Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1224 Delaying Tactics
This direct descendant of Changhuai drifted away. Li Muyan lowered her brows, pressed her lips tightly together, remained silent for a while, then looked at Master Wu Rong and said:
"Great Master... what do you think of this matter..."

Wu Rong simply unsheathed the long sword from his back, his expression somber.

'What can I say?! Qingji Fang is an unreasonable, arrogant, and wicked scoundrel. This method might work... but... how many people will it offend!'

The two were well aware that with the current advancement in martial arts, the Purple Mansion realm had no opportunity to go on a killing spree. The Foundation Establishment matter was left to the Foundation Establishment realm. The Sun and Chen families were sworn enemies and naturally didn't care about this little bit of blood. But once the butcher's knife was raised, the Li family of Tanshan would definitely not escape.

In his view, it was only natural for the Li family of Tanshan to offend the King of Wei; it was not worthy of praise. The Li family of Mingyang, on the other hand, was meant to do all the dirty work.

Li Muyan understood this very well.

In terms of their situation, before the establishment of the Shu Kingdom, the Li family of Tanshan was thriving. However, as soon as Qingji took charge, he immediately tried to forcefully bring up his father. Li Muyan humbled himself and acted like a lackey, playing the fool time and time again in the desert, all to buy time for his father. He understood that his family's bloodline was a sword hanging over his neck. Only when his true self crossed the threshold would Qingji show more leniency.

But now everything is clear: her father failed, while the Sun family succeeded, and the Li family, which had previously shown signs of vying for the top position among the nine clans, has been completely suppressed.
'The days of groveling and subservience will go on forever.'

Now that things have come to this, Li Muyan's regret has faded. The step her elders took wasn't wrong in itself. Even if the Qing family leader had just a little conscience, Li Muyan wouldn't have had to suffer such an embarrassment. But Qing Jifang is just so arrogant!

Indeed, whether it's the Sun family or Li Muyan, after being tormented by this direct descendant of the Qing family for so many years, all they've learned from Qing Jifang is arrogance.

'It's not that he lacks vision, nor is he deliberately making things difficult for the Li family of Tanshan. He simply doesn't care... doesn't care what we think, and doesn't care which Purple Mansion he offends. Whoever displeases him, he'll torment them; he just wants to vent his anger...'

However, no one could suppress him, and Qingji Fang certainly had the right to be arrogant—the Changhuai Mountain behind him was an existence that Zhu Zifu could not shake even in ten lifetimes, so who would dare to touch him?
Li Muyan fell into deep thought, while Wu Rong was also observing him, a hint of disappointment in his eyes:
'Also a lightning cultivator… Forced by circumstances, his future path is likely ruined. How pitiful… how pitiful that a descendant of the [King Jueyang] has been so wasted.'

Wu Suan left in silence, and Li Muyan didn't notice much. Stepping on the void, she hurriedly took flight, her mind filled with countless changes, which gradually coalesced into turbulent waves:

'Our Tanshan is located in Shu, it cannot be moved or taken away. If Shu had not been destroyed, there would have been no way for it to submit to a new master. The only possibility is that the Qing family will replace its direct descendant with a new leader…'

'Master Guanlan is humble and kind, exceptionally intelligent, and also surnamed Qing… but he's several generations younger than him, and has always been suppressed… I wish something could happen to him. Wei Xuanyin, oh Wei Xuanyin… the Guanhua lineage… show us your true abilities!'

'At worst…'

Even a clay figure has some temper. It's impossible for Li Muyan not to feel resentment after being ordered around by Qingji. His gaze subtly swept towards the northeast, revealing an increasingly restrained expression.
'If we find an opportunity in the future to have Li Zhouwei beat him to death, we can all breathe a sigh of relief…'

……

"What a grand display."

Inside the pavilion, a blinding white light shone. A large cauldron stood in the hall, and a white-robed man sat quietly in the main seat, a smile on his face. Below him, a beautiful woman's face was etched with worry. After waiting for a while without receiving a reply from the man above, she said:
"After all, these are three great masters. There has never been such a great commotion between the North and the South. If Shu succeeds, Guanzhong will probably be shaken. If we take another step closer, we will reach Chen."

For several years, Wei Xuanyin's cultivation had not made any special progress, but Zhi Xuanxie's withdrawal from the mortal world suddenly relieved him of a heavy burden, and his aura became clear and bright, as if it contained infinite mysteries.

But he still had to stay here, sitting in this small pavilion.

Hearing Yin Baiyue speak like this below, Wei Xuanyin simply shook his head quietly:

"Zhao Ting has sent people three times already, trying to get me out of seclusion..."

The great master raised an eyebrow:
"Ignore them."

Yin Baiyue nodded, listening to Wei Xuanyin say quietly:
"Qingji is not a man of ambition. Even if he reaches Longdi, he is not a threat. You Maha are not capable of fighting, so what's the use of you rushing to ask me to cure Xuanxie?"

"Because of the orders of the adults, I have no choice but to continue in this position, but now the price has been paid, and my will to observe the world has been made clear, yet they are still eager to drag me down..."

Yin Baiyue lowered her head slightly and fell silent. After hesitating for a long time, she said softly:

"Junior...Junior doesn't understand. If that's the case, then why did I, Zhi Xuanxie...and Guan Hua, remain here?"

Her eyes were filled with exhaustion, and even a hint of disgust:
"Now that our senior brother has also perished, there are no major matters for us to handle. Why drag our lineage into this palace..."

The woman's words left Wei Xuan speechless for a long time. The Great Master put down the jade slip in his hand and said softly:

"This matter... is now very difficult to clarify."

A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes as he said softly:

"The Dao of Jueyin was abolished by Mingyang, and the difference between high and low is obvious. In fact, the Daoist predecessors all had limitations to some extent. They were not as demonic as Zong Chang, but there were still differences... Whether it is the 'Secluded Room for Questioning Doubts' or the 'Covering Clothes', they all need to be cultivated through the practice of healing the mystery."

"Initially, Zhixuan Pavilion was indeed something that my Guanhua Tianlou Dao actively participated in for cultivation purposes. But the affairs of the world have been entrusted to you by the adults. Whether you still need it or not, you cannot give it up."

A cold glint appeared in his eyes as he said:
"As for the future... the northward expansion of the Sun Dao lineage is a taboo, after all, the Sun is the Qingxuan Gonghua Dao lineage, and that person is a big figure who rebuilt the Qingsong Temple. No matter who takes charge, it will have some implications of a struggle between the two Xuan lineages."

"After all, there are quite a few True Lords in the Sun Dao lineage."

He paused, then said slowly:
"And my Guanhua Tianlou Dao is at least in the Three Yin. Back then, because of the promise of my ancestors, I took over the matter and entered the Zhao Kingdom. This matter was pushed and blocked, but in the end it still fell on my shoulders. I didn't expect it to get out of control... In the end, Guanhua was pushed to this critical position."

Yin Baiyue lowered her brows and remained silent for a long time before saying:
"Since you said that you used Zhixuan to cultivate, I would like to know... can you really cultivate while sitting in this position?"

Wei Xuanyin's expression froze for a moment as he stared silently at the woman before him. She remained stubbornly kneeling, waiting for him to speak. Wei Xuanyin gazed at her intently but did not reply.

Even without hearing the answer, it was clearer than if she had heard it herself. A hint of sadness flashed across Yin Baiyue's beautiful face as she said:

"Is that really the case? Now that my senior brother has fallen, why doesn't my uncle entrust the matter of Zhixuan to me? My uncle can return to Chen Kingdom and focus on his cultivation, without having to concern himself with the affairs of the world."

Wei Xuan remained silent.

Tears welled up in Yin Baiyue's eyes as she whispered:
"Bai Yue is, after all, a cultivator who has reached the Purple Mansion stage. Although his supernatural abilities are not as good as his uncle's, he is not someone who cannot see the situation clearly. If it is really for some responsibility that their ancestors once shouldered, why did Senior Brother have to fight Ming Yang to the death and perish in Salt Lake! Why did those people keep forcing Zhi Xuan to take the stage..."

The white-clad man above, with a somber expression, said:
"Knowing this, you understand what will happen if you sit in this position."

"It's nothing more than death!"

She choked up, but Wei Xuanyin simply put down the jade slip in his hand, finally revealing a trace of exhaustion, and whispered:
"Bai Yue, stop talking..."

Yin Baiyue kept her brows down, gritting her teeth:

"It's nothing more than taking advantage of Guanhua's lack of followers! Back when the [Unwavering Temple] was established, who in the Dao didn't call it a favor to Guanhua! Now look what's happened, it's come to this... they say..."

"White Moon!"

Wei Xuan's expression changed drastically. He slammed the jade slip heavily on the table and said in a deep voice:
"nonsense!"

Yin Baiyue collapsed to the ground, turning her head away without saying a word.

The hall fell silent instantly. Wei Xuan, drenched in cold sweat, shook his head in exasperation. The woman then said:
"There's nothing to hide, and it won't hide anything anyway."

These words silenced Wei Xuanyin's warning. The Great Master shook his head in exasperation, but then heard footsteps coming from inside the hall. He suddenly raised his eyebrows and realized that someone was already standing in the vast hall.

This man appeared to be middle-aged, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a broad face and thick shoulders. He wore a Taoist robe of varying shades of yellow and white. Standing there quietly, he exuded a strong sense of pressure. Wei Xuan, his expression a mixture of surprise and delight, quickly said:
"Guan Yi is here!"

This person was none other than Yao Guanyi, a cultivator from Luoxia Mountain!

The middle-aged Taoist smiled slightly, stepped forward, and passed by Yin Baiyue like a gust of wind, sitting down beside her. Wei Xuan sighed inwardly and turned his head, saying:
"Bai Yue, you can go down now."

The woman rose, bowed to the two men, and left without saying a word. The middle-aged Taoist priest poured tea for them while quietly saying:
"It's just that I came at the wrong time."

Wei Xuan shook his head helplessly and said:
"She's young and doesn't know any better, please..."

The middle-aged Taoist priest poured himself a cup of tea, took a small sip, and said:
“If my junior apprentice continues to speak so recklessly, it will implicate you in the future.”

Wei Xuan sighed and replied:

"It was my negligence in disciplining him."

The atmosphere in the hall fell silent for a moment. The newcomer could tell that Wei Xuanyin was somewhat insincere, so he put down his teacup and sighed softly.

“I’m also looking for things for you, but I’m not here to bring you good news this time. I’m here to discuss matters between the North and the South.”

His voice was deep and magnetic, and his words were concise:
“That guy from the Qing family has crossed the border and is using real skills. There are three Grand Masters. With the loss of Jianghuai, people need to guard both sides. Tuoba Qiye has already gone, and Zhu Kui is another one.”

"Isn't this enough?"

Wei Xuan raised his head and said:
"One of them will have to be on guard against Sheng Baidao."

The middle-aged Taoist priest said quietly:

"That's not enough. I hope you can take action and, ideally, quickly force the Shu army to retreat."

Wei Xuan stared at him, and the man shook his head helplessly, saying:
"I hope Tuoba Qiye can stay in the east to guard against the Jianghuai region... Xuanlou, Gao Fu has the heart of an old minister, and the Great Yan is unruly. We cannot allow the seven ministers or aristocratic families to resist the Great Song alone... They are a disorganized mess, and most of them even harbor disloyal intentions. They will inevitably be overwhelmed by the south!"

“As long as Tuoba Qiye stays in the east, I have a reason to let you escape… Between two evils, choose the lesser. Facing Western Shu is better than facing Mingyang. Your cultivation level is hard-earned…”

Wei Xuan's expression gradually became serious. He looked at the Taoist priest before him and finally spoke:
"But I don't understand. If you want me to succeed, then give me a chance. If you don't want me to succeed, then kill me long ago. Why bother with all this trouble? Although you are the one mediating... how can the change of position be something that can be easily mediated!"

The person in front of me paused, looking somewhat uneasy. After a moment of silence, they said softly:
"Xuanlou, I don't know."

Wei Xuan's expression became complicated. The Taoist shook his head coldly and said:

"This is not something I can know. Not to mention me, I'm afraid even Senior Brother Xue wouldn't know. All I can do is wait and see... for that turning point... Xuanlou."

Is it really a turning point?

Wei Xuan asked a question with an ambiguous meaning.

In fact, after Qi Lanyan's death and the loss of Jianghuai, there had been no news about Guanhua on the mountain for several years. Wei Xuan's premonition had become increasingly clear.

'Lan Yan's excuse, bought with his life, only served to delay... There was more than one True Lord who disagreed with me... Even... even when they had nothing more to say, they still refused to back down.'

Now, even Yin Baiyue could see that it wasn't some scheme by others, but rather the adults' personal instructions to keep Wei Xuanyin in this position, even with the intention of forcing him to step down. Was it for his own good? They genuinely didn't want 'Bu Ziyi' to be cultivated! Their rejection of 'Jueyin' returning to orthodoxy was far deeper than they had originally thought... Even if the True Lord who achieved it was a profound figure, they still wouldn't agree!

As a descendant of the Chen Chuan Wei clan, the Dao Master of Guanhua Tianlou Dao, and Wei Xuanyin who carved a bloody path out of the dark and obscure lineage of 'Jueyin', the possibility of him achieving orthodox 'Jueyin' is beyond what these adults can accept!

This is why, even though Wei Xuan was no less than the Wang family in terms of bloodline, no less than Yao Guanyi in terms of cultivation, and even rivaled the Xue family in terms of orthodox lineage in the Tongxuan school, he was still placed in this extremely awkward position…

'They're just stalling me until I can't take it anymore, then I'll go along with their wishes... or even just die and be done with it!'

Both were top-tier geniuses; how could Yao Guanyi not understand Wei Xuan's meaning! He closed his eyes tightly, remaining silent for a long time, before finally standing up and saying:

"There will be a way..."

Wei Xuan poured tea with an ambiguous expression, but suddenly, Kong Shu's face appeared in his mind, and the monk's words echoed in his ears:

'Who knows if the King of Wei has any intention of emulating the Emperor of Wei? Even if he doesn't... could someone be forcing him to?!'

This made his expression gradually clear, and he said softly:
"I'm afraid that in the end, everything will be beyond our control."

Yao Guanyi turned around and walked down the steps, saying calmly:

"I do not believe."

(End of this chapter)