Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1264 Zhuluo (1+12) (Bonus Chapter 24113 for "Hidden Dragon in Action")

A radiant light rose from the mountain, and his words, delivered with resounding force, startled Li Ximing slightly. A look of anxiety appeared in his eyes, and he whispered:
"But... this elixir is still missing one ingredient..."

He was referring to the golden alchemy furnace with flames rising from it, suspended in mid-air!
"This 'Positive Essence Pill' is the result of Ji An's life savings. Its medicinal power is truly boundless. I borrowed the wondrous spirit fire to slowly nurture and refine it, but it is not yet time to collect the pill!"

Li Zhouwei, however, revealed a meaningful expression and said:

"fair enough."

He stood with his hands behind his back, took a slow step, and said softly:
"This [Dangmu Muhuo] is a treasure for nurturing Muhuo, and it also has the ability to heal. If it is finished too early, the fire will be returned. At this time of great battle, it is a good thing to leave it in the mountains."

Li Ximing nodded immediately.

'If anything happens in the north, and I return wounded, I will need to use this fire again.'

Li Zhouwei continued:

"My uncle will have someone to keep him company if he stays here..."

The words weren't clearly stated, but Li Ximing understood them instantly.

'Going to Luoyang will inevitably require the full force of the lake's magical abilities, leaving only me and Jiang Qian in seclusion. If something unexpected happens, Western Shu can still move, or some surprise attack from the north could endanger the lake...'

'Then we'll have no choice but to rely on Ji'an!'

Li Ximing had always intended to avoid involving him, but things had come to this point. If the worst-case scenario occurred, Ji An would have to take action whether Li Ximing wanted to or not!
'He'll soon become a Great Immortal. If something really happens, and we finish refining his elixir, he can simply hide overseas, and they won't really pursue his life... At worst, we can compensate him something...'

Li Ximing nodded silently. Before Li Zhouwei could say anything more, a beam of light rushed over and stopped in the void. The voice was steady:

"Kuang Hong has come to request an audience!"

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow, but Li Ximing beamed with joy and said:
"You've come at just the right time. I was hoping you could meet him... He returned not long ago and is a remarkable person. He now possesses some ability to facilitate 'transcending cultivation' in the Qi cultivation path, and he has been cultivating in the desert ever since!"

Li Zhouwei nodded:
"Xi Qi's current state... is not surprising."

Seeing the King of Wei nod, Li Ximing smiled and said:

"Please come in!"

Then, colors flowed from the sky, fell to the ground, and transformed into a real person with thick eyebrows and a sharp temperament, but there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes. He took a step forward, about to speak, but then froze in place.

The golden light reflected in his deep blue pupils trembled violently. He grabbed his robe, took a step forward, and knelt down, his voice a mixture of surprise and delight:

"Greetings...King Wei!"

Yin Jue had imagined his meeting with the King of Wei, but he never expected it to be so unexpected on this small hill. He was speechless for a moment, and could only lower his head and say in a deep voice:
Congratulations, King Wei!

Li Ximing looked at him with a smile, clearly quite satisfied with this real person, while Li Zhouwei showed some curiosity and said:

"Get up!"

Kuang Hong stood up, his gaze fixed on him, and several times he tried to speak, but the Prince of Wei said rather amiably:

"I've heard about your matter—[Shenlu Fu], isn't that right?"

Kuang Hong said in a low voice:
"King Wei...your subordinate..."

A hint of unease flickered in his eyes. He first bowed deeply, then raised his head, his resolute brows brimming with hatred, and said:
"Your subordinate... has something to report!"

The young man in the black robe before him had gentle features, yet his gaze carried a sharp edge. He turned his head and said:
"explain."

Kuang Hong said in a low voice:
"I just received the news and was about to report it to Senior Zhaojing... Several days ago, torrential rains fell in the southern borderlands, a bright blue light shot into the sky, all the waters overflowed, and the Demon King was slain..."

"Then, in a state of extreme stillness, suddenly made his move—truly, his supernatural powers were perfected, and his five techniques were at their peak!"

"he?"

Li Ximing sighed, frowned, and gritted his teeth, saying:
"That's right... If you count the days, two hundred years have passed. Even if this final step is meticulously prepared, he should have made some move by now! It can't be the Five Streams of Green Water, can it?!"

Kuang Hong lowered his head, concealing the hatred in his eyes, and said:
"Over the years, many have speculated that he completed his final technique a long time ago, but he just hasn't made a move yet. People thought he was getting closer and closer to achieving the Five Elements Perfection and preparing to seek the Gold, but no one expected this day to come so quickly. However... according to my uncle's deduction, it definitely isn't 'Green Water'... Firstly, it lacks spiritual energy... Secondly..."

The man lowered his head and said coldly:

"My uncle said: He dares not."

The meaning was already quite clear, Li Ximing stroked his beard and said:

"Is it because of... Qingchi?"

Kuang Hong nodded and said quietly:

"Yes... my master said that if he cultivates the Five Paths of Green Water, he should go and see the scenery of the Green Sunflower Pond."

The abilities of this True Monarch Taiqing were known even to cultivators overseas, let alone the Li family, who had grown up under the rule of Qingchi. Li Ximing frowned deeply.
"He won't ask for money right away, will he?"

Kuang Hong lowered his head and said:
"Judging from his current intentions, seeing that Sui Guan is ignoring him, he now wants to deal with the Southern Frontier. He is skilled in alchemy and must have laid many traps over the years. Now he wants to reclaim them one by one and find his opportunity to pursue the Dao... However, he does not have the method to seek gold, nor will he..."

"This old man is cautious and probably has a long life ahead of him. He won't try anything unless he's absolutely sure. This process might take a very long time."

Li Ximing, being an alchemist himself, naturally understood the trouble involved. He breathed a sigh of relief and sneered:
"That's good!"

Kuang Hong slightly raised his head, only to find that the King of Wei was still looking down at him, with a smile in his eyes:
"That's not bad."

His tone was cold:
“I’m not afraid of his perfect supernatural powers, but I’m afraid he’ll take risks and get killed by Sui Guan.”

Li Zhouwei knew many secrets. Back then, Li Quewan went to Jinyu and obtained a lot of information. He secretly estimated that if this old dragon was similar to Chi Buzhi, then this was just preparation!

He said quietly:
"Just before he reaches the pinnacle of his supernatural powers and thinks he has a chance to obtain gold, we will strike and shatter all his supernatural abilities to offer as a sacrifice to our ancestors, so that he can only watch helplessly as he is unable to take the final step and dies as his fate dictates."

Li Ximing's eyes shone brightly, while Kuang Hong's deep gaze finally brightened a little. This master didn't say a word, but instead performed a deep bow and respectfully said:

"I am willing to be the king's vanguard."

……

A dark wind swept through.

'Wangyue Lake...'

The void trembled, and the man in black arrived riding the wind, his gaze fixed on the shimmering lake beneath his feet, a strange glint in his eyes:
'So I've come to this place...'

Faced with this vast lake, which seemed like a forbidden zone, Yang Ruiyi couldn't help but feel complicated emotions.

The legendary Moon Gazing Lake is considered one of the most dangerous places by the Underworld. It is suppressed by immortal artifacts and protected by immortal arrays. If a Dao Embryo or a True Monarch were to guard it, it would be enough to keep the world at bay!
'The foundation of the Three Mysteries should not be underestimated. Although the Tongxuan faction is powerful, the other two mysteries are not to be underestimated by anyone in the world! Even if they are just remnants…'

This is not just Yang Ruiyi's opinion, or even the Yang family's opinion, but a common understanding—no matter how much the Three Mysteries fluctuate, they are still the Three Mysteries. Even if they belong to the Dragon category, they still need to rely on the prophecy of the Azure Mystery for shelter from the wind and rain.

Therefore, when Yang Ruiyi faced this great lake that even his own Yang Pan dared not set foot on, he couldn't help but sigh. With a melancholy expression, he followed the aura and the towering mountain with its blazing light appeared before him.

'Zhijingshan. '

Yang Ruiyi paused only slightly before a gust of crimson wind swept out, transforming into a woman with red lips and white teeth, quite beautiful. She bowed and politely said:

"Greetings, General Yang!"

Yang Ruiyi glanced at her, sensing her extraordinary aura, and nodded, saying:

"It must be Su Yun. She truly is a first-rate genius!"

Li Quewan smiled without saying a word and led him up the mountain. After passing through the mountain path where white flowers were flying, they saw jade pillars gradually rising up. The sky was scorching hot. Yang Ruiyi went up the steps and soon saw the figure in black robes with golden eyes.

This person's brow gleamed, and the stars of Chongyang shone brightly. He sat in the twilight and stood on the mountain peak, as if he were the source of endless heavenly light!

'Li Zhouwei…'

'His injury has healed.'

The news wasn't unexpected, but Yang Ruiyi was still shocked when she saw it with her own eyes.

'The calamity of Qingya Wutu has been averted... As a Mingyang cultivator, and already severely injured, to be struck by such a calamity...'

The next moment, he sensed something was amiss.

'Though its supernatural powers are abundant, they are restless and unstable; its physical body shines brightly, yet shows signs of damage… it is not fully healed yet!'

Yang Ruiyi nodded to himself:
"Indeed, time has passed quickly enough. He is the King of Wei, the White Qilin. Once the calamity is over, whether his injuries are minor or severe is not a problem... Fighting and recuperating simultaneously is the best time to seize the opportunity!"

Beside the King of Wei was the True Man Zhaojing. Yang Ruiyi's gaze quickly swept over him and settled on the True Man Kuang Hong beside him, a strange glint flashing in his eyes:

'It's...the Yin family...they're quite capable.'

He quickly raised his eyebrows and smiled:

Congratulations, King Wei!

Li Zhouwei turned his gaze, and the light from the entire mountain shifted simultaneously. Yang Ruiyi, having cultivated "Do Not Investigate Me," concealed his aura, showing no change whatsoever, resembling a mere junior cultivator.
"There's nothing to be happy about in healing injuries. The real cause for celebration is when the General crosses the threshold of the Purple Path!"

Although Li Zhouwei's words were calm, his meaning was correct. Even though Yang Ruiyi came from the underworld, he was still someone valued by the Yang family. Passing the ginseng purple hurdle was still a cause for great joy. Once this threshold was crossed, with the support of the Yang family, he would have no shortage of resources and lineage, and achieving perfect supernatural powers was a foregone conclusion!
Not to mention that these words came from Li Zhouwei.

Yang Ruiyi was quite pleased, but with only a slight smile on his face, he shook his head and said:
"Your Majesty, you flatter me."

He sighed:
"In less than fifteen years, the King of Wei will surely surpass the 'Shenzi' level, and may even achieve perfect supernatural powers before I do!"

Li Zhouwei chuckled and shook his head, saying quietly:

"General, you are mistaken. With conflicts arising between the North and the South, how can the Northern Army sit idly by and watch me rise to power? We don't need many battles, just one or two major battles like the Battle of Salt Lake, which will keep us going for thirty years!"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he said:
"I have no choice but to strike first and attack Luoyang!"

Yang Ruiyi understood that what he said was true, and he had long known that the Song Emperor had tacitly approved. He remained silent and bowed his head, while also understanding his line of thinking.

Luoxia is home to many aristocratic families. It is not only rich in spiritual resources, but also has many Purple Mansions. In the past, it was only by the intervention of Zhixuan that it was able to stay out of the fray. Now that Zhixuan Pavilion has withdrawn in disgrace, once a great war breaks out, the Purple Mansions of Luoxia will inevitably join the battle.

"He intends to take advantage of the North's unpreparedness, seize Luoyang in one fell swoop, and force all factions to surrender to the South. As the saying goes, 'Eating one cup from the enemy is equivalent to eating twenty cups from myself.' Only by shifting the balance of power can he gain enough breathing room in the ensuing struggle between the North and South."

You must know that the Great Song Dynasty has the glory of martial arts—if these Purple Mansions surrender to the south, they will never have the same room for maneuver as they did in the north. Even if Luoyang is lost, these Purple Mansions, whether they migrate as a whole or go south alone, must return to the south!
'These people can enhance the divine might of our Great Song Dynasty. Once placed in the Jianghuai region, they will be able to wholeheartedly resist the north and eliminate the threat to the Li family. On the other hand, His Majesty owes him a debt of gratitude for his martial arts training, and in return, will protect the Li family when he breaks through to the Rank 100…'

Even if Yang Ruiyi didn't know what agreement the King of Wei and his own emperor had reached, everyone was smart enough to guess about 50-60% of it with a little speculation.

"Yes, he is Li Zhouwei, the beloved of Mingyang. His great victory in slaying Guangchan demonstrates his Dao wisdom. Given time, he will surely reach the realm of perfect supernatural powers. But he is too young! Unless he is the reincarnation of the Wei Emperor, the possibility of him surpassing the 'Shenzi' realm in just one attempt is pitifully low!"

'But for Li Zhouwei…whether he can pass the Purple Realm doesn't just depend on his ability, but also on whether the situation is balanced enough—Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan are no longer minor Foundation Establishment cultivators; they can't just stay on the lake. If they're trapped in a desperate situation, isolated and helpless, they could truly perish!'

Only by understanding this point can we understand why Li Zhouwei, who had just escaped his calamity, immediately had to leave the seclusion despite his injuries!
This is his fleeting opportunity; the sooner the better, and the more significant the result, the better!

His expression was solemn as he spoke softly:
"This too is a struggle over the Dao..."

Li Zhouwei stared at him for a moment, as if trying to gauge his thoughts, and quietly said:

"General, this is not a matter of personal righteousness for me alone."

Yang Ruiyi was speechless for a moment.

Not bad.

Now that the Song emperor is moving the capital, the importance of the Jianghuai region has suddenly increased. This problem facing the Li family has also fallen on the Yang family's side. The various palaces in Luoyang have also become something the Yang family is determined to obtain. At least for the moment, Yang Ruiyi and the Yang family are completely on the same side as him!

This explains Yang Ruiyi's sincerity in venturing deep into Wangyue Lake as a direct descendant of the Yang family.

The great master, with a complex expression, sighed:

"King Wei is right...we should not delay."

He flicked his finger slightly, and a point of light fell down, like a drop of ink on a table, quietly spreading out and transforming into a scroll. Above, the shapes of mountains and rivers undulated, water rippled, and even the colors of the rising array could be seen!
It is the map of Luoyang.

Yang Ruiyi said softly:

"In the past, the center of the world was Yuzhou Gujun, which is now Beizhao [Luoxing], located in the northeast of Luoxia Plain. Later, the Central Plains sank, and the center of the world became the present-day [Luoxia].

Mentioning Gujun, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and Li Ximing also turned his head, a thoughtful look on his face:

'Gujun...Guzhou Ding...'

Yang Ruiyi, however, refused to elaborate on the topic, and said solemnly:

"This place is connected to the Xiaoshan Mountains to the west, bordering the gateway to Jingzhao [Zanmen], and extends north to Mianchi and Huanjun. To the east lies a vast expanse of fertile land. Once this place is captured, with the Tangjin (imperial weapon) at our backs, and if we occupy a strategic location, defending it will not be too difficult..."

Li Zhouwei glanced around and could see the entire terrain of Luoxia.

If one had to describe it, this place would truly be a battleground on all sides. To the north lies the capital of the Zhao state, and the so-called "Zanmen" connects to the Xiaoshan Mountains, making it impossible to conquer. On the other hand, the Northern Zhao could come and go as they pleased to harass this place...

And after Mianchi and Huanjun in the north, within a few counties, lies the territory of Damufajie!

'Although there's still Liangchuan Mountain in the north that can be used for defense, geographically speaking, there are already two formidable rivals!'

The east is a vast plain, offering no natural defenses. Its only advantage is that it is inhabited by the Lotus Temple, which has never been willing to contend with the Song Dynasty…

Li Zhouwei glanced at it only once and shook his head immediately:

"General, you are mistaken. If we could capture both Zanmen and Liangchuan Mountain at the same time, it would indeed be a suitable place to hold. But is Zanmen a place that you and I can touch now? If it were so easy for us to take, we wouldn't have been constantly hitting roadblocks here in our efforts to unify the north..."

"Without Zanmen, all that's left is Liangchuan Mountain. If we're attacked from both sides, it's better not to defend it at all!"

Yang Ruiyi nodded naturally and said:
"King Wei understands clearly that this trip... is not intended to occupy this place for a long time."

Li Zhouwei nodded slightly:
"The main strategy is plunder. As long as we occupy the area for a few more years and relocate the local noble families and common people to the south to fill the Jianghuai region, we can consider it a success."

After testing the waters, Yang Ruiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

He was genuinely afraid that this King of Wei, relying on the Mandate of Heaven, would follow Qing Ji's example and attack Xiaoshan, attempting to seize Zanmen. Whether he could actually capture it was another matter, but if he did, the fall of Northern Zhao would be imminent, just as his Great Song had been driven to its capital, and the counterattack would be absolutely hysterical!
In high spirits, he said seriously:
"Luoxia was once very famous, but it has declined. It can be roughly divided into five areas and seven families. The most central, most valuable, and also the least defensible... is [Yinling], and its owner is the Tao family..."

He brought up this family first, his expression quite solemn, even subtly turning towards Li Ximing beside him, and said:
"As one of the few aristocratic families residing in Luoyang, most of those who remained here had some background. Now that it has fallen into decline, it's not wise to make things too ugly..."

"This Tao family is also one of the best. They have cultivated the Three Yin for generations. Their ancestors were disciples of the Guanhua Dao lineage and had connections with many important figures. Now they have the most Purple Mansions, a total of three! The highest one is in the middle stage of Purple Mansion."

He paused slightly:
"Ruzhou in the east is the largest, mainly inhabited by the Yu and Yang families... These two families are somewhat special. They were originally powerful clans of the Chu state, but when the Chu state was destroyed, they lost the competition and fled to the north, where they settled down."

"The two families don't have a very good relationship. Each family has a Purple Mansion cultivator. The Yang family has some connections with the Chen Kingdom. Their main family is in the Daughter Kingdom. The Yu family's Purple Mansion cultivator is in the middle stage... He's old and about to die. There's no successor, so he's in a precarious situation."

As soon as he said that, Li Zhouwei knew what he meant.

'In that case, they will inevitably have to rely on Xiuwu, just like the Chen family!'

After saying that, Yang Ruiyi's tone softened considerably, and he said:
"The remaining northern clans, the Ju clan of Liangchuan, and the Qiao clan of Boye in the west, have both declined and are no longer capable, so they are not worth worrying about. The Jia and Wei families of Xiangxiang in the south have been linked by marriage for many years… although they have one member with supernatural abilities, he is nothing special…"

His tone was slightly strange as he said:

"The great battle between the Sun Dao lineage in Luoyang was fought here. Neither of them dared to utter a sound and kept their heads down in hiding."

After listening to this, Li Ximing praised:

"Rare indeed... There are six Purple Mansions here! This place is not even a third the size of the Jianghuai region, yet it can support such supernatural powers. No wonder it is the most powerful place in the world!"

At this point, Yang Ruiyi's expression turned slightly serious, and he said:

"These are not troublesome. Great Zhao is very wary of our south. There are two generals stationed in Xiangxiang. They are both outstanding. One is Jiang Fuwang of the Jiang family, and the other is Lü Fu of the Lü family. Although they are both second-level supernatural beings, they are true men who came from Gu County!"

"And the one who nominally commands the troops in Luoyang is Jiang Fuwang's nephew, General Jiang Yan."

He frowned and sighed as he spoke.

Yang Ruiyi did not underestimate this person. On the contrary, as a direct descendant of the Yang family, he had a more comprehensive understanding of the outside world and knew better how amazing Jiang Yan's achievements were in that great battle.

He solemnly reminded him:
"This man comes from an extraordinary background. His surprise attack back then was quite astonishing. Although it cannot be compared with King Wei's killing of Guang Chan, it still shocked many people. If we underestimate him, we may be retaliated against!"

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow and said:

"What kind of supernatural powers does this person cultivate?"

Yang Ruiyi's expression gradually became serious, and he said:
“Returning to the earth”.

Li Zhouwei's expression shifted slightly, while Li Ximing, upon hearing so many supernatural abilities, was speechless and whispered:
"The North is extremely rich in supplies, yet it's so? Such a small place has so many powerful figures stationed there!"

Yang Ruiyi smiled helplessly and said:
“Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, don’t be fooled by the fact that the North is vast. It’s divided very clearly. Large tracts of barren land have fallen into the hands of Buddhist cultivators, while several major prefectures are controlled by immortal cultivators. If we say that Gu County is the number one immortal cultivator in the North, then the Luoxia Plain is number two. This is the fewest number of True Immortals from the Luoxia families who have perished in the last few hundred years!”

"That's not a lot."

Li Quewan, however, did not appear surprised and nodded slightly.

"They are all descendants of the Golden Core stage, yet even combined they cannot withstand the Golden Feather Sect."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ruiyi scoffed and said:
“If you trace the lineage of all the noble families in the world back to their ancestors, who doesn’t have a few illustrious ancestors? Without the Golden Core to protect them, their supernatural powers will eventually falter, making it difficult to even maintain relationships, let alone save face!”

Li Zhouwei kept his eyes down, looking at the map, and said softly:

"In other words... Jiang Yan is the main figure, along with two members from the Tao and Yu families at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm, four members from other aristocratic families at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm, plus... two heirs from aristocratic families in Gu County..."

After calculating in his mind, he couldn't help but shake his head secretly:

'With Jiang Yanruo here, he can hold me off for now, but taking this place will be quite difficult! Indeed, this is the perfect opportunity!'

He certainly wouldn't underestimate this person. Or rather, Li Zhouwei has been fighting for many years and has never underestimated any opponent. He always fights with the strength of a lion hunting a rabbit, and he will never take risks unless absolutely necessary, and he will never use overwhelming force to suppress someone.

'Besides, Suining has already mentioned him…'

But with this person gone, the situation is completely different!
"My family has quite a few supernatural powers at our disposal!"
"Even if the two mid-stage cultivators from the Tao and Yu families joined forces, they might not be a match for me. Furthermore, the combined strength of Cui Jueyin, Cheng Qian, Kuang Hong, and Li Wushao is enough to withstand these early-stage Purple Mansion cultivators. As for the remaining Que Wan and Yuanbian True Persons, holding off Jiang Fuwang and Lü Fu shouldn't be a problem!"

Even now, Li Ximing and Li Jiangqian are still waiting on the lake!
Colors converge in his eyes:
'Without realizing it, the power of my Wangyue Lake alone has already been enough to flatten Luoxia!'

But that's not all; Li Zhouwei's plan became increasingly clear:

"Our mission is a calculated move, a calculated one. If we act quickly and plan carefully, we can first capture Jiang Fuwang and Lü Fu. The local powerful families, especially the Yu family, which the Yang family has emphasized, will likely offer little resistance!"