Si Yuanli!
The person before them was none other than Si Yuanli, who had been in seclusion for years seeking to verify his divine ability!
The Si family possessed ancient origins and a profound heritage. Si Boxiu had been an illustrious Grand Real Person, a formidable figure dominating an entire region with considerable means at his command; he had obtained the Mingzhen Heshen Pill in Anhuai Heaven and made exhaustive preparations. Now, Si Yuanli possessed a burgeoning divine ability and radiant spirits—he had already attained the Purple Palace!
A beaming smile played upon his lips, radiating exuberant confidence. The scroll at his waist appeared ordinary, yet subtle hues of splendor rippled across it, making it dazzling to look upon.
"Lin Wuning... Where is Daoist Ning?"
Lin Wuning knelt trembling on the floor, not daring to lift his head, shaking like a sieve. He stammered for a long while without managing to string a coherent sentence together, even forgetting proper honorifics, merely muttering:
"The Real Person... is in seclusion..."
Although Qin Xian stood respectfully where he was, his bearing was far more composed and imposing. Looking down at Lin Wuning, he sneered inwardly:
*Above, he has no Real Person backing him; below, he is estranged from Li Yuanqin... What kind of thing do you think you are, Lin Wuning? Pampered since childhood, a mediocre, half-baked wretch!*
Although Li Yuanqin was affiliated with the Ning family, the man possessed genuine capability; in terms of influence and seniority, he was even the clan uncle of the current Li clan Real Person. If Li Yuanqin had become Sect Master, Qin Xian would without hesitation have given him respectful reminders. But Lin Wuning in his eyes was merely an opportunistic sycophant, utterly unworthy of a pleasant expression.
Seeing such spineless behavior, even Si Yuanli frowned. After all, this was the Sect Master appointed by the Ning family. He said:
"The sect truly has no one left!"
Subjected to this humiliation, Lin Wuning could only raise his head with an ingratiating smile and respectfully step aside. Si Yuanli's face bore a sorrowful look. Turning his head slightly, he saw someone rushing hurriedly up the steps. The man knelt before the staircase, weeping tears of joy, and cried out:
"Congratulations, Real Person... Congratulations..."
Si Yuanli glanced over; it was Si Tongyi. Beside him knelt a young man, handsome, spirited, and equally unable to suppress his delight—Li Xizhi's youngest disciple, Si Xunhui.
Si Yuanli smiled and said:
"That both of you are still here is truly my greatest joy!"
Both beamed with joy, and the hall was instantly filled with bustling liveliness. Familiar with every path, Si Yuanli entered the hall and took the head seat. Qin Xian attentively served hot tea. Si Yuanli took a hearty sip, only to see Si Tongyi step forward with a jade pendant, wearing a solemn expression:
"Our Patriarch left this jade pendant before he passed, with a few words meant for you, Real Person. None of us could open it..."
Si Yuanli's eyes instantly reddened. He took it as if it were the most precious treasure, holding it in trembling hands. Closing his eyes, he listened for a moment, tears welling up as he said:
"Among all the Purple Palace masters, Patriarch was the only one who arranged his posthumous affairs so thoroughly... Unlike Changxi, who was selfish and only embraced Buddha's feet at the eleventh hour; unlike Yuansu, whose heart was filled with resentment and grim cruelty; or even Yuanwu... who was violent and unbridled. Without the old patriarch's myriad treasures and arrangements aiding me, how could I have achieved my divine ability today..."
On both sides, the members of the Si family were deeply moved. Although Qin Xian felt no sentiment whatsoever for Yuanxiu, he forced out tears to follow suit. Yet having received guidance from the words left in the jade pendant, Si Yuanli urgently asked:
"Where is Real Person Ning?"
Si Tongyi stepped back, prostrated himself, and answered:
"In the north, Real Person Ning used secret means to slay a demonic Purple Palace cultivator, leaving a million corpses in her wake. Ever since, she has been in seclusion... It seems she is not even at Lu Pond; even Lin Wuning has no idea of her whereabouts."
"Oh?"
Si Yuanli set down his cup. As he listened to Si Tongyi recount past events in rambling detail, the more he heard, the more wrong it seemed. His expression grew increasingly grave.
"Kuiqi has fallen? Both sects sealed?"
"Qi Lanyan? Kong Tingyun of Xuanyue!"
He looked up in hesitation. During the years of his seclusion, the world outside had undergone earth-shaking upheavals. Counting on his fingers, there was not even a single acquaintance left whom he could visit.
"How did things come to such a pass?"
He pondered for a long time, a chill rising in his heart. He thought to himself:
*What sort of method was that? Rippling Lushui, a million corpses... Could that be Ning Wan's divine ability? And why has she disappeared without a trace? Something is wrong... There must be something amiss!*
Si Yuanli was no simple figure himself. Inwardly sensing that something was off, he asked:
"Has Li Zhouwei attained the Dao?"
"Yes..."
Si Tongyi answered cautiously:
"He attained the Purple Palace with the Daoist title Minghuang. It is said he excels at combat. He has clashed with northern cultivators several times, and though his divine ability was at a disadvantage, he did not yield an inch!"
Si Yuanli's face immediately broke into a smile. Looking kindly at Si Xunhui beside him, he asked:
"How is your master doing?"
Si Xunhui replied joyfully:
"Master is cultivating in the East Sea, seeking an opportunity to break through to the Purple Palace!"
Though young, Si Xunhui was far from shallow. As Li Xizhi's disciple, his status was not simple; he could even draw upon the Li clan as his backing, making him the only person in the Si family who harbored genuine goodwill toward the Li family from the bottom of his heart.
Unlike his two senior brothers, who looked after Li Zhouluo out of affection, Si Xunhui certainly held love and respect for his master and his master's descendants, but in his heart he understood clearly: affection was affection, but what he truly needed to cultivate ties with was the Li family itself. Li Zhouluo was merely a stepping stone. Secretly passing information back then, growing close to Li Wushao, and deliberately stopping by the Li residence to rest several times—all had been for this single purpose.
Reading his elder's expression, he realized Si Yuanli sought something from the Li family, and his heart surged with suppressed excitement:
*This shall be my stepping stone to advancement. If the Si and Li families maintain lasting friendship, I will certainly benefit the most...*
Si Yuanli's expression turned grave. He remained silent for a long time, quietly pondering within.
*The Grand Real Person has gone abroad and vanished without a trace. In recent years, Daci Tongcai Temple has lost peacocks one after another, leaving everyone in the Peacock Sea feeling insecure... Who would have thought the inland realm would be in such utter chaos as well...*
*The ancestor instructed... that if I attained the Purple Palace, first, I must never meddle in the mess of the Great Sun lineage; second, I must never disrupt the Yang family's affairs; I must protect myself within the realm, watch the shifts in the situation, and preserve the clan to seek the righteous dharma of Wood. Perhaps he was referring to today's state of affairs.*
Although Si Yuanli had been in seclusion for years, his ancestor had left behind a wealth of heritage. Among the Three Yuans, Real Person Yuanxiu had possessed the highest cultivation and the most illustrious background. In the latter half of his life, his remarkable divine ability and superb talisman methods had enabled him to amass boundless reserves. Inheriting his legacy, Si Yuanli was perhaps even wealthier than Ning Wan!
Measuring the situation with just a few inquiries about certain names, he pondered:
"The Qi family... was also a prominent clan in Zhou times and had some ties to my family. Alas, times have changed... Back then, everyone revered the Douxuan lineage... What a pity today!"
He stroked his beard, deep in thought:
*Now Li Zhouwei has succeeded too... and it was only natural for him to do so; this was foreshadowed back when Li Ximing broke through.*
His expression was somber as his gaze swept through the hall. Gradually, he understood:
*Though I have returned, I must never tie myself down to Qingchi. Ning Wan cannot be found, but there is still the Li family. Going to question them thoroughly is a good move. The ancestor said he left a favor with the Li family, and even a Pure Qi spiritual item—it should come to fruition today...*
He took a sip of tea and looked at Qin Xian, who was kneeling to the side:
*No wonder Lin Wuning is so useless. Ning Wan probably considers Qingchi a hot potato... Fortunately, a useful pawn has already been cultivated, so my clan's scions won't need to put themselves forward.*
It was not strictly necessary to replace Lin Wuning, but Si Yuanli intended to consolidate Qingchi, reap handsome rewards for his family's juniors, and cultivate trusted confidants. He naturally could not leave such an incompetent fool in that position.
Thus, looking over with a smile, he tilted his chin and said:
"Guest Elder Qin, go take over Lin Wuning's duties."
Qin Xian's body jolted, caught entirely unprepared and finding it hard to believe. He had assumed the position of Sect Master would inevitably go to Si Tongyi, and that getting a share of the scraps would be enough for him. How could he possibly land such a role? For a moment, his throat went dry:
"This... how could this be proper..."
He stole a glance at Si Tongyi, only to see Si Tongyi smile and say:
"Entrusting this matter to Guest Elder Qin... puts everyone's mind at ease!"
At Si Tongyi's smile, delight surfaced on Qin Xian's face, and he vowed solemnly:
"I will surely dedicate my life to the Real Person!"
Si Tongyi did not know Si Yuanli's motives, nor was he completely devoid of ambition for the Sect Master's seat. Yet with an elder of his own family becoming a Real Person and himself being the sole junior of note, his position was as steady as Mount Tai—why bother fighting over this? Smiling, he saw Qin Xian out, and only then turned back, hearing Si Yuanli say leisurely:
"None of the juniors are to hold office in the sect anymore. Find some excuses to pack them all off to the South Sea together. Prepare to keep out of this."
"Understood..."
Si Tongyi was secretly alarmed and acknowledged the order. Just as he was about to head out, Si Yuanli called him back. After deliberating for a long while, he instructed:
"Send someone to the Li family..."
Hesitating slightly, he instead looked at Si Xunhui beside him. Seeming to have made up his mind, he changed tack and turned to Si Xunhui with a warm smile:
"Xunhui, you shall accompany me to the Li family!"
Si Xunhui replied with a smile, not making a show of how close he was to the Li family before Si Yuanli, but answering obediently with a bow:
"To report to the Real Person... this junior believes we should send over your Daoist title in advance..."
Si Yuanli stroked his beard and smiled, answering:
"Since Ning Wan did not follow Qingchi's generational naming convention, there is no need for me to do so either. Let it be... Qinghu!"
Both agreed. Yet a flicker of profound grief flashed across Si Yuanli's face, and he let out a heavy sigh:
"Before that, there is still one more thing to do... I hear the Patriarch failed in his breakthrough in the South Sea. I ought to pay homage in the South Sea first, then return to his cenotaph in the sect to report this good news to the venerable elder!"
...
"East Sea... Zhentao Manor..."
On Mount Zhijing, white blossoms bloomed in clusters. A Real Person sat beside a table, bright light swirling and true fire coiling about him as he sipped his tea thoughtfully. Another, taller and clad in armor, stood among the mountain slopes with his hands clasped behind his back.
Li Quewan bowed respectfully to the side, somewhat surprised, and answered:
"I obey the decrees of the two Real Persons..."
Li Ximing merely smiled:
"The spiritual energy there is not bad at all, and it is all out of love and care for you."
Li Quewan said in fluster:
"This junior had no such misgivings! It is only that if I focus peacefully on cultivating, the family's affairs will have to burden my brothers."
Li Ximing chuckled and shook his head. Li Quewan, however, pondered a moment and said:
"This junior still has an affair to report."
"Oh?"
Li Ximing raised an eyebrow, and Li Quewan reported:
"A few days ago, I went to the wilderness, thinking to visit several younger brothers before entering seclusion. But when calculating the spiritual energy, I detected several fluctuations, and repeated divinations proved inconsistent. My Immortal Base gave warning that an Interlocking had been quietly unraveling; I fear a disturbance is underway."
"The wilderness?"
Li Ximing's first reaction was naturally Wanling Heaven across the river, but hearing that it was in the wilderness, he felt a flicker of doubt. Li Zhouwei had already turned around, his expression thoughtful.
Li Ximing understood immediately.
*If Quewan detected something abnormal, she must have investigated with the immortal object. She surely spotted some clue she could not openly discuss, yet she was certain of it.*
Raising his brows, he exchanged a glance with Li Zhouwei. Together, they stepped into the Great Void, and within a few strides, they arrived above the wilderness in the Great Void.
Li Zhouwei swept his gaze across, his divine ability brushing past. Nodding thoughtfully, he said:
"There is indeed an anomaly!"
Though Li Ximing's illusion-dispelling techniques were far inferior to Li Zhouwei's, he had already quietly invoked his arts. Sweeping his gaze, he felt the world clear up; amidst the darkness beneath their feet, an ethereal white gleam appeared, its light undulating like ripples on water.
Though he had never seen this particular color before, it felt remarkably familiar. Li Ximing's heart stirred, and he asked:
"An array formation?"
Li Zhouwei nodded slightly. Together, they sank deeper into the Great Void, descending along the spiritual vein. Submerging to an unknown depth where the fluctuations of the Great Void grew increasingly violent, they saw a cluster of gentle white light flickering, surging vigorously.
Sensing it for a moment, Li Ximing found that this section of the Great Void corresponded to a subterranean cavern of unknown depth. Pitch-black in every direction, it was biting cold, with frost crystals condensing and dense earthly fiend Qi lingering.
"There is actually a space deep underground..."
Li Zhouwei's golden eyes slowly swept over it, when suddenly his granduncle transmitted via divine ability with solemn gravity:
"Someone is there."
Sure enough, standing within the cold cavern was a woman in white.
Her hair hung loosely about her shoulders; with bright eyes and a fine nose, she possessed an exquisite countenance, skin like congealed snow, and a frost-like demeanor. An arresting chill surrounded her as she stood quietly amidst the frigid mist, looking as though a blizzard had condensed into human form, accompanied by howling, biting winds.
Cultivating Cold Qi naturally refined one's beauty and temperament, yet her features were exceptionally delicate, cold detachment blending perfectly with the elegance of an eastern woman, making her unforgettable at first sight.
Li Ximing had seen countless women, yet he was equally stunned at first glance. But the intense luster of divine abilities leaped into his sight, and in the very next instant, his heart seized.
Four Cold Qi divine abilities coalesced around her, wheeling and spiraling in a terrifying display.
He was secretly appalled:
*A Grand Real Person of the Cold Qi path?*
Many in the realm cultivated Cold Qi, but Grand Real Persons were few and far between. In the very next breath, Li Ximing realized her identity.
Tianwan!
*Real Person Tianwan of Chijiao Island!*
At that same moment, Tianwan, who had been meditating with eyes closed, slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Her gaze seemed to pierce the Great Void, falling upon the two like snow.
Several decades had passed, yet her appearance had not aged a whit. The only difference was that the divine ability she had cultivated upon crossing the immortal threshold back then was now fully perfected, coiled about her like a raging blizzard.
Real Person Tianwan cultivated Cold Qi. Though the Cold Qi path was flawed and she did not excel at combat, she was still a Grand Real Person after all. While her current strength could not compare to Changxiao or Wei Xuanyin, dealing with an ordinary mid-Purple Palace cultivator was well within her capability.
Moreover, Chijiao Island and the Li clan harbored deep-seated enmity, bordering on a blood feud. Encountering Tianwan here sent a true shiver down Li Ximing's spine.
*Tianwan... is actually here... and it seems this hasn't been a matter of just a day or two!*
Li Ximing merely glanced at the cold cavern, understanding the situation in his heart.
The Great Void existed only where spiritual energy was present. This place should not have been connected to the Great Void at all; spirit-severing measures had been set up to prevent Purple Palace cultivators from noticing it. By some unknown means, Tianwan had discovered this place and quietly guarded it, seemingly awaiting something.
However, with violent internal upheavals and the pull of Wanling Heaven's impending descent in the outside world, a considerable amount of spiritual energy had surfaced, connecting with the spiritual energy outside. Yet the disturbance was minuscule, and deep underground, Tianwan had suppressed it with all her might, so no one had noticed...
Only because the Li clan was situated right beside it, had managed the wilderness for years, and Li Quewan had formed the Houshenshu Immortal Base paired with shamanic arts—giving her an acuity for sensing shifts comparable to that of a Purple Palace master—was this faint disturbance detected.
Even if an ordinary cultivator noticed it, they would likely dismiss it as an illusion; it was only because Li Quewan had the immortal object to secretly probe the unseen and confirm her suspicions that she dared boldly report it to the two of them.
Yet Tianwan, standing quietly in the cold cavern, seemed neither surprised nor overly hostile. She spoke softly:
"I knew the two Daoists would come sooner or later. Please step inside together."
Li Ximing hesitated slightly and glanced at Li Zhouwei beside him, only to see him frown slightly and transmit via divine ability:
*I fear this concerns the Hongxue Sect.*
Chapter 963