Chapter 434: Chi and Dragon

Li Xuanfeng led a group of people past Salt Lake and arrived at the near sea, where the waves surged, and the water was a deep blue. Ning Dingbo, the eldest brother of the Ning family, stepped forward to greet the disciples.

Once all the Qingchi disciples had gathered, he bared his white teeth and smiled:"This place is called the Near Sea. The water isn't deep; everything here sank during the great war long ago. Most of the islands you see now were originally immortal mountains, and a small portion was created later by moving mountains and filling the sea."

Li Xuanfeng stood with his hands behind his back, listening silently. Ning Dingbo understood his nature and continued to explain for him:"In those days, this area comprised the six most densely populated southern prefectures. They all sank to the bottom, feeding the fish and shrimp, leaving numerous ruins. Because the sea isn't deep, cultivators have thoroughly explored them over time."

"Further out, the Vermilion Lu Sea and the Barbarian Strait, that was the true East Sea of old... Dragon palaces were everywhere, and flood dragons and serpents were rampant. If you venture deep, you'll encounter many dragon kin, whom you must not offend."

The cultivators showed various expressions. Those in luxurious attire looked unperturbed, having clearly known this already, while the more plainly dressed ones had expressions of sudden realization. Ning Dingbo said:"The Vermilion Lu Sea is named after the eighth son of the True Chi, and it involves the ancient matter of Lu Jie He Shui. Thus, the sea contains numerous evil creatures and rare treasures, most of which are occupied by dragon kin. You must be extremely cautious when venturing deep."

A young man in brocade robes with slender eyebrows suddenly spoke up respectfully:"Excuse me, Sir, may I ask why... these are clearly dragon kin, yet the 'He Shui' position of old... was held by a True Chi? Why isn't it called 'Chi kin'?"

"Well..." Ning Dingbo was momentarily speechless. He glanced at Li Xuanfeng hesitantly, shook his head, and said in a deep voice:"This involves ancient matters... few people likely know the full story."

The crowd was slightly disappointed, but then Li Xuanfeng stepped forward and said softly:"If not for Lu Jie He Shui back then, the True Chi would have become a true dragon."

Having spent years in the Southern Barrens, Li Xuanfeng indeed knew a few secrets. He knew that Li Chijing had been harmed by an old flood dragon from the Southern Barrens, so whenever he fought, he tried his best to capture any serpentine or flood dragon-like creatures alive to interrogate them for information about that old flood dragon. That old flood dragon was a renowned demon king in the Southern Barrens, named Can Lufu. He cultivated divine abilities related to Lu Water and was said to be of dragon kin. Li Xuanfeng had once shared the same confusion as the young man and had learned the answer through thorough interrogation.

As soon as he spoke, the young men and women immediately looked at him with admiration. The young man in brocade robes seemed a little reserved and said respectfully:"Please enlighten us, Daoist..."

Li Xuanfeng said softly:"Back then, the True Chi dominated the East Sea, attaining its fruit position for several centuries. It was said to have reached the peak of the Dao Embryo stage, believing itself to be the pinnacle of all creatures between heaven and earth. It proclaimed itself the Demon Emperor and established the East Sea Demon Palace."

"So it traveled west, arriving at an immortal temple on a small mountain, where it met an Immortal Lord."

"The True Chi simply asked: 'Is there any creature in this world more perfect than my own body?'"

"The Immortal Lord replied: 'Dragon kin can grow and shrink, become visible and invisible, soar through the cosmos, dive into waves, and transform with the times. You are merely a demon Chi; you need to transform into a dragon.'"

Li Xuanfeng paused, then said softly:"The True Chi meticulously inquired about the various characteristics of dragon kin, then returned to the East Sea, mobilized a large force, and swallowed a winged serpent."

"He held two fruit positions within himself, finding it difficult to simultaneously wield both He Shui and Lu Shui. Ultimately, he perished hastily, his body divided among his nine sons, causing great commotion and extreme chaos in the East Sea for a time."

Li Xuanfeng seemed slightly lost in thought, and said softly:"Only then did the creatures of the world understand the distinctions between Chi and dragon, and even between flood dragon, snake, and viper—all these classifications originated from the Dragon Palace."

"Although the True Chi was consumed by its nine sons, these descendants declared themselves dragon kin and established the East Sea Flood Dragon Palace."

Not to mention the disciples, even the Ning family brothers were hearing this for the first time and were greatly astonished. Li Xuanfeng shook his head:"These are just tales from the mouth of a viper; take them as entertainment."

"We respectfully thank Daoist for your teachings!"

The disciples respectfully thanked him. Li Xuanfeng waved his hand, his eyes gleaming with clear light as he stared at a shadow in the biting wind, and said softly:"Speak of the devil, and here it comes!"

Indeed, two streaks of light, one large and one small, flew from a distance. The creature in front was snake-shaped with twin hooks on its tail, pale white, leaving a trail of blood-red light in the air. The creature behind was a full circle larger, covered in blue-grey scales, tiger-like in form with a slightly elongated abdomen, slithering low. This blue-grey scaled beast had strong, powerful legs, yet an oddly long torso and a long tail. It casually rode the clouds and mist, toying with the white snake like a cat with a mouse.

Ning Dingbo glanced at it, then quickly steered his jade boat with his brother to put distance between them, saying in a deep voice:"That's a dragon's offspring... move away quickly... don't disturb it."

Li Xuanfeng looked closely. The creature in front appeared to be a descendant of a feathered serpent, with twin hooks on its tail, possibly a hook-tailed serpent. Its scales were shattered, and pale blue blood dripped from its body. Its snake eyes, as large as doors or windows, were filled with despair as it howled.

"From its appearance, it's been wounded by He Shui! Even if it escapes, it won't live much longer..."

The crowd watched, mesmerized, while the Ning family brothers, accelerating to create distance, also looked on with curiosity. The dragon's offspring caught up to the white hook-tailed serpent and, instead of killing it immediately, entangled itself around it, rubbing against it.

Ning Dingbo's expression became slightly odd. He cursed under his breath and quietly increased their speed, thinking:"Truly deserving of being dragon kin... the He Shui lineage just loves these kinds of games... regardless of species, they always have to try."

The cultivators watched, spellbound and deeply shocked. As they listened to the white-scaled hook-tailed serpent's cries, a few breaths passed, and then a scattered, pale green rain suddenly began to fall from the sky. The rain was clear and translucent, a pale jade color, yet as it poured down, it shrouded the world in a dim, hazy grey.

The young man in brocade robes conjured his spiritual power to block the rain, remarking with emotion:"This is the unusual phenomenon of a Lu Water Foundation Establishment cultivator perishing... This is the East Sea for you... Foundation Establishment cultivators just die casually in some sea area like this."

Li Xuanfeng, meanwhile, pondered the aura and form of the dragon's offspring he had just seen, musing:"Indeed, it's extraordinary. The East Sea dragon kin must possess many more spells. If it came to a fight, it would likely be difficult to kill... If there were a sufficiently vast expanse of sea, one could try to wear it down."

He, of course, would not provoke the dragon kin; he merely assessed the combat strength of both sides and had a clear understanding in his mind.

Ning Dingbo, from behind, stepped closer and whispered:"Big Brother, this dragon's offspring likely didn't appear by chance. It's probably here to see who our Qingchi Sect sent to guard Fenkuai Island."

Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly. His trip wasn't just for escort; he also needed to manage the handover on the island for a year or so. The situation on Fenkuai Island was complex, so it was normal for dragon kin to come and observe. Fenkuai Island, being the largest market city and one of the foremost immortal islands in the sea, contained various treasure grounds. Its peculiar terrain made it difficult to arrange formations, so unrest occurred almost constantly. For some unknown reason, Violet Palace cultivators rarely appeared around Fenkuai Island, and various sects never sent Violet Palace cultivators to guard it, mostly relying on Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Li Xuanfeng assented, as the majestic island already appeared before them. The Ning family brothers introduced the history of Fenkuai Island to the group, then steered their boat down into the sea. This location was about ten li from Fenkuai Island. A massive light shield emerged from the seabed. Li Xuanfeng produced a jade token and passed through it.

Indeed, beneath the surface was a shimmering expanse, with houses of various sizes nestled within. As the two brothers had just moored their jade boat, a cultivator arrived, riding the wind. This person wore a green robe, with a storage bag and spiritual sword gleaming at his waist. He was draped in spirit silk, his clothes woven from spirit cloth, and even the jade ornaments were of the highest quality, utterly luxurious. He glanced at Li Xuanfeng and nodded, saying:"Henyuan greets his brother-in-law."

This was Ning Heyuan, Li Xuanfeng's brother-in-law (wife's younger brother). He was a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator and the manager of this market. Li Xuanfeng had met him before and simply nodded. Ning Heyuan was a direct descendant of the Ning family, but he had been taken to the Chi family at a young age and only returned when he grew up, aligning himself with the Chi family within the Ning clan. However, after Chi Wei's death, True Person Yuansu simply went to Yishan City. Along with him, many Ning family members shifted their focus to the south. Even as sect master, Chi Zhiyün dared not command an elder like True Person Yuansu, who now neither obeyed orders nor acknowledged decrees in the Southern Barrens.

The Ning and Chi families had minor disagreements, making Ning Heyuan's position awkward. Li Xuanfeng had met him over ten years ago, when he was very proud and flamboyant. Now, having hidden in the sea for over a decade, he appeared much more dejected. He brought a group of guest cultivators to pay their respects, then instructed his subordinates to take the disciples to be assigned tasks. Immediately, he pulled Li Xuanfeng aside and began:"Brother-in-law... this is Heyuan's first time working with you. If there are any shortcomings, please guide me."

His attitude slightly surprised Li Xuanfeng, who gave a slight bow. Ning Heyuan led him into his grotto-dwelling. Ning Heyuan then left first, needing to go see the disciples, while Li Xuanfeng wrote a letter and handed it to the eldest Ning brother to be sent to the Li family.

***

Great Jueting.

Great Jueting was an ancient city, majestic and grand. At its peak, it had a population of 100,000, which was reduced to less than 10,000 after decades under Fu Daimu. Velarya recaptured and nourished it for years, bringing the population to thirty or forty thousand. The stone bricks of the ancient city were mottled, bearing the marks of time. Li family soldiers swiftly moved through the narrow alleys, while the Shanyue residents of the city stayed in their homes, looking out with a sense of anticipation. Just as the East Shanyue envied the Dong people, the residents of Great Jueting also envied the prosperous lives of the East Shanyue. They had long heard of the Li family's reputation, and now hearing that the Li family was taking over, they were all very much looking forward to it.

Clan cultivators and Jade Court Guards moved through the sky. Li Xicheng rode the wind, accompanied by his younger brother, Li Xijun. The two stood around a map, discussing in detail."The Liu and Xu families cannot be allowed into the new territory... As for several prominent clans, they must also be restricted. It's best to promote people from humble backgrounds to establish villages by the lake in the west..."

Velarya had acted as a hands-off manager, abandoning the territory to the Li family and entering secluded cultivation. The Li family sent people to patrol twice, finding that the entire territory was mainly divided into two large sections. One was the Shanyue's great city, Great Jueting, which covered a considerable area and was a rare relic. Besides this, there was also a fertile plain with no major mountains. The Li family focused on the majestic city of Great Jueting. This ancient city held a status second only to Wushan among the Shanyue. Li Yuanjiao had visited once, but was only busy dividing spoils and hadn't examined it closely.

Now, the two younger generations had toured the city and found it ancient and grand everywhere. The palace contained many murals, heavily damaged by years of war, yet many still depicted scenes of heaven and earth collapsing, filled with dark despair. Li Xijun stepped inside, observing carefully. The most recent murals depicted the rise of the Li family, with the eastern lands flourishing like blooming flowers and boiling oil.

As he slowly stepped further in, the artistic style became more despairing: locusts everywhere, a great drought across all directions, foreign invaders, the great king's demise... Li Xijun paused, looked for a moment, and turned back to say:"This must be the legendary Ganishi."

The two walked inside, passing through layers of palace chambers filled with images of an inverted world and severe drought. After this section, however, many scenes of prosperous people were depicted. The remaining images were already blurred. After searching for a while, they finally found a specific mural. The mural depicted a person in black robes whose face was obscured. One hand clutched something resembling a book, while the other held a staff. Beneath them, many people were depicted kneeling in worship, and to one side, a sun was shown falling from the sky.

"That must be Duanmu Kui..."

Both Li Xijun and his brother had read the clan history and understood various records. Li Xijun said:"Duanmu Kui dominated his era, even daring to assault the mountain gate of the Qingchi Sect... Yet, in the end, he failed to break through to the Golden Core stage... That immortal book is also missing, and its whereabouts remain unknown to this day."

"As for the sun..." Li Xijun paused, then sighed:"Perhaps it concerns the Wei-Li matter."

His feelings about the Wei-Li were somewhat complex. Many Violet Palace and Foundation Establishment cultivators believed the Li family to be a direct descendant of Wei-Li. Li Xuanfeng had also sent back information, and Li Xijun himself had investigated for a while, forming some suspicions.

'True Person Yuansu believed our family was Wei-Li, and he genuinely checked with spells... If a Violet Palace cultivator's divine abilities are accurate, then our family is very likely Wei-Li, which would explain our connections to so many monks.''As for whether we are direct descendants, that's hard to say...'

The Li family knew its own affairs. While several consecutive Foundation Establishments had been astonishing, Li Xijun understood that it wasn't due to noble lineage. The Li family's rapid cultivation speed was primarily due to several direct descendants each possessing a Rune Seed, which accelerated their cultivation. They also gained several levels of promotion through talismans, and with the addition of a Talisman Pill, they appeared exceptional. Connecting these conjectures, he quickly drew a conclusion:'Our family must be a collateral branch of Wei-Li, merely appearing as direct descendants due to the blessings of immortal artifacts, thereby incurring so much karma.'

As he pondered, looking at the heavy and simple palace, he stopped and turned back, saying:"Brother, I'll go back for a trip. I'm leaving things here to you."

Li Xicheng, not understanding why, nodded. Li Xijun, however, rode the wind swiftly, returning thoughtfully to Qingdu Mountain. He hurried into the ancestral hall, opened the formation, and stepped into the secret chamber. The altar, forged from cold iron, emitted a faint light, carved with moon laurel patterns, appearing mysterious and serene. Li Xijun bowed and said respectfully:"Li Xijun, a disciple of the Li family, respectfully requests the Fa Jian to patrol the hidden and probe the subtle, to discern the profound, to illuminate all directions, to seize ghosts and investigate spirits..."

Li Xijun observed that Great Jueting appeared ordinary, showing no peculiarities even after several Foundation Establishment cultivators had repeatedly inspected it. He mused:"A different result should be achieved by using the Immortal Mirror for investigation."