Chapter 1016: Responding

The moonlight was bright, and the luminous moonbeams flowed onto the bronze-textured steps. The eighteen hundred long stairs appeared solemn and cold amidst the clouds. Under the vast immortal platform with its eight standing gates, people stood in twos and threes, conversing quietly.

A true immortal in dark blue robes ambled up the steps. His face was round, his eyes sparkled with spirit, and his expression was inscrutable. He continued his ascent until he reached the highest point, where he encountered someone face-to-face.

This person was a monk with a fair complexion, an imposing demeanor, and a gold lacquer dot between his brows. Descending the steps, he stopped directly in front of the immortal, pressed his palms together, and smiled:

“Fellow Daoist Bai! Long time no see.”

The young man in dark blue robes was indeed True Immortal Ye Hui, Bai Ziyu. He calmly glanced at the monk and replied:

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Guang Chan.”

Ye Hui was never one to be trifled with. Seeing the monk standing squarely in front of him, he smiled:

“How is it that you’ve studied Buddhism all the way into the Zhixuan Pavilion? It seems that even though you sit on cushions in the Dharma Realm, standing on the floor tiles in the immortal pavilion isn’t as comfortable, forcing you to pace around day after day.”

His words were sarcastic, veiled innuendo, yet they struck directly at a sore point.

The Zhixuan Pavilion was where the Grand Zhao commander trained immortal cultivators; its predecessor was the Qiuzi Pavilion of Daliang. Although the Shaoyang Demon Lord had fallen, the lineage of the Zitaixuanxie Sect survived. This Shaoyang Demon Lord disliked Buddhist cultivators; regardless of their cultivation level, any Buddhist cultivator entering the Qiuzi Pavilion had to stand, whereas immortal cultivators, regardless of their level, were at least offered a cushion to sit on.

The Zhixuan Pavilion still maintained this rule. Even if Guang Chan was a Mahā, he still had to stand when seeing Wei Xuanyin…

Mahā Guang Chan’s expression immediately darkened, but Ye Hui didn’t let up, casually remarking:

“I see the Sparrow Carp has gained great benefits. It seems you, Fellow Daoist, can no longer tolerate being equated with him for no reason.”

Guang Chan gave him a cold look and replied:

“How could my pure Daoist lineage be compared to his demonic wickedness? Qilin is light, and Peacock…”

Ye Hui directly interrupted him, laughing:

“Peacock, Peacock! Its ancestor, the Black Goose, was also a Great Saint! If you were Li Zhouwei… then I could only nod. But what are you?!”

This statement completely broke the peace between them. The emotional fluctuations on Guang Chan’s face quickly calmed, and he said indifferently:

“Fellow Daoist, your mouth is not pure; you must be careful.”

Seeing that he was truly angered, Ye Hui ceased provoking him, merely sneering without a word.

After all, Guang Chan was the most prominent and fastest-progressing Mahā in the Great Mu Dharma Realm in the past century. Ye Hui, with his Duwei Dao, was not adept at fighting Mahās and truly wasn’t a match for him. This made Ye Hui sigh inwardly:

‘The Duwei lineage is indeed vast, but it has too many vulnerabilities. It’s a pity that as someone without a prominent background, now that I’ve obtained this lineage, I can only walk this path that no one else is willing to take.’

In that moment, Guang Chan flicked his sleeves and departed, prompting Ye Hui to sneer. He took two steps onto the platform, passed the shimmering plaque of Zhixuan Pavilion, and immediately saw the bright silver cauldron in the courtyard.

A man stood by the side of the great hall, draped in a feather-like silver robe. His eyes were long and narrow, and his fair fingers rested on the rim of the cauldron, gently stirring the water within. Seeing Ye Hui approach, he turned his head and smiled:

“Ziyu, you’re here.”

Ye Hui quickly bowed and smiled, then stood to one side. Wei Xuanyin couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head and saying:

“You’re arguing with Buddhist cultivators again. I’ve told you before, your Duwei lineage has ties with Huaqi. If something major happens, you could still side with the Buddhist cultivators… You’re cutting off your own escape route.”

Regardless of the northern forces, Wei Xuanyin was unequivocally good to Ye Hui. Bai Ziyu merely shook his head:

“I don’t wish to guide others, nor should he come to guide me.”

Whether feigned or sincere, to possess the backbone to speak such words earned Wei Xuanyin’s admiration. Ye Hui quickly changed the subject, speaking solemnly:

“The Changxiao Sect has been destroyed, and Cheng Yan has perished. Li Zhouwei also injured Shi Louying Pavilion in the Grotto-heaven, and that fellow, Shi Louying Pavilion, won’t even feign diligence anymore; he ran back to Qi territory in one breath… Now Li Zhouwei has more and more spirit treasures, and ordinary Three Divine Abilities can no longer suppress him… Although we have four mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators stationed here, we fear that the Buddhist side might be weakened by the departure of the Sparrow Carp. I have come at Lord Qi’s command to request your arrangements.”

“Sparrow Carp.”

Wei Xuanyin heard the name, his expression slightly complex, and replied:

“They still underestimated the one behind him. After all, he is a descendant of a Great Saint. While he can’t be compared to the Sun and Moon Rulers, he can stand alongside the Unseen and Unawakened. As for those like Dongfang Tianye, they are only fit to be his stepping stones.”

As for Li Zhouwei’s matter, Wei Xuanyin clearly knew about it even earlier than Ye Hui. He merely showed a sigh of lamentation on his face, shaking his head and saying:

“Li Zhouwei is indeed different, which is not surprising. As for his increasing number of spirit treasures, that’s even less surprising. Once his destiny aligns and he breaks through, the spiritual objects in the Li clan’s possession will surely double.”

Although Wei Xuanyin cultivated Jueyin, he was much more tranquil than Zong Chang. With no malice in his tone, he quietly asked:

“How many casualties?”

Ye Hui shook his head, having a deep understanding of this point, and replied:

“The Li clan’s governance is strict, so there were very few casualties, limited only to the Changxiao Sect.”

Wei Xuanyin nodded and said:

“Mingyang emphasizes ‘I am the sovereign father,’ and he has his own reasons for acting as such, demanding loyalty and selflessness from his subordinates, separating personal gain from one’s heart. The sovereign father’s authority reigns supreme, thus fostering loyalty and selflessness… In the past, Gongsun Yang, Qu Yi, and others who cultivated immortality in the mountains were still dragged out by Emperor Wei to pledge loyalty and filial piety; this is the same principle.”

“And what is called selflessness ultimately fulfills the sovereign father’s most overbearing selfish desires… At least, at least if the common people are useful for the sovereign father’s ambitions, then it’s somewhat better.”

Bai Ziyu nodded repeatedly, but only the last sentence made him frown inwardly. Being from the East Sea, he found it difficult to understand the meaning of Wei Xuanyin’s final remark:

‘What use is there? He presides over the Zhixuan Pavilion. Can such words, tacitly endorsing Mingyang, be spoken so casually?’

He, being prudent, remained silent. Wei Xuanyin, however, stopped abruptly and mused:

“As for Cheng Yan…”

“The Wei Emperor’s influence in suppressing the world is indelible. Sheng Mingjin Mingwang is a blood descendant, and the golden nature he possesses is not from the Wei Emperor; at best, he is a false White Qilin. If his divine abilities are perfected, he can make the Helian family cry out 'monster.' If he can suppress Mingyang in a fight, he’s easy to handle. But if he is suppressed by Mingyang, it will be difficult for him to recover, except for a few specific lineages. Cheng Yan’s death was not unjustified…”

“Even if he had escaped, he would have eventually died in the East Sea. No wonder Changxiao didn’t save him.”

Ye Hui secretly frowned and asked:

“What is the meaning of this?”

Wei Xuanyin smiled:

“Regarding the Grotto-heaven matter back then, those at the top all knew. Yin Continent Pingyan, the Purple Mansion cultivator from Yin Continent who worked for the Dragon Clan, was once promised a great opportunity by the Dragon Clan if he could obtain that True Qi.”

“Although Pingyan knew the hope was slim, he prepared meticulously. Unexpectedly, his fortune was profound, and he truly stumbled upon that True Qi, only for Cheng Yan to ruin it. This ignited a resentment greater than if his parents had been killed!”

Ye Hui silently assented, then asked:

“What about Changxiaozi…”

Wei Xuanyin stirred the water, watching as white runes floated up from the surface, and said faintly:

“Such a good opportunity was laid before him by the Yang clan, and Shang Yi was practically a perfect match, yet he refused to cooperate. If he truly harbored intentions for the fruit position, he would have allied with the Yang family long ago, which would have perfectly helped the Yang clan maintain balance in the court…”

“His leaning towards us clearly shows he’s not seeking the fruit position. He already has enemies in the True Qi realm and intends to achieve enlightenment in the Zhao court, contemplating slaughtering Lucai before leaving, clearing the area, and destroying the Li clan’s foundation in the East Sea…”

“Oh?”

Ye Hui frowned and asked:

“Did he act?”

Wei Xuanyin smiled and replied:

“He waited for a while in Qunyi, with daily thunderstorms. I suspect Dongfang Heyun kept him busy with tea, deliberately delaying until the Changxiao Sect was destroyed… The Dragon Clan interfered again.”

“They’re really shameless!”

Seeing Changxiao suffer a setback, Ye Hui gloated, praising, “With Li Qinghong achieving enlightenment through lightning, the Dragon Clan has some say.” “That’s not right.”

Wei Xuanyin shook his head and replied:

“That’s not how this matter is calculated. Li Qinghong’s situation was an accident; I suspect someone protected her, but she doesn’t have much say. Do you think the Dragon Clan has much goodwill? Originally, everyone thought they would kill Li Zhouwei first. Now, even though his life has been spared, it’s just a pretense. The precondition is that if the mountain doesn’t protect him, the Dragon Clan won’t make the first move.”

“The dragons of the East Sea didn’t harm him because they knew that if he were pushed into the hands of the North, someone would surely test the mountain. They merely sit quietly in the East Sea, observing how much room the North still has to maneuver and how much control the mountain still exerts over the entire North.”

His expression was calm as he replied:

“This is a rehearsal, to see how many people harbor secret intentions. On the day a real battle breaks out in the heavens, without the suppression of the mountain’s mighty figures, how many variables will emerge in the North?”

“As for Qunyi… he is preserved in Liu Changdie.”

Wei Xuanyin smiled with interest, his gaze still fixed on the characters gradually forming in the cauldron:

“I see this fellow has figured it out now. Previously, no one bothered him because these crucial Douxuan Grotto-heavens still needed people and variables. Now that the overall situation is decided, everyone dislikes variables, so he’s uncomfortable.”

“Conversely, he has some room to maneuver overseas. Firstly, several positions required by the Dragon Clan are related to Douxuan, so protecting him is definitely a good thing. Secondly, the Dragon Clan is currently passive, and with variables in hand, they might turn passive into active at any time.”

Wei Xuanyin said gravely:

“Don’t underestimate Changxiao. He also calculated Liu Changdie’s variable, either scheming in secret or having already negotiated with Sheng Baidao. The timing was perfectly precise; when trouble arose in the West Sea, if Liu Changdie had moved, Qunyi would not have been preserved.”

Ye Hui suddenly understood, lowered his brows in thought, and brought the conversation back, replying:

“But in that case, the arrangements in Jiangbei…”

Wei Xuanyin gently waved his hand, scattering all the mystical characters on the water’s surface, and casually said:

“Gongsun Bei is in Jiangbei, and he has spirit treasures on him, so you have nothing to fear. I will mention it to the Buddhist cultivators…”

Seeing Wei Xuanyin’s nonchalance, Ye Hui took the opportunity to voice his thoughts, probing:

“I’ve also seen that White Qilin; it doesn’t seem particularly demonic.”

Wei Xuanyin turned his head, his expression gradually becoming solemn, and said in a low voice:

“Do you know that Jun Daowei’s restrictions on Mingyang’s demonic nature mean one must consider Mingyang’s divine abilities? There’s no mistake about it.”

“As his divine abilities grow, and Mingyang’s position consolidates, he cannot be measured by ordinary standards. When facing him, one must control him, restrain him, and hinder him at every turn before he can even move. If he is allowed to breathe and charge, Mingyang will be in danger. Unless I intervene, no restrictions will be effective, and there will be another Cheng Yan.”

He said somberly:

“I will always remind them. If the Buddhist cultivators underestimate him, they will bear the consequences themselves.”

Wangyue Lake.

The sky was bright, the lake shimmered, and pale white streaks of light traversed the horizon. Cultivators rode the wind in orderly procession, and a towering purple-gold mystical pillar pierced through heaven and earth, presenting an air of immortal grandeur.

Li Suining stood quietly in a high-rise pavilion, raising his brows to gaze out:

‘King Wei has returned…’

In the sky, clouds surged away, and a massive golden vessel, like a beast roaming through a deep sea of clouds, stretched its form under the sun’s rays. Onboard, jade armor was neatly arranged, and divine palaces of crimson splendor, layer upon layer, room upon room, shimmered with magnificent light.

He gazed at the enormous golden vessel, while the old man beside him stood silently, his eyes full of reverence as he looked towards the horizon. Li Suining exhaled deeply, saying with a hint of disbelief:

“Elder Du… True Immortal Cheng Yan… did he really fall at Changxiao?”

Du Dou quickly bowed down and said respectfully:

“I heard it from the elder; I don’t know if it’s true or not, but such news has spread. The accompanying cultivators said that in Helin County… the sky was filled with earth and stones, the path was piled several feet high, pitch black, blacker than ink! Malicious aura also seeped out from the ground; the earth was soaked with it, impossible to mold. People who walked on it would sink in and would fall ill after crawling out…”

“We old fellows gossiped and thought it over… the death of a True Immortal should indeed be like this.”

Li Suining’s cultivation was actually not low. He nodded as he listened, already believing it eighty or ninety percent:

“Indeed, he was slain!”

In his previous life, when the Chen family acted, the Changxiao Sect was also destroyed, but Cheng Yan either received a warning or had some means to escape, vanishing without a trace. Whether he went to the East Sea or followed Changxiao, there was no further news of him.

This sense of disorientation between his past and present lives filled him with emotion, and he sighed:

“The clans of Helin should have a record, stating that in late spring, during the fifth month, the Heavenly Gate shone brightly, suppressing the nine heavens. Suddenly, mountains collapsed and earth cracked, rocks and soil rained down, and malevolent energy emerged from the ground. Looking out from their homes, they saw the paths piled several feet high with dark soil, slick as solidified fat—thus, they knew Cheng Yan had been executed.”

Du Dou listened, half understanding, half confused, but it didn’t matter. He merely clasped his sleeves and said respectfully:

“What Young Master says is most true.”

He flattered, but then heard a clear and calm voice gently drift from within the pavilion:

“Young Master certainly has a fine disposition.”

Li Suining quickly turned his head, only to see a man standing in the pavilion. Dressed in black, he had wide, long eyebrows and slightly narrow eyes, revealing grey-black pupils that shone intensely with a hint of malevolence.

He stared intently into Li Suining’s eyes, his grey-black gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny and probing. He smiled slightly and said in a low voice:

“I am Chen Yang, humbly serving True Immortals. I’ve been in seclusion for some time now… I presume Young Master does not recognize me…”

Li Suining’s gaze held a hint of peculiarity, lingering for a long time on his grey-black eyes, then slowly sweeping over his body. He replied:

“So it’s Guest Elder Chen. I’ve long heard of your esteemed name… We are both descendants of Qingdu, Senior, so there’s no need to be so formal!”