Knowing Li Xizhi had plans, Li Wushao spoke softly, “What should we do now...”
“Mm...” Li Xizhi said softly, “Let’s head into the island’s abyss under the pretense of inspection before the official order arrives... We’ll toss the whole situation to that guy and focus on treasure hunting before we leave.”
A gleam of rainbow light rose and fell from his hand as he mused inwardly, As long as the order doesn’t arrive, I can use this excuse to dodge everything. Both sides will accept it. As for those messy, incomplete records... naturally they’ll be left for Lord Ning. He’s got talent, surely he can sort them out even without assistants.
After a brief moment of thought, Li Xizhi swiftly wrote two letters and sent them home. Without delay, he tidied up his cave dwelling and left without looking back.
He stepped out, left a letter for his subordinates, and rode the wind with the old demon to the center of the island . There, a great abyss opened up, its exposed cliff walls glowing a crimson red. Several golden-robed cultivators stood before the chasm.
The group all bowed in greeting. Li Xizhi spoke gently, “So today is the day the Golden Feather Sect reinforces this place. I wish to enter for investigation; may I trouble you to open the formation?”
The Golden Feather Sect had always maintained a lukewarm relationship with the Azure Pond Sect. Yet these men treated him with surprising warmth, calling him 'Daoist' as they brought out a map.
They smiled as they told him, “The earth veins have shifted slightly in recent months. Perhaps one of the Three Monarchs of Lesser Yang grew temperamental or went visiting a fellow cultivator. Daoist, do be cautious.”
The abyss on Splitreed Island had formed when a Demon Monarch had been split into three. Various forces had mixed, which corrupted the earth veins with wicked energy. Yet Falling Water Rising Storm had little impact on it. The real changes came when any of the Three True Monarchs passed nearby.
“Very well,” said Li Xizhi. That was exactly what he wanted to hear. He nodded in thanks and, without wasting a moment, took Li Wushao with him into the depths.
As he vanished into the abyss, the three disciples of the Golden Feather Sect resealed the formation. One of the women whispered, “So that’s Li Xizhi of the Moongaze Li Family? Handsome indeed, and his strength doesn’t seem low either.”
“Of course!” Another cultivator’s face lit up with pride as he shook his head and said, “My peak’s Grand Martial Uncle Zhang Yun is a close friend of Li Tongya. Even the Immortal Archer Li Xuanfeng had to call him Uncle! How could a descendant of such people be ordinary?”
His admiration for Zhang Yun extended to Li Tongya, which gave him a favorable view of the entire Li Family. Though Li Tongya was famous, Zhang Yun remained obscure among the rogue cultivators, so he eagerly brought him up to highlight his Grand Martial Uncle’s status.
The three continued chatting and laughing until a streak of light descended swiftly onto the island, circled the peak once, then landed directly before them.
“Where is the Peak Master of Changtian Peak?”
Si Tongyi... The three of them recognized him, but held him in disdain. They replied with cool indifference, “The Daoist has already entered the formation.”
“So be it... so be it,” Si Tongyi let out a sigh of relief, then turned and left. A few hours later, another streak of light descended rapidly upon the peak, circled once, and also landed.
This newcomer bore the Azure Pond Sect's seal, his face filled with shock as he asked, “Where is the Peak Master of Changtian Peak?!”
The three recognized him as someone from the Chi Family. One continued reading, while the other kept cultivating. None of them paid him any mind.
————
The Bicolor Scaled Beast surged from the sea, the palace on its back glimmering with shimmering scales before it submerged again.
Once it docked, Huiyao opened the palace doors and respectfully said, “My lord, please.”
Li Zhouwei emerged from the palace. Kongheng had been waiting at the shore. The monk craned his neck until he saw Li Zhouwei disembark, then finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Huiyao carried a basket of pearls, each one as large as a fist and dazzling in luster. Watching their expressions, he quietly slipped them into Kongheng’s hands and whispered, “Please accept these, my lord... The Tail Subkingdom queen is timid by nature, and not the kind to orchestrate such things. One fright and she hasn’t slept a wink in days... I beg your grace, give her a way out...”
Kongheng, being kind-hearted, listened to Huiyao’s murmured explanation and had grasped most of the situation. He had already taken the basket but, afraid of making a misstep, glanced at Li Zhouwei.
When he saw Li Zhouwei nod, Huiyao was overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly. Kongheng gently supported him and said warmly, “Fellow Daoist Huiyao, you have a kind heart. You're truly a fine creature.”
Huiyao was a bit dazed to hear that, knowing he’d done plenty of shady deeds. His face twitched with guilt as he mumbled a soft response. Li Zhouwei turned to look toward the other side, where a young man in armor stood with a sword in hand.
Chen Yang had guarded the island for several years. Since Li Zhouwei and Li Chenghui were in closed-door cultivation, and Kongheng was not one to manage affairs, most responsibilities had fallen to him. Though only at the third stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm, his demeanor had changed greatly.
The viciousness and suspicion that had once flickered in his gaze had completely vanished. With the countenance of a Li clansman, and stripped of those coarse expressions, Chen Yang now appeared much steadier.
But when facing Li Zhouwei, he still lowered his eyes, staring at his cheeks rather than those golden pupils, and respectfully said, “Greetings, my lord!”
“Rise.” Li Zhouwei’s gaze did not linger on him. Instead, he turned to exchange a few words with Huiyao. The demonic creature then rode the beast away.
Chen Yang counted the pearls and said softly, “My lord, sixteen Water Pearls in total. It barely reaches the threshold for a Foundation Establishment Realm spirit item.”
As Li Zhouwei stepped into the hall, he replied softly, “Keep them well. The quality is decent. If divided, they’re best used for top-grade Qi Cultivation Realm items. But once we return to the lake, it’s best to gather a full set of sixteen and forge a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifact set.”
Chen Yang carefully stored them away, then took out a jade slip from his robe and offered it with both hands. He bowed respectfully as he said, “My lord, this contains records of all island affairs over the past few years. There's records of appointments and removals, as well as spirit ore and paddy yields. Every annual surplus was accounted for without the slightest discrepancy!”
Li Zhouwei accepted the slip and glanced through it. He had to admit, Chen Yang had kept the island in impeccable order these past years. Every spirit field and mine had been managed with precision, and the annual surplus even rivaled the total from the previous three years combined.
This man is ambitious and ruthless, but his capabilities are beyond doubt. It takes someone like him to keep an island full of outer sea cultivators in line.
It was precisely because Chen Yang had ambition that he refrained from touching any of the island’s resources. The cultivators feared him to the extreme. Even Li Chenghui, capable as he was, had to yield some benefits to win hearts. Yet under Chen Yang’s rule, the administration had become extraordinarily clean.
Kongheng waited patiently. Once Li Zhouwei finished reading, he silently handed over the letter he held in his hand.
Li Zhouwei took the letter, skimmed it quickly, then shut his eyes tightly. He waited several seconds before lifting his brows and exhaling, asking, “Did Great-Uncle Xijun[1] leave any words?”
Kongheng shook his head. Li Zhouwei waved for Chen Yang to leave, then sat silently in the hall for a few moments. When he saw Kongheng’s pale face, Li Zhouwei said hoarsely, “With Uncle fallen, I must return at once.”
1. The Author wrote Ximing instead of Xijun in the raw, I've changed it as I think it's the author's mistake. ☜