Li Ximing naturally knew that Floating Cloud Cave was now trembling with fear and eager to pledge themselves to his service. His own reputation had always been good. It was the same reasoning as Fei Luoya of Mount Wu back then, who lingered by the lakeside for decades hoping to serve a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.
But while these people wanted to submit, Li Ximing was not necessarily willing to accept them. To take in cultivators of unknown origins, without possessing a Life Divine Ability, would certainly ruin important matters.
He did not want people, but the land in Jiangbei was good, so he said, "How is the territory of Floating Cloud Cave?"
Ping Wangzi hurriedly replied, "It has all been confiscated and kept under watch. Everything is awaiting your command, my lord."
Li Ximing sipped his tea without speaking. In fact, Li Ximing had long heard of Mount Xiaoshi. The Li Family had secret records of it, dating back even earlier than the founding of the three sects.
During the great battle in Jiangbei, a Master Monk of the Way of Emptiness had once rode the wind and descended upon Mount Xiaoshi. The Dao lineages of Mount Xiaoshi had scattered in terror, yet a Daoist named Fu Yuan fled all the way to the lake.
That Daoist had been wounded by the Master Monk and soon perished, but in his dying pleas he revealed much information, which Li Xuanxuan had once recounted in detail to Li Ximing...
It was said that a cultivator from Floating Cloud Cave of Mount Xiaoshi had once come to the lakeshore, only to be slain by Lord Xiangping with a mirror. They obtained a jade pendant from him, which was actually a component of the Immortal Mirror! It was of the same grade as the one Yu Muxian held back then!
Because of this component, Li Ximing took special interest in the name of Mount Xiaoshi, and personally summoned the two to question them.
What is even more coincidental is that whether it be the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao, Chengyun or Golden Tang, they all support the cultivators of Mount Xiaoshi in Jiangbei as their puppets without exception ... could this possibly be without intention? thought Li Ximing.
Li Ximing had already harbored deep doubts about Mount Xiaoshi, and since even the Mifan three sects originated from its Dao lineages, he grew ever more suspicious that something was amiss within.
Naturally it would be excellent if other components can be found; even the faintest clue would do. All the more so since several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are playing their pieces around Mount Xiaoshi in Jiangbei. There must be profit to gain.
And even taking ten thousand steps back, Floating Cloud Cave in Jiangbei lies just across the river, separated by only a stretch of water from the northern shore of Moongaze Lake, which is our own domain. How could one permit others to snore by the side of one’s couch? thought Li Ximing.
He drank his tea, waved his hand, and said, "In that case, let this matter be set aside for now."
The two hurriedly withdrew as if granted amnesty. Li Ximing lingered in the hall for a moment, then drew out a jade slip from his sleeve. Tiny words were inscribed in a corner, Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light
He rubbed the jade slip for a while, his brow gradually furrowing as he thought, Zhouwei is still in Jiangbei... let nothing have happened. This is not the time to study cultivation methods. I must first make a trip to Jiangbei.
Meanwhile, the two men exited the hall and flew straight out of Moongaze Lake toward their own territories. Both felt as though they had been granted new life. Ping Wangzi fared somewhat better, but Daoist Wenhu truly felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, leaving him deeply moved.
Though both were pieces placed by Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, having run into such a matter, it would have been entirely expected for them to die by Li Ximing’s hand. Even if their sects lost face and held dissatisfaction, there was little they could truly say.
Ping Wangzi lowered his voice, speaking with meaning, "Whether great or small, everything depends on a single thought of the Daoist Master. The lord said only that the matter would be set aside for now... he did not say it would never be pursued again. Senior brother, be very cautious from here on!"
Ping Wangzi dared to say this was because his backer, the Chengyun Gate, already had ties with the Li Family. But the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao might not be the same, so the views of that Daoist Master were uncertain. Daoist Wenhu’s path ahead would not be easy.
Daoist Wenhu clearly realized this as well. His joy faded, replaced by a confused expression as he answered softly, "This old Daoist cannot bear the blame from both sides. It is like carrying a load across a single-log bridge. If one side is too heavy, I’ll fall into the water. Worse still, if the load is not secured, both ends may collapse. Such things are not mine to decide."
Ping Wangzi, who always enjoyed watching trouble and found others’ difficulties amusing, bluntly pointed out, "Do you have no regard for your life? Birds find shelter in the forest and men submit to a master, where is there ever the chance to serve two sides and collapse both?"
Daoist Wenhu was left speechless. If they were truly compared, the figure from the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao was far harder to deal with. Li Ximing, only recently having become a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, acted more righteously and had not yet come to view Foundation Establishment cultivators as weeds.
Thus, with some unwillingness, he said with a sigh, "Alas... just wait. Only when you truly offend a great lord will you understand the taste of it."
Seeing that he was nearly at his own territory, he spoke no more, letting out only a sigh, which greatly delighted Ping Wangzi.
————
Jiangbei.
Night fell heavy over the territory of Floating Cloud Cave. A shadow flitted through the forested mountains, beneath overlapping clouds. The veils of darkness finally revealed an old man with a goat beard. He glanced left and right, flying low to the ground with extreme caution.
"Li Ximing... Purple Mansion Realm... utterly absurd!"
His face still bore an expression of incomprehension. Yet things had turned out this way. The cave master of Floating Cloud Cave had been slain, and Situ Ku, relying on dharma artifacts, crept out step by cautious step, not daring to advance rashly.
Floating Cloud Cave had close dealings with the Golden Tang Gate. Its cave master, Fu Dou, had been propped up by them. Situ Ku, of course, had served as Golden Tang Gate’s voice within Floating Cloud Cave. Now his face was etched with bitterness.
"Fortunately, I never showed myself..." muttered Situ Ku.
Situ Ku knew well that Wenhu and Ping Wangzi naturally did not wish to offend Golden Tang Gate, and would not chase him down. The best course was to act as if they had not seen him. That was the only reason he had managed to escape...
"Pity... such a fat post, I fear I will never get it again," said Situ Ku to himself in a soft voice.
He traveled for a while and emerged from the forest, but before his eyes could see clearly, his spiritual sense abruptly tightened! He had already sensed a youth clad in golden-white armor beneath a pine atop a distant mountain.
From afar, the youth sat cross-legged with eyes shut. A shining golden, curved halberd was thrust into the earth beside him, while his hands rested quietly on his knees, forming seals.
Situ Ku froze for an instant and the youth’s eyes opened. Golden pupils pierced through the darkness and right into Situ Ku. The strangely-shaped halberd at his side began to tremble slightly in the earth.
"Senior Situ, this junior has awaited you for some time," said the man with golden pupils.
Situ Ku felt a chill close around his heart, as if his very mind was about to explode, Li Zhouwei?! Was he not supposed to be in the Eastern Sea, slaying demonic creatures?!
An instant later, the great Da Sheng halberd swept through the air. But Situ Ku was drenched in cold sweat before its light even arrived. Terrified out of his wits, he summoned glowing talismans from his chest. A tortoise shell floated before him as he spat a mouthful of blood onto the dharma artifact.
Puff!
Boom.
Li Zhouwei’s great halberd crashed down before him, scattering a spray of stones. The tortoise shell defense instantly fell short. Situ Ku could clearly see that Li Zhouwei’s hand was pinching a spark of Li Fire.
Supreme Yang Resonance Li Art!
The sole sixth grade spell art within the Li Family was the Great Li White Radiance. Yet it required Purple Mansion Realm spiritual flames to refine, something the Li Family could never provide. Thus, Li Zhouwei cultivated instead the fifth grade Supreme Yang Resonance Li Art.