‘Jiang Huzi's original intentions were likely good; otherwise, she wouldn't have stubbornly endured all these years without uttering a word. Gao Fu also genuinely holds some gratitude for past favors; otherwise, as an exalted prince and marquis, there would be no need for him to quietly show goodwill to a descendant of the Wei-era Li like me at such a sensitive juncture. He must have had his own difficulties, but someone in the north surely pushed the boat along with the current...’
Li Zhouwei waited quietly, his mind gradually settling:
‘Yet neither Tinglan nor Houfu are fools. If this were a hundred years ago, it might have worked, but Kuiqi's death has made them cast aside their lofty airs. To think they could still be handled with the old tricks... It won't be so easy!’
Sure enough, after waiting a brief moment, the Great Void rippled. A flowing cascade of purple light spilled forth, revealing a woman clad in violet robes. With fair features, delicate eyebrows, and graceful eyes, she offered a slight bow and spoke softly:
"Greetings to the King of Bolie."
Her demeanor was exceedingly respectful. The marquis before them nodded slightly and replied:
"So it is Shuxiu. Congratulations on attaining your divine ability! Ever since you departed Qi, several old elders of the formation arts in Qi have missed you to this day. When word of you reached them a few years back, they were overjoyed and sent the news all the way to my palace."
Li Zhouwei suddenly understood:
‘This Zhenren Tinglan was originally from the State of Qi as well! It was Real Person Zipei who went to take her as a disciple! From the looks of it now, she seems to have been acquainted with the King of Bolie since early on... Listening to her tone, unlike the cultivators of the Taiyang lineage, Tinglan might even share the status of sovereign and subject with Gao Fu!’
Tinglan blinked softly and murmured:
"I hold deep gratitude in my heart for Your Highness's gracious favor. Hearing today of Your Highness's procession crossing the river, I came specially to welcome you. If there is any offense... I beg your forgiveness."
With a gentle gesture, she guided them across the Great Void, descending onto a cliff by the river's edge.
Here directly overlooked a sandy shore and surging river waters. A pavilion stood atop the cliff, guarded by two attendants. Landing within the pavilion, Li Zhouwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It had to be said that Tinglan had arrived at the right time. Inviting Gao Fu to take a seat was something only she could pull off; otherwise, the two men could only have continued their awkward standoff in the Great Void, not to mention having to consider the feelings of the Taiyang lineage.
The woman handled the situation effortlessly. Taking a seat in the pavilion, she brewed tea and asked softly:
"The King of Bolie traveled all the way south—have matters been settled?"
Gao Fu possessed a towering, majestic physique. Sitting in the pavilion, he cut an imposing figure. Stroking his beard, he said:
"Fairly well... The Huaijiang Circuit was originally established by Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao. Over all these years, it remained merely a nominal domain spanning a commandery or two. After the sudden death of Duke Xu, the capital already harbored intentions of conquest, yet things dragged on for so many years..."
"Now the three sects—Chengyun, Duxian, and Xuanmiao—have all pledged allegiance to Zhao's calendar, reconstituted under the Huaijiang lineage. Fortunately, matters went smoothly without excessive casualties."
In truth, Gao Fu's journey south was fundamentally a policy of conciliation toward the three immortal sects, as well as the outcome of internal discord among the Buddhist cultivators and mutual constraints among the northern houses. It was already a fortunate outcome amidst misfortune. Tinglan harbored little resentment toward Gao Fu, merely murmuring:
"May I ask how the Zhixuan Terrace registered the three Jiangbei sects?"
The two of them seemed entirely devoid of any divide between North and South. Gao Fu naturally sipped his tea and replied:
"Zhenren Changyun of the Chengyun Immortal Sect cultivates 'Gengjin.' His lineage has now been verified to originate from ancient cultivators, subordinate to Douxuan."
"Zhenren Yehui of the Duxian Dao lineage cultivates 'Duwei,' which is even more distinct—unquestionably of the Douxuan lineage."
"As for Zhenren Sumian of Xuanmiao Abbey..."
Gao Fu's expression grew solemn. Pausing slightly, he answered:
"I know this Zhenren Sumian. The people on the mountain now all say he took Qi Qiuxin overseas to find a place for seclusion and assist Qi Qiuxin in breaking through to the Violet Palace. Even that statue of the patriarch was taken away, leaving only a handwritten letter."
With a touch of wry amusement, he quoted:
"'If Shi comes, submit to Shi; if Qi comes, submit to Qi. Once the Daoist sect is extinguished, migrate to Gehu Peak.'"
Li Zhouwei frowned inwardly.
‘Sumian truly has some cunning, able to anticipate so far in advance that it would be Gao Fu coming south to wrap things up...’
The so-called "if Qi comes, submit to Qi" referred to the King of Bolie effectively being the King of Qi. It was only because there had once been an Emperor of Qi whose end was far from pleasant, and since the Gao family possessed neither lineage nor bloodline descent from him, they naturally could not use the name Qi, opting instead for Bolie...
As for the so-called Gehu Peak, it was precisely the spiritual mountain formed upon Changxi's death!
After all, Xuanmiao followed the Tongxuan lineage and had no partisan stance between north and south. They had even befriended many northern cultivators, and with their Violet Palace master abroad, no matter what turmoil Xuanmiao Abbey underwent, it would not suffer a catastrophic fate. The final retreat Sumian left them was that very mountain.
While Li Zhouwei merely frowned, Tinglan offered her thanks. Soon, a party ascended the cliff. Chen Yang climbed up carrying a metallic box of gold and iron, saying respectfully:
"Greetings to the Zhenren!"
Uncertain of the King of Bolie's attitude, the Li family subordinates naturally did not send a direct lineage descendant, sending only Chen Yang forward. Presenting the box, he said respectfully:
"Jiang Huzi passed away a few days ago. Before her death, she exhausted her cultivation to craft seven consecutive talismans, dying from the complete depletion of her cultivation and essence blood. The anomalies were not pronounced. All her belongings are now within this box."
Li Zhouwei took it from his hands first. During that brief moment of contact, his spiritual sense swept lightly over it before he passed it along to Gao Fu. The King of Bolie received the gold box and opened it gently. Inside lay seven golden talismans and a small letter.
‘Golden Armor Mysterious Art Talismans.’
Li Zhouwei already knew what was inside and was not surprised. Though the Golden Armor Mysterious Art Talisman was a Foundation Establishment talisman, it was hardly extraordinary; it merely condensed an armor of magical power to resist enemy spells.
Gao Fu's pupils widened, choked with silent grief. Stowing them away, he immediately closed his imposing eyes, unable to open them for a long while. Finally, he looked at the posthumous letter, which contained merely eight characters:
"Jiangnan is peaceful; I am fortunate to meet a good end."
She did not mention a single matter concerning the Gao family, yet stressed that she had met a peaceful end. The King of Bolie closed his eyes, received it, and bowed slightly:
"Many thanks, Young Master!"
Having spoken this single word of thanks, he said nothing more, stepping through the Great Void and vanishing without a trace.
Li Zhouwei bowed in farewell. Beside him, Tinglan flicked her fingers, immediately enveloping the pavilion in a purple curtain of light. She murmured:
"Fellow Daoist Minghuang is indeed extraordinary!"
"Greetings, Senior," Li Zhouwei replied, a glint in his eyes. "Thank you, Senior, for resolving the predicament!"
Hearing this, a chill rose in Tinglan's eyes. Closing them tightly, she let out a heavy sigh:
"Had I not come, things would have been troublesome this time..."
She appeared somewhat vexed, whispering:
"I had no idea Senior Gao Xijiang was in your noble clan's domain! Fortunately, your clan handled it well; otherwise, I do not know how we could have accounted for it today!"
Li Zhouwei's eyes darkened as he inquired:
"Does the Gao family have a divine ability expert surnamed Shilou?"
These words carried profound implications, striking right at the crux of the matter.
Li Zhouwei did not understand the Gao family's internal affairs, but the will of the Violet Palace was always absolute. The King of Bolie clearly harbored gratitude for past favors from the Wei-era Li, yet there were still voices of opposition within the Gao family. There was only one possibility: the opposing voice also belonged to the Violet Palace.
‘Within the Gao family, there is one, or perhaps even more than one Violet Palace master who wishes to restore the Shilou surname and sever ties with the State of Wei. They likely used Jiang Huzi's status as a senior to press him to cross the river... This also coincided with the northern powers' desire to sow discord. With pressure applied from both sides, the King of Bolie was compelled to make this move south...’
‘If Gao Fu hadn't come personally, the one who came would have been a Gao family member bearing the compound surname Shilou. The scene would inevitably have turned exceedingly ugly, which is why he had to come himself!’
Tinglan gazed at him for a moment before answering:
"Precisely. Shilou Wei and Shilou Yingge are both prominent figures of the Gao family... Over all these years, the Gao family has constantly been conflicted over the matter of serving the Wei..."
Originating from the Qi lands, she naturally possessed a deep understanding of this matter; otherwise, she wouldn't have rushed over so urgently. At this moment, cold light flitted in her eyes as she whispered:
"Senior Xijiang commanded immense prestige. In the twilight of her life, she had a few wishes, nothing more than to lay eyes upon the descendants of Wei..."
"If the senior had perished at your clan's hands or suffered harsh treatment, the northern factions would likely have had a Shilou Violet Palace expert rush south immediately to cause a tremendous uproar, seizing the chance to sever all ties between the Gaos and the Lis with a single stroke!"
"Yet after waiting and waiting, Jiang Huzi remained safe and sound in your clan's care, retaining her wits to discern right from wrong and leaving behind a final testament. They had no choice but to settle for second best, forcing Gao Fu to come in person. On the one hand, it sowed discord; on the other... this hidden move turned right back against the King of Bolie himself!"
She had only spoken half of it, yet Li Zhouwei already grasped the rest. His eyes narrowed:
"The northern houses just joined forces to scheme against the Buddhist cultivators and reap the spoils, only for retaliation to arrive immediately, forcing the King of Bolie to cross the river. Yet at this moment, no one comes to his aid. The sheer intensity of mutual intrigue and scheming in the north is readily apparent!"
Under the Wei Li's present awkward circumstances, the King of Bolie was a vassal prince of a different surname in the State of Zhao, already under no small suspicion. To treat the Wei Li with such courtesy... and it just so happened that the King of Bolie, Gao Fu, was a man of upright righteousness and gratitude, utterly refusing to even address Li Zhouwei as a mere 'Fellow Daoist'...
‘And neither this King of Bolie nor Jiang Huzi harbored any malice toward my family; in fact, Jiang Huzi's original intention was merely to see our clan...’
Tinglan nodded slightly, saying softly:
"As things stand, across the circuits along the Huaijiang, rumors will inevitably spread that the Gao clan harbors lingering loyalty toward the Wei Li. For the King of Bolie, this is truly not a good thing."
Li Zhouwei put his hands behind his back and stood up, looking down at the surging waters beneath the mountain. After a long silence, he murmured:
"The King of Bolie carries great elegance and stature. Now that he has persuaded the three immortal sects and bears little malice toward the south, there is naturally a crowd eager to drive him away, unable to tolerate him for a single moment."
In the pavilion, Zhenren Tinglan sipped her tea, finally letting the matter rest, and asked:
"Why don't I see Zhaojing?"
Li Zhouwei understood what she meant. Had they known of this situation beforehand, it would naturally have been better for Li Ximing to receive him. But firstly, they had no prior knowledge of Gao Fu heading south, nor the significance behind his journey, making it difficult to guard against; secondly... Li Ximing was not present. Thus, he replied:
"The senior wished to search for a spiritual fire and has already traveled overseas. He won't be able to return anytime soon."
"A spiritual fire..." Hearing Li Zhouwei's words, Tinglan showed a hint of doubt and answered, "Is he seeking it for you? There's really no need to be in such a rush..."
Seeing her concerned expression, Li Zhouwei's thoughts shifted slightly, and he replied:
"No. Rather, we have an ancestral secret art that requires Lihuo to execute. Having been unable to obtain it for so long, he decided to travel abroad to look for clues."
Only then did Tinglan understand. Pondering, she said:
"As for Lihuo, in the State of Yue, it is confirmed that only Hengzhu possesses a portion. As for the State of Wu, the Qing family once had one as well. It's just that they are all haughty and proud. Spiritual fires are unlike other items—they are not easy to exchange for."
She spoke of Lihuo, but in reality, so long as his family obtained any spiritual fire, there was a high likelihood they could convert it into Lihuo using the Runyang Method. Yet Li Zhouwei understood the immense value of the Runyang Method and would not disclose it lightly, merely shaking his head in feigned disappointment.
Tinglan took it to heart, however, and said solemnly:
"I mentioned the Southern Border to him previously; he could take a look there. I shall also keep an ear out on his behalf and let him know as soon as there is news."
Li Zhouwei was slightly surprised and nodded. Just as he was about to take his leave, Tinglan spoke softly:
"These past few days... Zhugong's injuries have continued to worsen. Compounding injuries were troublesome enough, but a few days ago, her dharma body showed signs of collapse. It cannot be healed in the short term."
"Back at the East Sea, Hengxing was already extremely displeased with her and absolutely refused to pay her any attention. A few days ago, we asked Houfu to examine her, but it proved somewhat difficult to manage. My visit today was originally to look for Zhaojing."
Li Zhouwei frowned inwardly. He was unfamiliar with Zhugong, had no wish to make decisions for Li Ximing, and was even less inclined to deal with her, so he replied:
"The senior will not be gone too long. Once he returns, I will surely inform him."
Tinglan nodded silently and soon departed from the pavilion, leaving Li Zhouwei standing in the mountain wind. Beneath his feet, the river surged, jagged rocks stood rugged, and white waves churned. Only when the setting sun sank did he let out a heavy breath:
"Who in this world is truly free!"
……
Southern Border.
Mountain ranges rolled in undulating folds amidst dense, tangled jungles. Birds soared while hordes of demons howled. One after another, layer upon layer, demon ridges pressed against demon ridges, and demon kingdoms bordered demon kingdoms.
Li Ximing traversed tens of millions of li, journeying first from Zhulu to the South Sea, then from the South Sea to Shahuang, bypassing the State of Piaoren, flying all the way to the ten-thousandfold demon ridges bordering the Great Xiyuan.
Along the way, the karmic slaughter raged violently, and blood bathed the earth. In the near regions, there were still several kingdoms ruled by the Violet Palace. Once one reached the depths, demons truly ruled supreme, governing their domains in grandeur. The barbarians were emaciated and rib-bare, fleeing with heads in their hands like cattle and sheep, while sleek-headed, fat-eared demons rode in tall horse carriages, speeding past.
There were many barbarians here, yet none spoke the tongue of the Hua people. Each spoke their own barbarian dialect, and their habits bordered on those of beasts—ignorant of cups and chopsticks, eating with only their bare hands. Most practiced a smattering of Shi teachings, though they could hardly even be called monks.
Li Ximing took a brief look and understood:
‘In the end, the Shi teachings are just too useful. They allow people to await death in peace, seeking only the next life. Even these demon kingdoms are fond of using them.’
Seen this way, these barbarians did not have it good at all. In the north, commoners everywhere merely sought death, yet at least they had land to farm. Here, the populace was numb in every corner, begging for the demons' scraps to survive—worse off even than the north!
Demons were unversed in formations, so there was little to be wary of in these places. Li Ximing shuttled through the Great Void all the way and soon arrived at the so-called State of Xipo.
This kingdom was magnificent and opulent, built encircling a towering mountain. Unlike the pavilions and courtyards of Jiangnan, tall pagodas and bell towers met the eye everywhere. Winds rustled jeweled trees amidst misty five-colored hazes, and a thousand kinds of exotic blossoms bloomed across the land. Scarcely any human figures could be seen; demons of every description came and went, all clad in garments, in bustling revelry.
Yet a thousand li beyond this mountain, hell unfolded: beacon smoke billowed everywhere as various demon tribes slaughtered one another in rivalry, offering up blood-sacrifices to this central city-state.
‘Here, demons already enslave demons, with no human figures to be seen. It is a pure demon realm...’
Li Ximing descended riding the light. From within the magnificent pagoda, a pair of demon generals immediately rode the wind to meet him. After a single glance, one demon bowed to him, gesturing for him to wait, while the other immediately turned around and shouted into the pitch-black gateway of the pagoda.
Within the pagoda, bells clanged loudly. Two ranks of demon generals filed out in haste. Cloud qi surged into the heavens, enveloped in auspicious mist. A loud cry echoed from deep within the pagoda, bellowing in some unknown language:
"Awoo—"
Thereupon, auspicious qi surged and golden light dazzled the eyes. A man flew out of the pagoda—his pupils bore two colors, white and red, his features sinister yet handsome. Draped in bone armor and blood-red silk, his ferocious aura was formidable and terrifying. A pair of golden wings grew from his back, and treading upon billowing golden clouds, he fixed his gaze on Li Ximing.
This demon possessed a majestic aura, laden with auspicious radiance. In his hand he held a glittering long saber. Though his cultivation was at early Violet Palace, divine abilities flowed within his eyes, and treading on auspicious clouds, he gave Li Ximing an exceedingly perilous impression.
This demon was none other than the Great Suopo King of the State of Xipo!
‘To fight one's way to prominence in the depths of the Southern Border and establish one's own demon kingdom, none are weaklings. It is starkly different from the East Sea or South Sea where the dragonkind preside above. Not only is this one of noble lineage, his combat prowess must be formidable!’
Li Ximing took a measuring look at his dharma body, cupped his hands slightly, and replied:
"I am Zhaojing, hailing from Lake Wangyue."
The demon was slightly taken aback, then dawned with realization. When he spoke, it was surprisingly in proper official Mandarin, and with a Jiangnan accent no less:
"So it is Fellow Daoist! Please!"
Li Ximing was secretly astonished. Yet the demon was quite well-versed in Jiangnan etiquette; rather than inviting Li Ximing into the pagoda, he pointed toward a dazzling pavilion above a pool and smiled:
"I was unaware of Zhenren's celestial presence—forgive my rudeness!"
With a spin on the spot, he transformed into a scholar clad in white. Yet he still retained that sinister, handsome visage and those red-and-white pupils, appearing less like a scholar and more like a kingdom-ruining demon master.
Inviting Li Ximing to take a seat, he smiled:
"I am Fuxun, ruler of the State of Xipo... That tiger demon claimed to have a Zhenren backing him, and it truly was no lie. Today, I behold the master himself! My divine ability is clear and radiant, naturally accompanied by good fortune, yet I must also thank Zhenren for being willing to make the trip to my rustic domain!"
The other cultivated Auspicious Qi, so claiming it was the working of his divine ability was by no means unjustified. Li Ximing had not expected Fuxun to speak so humanely; the Jiangnan accent even sounded rather endearing. Thus, he replied:
"Your Majesty speaks fine Jiangnan speech; it feels truly familiar!"
Fuxun shook his head and laughed:
"It is thanks to a good friend of mine from Jiangnan. He recently settled down here to manage some affairs for me and taught me some Jiangnan phrasing along the way."
"Oh?"
Li Ximing immediately took an interest, but Fuxun cut him off beforehand, smiling:
"Since Fellow Daoist has arrived, why not raise our business?"
Between the two, there was naturally only mutual benefit to speak of. Li Ximing dropped any pretense of courtesy, saying solemnly:
"Please present the outline of the pill-refining formula, Fellow Daoist. Let me inspect it closely. Only once I ensure the pill can be refined is there any need for us to discuss further..."
"Very well!"
The scholar-like demon chuckled and withdrew a wooden slip from his sleeve. Before Li Ximing even received it, he was already somewhat surprised and exclaimed:
"Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood?"
What the demon held was indeed a wooden slip crafted from Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood, appearing of great antiquity. Hearing his question, the old demon was not surprised. Merely holding the slip in his hand, he asked with a smile:
"I hear the State of Yue is the territory of the Taiyang lineage. I wonder where Fellow Daoist ranks in the alchemy dao?"
Li Ximing raised an eyebrow.
Strictly speaking, among those who refined pills in Jiangnan today, perhaps only Xiao Chuting and Hengxing were hard to call; everyone else was either a cut below him or left far behind long ago. Taking a modest stance, he said humbly:
"Leaving the highest aside, I place third."
Fuxun's eyes lit up, suspecting he was even better than that. He said:
"Please!"
Li Ximing activated his spiritual sense. Sure enough, the latter half of the wooden slip was sealed. Reading it thoroughly, he lowered his brow in silence.
Wangjin Xuanyan Pill!
The refining methods for this pill were unprecedented and exceedingly ancient, a technique for achieving a Mysterious Pill. It did not pursue yielding as many pills as possible in a single furnace; rather, it sought to condense all medicinal potency into one, capturing the essence of oneness. If it succeeded, a single pill was formed; if it failed, everything was void, leaving not a trace behind!
Today's alchemy had developed to a peak of refinement. Cultivators of deep alchemy dao like Li Ximing could produce more than six pills in a single furnace, and even on the worst occasions, they could yield one or two; there was simply no precedent for leaving nothing behind at all.
Moreover, the primary ingredients of this pill were especially bizarre: it used the heart of a Violet Palace-grade Xuankui Golden-Winged Bat, paired with a Violet Palace Auspicious Qi spiritual material known as Non-Falling Golden Cloud... Its difficulty was several degrees higher even than Tinglan's Tianyi Exuding Essence Pill from years back!
Li Ximing looked at it, hesitating to speak. His first reaction was unexpectedly:
‘This demon! What an immense fortune he possesses!’
Seeing his expression, Fuxun appeared somewhat anxious, clearly aware that the demands were indeed rather harsh. Li Ximing shook his head and said:
"Fellow Daoist, this pill of yours truly puts one in an awkward position!"
One had to know that the Xuankui Golden-Winged Bat had long gone extinct; in antiquity, it was also a noble scion of the Violet Palace grade, second only to the dragonkind, on par with Wupian, the Chongli Wuping Fire Yang Luan whom Li Zhouwei had met back then. This was equivalent to gouging out Wupian's heart and refining it with the Non-Falling Golden Cloud, which feared no Weak Water and could discern good from evil!
In other words, once the pill failed, it wasn't just consuming ordinary spiritual materials, but properly exhausting two extraordinary Violet Palace spiritual materials of someone else. Never mind that Fuxun was a demon of a barbaric land—even if Li Ximing himself had two such Violet Palace spiritual materials wasted, he would spit up a mouthful of blood on the spot, fury rushing to his head!
Faced with his comment, Fuxun appeared somewhat embarrassed. Yet he too could not afford such a loss, and under no circumstances dared to make any guarantees, merely sighing in silence.
‘No wonder no one has refined pills for this demon for so long!’
Li Ximing cursed inwardly. Estimating slightly, he felt a flicker of hesitation:
‘Actually, it is not impossible. If I can borrow Xiukui's spiritual furnace... it might well succeed... It's just that there's only a seventy to eighty percent chance...’
Yet if one truly weighed the trouble, this matter was far too cumbersome. He could only look at the bargaining chips first, answering:
"I have journeyed specially to the Southern Border because I require a spiritual fire of the Violet Palace grade."
Knowing the preciousness of spiritual fire, he immediately added:
"Even clues would suffice."
At these words, Fuxun's red-and-white eyes fixed upon him. Resting one hand on the table and tapping the armrest with the other, he seemed to be gauging his sincerity, before quickly replying:
"To be frank with Fellow Daoist, west of my State of Xipo lies a place called the State of Baijia. The ruler of the State of Baijia is a vermilion bird, and she possesses a fire known as the Baixi Karmic Fire. If Fellow Daoist has any interest, slay that bird and seize her flame!"
At these words, Li Ximing could only shake his head. He was no hotheaded novice; how could he get tangled with Fuxun in the struggles between these demon kingdoms? He merely said:
"For now, I have no intention of slaying a demon king and disrupting the balance; I only seek to exchange for it."
"Then that will be difficult!"
Fuxun sighed repeatedly. Yet looking at Li Ximing's face, he was loath to miss this opportunity. Gritting his teeth, he pressed:
"Give me a straight answer, Fellow Daoist! If you take action, what are your chances of success?!"
Chapter 924