The Great River was the foremost water vein of the world, spanning east to west and dividing the lands into north and south. Crossing the river northward led into Jiangbei of Xu State, where the first territory one encountered was White River Stream, domain of the Mifan three sects of Mount Xiaoshi.
Li Chenghui rode on thunder as he flew over White River Stream. Looking around, he saw Mount Tangdao, the range belonging to the Golden Tang Gate, to the north of White River Stream. Its undulating ridgelines were faintly visible in the distance.
To the east lay the domain of White Ye[1] Stream, under the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao. However, it was hidden behind vast stretches of hills and not clearly visible. Beyond Baiye Stream was Chengshui Tomb, and farther east lay the White Sea Stream, under the Xuanmiao Temple, which led eventually to the seashore.
If one flew higher, one could see how Jiangbei was divided by three water veins; from west to east, White River, White Ye, and White Sea. According to old Qu, these three streams had once been one river, the Huai River. But when the ancient cataclysm happened and the six prefectures sank beneath the sea, the Huai River broke apart and vanished, leaving only the three streams.
Li Chenghui led Qu Buzhi and An Siwei to Floating Cloud Cave. Along the way, they saw only devastation. The people had naturally all been taken and the spirit paddies ruined beyond recognition, leaving behind nothing but bare spirit fields.
They landed before the mountain gate of Floating Cloud Cave. The protective formation on the low hill had long been torn apart. Rubble lay scattered everywhere, and a few low-ranked rabbit-mice scurried about the abandoned courtyard.
Qu Buzhi, who was familiar with the place, led the way. He pointed as he said, "My lord, Fu Dou's Immortal Foundation was Spring On Wood. He fell upon this mountain, and the plants have flourished everywhere. Though it has only been a few months, it looks as though decades have passed."
An Siwei made his way to the summit and, using the Earthly Court Detection Technique to probe, exclaimed in admiration, "Jiangbei truly has abundant spiritual energy. No wonder so many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators flock here. Even this single low hill can sustain the cultivation of several Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators..."
The number of sites in the Li Family's domain, aside from a few places like Milin, Zhijing, and Pingya that could support Purple Mansion Realm cultivation, that could sustain multiple Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators was extremely limited. There were only five such places in sixteen prefectures.
Yet this mountain was low and its earth vein thin. It was clearly not the stuff of a renowned peak.
Qu Buzhi simply remarked, "Reporting to the Dharma Protector, there are indeed many spirit fields within Floating Cloud Cave's domain , but most of the land is hilly, with no high mountains in sight! The Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are normally scattered across these low hills... even the main peak lacks many resident cultivators."
Li Chenghui understood clearly. Floating Cloud Cave was far less centralized than the powers of Jiangnan. It resembled more of a loose Foundation Establishment Realm alliance. It was large in scale, but hollow and fragmented, with every member harboring their own agenda. That was why Li Zhouwei had been helpless, and why, once the tide turned, they descended into bloodshed over Fu Dou.
"These people split the wealth and each fled for their lives. At least that made things cleaner."
Li Chenghui sent Qu Buzhi to survey the fields and An Siwei to examine the mountains. He ordered his own cultivators to spread out and claim the land. The territory of Floating Cloud Cave was about the size of the western shore of Moongaze Lake, but it was desolate everywhere and lacked common folk, giving it a barren, empty appearance.
After three or four days of work, he had cultivators assigned across the mountains, letting them repair their own dwellings. Since there were no ordinary people in the area, each cultivator simply took a place for themselves, making the occupation far easier.
After another half day, nearly a hundred Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivators arrived, along with runners, farmers, and gatherers. Li Chenghui distributed them among his Qi Cultivation Realm subordinates. The Floating Cloud domain immediately came alive, as it began to show traces of cultivator activity at last.
Li Chenghui was not exactly a master of governance, but he was capable enough. Even so, it took him nearly five days to set the framework in place. It was only thanks to Jiangbei's abundant spiritual energy and the eagerness of his subordinates that he managed to accomplish it so quickly. In a barren land, it would have taken several times longer.
Once his arrangements were in place, An Siwei returned on the wind and landed in the mountains, speaking softly, "There are traces of demonic creatures in nine places within Floating Cloud's domain. Six places had lesser demons, which were dealt with by the men we sent. Two had late-stage Qi Cultivation Realm demons, which I eliminated. Only one remains, which seems to be the dwelling of a demon general. Its background is unknown. A message was delivered, saying it is in seclusion."
Li Chenghui summoned Qu Buzhi. Though the old man had little experience in administration, his age and steady expertise in surveying spirit fields made him reliable.
After hearing An Siwei's summary, he waved his hand and said, "The master should know that a demon flood dragon, a figure among the Dragon Clan, dwells within White River Stream. It settled in the river years ago. I heard that when the Dragon Son passed through White Sea Stream, it even sent people to question him. He is not someone we can afford to offend...
"He is at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and of an exceedingly noble lineage. He was even conferred the title of North Brocade River King. His authority extends not only over White River Stream but across all three streams... It is simply that White River Stream is clearer, and the elder prefers to reside here.
"The one cultivating in the mountains is a serpent demon who has acknowledged the one beneath White River Stream as his foster father. Thus, he is rather arrogant. When Fu Dou was still here... he had to send offerings every year."
"So he truly does have powerful backing," muttered Li Chenghui.
An Siwei, reliable as always, had even delivered a formal invitation. Li Chenghui nodded to himself, about to speak, when a woman descended upon the mountains.
The woman wore a crimson dress embroidered with True Fire patterns, with a golden sash tied at her waist. She held a golden lamp in her slender hand, which flickered with a wisp of red-white fire.
Li Chenghui rose, saluted her, and said with a smile, "Elder sister, you have arrived."
The Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp gleamed in Li Minggong's hand; Purefeather Radiant Fire[1], glowing with a soft red-and-white radiance, burning merrily within. The briars along the path had been reduced to ash merely by lifting it.
She smiled. “I came ahead; the family head will arrive shortly. I wished to see whether my younger brother has finished matters regarding Floating Cloud Cave."
"Only the matter of pacifying the demon remains." Li Chenghui acknowledged, frowning as he said, "Since he is in seclusion, and our family is a Purple Mansion Realm immortal clan, it is enough that we do not provoke each other. Our family does not need that mountain; let him cultivate there."
"Well..." Qu Buzhi, skilled at reading words and expressions, had already discerned his master's style over the past few days. He reminded them, "This serpent demon is very fierce. In the past, he gave no respect to anyone, even Fu Dou. Every year in the eighth month, he came to demand blood food... Now that it is already the ninth month, he is likely awake."
How could Li Chenghui not understand? Even Li Minggong raised her brows.
Li Chenghui said in a low voice, " Oh? Then he refuses to meet with our family?"
Li Minggong chuckled. "Whether he wishes to meet or not, what does it matter? Now that a Purple Mansion Realm family is here, would he dare utter a single word of defiance?"
Though she said this aloud, inwardly she sneered, Let alone this junior kin of the Dragon Clan, even if the Dragon Son himself came... our family head has spoken and laughed with him. But since this matter touches upon foxes and dragons, we must not reveal it...
Li Zhouwei had broken through under the auspices of dragon-invited rites! Although the Li Family feared drawing greater foes by leaning on dragon might and thus never spread word inland, many of the old Purple Mansion Realm families of Jiangnan knew of it. Since their grandaunt's[2] life and death was still uncertain, they preferred silence. If not for that, no matter how Li Zhouwei struggled, he could not have held out for more than ten years; he would have long since been killed!
Li Chenghui understood as well and cared little. He only instructed, "Still, the invitation must be delivered to at least meet him once. Our family intends to migrate people here. Should he one day go mad and leave his mountain in search of blood food, that would cost lives!"
Li Chenghui's words were veiled; whether it was human or demon lives that would be lost, it was hard to say. Qu Buzhi understood and smiled bitterly inside as he said tactfully, "It is better to win the favor of the North Brocade River King. This serpent demon is only relying on him. I fear Wenhu of Hidden Cloud Cave may already have gone ahead to curry favor with the North Brocade River King... If so, life upon our lake will become difficult..."
1. This is the same as 'Baiye' if transliterated but I am using White Ye here to match the two other streams. The word 邺(yè) can mean a surname or a location in ancient china. ☜
2. Should be referring to Li Qinghong. ☜
1. Previously known as Purefeather Li Fire ☜