Chapter 1121: Guang Yu

Tuoba Qiye stared at him intently, his eyes burning with a deep, radiant light. In the great hall, only the crackling of the roaring true fire broke the silence. The King of Bolie remained quiet for a long time before speaking, "Fellow Daoist Tuoba, I understand why Lord Yao sent you here."

Nearby, Ishelou Yingge raised an eyebrow, seemingly suppressing an urge to speak. Tuoba Qiye then said softly, "When Wei flourished, our two families were jointly granted titles. Later, when Qi fell, our families also contended for dominance together. Your noble ancestor, Gao Jun, was a close friend of the late Emperor and the King of Wei acknowledged by my Liang clan. Even if there were some disagreements later, we have, after all, journeyed together for many years."

"This isn't just about our friendship today, but also the long-standing relationship between our two families. The matter of the King of Wei is no longer something the Gao clan can interfere with!" Tuoba Qiye seemed anxious as he continued, "Moonlit Lake saved the Li clan, and it's their life-saving charm, but ultimately, it will also become their death warrant. If the Gao clan gets involved, a great disaster will surely follow!"

Gao Fu's expression remained calm and unwavering as he replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist."

This caused Tuoba Qiye to turn his head. He tried to speak several times but, ultimately considering it an internal family matter, remained silent. After a long pause, he finally said, "In that case, Qiye takes his leave."

This blood brother of the Prince of Mobei and Great True Man of the Tuoba family said nothing further. He hurried out of the great hall. Ishelou Yingge escorted him out and only spoke when they reached the edge of the hall, saying, "You've gone to a lot of trouble, Uncle."

Clearly, Tuoba Qiye's words in the hall had somewhat eased Ishelou Yingge's wariness. Worried, Ishelou Yingge said, "This matter... it's not about right or wrong. Please, my lord, do not take offense."

Tuoba Qiye turned his head, a sigh evident in his profound yellow eyes. He said, "What do I have to be angry about? I can't even say he was wrong... After all..." He paused, then continued, "If only Ci'er and you could survive in the end, it would certainly have to be you, Ishelou Yingge!"

These words left Ishelou Yingge silent for a long time. He then said, "It might not be a good thing." Tuoba Qiye offered no further reply, simply riding the wind silently into the distance. Even though the one to be sacrificed was his own son, his sorrow seemed resolutely borne. Even the Tuoba clan of old dared not offend Luoxia Mountain, let alone now. *'As long as my brother's and the young master's affairs succeed... Ci'er will just have to endure this injustice!'*

As he rode the wind away, Ishelou Yingge, deep in thought, returned to the Fire Hall. Dark red firelight flickered, illuminating Gao Fu who stood nearby. Ishelou Yingge lowered his gaze, stepped forward, and asked, "Your Majesty... who should we send to impede Wei?"

Gao Fu did not look at him but quietly gazed at the light beyond the numerous palace structures. He then said, "Yingge, you must resent me too."

Ishelou Yingge raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Your Majesty is the King of Bolie, the head of the Gao family. You make your own decisions, and I, your junior, can only obey. However, regarding the future path of the Gao clan, Yingge cannot help but consider it. Your Majesty has your reasons for wishing to die, and Yingge also has his vision for preserving the clan. To resent a superior... that is not something a member of my Gao family would do."

He said no more, only smiling as he requested, "Please, Your Majesty, grant my wish!" Gao Fu looked at him deeply but ultimately offered no words of dissuasion. Instead, he simply said, "Go then..."

Ishelou Yingge, expressionless, bowed and withdrew. The fire-filled palace grew even more silent. King Bolie Gao Fu stood in the hall, silently gazing at the bright daylight beyond the numerous palace structures. Night deepened.

The sea surface was utterly silent, devoid of any glimmer or waves, submerged in deep darkness. After an unknown period, a faint ray of sky-light drifted into view, settling itself over the sea. Li Ximing's eyes were sharp and bright as he looked at the sea beneath his feet. "Weak Water... it's quite formidable indeed."

They had only ventured a short distance into the sea, but in his perception, the mystical properties of the Weak Water here were already formidable enough to make it difficult for Qi Refining cultivators to ride the wind. Without a water-controlling magical artifact, even Foundation Establishment cultivators probably wouldn't dare attempt to cross a hundred li. The nearby True Man Baoxiang shook her head slightly and said, "This isn't the most formidable part. Further west, there's a strait called the Abyss of Weak Water. Even Purple Mansion cultivators will fall into it if they're not careful."

Li Ximing asked curiously, "Beyond the Abyss of Weak Water, is there a cape?" True Man Baoxiang nodded with a smile and replied, "This place can't compare to the East Sea with its many outer seas. Continuing west from the Abyss of Weak Water, the cape is a thousand li away."

As the two continued forward, a massive mountain range swiftly rose from the sea. It stretched and wound, undulating amidst a shimmering mist. The surrounding seawater was still and waveless, like a clear mirror. True Man Baoxiang said, "This is Little Guangyu Mountain."

Li Ximing had heard of this mountain before; the Wonderful Wisdom Whiskers he had obtained from Liu Changdie back then were a treasure from Little Guangyu Mountain. Now, calculating with his fingers, he asked in surprise, "Collected Wood?"

True Man Baoxiang nodded with a smile and explained, "This mountain was formed from a demon's body. The East Sea has Fenkuai Island, and the West Sea has this Little Guangyu Mountain! It just can't compare to the East Sea's abundant resources and numerous cultivators. This mountain isn't something ordinary people can ascend; anyone who can stay within it must be at the Foundation Establishment stage."

She said seriously, "After all, this is where the earliest Collected Wood Demon Lord was slain. Over the past millennium, who knows how many treasures it has nourished? Senior Yuan Xiu cultivated here for many years back then!"

"Yuan Xiu?" Li Ximing mused, surprised to hear the name. True Man Baoxiang looked around and whispered, "He had a good relationship with the Mercury Terrace. My close friend is the current head of the Mercury Terrace, and I heard that True Man Yuan Xiu came here early on to discuss his cultivation path with the Great True Man Miaojie of that time."

"At that time, the Great True Man advised him, saying that True Man Yuan Xiu's method of achieving the Dao was too perilous. But True Man Yuan Xiu disagreed, claiming it was a naturally occurring Grand Dao, and that later cultivators followed it. How could there be a leap that isn't perilous, or a transformation that isn't dangerous?"

Li Ximing simply said, "I heard many people praise him; he must have been just one step away." True Man Baoxiang smiled and replied, "Senior, your observation is correct. Although old True Man Yuan Xiu didn't have a reputation for combat, his cultivation was first-rate."

Li Ximing keenly noticed that the other party seemed to have an excessive understanding of matters in Jiangnan, and he secretly made a note of it. He lowered his head in thought, but then, having heard the name of Great True Man Miaojie, he raised an eyebrow with interest and asked, "This Great True Man Miaojie... was she a Complete Core cultivator? What is her current cultivation level?"

True Man Baoxiang's expression changed, becoming momentarily complex. She lowered her head and replied, "The Great One perished long ago."

Li Ximing was somewhat surprised and pondered, "This is..." As the two approached the mountain, their connection with the Void rapidly faded. Baoxiang's courage grew, and she sneered, "Who else could it be? Complete Core is whose forbidden territory? Wasn't there already a True Man from the Helian family before? Although there are no traces, one can still guess!"

Li Ximing was startled, a flicker of worry passing through his mind. He nodded silently, lowering his gaze to look at the mountains below, where he found the colors rich and layered. Baoxiang also quickly closed her mouth and said, "This is Little Guangyu Mountain."

Li Ximing looked at the surrounding sea, confirming it was indeed just this one mountain island. Seeing the dense fog within the mountain, he immediately had an idea and asked, "Oh? Senior Liu once gave me a spiritual resource that came from this mountain, but I don't know why its properties were so hazy and unclear..."

Baoxiang whispered, "Fushui is the water that brings prosperity to lakes, and Jimu is wood that rests together. Wood in water should ideally be nourished by it, but this is deadwood. Instead of being nourished, it rots, creating a great rotting energy. This energy is even more potent than the wind on the Great West Plain and can obscure spiritual sense."

"There are many spiritual objects on it, and occasionally Purple Mansion spiritual resources, though they are a bit hard to find. One needs to rely on calculations. But every July 14th, the mountain's clouds and fog will somewhat ease, allowing even Qi Refining cultivators to enter. That's when disciples from various sects go inside."

Baoxiang sneered, "I don't need to say much more. The so-called July 14th is when several Purple Mansion cultivators join forces to suppress the great rotting energy. Naturally, they pay with their lives. How could there be anything truly good in it for them?"

Li Ximing glanced, his heart secretly stirring. He had already silently connected with the immortal artifact, and the power of *Cha You* poured down. His vision immediately cleared, and the mountain, with its wooden texture, emerged. But beneath these clouds and fog, upon the mountains, skeletons piled up and dead trees lay collapsed. There was not a single clean spot; blood flowed like rivers, surging like breath, nourishing clouds and rain imbued with spiritual energy.

*'As expected of a demon cultivator's sea, it truly is a blood-soaked beach—merely using Collected Wood to gather blood essence to nourish spiritual resources.'* He glanced, unsurprised. Baoxiang, however, seemed to recall something and smiled. "There are benefits too... Because this energy can obscure spiritual sense, quite a few fated individuals have emerged from this place. Thirty percent of the West Sea's Purple Mansion cultivators came from Little Guangyu Mountain!"

Li Ximing calmly swept his gaze and found that under the immortal artifact's observation, the originally calm sea surface at the foot of the mountain faintly showed traces of a palace reflection. Its volume was enormous, not resembling a human dwelling.

The palace was ancient and rugged, yet incomplete, with shattered traces everywhere. It was a chaotic mix of varying shades of blue. Two colossal statues on either side lay broken on the ground; faintly, one could discern broken scales carved from huge stones and massive serpentine bodies.

His heart stirred as he recalled the news he had heard about the West Sea. He asked, "I heard there's also Great Guangyu Mountain..."

"Oh." Unaware of Li Ximing's underlying thoughts, Baoxiang said seriously, "Great Guangyu Mountain is on the seabed far away. It was once the Dragon Palace of the West Sea Dragon King, and now it's the residence of a great lord—we usually don't mention it. What's interesting is another place that the people of the West Sea call Middle Guangyu Mountain. It's neither on the sea nor in it."

Li Ximing chuckled, feigning ignorance as he deliberately asked, "Oh? Since it's a Fushui place, it can't be in the sky either. Is it in the Grand Void?"

The woman, riding Kan Water, replied, "It's in the reflection in the water."

She narrated slowly, "That place was once the palace of Dongfang Fengchi, the True Crab Sixth Young Master. Because it was a place of Lushui, he created a pond using the imagery of Collected Wood establishing Fushui. Hence, it was calm like a mirror. It is located in the reflection of Little Guangyu Mountain, which is what we call Middle Guangyu Mountain."

"Later, he was removed by the West Sea Dragon King Dongfang Yuezhu, in conjunction with other dragons. This area then became vacant. Occasionally, when the wind dies down and the rain stops, and the clear and turbid waters separate, one can still see the ruins of Middle Guangyu Mountain in the reflection."

Li Ximing remarked that it was marvelous, knowing the immortal artifact had already clearly seen it and that it must be that former demon palace. He secretly activated its mystic power and indeed saw an expanse of ruins within. The highest throne was as large as a palace, but it had been split in half, a complete mess, and empty of any treasures.

He then asked in surprise, "Isn't that a grotto-heaven? Has any fellow Daoist tried to enter it?"

Baoxiang was clearly stunned for a moment, evidently not expecting his thought process to be so quick. She pondered deeply, "This..." Before Baoxiang could reply, as Li Ximing's gaze shifted, True Man Zhaojing finally fixed her eyes, and an extremely terrifying scene emerged. Within the endless reflection of ancient ruins, there was surprisingly a flickering point of green.

It was a figure in green robes. This person wore green robes adorned with golden tassels. Their movements were leisurely as they leaned against a giant, seat-like flight of steps. Their face was sinister, with long, narrow eyes like those of a serpent-dragon. Blue-black hair cascaded down, appearing terrifyingly dark.

He looked up at the sky, a green apricot in his hand from which he had already taken a bite. As his fingers moved, the apricot swayed gently, and his expression was full of interest.

Li Ximing felt a chill rise with astonishing speed, spreading through his throat and mind. This face was incredibly familiar: the Great True Man who emerged from Luyu Heaven, the Purple Mansion cultivator suspected to be a manifestation of the mysterious True Monarch Du Qing, and the demonic figure who personally orchestrated the "Million Turbid Slaughter"!

*'He is looking at me.'* In Li Ximing's eyes, this ghost-like Great True Man, with his perfected divine abilities, was no different from Du Qing! His appearance on the North Shore back then had already terrified him enough, let alone now, appearing so abruptly in *Cha You*'s field of vision! *'Has he been hiding here all along? Or is it that...'*

He dared not show the slightest abnormality or intentionally shift his gaze, pretending to admire the sea surface.

The Great True Man moved. Sui Guan bit the green apricot between his lips, his smile seemingly fading. He freed both hands, slightly straightened his body, and continued to stare at Li Ximing's face.

This suffocating scene lasted for two full breaths. Only then did Baoxiang let out a laugh and say, "They wouldn't dare... They are all afraid that what they step into is not Middle Guangyu Mountain, but Luyu Heaven!"

*'They should be afraid...'* This sentence was like a lifeline. Li Ximing turned his head to look at the True Man with a surprised expression, still smiling. He shook his sleeves, hid his hands behind his back, and chuckled, "You must be joking! Luyu Heaven is far away in Jiangnan!"

He glanced at the True Man beside him. In this brief instant, he had already disconnected from the immortal artifact. Yet, the immortal artifact's mystic power was astonishing; in that moment of turning his head, his peripheral vision still caught sight of the scene below. The originally ruined steps were now empty. The green-robed man was already standing at the very top of the reflection, his robes billowing. His hands were clasped across his chest, and in his pale hand, he held the green apricot. That sinister face was just a fist's distance from breaking through the water's surface, visible with a mere glance. His eyes, crisscrossed with blue and purple light, held a hint of amusement as they quietly stared at him.