Chapter 1103: Relief

Li Muyan, hearing these words, pressed a hand to her sleeve cuff. She fell silent for a moment, appearing hesitant, but then a divine ability descended with purple light, pulling her along. Hongyan whispered, "Let's go… let's go… it's time to leave!"

Hongyan's appearance prompted Li Muyan to move her feet. Only then did she notice that the Ni clan's True Person was sweating profusely, clearly unwilling to prolong the standoff. With his words, he had taken half the responsibility for the retreat. So, she silently turned and departed with him.

Li Ximing merely controlled his divine ability, maintaining a silent confrontation.

In the mundane world, the armies retreated westward almost simultaneously. Shu, with its greater number of Foundation-building cultivators, remained as stable as a mountain, even in a hasty retreat with no will to fight.

As Hongyan and Li Muyan passed Xipingshan, a cultivator in greyish-green robes approached on the wind. He cupped his hands in a salute and said, "I am commanded to come and escort you two!"

This True Person Guanlan, Qing Zhuo, was a Purple Mansion cultivator of the new generation from the Qing clan. He had possessed two divine abilities for some time, and now, vibrant and with a complete aura, he was clearly on the verge of achieving a third. The Qing family was reluctant for him to participate in battle, and he was noticeably more agreeable than Qing Jifang. Hongyan gave a wry smile. "Withdrawing without orders was my suggestion; it was not solely Muyan's wish."

Li Muyan remained silent, looking quite dejected, quietly clutching the jade talisman in her sleeve. Qing Zhuo waved his hand in a gesture of deference and replied, "You two worry too much. I am here to ask you both to withdraw your troops."

This caused Li Muyan to raise her eyebrows in surprise. Qing Zhuo sighed, "King Wei Baixiang slew Guangchan; the Zhao army suffered a great defeat!"

Sudden understanding dawned on Li Muyan. Hongyan, startled, exclaimed, "I saw white sand rolling and colorful light reaching the heavens to the north, thinking someone had suffered a great loss, but never imagined it was Li Jieli. It's a pity his Dharma Body was reportedly acquired from the Golden Realm, so the loss wasn't too severe."

Qing Zhuo looked steadily at him and stated, "Guangchan is broken."

This emphasis made Li Muyan and Hongyan's expressions change simultaneously. They were silent for a moment, saying nothing. After a long pause, Li Muyan murmured, "Zhe Qi is still formidable."

Qing Zhuo parted his lips but did not answer him. His words were just like Qing Jifang's.

Qing Zhuo was considered a gentle and generous figure within the Qing family, with detailed knowledge of Baixiang's situation. He dared not say much in front of Qing Jifang, but now, facing Li Muyan, he did not indulge her, subtly pointing out, "While Zhe Qi is formidable, King Wei perceived the true nature of Mingyang in three moves. His cultivation is extraordinarily high, beyond compare for ordinary people."

His words made Hongyan turn his head, consumed by increasing worry and resentment. Li Muyan had been clutching the jade talisman given by Qing Jifang in her sleeve, and there could have been further complications. If he hadn't persuaded her, they would have created even more animosity. 'Qing Jifang… he is so arrogant, he handled that so poorly… even Li Muyan had her doubts… Though we lack powerful backgrounds, we are still Purple Mansions, marked on the chessboard… If one day we truly slacken or intentionally withdraw during a great battle, could you, Qing Jifang, truly kill us?'

His internal thoughts were accurate. A Purple Mansion was not an unknown entity, and a True Monarch would never personally intervene. If the Ni clan's territory were ever conquered by the Song imperial court, Hongyan would change allegiances without the slightest hesitation.

A somber shadow gradually fell across the True Person's eyes. 'I only hope Qing Zhuo breaks through soon and more people are assigned to him. I can't stand working under Qing Jifang for another day!'

**In the Taixu.**

As the Shu forces retreated, Li Ximing did not relax his vigilance. He silently maintained his divine ability, his spiritual sense already connected to the Immortal Mirror, scanning the Taixu with his power of investigation, deep in thought.

Li Ximing naturally knew about the object Li Muyan was clutching in her sleeve. His feigned claim that Li Zhouwei was arriving immediately was a bluff. If a real fight had broken out, it was uncertain whether Shu or Song would benefit, but it certainly wouldn't be the two Li clans.

'Li Muyan's retreat was also within my expectations...'

As he pondered, the purple-robed woman had already arrived on a cloud. True Person Wenqing, with a purple jade longsword on her back, gracefully saluted from the side. "Thank you, Senior! Congratulations, Senior!"

Her expression was tinged with envy. "After so many years… the Sword Immortal family truly lives up to its name!"

"You flatter me, True Person!"

True Person Wenqing's appearance was excellent, and her divine ability enhanced it. Even though she looked slightly disheveled at the moment, she still floated like an immortal maiden. Li Ximing smiled, hastily returned the bow, and replied, "Any news from the west…?"

True Person Wenqing answered, "I heard the Grand General used several treasures and held the line alone. Though he struggled, with Qing Hu and Cheng Qian present, there will be no problems!"

She noticed Li Ximing's distraction and understood that the west bank of Wangyue Lake had just been ravaged, requiring much attention. Thoughtfully, she said, "I'll guard Xipingshan!"

"Good!" Li Ximing did not stand on ceremony. He stepped into the mundane world, his first glance falling upon Li Jiangchun, whose eyes were tightly closed, a sword mark faintly visible between his brows. With a wave of his sleeve, the Light of Six Harmonies vanished, enveloping the young man behind him.

He examined Li Jiangchun carefully, specifically focusing on the sword mark between his brows. He was silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, and his pupils revealed a mixture of understanding and shock. Yet, the True Person did not utter a single word. He merely formed a hand seal, and light gathered at his fingertips, falling like rain.

It was Under Heaven's Radiance!

The Light of Six Harmonies of Under Heaven's Radiance, being embedded in authority, was difficult to limit by conventional means. As soon as Li Ximing took control of the west bank, he unleashed his divine ability to its full extent!

Foundation-building cultivators on the west bank stopped their movements, and various lights surged from their Qi Seas, repairing their wounds. Those with minor injuries, like Li Minggong and Nantan Chen, immediately looked better. Those with more severe injuries, like Ding Weizeng and Qu Bushi, instantly regrew severed limbs and regained a healthy complexion!

This Mingyang divine ability was exceedingly potent. Li Ximing stood in the mundane world, his expression unchanged, having restored almost all Foundation-building cultivators on the west bank to battle readiness. Apart from those with powerful Dharma Bodies like Ding Weizeng who needed to reconstruct their bodies, or those cultivating water arts like Chen Yang and Nantan Chen for whom the effect was less potent, all other Foundation-building cultivators were revitalized simultaneously!

As Li Ximing dispersed his divine ability, Li Minggong immediately approached, delightedly saying, "Greetings, True Person!"

Li Ximing nodded, but then noticed the second person to draw near was a stern-faced middle-aged man, whose body was covered in patches of pale, new skin, with no part of his hands or feet intact—a clear sign of the brutal intensity of the recent battle. This was none other than Li Jie, who had come from the Damu Dharma Realm.

This man was originally from Lingbei, with considerable skill, and a subordinate of Guangchan. He had been captured by Ding Weizeng, brought back, and after being cleansed by Under Heaven's Radiance, he had completely lost his former self, cultivating to the late Foundation-building stage and becoming a loyal follower. After all this time, he had changed fundamentally.

This was the most ironic part: in the entire battle on the west bank, besides Ding Weizeng who fought against multiple foes, this man was the most fiercely combative. After his defection, his cultivation had greatly advanced, he was well-equipped, received enhancements, and cared nothing for his lifespan or foundation, bewildering the Shu generals who besieged him.

The cost was also immense. Li Jie had initially lost over seventy years of his lifespan and nearly half of his immortal foundation. If Li Ximing had intervened a moment later, he would have undoubtedly perished on the west bank then and there! Yet, even with the Light of Six Harmonies to save him and the divine ability to promptly supplement, he still lost over thirty years of his lifespan.

Li Ximing observed this with a slightly complex expression and nodded, "Good."

With just that one word, Li Jie felt no need for any other reward. He was overwhelmed with honor and joy, prostrating himself in worship.

Li Suining, following behind, watched this unfold, his heart filled with emotion. One could say that the west bank managed to hold out until now largely thanks to Li Jie, Ding Weizeng, and the direct descendant Li Zhouda, who fought most desperately. The west bank did not collapse instantly as it had in the previous life; it barely managed to breathe, relying on the additional strength of Ding Weizeng and Li Jie!

Li Ximing turned his face and quietly asked, "What are the casualties?"

Li Minggong took a step forward and replied, "Per your command, the villages across from Xipingshan were moved back before we attacked Song, so losses were small. The retreat was orderly... there were no major issues. Only one Foundation-building guest cultivator, named Pu Yu, perished. He was young, the newly breakthrough head of the Pu family... it's very unfortunate. Tian Ling, the Tian family head who broke through with Pu Yu, was luckier and escaped with his life."

"As for the rest… many Qi Cultivators died. That's the most tragic loss…" Li Minggong glanced left and right, then lowered his voice especially. "Guest Elder Ding's eldest son… named Ding Yuming, died in his first battle."

Ding Weizeng was usually the first to report to him, but his absence now clearly meant he had gone to search for remains. Li Ximing remained silent for a moment, then dismissed the non-essential personnel. He took Li Minggong and the other two and descended on the wind, just as Ding Weizeng, who had collected bone and blood in a jade box, ascended.

Inside the box was dark red blood and stark white bones. At this point, he was thoroughly dead; even Pinshui could not revive him.

"Greetings, True Person!"

Ding Weizeng had already composed himself and bowed respectfully. Li Ximing helped him up, merely patting his shoulder. The man waited for a breath, and hearing no orders, made a rare request. "Your subordinate should report to his wife and daughter."

Li Ximing let him go. Li Minggong quietly explained, "Guest Elder Ding has one daughter and two sons. The second son died years ago from cultivating too quickly and failing to cross the Qi Cultivation stage, and now the eldest son has also perished. Only his daughter, Ding Yujing, remains. She has excellent talent and is preparing to undergo the life-and-death trial of Foundation-building. Fortunately, the eldest son left a grandson, preserving his bloodline."

Li Suining remained silent. In his previous life, Ding Weizeng perished too early, forcing Ding Yujing to manage the funeral affairs, which delayed her attempt at Foundation-building. She, along with Ding Yuming, died on the west bank today in that life. The Ding clan, once glorious, was reduced to a widow and an infant grandson. That young grandson, named Ding Weili, was in Li Zhouda's army and died alongside him at the hands of Wang Quwan; he too was a loyal man.

'Three generations of the Ding clan remained utterly loyal, dying to repay kindness, without the slightest slackening.'

In Li Suining's view, the current situation was already much better than before. Zhuang Pingye was still alive, and crucially, key late-stage Foundation-building cultivators like Miaoshui, Ding Weizeng, and Li Minggong were all unharmed, which was the best possible outcome.

As he pondered, the heavenly light beneath his feet descended towards Zhijing Mountain. Li Ximing first sent Li Jiangchun back, then returned to the mountain peak, where he saw Li Jiangzong escorting a captive. The man was quite lean and middle-aged in appearance. He knelt trembling before the pavilion and bowed, "This humble one, Lin Yuan, greets True Person!"

The Shu general stammered, attempting to claim kinship, saying that his ancestors had followed General Li and Zhuang Cheng in attacking Chenshui. How could Li Ximing easily believe him? He simply said, "Look up!"

The cultivator froze, then let out a gasp, as if his soul had left him. Li Ximing was in a bad mood. He waved him away, saying, "Go with Li Jie."

Everyone present was apprehensive. Li Ximing took the casualty list from Li Jiangzong, stood and read it, pacing across the mountain. He felt truly pained, secretly committing the names to memory.

He closed his eyes slightly, his heart gradually sinking.

Li Jiangchun's image was still before his eyes, that sword mark reflected in his vision, leaving his heart silent. He suddenly recalled the time a long sword hung in the sky, a bronze sword shattered, and his own brother's words as he lay in his arms: "Ming'er, there should be a Sword Immortal's hidden move, or an inheritance, within the Azure Ruler Sword!"

The sight of Li Xiujun spitting blood was still etched in his mind, those eyes, ambiguous yet extremely bright, gazed directly into his heart. Yet, True Person Zhao Jing's heart was filled with caution and a chill. 'An inheritance? An inheritance left by a Foundation-building cultivator? An inheritance that the Immortal Mirror cannot detect, that my Purple Mansion divine ability cannot perceive?'

'Is that right?'

The True Person stood silently in place, his expression extremely calm. The avalanche of doubt in his heart was suppressed, his divine ability withdrawn, returning to a state of complete stillness.

'I was too dull, Jun-ge'er… I never heard the hidden meaning in your words…'

'You said 'Sword Immortal', not 'Senior', did you not?'

He suddenly sighed, as if lamenting the loss of life on the list in his hand. Without a trace of abnormality, he turned to his juniors and said, "A Purple Mansion formation would be good at Xipingshan."

**Tangdao Mountain.**

Grey clouds rolled across the heavens and earth. Auspicious light and vibrant colors settled in the deep darkness. The colossal figures appeared especially terrifying, with various golden bodies attached to them, resembling a supreme Buddhist Pure Land, truly magnificent.

On the other side of the darkness, the brilliantly shining Jade True Wheel also cast numerous cotton-like colored lights, which transformed in the air, dissolving and repelling the incoming radiant beams, turning them into falling ash that rustled down from the sky.

A sword cultivator stood, sword in hand, his face filled with killing intent. On the other side, a golden-eyed king stood with a halberd, surrounded by shimmering heavenly light, looking imposing in all directions.

For a time, there was a standoff.

Upon that Buddhist Pure Land, the Mahakala Golden Body stood tall, looking down at the monk on the other side.

Head of Jiang squinted, his face grim, uncertain. 'Guangchan actually… actually broke!' Hearing this news, Head of Jiang felt extremely heavy-hearted.

The Dayu Dao and Damu Dharma Realm both held a share of this Mingyang opportunity, neither wishing the other to seize it. Guangchan's death meant the value of the chess pieces in Dayu Dao's hands immediately multiplied several times over. Tian Langzhi was practically crying tears of joy. Head of Jiang was not a supporter of Guangchan, but Dayu Dao's recent disloyal intentions were blatantly obvious, making it impossible for him to be happy.

'Now Tian Langzhi will certainly rest easy, no longer fearing that a slow intervention will allow the Damu Dharma Realm to gain some advantage first. He will continue to sit back and watch the tigers fight… Dayuangguangyin Mountain… can no longer… hold out…'

He understood that Tian Langzhi only wanted benefits. If Baixiang gained military success, even pushing south to isolate Dayuangguangyin Mountain, Tian Langzhi would definitely step in to claim a share. But now, with both sides in a standoff, Tian Langzhi would naturally wait with satisfaction!

'That day, he pretended to be earnest, strongly urging me to kill Minghui. I trusted him because of his high cultivation, thinking he was a remarkable person. Clearly, he had been preparing for today… hoping I would ruin relations with Lotus Temple… that was his true goal! Fortunately… fortunately, this senior brother didn't die…'

Head of Jiang suddenly realized, filled with regret. But now was absolutely not the time for a standoff. He could only say coldly, "Tell General Tuoba and Zhelu… there's no need to surround them anymore."

After an unknown period, the light of the Buddhist Pure Land could be faintly seen gradually receding. The silent sky grew dark and somber. Liu Bai recalled his azure blade from the sky, shaking his head with a cold laugh, "A bunch of bullies!"

Li Zhouwei nodded, looking with interest at the brocade-like divine ability in the sky. He sheathed his halberd and asked, "Is that Interstitial Dao Brocade? It doesn't look like Jade True anymore."

The dynamically shifting divine ability in the sky was indeed the Fei family's former Interstitial Dao Brocade. The wondrous power that once enveloped Fei Wangbai like a cloak now bore no resemblance to its former appearance. Liu Bai nodded and chuckled, "Interstitial Dao Brocade is beloved by Su De within Jade True. It possesses the ability of material transformation. My lineage has a secret art that can unleash its transformative power, I hope it didn't displease King Wei."

Liu Bai's heritage was profound. Li Zhouwei casually noted this down, then nodded, looking at the majestic mountain behind him. When Situ Huo was mentioned, Liu Bai's expression instantly turned cold. He replied, "Baixiang still requires someone to guard it. I'll trouble King Wei with matters here. If you have any arrangements, just send someone to Baixiang."