Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1276 Wei Jing
Xuanwei's move was ruthless, yet it subtly provided a perfect excuse for why the Tao family, descendants of the Three Yin Cultivators and the Tongxuan lineage, so easily surrendered to the Song Dynasty. To put it nicely, it was to collect the remains; to put it bluntly, it could be an act of spite. Perhaps the person in front of him had other plans, but from Li Zhouwei's perspective, there were many things to consider as well.

'How will the world react if this head is brought back...'

Xuanwei didn't seem worried about the situation getting out of control, but Li Zhouwei couldn't help but worry. If Xiyang Temple still cared about the past or felt embarrassed, and sent a disciple down the mountain to handle the matter, what kind of impact would that have on the situation in Luoyang?
Tao was trying to sow discord among those who had attained the Dao of Profound Truth, and Li Zhouwei was naturally happy to do so. He watched coldly, hoping that these people would associate with each other and reveal more information about the mountain... But the premise of all this was that it could not affect his own plans!

'Luoyang must remain as stable as Mount Tai; it must be secure at least until Master Xiao's major undertaking is completed, and absolutely no unforeseen complications can arise!'

Therefore, his answer was quite decisive, leaving no room for discussion, causing Xuan Wei to pause slightly. The middle-aged man gave Li Zhouwei a deep look, seemingly unable to discern his true purpose, and said:
"If the King of Wei intends to hold Luoyang for an extended period, it might cause some trouble... The Great Mu Dharma Realm is not far from here, with only Liangchuan providing any resistance..."

Li Zhouwei did not answer him, but instead said:
"The Tao family must have a cultivator who upholds the profound mysteries."

These words were quite clear, and were Li Zhouwei's way of repaying the Song emperor. Xuanwei had few doubts and said softly:

“That’s not a problem… Of the three Purple Mansions in my clan, I have already entered the Xuanxie Sect and cannot serve Song. Besides Jie Xing, there is another Purple Mansion, who is my eldest son, named Shi Tao, who has been cultivating in his cave.”

"He and my entire Tao clan can serve as guardians of Luoyang for the King of Wei."

Xuanwei's voice softened as he turned to Tao Jiexing and said:

"Go and invite Shi Tao over."

Upon hearing this, Tao Jiexing silently lowered her head and left, but Li Zhouwei was not surprised.

After reciting his lineage in the pavilion, Master Xuanwei, who called himself the Xuanxie lineage, already indicated that he could not serve the Song Dynasty. In essence, Xuanwei, Qi Lanyan, and Wei Xuan were of the same lineage—the direct descendants of Tongxuan!

Even in his most destitute state, he was still a cultivator of the [Purple Terrace Mysterious Pavilion Sect], a legitimate cultivator of the Tongxuan lineage. Tracing back further, he openly and legitimately worshipped under the tutelage of True Lord Shuolou, and was addressed as his patriarch.

In the Song Dynasty, his status was no less prestigious than Yang Ruiyi's. Just as Yang Ruiyi could not possibly defect to Shi or Zhao, Xuanwei could never openly stand in the Song Dynasty's camp.

'If we can really use him, then we won't have to worry about Luo Xia's safety...'

But Xuanwei's matter concerns the Great Daoist lineage, and the benefits also belong to the Great Song Dynasty. Li Zhouwei was not about to let it go easily. Instead, he stood up and said casually:
“I understand Senior Tao’s concerns, but the safety of Luoxia is also of paramount importance. If you have a plan to stabilize this place, then your nobleman will not have to risk his life.”

Xuanwei pondered for a moment, then said:
"The King of Wei has already executed Gongsun Bei, and Zhao Ting must be terrified. The Jiang leader and his ilk are fierce in appearance but cowardly in reality, yet they possess considerable supernatural abilities. If we ignore them, they will surely emerge from Zanmen and cause chaos. However, it would be unwise to mobilize a large army..."

He said seriously:

“My Tao family has a treasure, which was built by our ancestors in the Xiyang Temple. It is infinitely wondrous. I have instructed Shi Tao to take this to Boye. With the help of some supernatural powers, it can make the Jiangtou leaders return empty-handed.”

Tao Shitao was said to be only a second-rate supernatural being, and it was unlikely that the first person to leave the pass from Jiangtou would be alone. This statement was hard to believe, but Li Zhouwei was quite blunt, saying:
"Can this be taken seriously?"

Xuanwei smiled and turned around. A man entered from outside the pavilion, carrying a sword on his back. His lips were tightly pursed, and his face was slightly thin and pale, but his eyes were large and bright.

He appeared to be around the same age as Xuan Wei, but his eyes held a sharp edge as he stared intently at Li Zhouwei, his gaze filled with both astonishment and fighting spirit. Xuan Wei gently pulled him closer and said:

"Shi Tao greets the King of Wei!"

"I've heard about the name for a long time."

His voice was soft and hoarse, which made Li Zhouwei turn his head. The King of Wei was somewhat surprised and said:
"Nobles are truly unfathomable!"

Tao Shitao was already at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm!

This master is said to be the offspring of Master Xuanwei, and is only about twenty years older than Li Ximing. He is definitely a genius!

'No wonder Xuanwei was so at ease; Yang Ruiyi actually miscalculated him... It seems that being a sword cultivator is enough to determine the outcome of a great battle...'

Unexpectedly, it was Tao Jiexing, who was following behind him, who was even more anxious. Her gaze kept meeting Xuanwei's, and finally she took a step forward and whispered:
"Your Majesty, I just went out and glanced to the east. I sensed a bright, colorful light reaching the sky. A high-ranking monk must be coming. We must make preparations as soon as possible!"

Li Zhouwei's gaze suddenly sharpened:

"The Great Dharma Realm or the Lotus Temple?"

Xuan Wei nodded calmly, and Tao Jiexing then said:
"It is... Lotus Temple."

His eyes were truly sharp; from a thousand miles away, with just a glance, without needing to discern any aura, he could vaguely guess someone's identity upon entering, saying:

"It's probably... Lotus Temple Myōzō!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Shitao frowned, while Xuan Wei was taken aback and felt somewhat uneasy.

"It was him? So Lotus Temple really is going to interfere after all..."

Upon hearing that it was Lotus Temple, the coldness in Li Zhouwei's brows softened considerably. He remained silent, and Xuanwei, understanding, smiled:
"Shi Tao, take [Qi Yunzhi] with you."

Tao Shitao's burning gaze finally shifted away, and without saying another word, he vanished in a flash of light. Li Zhouwei felt much more satisfied.

'Even if we couldn't capture Xuan Wei to guard this place, having a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator is definitely enough... He can use any treasures or similar items the Tao family has effectively, ensuring they're not rendered useless.'

But Xuanwei, with a solemn expression, finally said:

"I, Tao, have another request—I hope the King of Wei will grant it."

Tao Shitao's intervention greatly pleased Li Zhouwei, and he said:

"please say."

Xuanwei raised his eyebrows:

"Going north from Luoyang, there is a region called Badger County. Does the King of Wei know of it?"

Li Zhouwei said with great interest:
"Nature knows."

Xuanwei's expression gradually turned serious, and he said:
"Badger County was once in the hands of the Chen family. The Chen family and my Tao family used to be on good terms. They lent me a piece of the [White Curtain Old Dream Tower] to stabilize the secret realm... But things changed, and we lost contact. This treasure has been left in the hands of the Chen family ever since."

"I hope that one day the Great Song Dynasty will obtain it and fulfill the wishes of the Tao family!"

These words, with their obvious meaning, made Li Zhouwei increasingly wary, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
'This matter is not uncommon knowledge even among the Great Daoist lineage…'

Li Zhouwei, however, showed no intention of agreeing. Seeing his hesitant expression, he simply smiled and said:
"besides?"

Xuanwei sighed softly:
"Please, King Wei, grant my Tao family a share of [Yin Run Yi Qi]!"

'【Yin Run Yi Qi】'

Li Zhouwei was taken aback at first, feeling a strange sensation in his heart, then he chuckled and said:

"The lake is weak and its foundation is shallow. Where does this 'yin run barbarian' spirit come from? Why do you say this, senior? Why don't I petition the Song court on your behalf? Perhaps we can satisfy the Tao family's request."

Xuanwei, with a somber expression, said:

"Dow is genuinely seeking our help..."

Li Zhouwei remained noncommittal, his expression gradually turning cold. He interrupted him curtly, saying:

"I wonder what the Tao family thinks I've come to Luoyang for? Since the Tao family is sensible, I've been more polite. But Master Xuanwei seems to think I've come to beg for mercy, with one condition after another..."

He put down the cup and said inexplicably:

"I have a question for you, sir."

"King Wei, please speak!"

Xuanwei answered, and then the person before him said:
"None of your families have been operating in Luoyang for many years, but none of them have been as long as the Tao family. The Tao family has witnessed your ups and downs over the years. I wonder... if any of your families have any secret realms or similar places?"

Tao Jiexing was somewhat better, only slightly puzzled, but Xuan Wei's expression changed slightly as he replied:

Yes, there is…

'really! ’

Li Zhouwei's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly.

Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows... how much more so these powerful local families with extraordinary abilities?

Xuan Wei had a bad feeling. Seeing that he didn't answer, Tao Jiexing took over and spoke eloquently:

"Qiao and Wei were originally subjects of the Great Wei. This place was once the palace of the True Lord Shangyao, which supported the secret realm. It originally belonged to the Wei court. The Qiao family was stationed in Ziyang Cave, and the Wei family was guarding Shanmang Hall."

"When Wei was destroyed, one of the Qiao clan's immortals died in battle, and another surrendered to Qi. He looted the Ziyang Cave and occupied it as his own place of cultivation. As a result, the transmission of supernatural powers has been broken, and even his own family members can no longer enter."

"The two families are close by and have the advantage of proximity. The Wei family also took possession of the Shanmang Hall. In the past, the Wei family produced many talented people and the hall was magnificent. However, in recent years, they have lost their power. Although Jia Zan is very close to the Wei family, it is clear that he cannot go to this place."

Li Zhouwei smiled enigmatically:

"Mingyang's products aren't very good, are they?"

Tao Jiexing, without suspicion, nodded and said:
"Mingyang and the others dared not continue the practice, and over the years they changed many places... and adopted other lineages..."

Xuan Wei remained silent, observing only the expression on the face of the King of Wei. Tao Jiexing paused slightly before continuing:
“Yang and Ju are generals of Liang. They are not of high birth. Although some of their disciples have entered the Tongxuan realm, none of them have achieved anything remarkable, and none of them are willing to return. So naturally, none of them have.”

“The Yu family is a bit special.”

Tao Jiexing said:

"His ancestors weren't capable of supporting the secret realm, so they seized it from another family. Unable to move it, they relocated it here themselves and have kept it tightly under wraps ever since..."

Li Zhouwei frowned and said:
"Since ancient times, the methods of creating the Great Void have not been popular. The various schools in Luoyang have such great abilities that they have been able to maintain it until now?"

Xuanwei stroked his beard, while Tao Jiexing smiled slightly, and finally said:
"But it is all thanks to my Yinling."

"My path leads to Guanxie and Xiyang, where there is a secret realm called 'Jueyin' [Lingyin Palace]. It was established by the True Lord when he attained enlightenment, and it remains as stable as Mount Tai. Several families have been spared the hardship of maintaining their secret realms only because of the power of my Yinling."

Li Zhouwei said quietly:
"There's more than just this one."

Upon hearing this, Xuanwei was slightly startled.

As soon as Li Zhouwei stepped into Tao's [Lingyin Pavilion], he recognized it as the spirit pavilion used to stabilize and connect with the secret realm. Its aura extended into the void, subtly connecting with other things.

Tao Shitao wasn't actually in any cave dwelling, but in a secret realm, which is why Yang Ruiyi's whereabouts became problematic.

His current cultivation level is extremely high. With just a slight sense, he discovered that the thing connected to him was very similar to the [Xuanhe Palace] in Cui's hands.

If Cui Jueyin hadn't brought the Xuanhe Palace, he would have had some doubts, but now that he'd seen it, he recognized it at a glance!

'It must be from the former Wei dynasty!'

The spirit pavilion of Mingyang, which was built during the reign of Emperor Wei, could not possibly be placed in the Lingyin Palace of Jueyin!

Xuanwei's heart tightened, and he replied:

"King Wei is wise and insightful. Our Tao clan ancestors endured numerous wars and accumulated considerable resources. A [Duyang Cave] once appeared in Yinling, which our ancestors maintained with their supernatural powers, suppressing it by pushing the [Lingyin Palace], thus temporarily suspending it in the void..."

"This cave is heavily fortified. Our ancestors intended to leave it here to train future generations, but unexpectedly, the various secret realms became increasingly unstable. While the [Lingyin Palace] can still be freely entered and exited, the [Duyang Cave] is on the verge of collapse, making it difficult even for supernatural powers to enter... Reluctant to put it down, it has remained here, awaiting a change in the spiritual atmosphere..."

'That's easy to say.'

A hint of regret flashed in Li Zhouwei's eyes:
'Indeed, there are many remnants of the Mingyang Sect in the Central Plains. It's a pity that the secret realm is high in the void, and the Purple Mansion cannot be moved around. Otherwise, the family wouldn't have to keep making such a fuss...'

After a moment's thought, Xuanwei said seriously:

"If the King of Wei is willing, I, Tao, am willing to present this item to the King of Wei!"

But the young man slowly shook his head, his eyes showing a mixture of coldness and amusement, and said:

"Senior Xuanwei, you are wrong."

Xuanwei raised his head, a warm smile appearing in his golden eyes. King Wei smiled and said:
"Former officials of Wei are now my subjects. And since the former secret territory of Wei has fallen into my hands, it belongs to me. How can you offer my things to me?"

Xuan Wei stood there, stunned, his expression shifting several times. He was momentarily at a loss for words, as if realizing something. His mind raced with thoughts, and he frowned as he said:
"Since that's the case, the Tao family must stabilize the secret realm for the King of Wei and slowly open it..."

Tao Jiexing nodded in agreement and said sincerely:
“This is true. This secret realm was already in ruins and was barely maintained by the legacy of our ancestors. Now, with just a little effort from the Yang family, the King of Wei can enter and explore it in detail within a few years.”

"Years?"

The King of Wei removed the royal axe from his waist and laughed:
"That won't be necessary. Just let him fall."

'It's falling!'

"King Wei...you mustn't!"

Tao Jiexing's expression suddenly changed, and he said urgently:

"The spiritual energy here has been stable for many years, but now, with the fall of General Gongsun, it has become quite turbulent. The Qiao Clan's [Ziyang Cave] is already in extremely poor condition. If another secret realm were to fall, it would cause a cataclysmic upheaval, and one after another, they would surely follow!"

He said in a deep voice:

"At that time, while my Tao family may be able to remain uninvolved, the Qiao family's [Ziyang Cave] will inevitably fall first. Once Mingyang falls, the Wei family's [Shanmang Hall] will likely also be shaken to some extent..."

Before the young man could finish speaking, Xuan Wei stopped him, gently shaking his head. Tao Jiexing was stunned for a moment, but the young man's smile grew brighter and brighter:

"Perfect, saves me the trouble of collecting them one by one."