Chapter 450: Element Indication (Piers Leader)

Li Xuanfeng flew for most of the day, then traveled through water veins for a long time. Fenkui Island soon appeared before him, and he broke through the seawater to land in the market.

“Hmm?”

Li Xuanfeng looked around. The market was completely empty, not a single person in sight. There were numerous signs of brawls and magical duels, leaving the area in disarray. He occasionally spotted a few Qingchi disciples, but they remained silent.

Frowning, he said nothing, immediately riding the wind and flying towards the main hall.

The main hall in the market was magnificent, adorned in gold, with numerous magical lights and formations flowing at its highest point. After taking a few steps, Li Xuanfeng noticed that the usual guards had been withdrawn, which made him feel a sense of unease.

“Ning Heye is also nowhere to be seen... What’s going on?”

He stepped into the hall, only to see a man in green robes seated on the white jade throne at the far end. The man had slightly rounded cheeks, long eyebrows, and calm, tranquil eyes that nonetheless conveyed an undeniable air of authority.

He habitually leaned back in the chair, his jade-like fingers grasping a small, light golden jade seal, while his other hand rested on the armrest, tapping gently.

Meanwhile, Ning Heye, clad in brocade robes, knelt at the lower end of the hall, his head trembling as it pressed against the ground. His legs were pressed tightly together, and he remained silent, kneeling like a stone statue.

Li Xuanfeng took a step forward, his dark gold armor shimmering with brilliant magical light. He shook his robe, bowed deeply, and quietly said:

“Xuanfeng greets the True Lord!”

The person before him was none other than True Lord Yuansu, Ning Tiaoxiao!

As Li Xuanfeng bowed, he subtly glanced at Ning Heye, whose eyes were tightly shut. Whatever True Lord Yuansu had said to him earlier, it had caused him to sweat profusely, the drops moistening the jade floor.

True Lord Yuansu, a smile playing on his face, regarded Li Xuanfeng and said:

“I’ve had the Dark-Eyed Tiger for a long time, but it’s too sharp and heavy. Ordinary individuals would expend too much magical power wearing it, so I’ve kept it hidden within the clan, never putting it to use. It suits you perfectly.”

Li Xuanfeng cupped his hands in thanks, but before he could utter any polite words, True Lord Yuansu continued on his own:

“These younger generations of the Ning family, every single one of them is quite useless... Since you are stationed here, you should guide these juniors, lest they cause any trouble...”

Li Xuanfeng humbly replied that he wouldn’t dare. True Lord Yuansu chuckled, then nodded and said:

“You handled this matter well.”

Once he had spoken, Li Xuanfeng knew that the matter was now perfectly concluded and that his numerous deductions along the way had been correct. He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

True Lord Yuansu glanced at Ning Heye, then turned to Li Xuanfeng and praised him, saying:

“To sense the unusual, to understand destiny, and to identify these Sons of Destiny — utilizing their connections without becoming overly involved or turning into their pawns — that is the true path to wisdom and self-preservation.”

Li Xuanfeng understood that True Lord Yuansu was using his praise as a way to instruct Ning Heye, so he remained silent. Beside him, Ning Heye finally murmured lowly:

“This junior has been taught...”

True Lord Yuansu rose from the jade throne, his hands clasped behind his back, and looked at Ning Heye, saying coldly:

“If I hadn’t arrived in time, you would have completely disgraced my Ning family! Opportunities in this world are for the destined; but what kind of person truly qualifies as destined?”

Ning Heye dared not even breathe. Li Xuanfeng was thoughtful. True Lord Yuansu glanced at Ning Heye, then, with his hands behind his back, ordered:

“Go down! Think carefully!”

Ning Heye nodded, offered a few words of thanks, and departed with heavy steps. True Lord Yuansu exhaled, then turned to Li Xuanfeng and said:

“This child is young. Although he has improved with years of tempering, he still lacks foresight. Ning Wan is focused on cultivation and cannot spare her attention, so I need you to oversee matters here more closely.”

Li Xuanfeng vaguely understood Ning Heye’s transgression. After all, he had received much assistance from him, so he immediately whispered:

“True Lord, please calm your anger. Destiny is strange after all... It’s not entirely Heye’s fault...”

Seeing him intercede, True Lord Yuansu let out a cold snort, but his brows and eyes relaxed considerably as he softly said:

“Your inherent strength, born as it is, is a heaven-bestowed excellent Dharma body, and your unique spiritual apertures make you an excellent archer. Very good.”

“When I traveled north to meet guests years ago, I encountered a Buddhist cultivator who also possessed such innate divine strength, even greater than yours. Later, he became a powerful Vajra of Maha.”

True Lord Yuansu mentioned this casually while Li Xuanfeng listened silently. The green-robed True Lord pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

“Yuanwu will not miss Qingsong Temple. Yu Muxian will definitely go.”

Li Xuanfeng was slightly startled, then lowered his gaze and said:

“Thank you, True Lord.”

Ning Tiaoxiao stared at him and softly said:

“Inside Qingsong Temple, various divine powers are beyond reach. If something truly happens to you, I will be helpless. Although Yuanwu has cultivation, he cannot defeat me, yet I cannot go out of my way to trouble him.”

Li Xuanfeng bowed and replied:

“Xuanfeng understands.”

True Lord Yuansu nodded gently and said warmly:

“I understand your concern for your family... If this matter succeeds, consider it the resolution of past grievances. Settle your mind and cultivate diligently.”

Li Xuanfeng bowed. When he straightened up, the green-robed True Lord had already traversed the void and departed, and the faint, suffocating pressure he emitted had vanished. Li Xuanfeng stood, deep in thought.

‘It seems True Lord Yuansu understands the animosity between my family and the Yu family. By having me kill Yu Muxian and my family annex Wangyue Lake, he would be settling the favor owed to the Li family...’

True Lord Yuansu’s meaning was clear. While he verbally stated that he would be helpless if something happened within the grotto-heaven, he was actually implying that if something happened to Yu Muxian, True Lord Yuanwu would have no means of retaliation.

Furthermore, despite being only in the early stage of Purple Palace, True Lord Yuansu’s strength surpassed that of True Lord Yuanwu, who was in the mid-stage. This was sufficient to provide a safety net for himself. If they were to truly fight, True Lord Yuanwu would indeed be no match for Ning Tiaoxiao.

“True Lord Yuansu... truly has some real skills...”

He had only vaguely heard that True Lord Yuansu’s jade seal was an ancient and formidable spirit artifact, but he hadn't realized that Yuansu held True Lord Yuanwu in such contempt. No wonder the other True Lords didn’t casually leave their mountain strongholds, diligently guarding their sects, while Yuansu was free to act as he pleased in the Southern Border...

This monster-extermination mission, it turned out, encompassed various trials: from discerning True Lord Yuansu’s intentions and handling the Sons of Destiny, to demonstrating his strength in eliminating monsters without allowing any to escape. It was truly a test of his diverse abilities by True Lord Yuansu.

As he silently pondered, he slowly walked out of the main hall. Ning Heye stood outside, his expression a mix of surprise and fear, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

“Thank you, brother-in-law.”

The main hall had not been closed, so their voices could naturally carry outside. Li Xuanfeng was not surprised that Ning Heye had overheard a few sentences as he left, and simply asked:

“What happened?”

Ning Heye was greatly annoyed and said dejectedly:

“Somehow, greed got the better of me. I tried to snatch a treasure from a Son of Destiny who was about to claim it. I did manage to get the item, but that person’s expression was full of resentment, and they now hold a grudge against me.”

“I see...”

It was indeed not very different from what Li Xuanfeng had surmised. He nodded gently, and Ning Heye continued:

“I had just gotten my hands on the treasure when the True Lord emerged from the void and blasted that person into a bloody mist. Only then did it dawn on me... but it was already too late! Sigh, now I don’t know how long I’ll be stuck in this dreadful place!”