While Hengxing and her companion whispered within the great void, another section of the void glowed dimly with firelight. A black-robed youth sat cross-legged in the void, a small golden hammer in his palm. He looked up and nodded slightly.
The void then shimmered with biting frost and howling wind. A middle-aged woman stood quietly within, watching. Below, Li Xijun had already ridden off on the scorching wind. She shook her head and said with a faint smile, "Quite formidable."
Tu Longjian could not tell whether she was mocking Guo Hongyao or praising Li Xijun, and simply said in a low voice, "Greetings, Senior Tianwan."
"I’m unworthy of the title," Daoist Master Tianwan's tone was as cold as ice and snow. Frost trembled throughout the great void with each breath as she replied curtly.
She was Guo Shentong’s wife, and a direct descendant of the Golden Feather Sect. Years ago, she had eloped with Guo Shentong in the Douxuan Sky, led Crimson Reef Island to its peak, and laid the foundation of its present legacy. She was now the island’s only Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who appeared openly.
Tu Longjian’s voice was clear and earnest as he replied, "The Li Family harbors no hostility toward your island. It was only a necessary act of self-defense... Thankfully, Hongjian is unharmed. I ask for your understanding, Senior."
Now that Tu Longjian had spoken, Daoist Master Tianwan’s form was surrounded by swirling frost. She said coldly, "Guo Hongyao acted rashly and was slain by Li Xijun. Since Junjian owes the Li Family a favor, that matter can be overlooked for your sake. But he also killed Guo Hongkang and stole a treasured item. How do you propose we resolve that?"
Tu Longjian knew full well that Li Xijun’s slaying and looting was likely orchestrated by Hengzhu Dao Gate and was meant to force him down. Everyone watching, especially the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, surely understood this. Moreover, Hengzhu Dao Gate had acted under the guise of aiding the Li Family, which made it hard to denounce.
If he brought this up directly, he would be rejecting Hengzhu Dao Gate’s entire faction and siding with Crimson Reef Island, an Eastern Sea faction. How could he agree to that?
So he replied softly, "Your island acts with great force. In his panic, he may have overreacted..."
"Panic?" Tianwan was not willing to let it go. She shook her head and said, "Empty words, Daoist friend... I ask just one thing. You want to protect both Li Xijun’s life and the Radiant Sky Stone? There’s no such bargain in this world. Hand over the Six Ding Merging Fire Token, and we’ll let everything go. From that moment on, you’ll be an honored guest of Crimson Reef Island, and all matters between the Li Family and us will be cleanly severed. Perfect harmony for both sides."
Tianwan had deliberately sent Guo Hongyao and coordinated with Hengzhu Dao Gate—one stoking the fire, the other adding fuel—all for the sake of making this demand. How could Tu Longjian not see through it?
He looked calmly at Tianwan and finally replied, "The Six Ding Merging Fire Token is of great use to me. I cannot hand it over just yet, Senior."
Daoist Master Tianwan’s expression turned cold. Tu Longjian stood quietly facing her. She was a late-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator with four divine abilities, while he was only at the early-stage. Yet Tu Longjian showed no fear.
There was only one reason. If Tianwan made a move, Hengzhu Dao Gate, who had been fanning the flames all along, would surely take Tu Longjian’s side. And that was precisely the outcome Hengzhu Dao Gate had been waiting for.
Daoist Master Tianwan continued observing him carefully and spoke softly, "In the past, I sent Guo Hongyao to Moongaze Lake to investigate Xu Xiao, hoping to use his destiny to elevate that useless junior of mine. But unexpectedly... Xu Xiao was slain by some other Daoist ahead of us, and the entire plan was thrown into chaos. The Six Ding Merging Fire Token... ended up in your hands instead.
"Though the divine ability has been refined and the past can be forgiven, the Six Ding Merging Fire Token is an ancient spirit artifact. It is no trivial matter, and there’s no rush. Daoist friend, take your time to consider."
Although her tone was icy, her words were not forceful. Clearly, Crimson Reef Island’s current position was not entirely ironclad. This Daoist master, who cultivated the Cold Essence divine ability, had no intention of offending him outright.
But she still has something to rely on... thought Tu Longjian.
Tu Longjian paused slightly. His eyes, burning with hazy flame, peered through the great void into the manifest world. Li Xijun had flown several hundred kilometers but could no longer suppress his injuries. Merging Fire had attacked his heart, and he had collapsed on a distant island.
Daoist Master Tianwan also looked toward the manifest world and spoke gently, "Tu Longjian, my husband bore fate as well. People like you are born noble, with the strength to act righteously, and are always rewarded for your deeds. I’m curious, when ordinary people do good, are they ever repaid?"
Tu Longjian frowned and asked softly, "Senior, you mean..."
Daoist Master Tianwan looked at him quietly and said, "My divine ability tells me that two rogue cultivators will soon arrive at that island. They are from Jiangnan and were once favored by the Li Family. Let us both refrain from using divine abilities. Will those two save him?"
"This..." Tu Longjian ran the scenario through his mind several times. Tianwan’s approach was wild and unexpected, leaving him momentarily silent.
Logically, he practiced the Molten Fire Dao, and Tianwan the Cold Essence Dao, so neither of them were skilled in divination. Their divine abilities clashed within the great void. Since Li Xijun was directly below, any calculation was near impossible.
After long moment, he thought to himself, The Li Family is close to more Purple Mansion Realm cultivators than just me. Besides, I have support, there’s no need to fear her.
If these two remember past kindnesses and choose not to help, then I’ll still have the upper hand...
Having settled his thoughts, he nodded and said, "Then let us wait and see."
————
Eastern Sea.
The Falling Water Rising Storm lingered over the Eastern Sea year-round. A brief moment of clear skies had just passed, and now the skies darkened again as thunder rolled and fine drizzle veiled the air.
Li Xijun flew several hundred kilometers. Merging Fire had already pierced through his eyes, slowly suppressing the effects of the Radiant Snow Pine Ridge. It was only by sheer force of will that he managed to fly beyond the furthest island within the reach of the Qingzhou Reefs.
But when he reached that point the lingering dark force on his body suddenly seemed disrupted, then vanished. The taut string in Li Xijun’s heart snapped with a thud, and he plunged headfirst toward the sea.
Just before hitting the sea, he jolted awake. The ocean below belonged to the Dragon Clan, and teemed with shrimp soldiers and crab generals. In his current condition, falling into their hands would spell near-certain capture. He had no choice but to force himself to fly a little farther.
But there were no islands in sight. In his daze, he spotted a reef and struck it with a sleeveful of mana. A faint cracking sound followed, instantly freezing a block of solid ice upon it.
As he fell, he barely managed to fling out a talisman, enveloping himself in its protection. Li Xijun finally lost consciousness and collapsed with a splash onto the ice.
Rain veiled the world in mist, pattering rhythmically onto the ice.
After a short while, two streaks of flight light approached from the north, trailing faint black tails. Two rogue cultivators in Daoist robes rode the wind to the reef, circling twice before cautiously landing nearby.