Chapter 1006: Yang Tianya

Li Zhouwei finished speaking, and silence fell upon them. Li Ximing rose anxiously, hesitated for a moment, but did not mention Xiao Yuansi's matter. Li Xuanxuan lowered his brows.

"At least... no consequences have appeared yet."

"Regardless of the situation, we must be clear in our minds. Concerning the Ancestor and the events of a century ago and since, we must be prepared, no matter how much they know."

Li Ximing nodded and advised:

"The situation in the North... its meaning is already very clear. Luoxia doesn't care much for us; they have a 'use them if we can' mentality. Since the Underworld and Luoxia are forces of the same caliber, their decisions on this matter might be similar..."

Li Zhouwei carefully observed the expressions of the two, then withdrew his gaze and nodded silently.

"Furthermore..."

The old man said softly:

"We live for the affairs of the 'Lord,' and we die for the affairs of the 'Lord.' The entanglement with Mingyang is not without reason."

The 'Lord' in his words seemed to refer to Luoxia and the Underworld, yet also to the Wei-Li legacy. However, both Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing understood what he was truly referring to.

From the time the Li family emerged from Moonlake, their true background had never changed, regardless of the faction they belonged to. Others might not realize it, but the three of them knew that there was always a "Lord" behind their family.

However, facing one of the world's largest powers, the Underworld, which rivaled Luoxia and implicitly divided the world into north and south, Li Ximing felt quite uncertain. Unlike Luoxia, their family had gradually achieved its status right under the Underworld's nose!

The three fell silent for a moment. Just as Li Ximing was about to rise, Li Zhouwei, who was beside him, lowered his brows.

"Uncle Gong is cultivating at home; this time... let me go meet him."

Simin Commandery.

The sky was clear and bright.

The pavilion was brightly lit. A woman, with a beautiful and refined appearance, dressed in black, hurried up the stairs. Upon reaching the door, she tidied her clothes slightly before stepping inside.

"Creak."

The room's decor was extremely simple. A pale black wooden chair was placed in the center, and hot tea steamed. An old man, with his sleeves folded, sat in the main seat, carefully reading a scroll in his hand.

Though advanced in age and showing signs of it, he still possessed a broad back and powerful build, radiating a formidable aura. With lowered eyelids, he resembled a sleeping, ailing tiger, inspiring awe in anyone who beheld him.

The woman bowed in the room and said respectfully:

"This junior, Tianyou, greets the Ancestor!"

This woman was none other than Yang Tianyou, wife of Li Jiangliang and a descendant of the Imperial Yang family!

"Rise."

The old man above, his gaze unmoving, calmly read the dark-leather scroll in his hands. The pale golden characters shimmered in the sunlight, brilliant in color. His voice was deep and resonant:

"Tianyou... where is your husband?"

Yang Tianyou lowered her head and replied respectfully:

"He is overseeing the founding ceremony in the Commandery."

The old man smiled faintly and said softly:

"I've seen that child; he's not like Mingyang. Though a scion of a prominent family, he pities commoners. That's not the way of a great family, nor is it a path to self-preservation."

Yang Tianyou lowered her brows, and the old man shifted his gaze to her, smiling:

"Tell me, the Great Ning's lifespan isn't short either. Great Ning is close, while Li Wei is distant. The Li and Jiang families also have generational marriage agreements, which is how a figure favored by the Lunar such as Li Jiangqun appeared. How much connection does he still have with Mingyang? In my opinion, you officials are truly too cautious, insisting on keeping even a trace of bloodline under your direct observation."

Yang Tianyou knelt, fear in her heart, and quickly said:

"Ancestor... this junior believes that caution is never wrong; eliminating future troubles is always for the best."

The old man finally averted his gaze, his smile vanishing. He put down the scroll in his hand and said casually:

"Oh?"

The old man's voice was calm, and Yang Tianyou trembled, whispering:

"Ancestor... Qing Yuzhen and Lord Xuan'an, after all, wield immortal formations, command the moon laurel to evolve profound light, and are protected by immortal artifacts. The current chaos is already great enough. Once things settle, they should be eradicated together to eliminate any variables!"

The old man then sighed:

"What you consider is also true. But once something happens to Xuan'an, that demonic fox won't have many days left to jump around. What's the use of the two of them causing trouble back and forth? How many times has this happened already?"

"This Xuan'an is neither Zhang Yuanyu nor Su Xikong. Those two still had to adapt to the situation to achieve great things. A mere lingering presence within a residence, even if his mystical abilities are indeed high and he employs every trick, what kind of force can he become? He used to think he was skilled at manipulating events, but it wasn't him who was skilled; it was Senior Yingze."

"Tang Shu is watching him. No matter what methods he uses, now, as soon as he appears on the list and is banished to the Underworld, he'll vanish without a trace. What good would that do?"

Yang Tianyou quickly bowed her head and echoed:

"This junior understands... In the beginning, when the Mansion Lord reincarnated, he still had some ambition to control the world. But that ambition was merely Lord Yingze's. Later... figures like Duanmu Kui and Li Jiangqun were all in vain. Qing Yuzhen was timid and hesitant. Three times he made moves, targeting minor cultivators and mortals, and all three times he botched it, which was even more laughable."

"Without the 'Lord's' support, even if Qing Yuzhen possessed this lake, it would be in vain. He thought he had succeeded, but he didn't realize that a certain Lord had lost the Jianyáng Ring, which drifted to the lake, drawing Mingyang's attention and making it impossible to clear his name. Those descendants of Ning Li were treated as the legitimate direct lineage of Wei Li, but in the end, the world wanted them dead! A complete loss!"

She smiled, cautiously observing the old man:

"Now, all who hold heavenly positions are banished to the Underworld, guarding their small plots of land, long rendered useless. They should be eradicated as soon as possible. What if the fox behind Qing Yuzhen succeeds in its breakthrough?"

"Hmm..."

Yang Tianyou silently lowered her head, while the old man before her said casually:

"You are naive. The Jianyáng Ring might not be the fox's doing; you shouldn't underestimate them. But cutting flesh requires a soft knife. Even if the fox succeeds, what then? We naturally won't covet their things anymore. We welcome her to join and get a share; they wouldn't want the return of the Lord Father either."

"But for us, Luoxia and the Dragon Kin are the most important. Once the overall situation stabilizes, all these matters can be dealt with together... After all, there's still a remnant hiding in the South Sea..."

He smiled, looking at Yang Tianyou with interest, and replied:

"You don't need to test me. Your stance is so firm; you truly don't intend to preserve any of that bloodline."

Yang Tianyou said in fright:

"This junior would not dare to have ulterior motives!"

The old man then withdrew his gaze and said casually:

"Perhaps throughout the entire world, only my Yang family and Judge Jiang have some motivation and ability to protect them... But that's protecting the dead, not the living; protecting the person, not the lineage."

A hint of coldness appeared in his expression:

"Qing Yuzhen's lake is a minor matter for Judge Tang, and it's not within our jurisdiction. We can use it as we see fit; if a piece can be played, we play it; if not, so be it. What matters is whether the Great Song's affairs succeed or fail. The Ten Palaces are watching; if it doesn't work out, we won't have an easy time of it."

Yang Tianyou kept kowtowing, cold sweat pouring down her face. Suddenly, she heard the door creak open, and someone entered.

The person had an ordinary, unremarkable appearance and was dressed in black. It was Yang Ruiyi of the Yang family.

This true person entered the pavilion, and seeing Yang Tianyou kneeling on the ground, a hint of distress flashed in his eyes. His movements were swift, and he knelt beside her without hesitation, respectfully stating:

"Ancestor! Someone has arrived from the lake!"

"Oh?"

The old man took a sip of tea and asked:

"Is it the White Qilin or that Purple Mansion cultivator?"

Yang Ruiyi replied respectfully:

"It's White Lin."

There was a hint of doubt in the young man's brows, but he saw the old man say casually:

"It's rare for him to visit the mortal world; let him come up."

Only then did Yang Ruiyi dare to rise. He helped Yang Tianyou up and gently told her to leave. He then stood sideways beside the old man, who, to his surprise, rose and offered him the main seat, smiling:

"Sit."

Yang Ruiyi was momentarily flustered and lowered his brows, saying:

"This junior... this junior..."

"If I tell you to sit, then sit."

The old man instructed casually, then turned and sat on a secondary seat by the window. His gaze fell outside the window as he waited silently. After only a few breaths, steady footsteps approached.

"Creak."

The door opened again. Yang Ruiyi's expression had already returned to normal; he raised his brows and smiled:

"White Lin has arrived."

The golden eyes were very conspicuous in the pavilion. Li Zhouwei nodded slightly and replied:

"Li Zhouwei of the Moonlake Li family, courtesy name Minghuang."

Yang Ruiyi rose, bowed in return, and smiled:

"Yang Ruiyi of the Simin Yang family, courtesy name Lutao. Please."

Li Zhouwei smiled and nodded, the golden light in his eyes subtly flickering, now clear.

Mid-stage Purple Mansion, profound cultivation...

He followed the other's lead and took a seat to the side. He glanced sideways, finally meeting the gaze of the old man by the window.

This gaze was calm yet potent, carrying a hint of scrutiny, watching silently.

Li Zhouwei's smile remained unchanged, yet he subtly revealed a well-timed hint of confusion:

"This is..."

Yang Ruiyi quickly rose and smiled:

"This is indeed our family's Ancestor, of the 'Heaven' generation, named Ya, and with the Daoist title Guanxuan!"

A look of realization appeared on Li Zhouwei's face, and he said, neither humble nor arrogant:

"So it is Senior Guanxuan!"

'Yang Tianya...'

This name, which the Li family had long pondered, finally appeared before him. Li Zhouwei's heart began to waver, rising bit by bit. What first stirred was unexpectedly the Great Wen Golden Eyes, which he had long dismissed. It subtly warned him that the person before him was different!

He looked directly, but his heart gradually tensed.

It wasn't because of the person's calm demeanor, nor Li Zhouwei's anxiety about the upcoming conversation. Rather, as Li Zhouwei raised his brows and communicated his spiritual sense with the immortal artifact, the scene before him suddenly changed.

The sun shone brightly, but the table and chairs were empty.

There was no old man, no Yang Tianya, only an empty table and chairs!

Li Zhouwei remained composed, quietly staring at the spot. A dizzying sensation suddenly arose in his mind. Vaguely, everything before him flickered in and out of existence. A speck of black descended onto the table and chairs, instantly consuming his vision.

Within this blackness, tides rose and fell, life and death extinguished, all things vanished without a trace, losing their divine distinctiveness. Countless shadows fell into it, and from the void, a lost, weary sensation emerged.

A wave of coolness surged into his mind, pulling him out of the darkness and detaching him. Li Zhouwei's mind suddenly cleared, holding only one thought:

'Is he really Yang Tianya?'

Li Zhouwei forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart, averted his gaze, and said respectfully:

"I've long heard of your great name."

Yang Tianya's expression was calm; he nodded at Li Zhouwei, seemingly looking into his eyes. His smile carried a hint of genuineness and regret, and he said:

"Rare... truly rare..."

Li Zhouwei collected himself and returned the bow. Seeing Yang Tianya looking at him casually, he smiled:

"Friend Minghuang, I've heard all about your noble clan's steady ascent to the status of an immortal family! My congratulations are a bit late."

Li Zhouwei smiled, but the other party didn't give him a chance to speak, responding leisurely:

"I remember your noble ancestor distinguishing himself in the army. Later, when I heard your clan was leveraging power, I facilitated it somewhat."

As he finished speaking, clarity dawned on Li Zhouwei's mind:

'Your clan leveraged power, and I facilitated it somewhat.'

Clearly, Yang Tianya definitely knew the Ancestor, Li Mutian!

Li Zhouwei sighed faintly, revealing a troubled expression, and replied:

"In earlier times... there was countless slaughter and mutual persecution below my family's mountain. My family, however, was weak at the time, fearing disaster daily. It was only by virtue of our Ancestor, a mere mortal, somehow gaining the attention of a 'Lord,' and relying on that connection, that he was able to falsely claim to have achieved Foundation Establishment, thus preserving our clan. This junior is eternally grateful..."

He replied very smoothly, expressing his gratitude, but took the opportunity to shift the question to the other party. Yang Tianya, however, lowered his brows, sipped his tea, and sighed:

"How could one not notice a descendant of an immortal cultivator with noble blood appearing in the army?"

He was, of course, speaking the truth, but half-concealing it, not mentioning which family the descendant belonged to. He raised his brows and smiled, his gaze, however, intensely fixed on Li Zhouwei, as if probing his emotions, and asked:

"Pure Qi is the origin of all Qi and the foundation from which all spirits are born. The so-called foundation of cultivation lies in the Spiritual Apertures. With the spiritual energy of Moonlake cut off and the sign of Pure Qi lost, Spiritual Apertures naturally become difficult to form. For your family to rise in power, coinciding with the revival of the spiritual veins, is actually quite natural!"

Li Zhouwei didn't know how much sincerity was in his words and sighed:

"This foundation lies in the bloodline. Without your help, Senior, our Ancestor's achievements would be impossible to speak of! Our Ancestor often spoke of it in his lifetime, lamenting that he didn't know your whereabouts. Otherwise, he would have brought his sons to thank you for your kindness; that would have been wonderful..."

"Three out of four... That's also rare."

After he said this, he offered no further reply, smiling as he lowered his head to sip tea. Li Zhouwei then looked at the person before him and congratulated him:

"Congratulations!"

Yang Ruiyi had already raised his brows and smiled, asking:

"This time, our Yang family has gained a True Qi Qilin child, and all matters are progressing smoothly; it is indeed a great joy... However... ultimately, we cannot compare to your esteemed reputation, and there are still many areas where we must rely on you."

Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea, looking quite at ease, and shook his head:

"Friend, what are you saying? Your noble clan is hidden so deeply; this junior truly admires you! As for reliance, I wouldn't dare claim it!"

The two families exchanged polite pleasantries. Yang Ruiyi chuckled and replied:

"My family has gained some opportunities, but we cannot compare to places like Zhixuan Pavilion; our influence is small. How can Minghuang not be worthy? In the future, when we work together, we should communicate more."

Li Zhouwei immediately understood.

'Indeed, they don't wield absolute power; not only do they not, but they are still quite lacking... It seems the Underworld values Judge Yang, not the entire Yang family!'

Yang Ruiyi's words were subtle, saying they couldn't compare to Zhixuan Pavilion, but in reality, it was an indirect way of stating their position. The Yang family was similar to Zhixuan Pavilion; just as Zhixuan Pavilion could represent Luoxia's will, the Yang family merely upheld the interests of the Underworld.

This might seem like a common occurrence, but the implications after clarifying it were not small!

'It's often said that Zhixuan Pavilion is Luoxia's dog, and a dog is a dog after all. They can act tyrannical below the mountain, but they can't present themselves decently on the mountain. They can be driven at will but cannot climb up to Luoxia... If the Yang family is to correspond to Zhixuan Pavilion, then that's not a comfortable position at all!'

'It was precisely for this reason that the State of Yue ended up in such a state!'

'Besides Zhixuan Pavilion, Luoxia has seven prime ministers. Which other families does the Underworld have?'