Chapter 1156: Withdrawal

Intense violet light is rising from the horizon. The Xun wind is overwhelming, its clear essence transforming into myriad arcane gases that cover the sky and obscure the sun, while its turbid essence becomes the winds of the deep abyss, washing away the clear light. The entire lake surface is not only devoid of energy but also obscured, making visibility unclear.

Yet, everyone on the lake knew full well how the Xun wind came to be.

"Qi Lanyan... has fallen!"

Even if Qi Lanyan's demise was fueled by the cultivators' actions, many among them had only intended to gravely wound him and did not believe he would actually perish!

*This person is, after all, a Disciple of Transcendent Mystery and a junior of the Guanhua lineage, the de facto commander of all northern forces in Jianghuai... not only did the immortal sects obey his commands, but even the Buddhist cultivators had to yield to him! Such a figure surely possessed numerous hidden cards, and even if pushed to the brink, he should have had powerful backing to save him! To die right here on the lake, just like that!*

As the Xun wind visibly soared into the sky, gazes fell, a mixture of disbelieving horror and triumphant satisfaction, like the tolling of a heavy mystic bell, causing the entire northern divine power defense line to suddenly collapse.

Since the founding of the Great Song dynasty, the conflict between North and South had never ceased, with countless territorial losses and injuries. However, the fall of true divine powers and Mahas was extremely rare, with the death of Guangchan being the most significant!

Even Guangchan's death was attributed to miscalculations by Dharma Idols and conflicts between great figures; besides that, not a single Purple Mansion or Maha cultivator had perished!

But now, things were different.

The struggle on Lake Xian had reached a fever pitch, with both northern and southern cultivators understanding there was no room for retreat. All their hidden cards were played, and the battle had escalated beyond control. Once Qi Lanyan truly fell, there would be even less chance of disengagement!

Every divine ability blossomed with color in the air, then grew dim and indistinct within the Xun wind!

Yet, at the center of this storm, where Qi Lanyan had fallen, there was a profound stillness, as if isolated from the world, impenetrable by any divine power. The Great True Man, clad in white, stood silently on the lake surface, holding the Clear Jade Branch.

With his appearance, the dark night sky brightened. The resplendent setting sun quickly sank below the horizon, revealing a scene of collapsing golden towers and scattered chariots. A gentle breeze and white snow, like an ethereal immortal forest, enveloped the two figures, as if they had entered a realm of profound Yin, where clouds and mist drifted peacefully.

Wherever he passed, the gentle Mingyang light dispersed, and the red light separated, leaving only the tranquil, unified light of Jueyin.

Buer Yu.

As these patches of light dispersed, the shimmering Celestial Gate behind Li Zhouwei dimmed. Yet, the young man showed no sign of wavering, colorful, crack-like light rippling across his face as he calmly gazed at the Great Zhao Imperial Preceptor.

*He is Wei Xuanyin.*

This man was quite tall, with handsome and gentle features. He wore a silver robe, resembling the plumage of a bird, shimmering with scattered lights, and stood upon dark white clouds that billowed like ascending beasts. One hand was clasped behind his back, swaying like an immortal.

Li Zhouwei, facing him, was covered in colorful cracks left by the Clear Jade Branch. Not to mention escaping from the Great True Man before him, at this moment, just a faint beam of Jueyin light could instantly send him to join Qi Lanyan!

Despite being clearly gravely wounded, the King of Wei stood in the air, calmly, even with a hint of a smile, looking at the Great True Man before him.

*He wouldn't dare. Be it Wang Ziya, Qi Lanyan, or this Wei Xuanyin before me, they cannot make a move, whether they wish to or not.*

It was precisely for this reason that Li Zhouwei, at this moment, even had the leisure to appraise this contemporary Great True Man, a Purple Mansion cultivator who had mastered the path of Jueyin. Yet, this very glance sparked a hint of doubt in his brows.

Not too strong, nor too weak. But entirely different.

Li Zhouwei was no stranger to Jueyin cultivators; Zong Chang, with whom he had fought in Wanling Heaven back then, was a prime example of a Jueyin demonic cultivator. Her Jueyin divine abilities were confrontational, seemingly designed to utterly overpower him with their insidious and cunning nature.

Yet, the person before him exuded an ethereal, immortal quality, giving him a feeling utterly unlike Jueyin. If not for his clearly established lineage, he might even be mistaken for a Shaoyin cultivator!

Zong Chang possessed a "Chamber of Suspicions," a wicked path of mutual distrust between ruler and minister, breeding internal chaos, and harboring immense malice towards the Mingyang lineage. Li Zhouwei could perceive that the divine abilities Wei Xuanyin wielded now seemed to stem from the same origin as the Chamber of Suspicions, yet displayed an entirely different aura!

Both sought to dissolve Mingyang and dismantle imperial authority, but the hatred that wished to utterly dismantle it was gone. In its place was a righteous aura that greatly benefited his path yet was unburdened by any obligation.

*This is... the Guanhua lineage!*

The surging Xun wind isolated the inside from the outside. The successor of the Guanhua Heavenly Pagoda Dao had a peaceful expression, gazing at him in turn, with no trace of distress or anger in his eyes. The hand holding the Clear Jade Branch was steady, and he swept his sleeve to collect various spiritual artifacts and treasures, a hint of relief even gleaming in his eyes.

*Fortunately... fortunately, for the sake of the Clear Jade Branch... the Yang family had to show some respect, and the great figures above had no particular dislike for Martial Nephew Qi. Otherwise, had the Condemnation Qi descended, he would surely have been annihilated, body and soul!*

Wei Xuanyin had observed all of Qi Lanyan's actions.

*The cause of his death was not entirely Li Zhouwei... it also had to do with the Yang Clan... his actions had truly angered the Yang Clan. Yang Ruiyi... or rather, the influential figures in the Underworld who had interests within the Yang Clan and were behind him, had come to resent him.*

The Youxuan Spirit Cleansing Palace was suspected to have someone guarding it, holding back Wang Ziya for more than ten rounds, leaving Qi Lanyan unprepared to face a Dui Gold Sword Immortal who was also a Great True Man, as well as King Wei Li Zhouwei, leaving behind the terrifying sword wound that ultimately claimed his life... On the other hand, the Condemnation Qi in the sky was unprecedentedly dense, not only cutting off all means of escape but also blocking even Wei Xuanyin himself!

It must be known that Wei Xuanyin received news the moment Wang Ziya made his move in Baiye and rushed from the imperial capital, intending to personally oversee the situation!

Wei Xuanyin's status was different, and this timing was even more sensitive. The moment he entered the White Sea, an emissary from the Underworld immediately appeared to block him. The opponent was courteous, but their attitude was unequivocal... However, the current battle on Lake Xian had also exceeded his expectations—even he had not imagined that this martial nephew would be so decisive, so resolutely pushing the situation to such an extreme.

Wei Xuanyin already felt extremely fortunate that Qi Lanyan's soul remained!

His handsome eyes swept over Li Zhouwei.

Colorful light surged over this man, the Wuguang Calamity already beginning to manifest, yet his face was as calm as water, only the hand gripping the long halberd was slightly pale. However, in Wei Xuanyin's eyes, Li Zhouwei's aura surged straight into the sky, something no amount of colorful light could obscure!

His gaze was complex, and after a long pause, he said, "Greetings, King Wei."

Li Zhouwei replied calmly, "I have long heard of your esteemed name, fellow Daoist."

Wei Xuanyin's gaze froze for a moment. He exhaled deeply and said, "My martial nephew's karmic ties are severed. Mingyang has slain him; on this day, Jianghuai is pacified, and all karma is repaid."

The colors in the young man's eyes flickered slightly, drifting down his cheeks, constantly pulling out tearing black marks that were quickly mended by his flesh. Yet, his voice was calm and chilling: "Only Mingyang has ended."

Wei Xuanyin's expression changed, his gaze complex. He understood that Qi Lanyan had offended quite a few people, and the image of the newly ascended True Man holding the treasure bag appeared before him. After a brief silence, he said, "The karma of the world often involves circumstances beyond one's control, more often leading to mutual destruction. Such is the case for King Wei and Lanyan today."

Li Zhouwei did not reply.

The vast Jueyin energy lingered between heaven and earth. Wei Xuanyin gave him one last deep look, then his figure transformed into billowing white mist, dispersing like smoke. All the light before them quickly receded, retreating northward like a tide.

Li Zhouwei had already pulled something from his sleeve.

This object, the size of a finger, was round like a golden pill, glowing brilliantly in his hand as if he held a tiny sun—it was precisely the Second-Manifestation Guangyang Treasure Pill!

After consuming the treasure pill, his complexion eased slightly, but the colorful cracks on his face remained evident, and the dense colors in his eyes did not fade.

At this moment, his Dharma Body was in complete disarray!

The fragmentation and injuries to his Dharma Body from the Clear Jade Branch strike were secondary. The most critical issue was the surge of green, purple, and yellow lights intertwining within him, spreading throughout his limbs and bones.

The Qingya Wutu Calamity!

Strictly speaking, these three lights—green, purple, and yellow—were not mystic lights nor miraculous residues, but a calamity of extremely high rank, continuously emerging and filling him both internally and externally. It presented a difficulty that bewildered the mind and confounded the spirit, and a tribulation that scattered divine powers!

When it struck him directly, Li Zhouwei instantly lost all sight and sense of direction, feeling only chaos in his eyes. His spiritual sense seemed to have fallen into a deep pond, sinking and unable to rise. It was only due to the sensation of the Talisman Seed that he managed to regain consciousness.

But even after regaining consciousness, his spiritual sense remained pitifully sluggish, almost losing all perception. His eyes were also dim and lifeless; all his recent actions had devolved to relying on his ears to discern sounds...

As for his Dharma Body, the Qingya Wutu Calamity had almost completely occupied him, inside and out. The power of his life residing in a single Mansion allowed him to barely mobilize divine abilities and react, but compared to before, it was a world apart. Qi Lanyan had been correct; Li Zhouwei was at the end of his tether, never having sustained such severe injuries in all his years of cultivation!

In comparison, the pain on his body, like being cut by knives and axes, or scorched by fire and drowned by water, became a minor matter. However, Li Zhouwei keenly sensed that this calamity was still intensifying bit by bit, constantly clashing with the divine wonders he restored through his "Treading Danger and Achieving Success" technique!

*The Qingya Wutu Calamity... how vicious.*

The Jueyin colors before him suddenly receded, and Li Zhouwei finally heard the surging wind. The rolling Xun wind still roared across the sky, obscuring vision, and the interweaving divine abilities had gradually settled, with faint shouts of killing audible.

*It seems someone... couldn't retreat...*

His expression unchanged, he pulled out several spiritual medicines and elixirs, consuming them one by one, but they proved largely ineffective. He could only raise his hand and take out another pill.

This pill was entirely purple, encircled by an aura of Grand Yin. Compared to the many other elixirs in his hand, it appeared small and exquisite—it was the Hundred Nights Mind-Seeing Elixir that Li Ximing had acquired from the secret realm that fell from Wanling Heaven years ago.

The efficacy of this medicine was none other than dispelling illusions and clarifying spiritual perception!

The moment it entered his throat, it instantly transformed into surging Grand Yin and pure Qi, flowing freely downwards, attempting to suppress the Qingya Wutu Calamity within his body.

This spiritual medicine, being an item from a Grotto-heaven and holding the essence of Grand Yin among the Three Yins, finally caused the surging calamity within his body to recede slightly... The colors in Li Zhouwei's eyes faded by a degree, and his spiritual sense finally extended three zhang around him, with his perception of divine abilities gradually strengthening. However, the joy in his heart was not intense.

For no other reason than that the Qingya Wutu Calamity was continuously manifesting and intensifying, while the Hundred Nights Mind-Seeing Elixir's potency was limited and could not last for too long!

*It's enough... to clean up the aftermath!*

Although he still couldn't see, having Cha You with him, a slight thought brought the entire lake scene instantly before his eyes!

The Sun-Derived Light Treasure Bag floated above the sky, its radiance shining down, firmly fixing a colossal golden body in place. This golden body had six legs and six arms, its various golden artifacts shattered. Its neck was covered with weeping faces. This treasure bag from the Sun lineage evidently had a special effect, preventing him from self-destructing or escaping.

It was none other than Nuzi, the Peacock lackey of the Grand Desire Dao!

Li Zhouwei's expression remained unchanged. He gradually shifted his gaze; at this moment, all the divine abilities across the lake were concentrated in another area.

Beneath the layers of divine power stood a middle-aged man.

This man had a rather good appearance, seeming to be in his thirties or forties, with a high nose and deep-set eyes. His former elegance was gone; his hair was disheveled, his upper body bare, and his lower body mangled. The magic sword in his hand was also broken in two, and blood seeped from his lips, yet his expression remained stern.

*The King of Tiefo. Helian Wujiang.*

East Sea.

Clouds and mist drifted over the sea. The white-bearded old Daoist rode a gourd, silently flying northward. His expression seemed deeply forlorn. He lifted his sleeve, revealing two large, smooth, clean tears in his indestructible Daoist robe.

*Sword Immortals, they truly possess skill.*

Although he was praising, he was clearly somewhat disheartened. As he traveled northward, he saw the white-robed Great True Man approaching, riding on white mist that billowed like beasts. Wang Ziya regretfully cupped his hands and sighed, "It was my dereliction of duty."

Wei Xuanyin raised his eyes, shook his head, and said, "Senior Brother has done his best. If it had been Tuoba Qiye, Yangfeng would have been utterly annihilated, leaving no trace."

Wang Ziya merely said, "Junior Brother, you don't need to spare my feelings. I've been a Daoist in a Grotto-heaven for my entire life. If you ask me to expound on scriptures or discuss Daoist principles, I might have some ability, but asking me to wield a spiritual treasure to harm others is truly beyond my capabilities... It's a pity for our martial nephew. These one or two hundred years... he can only live out his life peacefully as a mortal."

Wei Xuanyin smiled faintly and said, "It might not be a bad thing now. Fortune and misfortune are settled, and the trials have all been experienced..."

The Great True Man paused, lowering his gaze, and said, "When he entered the Grotto-heaven back then, he wasn't chosen by anyone and was abandoned by his clan. He held a grudge ever since, which isn't the disposition for achieving the Grand Dao. Now that he has passed this life-and-death tribulation, it's a good opportunity for him to return to the Grotto-heaven to cultivate, which can also be considered fulfilling his wish..."

"My master extended a favor to me and prepared a mystic medicine. Please, Senior Brother, retrieve it for me, and let him reincarnate."

Wang Ziya was taken aback, saying in disbelief, "You... this is unique to the Heavenly Pagoda Dao... Since Martial Uncle left it for you, how can you give it to someone else? What about you? This item is rare even in the mountains..."

Wei Xuanyin bowed deeply, placing the Clear Jade Branch into his hand, and said, "I no longer need it. It's a perfect compensation for him. I entrust this to you, Senior Brother!"

Wang Ziya remained silent for a long time, about to speak and persuade him further, but the Great True Man before him smiled and said, "This is a good thing; it fulfills his destiny and mine. And with such a grievous wound to my Guanhua Heavenly Pagoda Dao, it's also a good opportunity to withdraw from Jianghuai and no longer interfere with Mingyang. Martial Nephew Qi has already paid the price of his life... and he died for that person's will, so it's even harder to say anything."

Wang Ziya suddenly realized, looked at the Clear Jade Branch in his hand, and murmured, "You had it all planned out?"

Wei Xuanyin shook his head, a hint of inexplicable complexity in his eyes, and quietly said, "But much earlier than planned."

Wang Ziya still looked at him with some disbelief, until the Great Zhao Imperial Preceptor bowed and departed, vanishing into the horizon. Suddenly, Qi Lanyan's face from that day appeared before him. At that moment, he belatedly understood the true reason why this martial nephew was willing to abandon everything to trouble Mingyang.

*Was it to pave the way for Junior Brother Wei? Yes, and no. The Guanhua Heavenly Pagoda Dao, situated in Jianghuai, might have been used to obstruct Mingyang. If everything came to pass, then someone from Guanhua would inevitably have to step forward to obstruct Mingyang. If that person wasn't Qi Lanyan, it would have been Wei Xuanyin. Qi Lanyan's desperate, reckless display of malice towards Mingyang, making both the South and North aware of his intentions, was not truly aimed at obstructing Mingyang or achieving any specific outcome. Rather, it was to prove himself a more useful knife—thereby preserving Wei Xuanyin.*