Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1321 The Three Kingdoms and the Five Virtues (2)

"Crash."

Torrential rain.

The hazy, gray mist of the Kan River shot straight up to the heavens and the earth. The colorful light had long since vanished. The dilapidated cave grove emitted a rumbling sound as it was overwhelmed by the weight of the water. The surface of the water rippled uneasily as it flowed away through the cracks.

The brilliance of heaven and earth faded, the green waters calmed, the comets stopped, and the person imprisoned under the dual light stood with his hands behind his back. His demonic vertical pupils trembled constantly, showing no joy, only extreme silence.

His lips were pressed tightly together, showing no joy whatsoever at the loss of the person before him.

In this undulating darkness, the judge in black still stood with his hands behind his back, his dark eyes scrutinizing the glittering river in the sky, remaining silent.

Xiao Chuting vanished into thin air, and the twelve points of rosy light and the female water had already receded, leaving only a deathly silence echoing in the void.

Yang Jinxin remained expressionless.

In this great battle, Yin Si suffered no losses whatsoever and even gained a great advantage, yet his face showed no joy whatsoever, only a deep and somber gloom.

"Boom!"

The distant thunder lurked in the clouds, and the light of lightning illuminated the world in an instant. Under this dazzling light, all the colors suspended in the air disappeared, and even the spiritual cultivator imprisoned under the two beams of light was nowhere to be seen.

They left in silence.

The world has changed.

The endless, eerie darkness that had shrouded the sky receded, and the surging waters, as if aided by a god, surged forth again, submerging the dark silt and breaking apart between several gorges to reveal bare rocks.

Meanwhile, the floodwaters from the north surged back into the ravine, exposing vast swathes of land. Wailing people were lifted onto the water's surface, while the bewildered civilians who had been swept away earlier, emerging from the riverbed, clumsily stepped back onto the ground.

Consciousness gradually returned from the darkness, and the supernatural powers that had been condensed on the surface of the cave's water, resembling murals, began to tremble.

Amidst the shimmering light, the young man in black robes and golden eyes, his gaze fixed on the horizon, finally took on a flickering hue. He looked at the water condensing in the air, at the waterfall rising from the surface like a mountain peak, and uttered a few words.

"The supernatural power has fallen."

The fall of a great master with perfect supernatural powers would be a momentous event anywhere, but in this dilapidated cave, the traces of the true lord's existence are scattered and fragmented, appearing sadly in the eyes of each great master.

'Just supernatural powers.'

Doubt also flickered in their eyes.

'A True Lord has made a move…'

Li Zhouwei slowly turned his face. Dongfang Heyun, who was beside him, was nowhere to be seen. There seemed to be doubt in his eyes, but the hands behind his back and the coldness in his heart were already evident.

'thunder…'

'Killed by lightning…'

'The Embryo of Enlightenment…'

Li Zhouwei didn't see this battle very clearly, but Cha You recorded it clearly—it was incredibly enlightening for him.

'So… this is also a deal made between the master behind my family and the Mystic Maiden, to help Him attain enlightenment…'

'So…this is the origin of the widely circulated saying in the Jiangnan cultivation world about cultivating one's own nature to achieve enlightenment, and also one of the reasons why my family has always restrained itself from using blood and qi?'

'The Thunder Drum of the Old World…'

"Boom!"

The lightning in the clouds was still flashing, and the supernatural powers had silently retreated. Only beams of light were vying for dominance in the distance, and layer upon layer of gold was rapidly surging in.

The light of the supernatural power was fading. Li Zhouwei turned his head and saw streaks of golden energy spreading out. The elegant young man approached from afar and, just like in the past, gave a very polite bow.
"King Wei..."

Su Yan's supernatural powers had dissipated into the world. With the situation now settled, Li Zhouwei had become a Great True Person. Upon seeing him for the first time, Tian Huo showed no displeasure whatsoever, and his expression was extremely natural. Tian Que in the sky still felt some regret, but he didn't feel any regret at all.

Just like Li Zhouwei said back then.

Offend? Not in the slightest.

"Senior Tianhuo..."

Li Zhouwei, equally focused, stared intently at him:
"Who made the move?"

Tian Huo stared at him blankly, his gaze filled with complexity and uncertainty, and whispered:
“I do not know…King Wei.”

Bright lightning flashed across his face. This close confidant of Jin Yi finally lost his composure, pondered for a moment, and looked up, saying:
"There may be many changes, but the final result is exactly as I predicted in [Azure Sky] - it is [Divine Thunder Mystic Sound Drum]."

Whose magic weapon is this?

"It doesn't belong to anyone."

Tian Huo looked up, his eyes gleaming, and said:
"It's a relic of Kabuto Gen, and now... I've heard it's used to specifically cure those 'Genkai Yado' (a type of martial arts practice)."

Rather than Li Zhouwei questioning Tian Huo, it's more accurate to say that Tian Huo was eager to hear the truth from Li Zhouwei. He believed that this Prince of Wei must know something. Tian Huo stared intently at him and said:
"King Wei."

His lips trembled, but he ultimately remained silent. All his doubts and probing remained hidden in his heart, unspoken. Instead, he said:
"It's time for us to go."

Li Zhouwei looked at him and listened to Tian Huo say:
"Next."

"It is the overall picture of all phenomena."

He turned his head and looked at the layers of light on the horizon, where one after another enormous golden bodies were being revealed, appearing particularly large in the shattered cave.

Fighting for prime real estate!

……

The vast emptiness is boundless.

The world was shrouded in darkness, with countless cracks spreading outwards. The magnificent Kan Water was released from the fractured Xuan Realm, and waterfalls of all sizes descended from the void, meandering through it, sometimes disappearing into the mortal world, sometimes sinking into the banished Qi, rising and falling in waves, making them difficult to observe.

Xiao Chuting has fallen.

Beneath the distant cave, the white-robed man slowly revealed himself, his eyes filled with boundless mystery.

Lu Jiangxian was not surprised. His eyes were fixed on the golden light as it flew away and disappeared into the boundless distance.

'『Douxuan』...【Divine Thunder Mystic Sound Drum】...'

A sense of realization began to surface in his eyes.

Even Tianhuo knew about the [Divine Thunder Mystic Sound Drum], so how could Lu Jiangxian not know it?

'This magic weapon was very clear to the direct descendants of the Golden Core cultivators, which is why Si Tian calculated it. In the predictions of that year, almost all of Li Zhouwei's reincarnation paths... were intercepted by this one strike, resulting in his complete annihilation—just like Xiao Chuting today!'

But it was only through the actions of these many True Lords, who revealed their respective schemes and caused a great upheaval, that Lu Jiangxian was able to see the true form of the magic weapon. Watching it dissipate into the distance and feeling the infinitely distant guiding aura, his mind gradually became clear.

'【Chuzhou Yitian】.'

This item did not come from the mountain, nor from the Daling River, but was summoned from the [Chuyi Heaven] in the East Sea!

'[Chu Yitian], Douxuan Mountain! '

'That Douxuan Grotto-Heaven, preserved to this day... opened multiple times without any damage!'

Several threads connected together, and Lu Jiangxian finally understood.

'I see…'

Why does the [Chuyi Heaven] only allow cultivators who practice the Douxuan Dao and cultivate their inner nature to enter? Why did the Wuzhu Sect and Pang Family of the Zifu Golden Elixir Dao all perish when they tried to enter?
It is indeed the [Divine Thunder and Mystic Sound Drum]!
The divine thunder magic weapon that blasted Xiao Chuting to death did not come from the mountain, nor was it in anyone's possession. Instead, it was kept in Douxuan Mountain in Chuyi Heaven!
The attempts of the Wuzhu Sect and Pang Family of the Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Path to enter were tantamount to directly intruding and landing on this magical treasure. All of these people were regarded as demonic by this magical treasure, whose power was terrifying! Even Xiao Chuting's golden nature was stripped away layer by layer. How could the two of them not perish?

'Therefore… unless one possesses a token to avoid being connected to the magical artifact, only cultivators who have cultivated their inner peace and tranquility can enter! This is simply to avoid attracting the attention of this magical artifact!'

His gaze was intense as he raised his head and looked towards the distant east:

"This is a remnant of the Xuan Order. As long as there are cultivators in the world seeking gold, this treasure, which was once placed in the Thunder Palace, will answer the call and unleash divine lightning to test their morality!"

That is why the legend of self-cultivation and self-discipline has been passed down to this day!

The heavy, gloomy mist flowing through the sky made things even clearer in Lu Jiangxian's mind:

'The reason why the cultivators of Jiangnan have never heard of or been affected by this is because of the Underworld.'

'Whenever someone in the Purple Palace seeks gold, the messengers of the Underworld will inevitably come, not only to capture the essence of gold, but also to conceal their aura so that the [Divine Thunder Mystic Sound Drum] will not detect it…'

'Because the [Divine Thunder and Mystic Sound Drum] destroys the metal element—the Underworld's gold-gathering might not care whether the other party succeeds or fails, but it cares about the metal element, so naturally it cannot allow this thing to come… Now that the Dao Embryo has taken action, suppressing all the True Lords and letting things run their course, this thing has naturally answered the call…'

A clamor resounded in his heart:
"So many grotto-heavens have fallen one after another, yet this one has survived to this day... It is thanks to Luo Xia and even the True Lords that it has been protected. What a magnificent and splendid threshold... If only a person like Jin had no True Lord supporting and protecting them, the difficulty of breaking through would be extremely high! That's why Jin Yi said it was 'specifically designed to deal with those [mysterious and unorthodox paths],' and for Luo Xia, who has a Dao Embryo in her presence, this drum is an even better treasure for achieving freedom and liberation from karma..."

'The reason why many forces are not betting on Xiao Chuting is also due to the influence of this decisive magic weapon…'

This gain was considerable for Lu Jiangxian. His gaze slowly returned, and his heart grew increasingly bright.

'What a clever scheme... female water...'

Xuancang's borrowed move.

Xiao Chuting's veiled criticism.

Female water plans before it acts.

This seemingly peaceful Dalingchuan was actually caught in the power struggle of the world. The changes in the sky were beyond the expectations of most people, including Lu Jiangxian who had made preparations in advance. He knew that the Mystic Maiden had made some arrangements, but he did not know that her plans were so grand!
'The Embryo of Enlightenment!'

In the long river of history, very few cases of Dao fetuses attaining enlightenment have survived. This mysterious woman was even more audacious, and even the underworld did not expect her to dare to do such a thing.

'By placing a move on Xiao Chuting, concealing it within the vast sea, and leveraging the combined forces and the desire to suppress the dragon element, they launched a ruthless attack. They then went a step further, precisely exploiting the desire of the Venerable Cultivators to test Luo Xia, transforming the entire scheme into a brazen, overt conspiracy!'

'Until the very last moment, even the Chi-yi, whose authority had been violated, fell silent. The Heavenly Cloud Dao Embryo had no choice but to personally stop Him from taking this path!'

His eyes were bright and piercing.

'Rather than saying that this Lady Xuanpin defied the world, it's more accurate to say that she used the power of the entire world to unite all the venerable cultivators in a scheme against Luoxia!'

Yes, Xiao Chuting has indeed perished, and Pin Shui's scheme has died in its infancy—but has Luo Xia won? As long as this immortal is willing to take action, it has already satisfied the probing of 99% of the True Lords involved in this matter!

Most importantly…He is strong enough.

The True Lord of Female Water made his move in an instant, yet it was earth-shattering. When he placed his piece on Xiao Chuting, Lu Jiangxian sensed his extremely profound Female Water cultivation, which was now even more evident!
'Having concealed his true power for many years, his strength is probably only below the Dao Embryo level. No one has ever been able to so easily scheme against the leader of all immortals while simultaneously offending the dragons…'

But it was precisely this ease that cast a shadow over Lu Jiangxian's heart.

pondering that word:
'Master's orders…'

Who is his master?

Luo Xia claimed to be a disciple of Dongwu Sect, that is, the fourth disciple of Tongxuan Master, and a peerless high cultivator who ascended to the position of Wutu. However, according to the records of the Lingbao Dao lineage, this person had already passed away and gone away.

“You can think of Him more highly; he is Dongwu’s disciple…or even a grand-disciple, and most likely a second-generation disciple.”

This lineage appears to have been passed down for three generations, but the early prosperity of the Three Mysteries is unimaginable. The current patriarch of Buddhism and Taoism, [Canyan], is only a second-generation disciple of Douxuan. The patriarch of the Lingbao lineage, [Xuxiang], and [Zhidu], who once shocked the world, are both third-generation disciples!
The attitude of the Central Wuguang Daoist lineage is clear to everyone; it has always been extremely detached. One of its second-generation disciples, who remained in the mortal realm, may even have personally witnessed the Three Mysterious Masters… Luoxia Mountain can certainly call itself the head of all Daoist lineages in the world!
'They are satisfied, or rather, indifferent to the overall situation; aside from a few absolute bottom lines, they act with almost no restraint…'

He strolled leisurely, everything around him receding into the darkness, revealing a world of drifting white snow, glistening with crystalline beauty:

'The Mysterious Maiden's scheme was unexpected, but Kan Shui and Xiao Chuting's plan... If the mountain is willing to wait, the overall situation will inevitably change drastically. Du Qing will definitely betray them, and Xiu Yue, who fears nothing more than a peaceful world, will surely disrupt Zhenlong's plans if he cannot get Luo Xia to take action...'

When wolves fight and tigers feign sleep, even a moment's delay in striking can greatly help in controlling the overall situation and breaking the tacit understanding between various forces. Yet, Luo Xia struck with such ease.

Needless to say, the underworld also benefited from this ceremony, as did Lu Shui Xiu Yue and Jin Yi Xuan Cang.

But it wasn't a good outcome.

Lu Jiangxian, hidden among the golden pills, could see everything very clearly.

The midnight glow suppressed more than just female water!

Still Lushui, Boxing, Zheqi, Heshui, Kanyi... This Dao Embryo, as if using the force of a single finger, mercilessly suppressed all the True Lords who appeared in the sky and came to test Him!
He was indifferent and impartial, restraining all those in positions of honor. With just a little more force, He made it so that even the strongest arrow could not pierce through fine silk, and even the strongest wind could not float a feather. This little bit of force was like a hand gently patting their faces, clearly conveying two messages.

Even though they had been hiding for many years and cultivating in secret, He still had a very good understanding of the strength of these True Lords. He even knew exactly how much power Dongfang Heyun had borrowed from Beijia. Apart from the Pin Shui who was seeking the Dao in front of him, there was no one else worthy of His attention.

'He stands firm and unmoved; He knows everything.'

It wasn't His true form that made the move, but rather a projection of His divine power.

This is the Heavenly Cloud Dao Embryo.

'He banished and interrupted the Mystic Maiden, but did not personally kill or pursue her. It wasn't as if he nipped the danger in the bud, or didn't want the Mystic Maiden to be involved in the Dao Embryo... It was more like he was simply fulfilling his duty, not taking these tests to heart at all, showing extreme confidence in his own strength...'

Therefore, in the instant Xiao Chuting vanished into thin air, there was only endless silence in the sky, and Lu Jiangxian understood in her heart:

'Whether it's Taiqing, Taiyue, the Underworld, or even the Dragon Clan! They are all filled with dread about the outcome of this test—His supernatural powers have expanded, and he has openly displayed just how terrifying he truly is.'

He sat upright amidst the radiant world where the sun and moon shone together, his emotions growing ever more intense.

'He only said...the Mystic Maiden...crossed the line.'

'What is this boundary? What is the mortal world that Luo Xia speaks of...?'

Lu Jiangxian absolutely did not believe that the mortal world was just the affairs of ordinary people—how much worldly dust would Mingyang get involved in just one trip to the mortal world?
'What Luo Xia calls the mortal world... is it the intervention of a True Lord to achieve a breakthrough in supernatural powers?'

While all of this was indeed about seeking the Dao through the female waters, the act of concealing the vast ocean was also a way for the female waters to influence Xiao Chuting's path to enlightenment, and the reason for Luoxia Mountain's intervention was most likely due to this.

'Female water interfered with the cultivation of the Dao, so He intervened to suppress it.'

Lu Jiangxian's gaze changed slightly.

Although the Nine Heavens Mysterious Female Goddess was injured, did her plan stop there?

'In this scheme, everyone was just going along with it, except for Him! Only the Female Water stood up to confront the Heavenly Clouds—from any angle, Xiao Chuting should have been annihilated, but…'

Lu Jiangxian's gaze was unfathomable. He raised his head, and white light emanated from his palm. The light was soft yet domineering, as if it were connected to countless mysteries and extended to the infinite distance.

【Name Stone】.

Even if Xiao Chuting's true spirit reflected on the [Name Stone], and Jin Xing was struck by lightning and broke through to death, he should have perished completely by now. However, the rolling white light kept swirling around his fingers, constantly reminding him that this was not the case.

Lu Jiangxian felt a surge of hope.

“Female Water itself has the ability to contain the vast ocean. It hinted to Xiao Chuting that the hidden treasure it asked me for was not for the Kan Water, but for this last hidden treasure after its fall. Even though it had already touched the Dao Embryo in the Dao of Water Virtue Concealment, it still did not have complete confidence in making a small move in the instant that the celestial clouds projected over, unless I was there.”

"With the assistance of 'Taiyin'."

His gaze grew brighter as he stared into the void.

“Xiao Chuting… He hid him away.”

Although Lu Jiangxian only had a faint sense of it, she was certain that the Nine Heavens Mysterious Female Goddess had hidden Xiao Chuting!
"Competing with Tianxia for the Dao Embryo is just the surface; He... has a bigger plan, and besides..."

Lu Jiangxian could sense that the relationship between the [Name Stone] and Xiao Chuting was becoming increasingly weak. Even if he wanted to ruin Pin Shui's plan and lure him here, it would be absolutely impossible!
The domineering nature of the [Name-Ascending Stone] is unparalleled in this area, as Lu Jiangxian has experienced firsthand. There are only two possibilities that could have led to this outcome:
"First... there was interference from the position of honor, so Xiao Chuting was hidden on the golden throne."

"Secondly...the Mysterious Woman...her supernatural powers are now even greater than before."

The current situation is very likely that both are happening simultaneously!
Lu Jiangxian could understand the former, since it was impossible for Xuan Nu to hide Xiao Chuting in front of Tianxia without using her feminine position. However, the latter made him fall silent for a moment.

"He was clearly seriously injured."

What silenced him even more was that this power, which made the divine even more powerful, seemed to be subtly pointing to 'Taiyin'.

In that instant, Lu Jiangxian sat in the world for a long time, various Daoist teachings flowing through his vast and boundless divine consciousness, calculating all kinds of possibilities, and the thoughts in his eyes gradually became clear.

On the name-ascending stone, Xiao Chuting experienced countless mysteries. Whether it was the grandeur of the True Lords being suppressed by Luo Xia, or the unique and ingenious Taoist skills of the Mysterious Female Goddess, they all converged in his heart, leading to a sudden enlightenment.

'The Mysterious Maiden is a Qingxuan cultivator.'

'Although it occupies one of the Five Virtues, it should be viewed from the perspective of Qingxuan cultivation.'

'I revere the way of the sun and moon, and exemplify the five virtues of Heaven.'

'I don't need to use the Five Visions and Five Virtues.'

'Instead, it uses Yin and Yang.'

Lu Jiangxian did not obtain much of the Qingxuan Dao lineage, but he did obtain a portion of the Jiuqiu Dao lineage, so he already had some understanding of it. After personally witnessing the True Lords who came from Qingxuan and seeing the demonstration of the Dao by the Yinshui, he had already gained a great deal of enlightenment.

'Loss, deficiency, absence, and concealment reside in Yin; expansion, abundance, change, and manifestation reside in Yang. Those that flow unseen, remain silent, and nurture follow Yin; those that change, expand, and mature pay homage to Yang.'

In this way, the Five Virtues can actually be divided into three parts!

'The Yin and Yang waters of the Fu and He waters should be considered Yin waters, while the Yang and Yang waters of the He and Lu waters should be considered Yang waters. The remaining one, in its proper position, represents the intersection of Yin and Yang!'

This is the theory of Yin and Yang as the primary elements!

'【The dried-up Fu water resembles the female, the expansive Kan water resembles the union】This can be discussed using the concept of Yin and Yang. The loss stops at Yin, and the depleted Fu water travels further along the path of Yin water, thus approaching the female. The expanded Kan water approaches Yang, thus becoming more inclined to the union of Yang water…'

His eyes shone brightly, and he gained a deeper understanding of his plans from back then.

"The intercalary leaps of the Lu River and the Yin River, with their subtle connection, are not without reason. It is precisely because the Lu River is damaged! The lost 'Overturning Heaven' of that river, the damage that caused the Lu River, which should have leaned towards Yang water, to become Yin, coupled with various subsequent changes, led to the intercalary course—otherwise, the Lu River could never have four intercalary leaps of the Yin River!"

'All of this is interconnected… My research on the Lushui River, both before and after, is essentially a connection between effect and cause!'

Once one thing is understood, everything becomes clear. In that instant, three scrolls of Taoist scriptures appeared before him, with golden characters shining brightly on the left and right sides—these were the two of the Six Transformations, the [Transformation of Yang Fire Dwelling Method] and the [Transformation of Primordial Essence Intercalation Method] that he now held in his hands!
The one in the very center, with its vibrant colors, is one of the Six Chan that was just discovered from the Dalingchuan.

[Explanation of the Method for Eliminating Yin Water Dwellings]!
The wondrous method for governing the transformations of the Mansion, Kan, and Pin!
This is the fundamental method of Chi Buzi's borrowing of the mansion's intercalary female, and also the ultimate gain of this grotto-heaven!

In Lu Jiangxian's view, she now has a deeper understanding of this wonderful method.

'To understand the six directions and eight trigrams, one must use the concept of Yin and Yang.'

'Leaving aside the primary position, isn't the method of "Elucidating the Yin Water Residence Method," which governs the changes in the genitals and the female, simply a change in Yin Water? And isn't the Li family's "Intercalating Yang Method," which governs the male and female, simply a change in Yin Fire? And the method of "Elucidating the Yang Fire Residence Method," which prioritizes the genitals, truly is Yang Fire!'

'Yin Water, Yang Fire… it turns out these were already written in the names of the Six Masters. These four paths are actually the transformations of water and fire between Yin and Yang!'

His heart shone brighter and brighter.

'This is precisely the Great Dao of Venerable Qingxuan!'

But what he gained did not stop there. Once he divided the five virtues into yin and yang, he could see clearly how the Mysterious Woman was able to seize the even stronger Water Virtue Concealment ability when she was injured.

'The concepts of "stopping loss," "accumulating deficiency," "absence," and "concealment in the yin" are not mere empty talk. The Mysterious Maiden has transcended the limits of female virtue reached by ordinary cultivators. With a fulcrum of yin energy, these four rituals are highly unified in the hands of a great master of this path.'

"For the Mysterious Maiden, injury and concealment are one; where there is injury, there is concealment. Being severely injured by the Heavenly Clouds... is precisely what allows Her to advance further in this Yin ritual!"

"Only by doing this, right under the other party's nose, and using my Yin energy as a fulcrum, can I hide Xiao Chuting, and even... injure him... is one of the conditions He needs for His pursuit of the Dao!"

"Impressive skill..."

……

The colors of the storm have faded, and specks of gray dot the pitch-black void, resembling drops of blood or countless stars reflected from the sky, hidden within the void.

This is 'female water'.

This thick, boundless female water floats in the void, transforming into a wondrous spectacle that spans heaven and earth. Every moment, it takes on various forms, slowly falling and becoming the various resources available in the mortal world.

In this broken darkness, a sliver of blue light keeps moving.

Chi Buzi.

He was weary from his journey, his emerald eyes slightly narrowed, as he recklessly roamed through the void, gradually moving away from everything before him.

The instant the condensed light disappeared, Chi Buzhi didn't hesitate for a moment and soared into the sky. He was as fast as he could go, but the deadly danger still lingered in his heart, making him tremble silently.

'He has come…'

That green shadow.

That rain that stretches across the sky and earth.

Green water.

He had never directly faced this aura, but he had sensed it from the green pool long ago. While each of the supernatural beings was still savoring the ever-changing celestial phenomena, he had no peace or tranquility whatsoever; only one thought occupied his mind.

"escape!"

That's Lushui!

Faces flashed before his eyes, some were Chi Wei's old face, others were Ning Tiaoxiao's face full of sneers. Chi Buzhi's expression froze like a stone statue, and he wielded his supernatural powers faster and faster—even though he knew it was useless.

His eyes were always fixed ahead, never looking down, as if looking down would turn the water beneath his feet into a pool of still, undulating waves.

A glimmer of blue flashed in the darkness.

The instant that shadow shone into his eyes, a surge of azure divine power erupted, and Chi Buzhi's figure almost simultaneously sank into that vast divine power, intending to escape.

『丑癸藏』!
All the cyan energy engulfed him. The supernatural powers that had allowed him to hide and overcome enemies for so many years, the powers that had always been his means of survival, could no longer bring him the slightest sense of security. Instead, they were filled with a chilling aura.

Another face with the same blue eyes emerged from that supernatural power, cunning and evil intertwined, its gaze icy, slowly blocking his way.

Chi Buzi's movements came to an abrupt halt.

His emerald eyes gazed at the rippling water as he slowly stepped back and bowed, saying:
"So it's Lord Sui Guan."

The man in blue laughed.

"It's rare to run into Master Chi."

Chi Buzhi gazed at him. The void around him had transformed into an endless green pool, as if they were in another world, where everything was solidifying from the illusory. He remained calm and respectfully said:

"My lord, you're welcome."

"I have been waiting for you for twenty-seven years in [Zhongguang Yushan]".

Sui Guan stepped forward, getting very close to him. Those eyes were fixed on him, as if scrutinizing the person before him.

"Master Chi, can you tell me..."

His voice was soft and slow:
Why don't you go?

In that instant, a dense killing intent permeated all his supernatural abilities. Chi Buzhi was indeed a genius, but he was facing Sui Guan! A fraction of the power of True Monarch Lushui!
All his magical abilities were concentrated in this moment, yet a slight smile appeared on Chi Buzi's lips:

"So, you are in Xingyu Palace. Dongfang Fengchi wants to change his location to Fushui. It is indeed a mysterious path for minor repairs... But the position of Fushui is probably beyond my reach."

Sui Guan laughed, his voice light and airy, flowing through the azure sky and earth. He said:

"You, surnamed Chi, everyone knows what kind of person you are, yet you still put on airs in front of me!"

Chi Buzi's expression remained unchanged.

Sui Guan turned slightly to the side, looking at the long river in the sky. Endless female waters surged in the heavens, transforming through the void into various forms of sustenance that fell to earth. He said:
“You know I won’t kill you. Just like the Kan River today, we also need that feathered serpent gold to fall. You should be glad that the female water didn’t work today, and glad that Wangyue Lake and His plan failed.”

Sui Guan's tone gradually turned cold:

"He wanted to attain the Dao embryo, using the vast ocean as a feat. If Xiao Chuting truly attained the Dao, do you think there's anything left for you to do?"

"Chi Buzhi, think it over carefully."

He turned his head to look back:
"Now, you are waiting for the true dragon to attain enlightenment, for the water virtue to cease its excesses, and for the palace to be established. But you are not the only one waiting for this moment!"

Chi Buzhi's smile faded, and he suddenly said:

"What does Your Excellency mean?"

Sui Guan glanced at him and said:
"Seeking respite from the green waters."

His voice gradually lowered:
"The 'Xin You Lu Ze Seal' is connected to the Feathered Serpent and Lu Shui metal element. They want you to respond to this thing to prove your path, but you seek the Fu Water. What help can you get? You can only seek Lu Shui, you can only seek Lu Shui."

“Chi Buzi, you have already proven yourself. Luwei has changed its position. Now you are building the Four Lu and One Mansion. It is not impossible to ask for a spare position. The Du family wants the Mansion Water. It doesn’t matter if you fail. If you succeed, your Four Lu and One Mansion can help him. So I have this son in my spare time.”

In that instant, Chi Buzhi suddenly raised his head, gazing at the point of blue in the air. The Great Master laughed and said:

"The surging waters of the lake have finally come to my aid—but we have to wait until today."

"It's nothing more than being a dog."

Sui Guan was also smiling. He said:
"Don't blame me for being blunt, but in the eyes of the Dragon Clan, you are nothing more than a dog that will die sooner or later. On Wangyue Lake, you were even worse. You were a vicious dog that circled around the sickbed, a dog that we couldn't kill earlier. Now we're just barely using you. Do you really think you'll ever get to live in the manor?"

"If it weren't for me, if it weren't for that guy surnamed Du, you would have died on the lake long ago! Would you be where you are today? Tell me, isn't that right?"

His smile deepened, and he said:

"The man surnamed Du asked me to pass on a message."

“No matter how strict we are, we still treat you like our own dog. You’ve done all sorts of evil deeds, and you’re naturally going to follow a master who’s also evil. If you go somewhere else, you might be successful for a while, but once he’s better and has some rest, he might just have to use you as a scapegoat!”

Chi Buzhi's expression froze, the muscles on his face twitched slightly, and his hands were clenched tightly in his sleeves.

"Taiqing has gone to seek the water of the prefecture, and this position will definitely be vacant. You will have plenty of room to maneuver. Since you can be in charge of your own territory, why should you submit to others and be at their mercy?"

The man in blue stood in the air, and somehow a small, blue jade slip appeared in his hand.

The jade slip lay quietly in his palm, its entire surface a warm, bluish-green, like the color of the sky after rain. Golden light flowed around it, and one could vaguely see the undulations of clouds and the shimmering of water, mysterious and unpredictable.

Chi Buzhi's eyes reflected this cyan color, and a hint of hesitation finally appeared as he scrutinized it.

"This is the method for seeking gold—whether you consult a dragon-related expert or someone else, it won't be wrong. You are a great master, so you can make your own judgment."

His tone was tinged with amusement:
"Master Chi, I will be waiting for you at Luchi."