Eastern Sea.
Pine winds stirred across Splitreed Island as Li Xizhi changed into white robes and quietly sat by the table. No one else was around, leaving an uncanny silence, with only the moonlight spilling across the table.
The man held a jade wine pot as he paced around the table, never taking a seat.
His wife, Yang Xiao’er, had entered seclusion two years ago to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. There had been no news since, and he often worried. Soon, he received word that Li Xijun had perished in the Eastern Sea while trying to seize the Radiant Sky Stone.
Upon hearing the news, Li Xizhi had collapsed into the inner hall, weeping bitterly, unable to calm himself for a long time. Even after several years, he still often recalled the incident.
“Jun’er.”
Li Xizhi poured himself a cup of wine, filling the one across the table as well, his heart a tangled mess of emotions. Li Xizhi had returned home several times, and each time, Li Xijun had spoken with him at length. He had always been calm, and after receiving the talisman qi, had grown even more emotionless.
“Brother Xicheng gained his position and felt uneasy, and Ximing was too soft and full of guilt. But was Jun’er any better? He first exposed Ximing, then questioned Xicheng, and even eliminated threats by sending Yuexiang away... his heart was the heaviest with dread.
“What a tangled mess... how could it ever be unraveled!”
Among all the entanglements of the Li Family, it was Li Xizhi, an outsider to their internal strife, who saw things the clearest and knew the most.
Now, pouring wine on the ground, he muttered, “Grandfather always said the four Xi’s were bound by affection... but how could mere affection explain it all? When kinship isn’t enough, resentment and guilt cannot be resolved. When hatred isn’t enough, envy and dread cannot be shown... all of it was to perfect a single divine art.”
He poured three cups onto the ground, bowed deeply, then packed away the pot and cups. Collecting all his emotions, he stepped out calmly.
As he emerged from the woods, Li Wushao approached. The old demonic creature had already reached the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. As his state of mind transformed, the youthful form he had first assumed gradually faded.
Wrinkles lined his stern face as he bowed and said, “Young Master!”
Li Xizhi took the letter from him, glanced over it, and turned to ask, “Wushao, how effective were the Flower of Mu Sea[1] and the Spiritual Uplift Pill?”
Though Li Wushao was in the late Foundation Establishment Realm, his combat strength was lacking. Even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm disciple of exalted immortal sects could likely handle him, which was clearly insufficient.
So Li Xizhi had specially invited two alchemists to Splitreed Island to examine the matter. Both were senior experts who had seen many spirit beasts, and after a careful look, they were somewhat surprised.
“This beast may lack mystical prowess, but its bloodline is quite unusual. Its ancestors likely cultivated or consumed some Azure Manifestation type spirit herb. This is truly a potent tonic!
“If this beast is used as furnace material, it would certainly produce an excellent batch of Essence Gathering Pills!”
Li Wushao was stunned, and his eyes filled with both suspicion and menace. Only after Li Xizhi explained in detail did the two alchemists realize he merely wanted pills to boost strength.
They agreed readily, though still expressed some regret, “Sir, you truly don’t wish to refine an Essence Gathering Pill? This demonic creature is premium material. If we reinforce its foundation first, its essence will lose some of its flavor.”
The old snake’s face had gone foul. Li Xizhi could only send the alchemists off with a wry smile, though his thoughts had begun to stir, Wushao was born a black-scaled hooked serpent and his bloodline was far from impressive. Perhaps the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique is starting to show some benefit, having reinforced him so many times.
Using Supreme Yin Moonlight to match one’s life essence would be seen as extravagant even by the most illustrious families. No wonder the alchemists had called it a supreme tonic. So he specially found a good spirit item, refined a pill, and gave it to Li Wushao.
Li Wushao slowly transformed in front of him. Inky black scales surfaced across his body, and his eyes turned pitch-black as he spoke in a deep hum, “This subordinate cultivates the Water Mansion system’s Morning Cold Rain. Its effects have grown even more refined, so I can now manipulate Inferior Water and suppress spirit wind...”
He displayed his various mystical abilities, and Li Xizhi watched silently, hesitating to speak, before softly saying, “Excellent. I’ll fetch you more spell arts when I have the chance. It will surely make you even stronger.”
The corners of Li Wushao’s mouth twitched. He bowed in gratitude, and thought inwardly, Just what kind of people are the Li Family? Forget that sword immortal, take even Li Xuanfeng. One arrow from that brute and no matter what spell you have, you’ll be down and crying for your mother... And now the young master’s cultivation grows deeper by the day, to the point of being unfathomable... There’s still the heir, and Qinghong...
But Li Xizhi didn’t care what he was thinking. He glanced through the report in his hand, let out a faint chuckle, and shook his head. “Truly interesting... I thought Ning Hejing wouldn’t be able to hold back, yet he turned out to be unexpectedly well-behaved! Instead, it was Chi Fubo who struck fast and viciously, seizing the initiative and pulling him right out of position!”
Li Wushao couldn’t help but smile, and asked quietly, “Is their internal strife good for us?”
“Good?!” Li Xizhi shook his head and said with a touch of sarcasm, “How could that be good? These people aren’t fools. With such a major threat looming... would they really start tearing into each other so recklessly? Hmm? Everyone knows the saying. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”
He reviewed all the position changes and smiled. “Rather than a fight, it’s more of a compromise. Ning Hejing did lose the position of Peak Master of Yuanxing Peak, but all his trusted subordinates are still sitting pretty up there... how outrageous.”
Li Wushao read through the list twice. The dense rows of names made his head spin, and he cursed in his heart, Damn it... humans really are cunning! Just fight it out already, why all the scheming and trickery?
Still, though cursing inwardly, he humbly asked, “So are the Ning and Chi Families scheming against us?”
“Not exactly.” Li Xizhi shook his head and said with a smile, “They really did tear into each other, but everyone came out satisfied after the fight. It was all a trade of interests. Ning Hejing, that heavyweight sect master faction, stepped down from the peak, but he was given an even better post elsewhere.
“The Chi Family lacks manpower, so they naturally wouldn’t fall out with the Ning Family. Leaving those people on the peak gives them support, weakens the Ning faction, and helps appease Ning Hejing’s mood...”
Li Wushao pondered a while and asked, “Where’s he going?”
“Where?” Li Xizhi casually pointed at the bamboo grove behind him. “Of course, he’s being sent to the Eastern Sea. No matter which side loses, they’d take over my position here. Isn’t that perfect for everyone? Ning Hejing is fierce but lacks cunning. He’s definitely the one coming.
“First, it gets that eyesore out of the sect; second, it puts him in control of one of the two key seas. As long as Chi Xuxiao gives the order, how could Ning Hejing disobey? Once in the Eastern Sea, he’ll be busy cracking down and purging opposition, so he won’t have time to meddle with sect politics. All that infighting just weakens the Si Family and strengthens his own.”
Li Wushao remained quiet for a while, then murmured, “And Lord Si? Would he really stand by and do nothing...”
“The Eastern Sea has long been marked as one to be given up.” Li Xizhi sighed, a touch of regret in his voice as he said, “It’s just a shame about this bamboo grove. That guy loves planting iron pillars everywhere, so this whole mountain will soon look like a porcupine. I doubt it’ll survive...”
1. The raw