Chapter 477: Green Pine Matters Resolved

East Sea.

The great battle on Qing Song Island had raged for a long time. As the Grotto-Heaven departed the mundane world, rogue cultivators dispersed in a swarm. The spiritual energy, once as brilliant as scorching sunlight and visible to the naked eye, gradually waned, settling into a state typical of ordinary Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands.

Meanwhile, within the Grand Void, an ethereal and boundless expanse, streaks of light were ascending. The Qing Song Abbey Grotto-Heaven had fully detached, disappearing into the deep blackness of the Grand Void, transforming into shimmering bursts of colored light that dissolved into the boundless nothingness.

The various brilliant lights of divine abilities flowed within the Grand Void. Figures stood silently, encircling a central point. They gazed at the two jade boxes suspended in the center, none speaking a word.

The atmosphere was quite awkward. Soon, a figure from the north spoke softly:

"The two from Heng Zhu Dao and Chang Huai Mountain were empty to begin with. As for the two lost ones, they belonged to the Green Pond Sect and Purple Smoke Gate."

Nearby, a swirl of colored light converged, turning a muted greenish-gray. Yuan Su stood in the Grand Void, laughing coldly:

"What a bunch of people, squabbling amongst yourselves. I reckon Heng Zhu Dao already knew theirs was empty! They didn't even send a Purple Mansion cultivator..."

"The remaining two belong to the Sword Gate and Great Xiukui Monastery. Neither is easy to provoke. You'd best be clear about the distribution!"

Yuan Su apparently already had a poor reputation. Everyone knew his temper, and with his lifespan nearing its end, he was completely uninhibited. Even when mocked, he said nothing, though a few Purple Mansion cultivators snorted softly.

None of the Purple Mansion cultivators mentioned the fates of the fated individuals; they seemed to have already reached some unspoken agreement. Only a man bearing a sword said:

"I shall only take the jade box that is rightfully mine..."

No sooner had he spoken than someone disdainfully interrupted:

"If the Sword Gate takes all the benefits, what are we here for, merely to watch?"

The sword-bearing man paused, then said:

"I can offer some compensation to you all. The jade box contains an item from our sect's founding ancestor. Cheng must certainly bring it back."

Silence fell over the Grand Void. Finally, a black-robed man spoke up:

"My Xiukui Dao too."

The spiritual senses of the Purple Mansion cultivators intertwined, as if whispering amongst themselves. Yuan Su, however, lowered his head, waiting for something, meticulously staring at the jade box. Sure enough, a figure slowly stepped forth from the Grand Void.

This person wore a white robe, with a sword tied at his waist. It was in a wooden scabbard, and the hilt was also of reddish-brown pine wood. He approached with a leisurely stroll, stopping slowly before the two jade boxes.

His face was indistinct. As he gently stepped forward, shimmering white light rippled beneath his feet, like waves on water.

'Shang Yuan!'

"Shang Yuan."

All the Purple Mansion cultivators halted simultaneously. Eyes infused with divine abilities stared intently. Various divine abilities and profound ocular arts crisscrossed and collided in the Grand Void, as if trying to bore a hole through his white robe.

None of them showed any surprise. Instead, they seized every moment to intently measure the person before them with their divine abilities. All the previous disputes and whispers seemed to have never happened. These eleven Purple Mansion cultivators were all waiting for him alone.

True Man Shang Yuan extended his hand and picked up one of the jade boxes.

The jade box, which everyone had been scrambling for and which had remained unopened, was like an ordinary box before him; with a slight flick, it opened. Inside lay a short, small sword blade.

True Man Shang Yuan casually took it out, seemingly a little disappointed. With a flick of his finger, the sword blade flew towards the man bearing the sword. He said softly:

"Keep it safe."

The True Man of the Sword Gate was greatly grateful, bowing repeatedly. He only said:

"Senior... when do you plan to achieve a breakthrough? Have you settled on a method?"

True Man Shang Yuan seemed to have some acquaintance with him. Ignoring the other Purple Mansion cultivators present, he chuckled softly:

"The Jade True method belongs to the combined ancient ways. I do not draw from Yin and Yang, nor from the Five Elements, but rather from emptiness and reality to prove the essence of metal."

He turned his head, looked at the True Man of Xiukui Dao beside him, and said softly:

"Both Heng Zhu and Xiukui belong to the combined ancient methods. You are all welcome to come and observe; it will be greatly beneficial."

As he spoke, he picked up the other jade box and tossed it into the True Man's hand. Without waiting for his thanks, he stepped into the void and disappeared.

The True Men of the Sword Gate and Great Xiukui Monastery, having gained their benefits, were overjoyed. They had no reason to linger in the Grand Void any longer. With their items in hand, they vanished in a flash, disappearing from sight.

The remaining nine Purple Mansion cultivators remained silent. They watched as he arbitrarily distributed the two jade boxes. Not one person dared to speak up. Only the one in the very center sighed, then gently waved his hand, causing various treasures to appear in the air.

These treasures were numerous. Even the most basic ones were top-grade Foundation Establishment artifacts. They filled the Grand Void. Only a small portion appeared to be ancient magical artifacts from a Grotto-Heaven. The Purple Mansion cultivator said:

"Twenty-six magical artifacts, two Purple Mansion spiritual artifacts, information on six legacies, clues to nine ruins, and various long-lost items. Each of you may choose some. If the value exceeds too much, leave something as compensation."

He raised an eyebrow. From the pile of items, he conjured a crystalline stone, clear as water. Ripples shimmered on its surface, sparkling with points of light.

The True Man glanced at it, then said softly:

"Does anyone want this piece? It's considered a top-grade Foundation Establishment item, called the Azure Painting Sky Screen."

Qing Chi Mountain was across more than half of Yue Country from Moon Gaze Lake. Li Xizhi changed into white clothes, and the group set off on the wind. Not wishing to be seen by others, they flew very high, above the clouds.

The spiritual energy here was thin, making it difficult to travel by wind. Thus, few people flew here. However, as they were all from Immortal Sects, traveling by wind here was naturally effortless for them. They flew silently amidst the rising dawn glow.

The clouds were vibrant with color. Li Xizhi's aura of light felt as natural as a fish in water. He flew silently for several days in the sky. The two behind him racked their brains, trying to say something to distract him.

Just then, a few feathered beasts descended from high above. They were graceful, vibrantly colored fish-like creatures. Two wings extended from their flanks; they had large, round heads and flat snouts. Their orange wing feathers flapped in the air, giving them a very nimble appearance.

"Rare! To encounter Xiaruo fish here."

These Xiaruo fish paused briefly within Li Xizhi's rainbow light. They soon darted into the clouds and vanished. Li Xizhi glanced at them and replied:

"Xiaruo fish appear when there's great water. This must be due to your noble ancestor's rain cloud. It caused these spiritual beasts to fly so low as they passed by, allowing us to see them."

Xiaruo fish like water and love rainbows. Li Xizhi, having cultivated the Way of Radiant Light, naturally understood these creatures well. Had it not been for the two people beside him, these fish would have absorbed more of his rainbow light and not departed so easily.

"They must have come from the North Sea... headed towards the East Sea and South Sea."

Yang Xiao'er responded, lamenting:

"In today's world, such spiritual beasts are rare. The great cataclysm has destroyed who knows how many things..."

"The most heavily damaged are naturally the celestial thunder and telluric magnetism, unseen for millennia... Not to mention the extinguished celestial thunder, even Mount Xuanyue is merely that 'Foolish Gushan' which can barely be considered Gen Earth..."

Yuan Chengzhao interjected. Li Xizhi sighed inwardly, understanding their intentions. Considering it merely a way to comfort them, he whispered:

"Do you know why Xiaruo fish love rainbows?"

The two were startled. They were both pleased that Li Xizhi had finally spoken and curious, so they asked. Li Xizhi said:

"Feathered beasts, such as winged serpents and phoenixes, follow fluidity and fiery essence. Scaled beasts, such as flood dragons and Xuanniao birds, follow convergence and combination. Xiaruo fish have feathered wings and scaled bodies, occupying a position between the two categories."

"And between these two categories, where water disperses and light gathers, complementing and corresponding, there exists the rainbow glow."

Li Xizhi said softly:

"The previous senior who cultivated the 'Morning Glow Dew-Gathering Art' was named Linguxia. His mount was a Gu Diao, also a half-scaled, half-feathered demonic creature."

Yuan Chengzhao sighed:

"When I was young, I was mischievous and didn't understand the importance of learning. Now, I can only look at Senior Brother with envy... It seems these five categories—fur, feathers, insects, scales, and naked—are each connected to their own Dao lineages, and the knowledge within them is vast."

After flying for a while, Yuan family's Mushroom Forest Plains appeared before them. Yuan Chengzhao's expression fell; he bid farewell and descended. Moon Gaze Lake was also close at hand, and Li Xizhi's mood sank again.

Qing Du Mountain.

For over a year, although the northern counties of Yue Country were no longer drenched by torrential rains, it remained persistently overcast and rainy. Rice and millet, deprived of sunlight, all rotted in the fields, resulting in no harvest.

In previous years, the Li family had enjoyed abundant harvests and had long-established reserves. They distributed grain to each household as per custom, and while corruption and squalor were unavoidable, fortunately, their family's foundation was solid, so no major incidents occurred.

Li Yuanjiao's funeral was concluded early. Only then did news from Qing Song Abbey slowly spread. Cultivators from various regions then realized, rushing to pay their respects and offer condolences.

After all, the Li family had killed a disciple of Yuanwu Peak and could still sit comfortably. Although Li Yuanjiao had died, it still demonstrated the Li family's profound heritage and deep connections.

These people were unaware of the full story, but that didn't stop them from trying to curry favor. Li Xuanfeng was nowhere to be found in the Southern Frontier, but the Li family at Moon Gaze Lake couldn't just leave.

As the news spread, the Li family's residence increasingly felt like a bustling marketplace. Li Yuexiang, wearing mourning attire, was Li Yuanjiao's sole heir. It was obvious she had inherited countless good things, and being so amiable, she attracted the covetous gaze of numerous families, who practically wore out the threshold of their door.

"Go... send that letter back!"

Li Xuanxuan waved away his servants, looking somewhat troubled. These people usually didn't bother him directly. But even the Han family from Eastern Sulfur had sent people to inquire, and the situation was gradually becoming unmanageable. He feared that if not handled well, he would offend several families...

He stiffened his face, a rare display of displeasure, and said softly:

"How ironic! Their door is bustling now!"

Li Yuanjiao had no great reputation during his lifetime. Yet after his death, countless people came to offer condolences, which felt quite ironic. This only made Li Xuanxuan more uneasy.

Just as he paused, he saw several people rush in from outside, their footsteps chaotic and noisy, shouting excitedly. One person cried out:

"Elder, the Master is back! The Master is back!"

Another person, holding up his trousers as if having come through the rain, shouted:

"Elder! Someone from Mount Xuanyue is here!"

Li Xijun was in seclusion, so Li Xuanxuan had temporarily taken charge of matters on the mountain. Both were disciples he had personally raised, very loyal, though lacking a bit in manners. With a touch of helplessness, he first stopped one of them and asked:

"Which Master?!"

"The Master from the Immortal Sect!"

Li Xuanxuan abruptly stood up and rushed out. Indeed, he saw several people standing outside the formation. The old man exclaimed "Oh my!" and hurried to open the formation.

Li Xizhi waited briefly outside the formation. He then saw a woman in a pale yellow dress standing nearby. She had the appearance typical of the Zhe River region in northern Yue: a round face, dark eyebrows, delicate facial contours, and an inherent sweetness. Yet, she kept her lips pursed, revealing a hint of sorrow.

"It seems to be Mount Xuanyue's attire."

He glanced at her. The woman seemed to notice and spoke:

"Fellow Daoist... which immortal sect are you from?"

Neither Li Xizhi nor his wife liked wearing Green Pond attire. However, they wore feathered robes with arcane patterns, immediately suggesting an extraordinary background. When the woman asked, Li Xizhi cupped his hands and said:

"Li Xizhi of Qing Sui..."

"So it is..."

The pale yellow-clad woman's expression softened instantly. Before she could speak further, Li Xuanxuan had rushed out, staring blankly at Li Xizhi, and said:

"Good!"

'Grandfather has grown so old!'

Li Xizhi almost didn't recognize the small old man before him. With the guest still beside them, Li Xuanxuan first pulled him aside and said to the woman in pale yellow:

"So it is Fellow Daoist Tingyun, please enter the formation..."

Kong Tingyun nodded in return, politely alighting on the peak. She burned paper offerings as per custom, made a bow, and soon withdrew from the hall, where Li Xizhi and others were waiting.

Li Yuanjiao had passed away long ago. As they were cultivators, they didn't dwell on worldly rituals. They simply led Kong Tingyun away.

Kong Tingyun, fearing to stir up the collective grief, did not dwell on past events. Instead, she said softly:

"Of the six jade boxes in the Qing Song Grotto-Heaven, two were lost. Have you gentlemen heard?"

Seeing Li Xuanxuan shake his head, Kong Tingyun said:

"According to the Purple Mansion cultivators, these six jade boxes each had a designated owner. I heard a few were even empty to begin with. My ancestor said that the True Men were quite displeased."

Li Xuanxuan had originally intended to follow up by asking about True Man Changxi's gains. However, considering the True Man's awkward position, he likely gained nothing. So he changed the topic and replied:

"When True Men divide these things, with many monks and little porridge, it's inevitable..."

Kong Tingyun hesitated, and only after a long time did she speak. It seemed she had something to say but swallowed it, feeling disheartened:

'My ancestor really is something, to ask me to arrange for Li Xuanfeng to meet Yuan Su at a time like this, so tactless! I'll wait a bit longer...'

She finally cupped her hands, looked gently at Li Xizhi, and said softly:

"Your father and I had a good relationship during his lifetime. You are welcome to visit my Mount Xuanyue often on ordinary days."

Kong Tingyun did not know Li Xizhi's temperament, uncertain if he was someone who understood the bigger picture. Therefore, she dared not speak too fully or make any grand promises. However, Li Xizhi perceived her sincerity and nodded in return.

Kong Tingyun did not linger, departing on the wind. Only then did Li Xizhi turn back and say to Li Xuanxuan:

"It seems... this senior had a very good relationship with Father."

Li Xuanxuan waved his hand. He didn't know the extent of their relationship either. Setting the topic aside, he looked at him seriously for a few moments, then sighed:

"You too have broken through to Foundation Establishment. All you brothers have shown great promise. Now, it's just up to Xijun!"

"Xijun is in seclusion?!"

Li Xizhi was stunned, and said somewhat urgently:

"Why didn't he send a letter? Are elixirs prepared?"

As he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered that he too had been in seclusion. Even if a letter had been sent, he wouldn't have received it. He merely offered a silent wish in his heart. Li Xuanxuan, meanwhile, pulled Yang Xiao'er closer, scrutinized her for a few moments, and nodded, saying:

"She is sensible and well-behaved."

Yang Xiao'er hesitated, appearing somewhat anxious. A smile appeared on the old man's face; he naturally knew what she meant, and said softly:

"I'll take you to see Huai'er."