White vapor rose from the golden furnace as the true fire subsided. After three days, the flames died away, yielding the rich fragrance of an elixir.
With a crisp click, Li Ximing snapped shut the jade box in his hands. Stowing away the alchemy furnace, he nodded to Real Person Shanbai before entering the cave abode. Carrying the jade box all the way to the bedside, he addressed her courteously:
"Fellow Daoist Zhugong?"
The female Real Person, who appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen, was flushed across her cheeks and coughing incessantly. Her expression was hard to discern at the moment. Taking the jade box from his hands, she replied:
"Many thanks, Zhaojing!"
Setting the jade box beside the bed, she did not dwell on it at all, saying instead:
"I see that Kong Xiaxiang is still kneeling before the cave abode. He must be terrified out of his wits, hoping to beg for some way to save his own skin."
A chill crept into her eyes as she continued:
"I know what he is afraid of. During the years I was away, several scoundrels in the sect grew reckless with their hands and feet. Now that there is movement in the north, they are scared too. They scheme for Kong Xiaxiang's death so that, for one, he will have no way to voice his grievances, and for two, if trouble truly arrives, it will force a complete falling-out between the Violet Palace masters, ensuring they won't simply be handed over as scapegoats to appease someone's wrath."
Li Ximing sighed inwardly. Zhugong wore a troubled, irritated expression as she said quietly:
"Regarding this matter of the Kong clan... back then, out of consideration for your noble house, my methods were exceptionally lenient compared to how things are usually done in the East Sea. For the few members of the Kong family... I matched them all with direct descendants of the sect. As for Kong Guxi... I did not harm him in the slightest, sending him overseas for protection instead...
"Yet never before has there been a case where an estranged direct descendant was secluded outside and returned as a Violet Palace master. As things stand now... I suppose I have your noble clan to thank."
Seeing her speak with such tact, Li Ximing replied:
"What happened back then was Ye Gui seizing the mountain and you reclaiming it. Preparations were already laid for coping with what might come today..."
Zhugong shook her head silently.
Truth be told, Zhugong would never fear a Real Person who had attained the Dao through Yu Ganshan and had only just broken through to the Violet Palace. Even two or three years earlier, with the Taiyang orthodox lineage mediating, this wouldn't even be an issue.
Yet today's situation was decidedly different!
Her voice was somewhat hoarse as she asked, "Does Fellow Daoist know the origins of the Kong clan?"
Li Ximing nodded and answered:
"The Kong clan was once a prominent family of Daxu. Having suffered under the Northern Inspection, they moved their entire household south and established their sect in Shanji. Real Person Changxi claimed to follow the Xuanguang Yiyue Grand Dao under the Tongxuan orthodox lineage..."
A realization seemed to strike him, his voice growing fainter. Zhugong, with a complex expression, murmured:
"A cultivator of the Tongxuan orthodox lineage cultivating the Xuanguang Yiyue Grand Dao has broken through to the Violet Palace in Jiangbei, right in the territory of Daxu! And she harbors an entirely justified grievance against Muquan—even against the whole Taiyang orthodox lineage—a righteous pretext to reclaim her heritage!
"Qi Lanyan has descended from the north, itching to find any opening to make a move. If he failed to seize such an opportunity, he might as well stop calling himself a successor of the Guan and Xie schools."
Li Ximing's pupils dilated slightly. He watched as the woman forced herself to sit up, her voice laden with exhaustion:
"Right now... more than three days have passed since the breakthrough without a whisper of news. We have no standing to go there, but the Sword Sect certainly went. With no sound from them either, it means they came away empty-handed..."
"The Sword Sect?"
Li Ximing froze for a moment, but then saw Zhugong driven to such helplessness that she actually let out a dry laugh:
"The Sword Sect lent out the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain—does Zhaojing still recall? The Tingfeng Baishi Mountain was originally a fine treasure of the Gen Earth path. Changxi used who knows what method—perhaps enlisting Sumian's help—to keep the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain firmly in place!"
"What?"
Li Ximing was startled, blurting out in shock. Zhugong closely observed his expression, and only upon confirming that he was genuinely unaware did she grit her teeth and say:
"The Tingfeng Baishi Mountain is a treasure from beneath the First Mountain of the Douxuan orthodox lineage. Leaving aside its myriad miraculous effects that benefit a breakthrough, its most fundamental function is to regulate earth veins, keeping them steady amidst disturbance. If we have guessed correctly, Kong Tingyun was secluded in the earth veins of Xuanmiao Temple all along!
"All along, he was secretly using the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain to stabilize the earth veins, converting his lifelong cultivation into spiritual energy of the same lineage to covertly assist her breakthrough!"
The furrow between Zhugong's brows grew deeper and more conflicted:
"Fellow Daoist is also aware... earth veins anywhere else might be shattered in battle, but Jiangbei alone cannot be. Cultivators would not wage a grand battle in Jiangbei... and even if they did, exalted figures would be watching.
"As a result, Kong Tingyun would never be harmed! Since the earth veins could not be shattered, after the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain shielded Kong Tingyun amidst the earth-shaking upheaval of his death, no one would ever detect its traces..."
Li Ximing said in dismay:
"At the time, Sumian and I were both in the sky, and who knew how many Violet Palace masters lurked in the shadows. Why did no one notice a thing?"
"Cough... cough..."
Zhugong could not help but cough, replying:
"Sumian cultivates the Baotu divine ability—Zangna Palace. The spiritual substance Kong Tingyun consumed was also of Baotu: Youguan Baotu, which could resonate with his divine ability... It was prepared long in advance... concealed who knows how deep underground. The two conspired together to keep her safe..."
In an instant, everything became crystal clear in Li Ximing's mind, memories flooding back in vivid detail:
'Sumian didn't lift a finger... because where he exerted his power wasn't here... it was at Gehu Peak!'
At this thought, Li Ximing raised his eyebrows, a tremor running through his heart:
'If that is so, there was never any chance of the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain changing hands—it was merely borrowed, which means the Sword Sect definitely knew about it all along!'
'There is likely another party aware of this affair... the Sword Sect!'
Sure enough, he was by no means the only one to deduce this immediately. Zhugong's gaze was conflicted:
"Perhaps Changxi never even discussed it with the Sword Sect. He merely calculated that the Sword Sect prides itself on aloof righteousness and would never forcibly take back the spiritual instrument to sabotage her breakthrough. Looking at it now, he was exactly right! Even as the situation worsened step by step, and despite knowing full well that her breakthrough would hand the north a handle to wield against us, the Sword Sect remained completely unmoved..."
Li Ximing was as if deaf to her words, his heart heavy and dim:
'Back then, sending someone to my family to demand the Tingfeng Baishi Mountain was, on one hand, Ling Mei seizing the opportunity to carve away Xuanyue's lake-bordering territory, expanding his room to maneuver within his sect while quietly making arrangements outside; on the other hand... he was likely warning me!'
A cold glint flickered in Zhugong's eyes as her vermilion lips parted:
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, care to guess... whether Wei Xuanyin personally summoning Ye Gui back to the capital had such a move in mind? This piece on the board... he was paying attention to it very early on, only he never expected it to come so soon!
"It is true that our families had private agreements, but Ye Gui was entirely unmistakable. If Wei Xuanyin blurs the details and subtly distorts things when explaining it to Kong Tingyun... how will this matter be settled? Will you and I even have a chance to defend ourselves?"
In her agitation, the warm winds inside the cave abode surged stronger, dimming the lamplight to the side so that it flickered as if about to die out. Gritting her teeth, the woman said:
"Once Kong Tingyun... hitches herself to Zhixuan Pavilion... what need will she have to listen to our defense! What use is whether she believes a one-sided claim? Even if it is false... it will become the truth!"
...
Great Zhao, the Imperial Capital.
A brilliant morning sun was rising from the horizon, piercing through the clouds to cast beams of golden radiance that swept across dense clusters of immortal terraces and grand pavilions, gleaming into the far distance.
Amidst the brightness, the dim steps reflected the muted luster of bronze. One thousand and eight hundred long steps stretched across the drifting clouds, exuding a solemn, chilling majesty.
Inch by inch, the sunlight climbed, ascending all the way to the platform. It illuminated the vast immortal terrace with gates standing in eight directions, finally lighting up the plaque above the grand hall atop the terrace to reveal three stark-white characters:
Zhixuan Pavilion.
The grand hall was expansive. In its center stood a bright silver cauldron whose clear water lay flat as a mirror, emitting a faint, ethereal luster that mirrored the calm eyes of the long-haired man seated on the high throne.
He wore a silver robe resembling plumage, layered like feathers. His eyes were narrow and long, holding a somewhat androgynous, delicate beauty. A silver censer rested before his table, beside which lay a hairpin he had unfastened and set to the side.
This was none other than the current Imperial Preceptor of Great Zhao, the leader of the Guan and Xie schools—Wei Xuanyin.
He sat quietly before the desk. His demeanor differed considerably from that day in Luoxia, carrying several measures more gravity and composure. Upon closer look, his brows and eyes leaned more masculine, lacking the delicate softness displayed when suppressing the Taiyang orthodox lineage.
Beside the master seat, roughly ten paces away, stood a pale silver desk. In this vast hall, such a distance felt remarkably close. Atop the desk were no spiritual objects or fine wine, only a simple bronze dish blended with several kinds of powdered sand, glimmering with a faint sheen.
Seated beside the desk was a woman in a yellowish-orange dharma robe. She possessed attractive features and an elegant bearing, yet the Gen Earth divine ability across her body fluctuated unstably, indicating she had only recently broken through to the Violet Palace.
It was only a pity that her willow-leaf brows were slightly knit, betraying a hint of confusion and unease. Yet since the host had not spoken, she could only wait patiently.
"Martial Uncle!"
A clear laugh echoed from outside the hall. A young man dressed in a white Daoist robe edged with gold and patterned with dark clouds and black markings, tied at the waist with a purple silk ribbon, strode in. Wei Xuanyin raised his brows and said gently:
"My nephew has retrieved it."
Qi Lanyan entered with a smile, stepping slightly aside to reveal the people behind him.
It turned out to be two low-level cultivators in black caps holding jade trays, upon which rested several thick volumes of golden books. Qi Lanyan said solemnly:
"I consulted Junior Sister and retrieved the Zhaoyao Mountain Secret Xuan Immortal Genealogy Lineage. After all, burning incense and bathing took some time, so please do not take offense!"
"I would not dare!"
The woman in yellowish robes hurried to reply. Wei Xuanyin looked at her with a gentle smile, showing no trace of arrogance, and merely said:
"Please!"
The woman said respectfully:
"The founding master of the Xuanguang Yiyue Grand Dao went by the Daoist name Luo Yuan, apprenticed under Great Real Person Lu Bai of Tongxuan Palace. Emerging from the land of Shu, he preached the Dao in Luoxia.
"Zhou Zhaozi received it and passed it to Li Bi. Three generations after Li Bi, they entered Ning and transmitted the Dao to Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan passed it to Kong Xia, and after ten generations of transforming sect into clan, our ancestor Real Person Changxi, Kong Yanxi, accomplished the divine ability."
This woman was precisely Kong Tingyun, who had vanished without a trace after the northern celestial phenomenon!
Qi Lanyan picked up the genealogy scroll, glanced over it briefly, and replied:
"When Great Real Person Lu Bai perished attempting to ascend to the remaining seat, he indeed had a disciple named Luo Yuan. Though not as orthodox as the Guan and Xie schools, it indeed has authentic roots."
Kong Tingyun kept her eyes lowered, remaining silent.
The moment she broke through and exited seclusion, this Real Person Qi had materialized within the earth veins, claiming they shared the same uninterrupted heritage of the Tongxuan orthodox lineage and demanding she return north with him to acknowledge her ancestral lineage first.
Kong Tingyun could tell at a single glance that this Real Person's cultivation was extraordinarily profound and his divine abilities formidable. The joy of her breakthrough was instantly doused in cold water. Furthermore, her desire to visit her sect was flatly refused—Xuanyue Gate had already been carved up and divided!
The news nearly made her cough up blood, but the divine abilities of the Real Person before her were undeniable and indisputable. Kong Tingyun had no chance even to hesitate; she was immediately escorted, half-coerced and half-ushered, to this Zhixuan Pavilion.
And there, an even more terrifying Great Real Person awaited!
Kong Tingyun was by no means lacking in discernment. Setting aside his peak divine abilities, even the numerous spiritual instruments on his desk were beyond her wildest dreams, filling her heart with even deeper shock and suspicion.
Her elder Changxi had spent the first half of his life bustling about, asking around through various intermediaries, yet not a single family had ever been willing to acknowledge that they truly hailed from Tongxuan, nor would anyone admit that the Xuanguang Yiyue Grand Dao was an ancient orthodox lineage... Yet now, the moment she broke through, the people of Zhixuan Pavilion had come knocking!
'I fear they only want to use me!'
For now, she could only stand silently to the side without uttering a word, listening to this Great Real Person speak casually:
"A pity there is neither portrait scroll nor formal genealogical record; everything remains unverified... Still, she is ultimately a person of Daxu from back then, and broke through to the Violet Palace in Jiangbei. She ought to be registered in Zhixuan Pavilion by right, let alone cultivating the Tongxuan orthodox lineage."
Wei Xuanyin was quite strict, setting down the verdict in accordance with these rules. Qi Lanyan nodded, saying respectfully:
"According to what this junior understands, this Real Person Changxi was once impacted by the True Monarch's Northern Inspection back then. His whole clan suffered a great catastrophe, which led to their decline, only to rise again through him."
Wei Xuanyin showed a flicker of interest and nodded:
"So he could be considered a talented figure blessed by karmic mandate. What was his cultivation level? Gen Earth inheritances are closely guarded; I imagine his cultivation wasn't very high!"
Qi Lanyan hurriedly bowed and answered:
"Martial Uncle deduces accurately. He was in the early stage of the Violet Palace, and he too cultivated Yu Ganshan. Only, eager in his pursuit of the Dao, he resorted to some underhanded tricks in his early years. Who could have known he would get entangled with a Mohe and get noticed by the Nian clan.
"So they reported it to That One. That One was already displeased by grandstanding about the True Monarch and covertly taking credit—so how could this be tolerated? Fortunately, He did not intervene in person, likely sending someone to warn him privately once. From then on, Changxi became timid and hesitant, not daring to do anything more."
At these words, Wei Xuanyin raised his brows, while within Kong Tingyun's heart, mountains crumbled and the earth shattered, her mind gradually going blank:
'What?'
'How could that be?!'
Kong Tingyun knew that her old ancestor was by no means an upright character, possessing many secret schemes. She had only known that none of them ever succeeded, ultimately taking disciples into the sect instead, which was why he remained in the early stage of the Violet Palace until death. How could she have imagined such an origin!
Related to the Xiuyue Nian clan, and referred to as "That One" by these two—who else could it be?! Being clever, she deduced it instantly, a deep chill gripping her heart.
'These two brought me here across thousands of miles... they wouldn't need to invent such hollow falsehoods to deceive me... Many matters from back then were indeed dubious... Could it be that Ancestor had been waiting all along for Him to fail his breakthrough... which is why he nurtured one successor after another, only to waste his remaining years in vain?'
Wei Xuanyin seemed to notice something. Closing the book in his hand, he asked with mild intrigue:
"What happened?"
Qi Lanyan was equally sharp. He chuckled and said:
"Junior Sister was actually the one who noticed it. By rights, That One is not an overbearing person, and Changxi was advanced in years, so he could have commanded some degree of respect. Yet back then, when Changxi saw That One, he was terrified to the point of not daring to lift his head, excessively deferential beyond measure. Later, when an inquiry was made, it turned out he had gotten slightly tangled with a Mohe of the Dayu Dao. That Mohe was struck down by That One and never dared venture south again, and Changxi must have received a message of warning."
Kong Tingyun's pupils dilated slightly, only to hear Wei Xuanyin chuckle and shake his head, remarking indifferently:
"Enough... past matters aside. Take her down to discuss the situation... At the very least, step forward to help recover her clansmen first."
He smiled faintly, imbued with an androgynous, gentle grace that instantly brought his entire face to life:
"And after that... the mountain gate ought to be taken back as well, shouldn't it? Hmm?"
Chapter 942