Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1471 Wild Geese Arrive
The young man stood between heaven and earth, his expression shifting repeatedly. Finally, he lowered his head, and when he raised it again, only a hint of regret remained. He sighed:

"After countless schemes, in the end we still have to rely on the King of Wei..."

Surprisingly, despite being caught in such a grand scheme, this True Person showed little displeasure. Whether he had resigned himself to his fate after being so manipulated by a Golden Core lineage, or had anticipated the price of his extended lifespan, he simply smiled and said:

"I had hoped to put up a fight, but it seems I would only make a fool of myself in front of the King of Wei."

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow and smiled:

"Let me ask you, why did you choose such a place out of the blue?"

Situ Huo was taken aback, but he had already composed himself and said:
"Your Majesty, back then, Su Mian obtained the demonic fetus and pretended to reveal his whereabouts to me. He was raising the demonic fetus in a cave in the outer sea. I obtained the trail, refined the demonic fetus there, and successfully broke through. I traveled westward back, and this place is the first place I stopped in with some human activity."

Li Zhouwei understood as well and said:

"Su Mian knew he was destined to die at your hands, but he also had his own plans. Back then, when my great-uncle enlightened the group of cultivators, he deliberately set the location so that you would run into my family's karma as soon as possible!"

Situ Huo understood as well, and the man sneered, saying:
"A pointless act!"

After all, with Jin Yi's support, Situ Huo could run to the ends of the earth and it would be useless. But Su Mi couldn't bear to see him living a carefree life and, considering the consequences, insisted on confronting him head-on as soon as he broke through.

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart. Han Li felt a slight chill and understood how this market had come about. But before he could even express his feelings, the King of Wei finally turned his gaze to him.

At this moment, Han Li finally felt the pressure the old man next to him was under. Even though the other man's gaze was only subtly menacing, his own supernatural abilities were constantly warning him.

'Danger…'

He bowed respectfully and said:
"Greetings, King Wei!"

"rare…"

The young man in black praised it and said:
"The old emperor wandered around Jianghuai for a while, and eventually escaped your fate. No wonder you were able to obtain the inheritance left by your uncle in the vast outer sea."

Han Li was startled and alarmed.

'Inheritance?'

He inherited a lot, but when it comes to that barren outer sea, there is only one predecessor!
'Master Gu Feng!'

'Indeed… Master Zhaojing is renowned for his mastery of fire control!'

The man was momentarily speechless. He moved his lips as if to speak, but then he saw Situ Huo's cold smile and the gloating in his eyes, the meaning of which was self-evident:

'Hey…you're just a spectator…come over here and pay your respects!'

Han Li was speechless for a moment, then said in a low voice:
"So it was... a legacy from Senior Zhaojing. I am deeply grateful..."

He straightened his expression, his gaze becoming solemn, and bowed. He said:

"Back then, my Han family was able to escape and reach the outer sea thanks to the kindness of the noble senior Qinghong... On behalf of the Han family, I thank King Wei!"

This gesture was clearly much more solemn. Li Zhouwei, well-versed in clan history, naturally understood immediately and nodded, saying:

"The Han family of Dongliu Island? What a coincidence..."

"Yes... it's me..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young man in front of him casually waved his hand and said:

"Consider yourself fortunate. Don't dwell on past grievances. Go now. The world is vast, but your lineage has no good path. Stay far away!"

Upon hearing this, Han Li stood there stunned, his face still showing gratitude, but he felt a sense of relief, even as if he had been granted a pardon.

Indeed, he did receive a good treasure thanks to the help of Master Gu Feng, but if you think about it, he has had at least three or five similar opportunities. Without those opportunities, he would certainly suffer some hardships, but it wouldn't fundamentally hinder his supernatural powers...

If he were truly a senior or a descendant, he would naturally offer some comfort and guidance. However, it would be unacceptable for him to follow Mingyang to fight across the seas, allowing his hard-earned supernatural abilities to be drawn into a situation of unknown fortune and misfortune. More importantly, his ancestors had been saved by the Li family. If the King of Wei mentioned it, he would follow his heart and ultimately have to go.

'Having become a pawn in the grand scheme of things, even with supernatural powers, one will still die when the time comes... I can only consider this repayment of a past favor...'

He was deeply grateful for this forgiveness, and bowed deeply, saying:
"I will always remember the kindness of King Wei and Senior Zhaojing..."

Li Zhouwei had already turned his head away and ignored him. The master of the Baomu Dao sect wisely retreated. Situ Huo, who was standing to the side, grew anxious and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting:
"Your Majesty! This is..."

The young man glanced at him, and the old man immediately lowered his head and remained silent. Li Zhouwei sheathed his sword, his heart at peace.

He was equally clear about his calculations.

'This Han Li has some potential, but once he's under my command, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about him… He has some good connections outside, and at least he's a supernatural being.'

He then exhaled, looked at the chaotic market town beneath his feet, raised his hand, flicked his finger, and instantly ten thousand rays of light descended from the sky, brilliantly covering the island.

【The Mysterious Walking Technique】!
This method is an earth-element technique, which not only includes the act of walking in the void, but also the technique of transporting objects. It mobilizes the earth's veins, causing a rumbling sound. The island expanded considerably, and a spiritual resource was ejected and landed, giving the spirit a sudden burst of energy.

'After all, this is where my uncle taught us. Damaging the territory of the cultivators should be considered compensation.'

Only then did they step into the Great Void, heading straight west. Situ Huo consciously followed, whispering:

"Is the King of Wei returning to the interior?"

Li Zhouwei shook his head and casually said:
"Go to the South China Sea and find another colleague of yours."

……

The sea breeze was strong.

As the sunlight broke through the waves, rushing in from afar, the man's figure gradually grew larger, his white-gold Taoist robe fluttering slightly in the wind. The distant islands had come into view, but his expression grew increasingly solemn.

'Nan Shun Luo Zha…'

But Li Ximing's gaze was inevitably somewhat complicated.

'So this elder is someone I've met before. It makes sense. He was the one who escorted me to the lake to exchange for the Huayang King's Axe. Thinking about it carefully, such a precious treasure as the Huayang King's Axe, which I obtained so easily, was probably due to his persuasion…'

This favor was truly immense. Back then, the Li family was dirt poor, and Li Ximing became a supernatural being in a completely clueless way. He wandered the world, unaware of social status, using spiritual essence to refine a spiritual embryo, and also unaware of good or bad, being carelessly dragged into other people's schemes. Looking back now, he feels truly ashamed.

"【Huayang King's Axe】is the first Mingyang spiritual artifact in my family, and also the only one to date that remains unchanged, untouched, and unrefined, still held in the hands of the King of Wei… Sigh! I really have to thank him…"

He landed on the island, filled with melancholy. Soon, black-armored cultivators came to greet him, respectfully saying:

"Please come in, sir!"

Decades have passed, and this place has hardly changed. The same Dharma body, with one hand spreading flowers and the other making a hand seal, still stands there. Li Ximing thought it was extremely majestic back then, but now, upon closer inspection, it is nothing special.

'It seems this Dharma body is similar to that of the cicada...'

After passing through the dark palace, they finally saw the jade throne, but the old master Tian Sanglin was no longer there. Only a skeleton sat on the throne.

Seemingly sensing Li Ximing's entry, the skeleton stretched out its limbs, its skin and flesh regenerated, revealing its slightly sallow face. It shook its head and opened its eyes.

Upon seeing Li Ximing, his gaze shifted slightly. He stood up and smiled:

"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhaojing who has arrived!"

Li Ximing gave a wry smile and said:
"Don't dare!"

If everything is correct, the person before me should be the bloodline of my Uncle Xuanfeng who was lost to the outside world, that is, my own clan uncle…

Li Ximing was actually not uncomfortable. The seniority of cultivators is always exaggerated. He also had an uncle who was still in charge of the Ning family.

'Speaking of which... he's also a descendant of Uncle Xuanfeng, and even much younger...'

He turned to the side, and the man stood up, pulled him to sit down at the table, and said with a smile:

"To be honest, we should thank King Wei for getting rid of Qing Jifang and making his death extremely unpleasant. His mere presence was of great benefit to us; it was truly a rare opportunity..."

Although the words were polite, Li Ximing sensed a subtle distance in them. He sighed inwardly and said softly:
"We're all family...it's nothing."

The man still wore a smile, his gaze shifting horizontally, his expression remaining largely unchanged. However, under the other man's gaze, he finally nodded, lifted the jade pot, poured tea for Li Ximing, and said:
"I've been venturing overseas, using Jiao Zhongzi's name, and I haven't even exchanged names with you, fellow Daoist—I am Jiang Yan, originally from Lixia, and now a resident of the South China Sea..."

The radiance on his face finally faded, the skin and flesh on his face moved, and his body made subtle sounds, finally revealing his true appearance.

He looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with long eyebrows and handsome eyes. His dark gray pupils were very deep. Despite being a very mature age, he had a carefree and dashing air about him, looking like a young man who had just started a family and career. However, there was a hint of coldness in his gaze.

Such a face... while handsome, it lacks any air of nobility; while rugged, it is not vulgar or crude. It is suitable to be a prince of the immortals, yet it would not seem out of place among the farmers of the countryside.

Before his face was revealed, he only had a familiar demeanor and temperament. Now that his true face was revealed, Li Ximing sat there holding his breath, feeling a sense of familiarity yet strangeness, which even made his eyes feel a little sore.

The man thought to himself:

'That's the elegance of my family! Such demeanor and bearing are nowhere to be seen nowadays; only our elders possess them…'

This made him want to cry. Li Ximing took the tea, calmed himself down, and wasn't surprised. He had thought about it for a long time before coming. He only said softly:
"Back then, the country was in turmoil, and our clan was weak. Although Uncle had a mistress, we thought that settling her in the prefecture would be safe. We never expected to encounter such a natural disaster, causing you to suffer for so many years... It is truly our fault..."

Jiang Yan smiled and shook her head, saying:

"It's not bitter."

When Li Ximing recalled what happened back then, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth, taking it as sarcasm, and said in a low voice:

"Your father spent his whole life facing nothing but blood and fire, hatred and tears. He didn't have many regrets, except for your matter. Even on his deathbed, he entrusted it to my grandfather, and then carefully passed it on to me as he was leaving... I even thought to myself, if I can't find you, who will I entrust you to... I understand that you harbor hatred in your heart..."

Jiang Yan's smile finally vanished, replaced by a complex expression. He raised his hand, but instead of the anger or displeasure Li Ximing had expected, he sighed and said:
"You flatter me, sir. I have met my father, and to say I hate him is far from the truth... We were born with affection, but he did not raise me. I was once so caught up in the many fantasies I had of him, but now I have seen through them all..."

“I was displaced since childhood and followed my master to cultivate. Later, my master was killed by Qingji Fang. He risked his life to protect me and I escaped by chance. When I left the southern border, my father had already spared my life. He probably never thought that the arrow he shot would be aimed at his own son.”

"If I had to say what a favor I owe him, it would only be the favor I owed him for that one arrow. I repaid that favor to him when I tricked the formation and eliminated Chi Zhiyan and so many Qingchi cultivators."

He paused, then said seriously:

"But once I went to the Southern Frontier, my destiny was sealed. I had heard of my father's deeds, but I had suffered far less than him, and I had enough opportunities to make a name for myself and avenge my master..."

His eyes were clear, and he said softly:
“When I looked at him from afar on the river back then, I knew that my wandering was not what he wanted either. With that answer, Jiang Yan was already satisfied. He died on the riverbank, and I am proud to have such a father... But in truth, I have already settled things with him.”

Li Ximing fell silent. Jiang Yan's dark gray eyes flickered as she stared at him, and she said very politely:
"If it were Senior Xuanxuan who came today, I would be happy to call him Uncle. But since you are not of my seniority, I will not presume to address you as a fellow Daoist. I have no other intention than to address you as Fellow Daoist."

"Whenever someone comes to the lake, I will politely address them according to their seniority. If a junior comes to me, I will also guide them without hesitation, to fulfill my father's request... just like when I helped you obtain the [Huayang King's Axe]!"

He refilled Li Ximing's teacup and said softly:

“I’ve grown accustomed to a carefree life, and now I’ve been reborn as a sorcerer. My body is as smooth as clay, and I have no offspring or descendants to offer as an offering.”

Jiang Yan smiled and said:
"If the True Man wants me to return to the lake, to acknowledge my ancestors and inherit their lineage, to have more children recognized by me and to become my ancestors, I would not like it, and it is absolutely impossible for me to do so."

The person in front of me remained silent for a long time.

Upon seeing this scene, Jiang Yan seemed momentarily uneasy and whispered:

“Sometimes… Jiang has thought that if I had been born safely on the lake, I might have been able to carry on my father’s will, drive out foreign enemies, and comfort the people. Perhaps I could have accomplished something great. But I ended up wandering away. This is the best way. It’s dignified for both of us.”

The young-looking man lowered his brows, preparing to face the unbelievable question from the person in front of him, but he didn't hear a word for a long time, so Jiang Yan had to raise his brows again.

The master before him sat motionless in his seat, seemingly lost in thought. In that instant, for some reason, he suddenly noticed a hint of age on the face of this renowned master from Jiangnan, Zhaojing.

Under his somewhat surprised gaze, Li Ximing pondered for a long, long time before finally speaking. His words, though soft and gentle, showed no disbelief or resentment:

“That won’t do… If you had been born on the lake, you would either have been murdered by some family, or you would have exhausted your energy and ambition without achieving what you have today.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yan was somewhat lost in thought, but Li Ximing had already raised his head and said:

“Fellow Daoist Jiang, Fellow Daoist Jiang… Your uncle named you, your generation name… is Yuan, and your given name is Yu. I’ve read the inscription and records; this Yu originally had a jade plaque, given to you by your mother…”

"I know."

Jiang Yan said softly:

"Back then, my mother called me Yu'er."

Li Ximing was speechless for a moment, and he whispered:
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I only ask one thing: could you... could you allow Li Yuanyu to... offer incense to our elders..."

His words abruptly ended there; the man suddenly changed his tune, saying urgently:

"No need for incense, no need for incense. I only ask that you write a letter privately, so that when I reach the lake, I can burn it back for my elders and tell them this... Just say..."

"Yuanyu has been found..."