Chapter 501: Wushan Matters

Li Xijun spent several years in reclusive cultivation, refining his spells and consolidating his immortal foundation. Upon emerging, Yu Ting Peak had been affected by the "Pine Snow of his Immortal Foundation." The snow that originally covered only the summit had spread downwards, blanketing the entire mountain in a vast expanse of frost and snow.

When he emerged, the sun was bright, and myriad trees were flourishing. As expected, several letters were delivered from below, all sent by Li Xizhi. Before Li Xijun could read them, he heard that Li Xuanfeng was already waiting on Qingdu Mountain.

He had no choice but to hastily ride the wind over, quickly pulling out the two letters to read them carefully. One described the changes in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, while the other spoke of increased turmoil in the East Sea.

The letter mentioned that main lineages on Chunyidao and Dushan Island had suffered deaths, and several members of the Guo family on Chijiao Island had also died suddenly. He quickly scanned it, casually tucked it into his sleeve, and stepped onto the mountain peak.

"Second Uncle-Grandfather returns quite often! It seems the Ning family is more lenient... or perhaps they’ve assigned him a task." Li Xijun had been keeping track of these matters. He was perceptive, and noticing Li Xuanfeng's repeated returns, which often carried a strong undertone of instructions, he subtly probed but dared not ask too many questions.

Passing through the azure Five Waters Imperial Array and descending onto Qingdu Mountain, Li Xuanfeng stood in the main hall with his arms crossed. Li Chengliao stood below. Li Xijun took one look and exclaimed in a shocked voice, "Ancestor, what happened to you!"

Li Xuanfeng had already broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage. His expression was harder and less burdened than before, though his chest armor was covered in glowing white blade marks. Two pieces of the golden armor on his left arm were shattered, revealing the armor's gleaming silver cross-section. A deep scar, a vivid blood-red color that shimmered in the sunlight, ran down the side of his face from his jawline to his collarbone. It looked recently healed and quite brutal.

Li Xuanfeng paused, then gently waved his hand. He had initially concealed the injury with an illusion, but his junior had cultivated eye techniques and seen through it instantly. He casually remarked, "Just some minor injuries from dealing with a demonic beast."

Li Xuanfeng had spent decades hunting demonic creatures in the Southern Frontier, and in the last decade, he had killed many people. His hands were stained with blood; while most were enemies or deserved their fate, there were also innocent lives he had been compelled to take, closing his eyes as he did so. Only a handful of families on that list survived, such as the cunning Xiao family, who sealed their mountain early, and the wastrel from Chijiao Island, whose head was taken by others. Almost everyone else had died by his hand. Countless storage bags were tied to the jade talisman and piled up in his East Sea cave dwelling. Fortunately, the jade talisman was indeed extraordinary, and the individuals he killed were carefully chosen, so his actions went undetected. Instead, they ignited conflicts between several Foundation Establishment families, who assumed it was vendetta killings and fought ferociously.

He had ultimately stained his hands with dirty blood. Li Xuanfeng's disposition differed from his elder brother Li Xuanxuan's. The more blood and vengeance he encountered, the more unyielding he became. His will was like iron, having only faltered once upon Li Tongya's death. Now, the more he was tempered, the more stubborn he grew. He was not one to wallow in self-pity. The profound memory of his grudges and debts had cleansed him of any superficial self-righteousness or arrogance, revealing a somber enlightenment beneath which lurked a vaguely brutal indifference that was far from refined.

Li Xijun, seeing his secretive demeanor, again dared not ask further, merely sensing a change in him. Li Xuanfeng shifted the topic, asking, "The Ning family has calculated several times. After all this turmoil, Jiangnan is now a 'Superior Malevolent Spirit Repository.' This is conducive to cultivation in earth element, demonic arts, water mansion, and vital energy. It's neither harmful nor beneficial to our family; just be aware of it."

Li Xijun nodded, assuming Li Xizhi's letter also contained this information. He then heard Li Xuanfeng say, "Travel less for the next two years. Zhou Wei is exceptionally talented; there's no rush to meet that sixty-year deadline. Don't let him just cultivate every day without a break. Let him observe more, see some blood, lest he deviates and becomes a mere profligate who only knows how to fight."

Li Xijun naturally nodded. He then saw Li Xuanfeng take a jade slip from the beast-head buckle on his belt and say softly, "This is a halberd technique I acquired after much searching, meticulously chosen. I exchanged a treasure from a cave dwelling in the East Sea with an East Sea power to obtain it. It's a halberd art that becomes increasingly dominant with practice and seems suitable for Zhou Wei. Just hand it to him."

Li Xijun took it, but before he could examine it, someone from below reported, "Reporting, sir, Ancestor Weiluo Ya has come to visit."

Li Chengliao, who had been listening intently for a while, now had a chance to interject, reminding him, "Eighth Uncle, this person has visited many times already... The previous times, Eighth Uncle was in seclusion, so we had to send him back. The Shanyue generally don't have good tempers, and he's growing impatient."

Li Xijun recalled the man. This Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivator had always hoped to rely on the Li family's Purple Manor background. He had been perfunctorily dealt with since Li Yuanjiao's time. Now, counting the decades, this old Shanyue had cultivated to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Li Xijun immediately looked at Li Xuanfeng and softly said, "About this matter..."

Li Xuanfeng naturally understood; he was the only one in the Li family with a true Purple Manor background. He nodded and said, "Let's go see him."

Li Xijun exited Qingdu Mountain and entered the hall. In the center, the Shanyue stood with his hands behind his back, disheveled hair, yet wearing a Daoist robe. He had a fierce appearance and stood coldly in the courtyard. Upon seeing Li Xijun, his expression softened slightly, and he gravely asked, "Are you in charge now?"

Weiluo Ya's expression had indeed softened. He had met Li Tongya and Li Yuanjiao. Over the past century, the Li family had seen several ancestors, and he had heard they all died for the clan. Though he didn't fully understand, he felt some respect. He asked, "Is there any progress on the matter your esteemed clan promised me years ago? I can no longer stay at this lake; I intend to leave in a few days."

Li Xijun first acknowledged him, then asked, puzzled, "Senior, why such a sudden decision?" His words, however, caused Weiluo Ya's eyes to widen. He replied, "Zhu Xian is dead! Not even a body could be found; he died suddenly while out!"

Zhu Xian was one of Weiluo Ya's subordinates and also a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stage. Back when Hooked Serpent Li Wushao's double hooks were incomplete, his strength was similar to Zhu Xian's. Though he was at the bottom tier of Foundation Establishment, he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he vanished without a trace. Weiluo Ya continued, "Look, the Young Master of Tangjin Gate died, Chijiao Island and Daxiu Kui Guan are fighting fiercely, Xiu Yue cultivators no longer venture out, Jinyu and Changhuai frequently dispute, and the Xiao family has sealed their mountain in seclusion. This place might seem calm, but it's already caught in a maelstrom!"

While Weiluo Ya spoke, he silently added in his mind: *Your Li family broke ties with the Yuan family, dismembered the Yu family, and has repeatedly produced Foundation Establishment cultivators, gaining increasing prestige within the sect. It looks like you're about to make a move on the lake... If I leave early, I won't lose face!*

He paused, then said, "Furthermore... do you know what spirit beast flew over the lake a few years ago?"

At this, Li Xijun immediately grew interested and asked, "Our family has inquired in all directions, but found no information. It seems that knowledge of such ancient demonic beasts still resides with Wushan! Please enlighten me, Senior!"

Though Weiluo Ya was a Shanyue, he had lived for over a hundred years. Unflustered by the subtle flattery, he simply replied, "That was a Weihao, a child of the Hongluan, residing on the Tongxinli tree on Taishi Mountain. To see one portends a great disaster: families torn apart and displacement across ten thousand li. You should leave soon!"

The Shanyue were inherently superstitious about such omens, and Weiluo Ya, having reached Foundation Establishment, believed in them even more strongly. His face etched with worry, he continued, "It's not just me, Weiluo Ya. Jiaozhong Zi of the Northern Shanyue has also been unseen for many years, I fear he met with foul play... Only Huo Luo'e of the Southern Shanyue and I remain, cultivating in seclusion day by day..."

Li Xijun listened carefully. When Wushan split, four factions remained on the south bank. Among them, Jiaozhong Zi was the strongest, occupying Wushan and establishing the Northern Shanyue. Fudaimu occupied Dajue Ting, which was later destroyed by Weiluo Ya in conjunction with the Li family, bringing Dajue Ting into the Li family's hands. *Looking at it this way... of the Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivators that the elders once feared, only the mid-Foundation Establishment Huo Luo'e remains. Taking control of all Shanyue territories... seems it would no longer be a difficult task!*

As he pondered the population and spiritual resources of the Shanyue territories, he coveted Wushan even more. Even if it had been thoroughly plundered by various Purple Manor cultivators, it was still the traveling palace of Duanmu Kui, a Purple Manor cultivator who had dominated an entire era! A visit might unravel many mysteries. While he was thinking this, Weiluo Ya could no longer contain himself and pressed, "Your esteemed clan should give an answer!"

As soon as he spoke, Li Xijun suddenly looked behind him, respectfully bowing and saying softly, "Xijun greets Ancestor!" Weiluo Ya's heart skipped a beat, his first thought being that Li Tongya had not died. But with a stir of his spiritual sense, he saw a figure slowly descending in front of the hall. This man had a cold, pale face and a white beard, eyebrows sharp as knives, broad shoulders, and a thick back, clad in magnificent black-gold spiritual armor that shimmered brightly. Weiluo Ya's immortal foundation, "Do Not Probe Me," was best at discerning the colors in others' eyes. He felt the old general's gaze pierce him like swords, as if he had just slain some sea monster or a main lineage member of an immortal sect, still carrying a bloody aura.

Li Xuanfeng merely gave him a quiet glance. Weiluo Ya quickly turned, cupped his hands, and said, "It is the Golden Geng Steel String, Li Xuanfeng. I am Weiluo Ya, greetings, General." Li Xuanfeng's reputation was currently formidable. Main lineage cultivators of his generation from Jinyu and Qingchi were all in seclusion for breakthroughs, and he had demonstrated his might with a single arrow at the Song family, subtly gaining the aura of the foremost person below the Purple Manor realm. Only a few like Tang Shedu, Shen Xi, and Yuan Chengdun could compare. Though Weiluo Ya was a generation his elder, he dared not presume and treated him as an equal.

Weiluo Ya observed the old general, while Li Xuanfeng also watched him, silently pondering: "I hear his immortal foundation is 'Do Not Probe Me.' If he were a hundred li away, dodging my first arrow, he should be able to escape my grasp. If not, I could take his head within twenty arrows."

Li Xuanfeng's fighting style was entirely different from ordinary cultivators. He typically wouldn't prolong a fight to a hundred rounds. His bowstring manipulation focused on breaking techniques and lethal blows, harming both enemy and himself. If a fight dragged on for a hundred rounds, he would be the first to collapse. Weiluo Ya, however, felt a chill on his neck. He silently swallowed, thinking: *This is the level of a direct descendant of an immortal sect. Even if Jiaozhong Zi came... he would only manage to escape with his life from this man. No wonder, I heard he is a subordinate of Elder Yuansu...*

Li Xuanfeng took two steps, arriving before him, and only then asked, "I hear you wish to seek refuge and leave this place."

"Precisely." Weiluo Ya was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "I hope General will introduce me... I am willing to follow you and guard the Southern Frontier."

"Rise first," Li Xuanfeng simply said. "This matter can wait a moment. First, tell me, where did Jiaozhong Zi go?"

Weiluo Ya was slightly taken aback and replied, "He should have fled to the East Sea. I've visited many times, but there's no trace of him in the Northern Shanyue, only an early Foundation Establishment cultivator left guarding..."

Li Xuanfeng knew that Jiaozhong Zi had been in the late Foundation Establishment stage many years ago, and wondered, "Did he break through to Purple Manor?"

Weiluo Ya shook his head and whispered, "Duanmu Kui didn't leave any Purple Manor cultivation methods, only Foundation Establishment techniques. Otherwise, Jiaozhong Zi wouldn't be restless here. If he wants to seek further enlightenment, he can only go to the East Sea."

Li Xuanfeng nodded, indicating he understood, then finally said, "Recite your cultivation method."

Li Xijun quickly took out a blank jade slip. Weiluo Ya hesitated briefly, then nodded firmly, took the jade slip, closed his eyes, and concentrated, meticulously carving the text. A Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense was swift; in just a moment, Li Xijun took the jade slip from him. With a quick sweep of his spiritual sense, he saw inscribed upon it: "The Scripture of Concealing Aura from Detection." This cultivation method was third-grade, sprawling over more than ten thousand words, with an ancient feel to its phrasing. The legacy of Wushan was indeed extraordinary; it even included a blade technique. "Insights from Observing the Blood Palace." This blade technique seemed to be based on experience, very profound, and suitable for those who practiced "The Scripture of Concealing Aura from Detection" and already had considerable mastery in blade arts. Li Xijun himself had no affinity for it and could only silently put it away.

Li Xuanfeng had originally intended to casually eliminate some Shanyue cultivators, taking advantage of the fact that Elder Yuansu was still alive to assist his family more. Jiaozhong Zi was the only Shanyue he truly worried about, but seeing that he had also fled, Li Xuanfeng softly said, "Since you have this intention, follow me to the Southern Frontier for a while."

Weiluo Ya nodded repeatedly. Li Xuanfeng allowed him to return to his cave dwelling to pack his belongings, then resumed his seat. Li Xijun said, "Weiluo Ya has been with the family for many years; he's quite intelligent. Following Second Uncle-Grandfather... he won't be a burden." Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly and said softly, "Qinghong is cultivating in the sea, so summon Kongheng back. My mission is nearing its end, and taking action now would be troublesome. A few minor Shanyue, I leave to the few of you."

"Understood!" Seeing Li Xijun respond, Li Xuanfeng said, "There will be changes hereafter. It will no longer be suitable for me to contact the family often, as I cannot always manage both. I will merely watch from the shadows, and if there's anything I can help with, I will act." Li Xijun again recalled the injuries on his face and softly said, "Second Uncle-Grandfather, please take care." Li Xuanfeng seemed unconcerned. Li Xijun cupped his hands to send him off, intending to summon Li Xuanxuan, but Li Xuanfeng waved him off. The old general said, "It's useless to call him; it would merely disturb his state of mind. Just remind my brother to take good care of himself." His movements were swift and decisive; he did not linger. He immediately departed on his jade boat. Li Xijun returned to the hall, looked at Li Chengliao beside him, and asked, "How is Wei'er? Has he emerged from seclusion?"

Li Chengliao replied, "He has emerged from seclusion and reached the fourth layer of Embryonic Breathing." Li Xijun nodded slightly, took up his brush, dipped it in ink, and softly said, "The family should prepare for the Shanyue matter. We'll act once Kongheng returns. It should take about a month to cleanly root them out."