Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1281 Lü An
Xiangxiang.

Purple clouds surged in the sky, while the earth was ablaze with light. Forbidden buildings shimmered and undulated with silver light, and pavilions, some dilapidated and some intact, lay dormant in the silver light, exuding a mesmerizing color.

Li Quewan descended on the wind, unable to contain his emotions:
'The abundance of resources in Luoyang is truly astonishing; no wonder it has produced so many talented individuals over the past thousand years!'

This wasn't just her astonishment. Jia Zan, who had finished arranging things for Tao Jiexing and his own juniors, rushed out to watch, and he too stared wide-eyed, speechless for a long time.

The Jia family had always been inconspicuous in Luoyang. As the Wei family's in-laws, they had received many favors. However, this was the first time in a thousand years that the Jia family had turned around and protected the Wei family. Even Jia Zan himself did not expect that the Shanmang Hall would be so magnificent!

'He is probably the best after Tao...'

The old man gazed at it for a moment, then his eyes welled up with tears.
'Without attaining a position of high rank, glory and honor are but fleeting clouds.'

No matter how glorious or wealthy a family may be, it is still just a family. When times are bad, even the most powerful families can face the calamity of their decline. This was true for the Wei, Ju, and Qiao families. Even when the Wei family was at its peak, the entire Luoyang region depended on them, and the Tao family had to give way to them. Now that they have fallen on hard times, they are not as respectable as the Yu family, who came from elsewhere.

The foundation remains, but the younger generation lacks the ability to utilize it!

He stood hunched over, looking much older, yet still managed a smile as he hurried to the young man and said softly:
"I have inquired about all the secret techniques and methods. Please allow the fairy to use them."

Li Quewan smiled politely and replied:

"Senior is too kind. I was only ordered to collect the spiritual items. How to dispose of them is up to the King. It is not a matter of taking them for myself."

Jia Zan shook his head and sighed, saying:

"Throughout history, once a sacred mountain is conquered, it should be completely emptied. Only when the Great Zhao attacked Luoyang did it pacify the area by issuing a proclamation. My father, Qi Yan, perished before he could collect the treasures. Otherwise, those with a Purple Mansion would have survived, while those without would have died. The same applies now. If the fairy does not take the treasures, how can we possibly defend them?"

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, sighing repeatedly. Li Quewan didn't say anything more, but followed him into the hall, listening to Jia Zan say:
"I checked the inventory and found a few items that are useful to real people. I'm thinking of taking them out first."

Then the palace door creaked open, and light appeared in the darkness. On the high platform, a box was placed, and many strange and restless things were happening inside. Li Quewan's expression changed slightly. He took a step forward and saw a piece of reddish-white mercury stone lying in the box, rising and falling as if it were breathing.

Jia Zan forced a smile, and seeing her expression, knew she recognized him. He whispered:
"This item is called [Three Qian Yuan Mercury]... Since the fairy has cultivated the 'Complete Elixir', I probably don't need to say more."

How could Li Quewan not know this?

This item, along with the [Six Phases Color], is a first-class precious item. Because it is imbued with a touch of Qi Jin Qi, it is even more unique. It is said to have the ability to enhance magic, making it an excellent material for forging magical swords.

Ancient cultivators also frequently used this item to forge spiritual artifacts because of its gentle nature and excellent magical properties. Many complete spiritual treasures would add some of it—it is said that the Unharmed Stone of the Great Owl Sunflower Temple used this item!

This piece is quite significant! It's not just for use as a supplementary material; it could even be one of the main ingredients!

She was quite tempted, but feigned surprise and replied:
"Rare indeed! Such a precious item could only be passed down among nobles—and Jin Yi didn't even come to claim it?"

Mentioning Jin Yi, Jia Zan's expression became complicated as he explained:
"Shangqing Xuandao did indeed inquire from many sources, and some words reached our ears. However, generally speaking, things hidden in secret realms are difficult for others to calculate. At that time, when Master Wei took this item to verify his Golden Virtue, he did not want to hand it over... so it was overlooked."

Li Quewan nodded and smiled:

"What path does Senior Wei cultivate?"

Jia Zan lowered his head:

"Xiao Jin... He was also a genius, but unfortunately he ran into Xiao Jin... He wasted his life before he could reach the Purple Realm, and later went to Yinghua, where he passed away."

Li Quewan nodded secretly, put the spiritual object away, and stepped out of the hall. However, she was slightly taken aback and looked south. Jia Zan also noticed and was greatly alarmed. He took a step back and took out a whisk.

But before they knew it, a person was already standing in the setting sun!
This man was eight feet tall, with a magnificent appearance. He wore a Taoist robe and had a golden sword at his waist. His eyes were slightly narrow, and he stared straight at the two of them. His body was filled with surging golden energy as he slowly approached step by step.

Upon seeing this man, Jia Zan displayed a rather humble demeanor, quickly stepping forward and smiling:

"Master Lü...Greetings, Master Lü!"

The man ignored him, his sharp eyes even showing a hint of disdain. Without uttering a word, he extinguished the old man's flattering words. As the man approached, Jia Zan broke out in a cold sweat and smiled again:

"Master... have you come to see the King of Wei?"

The man finally raised an eyebrow, sneered, and said:
"Fellow Daoist Jia, this feels wonderful!"

Jia Zan had anticipated that Lady Lü's attitude would be unfriendly, but he hadn't expected the newcomer to be so hostile from the start. However, he couldn't afford to offend Lady Lü, nor was he in the right, so he could only back down and speak politely:

"Why does Master Lü say such a thing...? It's the trend of the times..."

The man's eyes gradually hardened, and he suddenly flicked his sleeve, revealing the golden sword at his waist. He raised it straight up, pointed it at Jia Zan, and said coldly:

"Bullshit! You old bastard are the most shameless!"

Jia Zan felt a surge of golden energy rushing towards him, extremely threatening. Having a sword pointed at him face-to-face, he gritted his teeth, took another step back, and said:
"You flatter me!"

After these few words, Li Quewan had become slightly alarmed, sensing that something was amiss. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice:
"Now that Master Jia has entered Song territory, he is the garrison commander of Xiangxiang. Fellow Daoist, are you drawing your sword to serve Zhao Ting?"

The man then turned his head, his sharp features fixed on Li Quewan, and said softly:
"Could it be the Venerable Su Yun?"

Li Quewan nodded calmly and replied:

"Indeed, may I ask who you are...?"

With his hands behind his back, the man appeared less cold towards Li Quewan, and spoke slowly and deliberately:

“I am Lü An from Chuncheng, Gu County. The real man captured by the King of Wei is my cousin.”

'really…'

Lu Fu was captured alive by Li Zhouwei and imprisoned in Lingbao, where he was in a rather miserable state. Naturally, the Lu family should have come to demand his release. However, Li Zhouwei had been conquering all directions and had pacified the Luoyang region in the blink of an eye, causing a great uproar. This made the Lu family seem slow to react.

Li Quewan stepped forward, blocking Jia Zan, and said:
"Has Master Lü come to demand an explanation?"

Lu An's anger intensified as he replied:
“You underestimate me. In a war between two countries, being captured by the King of Wei is simply a matter of inferior skill. There is no reason for him to seek justice! But this old bastard is ungrateful and refuses to help. I, Lü, cannot let him go!”

Seeing Li Quewan blocking his way, Jia Zan immediately became uneasy. Hearing Lü An's words, his anger flared, but he suppressed his temper and stepped forward, saying:
"King Wei's divine might is overwhelming, and I, Jia, am willing to die for him. Although I know Master Lü Fu, we have only met once, so how could I be ungrateful!"

Lu An gripped the golden sword tighter and tighter, it gradually gleaming. Enraged, he laughed instead, saying:

“You surnamed Jia, back when Luoyang was first settled, your Jia family moved out of Longdi. It was through the mediation of my Lü family that your Jia family was able to settle in such a fertile land as Luoyang… Do you still remember how you groveled and begged for mercy back then?”

He sneered:

"You say you've never been ungrateful. If you dare to swear an oath to my face that you were simply too late to help in Xiangxiang, but you did offer your sincere assistance, then I will never hold it against you again!"

Jia Zan's face turned pale, a mixture of astonishment and embarrassment. He was taken aback but dared not answer him. His anger and embarrassment intensified, and he said:

"For the past thousand years, whenever the Lü family passed through Xiangxiang, the Jia family always treated them with great hospitality. Several times when Gujun was besieged, it was always the Jia family who took the lead in helping them. Even though the Lü family was the one who settled them back then, my ancestors produced a magical creature. Isn't that enough?"

He gritted his teeth and said:

"It seems that the help from the Lü family once will make people obsequious and grateful for more than a thousand years!"

"How brave!"

These words ignited the anger of the person in front of him. A golden light flashed and sword energy swept across the land. Li Quewan immediately took a step forward, his face as cold as ice, and formed a hand seal with two fingers to block the golden light!
She didn't care much about the feud between the two families. Jia Zan was the most cooperative Zifu in Luoxia. Regardless of his supernatural abilities, his contributions were indeed great. If he were to be easily injured, it would not only hurt people's hearts but also damage Li Zhouwei's prestige!
[The incantation of applying sand].

She joined her two delicate, white fingers together and caught the golden light. Instantly, a rustling wind arose, and the bright golden light froze, then exploded into a sky full of vermilion, flying in the wind like red snow.

This move startled Jia Zan, who had retreated several steps, and Lu An was also taken aback. They seemed not to have expected that this master of supernatural powers could so easily neutralize his swordsmanship. However, their anger was overwhelming, and they couldn't care less about that now. They frowned and said:
"I don't want to hurt you, get out of my way!"

Before the woman could speak, a sudden, brilliant light appeared in the sky, and a streak of blazing golden fire, like a stream of light, expanded rapidly from the south, closing in at breakneck speed. A chilling sound echoed across the heavens:

"To gather the profound light and quell injustice!"

Then a beam of light fell from the clouds and shone on Lü An, causing him to pause slightly. The golden light had already transformed into a young man in a crimson robe, with a sinister look in his eyes. He drew his spear and thrust it forward, filled with rage!

It was Li Jiangqian!
Li Jiangqian set off from the lake and arrived at Xiangxiang. Instead of settling down hastily, he went to investigate the hidden places to observe the situation. Unexpectedly, he ran into his sister being harassed by the Three Divine Powers Immortal. He could not stay still and his murderous intent surged forth!

'Li Huo'

Lu An immediately frowned and had no choice but to turn around. He gripped his longsword in reverse, held it against his arm, and blocked it in front of him. With a clang, it collided with the golden spear with a loud bang!
In an instant, gold and fire intertwined, and a murderous aura surged. Li Jiangqian had already turned his spear with one hand, placed two fingers in front of his lips, his golden eyes sharp, and stabbed at Lü An. His lips moved slightly, and he spat out a stream of ancient amber fire.

[The Flame of the Southern Ming Heart]!
Li Jiangqian's supernatural powers have been newly developed, and this fire is even more powerful than before!

Lu An clearly didn't care much about him, easily using the back of his sword to block his spear. But when the flames surged out, the man's expression changed subtly. He turned to the side, and with his other hand, he pulled out a small jade bowl.

As a member of the Lü family, he had no shortage of treasures. Since he cultivated the virtue of metal, he naturally prepared methods to deal with all kinds of fire!
The water in the bowl swirled and poured out, attempting to suppress the flickering flames of the heart. However, the flames were so fierce that the spirit bowl, in its hasty response, was momentarily lifted by the flames, almost causing the fire to splatter onto Lü An's face.

Both of them stiffened, realizing they had underestimated each other. Li Quewan, on the other side, was both surprised and delighted, and stepped forward, saying:

"Brother!"

She called out, but the mark on her hand had already been formed, the vermilion color surging like a dragon, imprinting itself onto Lü An's back.

Lu An's gaze swept around, and he casually took a step forward, gracefully dodging all the attacks from above, below, left, and right. He stood calmly and naturally in the sky, spotless.

"I'm leaving now".

This scene made Li Jiangqian shudder, but Li Quewan, guided by Li Zhouwei, could see clearly that although both were about "going to the past," Lü An's supernatural powers were far superior, and his methods were obviously much more advanced. She wasn't surprised, but seeing that the other party had stopped and hadn't continued forward, she said in a deep voice:
"The nobles are still under the suppression of the King of Wei, and we have no intention of threatening them. However, Master Lü should not act recklessly."

Lu An's expression was not good. He gave Li Jiangqian a deep look, but stopped because of his golden eyes. He coldly looked at Jia Zan in the distance and said:
“My cousin has spoken many falsehoods and was captured by the King of Wei. It is only right that he suffers some punishment. If my cousin returns safely, we will make amends for the offenses he has committed.”

"However, I have a question to ask the fairy."

He showed no embarrassment, but spoke solemnly and quietly:
"This [Bestowed Mysterious Glaze Talisman] belongs to the Tantai family?"

Li Quewan didn't want to cause trouble for the Tantai family, nor did she want to answer him. Lü An didn't care, turned around, glanced at Jia Zan one last time, and said coldly:

"Old man, I'm giving Tingzhou face today and letting you go. But if I ever see you in the north, you won't escape these sword strikes!"

He uttered these words, and his figure vanished in a flowing golden light. Jia Zan was furious, his face turning pale, yet he remained silent, enduring the humiliation until now, when he finally approached and bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highnesses!"

Li Jiangqian smiled and said:
"You are Welcome!"

Upon seeing the pair of gleaming gold eyes, and observing the man's overall demeanor and somewhat handsome features, Jia Zan immediately understood:
'It must be the eldest prince.'

With just a glance, the old man sensed that the other party was no easy character to deal with, probably much more difficult to serve than the fairy before him. But he no longer cared; his heart was heavy with resentment, and he said in a deep voice:

"From now on, I can only ask for your continued guidance..."

The young man in crimson understood his meaning, stepped forward, and smiled.
"Master Jia abandoned darkness and embraced light, first pacifying Xiangxiang and Liangchuan, and then offering up the secret realm. He must be a great hero. He has worked hard, and we should commend him for his merits."

There had been a slight scuffle, but he seemed to grasp the situation quickly, appearing unconcerned. His gaze swept over his surroundings, and he seemed to be in a good mood, jokingly saying:
"Wan'er, you're being ordered to retrieve a spiritual object... Have you kept an eye out for your brother?"

Li Quewan chuckled:

"That depends on what the King of Wei decides."

Jia Zan shook his head repeatedly, looking extremely relieved. Whether he was genuine or not, he simply said:
"I was just lamenting the difficulty of finding the 'Complete Elixir,' and I have failed to live up to the fairy's kindness... Now that I have met Your Highness, I know there is a great way to repay you—please follow me!"

Li Jiangqian glanced at him and smiled:

"Oh? The Jia and Wei families also study the Li Huo?"

Jia Zan smiled slightly, a rare hint of pride in his eyes, and said:
"My ancestors cultivated under the tutelage of the True Man of Yichuan. The True Man cultivated the Lesser Yin and controlled water and fire. My ancestors inherited his mantle and became famous for their virtue of fire!"

(End of this chapter)