Chapter 1092: Dayan

"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing... how should we respond?"

Snow fell heavily by the shore. In the Grand Void, a true person stood, radiating an extraordinary aura. His face was as fair as jade, with a vermilion mark between his brows. In his hand, he held a small crimson cauldron, yet his expression was troubled.

When Cheng Qian asked this, the despondent Sima Yuanli was at a loss for words. He simply said, "This time... I couldn't even meet him. His junior came to decline, saying he's in secluded cultivation for alchemy, at a critical juncture, and cannot spare the time."

Cheng Qian's expression changed. He shook his head and said, "How can he be so stubborn!"

Li Ximing's excuse was terribly flimsy, showing utter disrespect to the Yang clan. Sima Yuanli, with a bitter expression, said, "What can be done? By all rights, even if his injuries haven't healed, it would still be proper to meet with us, injuries and all. Yet, he's so unyielding."

"How will the General handle this?"

Although Cheng Qian hadn't interacted much with Li Ximing, he seemed to have a favorable impression of the Li clan and didn't want heavy casualties from this incident. His face showed concern. Sima Yuanli then grit his teeth and said, "The General said... to ignore him."

'Li Zhouwei, as the King of Wei, doesn't even have to step foot in the Great Song court. He's at least his equal, if not superior, to Yang Ruiyi. Strictly speaking, Li Ximing is a subordinate of the King of Wei, so Yang Ruiyi truly has no immediate leverage over him...'

However, the current implication was clear: if the Li clan wouldn't contribute to border defense, the Yang clan wouldn't send anyone to guard the lake. Li Ximing would simply have to defend the lake himself.

This situation was undoubtedly something Sima Yuanli desperately wished to avoid.

Everyone knew that Situ Huo's entry into Song territory was difficult for Ning Wan, but in reality, Sima Yuanli himself was in no better a situation!

'Among the Three Primordials of Green Pond back then, only Yuan Wu was on good terms with the Situ clan; the others never got a moment of peace! Yuan Su and Situ Huo were practically mortal enemies, and my own senior only fared slightly better — he just didn't seek revenge before he died!'

Sima Yuanli was deeply repulsed by Situ Huo's arrival in Song. Although Cheng Qian now spoke amiably, Sima Yuanli understood that the True Lord Xianyao, who stood behind Cheng Qian, was the one who had consistently built bridges for Situ Huo. When the Kong clan turned against the Situ clan, Xianyao had benefited the most!

'Now Xianyao acts like a peacemaker, but he is clearly on Situ Huo's side!'

In the court and wilderness, only Liu Bai could contend with Situ Huo. Yet, Ning Wan had schemed against Liu Bai, forcibly drawing him into the Great Song's conflict. Although this Jade True Sword Cultivator showed no intention of retaliating, he clearly behaved as if he wanted nothing to do with them ever again.

Facing Situ Huo, Sima Yuanli was compelled to assist Ning Wan, which immediately shattered the Great Song's previously unified internal structure. The faction led by Situ Huo held significant power, creating immense trouble.

'The Dao of Profound Holding has its limits. Though that time hasn't arrived yet, it will eventually... If Li Ximing and Yang Ruiyi have a falling out... I won't even be able to leverage the King of Wei's influence...'

His worried gaze fell upon Cheng Qian, causing the True Lord to frown slightly. Sima Yuanli noticed, raised an eyebrow, and cautiously asked, "I wonder... Cheng Qian... do you have any ideas...?"

"Me?" Cheng Qian chuckled. He replied, "Fellow Daoist Qinghu is desperate, but he wouldn't come to me."

The young man, however, showed no signs of worry. He answered, "But... I think there's no need to be so anxious. Lord Yang is currently defending the west, Protector Liu is leading his forces into the immortal lands, and you and I are supporting Senior Tinglan. We simply need to follow orders."

Sima Yuanli, however, knew how dangerous Yang Ruiyi's current mission was, and inwardly cursed:

'Of course, you're not afraid, having cultivated the Complete Elixir! This half-immortal, half-demon, half-witch lineage is inherently bizarre; if things go south, you'll flee faster than anyone!'

But the cursing stopped there. Sima Yuanli quickly felt a deeper unease:

'Lord Yang is truly determined this time. I don't know what he promised Chen to make him lead the charge. This old man is already acting recklessly; I wonder what his fate will be.'

Sima Yuanli could understand Chen's feelings and now secretly grew wary:

"Though I am prosperous and without worry, and also have an excellent meritorious association, worldly affairs are unpredictable. I should take advantage of this unprecedented true qi change in five hundred years to send him to the Purple Mansion early."

Dali Mountain.

Mountains undulated, snow flew across the fields, and a beam of heavenly light descended swiftly, softly landing among the forests.

Li Zhouwei arrived amidst these peaks and noticed small demons bustling about. The previously empty cave dwellings were gradually coming alive, and the number of demonic creatures had increased.

'Dali Mountain... is much more vibrant!'

Thanks to the gradual changes in the overall Jiangnan region and the decline of the Green Pond Sect, fewer cultivators now entered and exited Dali Mountain, allowing the demonic creatures to thrive. The Li clan's unification of Moon-Gazing Lake also transformed the interactions between the rogue cultivators and clan cultivators of the entire Tingzhou area and Dali Mountain, from hunting to trade, making the entire mountain range appear more lively.

As soon as Li Zhouwei landed, he saw demons from several peaks emerge into the air to observe him. Upon seeing him, they were greatly alarmed and all called out "Great King!" Among them, a middle-aged man stumbled out, flying towards him:

"Lukeng greets the Great King!"

This deer demon was once a subordinate of White Banyan Fox. He had now risen to become a minor king, but he still appeared flustered upon seeing Li Zhouwei. He led him inside, once again to the large pool at the summit of the main mountain.

Amidst the swirling white mist and lingering clouds, a handsome man emerged. Tall and slender, with a graceful and alluring appearance, he approached the steps and congratulated him:

"Congratulations, Great King!"

It was none other than Qingyuqian, the Demon King of Listening Manor!

Having composed himself along the journey, Li Suining now surveyed his surroundings, marveling inwardly:

'This is... the treasure land of the fox lineage!'

Being a fox after all, the Demon King was exceptionally beautiful. His bright eyes fixed on Li Suining beside Li Zhouwei, showing a peculiar glint. Li Zhouwei returned the greeting, saying, "The joy is shared!"

Qingyuqian was congratulating Li Zhouwei on reaching the Mid-Purple Mansion stage. With a sweep of his golden eyes, Li Zhouwei clearly saw that Qingyuqian, without concealment, had already surpassed the Violet Immortality stage!

Demonic creatures have long lifespans and cultivate slowly, so this was undoubtedly a monumental breakthrough, perhaps even one achieved after a hundred or two hundred years. It should have been a cause for great celebration, yet the Demon King before him showed little joy. As he invited them in, he replied, "I have no joy to speak of; my path of cultivation for this life has ended!"

He swept his sleeve, clearing the white mist, and invited Li Zhouwei to sit. Li Suining naturally stood respectfully to one side. Only then did Li Zhouwei's expression show doubt: "Is the Sitian lineage incomplete?"

Qingyuqian chuckled, shaking his head. "I am inherently dull-witted and not suited for cultivation. The Sitian path is now imprisoned, with inspiration suppressed and ranks obscured, making it difficult to achieve anything remarkable. For the rest of my life, I can only pass the days idly!"

While speaking to Li Zhouwei, his gaze fell upon Li Suining, with a rather cordial smile. He poured clear wine, set out three jade cups, filled each one, and also gestured for Li Suining to partake.

Li Zhouwei nodded slightly. Li Suining respectfully thanked him and took a cup. Unsure what kind of immortal brew it was, he cautiously sniffed it, preparing to merely touch his lips to it.

Unexpectedly, the immortal brew seemed alive. It flowed through his nostrils as a cool qi, rushing directly to his rising Yang, causing his face to turn crimson. He stepped back and collapsed onto the ground with a thud, unconscious.

Only then did Li Zhouwei set down his cup and ask, "What happened?"

Qingyuqian merely smiled, "Favored by the Plain Book... unspeakably noble!"

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow, "Plain Book?"

The fox demon stood up, a hint of reverence appearing in his expression. He said, "The Sitian Rank - The Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book!"

This demonic creature was indeed a great fox demon. The smile faded from his face, and his previously handsome and alluring features abruptly turned stern, revealing an unspeakably noble solemnity:

"At the beginning of the Two Principles, in the Three Profound Grand Dao, the Azure Profound Dao is lofty and solitary, ethereal and detached from the world. The All-Pervading Profound Palace has many disciples and often thrives. Only Douxuan... has three Monarchs and five Immortals, whose immortal might is vast and boundless."

"Sitian originated in Douxuan. Before the Three Profound Masters propagated their Dao to the world, they first took in disciples. The Master of Douxuan had a disciple named Chunyu Zhao, who achieved enlightenment in Sitian, known as Qingyi, and became an Immortal Lord."

He paused slightly and continued, "Immortal Lord Huan Xuan, who established the Northern Palace Divine Thunder, was his senior disciple. However, to protect the Dao lineage, he achieved enlightenment and departed later, and the Thunder Palace gained fame, which is why he is well-known. As for Can Yanzi, revered as the Patriarch by the Seven Phases, he was merely an registered disciple of Immortal Lord Qingyi..."

He seemed a little helpless, yet also somewhat relieved, as he had to add, "Buddhist cultivators refer to him as the Great Zhantian Canyan. Frankly, his achievements are no less than those of an Immortal Lord... He also had a disciple with even greater renown, named Tianjue Suxikong, who is the founder of the current Buddhist Dao."

He opened his mouth but said no more. Li Zhouwei, feeling a little shaken, remarked, "I always knew Douxuan was formidable, but I never imagined... it was to this extent!"

"Much more!"

Qingyuqian shook his head with a sigh, "When Douxuan flourished, its might shook all directions and it looked down upon the Nine Provinces... Even the arrogant Quail Fire Great Sage — that Jianwu — had to send his second son to seek the Dao there... You only need to see how mighty Binghuo and Heshui are today to understand how rampant the Great Sage was back then."

Li Zhouwei nodded, then questioned, "If that's the case, then the even mightier Sitian should have governed everything!"

Qingyuqian paused slightly, then shook his head. "It's not like that. Some attain the Dao, some verify the Dao, and some seek the Dao. In ancient times, these terms were clearly distinguished. Great Sages were born of heaven and earth, symbols of karma and destiny; they flourished and fell together. Unlike Immortal Lords, who bear their own karma, ancient Immortal Lords respected heaven and earth and disliked using their personal actions to influence the rise and fall of karma and destiny — they disliked doing so and refrained, whereas Great Sages simply could not avoid influencing it."

Li Zhouwei, whose cultivation was already profound, understood instantly. He nodded, and Qingyuqian continued, "The rank distinction, this item, can be seen as a special magical artifact. It usually appears with a True Monarch and disperses when a True Monarch falls. It was originally the True Immortal Grand Dao first comprehended by Douxuan. What Immortal Lord Qingyi held in his hand was not the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book, but rather 'Our Dao's Sitian Gate'."

"Immortal Lord Qingyi's cultivation had reached its peak, with no further path for advancement. He was preparing to sacrifice himself to seek the Dao, but worried about the lineage. He once met the Three Profound Masters and obtained the method for separating rank distinctions. Fearing that 'Our Dao's Sitian Gate' possessed too much power and, without a master to restrain it, would harm the world, this is how the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book came to be. For a long time, Sitian appeared and disappeared, but this item was always suppressed among the magical artifacts of the Douxuan Immortal Court, used to calculate the affairs of the world..."

"Later, the Thunder Palace's thunder deployments relied on this item to calculate karma, making the descending thunder measurable..."

Qingyuqian looked slightly melancholic and shook his head, "And this item — ultimately, it was suppressed within Wanling Heaven!"

The golden-eyed youth before him nodded slightly, having already guessed the general idea. He felt a slight doubt in his heart:

'The timing doesn't match... Could it be a mid-journey possession?'

Indeed, Qingyuqian sneered, "I heard that at that time, many immortals gathered and collectively transferred this item completely to the Netherworld, to prevent it from causing great chaos in the world. However, several strands of destiny escaped and fell into the world. Your junior, precisely, obtained one of them!"

He appeared relaxed, but his gaze was intently fixed on the golden-eyed youth's changing expression. Li Zhouwei, having pondered for a long time, replied, "Senior, your knowledge is truly vast, encompassing both ancient and modern times."

"The Thunder Palace fell, the Great Zhou was established, and only after Zhou came Wei. Your human historical records only go as far as Great Wei, so it's natural that you wouldn't be sensitive to these matters."

He chuckled, but then saw Li Zhouwei ask, "What kind of fortune was it?"

Qingyuqian pondered for a moment before answering, "Precognition; the ability to perceive before others!"

Li Zhouwei's expression tightened.

'So that's it!'

He remained silent for a long time, lost in thought:

'Could that silver light be a warning from the Immortal Mirror about the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book? If it's a supreme treasure of such origin, a legacy of a revered Immortal Lord, it wouldn't be surprising for it to attract the attention of an immortal artifact... Is it possible that Chi Buzi also obtained this fortune?'

He had come to probe, but he received an answer that seemed to explain everything perfectly and accurately.

Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment, then, following this line of thought, asked, "In that case... Senior, do you know if anyone else in the world has obtained such a fortune...?"

Qingyuqian laughed heartily and replied, "I never leave this mountain, so I shouldn't know about the talents of the world. But there was one person who once visited this place and threw the entire Jiangnan region into utter chaos, making all the Purple Mansions frantic!"

Li Zhouwei raised his eyebrows, a look of realization dawning on him. He saw the Demon King smile, "It's precisely your family friend — surnamed Liu, given name Changdie! He once had a fortune, accidentally receiving the favor of the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book, and he's just like these current individuals!"

Li Zhouwei suddenly stood up, a revelation dawning on him:

'So that's it! That explains everything! This Senior Liu has repeatedly helped my family without apparent reason, forging a friendship. So this was the cause!'

Though he didn't speak, another layer of understanding surged within his heart:

'If every word he says is true, then the iridescent light seen in the Immortal Mirror's vision could not possibly be from the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book's favor — otherwise, my own elders would not have failed to notice!'

Even if his predecessors hadn't thoroughly examined this person, Liu Changdie was on the same island as Fuxun. Since Li Ximing had detected Fuxun at the time, he couldn't possibly have failed to notice Liu Changdie!

'Suining must have a celestial backing. The so-called favor of the Grand Evolution Celestial Plain Book is merely a superficial means of concealment!'

He raised his eyebrows, his gaze sharp, meeting Qingyuqian's watchful eyes. The Demon King stared for a long time, seemingly also trying to discern something, then softly said, "He... should be the King of Wei's fortune!"