Chapter 1027: Whose Bright Sun

The pavilion fell silent for a moment. How could Minghui Mohe dare to remain seated? He shot up, stood to the side, and began cursing inwardly:

'What is that Fiend-lord Pingyan stirring up?! Everyone knows this lord is a good friend of the White Dragon Crown Prince... There's already so much animosity among the various dragon lineages... Does Pingyan want to die?!'

Pingyan isn't a significant figure among the lineages in Yin Continent, but by causing such a commotion, even if he pleases Guangfou, the Black Dragon, how could Dingjiao let him off easy? It's utterly unwise!

Even though Minghui Mohe was cursing up a storm and filled with countless hesitations, he remained silent, standing quietly.

There was no other reason; high as Minghui's status was, he dared not offend the dragon clan, especially not here in Yin Continent. Even if a dragon slapped him to death, Jinlian would have nowhere to appeal for justice—it was impossible for Dayang Mountain to stand up for Minghui! They would be celebrating, or at best, punishing Jinlian!

As the monk cowered, he stood with his head bowed, yet his heart was restless, muttering inwardly:

'It's not that this humble monk dares not help, but truly, the stance is unclear, and I fear spoiling the lord's great affairs!'

As his thoughts raced, Li Zhouwei's golden eyes gradually brightened. Sensing the intense killing intent emanating from the demon dragon, his gaze turned cold as he quietly watched the demon dragon step into the pavilion garden and stop nearby.

Pingyanzi... this fiend-lord who had been at the Zifu Mid-stage for many years, had his forehead pressed to the ground, not daring to lift it.

Although the demon dragon Guangfou had taken human form, his body was still immensely large. A huge shadow fell, making the entire pavilion garden feel cramped. The surging demonic energy, formed by his breathing, rushed outwards like a current from his sides.

"Li Zhouwei..."

His voice was somewhat hoarse, his tone flat:

"You are the immortal cultivator who presumes upon the White Qilin's name. Where is the Dry-Yang Bracelet?"

At these words, Minghui's heart turned cold.

'This is... a refusal to acknowledge the reality of Mingyang.'

This was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous signal!

The dragon clan had a deep connection with Wei-Li, their relationship once so close that the dragon clan's eldest princess Zhaohe and other dragon maidens entered the Wei Palace for cultivation, and the Beihai Dragon King accompanied Dongfang You into the palace, addressing Emperor Wei Gong as "Uncle."

Even if the dragon clan desperately wished for Luoxia not to shake the Mingyang Fruit-Position, facing a descendant of the White Qilin, they couldn't possibly abandon their dignity unless absolutely necessary! Yet, they couldn't just watch Li Zhouwei grow... The only brutal and straightforward way to quickly eliminate him was to deny he was a White Qilin!

If Li Zhouwei had no relation to Minghui, Minghui would surely be eager for the matter to escalate. But his heart was already weak, and though he maintained a false calm on his face, he made a decision in an instant:

'It's fine to act for him, even fine to destroy this Dharma body... But this humble monk cannot find a stance!'

As countless hesitations filled his mind, the golden-eyed youth above raised his brows, mystical golden patterns appearing on his neck. He said faintly:

"I wonder if the Dragon King despises Wei-Li Mingyang or is simply blind. Destiny is clear, manifest as it is, yet you cannot see it, choosing to amuse yourself with such words."

The youth had risen from his seat, meeting Guangfou's ominous gaze from his dark green eyes. Golden light gathered in his hand, section by section, forming a bright white halberd, and surging colorful light rose from behind him.

The halberd was now held before him, and surging demonic energy submerged the entire mountain range. The demon dragon's figure expanded infinitely within the black mist. Guangfou's cold laughter spread across the sky with the darkness, plunging the mountains into pitch black, leaving only a pair of golden eyes glowing in the dark and a cold statement:

"The Dry-Yang Bracelet? I'll let the Dragon King have his fill."

Guangfou's laughter rolled like thunder, cold and with the demon dragon's strange hoarseness:

"Bold!"

The crescent-shaped halberd was held aloft, and black energy poured down from the sky like a waterfall. A vast, gleaming blade energy, like a mountain, ruthlessly pressed down on the halberd, forcing it suddenly into the ground, exploding with brilliant golden light.

This Dragon King had no regard for rules; the blade energy and demonic aura at his waist had been brewing for who knows how long!

"Boom!"

The brilliant golden light instantly exploded, like a powerful, heavy hammer, piercing through the mountain and driven deep underground. All the black energy in the sky detached from the mountain, surging skyward, transforming into a colossal cloud dragon circling the heavens, letting out an earth-shattering roar as Guangfou sheathed his blade.

The surging demonic energy made Minghui stumble back three steps, his heart turning cold:

'They're really fighting! A Dragon King with two divine abilities.'

Dragons, masters of the East Sea, true bloodline descendants after Dao Embryos and Great Sages, without the slightest impurity, the most noble demon beasts of this realm in terms of bloodline!

Throughout history, there have only been a few Great Sages among demon beasts. The bloodline of Goose-Crow is almost extinct, and even a less orthodox descendant like the Peacock, when it joined the Buddhist sect, commanded the utmost respect from all cultivators, let alone a dragon!

And what kind of demon beast was Guangfou? A noble Dragon Son of the Black Dragon Dao. Even with only two divine abilities, he left Minghui utterly helpless—not to mention his divine abilities... the spiritual treasures on him alone were enough to utterly annihilate Minghui on the spot!

In that single moment of thought, gleaming gold rose from the ground, transforming into a golden meteor, carrying surging air currents, and flying straight into the sky.

"Roar!"

But the black-clad demon king in the sky simply opened his mouth, revealing menacing scales and sharp fangs, and spat out a pure black, mountain-peak-thick beam of light!

"Whoosh..."

The golden brilliance was instantly submerged, but surging colorful clouds continued to gather in the sky. Guangfou's dragon eyes grew even brighter, and a hint of a smile flickered across his menacing face:

"A monarch in peril..."

He suddenly raised his hand, blocking in front of him, and with a fierce grab, accepted a horizontal punch with a thunderous boom.

Li Zhouwei had emerged from the light flame, his golden eyes bright, standing incredibly close.

The light flame, a tug-of-war of divine power, appeared between their palms. The flame from Guangfou's mouth instantly ceased, his face returning to its majestic and domineering appearance. The colossal dragon formed by gathered divine power behind him raised its head high and spat flames once more!

Demonic flames, gathering surging demonic energy, poured down. The patterns on Li Zhouwei's face, however, grew brighter. Mingyang Dharma Power and Mingzhang Riyue operated together, refining all the demonic energy before him, yet the surging divine power still raged on his face, threatening to melt his Dharma body.

"Hate Wei-Li Mingyang?"

Guangfou, his dark green eyes fixed on him, sneered and said hoarsely:

"When Emperor Gong was alive, my great-grandfather entered the palace three times. Li Guangheng was my father's sworn brother. The Dry-Yang was personally retrieved by my family. As Wei-Li rose and fell, my father was the only one willing to stand up, and in the end, he was stripped of his dragon sinews and died. Longdi's Kunlong Ridge is still a grotto-heaven and blessed land of Chen Kingdom to this day... And you speak to me of Wei-Li?"

"Who despises Wei-Li Mingyang? Is it Dingjiao or is it I, Li Zhouwei? Think carefully."

The demon dragon seemed to have a deep meaning. His black pupils glanced at Li Zhouwei as if reminding him, then he grinned, breathing out demonic energy from his nostrils:

"Are you Wei-Li Mingyang... or is the Wei Emperor Wei-Li Mingyang?"

Li Zhouwei slightly narrowed his eyes, a smile also appearing on his face. The spot between his brows rapidly brightened, and Shangyao Fuguo poured out, dissolving all the surging demonic flames. The youth then let out a low, roaring laugh:

"You talk about Wei-Li? Now Luoxia herds the Wei Emperor, and Xisuo binds Qilin. What is there to discuss?! If you truly have a way to save the Wei Emperor, why would I be here today?!"

The light between his brows rapidly transformed into bottomless darkness. Surging Diqi Light burst forth, countless golden and black streams of light covering the entire sky, concealing all demonic energy. At the same time, the White Qilin's chilling voice resounded:

"Who is Wei-Li Mingyang? Respecting one's superior is Mingyang, patricide is also Mingyang. The Wei Emperor holds the honored position. Can there today be a noble and Mingyang destiny descending upon me, to be in a hateful, rebellious position, to kill the monarch and father, to seize power? I am at the Yang-Extreme position. If I am favored by the Mingyang Fruit-Position, rebelling against emperors, then once I ascend, I am Mingyang!"

He burst into laughter, scoffing:

"If I truly become this Wei-Li Mingyang, will you eliminate me, or assist me?!"

The demonic energy in Guangfou's eyes surged even more, rendering him speechless for a moment. The flesh on his face twitched, then broke open, growing dark, angular ridges bit by bit. Two long, ridged whiskers extended from the corners of his lips, stretching out amidst the demonic flames.

Li Zhouwei's words were not without reason: a son honoring his father is Mingyang, but a son killing his father is also Mingyang. Guangfou claimed to uphold Wei-Li Mingyang and wanted to kill him to assist Li Qianyuan, yet Li Qianyuan sat upon the Fruit-Position without a kingdom or emperor, no longer able to be the Mingyang sovereign-father!

And although Li Zhouwei was beneath the Fruit-Position, for Mingyang, a supreme Fruit-Position, to favor someone outside of a Fruit-Position, there was only one possibility: for him to commit patricide.

If Li Zhouwei were to follow the command of the honored Fruit-Position, he would perfectly align with Mingyang's inverted, rebellious position of Yang-Extreme. Only then would he represent Mingyang!

Blackness, like mist, surged in Guangfou's eyes. His form, already stretching during Li Zhouwei's speech, saw his large hands transform into massive, menacing demon claws, showering demonic flames.

The sky became thick with clouds and mist, revealing a scale and a half-claw, long antlers, gleaming white fangs, and deep black dragon eyes like ponds within the black mist, obscuring the entire sky.

Pitch-black mist enveloped everything. Guangfou's dragon head, monstrous and colossal, slowly lowered towards that tiny point of golden light. The Dragon King's tone was filled with both laughter and madness:

"Do you dare to ascend the throne?!"

Li Zhouwei stood amidst infinite darkness, his halberd raised, pointed directly at Guangfou's true form. Dark flames surged from his body, the long blade gleaming, its cold light dazzling. He calmly smiled:

"I can kill a monarch."

The black clouds in the sky dissipated like mist. Guangfou was gone, replaced by a powerfully built, grey-haired man standing in the air, his eyes glowing with deep red light. Grey-white fur peeked from the seams of his armor. He stood with his hands behind his back, like a mountain.

Behind this man was another, clad entirely in armor, emitting an ethereal blue light, his face obscured by his helmet, making his form unclear.

Li Zhouwei loosened his grip, and the halberd in his palm vanished. He cupped his hands and bowed:

"Greetings, Beihai Dragon King."

Dongfang Lieyun's gaze was gloomy as he stared into the distance, replying:

"The White Qilin is too polite."

He looked directly into Li Zhouwei's eyes and said:

"I hadn't properly arranged things in Yin Continent, letting the White Qilin witness such a spectacle. Fortunately, I was in the sea. I heard the Qilin's cry and dragon's roar from Yin Continent and rushed here from Beihai. It's not too late."

"Now, more eyes are turning this way. Let's enter the mountain first."

Dongfang Lieyun's expression was truly unpleasant, even somewhat embarrassed. He simply led him into the continent. Li Zhouwei gave no explicit answer, descending with light, a cold sneer in his heart:

'Timely indeed.'

Pingyanzi's spirit mountain had been shattered, earth and stone collapsing, pavilions crumbling, revealing grisly white bones within the mountain. A crimson sea of blood surged from the mountain, spilling everywhere. A crowd of demon beasts, like flies, gathered at the mountain's edge, drinking deeply of the blood, refusing to retreat even when driven away by Pingyan's disciples.

Pingyanzi was firmly kneeling in the ruins. Minghui stood respectfully to the side, eyes downcast and submissive, shrinking into a corner, hoping the Dragon King wouldn't see him. Dongfang Lieyun indeed didn't spare him a glance, but instead stared coldly at Pingyanzi:

"Useless."

The fiend-lord dared not breathe, kneeling on the ground, saying respectfully:

"Greetings, Beihai Dragon King, greetings, Xushui Demon King!"

Dongfang Lieyun didn't respond with a single word, simply stepped past him. The Xushui Demon King, following behind, also remained silent, leading Li Zhouwei all the way to the Golden Palace, deep into the continent, where they finally saw a palace as vast as a mountain.

The dragon clan still had that same temperament; the main seat in the hall was as large as a house. Dongfang Lieyun sat down on it, his expression cold, and said in a deep voice:

"You've seen a joke."

Li Zhouwei shook his head and said faintly:

"Clashing with the Dragon Son, I gained much."

His golden eyes were very calm, showing no irritation or offended anger, but rather a hint of chilliness. Even before this Dragon King, he showed no fear, instead asking:

"I wonder what the origin of this Dry-Yang Bracelet is, that it has implicated the Crown Prince!"

Dongfang Lieyun's strange, red-glowing eyes stared at him, and he said hauntingly:

"Emperor Wei once bestowed bracelets: one was called Dry-Yang, which is the one on your hand, given to Li Guangheng, Emperor Wei's brother. The second was Changning, given to Tuoba Changming. The third was Chongtai, given to Gaoshi Lou Chongyang."

"The bracelet, as an item, originated in the Zhou dynasty for keeping slaves, locked around the wrist. It's not a good omen. Bestowed upon a subject, it signifies stabilizing a region, not fleeing or rebelling..."

"The Tuoba family and the Shisou family were large tribes on the border, leaders of the Sixteen Tribes of Donghu. Bestowing this bracelet naturally meant they were to dutifully guard the border for Wei, not to harbor other intentions, and they would be given important responsibilities."

Dongfang Lieyun smiled and said:

"Given to Li Guangheng... the meaning is similar."

Li Zhouwei's expression subtly changed, and he remained silent:

'So it's a warning to me...'

Since Emperor Wei used this to warn his subordinates and relatives, for your dragon clan to give this item to me again, how similar is its meaning!

Dongfang Lieyun's expression was natural as he quietly watched him:

"Dingjiao has now also achieved divine abilities. It's just a pity that the old ancestor in the sea is having a birthday, so he couldn't come to see you. He personally told me back then that your matter should be arranged by him."

"Consider it a kind consideration."

Dongfang Lieyun's expression was calm. Li Zhouwei cupped his hands in thanks and casually smiled:

"That's true. After all, the Crown Prince's subordinates are all in Zhulu. If I were to prepare for my afterlife, I would certainly need their help, but with great chaos just beginning, my family is too busy and it hasn't been put on the agenda yet."

The Dragon King's expression was inexplicable. He leaned back in the main seat and said hauntingly:

"That's fine. You don't need to consider Guangfou's side; they can't change anything. They can only legitimately cause you trouble here. There's no rush for this matter; wait until you've reached three divine abilities at least before proceeding..."

He shook his head:

"Dingjiao's fated divine ability hasn't formed yet, so it's truly inconvenient for him to do this himself. But he insists on doing it personally, so we'll wait a few years for him, and also for you to free up your hands!"

Li Zhouwei nodded, took a box from his sleeve. Inside, resplendent with dazzling and ethereal colors, lay a water-gold nugget, perfectly placed:

"This is Chenguang Suijin, a spiritual item perfectly suited for Water-attributed Zifu cultivators, from a grotto-heaven. It's quite rare. Since the Crown Prince has achieved divine abilities, this humble gift, though small in value, carries deep sentiment. Please accept it, Dragon King."

Dongfang Lieyun reached out, slipped the jade box into his fingernail, and put it into his bosom, saying casually:

"I'll thank the White Qilin for him."

The dragon clan certainly wouldn't value such a small thing; to put it bluntly, it wasn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. Li Zhouwei merely showed his sincerity. He looked at the general beside him:

"Are you the Xushui Demon King?"

The general paused slightly, then bowed respectfully and replied:

"Reporting, Great King, I am Lu Xu, humbly serving as King of Xushui."

This general, a dignified Zifu Mid-stage demon, could walk freely in over ninety percent of places, a local overlord. Yet, he was utterly respectful behind Dongfang Lieyun, and his attitude towards Li Zhouwei was as deferential as a minor demon... This stirred something in Li Zhouwei's heart:

'Although demon beasts sometimes fall short of humans in combat, and occasionally are a head shorter than Buddhist cultivators, they generally have long lifespans, and those with good bloodlines break through with ease. Accumulating generation after generation, beneath the East Sea... the dragon clan's power is truly unfathomable.'

He maintained a calm expression, smiled, and said:

"Years ago, there was a White Jinjiang King who saved one of my capable subordinates. For years, that subordinate has wished to repay him but has heard no news of the White Jinjiang King. I recently heard he was under the command of a Demon King. If there's an opportunity, perhaps the two can meet."

The Xushui Demon King bowed slightly and replied:

"This humble demon understands."

Seeing that he understood with a single hint, Li Zhouwei rose and bowed, saying:

"Since there has already been combat in Yin Continent, I fear others might detect it and invade my undefended lake. I will not trouble you further!"

Dongfang Lieyun nodded, sitting on the main seat, and watched him leave hauntingly. His dragon eyes were filled with coldness, seemingly deep in thought:

'Li Zhouwei... with divine abilities, his demeanor is different now. I fear he has ambitions... I hope he doesn't cause any trouble when the time comes!'

His gaze grew even colder, causing the atmosphere in the entire hall to become stagnant. After an unknown period, he said coldly:

"Xushui!"

The general beside him bowed:

"Your subject is here."

"Go to Liehai."

Li Zhouwei exited the palace and returned to Pingyanzi's mountain gate, finding that the collapsed mountain had already been piled up nicely, though the pavilions and towers were still under construction. The fiend-lord welcomed him all the way up the mountain, smiling ingratiatingly:

"Many apologies for the offense, please do not blame me..."

Li Zhouwei, with many thoughts on his mind, was truly too lazy to bother with him. He flicked his sleeve and asked:

"Where is Minghui?"

Pingyanzi quickly said:

"Just now, the battle between the two Great Kings scared him senseless. Then he saw Great King being taken away by the Dragon King, and he ran outside in one breath, saying he'd wait for you outside the continent."

Seeing him point the way, Li Zhouwei nodded slightly, rose with the wind from atop this demon lair, and finally left this overcast, blood-soaked overseas immortal continent.

Flying outwards, he indeed saw the monk waiting in the sky on auspicious clouds, having already revealed his true form, with a pile of golden artifacts by his side, eagerly anticipating his arrival.

The moment Li Zhouwei appeared, he eagerly steered his cloud closer, bowed limply, and quickly laughed:

"Great King... Great King is so marvelous! That was a dignified Dragon Son, yet he fought Great King to a draw..."

The shock this gave him was too immense; even if he could speak eloquently, he was speechless for a while. Li Zhouwei, however, knew:

'Neither side used spiritual artifacts or spiritual treasures, nor even their divine abilities. It was merely a brief exchange of blows. If they had truly fought, given the opponent's massive dragon body and profound Dharma power, and if they suddenly pulled out three to five spiritual treasures, what would be the point of fighting...'

This was a compliment that missed its mark. Li Zhouwei and he were of similar cultivation, so he felt it was just empty flattery and was too lazy to listen to him. He said:

"How much of what I promised my uncle remains to be retrieved today?"

These words made Minghui give a forced, anxious smile and reply:

"I've prepared it... prepared it!"

He flipped his sleeve, took out a crystal-clear glazed bead, placed it in his palm, and smiled:

"Great King, look!"

Li Zhouwei frowned and stared for a moment, feeling streams of golden light pierce his eyes, all turning into a glazed, luminous color, disorienting his mind. He then asked:

"What is this?"

Minghui laughed:

"Listening to your request, I sought out many people: one, to exchange for spirit fire, and two, to exchange for some spiritual artifacts... but I couldn't make it known, so I secretly, discreetly inquired, and still got good things."

"This here is a lamp-fire. I've heard people say... this thing can ward off cold and draw out evil... It's sealed within this glazed bead, refined through various transformations, making it a Buddhist artifact. As for its name... I'm not quite sure."

With just one glance, Li Zhouwei saw that something was wrong, and frowned.

What did he give Minghui? Some golden artifacts suppressed from Lianmin's hands; at best, the golden ring snatched from Daixi Mohe, and the kasaya obtained earlier had some weight... But what was in Minghui's hand?

Buddhist cultivators rarely had many good items, let alone a Buddhist artifact painstakingly refined from Zifu spirit fire. This Buddhist artifact would surely be very valuable in the north. If it had the status of a spiritual treasure, then the few items he gave were at best spiritual embryo artifacts...

'Who does business like this?! It's almost like my family took out the Twin Heavy Fire Bright Instruments and exchanged them for things like the Shichuan, the Mountain-Rushing Sea-Going Tiger, and the Dushan Spirit-Dotting Talisman... Wouldn't that make me a complete fool?!'

Although the two sides weren't entirely equivalent, this bead was far inferior to the Twin Heavy Fire Bright Instruments. Yet, by analogy, it was extremely similar, causing Li Zhouwei to frown, immediately become wary, and say coldly:

"Mohe truly is good at business!"

This remark choked Minghui, who looked at him with an embarrassed expression and said in a low voice:

"Please, Great King, allow me to explain..."

He gave an awkward smile and continued:

"I received news from Dayang Mountain that in a few days, they will send me south to guard Jiangbei..."

He had only spoken thus far when Li Zhouwei's expression showed understanding. Minghui then ingratiatingly said:

"Fellow Daoist also knows that my Lotus Temple has always been close to immortal cultivators and never had any intention of going south. My sect's relationship with several other Daoist sects has become increasingly tense recently because of this. This time, Dayang Mountain wants my martial brothers and me to go south, certainly to lead the charge... and who knows, we might even have to go to the lake!"

The monk rubbed his bald head and chuckled:

"Please, Great King, be merciful..."

Li Zhouwei, however, felt a bit troubled in his heart and shook his head, saying:

"In a battle of Dharma, divine abilities have no eyes. What mercy is there to show? It's either you kill me or I kill you. If I hold back for you, who will hold back for my family?! Moreover..."

He narrowed his golden eyes, staring intently at him:

"Those who dare to be rampant on my lake will certainly have to leave something behind. Either their Dharma bodies and golden artifacts, or their lives."

Minghui truly felt his heart pound at these words. What he had said was originally a fabrication, but on second thought, would that group of fellow disciples truly not do something like sending him to him? He said awkwardly:

"I understand! I understand!"

His eyes darted around, and he laughed:

"Since my lord has sold the golden artifacts to me, I'll go back, melt them down, sell them, and then forge another piece. I absolutely won't let my lord break the rules. At that time, my lord can just take it! Bundle it with the golden artifacts from those fellow disciples and Daoists, and then bring them to sell to me... Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds!"

Li Zhouwei listened with a strange expression, scrutinizing the monk for a moment, then chuckled:

"What if I want their lives?"

"Eh!"

Minghui gave a sheepish laugh and replied:

"What's difficult about that? I won't be the only one coming! Fellow Daoist, just seize those... those Great Desire Dao, Compassion Dao, and what-not-what Great Earth, Great Adoration Dharma Realm! Just seize them and beat them thoroughly. Take their lives however you wish!"

"As for me... hehe, just let your elder fight me. I guarantee he won't get hurt!"

Li Zhouwei's mouth twitched. He continued to observe him while pondering, his expression somewhat peculiar, and then said:

"Hard to say. I don't think you could win against him."