Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1287 Rise and Fall
The sky was bright and clear, and spring breezes blew in all directions. Light rose and fell above the lake island, passing over the purple-gold pillar and moving forward, until they saw a building full of gold and jade, with guests as numerous as clouds.

Li Suining returned from the sacrificial ceremony in the prefecture, and after a while, he went down to the Manying Palace. There he saw that a huge beast statue had been moved and placed next to the palace tower. Gold-patterned jade talismans and cloud-patterned gold gauze were also displayed and hung between the corner towers, like countless colorful waterfalls, which was extremely beautiful. A woman in a red dress stood in front of the palace with her arms crossed, instructing people to decorate the palace tower.

It was his great-aunt, Xia Shouyu.

Because Li Suining had memories of his past life and had worked under her, he knew that although she seemed unremarkable, she was actually quite capable. So he smiled and said:
"Greetings, Auntie... Auntie is truly amazing. Yesterday when I came here, the attic was empty, but now everything has been taken care of."

"Ning'er is here!"

Xia Shouyu was always warm and enthusiastic towards everyone, but upon hearing his words, she quickly shook her head and chuckled:
"We've had so many happy occasions in recent years, one after another. These things were all stored in the warehouse. We don't like extravagance at home, and the sizes were already custom-made. We can always make some alterations and hang them up..."

But then she saw two young female cultivators standing nearby, one adorned with golden flowers and the other with tassels. Upon hearing this, the one with the golden flowers turned around and smiled:

“Brother, you may not know this, but we have good fortune here. People say that the Li family of Wangyue only sees good things and never bad things. Once the gong is sounded here, it’s either a small good thing or a big good thing! The people below are used to doing things and know how to do them smoothly, so how can they not be quick?”

The other girl, who was younger, laughed and said:

“That’s right. I heard from my cousin that the jade basin placed in front of the steps is burning incense paste, which is only used for happy occasions. In the past, our smaller clans would borrow it from us, but now we can’t borrow it at all. We can light it in our own courtyard and not even have to turn it off—once this event is over, the next one will be the next day.”

After they finished speaking, they started laughing and playfully pushing each other. The older one laughed and said:
"You silly girl, where did you hear this nonsense again?"

The slightly lesser one disagreed, saying:
"What nonsense! That guy surnamed Chen clearly passed by. No matter how good they are, they can't beat us in order!"

The older man, stumped by her retort, could only joke:
"He still cares about you, so naturally he won't argue with you!"

After listening to this, Xia Shouyu simply waved her sleeve, silencing their words, and laughed:

"What's with all the niceties? The time is almost here, so go find your places and stop blocking the guests."

The two were still afraid of her and dispersed meekly. Li Suining remained silent for a long time before asking:
"Whose sisters are these two?"

Xia Shouyu laughed:
"She's Zhou Da's granddaughter! He's a free spirit, his children are quite talented, and the whole family is lively and doesn't hold grudges against them."

Li Suining watched from afar as the two girls went up to the palace tower, smiling and greeting the guests who were getting up one by one. They were lovely and came from good families, and everyone who came and went praised them with smiles.

Li Suining said:

"It was also Zhou Da's personality; he was talkative back then and often offended people."

Xia Shouyu smiled without saying a word, stepping forward to bow and patting him on the shoulder. Li Suining turned his head and, sure enough, saw the old man. He quickly stepped forward and said:
"Old Master!"

Li Xuanxuan was now all smiles, even looking somewhat spirited. Li Zhouming, who was always supporting him, raised an eyebrow at Li Suining as he listened to the old man say:
Who came?

Li Jiangzong had already come out from the palace tower to greet them. He gave a slight bow and said:
"They're all here."

These three words, spoken calmly and matter-of-factly, contained an undeniable power. This direct descendant of the Jiangque family, who had managed the household for many years, disagreed, saying only:

"Only Zhou Luoshu is serving in Xindu, and Jiang Chun is in seclusion and has not returned... so we are still receiving guests inside."

Li Xuanxuan then went up to the palace tower, where it was extremely lively, with people chatting animatedly. A purple-robed cultivator had been waiting respectfully at the entrance. Upon seeing Li Xuanxuan, he smiled and said:

"Does the old man still recognize me?"

Li Xuanxuan laughed:
"Ding Mu! I remember you!"

This man was none other than Ding Mu, a cultivator from Wangyue Lake. He had come to the lake to guard the river for Ziyan in his younger years, but after the Jianghuai region was pacified, he had not returned to the lake for many years. He bowed deeply and said:
"This junior is currently guarding the market with my master. Upon hearing the good news, I immediately came to pay my respects..."

Before he could say anything more, a middle-aged man who seemed to have been waiting at the door for a long time hurried up. Because he was wearing the attire of the Purple Smoke Sect, no one stopped him. He then said:
"My lord... my lord, do you still remember my old friend Lingyanzi? I, your humble servant, have come on behalf of my master to offer my congratulations..."

Lingyanzi was someone his family had known for a long time. Li Xuanxuan had initially felt some affection for him, but that affection faded because of Li Queyi's affair, and they hadn't been in contact since. He paused slightly, then said:
"Of course I remember... How is he?"

The monk said:

"He passed away long ago! I heard that before he died, his mouth was dry and he wanted to drink. I was in seclusion in my cave, and no one paid any attention to him except for two young boys who heard him. But he was always shouting and yelling, so no one knew that he was really going to die."

He seemed equally unconcerned, his gaze earnest as he said:
"Xiao Xiu's surname is Huang... She's Senior Brother Que Yi! I haven't seen her in a long time. I only heard that she came once when Master died, bringing a jar of wine... I've searched twice, but I still can't find her!"

Li Xuanxuan chuckled, and a commotion arose around him. Someone said:

"The people from Owlwort are here..."

Ding Mu, already frowning, immediately interrupted the man surnamed Huang, forcefully stopping him. Only then did a couple approach, offer a toast together, and respectfully say:

"Meet the ancestors!"

The woman lowered her eyes demurely, while the man was handsome and dashing, and smiled:

"Caiyin greets the Ancestor."

The Lin family members were all good-looking, many with a handsome and ethereal air. Lin Caiyin, in particular, was tall and slender, making him stand out even more. The old man took a liking to him and accepted the wine from Li Minggong beside him, offering his congratulations.

So the family members came up in turn. Li Xuanxuan was not feeling well, so he only took a sip from each of their drinks. By the end of the banquet, he had not finished a single cup. Finally, he managed to leave and stepped out.

A light spring rain was falling outside. The old man used magic to dispel the lingering smell of smoke and change his clothes before heading towards Qingdu with Li Zhouming's help.

At this moment, Qingdu Mountain was completely silent, with the faint scent of incense wafting through the spring rain. As the old man climbed the bluestone steps, the scent of incense gradually grew stronger.

The main hall to the side was empty, faintly exuding a chilling aura. The wine table placed in the center of the hall could be vaguely seen, which the old man gazed at quietly for a while.

'Xuanfeng…'

When Li Xuanfeng returned to the lake, he perished in this very hall—right before Li Xuanxuan's eyes.

His steps were heavy. He walked forward several dozen steps and soon saw the main hall of the place.

This hall has no mysterious patterns or dazzling light. The roof tiles are black, the twelve pillars are vermilion, the steps are made of polished bluestone, and a plaque hangs in the deep eaves. It looks old and weathered, with dark wood and faded characters.

[Li Clan Ancestral Hall].

This is the handwriting of Li Tongya, which was brought back from the shore. The strokes are like dragons, and it still looks appropriate to hang it here.

Spring rain pattered down. The King of Wei, renowned throughout the north and south, stood quietly before the palace gate. Bright sunlight shone around him, its colors shifting and transforming into various phenomena. A man in crimson robes leaned against the eaves, playing with a purple-gold gourd in his hand, from which faint rings of blazing fire seemed to flow, a truly astonishing sight.

The beautiful woman, bathed in the light of lead and mercury transformation and possessing profound inner power, reached out respectfully to help him up. Li Ximing, dressed as always, with the light of heaven shimmering between his brows, stepped down and said softly:

"Father..."

The Li family's grand ceremony was neither particularly large nor small. All the immortals of the Song Dynasty were stationed in the east, and the Li family had never liked to be high-profile. Although almost all the major and minor forces of the Song Dynasty were present, no supernatural powers were displayed.

Inside, four supernatural beings and four talisman-bestowed purple palaces are gathered in this hall!
Li Xuanxuan nodded quietly, looked around, and said softly:
"You guys have really gone through a lot of trouble."

"What are you saying, sir..."

Li Jiangqian smiled slightly and led him inside.

The ancestral hall was dimly lit, with six ancestral niches hanging deep behind it. A little lower up, one could see the memorial tablets placed high up, black and red.

The spirit tablet of our late father, Li Mutian.

The spirit tablet of the late Madam Liu, mother of the deceased Li.

Li Xuanxuan could see clearly that it was Li Tongya's handwriting, which was very similar to the plaque outside. However, Li Mutian had left earlier, and Li Tongya was still young at that time, so his handwriting had a more unrestrained feel.

He fetched incense, lit it with his magic, and respectfully stepped forward, just as he had done hundreds and thousands of times over the years. He first offered incense to Li Mutian, then to Li Tongya and Li Xiangping…

After he finished all this, he returned to his original position. The other Purple Mansions stepped forward one by one, and Li Xuanxuan just stared at them, as if he had returned to that small courtyard, looking at the old man who had been hunched over in his seat for decades without stepping out of the courtyard. He couldn't help but burst into tears:

"Two hundred years!"

"Big father! Father Zhong!"

Since Li Tongya's departure, Li Xuanxuan never had the chance to utter that name that had once brought him so much peace. He wept and called out twice, saying:
"Uncle, Xi Ming has succeeded, Zhou Wei... Xuan Ling's great-great-grandson has also succeeded... and Jiang Qian and Que Wan have caught up with the Qingchi Sect of yesteryear..."

The old man sobbed softly for a while, then said:
"But he became even more terrified."

He knew that Li Shi had moved on from her past situation, but now that she was in this predicament, he didn't know how to speak to the memorial tablets in the hall, and could only stare at them in silence.

The memorial tablets throughout the hall remained silent, watching over him amidst the incense smoke.

Li Ximing stood at the back, his gaze somewhat dim as he looked away from a memorial tablet. After some time, he turned around and found Li Zhouwei still standing in the center of the hall, his head bowed and silent, seemingly lost in thought or in silence. After a long while, he finally raised his gaze and it fell on a certain spot.

The spirit tablet of my late father, Li Chengliao.

This was written by Li Zhouwei himself.

Li Zhouwei was born as a white Qilin. He was born unable to control the strange phenomena and was ignorant. Everyone around him was afraid of him, and even his mother regarded him as an anomaly.

Only his father, Li Chengliao—perhaps his emotions were also complex, a mixture of paternal feelings and expectations for the clan—but in any case, it was his father, Li Chengliao, who taught him the ways of life and how to conduct himself, making him more and more human as he grew up.

Li Jiangqian gazed absently at the high place, while Li Quewan kept her eyes fixed on the old man's trembling back. In this time that seemed both short and long, each person held their own thoughts and remained silent for a long time.

"Cough cough..."

The old man knelt for a long time before finally standing up. His smile was slightly pale. He looked around and said softly:

"You esteemed masters have been in seclusion, cultivating your supernatural powers for years. In the blink of an eye, my lifespan is nearing its end. I fear I will face my ancestors with trepidation... Before our ancestors, I have a few questions to ask the King of Wei and the Masters."

A look of confusion crossed his eyes as he lowered his gaze and said:

"It is often said that rise and fall are predetermined. The rise of the Li family was due to the Taiyin enterprise, but I do not know where its decline will come from... Apart from the King of Wei and the Mingyang Emperor, is there any other path for the Li family?"

Li Zhouwei gazed at him quietly and said:
"The rise and fall of a nation depends solely on me."

Li Xuanxuan was not surprised, but he insisted on hearing it with his own ears before he would stop, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Whose wish is it to express 'hatred for the passing of time'?"

Li Ximing moved his lips slightly, but ultimately remained silent. Li Jiangqian pondered the three words, his gaze gradually sharpening. Li Zhouwei then spoke softly, replying:

"It is the North, and it is the South; it is the rosy sky, and it is the netherworld; it is Tingzhou, and it is the whole world."

Upon hearing the last sentence, the old man trembled slightly, and looked up in disbelief. Before him stood the King of Wei, his eyes gleaming with an unwavering calm.
"If a decision is not made promptly, destruction will follow in an instant."

Li Xuanxuan's lips turned pale, and he nodded, saying:
"It is entirely up to the King of Wei to decide."

He coughed twice, and finally whispered:
"I have troubled you all to use your four supernatural powers to meet the spirits. I will have the face to meet my elders in the afterlife... Please... allow me to have a private conversation with you all."

Li Zhouwei nodded silently, bowed, and left. As the last person left the ancestral hall, a gust of wind suddenly appeared, causing the vermilion gate to slowly close. Only the old man's words could be heard carried on the wind.

"...The Li family...for many years...did not seek...longevity......"

"I beg...to spare...my life."

His words were extremely respectful, like a prayer or a conversation with someone, full of pleading, carried softly in the wind, with faint sobs.

Until the vermilion gate slammed shut, seemingly hidden in the endless distance, without a sound, Li Zhouwei stood with his back to everything, quietly saying:
"How much time does the old man have left?"

Li Quewan's eyes dimmed, and she said softly:
"When I helped him up just now, I silently estimated that he originally had another ten years. However, the old man has not been taking good care of himself these years. As for his haggard appearance, if he had taken good care of himself, he could have maintained it for another seven or eight years. If he continues like this, I'm afraid he will only live for three to five years."

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing immediately became anxious. He put his hands behind his back, took several steps, and said:
"How does this work!"

Li Zhouwei gently shook his head and murmured:

"He's only so young, let him be. Even though Wanling Flower can dispel worries, he still refuses to use it... There's no need to force him."

He looked deeply at Li Jiangqian and said:

"The inner formation of Qingdu is set up. As for the ancestral hall... from now on, no one except the old master is allowed to enter. If he needs to burn incense and pray, then there is no need to disturb him."

Li Jiangqian nodded solemnly, understanding his meaning. The atmosphere among the four supernatural beings froze for a moment before they sensed movement below the mountain. Li Zhouming, who had rushed up, bumped into Li Zhouwei, knelt down, and said with a mixture of surprise and joy:
"Your Majesty! Master Xiao has arrived!"