Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1228 A Change of Plan (1+12) (Bonus Chapter 19113)

The mountains rise and fall, majestic and magnificent. You can clearly see the rolling yellow sand beneath your feet. The watchtowers stand tall, and the white and gold-colored buildings with black patterns are dotted among the yellow sand, making them look exceptionally beautiful.

Li Quewan, riding the Taiyin Spiritual Treasure, sat upright atop the high mountain, holding a small jade cauldron the size of a palm in her hands, which emitted a constantly changing silver light, her gaze slightly worried.

Chen Yin didn't actually leave in a hurry. He even went to Zhijing Mountain to look for Li Jiangqian. However, he came here to free up Li Jiangqian's time. He understood that it was normal for the prince not to be on the mountain. He made a talisman to warn others and then left in a hurry.

With him gone, Li Quewan naturally had to personally oversee matters on the other side of the desert. In fact, there hadn't been any troubles during these days, but he hadn't heard any news about his elder brother's whereabouts.

It's already July... and I still haven't heard any news...

In June, the Song Dynasty remained peaceful and focused on recuperation, while the Western Shu had been invading Longxi for nearly half a year, and the events that occurred during this period were turbulent and unpredictable.

First, Wei Xuanyin led the Northern Cultivation Grand Master Zhu Kui in a great battle against Qing Jifang and others in Longdi. Qing Jifang left a Grand Master to guard against Xiangxiong halfway, and two Grand Masters entered Longdi. The battle was earth-shattering, and the back-and-forth advance lasted for seven days. The celestial phenomena changed several times. This Master of Zhixuan Pavilion was indeed powerful. Even though he was inferior in the number of Purple Mansions, he still managed to block the fierce attack of Western Shu.

However, within seven days, a cultivator from the Northern Realm at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm single-handedly fought against multiple opponents, forcing Qingji to frequently send reinforcements, resulting in the front line losing ground and having to retreat at one point.

Just when the situation in Zhao was very favorable, the cultivators of Xiangxiong suddenly attacked Chen from Hexi. Not only did they entangle the ruler of Chen, but the Five Ming of Xiangxiong also led their troops to invade. This place was not only Wei Xuanyin's hometown, but also close to Longdi. Zhao was thrown into chaos, and Qingji took the opportunity to advance northward, all the way to the heartland, causing the capital to be shaken!
Just a few days ago, an even more dramatic turn of events occurred. The five Zifu masters of Xiangxiong Kingdom captured Jincheng, and their military advance came to an abrupt halt. It seemed that they had reached some kind of agreement with Zhao Ting. Changing their previous stance, they suddenly headed south and engaged in battle with the troops of Qingji.

'That's interesting...'

Li Quewan, though not appearing in person, had gathered all the necessary intelligence while overseeing the situation. His mood remained relatively calm, even showing signs of delight.

"Let them fight! The longer the better, the more brutal the better. Let them fight like dogs, leaving a trail of gossip. Ideally, Qingji should be severely injured, unable to leave the area. That would greatly reduce the threat to my lake!"

However, she did not let her guard down; instead, she observed the situation even more frequently.

Li Quewan naturally believed that Li Jiangqian acted with discretion. What worried her was the movement in the west—since Western Shu could wage war in Yuyang, they could also wage war in the desert. Even if only Li Muyan came, she would have to take action.

'I'm not afraid of losing, but exposing our whereabouts will only cause more trouble later.'

After waiting a moment, a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. The iridescent light in her palm subsided, and a golden light emerged from the jade cauldron.

It was a golden talisman about the width of a finger, seemingly a single piece. The material was not precious, but it was bound by a divine power that seemed to condense into a physical form, and it shone with a few points of light.

While Li Jiangqian was busy running around, Li Quewan naturally didn't slack off at all. In these days, in addition to paying close attention to the west, she also pondered the art of witchcraft and made preparations in advance.

Most witchcraft arts are related to blood sacrifices and ghosts and gods. Li Quewan's [Mysterious Witchcraft Arts] are more special. Now that he has achieved supernatural powers, they are gradually being revealed. They can be roughly divided into three categories.

One thing is formless; two things are subject to change; three things are life and death.

The first principle, the intangible, refers to various intangible arts, such as divination, fortune telling, and even resolving crises. At a high level, these arts can even cost one's life. The second principle, which is more commonly used, is the art of transformation, which is the only one that can be used in combat, whether against an enemy or oneself.

The third approach is ruthless, stating that "the dead live, the living die." "The dead live" means escaping death, but if used against an enemy, it will only result in a huge price being paid to kill the opponent with a curse or cause them to die suddenly from an illness.

This made preparations quite a headache. After careful consideration, she finally decided to try using talismans, an extremely important auxiliary method in witchcraft.

It was the one in her hand.

A transformation technique was brewing within her. Lacking suitable full-core spiritual resources as a vessel, she used only some Foundation Establishment spiritual objects as talismans, failing several times before finally succeeding. Even so, this transformation technique would dissipate once removed from the nurturing power of her divine abilities. Although it was close to the Purple Gold Path, only cultivators of the 'Full Core' and 'Upper Witch' paths could use it, causing her to ponder inwardly:

'Fortunately, we have Chengqian. If we can invite Daxukui Temple, and also Jingyao Lin Chensheng, handing them over before the big battle won't be entirely useless.'

She waited for several more days and nights, amidst wind and rain, until she finally noticed a streak of fire crossing the void, passing across the sky, and landing quietly on a distant mountain. She knew then that her elder brother had returned.

So he took a step forward and stopped in the void of Zhijing Mountain. He raised his eyebrows and saw that the eldest son of the King of Wei was calm and composed, with a thoughtful look in his eyes. There was also a young man beside him.

This person had a magnificent appearance and a slender figure. He looked like a Taoist master who had transcended worldly concerns and cultivated himself. His eyes were bright and piercing, and there was a dot of cinnabar between his eyebrows. His supernatural powers were overwhelming, and he was also a 'Complete Core Formation'!
'It is that sincere lead.'

She had an idea in mind, but Li Jiangqian smiled and said softly:
"Wan'er, this is Fellow Daoist Chengqian."

These words startled Cheng Qian slightly. He knew there was someone beside him, but no matter how he tried to sense it, he couldn't detect anything unusual. A chill ran through him as he saw the brilliant mercury-colored light shining down, and a woman appeared before him.

"this…"

The man glanced at him briefly, then his eyes were glued to him, filled with surprise and admiration, speechless. Only after Li Quewan greeted him with a smile did he snap out of his daze and say in a hoarse voice:
"Your younger sister cultivates... the path of immortals and gods!"

Indeed, as a dignified man of the Purple Mansion, Cheng Qian would naturally not be swayed by appearance. Although Li Quewan in front of him was beautiful, he dared not harbor any ill intentions. What shocked him was Li Quewan's supernatural powers!
The 'Complete Core Formation' is extraordinary. Each lineage has its own expertise, but none of them excel at combat. It would have been better if she hadn't shown herself. Now that her aura has been revealed, how could Cheng Qian, also a Complete Core Formation cultivator, not sense that primordial, innate divine power? It almost made his jaw drop.

'Such extraordinary supernatural powers exist in this world!'

Just that one glance was enough to captivate him. If it weren't for the inappropriate location and their status, Chengqian would have loved to pull her hand and sit down for a detailed conversation. Right now, however, he simply looked away with complicated emotions and said:

"Congratulations fellow Taoist!"

Li Jiangqian smiled and shook his head, saying:
"My younger sister is also cultivating the 'Complete Core' stage. She has only just achieved the Purple Mansion stage. If there is an opportunity in the future, I would appreciate your guidance, fellow Daoist."

'Me? Offering guidance?'

Chengqian laughed helplessly:
"Your Highness is making fun of me... In the Daoist path of 'Complete Elixir,' there are different levels of lineage. The difference between those two levels is like heaven and earth. When True Man Qiushui first attained his supernatural power, he could conjure all kinds of weapons with a three-inch piece of silver mercury. I have cultivated to this point, and it still takes me thirty days to balance Yin and Yang... Guidance? I really dare not."

Actually, balancing yin and yang in thirty days is not slow. If the sun and moon did not shine together, it would have taken Li Quewan several days. She shook her head with a smile. Cheng Qian sat down with the two of them, feeling excited.

'The Li family actually possesses a top-tier "Complete Elixir" lineage!'

If it were only Chengqian who was cultivating the "Complete Elixir," the Li family would naturally not risk the pressure from the Golden Feather Sect to find a lineage for him. But now that Li Quewan is here, Chengqian is just an afterthought, and his path to enlightenment is already highly likely to be secure!
What does this mean? Cheng Qian no longer needs to cultivate under the high pressure of the Golden Feather Sect, constantly seeking the lineage on the verge of annihilation. Moreover... even if he can't obtain their true teachings, learning some techniques, taking three or four tenths of them, will be enough for him to get through the Purple Realm!

From this moment on, the mindset of this 'Complete Core Formation' cultivator underwent a subtle change. Originally, he had no desires or wants, but was forced by the situation to devote himself to the Li family. His thoughts also changed—no matter what... a path that allows one to see the way of the Dao can always give people more ambition.

Li Jiangqian, who had been watching him with a smile, a hint of cunning in his eyes, smiled slightly and said softly when he saw the man deep in thought:
"Then let's not talk about giving pointers. It's better for the two of you to communicate more than for one person to cultivate alone."

"Absolutely...absolutely!"

Although Chengqian maintained a composed demeanor, the joy in her eyes was undeniable. Li Jiangqian offered a polite remark and then said:

"Now that Elder Chen has passed away, the desert is now in the hands of Chengqian."

"Your Highness, don't worry!"

Cheng Qian nodded slightly, a shadow of gloom flashing in her eyes, and couldn't help but remind her:

"It is said that... the Western Shu possesses a treasure capable of divination..."

Li Jiangqian had obviously learned about this matter after making this trip, and he gave a cold laugh, saying indifferently:

"I heard that Master Chen was discovered when he left Yuyang. Otherwise, even if they had great abilities, they wouldn't dare to plot against the lake! Don't worry, Western Shu will either not move at all, or if they do, it will inevitably be a major battle after the Northern Expedition. They won't have too much scheming."

Chengqian bowed and was about to take his leave when the woman before him stopped him slightly and said softly:
"Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist."

She then gently flipped her hand, and a silver light appeared in her palm. As the illusory light dissipated, a small, gold-patterned talisman, about the size of a fingertip, was revealed. Li Quewan said solemnly:
"Please nurture it within your divine power, fellow Daoist. It will surely prove useful during the great battle."

Chengqian naturally thanked him, accepted the gift, and took his leave. Li Jiangqian raised an eyebrow and asked:
"What is that?"

Li Quewan gave a brief answer, which brought a look of satisfaction to the eyes of the young man in the crimson robe. He said:
“Good idea… I’ve already been to the Great Owl Temple… I calculated the days and waited until the time Lin Chengsheng told his disciple to emerge from seclusion. That’s why I was late, but… he readily agreed, saying he would bring the Great Owl Temple’s spiritual treasures to help!”

"it is good!"

Although Lin Chengsheng was only at the initial stage of supernatural powers, his foundation in the Daoist tradition was too solid. With numerous spiritual artifacts and treasures on hand, holding off a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator was not a problem. Li Quewan understood and said:

"I'll go prepare another one!"

Li Jiangqian nodded, put down his cup, and said in a low voice:

"During this time... I didn't just wait idly in his temple. I also went to the Sword Sect and looked for the Cheng family... Sword Immortals are always in seclusion and don't see anyone. I only met Senior Cheng Jiuwen."

What was his answer to you?

Li Jiangqian looked somewhat doubtful and said:

"Cheng Jiuwen means... he will definitely come, but the Sword Immortal's intentions are unclear, and Senior Tianjiao has also gone into seclusion to cultivate. The Cheng family dares not make a promise, but... there is good news."

He raised his eyebrows and said:

"Now all the treasures of the Sword Sect are with Senior Jiuwen. If he were to make a move, he would be far superior to Shen Sou and his ilk from Shu Kingdom... In addition, Ye Hui will be coming, so the fighting force on the lake is not to be underestimated. It's a pity that Situ Huo is missing. I don't know where that old man has gone off to enjoy himself!"

Li Quewan smiled and said:

"You've worked so hard traveling around..."

Li Jiangqian shook his head and smiled:

"You have no idea, I heard several news reports from the North while I was away, and I was quite pleased with myself... Qing Jifang... I observed that his actions were like those of a child. If it weren't for the powerful Chang Huai behind him, he would be no threat at all!"

The young man appeared quite disdainful and said:
"Zhao Ting has always been exchanging glances with Xiangxiong, which means that the powerful figures behind the two families have a basis for cooperation. Back when Zhao Song was fighting in the Jianghuai region, who was it that kept him tied down in Longdi? They've really forgotten the pain once the wound has healed. Do you really think Xiangxiong would genuinely help him?"

Li Quewan nodded and said:

"It seems we've lured them in deep?"

Li Jiangqian neither agreed nor disagreed, and said:
"It's a mix of truth and falsehood. Xiangxiong took advantage of the chaos, and Da Zhao also suffered losses. However, I looked at the map and saw that several of Xiangxiong's generals were directly attacking the rear of Qingji. It should have been a situation that collapsed at the first touch, but they are still holding on. It seems that this fool at least had some precautions—he's just too greedy and would rather gamble!"

Upon hearing this, Li Quewan nodded slightly and said:

"If that's the case, he'll have to leave empty-handed."

Li Jiangqian's smile finally faded, and he said seriously:
"That's right, at least there's no possibility of advancing north anymore. It's just a matter of how much territory we can hold. It could take a year or two at most, or a few months at least, before this great battle will be decided!"

This was clearly the reason he returned with a heavy heart. The prince paced back and forth in the mountains for several steps, then murmured:
"It's a pity... whether he himself was aware of it, or a certain great master was wary and offered advice, the possibility of Xishu blocking the southward advance of Xiangxiong is already very low... this battle still needs to be fought solidly."

Li Quewan sighed, about to say more, when a calm voice suddenly came from outside the formation:

"I have come from afar to pay my respects. I would be honored if Seventh Young Master would activate the great formation!"

These words reached the formation, and the two True Persons within it were both taken aback. They exchanged a glance and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

'This is... Senior Liu!'

It should be noted that Liu Changdie and the Li family have a friendship spanning generations. Among all the Purple Mansions in Jiangnan, this one is the closest. Even Li Quewan cultivated secret techniques under his protection. Otherwise, Li Jiangqian would not have entrusted him with the matter of the great formation. However, this senior clearly dares not set foot in Jiangnan again, and in principle, he would never appear here!
He stepped out on the wind and indeed saw a white-clad immortal standing in the void. His expression was calm and serene, and he had a great demeanor. It was Liu Changdie!

Li Jiangqian was surprised, but led him into the mountain. Once they landed at the summit, Li Quewan quickly stepped aside and performed the master-disciple etiquette, respectfully saying:

"Que Wan greets Senior!"

Liu Changdie's previously calm expression was finally broken. A clear look of joy appeared in his eyes. He took a few steps forward, looked at her carefully, and said, both surprised and delighted:

"Good, good, good... I knew you could succeed, but I didn't expect it to be so fast!"

Liu Changdie didn't recognize most of the younger generation of the Li family, but he felt most familiar with Li Quewan. This young girl had been cultivating at Zhentao Mansion all those years ago, and she was very pleasing to him in her dealings with people. The True Immortal subconsciously touched his sleeve and smiled:
"What a coincidence!"

He then flipped his hand, and a copper box appeared in his palm. The middle-aged man smiled and said:

"Since you have listened to my teachings and grown up under my care, I can be considered your half-master. I have long prepared this congratulatory gift for your enlightenment... I only worry about not being able to see you!"

Li Quewan really dared not accept his gifts and repeatedly refused, but the elder put a stern face and forced them into her hands, saying:

"I can't help you achieve supernatural powers, and you won't even accept this small token of your favor. You must be looking down on this small favor I've done for you..."

Li Quewan then found himself in a dilemma, and could only say:
"Senior, you are mistaken. The spiritual object that helped me achieve enlightenment was obtained by you through your tireless efforts... How can you say it can't help me..."

Liu Changdie waved his hand repeatedly, not saying another word, but turning to look at Li Jiangqian and saying solemnly:
"I'll set up the formation!"

Li Jiangqian already had some doubts, but he didn't expect it to be true. He decided to suppress his doubts for the time being.

"It really worked!"

The great war between Shu and Zhao has only just begun. The speed of this battle is absolutely astonishing, reaching a level that Li Jiangqian never expected and is suspiciously fast!
He was both delighted and surprised, sighed, and said:

"As expected of the senior, they are truly amazing..."

Liu Changdie smiled, solemnly raised two fingers, placed them between his eyebrows, and a golden halo appeared.

The halo gently descended and transformed into a rose-gold disc in his palm, no larger than a palm. It was engraved with gold and white patterns, as fine as cow's hair, and quite gorgeous in color. It meandered and rotated, shining brightly. As the master's palm moved, it even produced a string of light from the Lesser Yang.

'What a nice view…'

The array plate is the culmination of the convergence of array and artifact techniques. Even Li Jiangqian, who had never seen an array plate before, felt its preciousness upon seeing it. Taking it from his hands, he seemed to cherish it even more, murmuring:
"Good baby!"

Liu Changdie nodded solemnly and said:
"I cultivate 'Treasury Gold,' which contains hidden gold. If the physical body is intact and unharmed, the essence and blood become precious, and it can even enhance the mystical array. Among the many array foundations, the array plate is also special. 'Treasury Gold' is gold that is stored away, and the array plate is a valuable item in the array path. It is also hidden in the array, which is a sign of 'Treasury Gold'... My lineage uses this to analyze the great array, and when I asked you to add a bit of gold virtue to the array plate when you cultivated it, it was for this very moment."

"This plate is currently nourished by my essence and blood, which will greatly benefit it. Not only will it achieve immediate success, but when the great formation is activated and the 'treasury gold' returns to its place, it will naturally gain even more divine power."

The eyes of this master were shining brightly, clearly indicating that nourishing the array plate with blood was not a sudden whim of his, but a plan he had been devising since the time he set up and created the array!

His explanation immediately made the two masters understand, and they both showed expressions of amazement. Li Quewan nodded repeatedly, looking somewhat ashamed. Liu Changdie was not a magnanimous person; even he claimed that his essence blood was precious, clearly indicating that this blood was extremely important in the cultivation of Kujin. He hurriedly said:

"Senior, you possess such profound wisdom! However, my family has no idea how to repay such a generous gift!"

"What's the point of talking about repayment?"

Liu Changdie, however, didn't take it to heart and shook his head, saying:

"It's just a matter of whether we dare to dream about it or not. Unfortunately, the spiritual treasures of these two paths are extremely rare. I once lamented that if we could obtain the spiritual treasures of these two paths and form an array based on the image of Kuqi holding the lock, it would surely shock the world!"

Upon hearing this explanation, Li Jiangqian was overjoyed. He thanked the man warmly and led him to a seat on the mountain. Then, he pushed the elixir over and said solemnly:
"please!"

Fearing the other party might refuse to use it, he added:
"A great battle is about to begin!"

Liu Changdie then accepted it. Seeing the two siblings overjoyed, his mood brightened, and he smiled, saying:
"Then it's up to you."

Seeing that the elder had finished packing, Li Jiangqian, not wanting to waste a moment, immediately said seriously:

"Why don't we... set up this formation right now!"

Liu Changdie stroked his beard and laughed:

"There's no rush for you to go there. I've never been to this place before, and I'm not familiar with the earth's veins or spiritual energy. First, we need to follow the earth's veins, light up those array platforms, and connect them with the earth's veins' spiritual energy before we can install the array plate."

"Oh?"

Li Jiangqian understood and asked:

"I wonder how many days it will take?"

Liu Changdie calculated for a moment, then said solemnly:
"It depends on how the noble formation is deployed; it could take several months at most, or no more than twenty or thirty days at least."

"it is good!"

Thanks to Liu Changdie's brilliant tactics, although Western Shu has suffered a defeat, there are still several battles to be fought in the rear. Thirty days is more than enough. Li Jiangqian watched him go before turning back and smiling.

"With Senior Liu here, my biggest worry has been solved!"

Seeing that everything was on track, Li Quewan smiled as well. She then rolled up her sleeve, took out the copper box, opened it, and found a pool of spiritual water inside, with a mercury bead, no bigger than a fingertip, floating in the center.

Her Taoist lineage was profound; with just a glance, she immediately recognized it and praised:

"This is [Yin Mercury], which is relatively common among spiritual resources, but in this day and age it is quite rare..."

"Your sincerity towards me is truly rare and precious!"

Li Jiangqian nodded. Even though he was naturally harsh, he wholeheartedly agreed with Liu Changdie's series of selfless actions, understanding that the other party considered him family. He only had some concerns about the consequences of Liu's actions, but he didn't dwell on it for the time being, and instead said:
"Fortunately, the 'Complete Pill' was not severed because the Golden Feather Sect had looted it extensively. Now, if we look around, we can still find some things they didn't care about, or even valuable items."

Li Quewan nodded, flipped his hand to put it away, and solemnly replied:

"The storm is coming. I've completed the last talisman. As for the formation in the desert, I'll leave it to my brother and senior!"