Li Xuanfeng had recently been summoned and rewarded personally by the Purple Mansion Realm elders of Azure Pond Sect and Golden Feather Sect. He had been encouraged to continue striving. Everyone knew that Baixiang Valley had been under the protection of his juniors, so no one was willing to speak up first.
On the other side, the man known as the Long Sky Halberd, Tang Shedu, had no intention of stepping forward now, even though he was usually happy to stir up a bit of commotion and nursed past grievances with Li Xuanfeng. He didn’t believe himself to be weaker either. He tilted his head to glance at Yu Su, the Brocade Dark Mouse, beside him.
Ning Heyuan simply continued, "Baixiang Valley has fallen. The surrounding regions, like Qun Yuan Mountain and Nu Mountain, have been thoroughly plundered. A large number of devil cultivators have moved southward, flooding the wilderness up to Lake Xian and further south into Xiao Family territory in Lixia Prefecture, as well as the areas around Mount Yu and Yuyuan.
"The defenders of Baixiang Valley failed to hold their ground and suffered heavy losses. Li Xizhi of Changtian Peak fled to Chengdu Mountain. Yu Yuwei of Panqi Peak escaped to Lake Xian. Quan Yi of Linghe Peak was killed by Tuoba Chongyuan. His body was destroyed and Dao extinguished. None of the remaining cultivators survived."
After he finished reading the message, the crowd began murmuring among themselves.
Li Xuanfeng showed no sign of anger as he suddenly spoke, "Lake Xian is quite far... Baixiang Valley is over five hundred kilometers from Chengdu Mountain, with several intact formations along the way. Why did they only manage to escape once they reached such a distant place?"
Ning Heyuan understood that his brother-in-law was asking a rhetorical question. Tang Shedu let out a cold laugh and was about to interject, but Ning Heyuan quickly answered first, "The two peak masters passed through many checkpoints, but the cultivators stationed there feared Tuoba Chongyuan's power and dared not go out to receive them..."
Li Xuanfeng nodded and said in a deep voice, "Those who lost Baixiang Valley must be punished... but unfortunately, the casualties are too severe. There’s hardly anyone left to be held accountable.
"The two peak masters are among the elites of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. It's remarkable they survived the pursuit of the devil cultivators. The others who couldn’t enter the defensive formations perished along the way."
Li Xuanfeng's words caused mixed expressions among the cultivators. Chi Zhiyan grew increasingly troubled; he could clearly hear the implication.
Seeing the hesitation in others, he tried to subtly reassure them, "What Xuanfeng says is true... the guards at the checkpoints must also be punished. But the immediate priority is to send people to Baixiang Valley to rebuild the great formation."
He made no mention of the fallen ruins near Baixiang Valley. Those had likely already been divided within the great void. The Azure Pond Sect had just lost a major conflict and their share had been significantly reduced. It was barely enough to supply the Chi Family, let alone be distributed to others.
As soon as those words fell, Tang Shedu and the others, who had been watching coldly, grew restless. They were all cultivators who were over a hundred years old, and they could all vaguely sense the shifting tides of this grand game.
Given the current situation, it was clear that none of them would get a share of the ruins near Baixiang Valley. Going there would only mean offending the Tuoba Family for nothing. Who could say how many tricks Tuoba Chongyuan still had up his sleeve? Was this worth risking one’s life?
Li Xuanfeng had yet to recover from his injuries, so chances were high that someone among these veteran cultivators would be selected. Tang Shedu was the most well-known among them. Not only had he forged his reputation over many years, but he had also been personally trained by Yuanwu.
Tuoba Chongyuan... who would want to go against him? It’s a thankless task and would only bring the wrath of the Tuoba Family.
Chi Zhiyan glanced around and, as expected, asked, “Senior Shedu?”
Tang Shedu could only cough and step forward. But at this point, he had no room for tact and had to respond quietly, “Yuanwu Peak is currently short on manpower. I cannot manage matters alone...”
Chi Zhiyan scanned the crowd and spoke softly, “Fellow Daoist Lingu...”
A middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd and cupped his hands in greeting. He looked unremarkable, with two bulging gourds tied to his waist and vine armor glowing with dharma light. He was Lingu Rao of the Jiachuan Lingu Family, known in years past as the Raozi Scorpion and once a guardian of the Southern Sea for Azure Pond Sect.
A century ago, Lingu Rao had been a well-known cultivator, and his father, Lingu Xia, was even more renowned. However, Lingu Rao had always guarded the Southern Sea and rarely returned inland, so after a hundred years, few still remembered his name.
Chi Zhiyan was about to issue orders when he suddenly paused. The great void split open before him, and a golden rune flew out and landed in his palm.
Chi Zhiyan closed his eyes for a second, carefully absorbing the rune’s message. Then he suddenly laughed aloud. When he reopened his eyes, they were full of joy as he declared, “Let all my fellow Daoists be informed, Tuoba Chongyuan has had his Dharma robe torn and his physical form shattered. He perished violently in Baixiang Valley! Only a single wisp of his soul remains, and is likely returning to Shengle Heaven for reincarnation!”
The news caught everyone off guard. Tang Shedu let out a sigh of relief. Joy naturally lifted his spirits, and unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Congratulations, my lord! May I ask which high cultivator was responsible?”
Chi Zhiyan laughed heartily. “It was the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan! Perhaps Dingyuan, the Dragon Son, was drawn in by the situation in Xu State and somehow crossed thousands of kilometers straight inland.
“Xu State is vast, and yet he happened to run straight into Tuoba Chongyuan! How could a dragon kin spare a member of the Tuoba Family? He beat him to death on the spot! He even snatched his life-bound seal; it might even be displayed as decoration in the palace of the Dragon Clan!”
Chi Zhiyan was in high spirits, enjoying the drama and not minding the chaos. He even added a few mocking remarks, to which Ning Heyuan quickly flattered, “Congratulations, my lord!”
Chi Zhiyan replied with a cheerful smile, “Tuoba Xuantan killed the True Hornless Dragon's seventh son, Dongfang Tianye, to forge his Hehou Profound Pearl and Water Wall Treasure Pill. The Dragon Clan hate them to the bone... Now that they’ve caught someone from the Tuoba Family, flaying him alive would hardly be an exaggeration.”
Chi Zhiyan nodded with a smile. If Tuoba Chongyuan was dead, the Tuoba Family would likely retreat, and the eastern threat was naturally resolved, so how could he not be pleased?
Now in a leisurely mood, he added, “You should still refer to him as the True Monarch of Profound Breath of Tiancheng or Emperor Wu of Liang... After all, he was a True Monarch. Though now dead and his Dao extinguished, calling him by name directly might yet bring misfortune.”
Outwardly, he chatted casually about the Liang Dynasty's tale, but inwardly, he began speculating, Daoist Master Yuan Xiu sending that rune reply so suddenly was clearly unexpected. Perhaps the Dragon Clan's move was brilliant, catching both the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and the Maha off guard...
It’s odd though... Since the established rules still hold, it definitely wasn’t the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had struck...
Lost in thought, he grew silent. One by one, the others withdrew, and the great hall gradually emptied.
Ning Heyuan and Li Xuanfeng returned together to their cave dwelling, each lost in their own thoughts. Ning Heyuan was the first to speak, “How are your injuries now, brother-in-law?”
Li Xuanfeng was more concerned about Li Xizhi’s condition, but didn’t wish to ask too directly. He waved his hand and replied, “I’ve taken the treasured panacea that was delivered. It’s worked well. There’s no need to worry.”
Li Xuanfeng’s injuries had resulted in him being summoned by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, and the Ning Family had personally provided a healing treasure. It was a Dream Swamp Grass, far more precious than the Huashang Fruit Li Tongya had received years ago.