Chapter 430: Escorting to Exorcise Demons

Mountaingate City.

The majestic city stood tall, spiritual light flowing through it. A middle-aged man, dressed in dark-gold spiritual armor and standing on a golden shuttle, gazed into the distance like a hawk, his eyes sharp beneath his keen brows.

His black and gold spiritual armor shimmered with scales, blending seamlessly with the golden bow on his back. He stood on a rhomboid flying shuttle, which emitted a sharp golden aura.

Years of tempering had stripped him of his youthful arrogance. His gaze was slightly lowered, his eyes narrowed, concealing his sharp spirit within. He honed it, accumulating power, and biding his time, ready to strike.

Li Xuanfeng flew up from the city wall, riding the wind. He paused for a moment as demonic creatures circled in the distant forest, showing no intention of approaching. He then landed back on the wall. Below, several people ascended, all fresh, youthful faces.

Only one middle-aged man, with a dignified and scholarly appearance, came forward to greet him and said softly:

"Feng, Immortal Maiden Qiuhu is waiting below the city."

Most of those who had followed him south in earlier years had married and had children here, only to become food for demonic creatures in battle after battle. Only Fei Yihe remained by his side, now over seventy and still not daring to attempt a breakthrough.

Although the Azure Pond Sect had never explicitly stated anything, the tragedy that befell the Fei family years ago was still fresh in Fei Yihe's mind, so he naturally dared not act rashly. Li Xuanfeng nodded upon hearing this, not surprised.

'If Ning Wan is here, the True Master must have emerged from seclusion.'

His spiritual armor clanked crisply on the ground as Li Xuanfeng rode the wind down. Indeed, he saw a woman standing before a small stall in the market, watching with keen interest.

Ning Wan had a very unique aura. Although she had concealed her cultivation with Azure Pond magic, Li Xuanfeng possessed the Clear Sight Spirit Eyes, and their cultivations were similar, so he found her with just a quick glance. He stepped forward and said softly:

"Xuanfeng greets Senior."

Ning Wan was currently at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, not far from the Purple Mansion stage, and her strength was formidable. She looked back at him and said gently:

"Not bad... When do you plan to go into seclusion for your breakthrough?"

Li Xuanfeng had been in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage for a long time, constantly refining his cultivation. Now, hearing her words, he replied:

"I'm afraid my foundation isn't stable enough; I'm not in a hurry to break through."

Ning Wan nodded and said with a smile:

"I've seen your archery. Now that I think about it, when those Bore-Gold Sect disciples came south back then, you were the one who killed them, weren't you?"

Li Xuanfeng hadn't expected her to bring up old matters, but at this point, it was harmless. He offered an apology, and Ning Wan nodded and said:

"How old were you then, to have comprehended the essence of archery...? At the time, influenced by Elder Streamside or Jiang Boqing, I mistakenly thought it was a Purple Mansion stage practitioner. That misunderstanding, however, led to our current acquaintance. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable."

Li Xuanfeng recalled the events of that year, a wave of loss washing over him, but outwardly, he showed no change. Ning Wan continued:

"There is a piece of news I should inform you of."

"I'd be glad to hear it."

Li Xuanfeng's spirits immediately lifted. Ning Wan shook her head and said:

"On Scarlet Reef Island overseas, there's a female direct descendant named Guo Hongyao. She flew on the wind to your family's territory and caused quite a scene... It seems she wanted to take someone as a disciple, but it ended up displeasing both sides, and they dispersed quickly."

"Scarlet Reef Island?"

Hearing news from home, Li Xuanfeng's spirits immediately lifted. Ning Wan glanced at him and said softly:

"As a result, when this female cultivator returned overseas, she was suddenly and severely wounded, almost dying on her own territory. She escaped only by relying on a talisman, and a very important magical artifact was stolen from her. The culprit was extremely brazen, and Scarlet Reef Island has already sent people to investigate."

Ning Wan smiled, pursing her lips; this news clearly put her in a good mood. She suddenly said:

"With the Azure Pine Temple ruins ahead, Scarlet Reef Island won't investigate too deeply. That female cultivator suffered her injuries for nothing, and it will be hard for her to make progress for decades."

Li Xuanfeng was startled, frowning:

"Who would be so bold as to rob a direct descendant of an immortal sect on immortal sect territory...?"

Ning Wan smiled but said nothing. They flew for a while and, with a mutual understanding, landed together before True Master Yuansu's cave dwelling. Bypassing the bizarre copper beasts in the courtyard, they entered where white mist permeated everywhere, flowing ceaselessly and feeling cool around their ankles. True Master Yuansu was lying on the stone platform at the head of the room.

"Greetings, True Master!"

True Master Yuansu had a plump face and usually showed no imposing presence; now, he appeared even more otherworldly. The pale golden seal at his waist swayed gently. Li Xuanfeng and Ning Wan bowed, and Yuansu raised a hand, bidding them to rise, then asked:

"Wan'er, how are things proceeding?"

Ning Wan respectfully replied:

"Reporting, Old Ancestor, several individuals suspected of possessing destiny have received news of the Azure Pine Temple and have each headed out to sea, without any major issues..."

"Mm."

Yuansu nodded, holding the seal in his hand, and said placidly:

"After all, Mount Luoxia allowed a Dao Fruit cultivator to enter the mortal world for a trip, so it's normal for a few strands of destiny to be drawn and condensed. These people were able to stand out; regardless of whether they possess destiny or not, they at least have some capabilities and can bring some things out of the ruins."

Ning Wan nodded and said softly:

"However... there's another major matter... True Master Suiguan went to Scarlet Reef Island, and then to the Golden Feather Sect, where Zhang Tianyuan personally escorted him out, showing great respect."

True Master Suiguan was the Purple Mansion stage cultivator who had mysteriously emerged from the lifeless, clear blue Azure Pond Cave Heaven. Yuansu's expression soured upon hearing this, and he said in a low voice:

"What is he up to now!"

Yuansu had a severe headache dealing with this person. No matter how bad Chi Buzi's temper was, he was at least an acquaintance, and their relationship wasn't too bad, nor was his cultivation too high. But this Suiguan was truly unpredictable.

Yuansu had been hiding in Mountaingate City, even entering seclusion to break through, precisely to avoid this person. Now, hearing news of him, his expression was not good. Ning Wan hesitated for a moment, then replied:

"I heard from the Chi family that... he went to retrieve a copy of..."

She stopped abruptly at this point. Yuansu waved a hand and said softly:

"Speak freely."

"He retrieved a copy of the Profound Bright Dual Energies."

Yuansu straightened up, thought for a moment, and said:

"That's it... It must be the Profound Bright Qi. Only something like that would make Suiguan personally visit the Golden Feather Sect... He's at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage... Could it be that he's trying to break through to the Golden Core stage?"

He made this inference, then frowned and dismissed it:

"No... that doesn't seem right."

The two below remained silent. Yuansu quickly regained his composure and said no more. He looked at Li Xuanfeng and nodded, saying:

"Not bad; you're progressing faster than I expected."

"All thanks to the True Master's guidance."

Li Xuanfeng offered his thanks. Indeed, Yuansu had been very good to him over the past decade or so; all his spiritual armor, precious medicines, metallic essence, secret techniques, and arcane arts had been prepared by Yuansu for him, treating him almost like a junior disciple.

If these items hadn't been bestowed by Yuansu, making them somewhat sensitive, Li Xuanfeng would have wanted to send some home. However, the better Yuansu treated him, the more uneasy he felt.

Yuansu glanced at him twice and said softly:

"Alright, your current strength is now presentable. Go to the East Sea and do two things for me."

Li Xuanfeng was instantly overjoyed and replied repeatedly:

"Please command me, True Master!"

Firstly, he had been trapped here for decades and finally had a chance to leave, so he was naturally overjoyed. Secondly, Yuansu finally had a request for him; otherwise, holding this array of magical artifacts and spiritual objects felt like a burning coal in his hands, yet he couldn't refuse them.

He immediately agreed. Yuansu said:

"First, I have a group of my own disciples who need to go to Fenkuai Island. That sea region hasn't been peaceful lately, and Ning Wan cannot move lightly, so you make the trip."

He reminded him:

"Don't stir up trouble; just safely deliver the people. If anyone truly obstructs you on the way, you may kill them, provided they are not of the dragon lineage."

Watching Li Xuanfeng nod in agreement, Yuansu continued:

"Once you arrive at Fenkuai Island, continue east until you reach Zhulu Sea. My Ning family's market there has also been harassed by a demonic creature. Kill it while you're there, then return."

"May I ask who/what it is...?"

Li Xuanfeng asked, and Yuansu said:

"No need to worry; it's merely an aquatic ape. Ordinary people cannot defeat it, but it's no big deal for you."

He hung up the jade seal and said softly:

"I see you haven't returned home in many years. Go and catch up properly."

"Thank you, True Master!"

Li Xuanfeng thanked him and watched True Master Yuansu wave a hand and slowly descend. Ning Wan remained silent for a moment, then said softly:

"True Master... Li Xuanfeng's cultivation has improved rapidly in recent years. It seems that before, it was merely due to the Li family's lack of resources and rudimentary cultivation methods. He hadn't even cultivated any significant spells before, and still established his foundation so late."

"He is, after all, a Wei-Li."

Yuansu acknowledged her with a sound and said:

"If he were to cultivate the Bright Sun nature, it would be even faster... A thousand years ago, the way the Wei-Li direct lineage connected with the Metallic nature... that was truly the descent of the Bright Sun."

As the two chatted, Li Xuanfeng bowed out of the cave dwelling and rode the wind for a while, landing before his own cave dwelling.

Li Xuanfeng's cave dwelling was considered among the best in Mountaingate City. Pushing the door open, he entered to find his wife, Ning Hemian, holding their child, coming forward to greet him with a beaming smile. She said softly:

"What did the True Master say?"

Ning Hemian was from the Ning family, and her information was even more well-informed than his. Li Xuanfeng was not surprised. He picked up the child and replied:

"I'm going to the East Sea on an appointed day, to escort people and slay a demon."

The boy in his arms pursed his lips. His eyes were grey-black, but his eyebrows were much softer than his father's and not yet fully developed, making him appear somewhat delicate.

"Qin'er..."

"Father."

Li Xuanfeng hugged him and asked about recent events. Li Yuanqin didn't say much, only responded with 'mm' sounds. Ning Hemian closed the stone door of the cave dwelling and said with some concern:

"What did the True Master mean? Was he trying to make you offend someone? Are there any dangers?"

"It shouldn't be."

Li Xuanfeng showed a thoughtful expression, raising his brows as he said:

"I have now mastered the 'Upward Radiance Recoil' technique, and with my dark-gold spiritual armor protecting me, my combat power is formidable. Unless I directly encounter a direct descendant of the Three Sects at the Foundation Establishment stage, they likely can't do anything to me."

"If I can set up an ambush in advance, create distance, and be fully prepared, even a late-Foundation Establishment stage direct descendant of the Three Sects would have to spit out a few mouthfuls of blood before giving up in front of my arrows. As for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators... they're no different from the demonic creatures I tore apart in dozens of moves before the pass."

Li Xuanfeng's tone was calm, yet it carried a strong scent of blood. He said softly:

"Only Southern Wilderness knows the reputation of my Golden Geng Astral String. Going overseas this time will also let me see what kind of people those cultivators are."

Ning Hemian pulled her hair back and, while tidying the spiritual medicines in his cave dwelling, casually responded:

"Yes, yes, yes, I know you're amazing!"

Li Xuanfeng was much older than her. Sometimes, seeing her behave like a child, he chuckled and thought:

'When should I take Qin'er back home for a visit... I wonder how Yuanjiao and Qinghong are doing now.'

He had learned a lot of news about the Li family through the Ning family's connections, but it was ultimately only superficial information. The thought of being able to go home for a visit filled his heart with quiet excitement.

Azure Du Mountain.

The ritual of burning incense and praying was not complicated; in fact, one could also cultivate while sitting cross-legged before the incense. Li Qinghong bathed carefully, changed her combat armor to a Daoist robe, tied up her hair, cultivated before the incense for several months, and then rode the lightning closer to Jade Court Mountain.

This immortal mountain was now covered in azure pines. On its snow-capped summit stood a sacrificial altar over ten zhang tall, carved with various patterns of rain, mist, and lightning. Primarily made of bluestone, it was forged with various types of copper and iron.

At the very top, a circle of various copper and silver statues surrounded it. There were twelve in total, some capturing lightning and scattering clouds, others holding halberds with furious eyes. Eight were human figures, and the remaining four were of dragon or serpent kind.

As Li Qinghong stepped onto the altar, she felt her internal magical power become active. Her 'thunder pool' was eager to move, and the Profound Thunder Talisman pulsed up and down excitedly.

'At this moment, all twelve statues should light up, dark clouds should gather in the sky, and lightning should appear... only then would it be considered a start.'

Li Qinghong activated her Immortal Foundation. She waited a full half-quarter of an hour, but only purple lightning flowed, with no unusual phenomena whatsoever. There were no signs of the so-called 'heaven-human remote sensing'; instead, her internal magical power was significantly depleted.

"Could it really be useless?"

Li Qinghong waited for a while. In the sky, let alone lightning, there wasn't even a trace of a single dark cloud. She could only sigh softly, giving up on this secret technique, and instead used lightning to communicate with each statue one by one.

This was another use for the altar: it could calculate when and where lightning would strike in the world, how many tribulation lightning strikes had occurred recently, and who had committed grave evils and was about to face divine retribution by lightning.

"It's probably useless too. Where are there any tribulation lightning strikes these days...? I haven't even heard of any... This spell is truly ancient."

She tried each one, but it was still in vain. Li Qinghong, unwilling to give up, tried twice more until the very last dragon-shaped statue finally showed some reaction.

"Crackle..."

The eyes of the dragon-shaped copper statue flickered for a moment, and Li Qinghong suddenly had an epiphany:

'Yincheng Commandery, Wei State, twenty-fourth day, third quarter of the Hour of the Rat: The Profound Tail Coiled Lightning will strike the large cypress tree west of the commandery.'

Lightning appeared on the copper statue, then immediately extinguished. It showed no further reaction.

"Huh?"

Li Qinghong blinked, sighing in her heart:

"It really is an ancient method! But... what use is this...?"

If she could truly know the exact location, it would be fine. Li Qinghong could ride the lightning there and use magic to capture the falling lightning. Judging by the name, it should be a type of natural spiritual lightning, which was already extremely rare in the current era.

Firstly, since ancient times, lightning between heaven and earth had become increasingly rare, and lightning cultivators were also becoming rarer. Secondly, lightning was unlike fire or spiritual water; it discharged upon impact. Unless by sheer coincidence or accidentally encountered within the clouds, it was very difficult to obtain.

But the information provided by this spell was an ancient place name. Even if she knew such a place existed, she wouldn't know where to find it... Li Qinghong could only sigh:

"What's more, this place is likely in the north, and the Wrathful Dao views us with great hostility. Furthermore, there are karmic entanglements involved, so I absolutely cannot go."

Li Qinghong calculated the time. The next lightning invocation should be three months later, she pondered in her heart:

"Since this altar has already been built, casting the spell for a while merely consumes some magical power. I'll try it every three months. Just in case I ever come across a commandery in the Yue State with a familiar name, I might be able to obtain some lightning."