Regarding the matter of Hengzhu, Ye Gui had mentioned it years ago, so Li Ximing understood it well. After a moment of silence, Xiao Chuting said warmly:
“Sometimes, something clearly could succeed, yet if the timing is wrong or the identity is wrong, it still cannot be accomplished—do you remember Duanmu Kui?”
Li Ximing nodded silently, watching as Xiao Chuting's expression grew enigmatic.
“It cannot be accomplished... 'Shamanic Talisman' cannot succeed... When the master leaves the grand hall to attend to business outside, returning from time to time to take a look, how could he let someone else take it? Whose seat it is ultimately remains theirs.
“Conversely, other seats that various powers seek to unsettle... are the ones truly worth gambling on.”
Li Ximing's heart tightened. For a moment, he could not fathom Xiao Chuting's true meaning, and a sudden chill gripped his chest as he listened to the man before him continue:
“Be it the bearer of 'Purple Qi' from Ziyan, or that bearer of 'Complete Dan' from Jinyu, or even Tantai of the overseas realms, Huangyu of the North Sea, Hengli of Hengzhu, and the master and disciple Yuanshang of the East Sea—they are all waiting for this day of 'True Qi,' waiting for the outcome of True Qi.”
Xiao Chuting's pupils dilated slightly, his voice barely audible:
“Naturally... that includes Chi Buzi as well.”
“Chi Buzi...”
Li Ximing had not thought of that name for many years, yet even now when it surfaced in his mind, it sent a shudder down his spine. Letting the thoughts slowly fade, he raised his brow and murmured:
“I fear Senior is among them as well...”
Xiao Chuting gave a low chuckle, offering no answer.
Li Ximing asked a few more questions before soon showing his intention to take his leave. Xiao Chuting looked at him and said after a long pause:
“Be prudent in making friends and offering shelter.”
Li Ximing hastened to agree. Steering his divine light upward, he had just left Mount Baier and was preparing to slip into the Great Void to return when he caught sight of a streak of azure on a distant icy peak.
That streak of azure seemed to possess some strange allure, instantly drawing his eye. Li Ximing glanced toward it attentively, only to see the azure figure leap outward and plummet like a falling star, ending in a dull, sickening thud of shattered flesh.
*Thud!*
Finding it eerie, he strode through the air to investigate, only to discover that the creature that had fallen from the ice peak was an azure-furred ape. It had burst open upon impact, bathing the ground in gore, with jagged white bones showing through mangled flesh; it was already dead.
The ape appeared to possess no shallow cultivation, yet even in death, its jaws remained clamped tightly around a verdant medicinal herb. It had likely come to gather herbs, only to slip from the heights and plummet to its gruesome demise.
Li Ximing took a closer look, a cold terror seizing his heart. Quickly turning away, he lowered his brow and schooled his expression, paying no further heed to the corpse on the ground as he tore open the Great Void and fled.
……
Wanling Heaven.
The heavens were murky and dim, the earth fractured and ruined. A pale white storm swept across the domain. Be it magnificent palaces or fluttering feathered regalia, all color had faded from them, leaving behind only a desolate expanse of ashen white.
“Wanling Heaven... is already linking to the Netherworld...”
This realm was shattering bit by bit. Colossal swathes of earth gave way, drifting apart along with fractured mountains, breaking away from this world. Emerging from the grayish-white expanse, they manifested in the Great Void before crashing downward toward the mortal world, forming fresh ruins upon Zhuosha Mound.
Upon the pale land, a white-robed man could still be seen, moving like an ant through the mountains, pausing occasionally to scan the surroundings.
“With its mysterious sheath shattered, no one could save it unless the original master of Wanling Heaven were reborn!”
Lu Jiangxian stepped over piles of bones. His divine sense swept out, instantly recording the translucent jade slips buried deep within the ruins. Yet he had no mind to read the cultivation arts and methods within them. Stepping forward as he gazed upon the grayish-white Banished Wind, he sighed inwardly:
“A grotto-heaven is mostly nourished by Clear Qi, yet in its fall, it is brought low by Banished Qi. Truly a beginning and an end.”
A masterless grotto-heaven had no manifest fruit position, yet it could conceal itself outside the Great Void beyond the notice of True Monarchs—firstly because it remained linked to the status of that fruit position, and secondly because it aligned with the 'Banished Qi' symbolism of the Lord of Dark Murk, making it even more hidden. Yet when the time came for the grotto-heaven to perish, devoid of the blessing of a fruit position, Banished Qi would bare its fangs, resonating with it and dragging the realm downward until it plunged into the Netherworld.
Once this process began, grayish-white Position-Facing Banished Wind would surge forth, draining all things of color. Even Violet Palace cultivators could not withstand it and had to depart. By the time they turned back to look, they could no longer find where it had come from, unable to see the ruins of the grotto-heaven linked to Banished Qi.
They could only see a few shattered peaks falling from the Position-Facing Banished Wind within the Great Void; unsupported by anyone, these peaks would immediately crash down into the mortal realm.
It was Lu Jiangxian's first time witnessing such a catastrophic fall of a grotto-heaven. Back then, Anhuai Heaven had suffered no True Monarch's intervention, its mysterious sheath remaining intact as it peacefully descended into the Netherworld without shedding many ruins. Wanling Heaven, however, was similar to the Donghuo Heaven of old, yet far more tragic—the True Monarchs had shown no mercy when retrieving the magical treasures, shattering the entire mysterious sheath and who knew how many mountain peaks it would add to Zhuosha Mound.
His gaze was complex as he raised his head, catching sight of an object amidst the churning Banished Wind. Though enveloped by layer upon layer of divine abilities, it still stirred faintly.
“The *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture*...”
The True Monarchs were combining their powers to cast spells. Seizing the moment when Wanling Heaven linked with Banished Qi, they were willing to abandon the Lingyang Unchanging Palace just to cast the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* into the unfathomably distant Banished Qi residing in the Netherworld!
‘The Lord of Sitian is a figure who stirs the winds and clouds, and the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* is an instrument for manipulating the world. They can never allow this thing to return to its fruit position. Once the fruit position has a master, it would be enough to disrupt all their current arrangements! Only by suppressing this object—even if Sitian returns to its seat—will they have ample time to keep it in check!’
‘Yet these True Monarchs know in their hearts that the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* cannot be permanently suppressed. Even when Wanling Heaven was on the outside and the Lingyang Unchanging Palace on the inside, Liu Changdie still emerged...’
Lu Jiangxian's expression was cold, his mind crystal clear:
‘In truth, it is not just Liu Changdie; there are others like him. The contingency left by the master of Wanling Heaven is the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture*. Aside from being influenced by me, there must be other preparations. Merely with the breaking of Wanling Heaven, Lin Hengjiang was called by the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* and the Sitian fruit position, giving birth to Shengyang out of nothing... Furthermore, several streaks of silver light emerged from various places, falling into the mortal realm.
‘Even though that Lin Hengjiang is no longer his former self, even though he is merely a Violet Palace cultivator, and even though these things cannot stir up immense waves, they are still variables.
‘And the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* will ultimately prevail over the Lingyang Unchanging Palace. If they rely solely on that palace for suppression, the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* will eventually calculate its vulnerabilities and overturn the suppression. These variables will only multiply and grow stronger, ultimately giving birth to that Lord of Sitian!
‘Whether it be Luoxia, the Dragon Kind, or Yinsi, none of them favor variables, let alone the True Monarchs great and small who plotted against Wanling Heaven... For now, these variables can be tolerated, and they can even use them to unearth more of Douxuan's legacy—which is why they tolerated Lin Hengjiang and allowed so many Violet Palace cultivators to enter. But under no circumstances can they let it run completely unchecked!’
Standing here all along, Lu Jiangxian naturally saw everything most clearly. Watching coldly, he thought:
‘Not a single True Monarch is willing to sacrifice their own future and stake their own faction just to suppress this item. That is why it must be cast into the Netherworld. Only the Banished Qi fruit position can completely suppress the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* of the Sitian rank without anyone's assistance, and prevent it from escaping!
‘In taking such an action, Yinsi, residing within Banished Qi, must surely know and support it.’
During the days when Li Zhouwei and the others fought in the grotto-heaven, Lu Jiangxian had already used the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* to deduce the future one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one times!
And one of his purposes for standing here was to seize these final moments to continue deducing!
Throughout these one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one futures, Lu Jiangxian had silently steered the outcomes, testing again and again, only to sink into silence each time. Even until the magical treasure was hoisted away by the True Monarchs together, what remained for him was still absolute silence.
Among them, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four ended in a sea of blood—the total annihilation of the Li clan.
There were roughly three paths.
First, leaning toward Luoxia, totaling eight hundred and seven variations. Though details varied, the main course remained largely unchanged.
Li Zhouwei would be besieged in Weidu Commandery of Zhao land. Surrounded by tens of thousands of troops, he would be forced to attempt breaking through to the fruit position. The world would instantly witness the Second Manifestation. In three days he would perish; light-rain would fill the sky, the celestial glow would fall into disarray, and the sun would shine brightly yet cast no light... Mingyang would be shaken, and heaven and earth would undergo great upheaval.
In that same year, Shu soldiers would capture Wangyue, whereupon an immortal decree would arrive, executing all three lineages.
Fewer living, breathing members of the Li clan would remain than before Li Mutian had enlisted in the army.
In five hundred and nineteen of those futures, a fair number of Li family members survived. The turning point lay neither with Li Zhouwei nor Li Ximing, but with someone Lu Jiangxian had not anticipated—Li Xizhi.
In those five hundred and nineteen futures, the Li clan ultimately compromised with Luoxia. When the north descended into turmoil, Li Xizhi entered Mount Luoxia to cultivate, his attainment used by the True Monarchs. When Li Zhouwei perished attempting the fruit position, it was not the Shu soldiers who came, but people from the north. An immortal decree was issued, leaving a few survivors at Lake Wangyue and allowing Li Zhouming to lead them to the Southern Border.
After cultivating for many years, Li Xizhi would suddenly perish. Li Zhouming would die of illness after thirteen years. Xia Shouyu would manage the clan for seventy-nine years until Liu Changdie and Fuxun were slain by Shengbai Hall, after which the entire clan was wiped out!
In another five hundred and sixty-one futures, the Li clan chose the Dragon Kind.
Though trapped in Lake Wangyue and plagued on all sides, the Li family appeared docile on the surface, allowing the north and south to manipulate and maneuver around them without offering resistance, yet secretly colluding with the Dragon Kind. In the Zhulu Sea, they would secretly construct a grand tomb to facilitate reincarnation.
When Li Zhouwei, besieged in Weidu Commandery, exhausted his strength in battle, his true spirit would escape, attempting to defect to the Dragon Kind and reincarnate to begin anew. Yet he would be struck by the Divine Thunder Profound Sound Drum, his true spirit shattered. Lake Wangyue would turn into a sea of blood, leaving only an overseas branch occupying Qunyi to scrape by under the rule of the Dragon Kind. Yet within a mere decade, the main lineage withered, the clan went extinct, and their legacy was carved up by various powers, just like the tale of the Jiang family.
In the final five hundred and twenty-three futures, the Li clan drew close to the Great Song established by Yang Zhuo. Someone would attempt a breakthrough on Mount Zhijing and perish, bringing twelve years of peace to the lake. But when Song and Zhao vied for supremacy over the world, Lake Wangyue was breached by the Zhao general Wang Quwan. The entire clan was slaughtered, and Li Jiangliang, who held a position in the imperial court, committed suicide... Neither could they escape doom. Seventy-six of these were slightly better, leaving only Li Ximing with a respectable post in Yinsi, but because of his covert interventions, within a few years he too was executed on charges of disrupting the mortal realm.
Without exception, every single one of these endings concluded in blood and tears.
Of course, besides those one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four futures, there were seven more!
Lu Jiangxian's expression turned somber.
Those seven—in truth, they also involved Li Xizhi joining Luoxia, but due to a single slip, Lu Jiangxian's true form was discovered. A grand war broke out across the Great Void and beyond the heavens, shattering the land within the seas into seven continents. The Li clan, along with those who followed them, befriended them, or were tied to them by marriage—the Si family, the Xiao family, and the future Yuyang Chen clan—were utterly annihilated, without a single survivor.
‘The futures deduced by the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture*... be they good or ill, glorious for a moment or filled with lifelong indignity, not a single one offers a path to survival!’
He stood quietly within the Banished Wind, his eyes reflecting the suppressed *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* above, his expression enigmatic.
The *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* was nothing like that meager sliver of calculative power on Liu Changdie. Even bound by magical treasures, it still possessed the exalted status and wondrous profundity of a Rank. While it might not deduce the future actions of True Monarchs, eighty to ninety percent of the past and present schemes of those mighty beings were within its calculations!
‘Which means that the one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one futures born of my premises are all futures remarkably close to reality... As long as the Dao Embryos do not act and I do not intervene significantly, they are practically set in stone!’
He remained silent for a long time:
‘The *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* can calculate all things... yet there are two things it cannot see clearly.
‘One is the decisions of the Dao Embryo Immortals of Luoxia and Yinsi; the second—is me!’
Those seven instances involved his true form being discovered. The world was shaken, immortals and True Monarchs emerging together, and the visions instantly devolved into utter chaos, leaving behind nothing but the shattered land within the seas!
‘If I simply allow the situation to develop on its own, these hundred years will surely be wasted in vain. Wasting a century is one thing, but missing this century of surging winds and shifting clouds means that even if another opportunity arises in the future, it will be utterly impossible to turn the tables!’
Back then, he had thought that at worst he could simply lie low for five hundred years. But looking at it now, could five hundred years resolve this? Moreover... after living alongside them for more than a century... he could not simply sit by and watch the Li clan be butchered to the last...
‘Mingyang and Li Zhouwei... the grand chaos of the entire realm pursuing "True Qi" is the Li family's only chance, and in truth, my only chance as well...
‘The *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* could deduce these one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one futures, but what about that Lord of the Primordial Mansion, that Lu Jiangxian of Qingsong Abbey? Could his calculations be limited to a mere one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one times? What could ever escape his calculations!
‘He made all these arrangements, even willingly washing away his memories to become who I am today—there must be a reason for it... If the Li clan perished while I remained unscathed, why would he scheme against Liu Changdie, and why would he let me witness these one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one futures!’
Lu Jiangxian stood silently within the Banished Wind, slowly turning his head as all his thoughts coalesced into a single conviction:
“I need variables... They do not want variables, but I must have them. A single Chi Buzi is far from enough; I need more variables! Even if they cannot disrupt their grand game no matter what, they can still strive for a glimmer of hope!”
His eyes turned silver-white, his divine sense still maintaining a continuous connection, silently calculating. With a calm expression, he slowly condensed a cyan-white treasured sword in his hand out of nothingness.
‘Li Jiangchun...’
Li Jiangchun had been granted a talisman seed precisely because his talent in the sword Dao was the foremost in a century, capable of rivaling Li Chijing!
Giving Li Chijing's lifelong sword Dao experience to him was not considered a waste, but this was something ordinary people could not bear, nor could an ordinary person win its recognition. Unless one's talent surpassed Li Chijing, one had to reach at least sword origin—a single step away from sword intent—before having any hope of gaining its approval!
Lu Jiangxian had originally planned to wait until his sword Dao reached a certain level before subduing this object, but now he could wait no longer!
‘Even if it refuses to acknowledge him, it must!’
Just as when Li Xijun had borrowed the sword back then, this sword thought was forcibly subdued by him. With a flick of his finger, it flew into Li Jiangchun's talisman seed—Lu Jiangxian would divide his divine mind to suppress it at all times, allowing Li Jiangchun to resonate with it and rapidly elevate his sword Dao cultivation until he could win its recognition!
‘The variables left behind by this Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture are few, yet they can be thoroughly calculated...’
Endless silver-white vortexes surfaced in his eyes as he raced against time, feeding countless variables into it at a terrifying speed.
In these endless illusions, Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei shifted again and again, or perhaps Li Jiangqian or Li Quewan would awaken one day, drenched in cold sweat, their minds suddenly filled with one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one futures. They would try to save themselves, only to invite fatal calamity upon themselves one day...
“Treat the variable itself as the variable...”
In this instant, all manner of visions multiplied at a terrifying rate, repeating time and time again, recurring over and over!
The boundless Banished Wind was converging toward a single point, plunging into the bottomless depths of the Netherworld. If Lu Jiangxian continued to stand here, he could ride this grayish-white Position-Facing Banished Wind into the boundless Netherworld.
‘That place is Yinsi, the very source of Banished Qi.’
Facing the surging Banished Wind, that faint connection with the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture* finally severed. His figure abruptly vanished from where he stood, a faint gloom surfacing upon his countenance:
‘If all manners of plotting prove futile, it would be better to play an open hand with the *Great Derivation Heavenly Plain Scripture*... play an open hand they believe to be beneath notice... From beginning to end, the Li clan has only ever had the qualifications to play an open hand.
‘I cannot enter the fray for every matter, yet the Li clan needs a Liu Changdie... needs a member of the Li clan who believes they understand the course of the future, a figure at the center of the grand trends who sees all with clarity... to place the pieces on the board for me, step by step...’
A vast ocean of memories converged abruptly. A speck of golden light rose up, cascading down along the secret passage of the Heaven of Sun and Moon in Mutual Splendor, vanishing into an imperceptible corner of the Great Void.
Chapter 984