Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1237 Chen Qing
'Yin Jue plays…'

Upon hearing the name, Li Jiangqian immediately understood:
'So it was someone from Qu Si who sent them!'

At this crucial moment, when manpower is needed, Li Jiangqian was overjoyed, but he didn't move his feet, still paying attention to the scene inside the hall, and said with a smile:
"Quickly, welcome the real person in!"

Li Jiangzong went out as ordered, and soon after, he saw a middle-aged man walking quickly up the hall amidst flashing colors.

This person was dressed in casual clothes, with thick eyebrows, a body full of supernatural powers, slightly thin cheeks, presenting a resolute posture, dark pupils with a hint of blue, and a silver rope tied around his waist. He walked with a gust of wind, appearing very neat.

The master stood in the main hall and saw a young man in a crimson robe standing before him. The young man had a calm demeanor and deep, unsettling eyes, appearing difficult to deal with. Knowing he was Wei Changzi, the master bowed and said:
"Kuang Hong greets Your Highness!"

The lineage of "Cultivating the Superior".

Upon first glance, Li Jiangqian sensed that he was a decisive and efficient person. Observing his supernatural abilities, which were solid and profound, she realized he was no ordinary individual. She then smiled and said:
"Fellow Daoist, you actually recognize me!"

Master Kuang Hong nodded, raised his eyebrows, and clasped his hands together, saying:
"Before coming to the lake, my master gave me many instructions, saying that the golden-eyed cultivator in charge was Wei Changzi. Juexi kept these in mind."

“Fellow Daoist has come from afar. Jiang Qian should have come out of the formation to greet you, but the great battle on the lake has just ended, my cousin is seriously injured, and I also need to stabilize the clan’s secret formation, so I cannot move… Please forgive me.”

Li Jiangqian smiled and politely invited him up, asking:

"My great-uncle mentioned you before, fellow Daoist—I wonder when you emerged from seclusion?"

"Your Highness is too kind!"

Master Kuang Hong replied:

"I emerged from seclusion about ten days ago, met the Great Master, received spiritual objects and artifacts as rewards, and then learned the secret techniques of the mountains. Without lingering for a moment, I rushed here immediately!"

Li Jiangqian nodded in realization and smiled:

"So rushed..."

But he began to ponder in his heart:

'Although Di Yan is a Great Master, the Daoist lineage is not known for its divination. Furthermore, Qingji is burdened with the fate of the nation through martial arts, which cannot be calculated by supernatural powers... In other words, Di Yan could not have foreseen the great defeat at Taoshui...'

What he was worried about was the timing of Kuang Hong's arrival!
'If I think about it this way, it's very likely that Qu Sishan didn't expect him to arrive so early. He probably had some time to solidify his supernatural abilities and teach him techniques. It was just that the battle on the lake suddenly broke out, and Kuang Hong received the news and had to immediately set off from overseas to rescue my family…'

If the timeline is accurate, Kuang Hong's arrival speed is quite fast—Qu Si is not an ordinary distance from Wangyue Lake, and only a 'Xiuyue' cultivator could arrive at this time!

'Unfortunately...it's too far.'

This clearly showed Qu Si's feelings, and Li Jiangqian's smile softened slightly as he nodded and said:

"Thank you for your hard work, fellow Daoist!"

Master Kuang Hong shook his head and said solemnly:

"Your Highness may call me Juexi."

Li Jiangqian nodded in agreement, but Master Kuang Hong bowed solemnly and said:
"Where is the King of Wei?"

Li Jiangqian's smile remained unchanged as he replied:

"My father is currently in seclusion to recuperate from his injuries."

Kuang Hong was not surprised and nodded:

"Since I possess the supernatural power of 'Cultivating the Beyond,' which is quite wondrous, if Your Highness trusts me, allowing me to meet with the Prince of Wei will surely be of great help!"

Yin Jue's words might have been well-intentioned, but Li Zhouwei, residing in a realm where the sun and moon shone together, possessed no supernatural power better able to shield him from calamities than this grotto-heaven. Naturally, he couldn't agree. However, Li Jiangqian, always true to his word, didn't answer him immediately but instead asked in surprise:
"I wonder... which supernatural power did Juexi cultivate?"

Master Kuang Hong replied:

"What I cultivate is 'Jian Kuang Xiang,' which is one of the secret supernatural powers in my lineage."

Upon hearing just those three words, Li Jiangqian narrowed his eyes slightly, his interest piqued. He immediately sat up straight, listening intently to Kuang Hong's words. Master Yin's expression was solemn:

"This path is a partial and unorthodox path, which expands the world and greatly assists acts of usurpation of the throne. It can empower the ruler, use the king's authority to break enemy formations and kill enemy generals... all of which are beneficial... The wonders within it vary from person to person and are extremely complex."

He paused and said:

"The number one general of Emperor Liang back then was named He Shipingzhang. He used this technique to defeat the enemy army and became famous throughout the world. He was a master of supernatural powers and killed enemies and comrades alike. He was a great general who helped establish the Liang Dynasty."

The man smiled and said quietly:

"Of course, when the Great Liang Dynasty was established, the first person they killed was him."

"With his supernatural powers fully realized, Xiu Yue's attainment of enlightenment would likely cause a global uproar, leading to the sudden collapse of any new dynasty. Which emperor wouldn't kill him?"

Li Jiangqian was not surprised at all; his eyes gleamed, and he nodded to himself.
'So it seems, just as my great-uncle said, that he truly has his lineage connected to my family.'

Then he put his hands behind his back and laughed:

"I have also heard of the noble lineage... It seems that you have come for the path of cultivation?"

Yin Juexi's gaze remained calm as he replied:

"It's more than that."

This man was quite ambitious; although he stood below the throne, he possessed an air of authority. His eyes gleamed, and he said in a low voice:

“I came here to help King Wei achieve his great cause, not only for my own path of cultivation and the golden position of the Great Master, but also for another wish that I hope to fulfill.”

Li Jiangqian glanced at it and asked:
"What important matter is it?"

Yin Jue stared at him and said softly:
"In the southern border there is a jade dragon, known as the Lord of Bifu Mountain, named Canlu Fu... Does Your Highness recognize it?"

Upon hearing this name in the hall, the young man in the crimson robe's gaze shifted, and he said calmly:

"It is naturally recognized."

Yin Jue paced back and forth a couple of steps, then said quietly:

"Juexi was born in Qusi and can be considered a disciple of a prestigious family. His father was named Yin Xiang, who died young. My uncle Yin Du treated me like his own son and raised me until now. Later, as his cultivation gradually improved, he parted ways with me and entered Qusi to cultivate. He gained supernatural powers at the age of ninety-five and quickly became a Purple Mansion cultivator. He is a genius of Qusi."

At this point, his eyes gradually flickered with emotion, and he said:

"Later, the Great Master gradually stopped paying attention to the affairs of the mountain and took over the leadership. At that time, I, Qu Si, was in a difficult situation and had fallen out with many forces. I sought help from all sides. In the process, I became acquainted with this Can Lu Fu."

"I never imagined that this scoundrel had harbored malicious intentions all along. He secretly colluded with various families and made a deal with the Wusheng Jiu Sect, hiding several True Immortals together and taking the opportunity to kill my uncle in the southern border!"

The man's eyes finally revealed clear hatred, and he said coldly:

"Back then, when the Great Master was at the crucial moment of passing the Purple Realm, he almost failed because of this matter. Later... the Great Master came out of seclusion with a blood feud, and that's how he killed Fan Hui of the Wusheng Jiu Sect at sea!"

But he showed no sign of relief; instead, his eyes were filled with gloom as he said:

"But the nobles also understand the Great Master's condition. The more they intervene, the worse it gets. They've forced the Wusheng Jiu Sect to stay away, and their prestige has greatly declined. However, due to the intervention of other families, they have to mediate... Turning back, they are helpless against Shen Lu Fu..."

The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows, his eyes calm, and said:
"Now that I have attained supernatural powers, I must not forget the grudge against my predecessors."

Li Jiangqian had never imagined there was such a connection, and the color in his eyes suddenly intensified.

The Li family was very familiar with the demon Shen Lu Fu. It was a feud passed down through generations. Li Jiangqian could clearly sense the thoughts of each elder. Even Li Xuanxuan, the usually conservative elder, was full of hatred. Not to mention Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei, almost every True Person had already put this demon on their kill list!

'This is the will of the entire Li clan, and it cannot be shaken.'

Yin Juexi's words were not merely about his demands and aspirations, which were certainly important, but they also represented the meaning of Qu Sishan—Yin Du was not only a member of the Yin family, but also a member of Qu Sishan, and this enmity was no less significant for Liao Luo, Kuang Yu, and others!
Even if Di Yan can't intervene, Liao Luo will definitely come to help. This True Person has been at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm for some years now, and is a pillar supported by Di Yan. If the extermination of this fiend happens twenty or thirty years from now, there's at least a 20-30% chance it will be another Great True Person. Even if not, he can still bring people as extremely important reinforcements!

His eyes shone brightly, and he felt reassured, but he did not immediately agree. Instead, he whispered:
"This monster... has committed evil deeds for many years and has an irreconcilable blood feud with my family. Don't worry, Juexi, once Father comes out of seclusion, I will take you with me to plead your case to him!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Juexi's expression changed slightly. He let out a soft breath and replied:
"Thank you, Your Highness!"

After such a heart-to-heart talk, Li Jiangqian lowered his guard considerably. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Yin Jue playfully cup his hands and replied:

"But there is something I must tell Your Highness."

His voice was much lower, already suppressed by his supernatural powers, as he said:
"A few years ago, the nobles inquired about the [Maotu Baoxin Jade] in the mountains. Because it involved the Great Dao lineage, we dared not speak out. True Person Xuanyi inquired through some connections within their sect and received a general reply."

This thing is rather taboo; I myself just secretly used it in the main hall. Hearing this, Li Jiangqian immediately raised his head, listening to Yin Juexi whisper:

"This item comes from the [Emperor Xuandao Palace]. It was given to the disciples when the Dao of the State was at its peak. Now there are not many left, and most of them are only used by the direct descendants of the Tongxuan lineage."

“Strictly speaking, the various wondrous powers of the Shexian have long since become ineffective, and melting this thing away would not be a problem. However… these words cannot be spoken by him; only we can say them.”

Li Jiangqian, of course, understood his meaning and nodded secretly.

'Xuan Yi claims to have some connection with the North, so it's normal to ask him about this. But precisely because of this, his identity is sensitive, so he certainly can't directly tell my family that he can melt this thing down... That's why he remained silent when he came to my lake...'

'But... even if the mysteries of the Shexian are gone, Tongxuan's reputation still stands. Qu Si shouldn't do such a thing for my family...'

Then, feigning a thoughtful expression, he said:

"What the real person means is..."

As expected, a hint of hesitation finally appeared on Yin Jue's face, and he said:
“If it must be melted, it is not very convenient on the mountain. I’m afraid it will have to be done by the lake itself. But this thing… if the nobleman is willing to give it to Qu Si, and the Great Master will give it to the Xuan Yi Master, he can ask the Tong Xuan cultivator for other things.”

"Oh?"

Seeing that he dared not say "exchange" but only "gift," Li Jiangqian understood that there were quite a few taboos involved, so she quietly said:

What is “[other things]”?

Yin Jue replied jokingly:
"What is fulfilling is the lineage of True Person Xuanyi, and the mountains can compensate the nobles."

This is actually not a bad choice. After all, the items would only be used for healing if they ended up in their own hands, and their own array formation had done its best from beginning to end, so they owed a favor. Li Jiangqian then politely said:

"Qu Si also contributed greatly to the formation's success. How can we not grant Xuan Yi's request? Take whatever you need; there's no need to talk about compensation."

Yin Jue, however, took his position very seriously, not acting like an outsider, but instead replying:

"I will report to Qu Si."

Li Jiangqian nodded in satisfaction, his spiritual sense flickering as he scanned the commotion in the main hall. He noticed that his younger sister was much better, though Chengqian was bearing the brunt of maintaining the divine power, and her face was gradually turning pale. He then looked solemnly at Yin Juexi and said:
"Above the White Sea, there is a cave dwelling where the True Man Shanbai resides. Does Juexi know of it? He is currently seated on the lake and cannot be moved. Please go there for me."

This was something he had been thinking about for a long time, and Kuang Hong cultivated the "Cultivation of Transcendence," which allowed him to move extremely fast through the void, making him the most suitable candidate. Upon hearing this, the True Man immediately nodded and withdrew from the main hall.

Li Jiangqian then rose, paced back and forth in the hall a few steps, looking quite worried, and sighed inwardly:
'I also promised the Golden Feather Sect I'd deliver the True Fire in exchange for their cultivation technique, I wonder if I'll make it in time…'

……

The night was dark.

The Sichuan region is mountainous, with towering peaks stretching for thousands of miles, rising and falling, converging one by one. The higher places are covered with ice and snow, and there are bright lights shimmering in the distance.

This mountain range runs roughly north-south, steep in the east and gentle in the west. It was quite famous in ancient times and was called Qionglai. It was once the abode of ancient immortals, but was later occupied by the Sun Dao lineage and renamed Changhuai.

This mountain is situated high above, overlooking the entire Shu region, with even the capital of Shu located at its foot. The mountain is shrouded in dense gray clouds year-round, isolating it from the outside world and keeping it unknown to outsiders. Furthermore, the Changhuai cultivators have always been exclusive, meeting guests only on a few outer peaks. As a result, this majestic mountain has hardly been exposed to the view of the Purple Mansion of the World.

But tonight, a stream of light flew over this mysterious mountain, passing through the gray clouds without any hindrance and sinking into the deep fog. Only then did one see the mountain covered with palaces, dense with mysterious inscriptions, piled with white snow, and covered with pines and cypresses, a scene of fairyland.

The newcomer stopped in the Xuan Palace, revealing his gray-blue attire—it was Qing Zhuo!
The Shu army returned hastily, and their commander was seriously injured. This direct descendant of the Qing clan seemed completely unconcerned and had no worries. He didn't even go to the palace, but instead came all the way up the mountain, standing rather reservedly in front of the Xuan Palace.

After an unknown amount of time, a commotion was heard from within the Xuan Palace, followed by a calm question:

"They've returned in triumph?"

Qing Zhuo knelt down, appearing very respectful, and said:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, they have returned... The Yang family did not send anyone, but the Li family guarded the place very tightly. Not only did they leave the New Purple Mansion, but they also invited Liu Changdie. The Song Kingdom's support was timely, and in the end... they did not alert the White Qilin..."

His tone was cautious, but the person inside seemed unconcerned about the white qilin; instead, a slight laugh rippled through the room as they said:
“Liu Changdie… I remember him. Back then, I was the one who went with them to investigate this matter… We cut off his path, and he returned to the lake?”

"Yes."

Qingzhuo, with his eyes fixed on his nose and his nose seemingly indifferent to his heart, replied:
"He has a [Mysterious Treasury Request Certificate] in his possession."

These words finally silenced those inside. After a long while, soft footsteps could be heard approaching the palace gate, followed by a cold voice:
"Whose share is it? Yinghua's?"

Qingzhu shook his head and said in a low voice:
"This junior estimates... it belongs to the dragon family..."

The person inside remained silent for a while, seemingly becoming gloomy, before saying softly:
"Do you think... it would be safer if I sent someone to kill him outright?"

Qingzhu broke out in a cold sweat, bowed deeply, and said:
"I'm afraid this will upset the dragons, and if things get out of hand, it will be difficult for you to save face, sir..."

"face…"

The man sneered, a look of utter disgust on his face.
"I gave birth to this thing, and the Qing family has already lost all face! After losing face in the north, let's lose face in the east, what difference does a little more make!"