Yuanbai

The world was overcast and gray. Layers upon sheets of conjoined fire tumbled from the sky, burning in undulating radiance. Clad in platinum armor draped with a snow-white feathered robe, a man stood aloft in the air, True Qi swirling around him. In his hand, he held a gleaming golden trident, upon which lightning, water, and fire intertwined, crackling with fine snaps. He had narrow, pitch-black eyes and handsome brows, standing upright in the sky like the sole light amidst the gloom. Beneath his feet, a dark ink-colored great cauldron rested heavily upon the earth, slowly suppressing the surging waves of karmic fire. Even as thousands of viper-like blazing tongues coiled along its perimeter, seeking to overturn it, the cauldron held them firmly pinned, rendering them utterly immobile. Underneath the cauldron, Que Liyu had already dissolved into a swath of karmic fire, yet he still struggled, sending out ripples of shockwaves, but he could scarcely budge the massive vessel. *Que Liyu... Sixth-Generation Mohe...* The Great Void tossed and tumbled in chaos, devoid of any peace, yet a spot of azure light remained anchored amidst the surging billows, watching quietly. It was none other than Si Yuanli. Si Yuanli had stood in the Great Void for a long time in silence, watching this peacock scion struggle beneath the cauldron. No emotion stirred in his heart, only a tranquil chill: *The Path of Great Desire planted the Great Good Golden Lotus outside the commandery; they surely have their designs... The whole world knows of this. For this peacock to dare be so insolent, he had something to rely upon as well. But now that this treasure has appeared, could there possibly be any way out for him?* Si Yuanli naturally recognized what this dark ink-colored great cauldron was—one of the founding ritual vessels of the King of Yue, the spiritual treasure [Guzhou Cauldron], which was ranked under Banished Qi. Precisely because it was linked to Banished Qi, Si Yuanli feared the one beneath would find it hard to ever return north! The path of Banished Qi had been severed for ages. Throughout their entire lives, many Violet Palace cultivators had never seen a Banished Qi spiritual material, let alone a spiritual implement or spiritual treasure. The Guzhou Cauldron, belonging to Banished Qi, had almost certainly flowed out from the hands of the Yinsi, serving as physical proof of the connection between the State of Yue and the Yinsi. Following the King of Yue’s disappearance, the Guzhou Cauldron had vanished alongside him. Now, seeing it brazenly appear before his eyes, Si Yuanli would have laughed out loud had he not been bending under someone else’s overbearing might: *Back then, they paid no heed at all, yet now they show off their grand majesty. They’ve made it blatantly clear that this is a second interference in Jiangnan—all that’s missing is Lord Judge Yang stepping out to give a few pointers!* A hypocritical smile played on his face, but fearing his inner thoughts might be detected, he reined them in. He watched powerlessly as the gray fire was subdued bit by bit, piercing roars echoing ceaselessly while the fluctuations in the Great Void grew increasingly violent. Envy surged in his heart: *The water and fire of True Qi are truly formidable... Back then, Tinglan relied on a single portion of [Measureless Water-Fire] to keep the myriad cultivators in awe, yet for him, it is merely one of six aspects. Born with a golden nature—how truly enviable!* The cultivation path of True Qi emphasized upholding the martial and preserving the true; when practiced to the utmost, it gave birth to six types of water and fire. But this Yang Zhuo before him was the reincarnation of a golden nature itself. Even without bringing his divine ability to completion, he could summon all six types of water and fire at will. Though their might and forms were slightly diminished, it was still enough to leave onlookers stunned. He waited a moment, holding back until the spiritual treasure settled firmly onto the earth. Only then did he stride forward, revealing himself amidst the chaotic water and fire. Bowing slightly, he said respectfully, “Sima Yuanli of the Yue State prominent clan... on behalf of the Sima family, congratulates Your Lordship on achieving your divine ability!” Truth be told, Si Yuanli was certainly no match for the other man, to say nothing of the disparity in status. Though myriad thoughts ran through his mind, he was never one unable to lower his head. With a face full of deference, his posture was humble to an extent rarely seen in a Violet Palace cultivator. Water and fire intertwined as the man in the sky looked down, sweeping a gaze over him. That dazzling aura finally subsided, and he spoke casually: “So it is Real Person Qinghu. Over the past year... I have troubled you, Real Person.” “I dare not claim credit... dare not!” This naturally referred to how, during his seclusion, disturbances had arisen on all sides, and Si Yuanli had taken the initiative to act, guarding the lands beyond the sea for him. Flattered by the favor, Si Yuanli bowed low and said respectfully, “In those days, my family was subordinate to the Great Ning, acting as clerical subordinates to Tianwu, a prominent clan of the Immortal Dynasty. Today, returning under Tianwu’s banner, we weep tears of gratitude...” These words undoubtedly pleased the man in the Great Void. They clearly emphasized Si Yuanli’s distinct heritage, and the flattery was pleasing to the ear. Even Yang Zhuo lowered his gaze and praised, “Back then, the various lords joined in aiding Tianwu. Across cause and consequence, from first to last, all must now return in allegiance, reviving the glorious merits of the old dynasty.” Si Yuanli bowed deeply, inwardly overjoyed. Knowing this matter was now settled, he stepped forward immediately to escort him back to the commandery, only to hear Yang Zhuo ask with a smile, “Real Person Si, have you ever considered being enfeoffed as a king?” Si Yuanli’s heart trembled. *Indeed... he truly asked!* Ever since Great Desire marched south, Si Yuanli had been uneasy. He had inquired through multiple channels and, relying on the network left behind by his forebears, finally managed to contact Jiuqiu of the Peacock Sea! Yet after he pressed several times, Jiuqiu had grown weary of the badgering and gave only a single reply: *The Sima clan is a subject of Tianwu.* It was precisely this sentence that led him to refer to himself as being of the Sima clan before the Yang family, and it allowed him to face Yang Zhuo’s offer of kingship without the slightest hesitation, declaring resolutely, “The Sima clan is a subject of Tianwu—and merely a subject!” At these words, even Yang Zhuo paused in his stride. He looked upon him with new appreciation, smiled, and strode forward, remarking softly, “You are quite fine.” Si Yuanli lowered his head and nodded, following him into the commandery. Around them, cheers rose like crashing waves. Retaining the smile on his face, this reincarnation of True Qi's golden nature remarked casually, “Real Person Chen is a senior after all. It seems I cannot avoid making another trip.” Si Yuanli was no fool. With Jiuqiu’s earlier pointer and various confirmations along the way, everything was clear in his mind: *Just now, Simin was thrown into turmoil, and not a few people were observing from the Great Void. Senior Chen Yin must have watched from the Great Void before quietly slipping away...* Yang Zhuo’s divine ability had been obscured by the Banished Qi Guzhou Cauldron, so ordinary people could not even make out his silhouette, leaving no occasion for congratulatory visits. Only Si Yuanli, having pledged allegiance early on, was able to watch from the side. With Chen Yin unable to discern the situation, retreating was only natural. Though Yang Zhuo’s words carried no blame, Si Yuanli could not help feeling fortunate: *The Chen clan... Others might not know, but could the Yinsi be unaware? Toward the end of the Ning State, the Chen clan wielded monstrous power. The so-called Yushui Chen clan is merely a branch that came south from the Ning State; it was just that they were not descendants of Chen Xuanli and his brother, having migrated southward earlier, that was all... Chen Yin’s best move... would have been waiting outside the commandery to greet his lordship!* Though he reasoned thus, when Si Yuanli finished contemplating it, a lingering dread quietly rose in his heart: *Among the prominent clans of the Ning State back then, aside from the Li and Jiang families who governed their own regions and possessed special backgrounds that made them difficult to control, the rest were either hegemons in Jiangnan, renowned throughout the world, or at least had their traces exposed and were brought under control early on... Preparations were made long ago.* *Three feet of ice does not form from a single day's cold...* *** Mount Zhijing. The sunlight was brilliant as gardenia blossoms fluttered in the air, weaving a tapestry of multicolored light. Before a white-jade desk sat a Daoist with a composed expression, pressing a jade slip against the table. Opposite him sat an old man of honest bearing with a sword strapped to his back. He appeared quite ordinary, and were it not for his brilliant aura interwoven with converged divine abilities, he would have seemed like an ordinary person. The two Violet Palace cultivators sat across from each other in silence, clearly having done so for quite some time. “Fellow Daoist Zhaojing...” The swordsman before him was naturally Real Person Yushui, Chen Yin. The Yuyang Chen clan had always been on harmonious terms with Lake Wangyue, growing ever closer through the Solar Orthodoxy. During the turmoil at Zhuoshaling, Li Zhouwei had lent him a helping hand, adding another measure of gratitude and drawing them closer still. Thus, when the karmic fire descended upon Simin and water and fire shone brightly, this Real Person Yushui, having lost his solar support, made his way to Mount Zhijing. Seated in the mountains, he sighed repeatedly, appearing exceedingly uneasy. Li Ximing fell silent for a moment, cast his eyes down, and asked, “How are things in Simin?” “With Banished Qi shielding it, it is hard to see clearly. However... I fear Que Liyu can no longer act rampant.” Chen Yin nodded rather dejectedly. “My junior has already sent word back, which Fellow Daoist has likely heard by now... From here on, establishing a state is the most probable outcome. Perhaps they intend to rebuild Great Yue!” Li Ximing sighed inwardly, finally finding an opening to ask seriously, “Now that things have come to this, there are a few matters I would like to ask Senior to enlighten me upon.” Chen Yin nodded, and Li Ximing furrowed his brow. “The State of Yue... was the Yue of the Yinsi; everyone knew it back then. Why did it fall into its present state?” This doubt had lain dormant in Li Ximing’s heart for a long time. Yet for ages, the Three Sects and Seven Gates had sealed away the information and covered up the past, submerging these matters in history as an enduring taboo... Li Ximing had previously had no intention of digging into it, but now that the Yang clan was rising and reviving state affairs, the past State of Yue had become particularly vital. Hearing this, Chen Yin was not surprised. Nodding slightly, he sighed, “This matter... my Chen clan’s records are limited. As for Jiangnan, the accounts must begin with Great Chu...” “Back then, the State of Chu fell into turmoil. The imperial clan took up arms against one another, at one point reaching the extent of five emperors in ten years. In the end, the powerful minister Xiao Ci usurped all of Jiangnan from Chu's grasp and established Great Wu. At that time, the Yang clan was merely a subject of Great Wu.” His expression grew complex as he replied, “To my shame... my Yuyang Chen clan... also received favors from Great Wu back then, making our start in that era and holding a commandery in Jiangnan...” “Yet the ways of the world are unpredictable. Even with overweening power and a talent for scheming conspiracies, Xiao Ci was nothing more than a mere Violet Palace. Though he seized the imperial throne by taking advantage of Chu’s chaos, he had no foundation to lean upon, and soon repeated the same mistakes. Wu likewise collapsed, righteous armies arose everywhere, and only then did the Yang clan take the stage.” “The power of Xiao’s Wu shrank back into the State of Wu, while Yang’s Yue was swiftly founded. Its first capital was Guzhou, the core of which is today's Jingchuan Commandery under the Sword Sect. The [Guzhou Cauldron] became famed for this!” Reflecting for a moment, he said, “I suspect... that treasure has already revealed itself and rests in his lordship’s hands.” Li Ximing nodded, watching the old man continue: “Though both Yang’s Yue and Xiao’s Wu now exist in name only, having played completely different roles back then, they shared one common trait: when people speak of Wei or Chu, they say Emperor Wei or Emperor Chu, but Wu and Yue were merely kings!” “Xiao Ci usurped the throne and styled himself Emperor, but who among later generations recognized him? Not to mention the most tyrannical Emperor Wei—whether Emperor Liang or Emperor Chu, or even Great Qi, where the south seceded and the west rebelled leaving them to sigh in helplessness, Shi Chang was still a True Sovereign. A mere Violet Palace like Xiao Ci—how could he bear the title of Emperor?” He paused, gathered his thoughts, and added: “As for the King of Yue, it is even more straightforward. Back then, rising in Yuezhou, he swept across more than half of Jiangnan, on the verge of making an attempt at True Sovereign, only to vanish overnight. His descendants inherited the imperial enterprise but could not unite the realm. Several times they tried to confer the title of Emperor upon their late father, only to be obstructed by the prominent clans, until at last they could only style themselves king in isolation.” “The prominent clans...” Li Ximing showed a hint of doubt. Chen Yin understood immediately and replied, “The King of Yue vanished too abruptly. The entire State of Yue had yet to be swept clean, and there were barely any imperial kinsmen. The prominent clans of that era were numerous, most capable of carving out land to govern themselves. The Yue imperial clan lacked the power to control them and co-ruled with them, losing authority bit by bit, though they retained a shred of majesty.” “Later, the Solar Orthodoxy laid down successions one after another, founding sects. As Yuanfu retreated from the world and the taboos were broken bit by bit, the last shred of dignity belonging to Yue’s imperial scions was stripped away. Throughout the lands, the state existed only in name, and the former prominent clans all turned into sects, such as Hongxue, Wuzhu, and Lichi... Even those that did not become sects mostly occupied vital positions within them, their family names remaining illustrious.” “It is just that... families like Wuzhu have long since sunk into the dust, leaving no trace behind!” He sighed with emotion. “A state’s preservation can rely on the shelter of ancestors, but its rise and fall... that is the descendants’ own affair.” Though his words were polite, his private thoughts were somewhat disdainful: *Had they not borrowed the awe-inspiring might of the Yinsi, they would likely have followed in the footsteps of Wu long ago... How could they have dragged things out for so long, lingering in such a half-baked state...* Though unvoiced, his implied meaning was evident enough. Li Ximing weighed it silently. Before he could speak again, Chen Yin said with a solemn expression, “Fellow Daoist, do not look only at Yue. Wu cannot escape either; an upheaval is unfolding there just the same. A luminary of True Qi, rumored to be a major figure, has been beating the prominent clans of Wu until they cry out in agony.” Li Ximing took a sip of tea. The old man before him narrowed his eyes and said, “My family is close to Wu, so our news is relatively swift. With the world in its current state, what Violet Palace cannot sense something amiss? Even the most unfortunate, after suffering a loss or two, have come to their senses. The stabilization of Wu is just around the corner!” He lowered his voice. “Back then, among the three portions of True Qi in Anhuai Heaven, one was obtained by Changhuai, another fell into Zipei’s hands, and if the last portion turned into a monster, it must be the one in the Yang clan’s possession.” The old man’s meaning was unmistakable as he ground his teeth. “Qing Tangyin's early cultivation of True Qi was not without reason. Devoting himself exclusively to the Tianwu Orthodoxy, he sought to emulate Tianwu by refining the [Inquiring Martial Peace and Purity Zhi] on one hand, while refining the [True-Revering Mysterious Plan Whip] on the other, and finally attempting to learn the [Martial Seal of Power and Karma]... Refining them until neither was proper... We thought he was simply acting recklessly, but it turns out it was merely a rehearsal!” Li Ximing keenly caught the emotional fluctuation in his voice, faintly sensing that the Chen clan’s relations with Changhuai were not particularly good. Chen Yin simply shook his head: “Two of the three portions have emerged, so the turmoil on this side should not be over yet. If there is news, I hope your noble clan will certainly share it...” At least in his eyes, no matter how immense the karmic entanglement the Li clan bore, as long as Li Zhouwei did not meet an early end, Lake Wangyue was bound to enjoy a season of glory. Regardless of how severe the fall might be once that glory passed, before it arrived, the Li clan would remain secure. He sighed thus, unaware of the hidden truth, but things were becoming increasingly clear in Li Ximing’s mind. Where was the final portion? His aunt had explained it long ago! It was naturally in the hands of the dragonkind, serving as preparation for their pursuit of the truth... Whether the Dragon Sovereigns would permit it to reincarnate was still uncertain; even if it did reincarnate, it would be a True Qi dragon in the sea! Li Ximing remained silent. Raising his cup to see his guest off, he escorted the Real Person out of the mountain, only to see Li Zhouwei appear amidst the peaks with a grim expression, whispering, “A letter has arrived from Jiangliang.” “Oh?” Li Ximing looked doubtful, a faint premonition stirring within him. Li Zhouwei swept a glance over the nearby courtyard guards, and the two sat down among the mountains. Li Zhouwei then produced a letter. Li Ximing watched as he placed it on the desk. Glancing down, the expression on his face instantly froze. *Yang... Tianya...* Meeting Li Zhouwei’s heavy gaze, he knew things were bad and said in a deep voice, “Go invite the old master!” The name Yang Tianya was not particularly renowned in Jiangnan, with rumors of him surfacing only a century ago. Few of the younger generation knew of him today, but the Li clan could never forget him! *Back then... when our family received the talisman seed, in order to conceal the fact that all our elders possessed talent... we feigned that our ancestor Li Mutian was a Foundation Establishment cultivator...* That lie had temporarily sheltered the Li clan, though a Foundation Establishment cultivator siring so many children had likewise raised doubts! It was not until Li Zhouwei’s birth, when the title of Mingyang Wei-Li was placed upon the family, that their origin was finally considered patched. Yet as ancestor Li Mutian’s direct superior back then, Yang Tianya had even deliberately acknowledged the existence of Li Mutian as a Foundation Establishment cultivator—which was complete nonsense! “Descendant of an old acquaintance...” These words were plain, yet their destructive force was not to be underestimated. Whether they were mockery or a threat, they made Li Ximing knit his brows. Only after the old man sat down in the mountains and held the short letter to read did Li Zhouwei say in a low, heavy voice, “Yang Tianya must know the strangeness behind this... These words were intentional. We must make the journey to Simin Commandery!” Li Xuanxuan read it over twice, his lips turning slightly pale. Li Ximing frowned and said, “Since he is already a Violet Palace, he surely possesses an eidetic memory. If the Old Ancestor never caught his eye, we might still have room to maneuver, but if he saw through it early on, this will be difficult to resolve.” “Regardless, the fact that at least three of the four sons born to the Old Ancestor possessed spirit apertures cannot be erased! Even if he truly were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, an inherent flaw remains...” He continued with a grave expression, “The four elders of the four branches were close in age, born almost one after another... Under normal circumstances, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could not possibly have such offspring. Only if he were simultaneously a Wei scion of Mingyang and a Foundation Establishment cultivator... would it be possible.” Reflecting for a few breaths, he added, “One must understand... even with an eidetic memory, he would not memorize tens of thousands of names, nor could he match the Old Ancestor among tens of thousands of mortals. As long as he never met the Old Ancestor, we could simply claim he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from elsewhere, who falsely registered under his name to forge an origin...” Li Xuanxuan remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: “Yang Tianya certainly met him. Not only did he meet him, he could even... call him by name.” Li Ximing’s breath hitched. Both Real Persons looked toward him together as the old man said faintly: “When I was young... I had the fortune of meeting the Old Ancestor. He told me about the conscription along Guli Road; he was a minor officer back then.” The old man’s face was filled with dread, bearing the terror of hindsight: “He said: ‘General Yang maintained strict military discipline, yet he ate and lived alongside us, close as family, personally imparting the Yue soldier battle methods.’” Li Xuanxuan’s pupils dilated, his voice trembling slightly: “Now we know, of course... Yang Tianya did so to temper weapons using a battle array of ten thousand men... That being the case! That being the case, why would an esteemed Foundation Establishment cultivator, an esteemed imperial scion of the State of Yue, eat and live alongside mortals, close as family...?” “He did it intentionally. He was the first to take note of our family, the first to notice the Wei-Li bloodline within us, earlier than anyone else... earlier than anyone else...” Li Xuanxuan’s words held profound meaning, sending a chill down Li Ximing’s spine. Setting down the cup in his hand, he lowered his eyes and said, “In other words... he met the Old Ancestor long ago, and perhaps... even deliberately let him return to Lake Wangyue.” “It was precisely because of this... that he vouched for our family without rhyme or reason...” With a darkened expression, Li Zhouwei took up the thread: “It was also from that time onward that the Yinsi’s methods were already arranged. On Qingsui Peak, it was not Peak Master Yuan Tuan who sought someone out; Diyun Peak took the initiative to come to her, or at least Diyun Peak intentionally let her come to their door...” “Our family’s Wei-Li bloodline being exposed... was also within the Yang clan’s expectations.” Li Ximing hesitated to speak, but Li Zhouwei’s expression grew progressively darker: “If the union between the Wei-Li bloodline and the Yang bloodline was driven by the Yinsi, then I have another doubt—for an undetectable union to occur, the Li clan first had to enter the Qingchi Sect. If so, did Si Yuanbai, the peak cultivator of Qingsui Peak back then, truly happen to pass by this place by sheer coincidence?” His words made cold sweat faintly break out on Li Ximing’s brow, but Li Zhouwei narrowed his eyes: “If entering the sect with our elders was their primary goal, then the Sword Immortal revealing his talent and obtaining Taiyin Moon Splendor was likely outside their calculations, forcing them to abandon it...” “Yet what of Si Yuanbai?” Li Zhouwei’s tone turned slightly cold: “He vanished from Qingchi without reason, leaving only a passing remark about escaping to the west. He has been missing for over a century, leaving no trace to this day, with no one able to find him... Even Si Yuanli forgot him entirely... Could there be a reason for that?” Li Ximing’s expression did not change much as he sat quietly in place, yet an upheaval had already erupted in his heart, rolling with a bitter chill. Si Yuanbai. He was no stranger to this name. Si Yuanbai could even be considered his grandmaster. His disappearance had always weighed on Xiao Yuansi’s mind, something that should have been constantly remembered. Yet hearing this, a sudden doubt leapt into his heart: *If Master constantly kept Si Yuanbai in his thoughts... even if Real Person Xiao paid no heed... when I achieved the Violet Palace and personally went to the lakeside to receive him, conversing with him for so long, he should have asked me about it...* *Yet he didn't.* When did Xiao Yuansi remember Si Yuanbai? In Cangzhou. Xiao Yuansi’s exact words had been: *“Over these years, a certain matter has constantly surfaced in my mind.”* *Those were his days in Cangzhou... While in Jiangnan, he would not remember him. Even if he did, he would brush it off in a daze without inquiring. Only after leaving Jiangnan, arriving at the North Sea's Cangzhou—only in Cangzhou did he fall into deep thought... only then did he remember to ask me about Grandmaster’s whereabouts.* Before his eyes, Xiao Chuting’s aged face suddenly floated into view, that weathered voice echoing beside his ears once more: *“Be cautious in befriending others and offering shelter.”* *Can this truly be investigated?* The entire Mount Zhijing fell deathly silent, white blossoms rolling and fluttering in the wind. Li Zhouwei’s voice grew deeper, murmuring faintly: “That being the case, since they noticed the Wei-Li bloodline so early on, wouldn't it be entirely within reason to dispatch an Underworld Emissary or two—or not even an Emissary, but merely one or two cultivators—to keep watch over us?”