:
*Guanxie? Guanxie Divine Ability Refined in Fire?!*
All orthodoxies under heaven had their origins. The moment the two words 'Guanxie' were spoken, how could Li Ximing fail to recognize them! The *Guanxie Divine Ability Refined in Fire* in his own possession had been obtained from Real Person Changxi, from which he had benefited immensely. That is to say, it was the orthodoxy of the Xuanyue Gate—the Tongxuan orthodoxy personally acknowledged by Kuiqi back then!
That meant the Guanxie faction must belong to Tongxuan. Thinking a little further, it even dragged out the Shaoyang Demon Lord of the Great Liang! Could the world-renowned 'Partitioning of Shaoyang' truly be a mere contest between immortals and demons? How much profound, deadly conflict between orthodoxies lay behind it?
Immortal Yingze of the Qingsong Taiyang orthodoxy had issued an immortal decree, delivering it openly and lightly before the Emperor of Liang, Perfected Monarch Tiancheng Tuoba Xuantan. Then, taking the Shaoyang Demon Lord Kuai Li—the head of the Tongxuan orthodoxy and the Guanxie faction—he severed him into three before all the cultivators under heaven, ensuring the whole world would remember!
Back then, what attitude had Luoxia Mountain taken?
That event had shaken the entire world. To this day, though countless orthodoxies had been extinguished and countless secret arts kept tightly sealed, both within the seas and beyond, people still knew the name of the Shaoyang Demon Lord Kuai Li. The Taiyang orthodoxy took pride in it, suppressing the Western Plateau year after year.
Now, Wei Xuanyin, Path Master of the Tongxuan orthodoxy and Guanhua Tianlou Path, had taken action, shattering the beleaguered Qingsong Taiyang orthodoxy... How times had changed, and how vengeance had come full circle! Yet why had he been summoned back in such haste, forbidden from venting that breath of fury?
Li Ximing raised his brows to look at Li Zhouwei. The golden-eyed youth appeared calm on the surface, but the look exchanged between them held meaning beyond words.
Ye Gui, however, seemed entirely unaffected, as if what he had just said was merely an offhand remark. He continued in a solemn voice:
"The one replacing him is a Buddhist general—Fachang Mohe of the Damu Dharma Realm. Having reincarnated through five lifetimes, he has been ordered to oversee the lands north of the river."
At these words, Li Ximing fell silent for a moment. Li Zhouwei said softly:
"A major feat such as defeating the southern Taiyang orthodoxy must be claimed by the Buddhist cultivators; recalling Wei Xuanyin is no surprise. It is just that the Damu Dharma Realm and the Cibei Path have never gotten along. How can they work together?"
"Their usual tricks—when have the Buddhist factions ever gotten along? Don't be fooled by how submissive the Kongwu Path acts before the Dayu Path; given the chance, Zhelu would love nothing more than to exterminate every single person of the Dayu Path!"
He sipped his tea and said:
"Senior Louxing struck down Pijia of the Dayu Path, and though no one knows whether Pijia perished, Zhelu must be overjoyed in his heart. It just so happened that the manifested Yuhai Mohe measured his strength and could not come south. Without oversight, Zhelu immediately became active, harboring even more wicked designs toward the Dayu Path... Don't assume that just because Senior was a sword immortal, he had a simple mind. His mind was luminous and clear; that single strike of his sword struck right where it hurt! Otherwise, why would the Cibei Path step in so easily to mediate, and why would they force Wei Xuanyin to take the field?"
Although Ye Gui's conduct was neither purely righteous nor evil, he held great admiration for a grand sword immortal like Louxing, holding back none of his praise. Now he gave a scoff, but did not dwell on it, merely continuing:
"We cultivators of Jiangbei have received news from the north. Gao Fu, the King of Bolie from the Qi lands, will arrive at Chengshui Marsh on a chosen day to pay a visit to Changyun. As for what they will discuss, that is hard to say!"
Li Ximing sipped his tea:
"It is actually not the Lotus Temple? But the Gao family even further north..."
"Lotus Temple?"
Ye Gui sneered:
"When the various paths advanced north together, that Lotus Temple remained as quiet as a quail. It was already generous enough not to beat them into line; what heart could they have left to head south... Jinlian Mohe was invited away to the Dayang Mountain Dharma Assembly and had no chance of returning. Believe it or not, Fachang's post originally belonged to the Lotus Temple! Otherwise, the Damu Dharma Realm hadn't touched southern affairs in the slightest—why would a Mohe drop out of the clear sky like that?
"According to our fellow Daoists in the north, the exalted figures in the north who stand at the pinnacle of heaven and earth have, for once, reached a rare consensus: Jiangbei must fall into northern hands, whether in name or through actual control. Throughout this process, who stirs up trouble, who plays tricks, and who exerts their utmost will all be laid bare. It is no longer a stage where each simply relies on their own separate schemes!"
Chapter 913