It was Li Qinghong’s first time seeing a cultivator from the Yuyang Prefecture's Chen Family of Yue State. Before the Xiao Family rose, the Chen Family had been Yue State’s only Purple Mansion Realm immortal family. They had always kept a low profile and were actually not far from her own family.
The southern shore of Moongaze Lake lay at the northern base of Mount Dali. Tongmo Prefecture lay across the mountain to its southern slopes, and it was previously known as ancient Yuyang Prefecture. It was where the Chen Family of Yuyang Prefecture had resided for generations.
Chen Xuanyu, wearing a Daoist crown, nodded politely to her. A black-sheathed dharma sword hung at his waist, matching quite well with his blue robes patterned in green. Yet instead of lingering on her face, his gaze drifted quickly and fixed itself on Li Xijun, refusing to move away.
The Yuyang Prefecture's Chen Family! So all these families really are only cordial on the surface.
Li Qinghong had never heard of any known conflict between the Yuyang Prefecture's Chen Family and any other family. She hadn’t expected them to be involved in something as serious as hunting down a direct descendant of Changxiao Gate! Moreover, this man made no attempt to hide it. It was likely that the feud between the Chen Family and Changxiao Gate was already common knowledge among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
She drew a quiet breath and returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute, "Greetings, Daoist friend."
A bit more satisfaction appeared beneath her already radiant expression as Bi Yuzhuang smiled and said, "I hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Originally, with either Daoist Chen or Qinghong taking action, combined with the formation, I’d have had over seventy percent chance of keeping him here...
"But to think Daoist Chen happened to be passing through and agreed to assist, Wang Fu is truly facing a karmic tribulation, with nowhere left to run!"
Li Xijun didn’t believe a word of her 'passing through' story, but he did let out a breath of relief. Now that a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Chen Family was backing them, the risks of this mission had dropped significantly.
Bi Yuzhuang, however, beamed at the two and said gently, "Everything’s going so smoothly, we may not even need Ximing or Xijun anymore... Your esteemed family members could simply observe and return to oversee the family affairs. That would be just as valuable."
"Brother..."
Just as Li Xijun felt reassured and was about to continue, he was cut off by Li Ximing, who respectfully said, "Xijun’s cultivation is still lacking, it’s better to send him back. I, however, have some suppressive techniques. I’ll stay to lend a hand just in case. Letting that man escape would be a regrettable outcome."
Li Qinghong nodded and gave Li Xijun a few parting instructions. The white-robed youth took several moments to think it through and silently thought to himself, That’s just as well. I ought to inspect the island myself. If by chance he’s arrogant enough to leave the Purple Mansion Realm spirit item there, it might require further scheming. Coming and going again would be a waste of time. It’s better I watch it personally and eliminate the final thread of uncertainty.
In the end, he nodded and said, "Very well."
No sooner had he spoken than Chen Xuanyu finally opened his mouth. His tone was gentle, tinged with a hint of regret, "I’ve heard you’ve refined your Sword Essence, little friend. It’s my first time seeing a Dao of Frost and Snow Sword Essence in Jiangnan. As a descendant of a Sword Immortal, I had hoped we might spar and sit together to properly discuss swordsmanship."
Ever since breaking through to Sword Essence, Li Xijun had yet to grasp even a thread of its elusive Sword Intent. When he heard that Chen Xuanyu’s sword Dao was astonishing, he too was eager to exchange insights.
He replied readily, "Rest assured, Senior! Once this matter is resolved, I’ll visit you in Tongmo Prefecture or the Eastern Sea!"
He bowed to each of them in turn and departed, riding a flurry of snow. Bi Yuzhuang turned to look at Li Qinghong and praised, "I see that his thoughts are meticulous and his sword Dao remarkably gifted. He truly has the bearing of a sword immortal, how delightful and praiseworthy."
Li Xijun’s appearance was flawless, and his attitude and thinking were both pleasing to elders. It was no wonder Bi Yuzhuang spoke so favorably. Her words brought Li Qinghong out of her silent pondering, and she quickly offered thanks.
"Seeing this youth, one can imagine the Celestial Moon Sword himself," Chen Xuanyu’s words were crisp and direct, a hint of admiration in his tone.
Bi Yuzhuang, standing beside Li Qinghong, leaned in and said softly, "As we previously discussed, Qinghong, you may choose one item from Wang Fu’s belongings first. The remaining items will be divided equally among the three parties."
She sent the Feng brothers into the sea to arrange the formation. The rest of the group sat cross-legged beneath the veil of the dharma artifact, quietly waiting.
————
Moongaze Lake.
The formation glowed snowy white on Pingya Island. Several cultivators were stationed on small islands across the lake, inspecting geomantic lines or managing demonic creatures. Occasionally, small formations flared to life, and spirit boats crisscrossed the water.
Li Chengliao descended to the lakeshore on the wind, his body brimming with condensed true essence. He had retrained in the Li Family’s most treasured Radiant Essence Scripture, and his radiant and dazzling essence gave him an aura of stern authority.
Beside him, Li Chenghuai practiced the third-grade Concealment and Obfuscation Sutra, steeped in the flavor of ancient methods. Unlike his elder brother, his aura was restrained and his cultivation difficult to gauge.
He had the option to study Pheasant Flame's Long March Technique in his Qi Cultivation Realm as well. Having read both, Li Chenghuai decided against it, as many of his siblings had already chosen the Fire Virtue. Preferring subtle, understated methods, he had opted for the latter.
Since the family's Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had left for several months, the two brothers had reorganized the island’s affairs. They reappointed the Peak Manager, Peak Guardian, and Peak Overseer. Now, the Li Family operated smoothly again and even began to show traces of renewed vitality.
Most of the long-standing elders, old cultivators in the Embryonic Breathing Realm, and those stuck at the early stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm died up north. Since those who sat at the top are all gone, it was only natural for the younger ones to rise up...
Li Chengliao had lived through it himself and understood it best. The Li Family was harsh toward its extended family, while the various peaks were relatively liberal, but the family lacked everything except people. There were never enough spirit fields or spiritual resources to go around. In that sense, this grim purge was almost a blessing.
But what Li Chengliao worried about was entirely different. He asked, "According to news from the sect... where is our granduncle now?"
Li Chenghuai did some quick calculations and replied, "He should be here soon, probably within fifteen minutes."
In the months since the Li Family’s Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had gone abroad, the Azure Pond Sect’s internal situation had been in constant turmoil. Though the Chi Family had stabilized their footing, Si Yuanli was not to be trifled with.
First came three straight days of reports from the Lingu Family about demonic disturbances in the Southern Sea. People needed to be sent there, while forces guarding the Eastern Sea also had to be rearranged. Yu Su’s former strongholds saw his trusted aides either fleeing or being recalled, leaving no one to use.
Si Yuanli then sent people to stir things up further, discouraging Chi Family cultivators from traveling to the Eastern Sea. Even those who did wouldn’t dare leave the island. As a result, the waters were going unguarded for far too long. At the same time, Si Yuanli lavishly praised Li Xuanfeng and accelerated plans to have Li Xizhi oversee Eastern Sea affairs.
To make matters worse, Ning Hejing occasionally held views contrary to the Chi Family’s, forcing Chi Fubo to compromise repeatedly, leaving him overwhelmed. After much deliberation from all sides, Li Yuanqin finally had the opportunity to return to the Li Family to offer his condolences.
Li Chengliao figured that the Si Family wanted to sow discord between Ning Hejing and Chi Fubo, since Chi Fubo believed the Li Family was still worth winning over. This was the one matter on which the two factions had miraculously agreed.
Thankfully, we still have an elder here.
If not for Li Xuanxuan remaining in the mountains, Li Chengliao truly didn’t know how to face Li Yuanqin. He had once caught a brief glimpse of him at Tujun Gate. It was an impression that remained vividly in his mind, and not a good one.
He waited at the edge of the island for a while. In the sky, the edge of a Dawn Cloudliner began to glow with Heavenly Glow.
Li Chenghuai sighed and said, "The lord has arrived."