Chapter 1146: Yang's Scheme (2)

Dark clouds surged above Shanjue, as if countless shadowy spirits were being nurtured within them. The Netherworld Immortal Palace stood upon the clouds, and from time to time, streaks of escaping light ascended and descended from it, heading in various directions.

Inside the dark, lightless Nether Hall, Yang Ruiyi’s face was overcast, and he remained silent. The woman before him, dressed in black robes, likewise dared not utter a sound.

"Is Qi Lanyan… looking for death?!"

Even after the events had transpired, he still found it difficult to comprehend.

'Both the Yinsi and Luoxia are exalted entities, with Guanhua and the Yang clan beneath them, like ants beneath the feet of two colossal beings. Despite their apparent prestige, they know they are insignificant in the eyes of their superiors and fear the power behind the opposing side. Matters should have been concluded amicably and smoothly...'

In Yang Ruiyi's view, while he and Qi Lanyan often engaged in contests, their relationship was generally one of unspoken understanding. It was like two noble young men playing Cuju: there were wins and losses, but they would simply laugh it off and continue their back-and-forth game.

When the game concluded, as Yang Ruiyi had brought the ball, it was only natural that he should take it home...

Yet, Qi Lanyan’s current actions were akin to inexplicably flying into a rage, summoning his own princely and noble relatives, and then, just as the game was about to end, deliberately kicking the ball back, striking Yang Ruiyi sharply on the bridge of his nose!

While Yang Ruiyi certainly possessed trump cards and harbored no fear of the Spirit Treasure cultivator, he was nonetheless filled with confusion:

'Why bother?'

He also understood that Qi Lanyan was targeting Mingyang; indeed, his position was a direct result of that objective. Everyone was aware of this, so why cause trouble for the Yang clan? Was he going to snatch the ball away?

"After all this back-and-forth, it seems Qi Lanyan has truly gotten serious and genuinely wants to determine who is superior!"

Hearing his irritated words, Yang Tianyou murmured:

"Perhaps it's... Guangchan..."

Yang Ruiyi fell silent instantly.

He had not anticipated the Guangchan incident at all, nor had he ever considered it a personal matter. For a moment, he forgot that from the opponent’s perspective, he himself had inexplicably delivered a slap during the game, which was utterly unreasonable!

He sighed coldly, a quiet premonition stirring within him, and then spoke:

"So what does he mean by this?"

Yang Tianyou appeared quite composed and replied:

"Since he possesses such a trump card yet used it on the small Baiye, he is clearly not acting out of genuine anger!"

This statement was like parting the clouds to reveal the moon, immediately calming the general, who narrowed his eyes slightly:

"His objective is still Mingyang."

Yang Tianyou nodded gravely and said:

"While Wang Ziya is certainly formidable, the specific deployment of Guitu clearly indicates a targeted strategy. Qi Lanyan's decision to send this person in advance is likely a form of veiled message..."

"Whether it's a bluff or not, he undeniably possesses the ability to make us retreat without achieving anything in the short term."

Yang Ruiyi, who was by no means dull, rose to his feet, took a couple of steps, and then, raising an eyebrow, said:

"Indeed."

Yang Tianyou nodded hesitantly and said gently:

"He would not dare oppose the overarching trend, but from his position, he can influence the process, even if not the final outcome. Furthermore, while we will certainly secure Shanjue and Xuanmiao in the end, what then?"

Yang Ruiyi remained silent for a long time, his eyes tightly shut, an expression of apprehension on his face as he finally spoke:

"Yes, his methods are quite subtle."

Yang Tianyou lowered her head, looking disheartened, and said:

"But he forgets that Li Zhouwei is no ordinary person. Even if it's not apparent now, it will become clear after some time. Such actions might deeply offend, making them ill-advised, especially considering His Majesty..."

Yang Ruiyi's gaze, however, turned cold, and he shook his head, saying:

"What we should probably consider are... the esteemed elders."

Yang Tianyou's pupils immediately dilated, and she drew a deep breath.

'Indeed... we have received no word thus far, allowing Wang Ziya to act unrestrained in Baiye. It seems both the elders and the Netherworld have tacitly approved, remaining impartial...'

Years ago, she had personally spoken with the elder, and many were concerned about this Mingyang affair:

'Not only does Luoxia dislike the Wei Emperor, but even those within the Netherworld share this sentiment. Furthermore, the Fox clan and Yuanfu also hold no affection for Li Qianyuan! The fact that Qi Lanyan could orchestrate such events surely aligns with the preferences of a certain elder in the North.'

A sudden chill gripped her heart. She abruptly raised her eyebrows, seeing Yang Ruiyi raise a hand with difficulty, his eyes tightly shut:

"Have Linggu Lanying come up."

The water's surface was shrouded in deep, somber hues, as streams of light continuously receded. The grand formation's colors dimmed. Li Ximing withdrew his divine ability, exhaled deeply, and only then did his dizziness and blurred vision significantly subside.

'That was quite a strain.'

Tuoba Ci and Gongsun Bei were both formidable adversaries. One was a descendant of the Great Liang imperial line, and the other a Xiqi cultivator wielding a spirit treasure. Either individual alone should have been capable of firmly suppressing him, even posing a risk of severe injury.

This major battle, supported by the grand formation, greatly benefited from the mystical effect of spiritual division and body separation, enabling him to withstand the dual encirclement. With two spirit treasures providing successive assistance, Li Jiangqian suddenly intervened, wounding Gongsun Bei, which allowed them to hold out safely until now.

'Had anything gone slightly awry, I would have been fine, but Jiangqian would likely have been injured.'

He hurriedly rose to his feet and ascended to check on Li Zhouwei, who stood upon the brilliantly shining Heavenly Gate, withdrawing his divine ability with a hint of regret.

Li Zhouwei, bearing his wounds, had rushed to Tingzhou with a formidable aura to save it, initially harboring a degree of murderous intent. However, Tuoba Ci and his companion reacted too swiftly, and Li Zhouwei also had to consider the injured and the young ones on the lake, thus he did not pursue them far.

'Gongsun Bei is not lightly wounded; he won't be able to stir up trouble again anytime soon...'

Of course, Li Zhouwei’s sudden arrival meant he could not leave empty-handed. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Heavenly Gate beside him boomed into motion, the lights receding to reveal a bottle.

This bottle had a long neck, was the color of celadon jade, and shimmered brilliantly, with wisps of Xiqi swirling around it. Even while clutched in his hand, it ceaselessly struggled, attempting to break free.

It was none other than Gongsun Bei's Night Substitute Bottle!

While this spiritual artifact did not incorporate extraordinarily rare spiritual materials, its brilliant patterns and impressive spiritual essence indicated meticulous craftsmanship. Among spiritual artifacts, it was certainly not of poor quality.

'It's a pity it's Xiqi; its greater significance lies not in its personal use, but in Gongsun Bei's loss of the item. When the opportunity arises, I can take this object and exchange it with someone for Lihuo or a complete elixir!'

As he was subduing it, his gaze met Li Ximing's. True Man Zhaojing, looking concerned, inquired:

"How severe are your injuries?"

Li Zhouwei knew he was referring to the penetrating wound on his face. He touched it with a finger, still seeing golden blood, and his expression subtly darkened as he replied:

"It's not particularly severe..."

"The Rainbow Aura?"

"Yes."

This was Li Zhouwei's first encounter with a Purple Mansion-level aura, personally transmitted by a Tongxuan master, and he felt its effects profoundly. Seeing the crimson-robed youth approach wreathed in fire, he replied:

"It's quite mystical, imbued with Wuguang. The wound is profound and obscure, exceedingly difficult to heal!"

Li Zhouwei’s Imperial Qi Light clashed with the opponent’s aura; colors scattered and quickly disintegrated. Nearly fifty percent of that aura’s power impacted him; Yuan’e dispelled twenty percent, while minor divine abilities like the Huayang Royal Axe accounted for half a percent, leaving only two and a half percent of the original force.

Consequently, the injury was not severe, though it was small yet deep. The complication lay in the interference of a Wuguang, making recovery difficult.

His dharma body, which should have recovered more slowly than an ordinary person's, paradoxically healed a step faster with the aid of Jun Daowei and Mingzhang Riyue. Even so, there was no sign of the injury abating in the short term.

He then briefly brought up the matter of Baiye, saying:

"Tinglan and Situ Huo went to rescue Shanjue. Seeing distress on the lake, I turned back..."

Upon hearing about Baiye, Li Ximing’s expression subtly shifted as he said:

"A Tongxuan? Someone from Luoxia has arrived? How can this be? From your description, if this person stands in Baiye, will the North and South still engage in conflict? How much of a headache will the Yang clan have to endure?"

Li Zhouwei’s expression grew serious as he stated:

"It's far more than that... I don't know if this person cultivated a spell or wielded some divine ability, but he seemed shrouded in a thick veil, obscuring his cultivation level. Only when he employed a Guitu divine ability did I discern his lineage..."

Li Ximing sighed:

"I knew there was an issue all along — they were waiting for you on the north bank! Had you not gone to Baiye, you would likely still be fighting in Baijiang now. If you weren’t there and Baiye fell, it’s uncertain whether Tinglan could have been preserved. But if the Buddhist cultivators had redirected to Baijiang, and you hadn’t escaped, it would have exacerbated the situation, leading to yet another catastrophe!"

Li Ximing's deduction was not incorrect; it was highly probable that this had been the North's original plan. This, however, only deepened Li Zhouwei's suspicion, causing his heart to suddenly sink:

'Yang Ruiyi’s timing in summoning me was remarkably precise. Was it deliberate or coincidental? Did he know this beforehand?'

He hesitated for only a moment before an answer solidified in his mind:

'No... The situation in Baiye was such that even Yang Ruiyi himself might not have been able to resolve it. If he had known about Baiye’s strategic layout, he should have instructed Tinglan and Situ Huo to abandon the mountain and return to defend, or to reinforce Baijiang or Shanjue, which would surely have minimized losses—rather than sending me there in vain!'

'That Daoist descended from the Immortal Cave; even if he acted upon orders, it's likely no one could have foreseen his arrival...'

He pondered, then shook his head gravely, saying:

"There's something peculiar about this matter. Perhaps... the Yang clan was also caught off guard."

"Now... how should we position ourselves?"

Li Ximing posed the question, a look of hesitation on his face:

"Tuoba Ci and his companion have retreated, but Commander Liu remains in Baijiang. If they are allowed to leave... his position might become perilous."

The King of Wei fell silent for a moment, but Li Jiangqian then spoke, his voice faint:

"From my perspective, it would be utterly ill-advised to take action. Since Yang Ruizao is with Liu Bai, carrying the Guzhou Cauldron, a national spirit treasure, he cannot be easily captured. Otherwise, these two wouldn’t have crossed the river in pursuit. Now that Baiye is lost, crossing the river rashly would only lead us into a trap!"

Li Zhouwei squinted and nodded in agreement:

"On the opposite bank, there are at least three mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators. Although Gongsun Bei has been wounded by me, there are still Dayu Dao and Zhelu who came from Baiye—and even that Daoist. Given the Yang clan’s miscalculation, our own safety on the lake must now be our foremost priority."

"What's more..."

He sighed, and before he could elaborate, he felt the void tremble. A black cloud appeared, from which a dark jade light flew forth, materializing over the lake as a woman!

It was none other than Linggu Lanying!

Her face was slightly pale. She came to an urgent halt over the lake, her gaze momentarily fixed on Li Jiangqian’s face, an expression of surprise on her features. However, the pressing situation left her no time for questions. She immediately looked up and said:

"Greetings, King of Wei... Lanying has arrived by command... I urge the King of Wei to hold Tingzhou and await reinforcements!"

Li Zhouwei's expression was grave. Without answering her, he immediately whispered:

"How fares Tangdao?!"

Linggu Lanying paused, then replied:

"Still holding strong... After Baiye was lost, Zhelu and others immediately moved to Baijiang. Commander Liu received orders to retreat to Tangdao ahead of time with Yang Ruizao. They are now defending the mountain alongside the master and disciple from Guoling Peak."

"I hear the offensive isn't too fierce; they can still hold out for a while."

Li Zhouwei frowned and said:

"If that's the case, Tangdao is now isolated in the North, with Tuoba Ci and his allies, along with Zhelu and even that Daoist, stationed across the river... Is it possible they could cross the river again at any moment?"

Linggu Lanying flinched, then lowered her gaze and whispered:

"That Daoist belongs to the Spirit Treasure lineage; it's impossible for him to cross the river. The Great General has already dispatched Daoist Chen and Tinglan to come here... The Great General said... please, King of Wei, rest assured... there will be further reinforcements!"

She bowed deeply and then rushed south to deliver the command. Li Zhouwei, having grasped the crucial information, narrowed his golden eyes and whispered:

"Western Shu has not yet made its move. Uncle, please guard Xipingshan."

Li Ximing could only nod. Li Zhouwei then turned to his second son and said:

"Commander Liu is also a pillar of the nation; we cannot idly stand by while he is besieged. You are to remain on the north bank and observe. If Tangdao falls and he attempts to break through southwards, it would be best if you could provide assistance."

Li Jiangqian understood that he was subtly referring to Zha You, who could observe from a thousand *li* away. He bowed and replied:

"Father, rest assured!"

The King of Wei then transformed into a streak of light and vanished. Li Ximing departed, his face etched with worry, while Li Jiangqian, holding the *liguang*, traveled north, pondering to himself:

'Since I’ve been tasked with observing the north bank, there’s likely more than one implication. Great-Uncle is so gentle; is he concerned that if the North truly means to kill, he might not be ruthless enough to remain steadfast?'

The divine abilities in the heavens had long faded, yet the cave mansion remained utterly silent. Lamps flickered continuously, and the only sound was that of a man pacing. A map resting on the main table was covered in markings, appearing chaotic and disordered.

'At Wangyue Lake... to think the battle took place at Wangyue Lake...'

As he recalled, the Battle of Baihai in his second life had not changed: Dayu had besieged Tangdao, while Qi Lanyan, with Tuoba Ci, Shilou Yingge, and Gongsun Bei, had attacked Baiye, and the Mahas had defended Shanjue. There were hardly any major battles in Tingzhou, let alone Baixiang across from it!

Li Suining paused at the main seat, a faint chill settling in his heart:

"Qi Lanyan... what new scheme is he orchestrating now?"

The instant the divine abilities fluctuated in the sky, Li Suining was greatly shaken. The Battle of Baihai indeed occurred in the eighteenth year of Xiuwu, but that was in July; it was only April now!

'Qi Lanyan has suddenly escalated the war... The Great Song... is likely to be caught unprepared.'

This had also disrupted Li Suining’s plans!

His gaze continually swept across the map, which was covered in ink marks, yet he grew increasingly disoriented. He suddenly looked up to find the man in black robes and golden attire standing before him.

"Your Highness..."

Li Suining instantly noticed the profound multi-colored mark on his face, and his heart jolted. Just as he was about to speak further, Li Zhouwei waved a hand, his expression grave as he intently studied the map.

After merely two breaths, his low voice was heard:

"Someone descended from the Immortal Cave, which is why you hadn't anticipated it."