Chapter 1035: Cultivating Martial Killing Intentions

Dense golden energy flowed amidst the dark light and shadows. The True Immortal, clad in a robe of golden stone and flying sand, stood bathed in light, pausing a few steps away. He gazed with a cheerful smile into the mundane world, while a woman stood beside him, waiting.

“My lord… will there be a fight?”

“No, there won't be.” True Immortal Tianhuo smiled, shaking his head as he replied, “Qingjifang gains nothing from winning, and losing would be a disgrace. There are frictions between the two nations, but it’s certainly not escalated to the point where princes and generals would clash. From start to finish, it's merely Tan Mountain's attempt to curry favor.”

Seeing the woman nod in realization, he pointed his hand towards the grand scene of the two nations confronting each other beyond the Void, and chuckled, “Yet, their current actions still have the same flavor. You know, a stingy person… even if they are reborn and live another life, forgetting everything from their past, they still can’t shed that stinginess. They refuse to suffer even the slightest immediate loss, appearing petty.”

The woman clearly knew he was mocking Qingtangyin. She lowered her gaze and said, “True Qi fundamentally has nothing to do with Changhuai. That person from Changhuai, who dwells in seclusion, isolated from spiritual energy, and lives hidden from the world, was originally on the same path as Xiaojin. Wouldn't that conflict with the path of entering the world? The Taihua Scripture says: ‘Heavenly positions should not be forced; fate is more valuable than divine powers.’ Alas! Wutu expelling Mingyang still requires a thousand years!”

Such praise and criticism were not for her to utter. Tianhuo, knowing she admired True Monarch Xiaojin from the north and harbored reservations about Changhuai Mountain, said quietly, “I hear that among the various Sun-aligned lineages, Xingbei was originally paramount, but now the most cultivated lord belongs to Changhuai. If not for being constrained by their position, they could aspire to the Dao-embryo. Who could have foreseen this?”

The woman, cautioned, fell silent. Tianhuo waited for a while, watching the grey mist on the horizon gradually recede. Only then did he materialize, standing firm amidst the misty white mountains, looking towards the black-clad man, and smiling, “Greetings, King Wei!”

Li Zhouwei had actually noticed him earlier, which was why he had forced Qingjifang to retreat. Showing no surprise, he cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, True Immortal!”

Tianhuo understood he was referring to the Zhuang family matter. He chuckled and shook his head, following behind the prince with his hands clasped behind his back. His demeanor was extraordinary as he moved along with the clouds in the sky. An immortal and a king—they truly complemented each other well.

“This is Duan Yan!” This esteemed immortal scion of the Jin-Yi lineage pointed to Zhang Duanyan beside them. The woman immediately bowed slightly and smiled, “Greetings, King Wei!”

The Jin-Yi faction always acted discreetly, their successes and failures confined within their immortal grottoes. It had only been a few years, yet this immortal maiden had already reached the Purple Mansion realm. Li Zhouwei nodded slightly, and Tianhuo politely said, “I was originally planning a trip to Tingzhou, so I took this opportunity to come over. May I ask… where is Daoist Friend Zhaojing?”

“Uncle is still in seclusion… I’m afraid he cannot be seen.” Having fought for so long in the west, Li Ximing had still not shown any trace, so this seclusion was likely genuine. Tianhuo’s gaze shifted slightly. ‘How unfortunate…’ he mused inwardly, yet his lips kept moving as he remarked sarcastically, “Qingjifang is a remarkable character. Regarding the matter of the Wenwu Ping Qingzhi back then, I always thought he and his father were in collusion. Now, with this appearance of sheer stupidity, even I can’t tell if he’s truly foolish or just feigning it.”

Tianhuo was at odds with Qingjifang, and his sarcasm was evident. Li Zhouwei, however, treated his words as mere pleasantries, secretly assessing the situation in his mind: ‘Qingjifang’s strength should still not be underestimated… He possesses numerous treasures and incredibly powerful techniques. He endured a strike from the Huayang King’s Axe without even batting an eye… To completely suppress him, one would need at least three divine abilities at the mid-Purple Mansion realm… And if both sides were to truly fight, even if I could safely resist this person, the cultivators on the lake would suffer greatly…’

While Tianhuo was being sarcastic, Zhang Duanyan offered a slight smile and bowed, saying, “After all, he was born of a spiritual artifact, touched by the roots of Mingfang Xuanyuan…”

True Immortal Tianhuo neither confirmed nor denied, replying, “Duan Yan, you are being shallow. While Qingtangyin is indeed stingy, his Daoist cultivation and strategic planning are far from superficial. Back then, he used Mingfang Xuanyuan to give birth to a son, incorporating Jueyin harmony to achieve a balance of Yin and Yang. Earlier, he wanted Qingjifang to cultivate True Qi… Unfortunately, balancing Yin and Yang is something only a person of profound status would dare to attempt. Since ancient times, many have foolishly attempted to balance Yin and Yang in their offspring, but those born were rarely good. Too much Mingyang leads to brutality and cruelty, while too much Jueyin leads to ugliness and weakness. Qingjifang is already considered good!”

His words caused Li Zhouwei to pause slightly, seemingly making some connection, and he fell silent in thought. Tianhuo chuckled, “As soon as he was born, Qingtangyin knew this path was unfeasible. So, given his decent talent, he quickly turned to cultivating the Qingyi Xuantu lineage, relying on the mountain for his guidance.”

Li Zhouwei nodded, testing the waters, saying, “Now, Changhuai and Jin-Yi are also serving a nation.”

Tianhuo’s smile gradually faded, revealing a hint of helplessness. He sighed softly and replied, “Matters of the immortal families are simply about cultivating in accordance with the times, observing the dictates of fate, and following the changes in the Metal Position. It’s not about serving or not serving; one can only say it’s about going with the flow!”

His words were pleasing to the ear, but Li Zhouwei understood that they were not heartfelt—the Jin-Yi lineage was not a group of reclusive cultivators. There were days when the people of the world followed the changes of Jin-Yi and submitted to the influence of Shangqing!

Yet, Li Zhouwei still responded, “The True Immortal speaks truly. Nowadays, the changes in the Metal Position are all between Shu and Song. Zhao and Yan in the north are not content to stay put or remain idle. Under the command of the Great Song Emperor, I wonder how many opportunities I’ll have to converse and laugh with the True Immortal in Xiping.”

Although Li Zhouwei’s words were veiled, Tianhuo was not the casually extravagant fop he appeared to be; he heard them clearly. ‘What role does your Jin-Yi faction play in the Shu court?’ Li Zhouwei’s golden eyes gleamed, waiting for his reply.

‘The lands of Wu and Yue were once comparable, but now they are worlds apart. To speak frankly, the Great Song’s current strength is truly weak. Unless the Emperor personally takes action, a single Changhuai alone is enough to exhaust the entire Song nation in dealing with it…’ Tianhuo knew clearly in his heart: ‘Sima Yuanli is short-sighted and overly cautious; he can serve as an aide but cannot be relied upon. Ning Wan is weak-hearted and gentle-natured, unfit for significant use… Under the Song court, there are truly no heroes.’

‘Outside the Song court… Linggu, a root of inferiority, possessing enormous resources, yet yielding only a three-foot sprout, a laughingstock. Commander Chen guards Yuyang, but he is willing but powerless. Jianmen acts selfishly, remaining behind closed doors. Though Ziyan obeys orders, with one ill and one young, how can they achieve anything substantial?’

‘Li Zhouwei is an imperial treasure, yet his blade remains unsharpened, and he is beset by a calamity of slaughter. Although Liu Bai is the Azure Jade Immortal Vanguard, he is unwilling to guard the South Sea. Yang Ruiyi’s true depth is unknown, and if he doesn’t reach Purple Mansion, at best he’s merely a mid-Purple Mansion realm Li Zhouwei…’

‘These people combined are no more than Changhuai Mountain and the Nine Clans. If my Jin-Yi faction were to engage with the Song court’s border defenses, it would be a joke… Not to mention the North! The North covets Li Zhouwei even more!’

‘This isn't just a matter for the Great Song dynasty. The Great Song has the Underworld bureaucracy supporting it, so they can ultimately maintain control. But his Wangyue Lake is right by the river… he can’t help but worry!’

Tianhuo calculated everything clearly, yet he hesitated slightly before answering. After a long moment of silence, he finally said, “The Great Desert is pacified, the immortal mountains are sealed, and many Pacification Offices have been established in the former Jin-Yi territories. My Jin-Yi lineage’s cultivators are in seclusion, with no intention of interfering in worldly affairs. Only True Immortal Tianque has descended to Qize. At the very least… we’ll have many more years to meet!”

Li Zhouwei immediately understood and pondered for a moment. ‘True Monarch Taiyuan has indeed allied with Changhuai. However, it will still be some time before Jin-Yi enters the fray. The two sides are unlikely to genuinely clash in the short term, but ultimately, a confrontation is inevitable.’

Jin-Yi’s goodwill, though born of self-interest, was evident. Li Zhouwei considered for a long time, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, “Now, battles between North and South, East and West, are imminent… The number of Purple Mansion cultivators entering combat will be the highest in a century. Martial cultivation shines brightly, but the Northern Buddhists might not fare so well. If the North and South clash to the point of disregarding rules, I fear that the Foundation Establishment cultivators will be the first to suffer.”

Tianhuo shook his head and replied, “The Martial Star is above. King Wei, with your wondrous golden eyes, have you observed anything?”

“Oh?” Li Zhouwei paused, then replied, “When I observe this star, I only perceive coalescing fate and dazzling golden light, but no other particular sensation.”

Tianhuo said solemnly, “This star is extraordinary. It doesn’t rise for Song nor fall for Shu; it is an emanation of the Heavenly Martial killing intent. Any land illuminated by True Qi is governed by it. As long as the Yang energy is not pushed into the Void, it is subject to this star’s scrutiny and protection. Ordinary people cannot perceive it, but as King Wei, with your destiny upon you, you are naturally uninhibited.”

“However, when ordinary cultivators observe this star, they only feel it to be blindingly brilliant and scorching to the heart. It's the same for the Buddhist cultivators in the north; they feel as if they have daggers in their backs, watched by the Martial Star, its power boundless… Charging into battle amidst military formations is the way of martial cultivation and is unaffected. But if anyone mercilessly wields a great slaughtering blade and kills officials under the gaze of this star, their fate will surely be claimed.”

“If too much killing intent is accumulated, the light of the Martial Star will descend and claim lives. Ultimately, one must maintain some decorum.”

Li Zhouwei, who had just heard of this wondrous phenomenon, nodded discreetly. Tianhuo, meanwhile, sighed, “However, that being said… if someone truly intends to bully the weak, killing hundreds or thousands of mortals and one or two cultivators, while troublesome, wouldn't cause any major issues. National wars between North and South are one thing, but if someone genuinely acts shamelessly, how can a self-sensing killing intent possibly stop them?”

His words contained a subtle warning. Li Zhouwei acknowledged it, and Tianhuo shifted the topic, saying, “However, all you young lords can rest assured… The King of Wei’s direct descendants will certainly receive deep attention from the Martial Star. As long as they haven’t achieved divine abilities, their fates are protected within the Martial Star. At most, they might need to guard against being besieged by sorcerers. No matter what, they won’t be subdued by high-level cultivators.”

Li Zhouwei was thoughtful. ‘If that’s the case… Jianglong and Jiangxia should be fine. Jiangqian is about to attempt to break through to Purple Mansion. But Jiangchun and Que Wan have talisman seeds within them, so they might not truly be subject to this star’s governance. I wonder what they would look like in the eyes of outsiders…’

Although he possessed wondrous abilities, he ultimately lacked a crucial life-bound divine ability, so his perception wasn't as clear as theirs. He remained silent for a long time, then quietly let out a breath and politely said, “Peaceful times on my lake are rare. If the True Immortal finds himself at leisure, he is welcome to visit the lake for a sitting.”

Tianhuo raised an eyebrow, staring at him, and said earnestly, “The world is in great turmoil, with one crisis following another. However, matters of immortal cultivation don’t have major conflicts. King Wei can certainly invite one or two friends to discuss border defense matters. After all, Jin-Yi is sensitive, so I can only come to Xiping Mountain.” He stopped there, his words abruptly ending, and paused on the mountain, smiling, “Please forgive me, I cannot cross the border and thus cannot escort you further. Having seen King Wei’s current bearing… I am already greatly rewarded.”

Li Zhouwei withdrew his gaze, exchanged a few polite words, and waited for the two to step into the Void and depart. Only then did the smile on his face slowly fade.

‘One crisis after another… border defense matters…’ He turned back somewhat hastily and ordered, “Zhouda.”

Li Zhouda and his retinue were waiting in the mountains. Hearing the call, the man quickly came forward, bowed respectfully, and said, “My King!”

Li Zhouwei paced, casting his gaze upon the misty, wind-swept, and cold-rainy mountains, and said softly, “The Shu soldiers have retreated and will not come for a while. Xiping Mountain’s spiritual energy is not flourishing. Have Miaoshui lead a contingent of troops to repair the formations at Guyan Temple at the foot of the mountain as before.”

“Yes, My King!”

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow. “Xing Han and the Zhuang clan members have been brought back, haven’t they?”

“They have already been brought into the mountains…” Li Zhouda replied, listening to his elder brother’s somewhat urgent instructions: “You… have those two stay in Guyan and coordinate with Miaoshui… The Zhuang clan is still useful. Have Zhuang Pingye find some rogue cultivators on the spot at the foot of the mountain to establish a firm stand.”

Li Zhouda detected something amiss in his words and hurried away. Li Zhouwei frowned, casually stepping down the mountain. His two sons stood silently in the mountains.

Li Jianglong and Li Jiangxia were both at the late Foundation Establishment stage. One wore an ornate crown and crimson robes, while the other had a majestic and handsome countenance. They stood far apart from each other. Seeing Li Zhouwei descend step by step, Li Jianglong, who now managed clan affairs, took a direct step forward and said respectfully, “Father.”

Li Zhouwei said with a solemn expression, “Write two memorials for me. One is for the Song Emperor, expressing loyalty. The second is to commend the Zhuang clan for their meritorious service in protecting the nation, stating that Zhuang Cheng is devoted to Song… Request that the Song court officially confer a noble title upon the Zhuang clan, located in the Great Desert, and have him guard the border.”

Li Jianglong was immensely intelligent and understood immediately. Guyan Temple was a border crossing between the two nations, also a hot potato. If the Song Emperor agreed to issue this decree, it would essentially mean deploying a portion of the Great Song’s forces to guard Guyan, implicitly alleviating pressure on the lake. He nodded at once, then hesitated, saying, “Since the Song court established my lake as a kingdom, it was meant to be a barrier… This order… might not be easy.”

Li Zhouwei nodded. “This is Tingzhou’s first memorial. It is well-reasoned and well-founded. The Song court cannot refuse it, though they might try to defer it… It’s simply a test to see what intentions the Song Emperor harbors towards the lake. If there is truly some goodwill, this contingent of troops must be dispatched.”

Li Jianglong immediately nodded, and Li Zhouwei continued, “Handle this matter. Immediately lead Chen Yang, Qu Bushi, and Li Zhoufang, along with other cultivators, to the dense forest. Activate the grand formation, communicate with the cultivators on the east bank, and instruct them to be ready to withdraw into the mountains at any time.”

Li Jianglong’s expression instantly changed. He bowed slightly and quickly descended from the mountains. Only then did Li Zhouwei look at Li Jiangxia.

Among all his brothers, this young man was the tallest and most imposing in appearance. Having later cultivated movement techniques and donned armor, he stood his ground like a mountain, his expression unwavering, and said gravely, “Father!”

Li Zhouwei’s gaze settled on him, his expression serious, and he said, “In the past, I was unwilling to let you two brothers exert yourselves because the struggle between North and South primarily hinged on destiny. One could never be sure when a greedy individual might exploit the situation, bullying the weak. But now, as we guard the lake shore and engage in a national war… I entrust the north bank to you. Ding Weizeng and all others will be under your command!”

Li Jiangxia solemnly cupped his hands and immediately went to prepare. Li Zhouwei, meanwhile, paced back and forth, somewhat hesitantly. ‘A few days ago, I visited the Heaven and Earth Where Sun and Moon Shine Together. Uncle is at a critical juncture, and with the help of numerous treasures, his chances of breakthrough are considerable… If I were to forcibly call him out now, not only would all his previous efforts be wasted, but he might even suffer injury…’

He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then ordered, “Go and invite True Immortal Sima to visit the lake for a discussion!”