His voice was faint and eerie, echoing over the Lukui Pool. Billowing currents of Lushui qi drifted and surged in cadence with his tone, transforming in midair into darting streaks of dark azure qi.
*He... how did he return! Has it already ended beyond the heavens!?!*
Ning Wan kept her head bowed. Her mind was gradually going blank, and she dared not utter a single word, utterly at a loss as to how to face the terrifying figure before her. The air was frighteningly still.
*Tap, tap.*
Yet at such a crucial moment, the sound of approaching footsteps gradually came from outside the cave dwelling. The two cultivators guarding the entrance promptly made way. The footsteps quickened, and Lin Wuning, clad in brownish-black robes, arrived at the gates outside the pool.
"Reporting to the Real Person, another letter has arrived from Real Person Tianwan."
A chill rushed straight to Ning Wan's brow, and she cursed inwardly. But on the handsome face of the man seated above, an intrigued smile appeared. His eyes full of amusement, he answered, "Come in."
This was clearly not Ning Wan's voice, yet Lin Wuning respectfully and naturally responded with an affirmation. Lifting the hem of his robe, he stepped over the threshold.
He treated Ning Wan, who knelt on the ground, as though she were completely invisible. At his closest, he passed merely an inch from her white robes, yet he seemed entirely blind to her presence. Walking straight before the high seat, he bowed and respectfully presented the letter with both hands, saying naturally, "Real Person, please look!"
Sui Guan did not take the letter. With merely a single glance, he took in its contents. His face erupted into uncontrollable mockery, suddenly turning vivid with expression: "Hahahahaha..."
"What sort of pitiful thing is she! How dare she inquire after the seat of 'Han Qi'!"
His laughter echoed in the cave dwelling for a long while. Lin Wuning's expression turned stiff, as if he had frozen into a stone statue the very instant the laughter began, rooted to the spot.
The great true master at the peak of the Violet Palace laughed for a time, patted his armrest, and chuckled. "Three Yang govern Xi, acting as sovereign and minister; Three Yin generate Cold, known as assistant and envoy. 'Xi Qi' only managed to play out the drama of a minister assassinating his sovereign by borrowing the fall of Mingyang—the sovereign and minister—and riding the east wind of all cultivators' collective desires. Only then could its symbolism be vastly altered, allowing it to muster some prestige of its own and produce a Shi Chang. What sort of thing does your Tianwan think she is? To seek Han Qi as her fifth path—she actually dares harbor designs on 'Han Qi'!"
He retracted his gaze, quickly losing interest. Ning Wan pondered with lowered head. Taking advantage of Sui Guan mentioning Si Boxiu, she respectfully said, "Senior Yuanxiu failed to attain the Dao fruit and perished in the South Sea."
Sui Guan sat quietly on the mountain, resting one hand upon the jade-like emerald throne. His pale fingers lightly brushed its grain, and a hint of amusement crept into his bluish-purple eyes. "What audacity, daring to borrow Du Qing's signs of attaining the Dao. In the seven hundred years of Qingchi, he is the first."
*Ah?*
Hearing him directly speak Lushui's true name chilled Ning Wan to the bone. She stood stunned in place, feeling the overwhelmingly suppressed, terrifying aura of the divine ability radiating from the man before her. She dared not raise her brows, nor did she dare utter a sound.
Yet Sui Guan appeared rather amused. "Back then, among the so-called Three Yuans, the one surnamed Tang possessed the most wretched talent. Clearly fifteen years old, he had only cultivated to the second layer of Qi Refining, yet he had the greatest nerve and the most ruthless heart. Looking back now, it was not so. Chi Rui misjudged him as well—this Si Boxiu was truly the most ruthless of them all.
"Seeking 'Gathered Wood'... A fine idea... fine attainment!"
Si Boxiu's cultivation, calculation, and sheer boldness back when he attempted to attain the Dao were enough to elicit Sui Guan's praise, far surpassing what Chi Wei could ever compare to. It made him narrow his eyes.
"It is only a pity that shamans have become extinct, and the yielding harmony of Wood Virtue does not flourish, leaving 'Gathered Wood' hanging vacant. Otherwise, had he truly managed to attain the Dao through that, it would have been quite an amusing sight!"
Ning Wan knew that Yuanxiu's series of actions before his death must have had their reasons. It was merely that her own attainment was insufficient to see them clearly. Now it appeared he had borrowed Du Qing's status, which was akin to stirring up trouble right over the Grand Duke Jupiter's head. How could she dare interrupt? Yet she saw Sui Guan sit up straight, his smile gradually fading.
"A pity. The Chi family was supposed to still be of use."
The aura of the entire Lukui Pool instantly congealed, turning as frigid as midwinter. Ning Wan felt a silent despair in her heart:
*The Si family and Lingu family joined forces, the various clans fanned the flames, and the Li family dug the grave, burying his Chi family—yet now I am the one who has to face it!*
She gently raised her delicate head and said respectfully, "The Chi family met the revenge of the various houses... By the time I exited seclusion, their entire clan had already been annihilated..."
The man above smiled faintly. His face actually took on a fiendishly handsome quality. Rising from the main seat with his hands behind his back, he caused the entire Lukui Pool to feel like a spring breeze melting the ice, turning pleasantly warm and harmonious.
"No matter. So long as they can be commanded, it merely means a few more people must die.
"Still, there is that Chi Buzi. He has fled to the East Sea now—not only to the East Sea, but even to Penglai. His courage is quite great as well, attempting to cultivate Fushui."
Sui Guan's gaze grew meaningful as he remarked, "Your Qingchi is always producing ambitious, sharp-witted sorts... Looking at Jinyu, they mostly turn out figures who are smooth operators, unpredictable, and adept at sinister plots—all brought about by Zhang Yuanyu's status. It seems you people have followed the example of your superiors as well, influenced by Du Qing's status!"
Ning Wan kept her eyes cast down in silence, sighing inwardly.
The man before her descended step by step from the dais, gradually sauntering closer, and said softly, "Fushui lost its boundless vastness, and its remaining seats no longer respond. An intercalary seat, however, can still be attempted. He is naturally a clever man; regardless of whether it is present or not, he at least seized it to cultivate. In the present world, it is also just the right time. It is only that dragonkind might not be willing to yield."
When speaking of dragonkind, a few strands of deep chilling darkness flickered through the man's eyes, yet a smile rose on his face.
"Those foul chi dragons have minds narrower than the tip of a needle. The Dragon King of the North Sea is somewhat broader-minded than his brothers, but not by much. There will be bitter days ahead for him..."
Hearing him mention Zhang Yuanyu on the left, Du Qing on the right, Shi Chang one moment, and the Dragon King the next, Ning Wan's heart was already filled with shock and dread; merely hearing these names felt like sacrilege. Having finally managed to turn the conversation to Chi Buzi, she hurriedly said, "This person seeks only the Dao. Once Chi Wei died, all trace of him vanished..."
"Mm."
Sui Guan gave a flat response and replied, "He is smarter than Chi Wei."
With those words, the man with bluish-purple eyes spoke no more, slowly closing his eyes. The Lushui qi above the Lukui Pool gradually settled into tranquility. The surroundings grew so quiet that only the dripping of cave springs could be heard. Ning Wan waited for a long while before finally hearing the figure before her say in a flat voice, "Accompany me to Luyu Heaven."
The heart Ning Wan had kept suspended finally plummeted to the depths. Despair seized her, her voice turning stiff. Yet even Yuansu had lacked the power to refuse; how could she? After a fleeting moment of hesitation, she could only weakly squeeze out a single word:
"Yes..."
As soon as the word fell, billowing Lushui qi began to suffuse the pool. A pattering rain began to fall rustlingly inside the cave, gradually shrouding the two figures. Both silhouettes vanished without a trace, leaving everything empty and desolate, save for Lin Wuning still kneeling beside the pool.
*Drip, drop!*
As the rain dissipated, the pool's surface regained its calm, becoming as clean as a mirror once more. Remarkably, it reflected Ning Wan's white-robed form and her gentle, beautiful face, her head slightly bowed, exceptionally clear in the limpid water.
Ning Wan's reflection remained within the Lukui Pool.
And upon the reflected high seat, Sui Guan's reflection also appeared. His bluish-purple eyes were cast downward, quietly watching Ning Wan.
Soon, he rose leisurely. In the pool, Ning Wan also stood up somewhat uneasily, closely following behind him, until both vanished past the edge of what the Lukui Pool could reflect.
***
Lake Wangyue.
It was late autumn, the season of Frost's Descent. The trees along the shore were already coated in frost, and the roads were covered in ice. Carriages rolled past, their wheels emitting crisp crunching noises. As a horsewhip cracked, the whispers of passing pedestrians along the roadside drifted over:
"The north has been in turmoil for quite a few days, and recently it seems to be growing fiercer."
"Who says it isn't... Not a few people have died... Didn't a Real Person fall just the other day?"
The idle chatter outside drifted into the carriage window, prompting the young man inside to lift the curtain. Turning his head, he smiled and said, "It wasn't easy to catch Fourth Uncle emerging from seclusion. It just so happens that Like Tower has a new play. For one, it's a chance to grow closer; for another... I've always heard the scenery along this lake shore is splendid, so it's an opportunity for you to enjoy it as well."
Beside him, Li Zhouluo showed a faint smile and replied, "I wondered why you had the leisure to ride in a carriage; so that was why... As for this play... ever since Zhouming entered seclusion, fewer people cater to his tastes, and few throw money around so lavishly. A new play is a rare thing indeed."
The young man was naturally Li Jiangzong. He was far more tactful than his father, nor did he harbor such deep affection for his grand-uncle Li Cheng. This outing was naturally meant to ease tensions—not only was Li Zhouluo in Foundation Establishment, he also came from a prominent lineage. How could one afford to offend him?
Li Zhouluo understood this as well. That day, he had instinctively responded to Li Zhoufang, telling him not to disturb the Real Person hastily. In truth, after returning to the lake for a day or two, he had felt secret regret. Setting aside those clan elders, Li Zhoufang himself had hardly treated him poorly.
Having the intention to make amends, he naturally gave him plenty of face. The two traveled all the way to Lijing Prefecture, where old estates covered the ground.
Many of the various families who had walked out from this place in past years were now exalted cultivators. Every house in this ancestral land was worthy of commemoration, and every year during the ancestral sacrifices they still had to return. Though it appeared ancient and dilapidated, it remained the most prominent location along the lake shore, unmatched even by Milin.
After weaving through the blue-brick houses for a time, the two stopped before a tavern covering a considerable expanse of land. The proprietor had long been waiting before the building. With bright eyes, he guided the two inside, acting deferentially the entire way, just like an attendant.
"My two lords... right this way!"
Naturally, many people around glanced over. Those who recognized the pair could not help but feel inwardly shocked, keeping their heads down in silence.
Li Zhouluo did not care much. Unlike Li Zhouming, he only came out to indulge once in many years. Furthermore, with his status as a Foundation Establishment venerable, naturally no one dared say anything. They ascended all the way to the highest floor. In the center stood a fine stage, upon which melodious and pleasant singing drifted forth.
The proprietor had naturally reserved the best table for them. The two took their seats at the central table. Li Jiangzong attentively poured wine for him and spoke many pleasantries before whispering, "My father was truly overcome with grief that day, and his words were inappropriate. Please forgive him, Fourth Uncle..."
"I was reckless as well!"
Li Zhouluo felt a trace of sorrow. He took a sip of wine and spoke of many memories from their brotherly friendship of past years. Meanwhile, the surrounding sounds grew louder, seeming to erupt into cheers. He raised his brows and glanced over, hearing the singing from the stage:
*"In chaotic times, millions perish by the blade... Alone of my whole house, only I remain! A meager fate deserves Heaven's punishment~ A meager fate deserves Heaven's slaughter..."*
Li Zhouluo frowned and asked, "What is this about...?"
Li Jiangzong felt slightly embarrassed. He was always busy running errands and had never found the time to watch these operas and tunes; he had merely heard an outline to use as a conversation starter. He immediately smiled and explained, "This is *Resenting the Passing Waters*. I hear it is about a scion of an established family whose entire household was murdered. Reduced to dire straits, he knelt in a desolate forest intending to seek death, only for his brother to achieve immortality and pluck him up into the heavens to become an immortal... In the end, it is about brotherly affection..."
Still somewhat uneasy, he smiled and added, "This tune was something Uncle Zhouming found in the neighboring commandery back then and had staged for private viewing. I heard he even dragged the old master to watch it... It was only recently released to the public."
Li Xuanxuan had never watched such things in the past. It was only after Li Ximing mentioned it that he went once or twice. In recent years, his health had declined, and he no longer drew talismans; instead, he found such novelties rather intriguing.
"Oh!"
Li Zhouluo instantly fell silent, nodding as he watched. It was just that he had never cared much for such spectacles, so his gaze did not linger long. Instead, it unexpectedly settled upon a middle-aged man standing beside the stage.
This man wore ordinary clothing. He had an elongated face and a pair of phoenix eyes, yet he appeared dignified and imposing. Upon his head sat a Daoist cap, and standing amidst the bustling crowd, he looked clear, bright, and otherworldly. Although no cultivation could be discerned from him, he possessed a unique bearing that made those around him treat him with deference, quietly yielding a fist's distance around him.
At his waist hung two simple, antique little gourds, merely the size of a fist, tied together with purple cords. On the other side hung six small ornamental short daggers arranged in a neat row. With one set on the left and one on the right, it appeared exceptionally orderly.
*"In days of old, one sect alone held sway over the commandery... How many storms were laid to rest? North and south clashed, rolling heads in heaps... The common folk suffered harm~ An eternal grievance unresolved!"*
Around him, waves of sound rose like a tide as the audience buzzed with discussion. He likewise nodded with a chuckling smile, his eyes full of marvel.
*What an extraordinary figure.*
Li Zhouluo looked at him a few more times, nodding inwardly. Cultivators were often distinguished, but natural grace and bearing were born, not made; unless one altered one's appearance, many things were hard to change. Among the cultivators he had met, there were likely few who could compare to this man.
"Fourth Uncle!"
Li Jiangzong's voice brought him back to his senses. Li Zhouluo laughed softly and said, "It is our ancestral land after all, to harbor a figure of such bearing."
Li Jiangzong looked toward the stage thoughtfully. The two took another sip of wine together. An old man had already appeared on stage above, draped in tattered robes, singing:
*"In bygone days, this forest was a domain of ghosts... Where a great demon concealed its tracks... Ghostly winds swept people aloft all at once..."*
Li Zhouluo shook his head. The imaginations of these low-tier cultivators were indeed wild and unconstrained, but with his higher cultivation, watching it felt far too steeped in the flavor of ancient immortal-and-ghost tales, leaving him uninterested. Just as he was about to speak, a soft rustle sounded, and a person was already standing beside their table.
This seat commanded a view of the entire hall, yet Li Jiangzong had booked it well in advance. The sudden arrival of an uninvited guest left him somewhat displeased. Just as he was about to look up and speak, Li Zhouluo turned his head as though startled, his pupils instantly dilating.
The person beside the table was clad in fine, scale-like armor. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, sharp brows, and a broad face. Though his features could not be called pretty or dashing, they possessed an awe-inspiring presence that made one dare not look at him directly. Merely standing there, he exerted an overwhelming pressure that bore down on the two men.
*The Real Person?!*
It was none other than Li Zhouwei.
Li Jiangzong had only seen him a few times, but how could he fail to recognize his own family's Real Person? At this moment, his whole body went taut. A surge of icy blood rushed straight up his spine into the back of his mind, leaving him opening his mouth without producing a sound.
Yet everyone around seemed completely oblivious to him, gazing attentively toward the stage. Li Zhouwei remained composed, his hands clasped behind his back, his burning golden pupils likewise fixed ahead.
Li Zhouluo's mind went blank for an instant. In that split second, he wanted to leap up from his seat to prostrate himself, yet he found himself unable to move. He could only feign composure, and after a long hesitation, he said with some trepidation, "Greetings... Real Person!"
Li Zhouwei gave a slight nod. His golden eyes quietly watched the middle-aged man beneath the stage. The man seemed wholly unaware, and as he watched the actor weeping in envious longing upon the stage, a look of sorrow even appeared on his face.
*"Drifting and wandering, advance and retreat without recourse; how can becoming a ghost compare to the talent of an immortal? Ah, those who become immortals! The four continents rotate, mountains and rivers shine bright~ All heed his dispatch; the ghost emissaries of the five quarters command wind and thunder~ All obey his command..."*
The drawn-out tune soared through the air. A slight change stirred in Li Zhouwei's eyes. He merely tilted his head slightly and said in a low voice, "Step back. Protector Ding is waiting for you outside the tower."
Chapter 932