Chapter 524: Jade Within the Person

“Li Xuanfeng.”

Magic light flickered faintly in Li Xuanfeng’s eyes, revealing nothing of his true form, yet hearing his surname was Dongfang, he presumed it was related to the dragon kin. He nodded and asked, “Are you a member of the Heshi Dragon Kin, fellow Daoist?”

Dongfang Heyun, elegantly dressed in blue and white robes, a fitting smile on his face, courteously replied, “That’s correct. I was fortunate enough to be blessed by the Dragon Lord. Born from cloud essence, I act on behalf of the dragons of the East Sea and was granted the surname Dongfang.”

Li Xuanfeng didn’t know what he was up to, so he listened silently. Dongfang Heyun then sat opposite him and gently said, “It’s quite a coincidence. While patrolling near Qunyi Strait, I once saw a junior from your clan traveling on a radiant aura, very dashingly. He mistakenly entered my dragon kin’s territory, so I intervened to guide him out.”

*Xizhi…*

Li Xuanfeng had been in the Southern Frontier recently and had only heard that Li Xizhi had gone out on behalf of Xuanyue Sect. He hadn’t expected him to reach the dragon kin’s territory. His eyes slightly widened, and he replied, “Oh? In that case, it was a transgression by a junior.”

Dongfang Heyun smiled, shook his head, and whispered, “It’s true that I injured him. I’ve come to inquire about his condition.”

Li Xuanfeng found this slightly peculiar. Dongfang Heyun continued, “If his injuries have mostly recovered, he’s welcome to visit Heshi Sea. The path of radiant aura shares some affinity with me.”

Li Xuanfeng couldn’t discern his true intentions, so he merely gave a perfunctory reply. Only then did Dongfang Heyun stand up, bowed courteously, and transformed into wind and rain, vanishing from sight.

“This person is neither human nor dragon; he is a naturally born being, quite formidable.” Li Xuanfeng pondered for a moment, gazing at his disappearing figure. His eyes fixed on the swirling snow outside the cave, he mused, “How did he end up in the dragon kin’s territory? It seems there’s something strange about Xizhi’s situation. I’ll have to seek him out when the opportunity arises.”

The information he received from this person was entirely different from what he had learned from the Ning family. He keenly sensed the discrepancy, realizing the young man was resourceful and that a rash inquiry might disrupt his plans. He therefore decided to personally question Li Xizhi.

He was just about to settle into meditation when someone, who had been silently watching him for a while, quickly approached. Wearing flowing white robes, a middle-aged man with a sword at his waist, he smiled and said, “Xuanfeng!”

“Senior, you’ve come!”

Li Xuanfeng looked intently and recognized Xiao Yongling from the Xiao family, an old acquaintance of Li Tongya. Still dressed in white, he immediately rose and said softly, “It has been a long time since I last saw you, Senior.”

Xiao Yongling’s expression was a little somber. After scrutinizing him for a moment, he said softly, “Since the Qingsong Daoist Temple’s grotto-heaven made its move, we haven’t met again. Xuanfeng, your killing aura has grown much stronger.”

He sat down, followed by a woman in elegant robes, who smiled sweetly and said politely, “Kong Tingyun of Xuanyue Sect greets you, Senior.”

Li Xuanfeng was naturally aware of the Xuanyue Sect’s long-standing friendship with his own clan, and he had also heard of her name. He nodded slightly, and the three of them sat down on the snowy peak. Kong Tingyun shook her head and chuckled, “This Beihuan Sect is quite interesting. Heroes and talents from across the immortal path gather here, yet they don’t even bother to set out a single set of tables and chairs, only opening up this small cavern dwelling for people to sit on the ground.”

Xiao Yongling, who appeared to have been there for some time, stroked his beard and remarked, “The Beihuan Sect is an exceptionally ancient lineage. It still adheres to many of its original rules, rarely venturing out, and boasts only a few dozen disciples.” He subtly glanced towards Xie Zhanchang, who was standing on the peak, and whispered, “This is a descendant of a Golden Core cultivator, a member of the Beihai Xie family. I don’t know what cultivation path he follows. It’s rare to see the offspring of a True Monarch.”

Li Xuanfeng, out of politeness, did not stare, yet he didn’t perceive anything particularly extraordinary about him. Kong Tingyun, however, spoke with a touch of mystery: “I’ve heard that when members of the Xie family engage in battle, they can command spiritual energy, tread on mist, and ride clouds. They are masters of techniques, and can even prepare spiritual elixirs to heal injuries.”

The mention of “preparing spiritual elixirs” seemed to trigger a memory for Li Xuanfeng, causing him to pause for a moment. After a brief conversation on the peak, they looked north. Li Xuanfeng softly inquired, “Among all the True Monarch Immortal families in the world, besides the Wang and Xie clans, how many others remain?”

Xiao Yongling paused for a moment before answering, “There were many in ancient times, but currently, those definitively still in existence can be counted on one hand… The Wang and Xie clans are already the most renowned.” He hesitated for a breath, then whispered, “In earlier years… there were also the Li and Cui clans of Longdi, True Monarch Donghua’s Ningguo Li clan, and the Jingji Yang clan of Jiangnan. They have either declined or gone extinct, gradually fading into obscurity. As for the others—the Tanshan Li clan of Wu Kingdom, the Chen clan of Jiangnan (and my Xiao clan), and the Shen clan of Jiangbei—they are merely considered second-tier, with only moderate renown.”

Kong Tingyun, listening nearby, saw Xiao Yongling pause and softly added, “If our conjecture is correct, your esteemed clan should be a northern remnant, descended from Wei Kingdom nobility, and tracing further back, you would be linked to the Li clan of Longdi.”

Their explanation was very systematic, but Li Xuanfeng wasn’t so sure. Others might not know, but he understood his family actually originated from farmers; Li Mutian and all his ancestors were mere mortals, and their family records only listed ordinary people who had migrated there. The notion that when Lijing rose, several brothers all possessed spiritual apertures, was fundamentally due to the influence of talismans. The subsequent generations having increasingly higher talents was also due to the blessings of talismanic seeds and immortal arts. Without these two, their cultivation would be as slow as that of ordinary people; they were not descendants of immortals. While Yuan Su had calculated their lineage as Wei Kingdom blood, Li Xuanfeng believed they could at most be considered a distant collateral branch of the Wei Kingdom. After all, the Wei Li had ruled for a millennium, expanding from a few counties to dominating the north, surely producing countless descendants. Only Li Zhouwei made Li Xuanfeng slightly suspicious, finding it rather perplexing: “If that were truly the case, how could they have fallen to such a state, with not a single word of their past remaining? Reduced to generations of mortals…”

He dared not think further. Though these thoughts flashed through his mind in just a breath or two, he couldn’t acknowledge them. He simply said, “It’s merely hearsay. If my family were truly descendants of the Wei Kingdom, how could we have fallen to our present state?”

Kong Tingyun, however, misunderstood. She exchanged a glance with Xiao Yongling, both recognizing something. “Although many years have passed, there are still quite a few enemies. While the Wei Li might be renowned, the troubles they invite are significant.” Despite saying so, Kong Tingyun was undeniably envious. Provided the Li family’s strength was sufficient, the Wei Li name carried with it a legacy that could even be traced back to antiquity. It wasn’t just a title; it was something in their very blood. Her Kong family had only produced a single True Monarch Changxi, and beyond that, their ancestors were merely rogue cultivators from the Yue Kingdom. Their ancestors were even minor county magistrates in the Yue Kingdom, forced to act according to the Yuan family’s dictates…

Xiao Yongling, observing their changing expressions and harboring some suspicions, merely consoled them: “Rise and fall are common, often unpredictable. Don’t dwell on it… Everyone lauded the Yuan family back then; who could have foreseen their present state? And who could have imagined a Li family with eight Foundation Establishment cultivators spanning four generations, emerging from a small village? Even Purple Mansion cultivators cannot fully predict such things!”

Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly, and Kong Tingyun responded with a smile, secretly amused, “Didn’t your family’s Old Man Xishang figure that out long ago? It made everyone find it incredible.”

The three soon fell silent, focusing on their breathing.

As the Foundation Establishment cultivators continued their brief practice, amidst the ebb and flow of spiritual energy, nearly half a month quickly passed. Li Xuanfeng waited, but Yuan Su’s figure was nowhere to be seen. The promised three days stretched longer and longer.

After twenty-three days, various colored lights slowly emerged, mixed with the profound darkness of the Void. Then an old man descended from the sky, a fishing rod resting on his shoulder, accompanied by a stern-looking middle-aged man whose chest was adorned with a thumb-sized, faintly glowing jade stone.

“I greet both True Monarchs!”

Li Xuanfeng had seen Xiao Chuting before. Back then, Li Xuanfeng was a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, and Xiao Chuting had likely feigned being a Foundation Establishment cultivator while collecting offerings on the peak. Xiao Chuting’s appearance was not significantly different now, only seeming even more ethereal. As for the other person, Li Xuanfeng could only surmise it was True Monarch Changxi, whose appearance differed considerably from what he had imagined. Xiao Yongling and Kong Tingyun bade him farewell and ascended into the clouds.

Li Xuanfeng performed a respectful bow. Xiao Chuting and Changxi’s demeanors were both rather gentle. While Li Xuanfeng perceived no change in Xiao Chuting from before, Xiao Chuting saw a completely transformed man: the once innocent-faced youth had become a hardened, formidable veteran.

Xiao Chuting nodded and said in a deep voice, “Xuanfeng, a moment please.”

The four figures quickly vanished. Li Xuanfeng looked back at the peak, where white snow drifted. Only Xie Zhanchang remained, sitting cross-legged on the peak and forming hand seals for cultivation. In a corner, a dark figure sat hunched in the snow.

Li Xuanfeng took a closer look. The person had a grim expression and wore gold and black robes. To his surprise, it was an acquaintance.

“A Tangjin Sect member…”

This person was indeed from the Tangjin Sect. Although Li Xuanfeng didn’t recognize the individual’s face, the robes were strikingly familiar. He had, after all, killed the young master of the Tangjin Sect, even subjecting him to a thousand cuts, so he naturally wouldn’t mistake the attire. Upon seeing this, he immediately understood: “The Situ family’s Purple Mansion cultivator has been hiding for so long, yet Yuan Su still managed to apprehend him…”

He sat cross-legged for another three days. Only then did Yuan Su emerge from the void, looking somewhat pale, suspended in the air. One hand was clasped behind his back, and in the other, he held a severed arm. Yuan Su’s aura fluctuated, and the distinct sound of trickling spring water was quite loud. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was even somewhat grim. The mountain peak was almost deserted. He pulled Li Xuanfeng onto a cloud, continuing north.

Yuan Su remained silent for over ten breaths, then said grimly, “It’s one thing for that old wretch to hide in some godforsaken place, but to dare come to the North Sea… I’ll just leave him an arm as a lesson.”

Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng largely understood why the Situ family’s Purple Mansion cultivator had been missing for years: he was trying to avoid being dragged into a desperate fight by Yuan Su, whose lifespan was nearing its end. “It seems Yuan Su’s strength is indeed formidable; the Situ family had no choice but to flee for their lives.”

The severed arm, sealed by magical power, still twitched lightly and trembled continuously. Yuan Su picked up the arm and whispered, “Situ Huo, listen well. If you have the ability, stay in the South Sea. Puyu and Yuming are both searching for you, so do not carelessly return.” Having said this, he snapped off a section of a finger and tossed it into the sea, letting it find Situ Huo on its own. Only then did he put away the arm. The sky was already dotted with countless stars.

Without a word, he took Li Xuanfeng higher and higher. The northern winds here grew increasingly fierce, strong enough to dislodge ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. The mountain peaks beside them, mottled with black and white, appeared quite solemn.

They continued until they reached the highest ice plain, in the center of which lay a small lake. A group of Purple Mansion cultivators stood silently on the clouds, while on an ice platform in the lake, a lone figure sat quietly with eyes closed, a wooden sword adorned at their waist.

Li Xuanfeng stood on the cloud, feeling the biting cold wind that was held at bay by the cloud aura. After waiting for a few breaths, he suddenly heard a rustling sound, followed by faint, fragmented collisions. Because his view was obstructed by Yuan Su’s cloud aura, his spiritual sense couldn’t penetrate to investigate. He could only observe with his eyes, noticing tiny white specks mixed within the falling snowflakes, creating faint, clear sounds as they shattered on the ground.

Yuan Su beside him had become much calmer. He reached out and caught a handful of snowflakes, then gently shook them, revealing sparkling fragments of white jade.

“It’s begun.”

Li Xuanfeng understood. Indeed, Shangyuan, seated on the platform, opened his eyes, surveyed the surroundings, and then looked at each person, announcing, “I am Shangyuan. Today, I break through to the Golden Core stage. According to the agreement among immortal cultivators of the Four Kingdoms and various seas, I have invited you all to observe this ceremony. I hope you will observe closely and gain some benefit.” His words were calm, and the cultivators in the air nodded in return, a stark contrast to the deathly silence when facing Duanmu Kui or the cold sarcasm when facing Chi Wei. Even if some Purple Mansion cultivators disliked his character, they grudgingly offered a nod in return at this moment.

Shangyuan’s face remained veiled by white mist, and the wooden sword at his waist swayed gently. He gazed into the distance, where two distinct figures were slowly emerging. Shangyuan smiled faintly, clasped his hands together, and said, “Fellow Daoists, a moment please.”

The two figures seemed to have been waiting for a long time and dared not hesitate. One, with a high-pitched voice, said, “Fellow Daoist, you are too kind! Now that you have achieved success, we hope you will guide us further!”

Shangyuan chuckled, slowly rising into the air. He showed no sign of employing any divine abilities, instead simply resting his hand gently on the sword at his waist. In an instant, countless spiritual swords and immortal blades present began to tremble, breaking free from their masters’ restraints and emitting ringing calls. They subtly began to unsheathe themselves, a truly magnificent sight.

The cultivators in the sky had been intently watching his movements. Almost simultaneously, nearly all Purple Mansion cultivators took a step back, standing ready. Only Yuan Su and a select few others remained standing still. Li Xuanfeng looked up and saw Yuan Su’s face filled with a sarcastic smile, as if Shangyuan’s actions perfectly aligned with his temperament. He simply stood with his arms crossed. Meanwhile, a hint of playful mockery appeared on True Monarch Shangyuan’s face, still shrouded in mist. He then released his hand, leaving the cultivators standing awkwardly in the air, having lost face in front of the numerous juniors trailing them. Yet no one dared to speak; at most, their expressions were slightly displeased, and most didn’t even dare to show any change at all.

Shangyuan paid them no mind, gently exhaling a puff of white essence. This white essence rapidly ascended into the air, transforming into various wondrous forms: sometimes a white-robed man, sometimes a cliff of green jade, sometimes cascading streams of silk like waterfalls, and then a luminous white jade disk ascended into the sky. Immediately, white essence surged and rapidly diffused, revealing various scenes within the clouds. Under the illumination of the massive jade disk, zithers were played and flutes blown, a white-robed man wielded a spear and danced with a sword, various animals ran across a crescent moon, and waterfall-like streams of silk unfurled, flowing through the air and down into the lake.

Amidst the multitude of auspicious phenomena, steps of white jade appeared beneath True Monarch Shangyuan’s feet. Wearing an immortal blade, he calmly ascended. With each step he took, surging white essence erupted, and the wooden sword at his waist slowly began to glow, revealing a jade-like luster and transforming into the color of white jade. True Monarch Shangyuan softly declared, “Man of Jade.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a set of brilliantly radiant, elegantly contoured white feather robes materialized on his body. Long trails of white essence, like silk, streamed from his sleeves. Shangyuan typically dressed plainly, but now, adorned in these pure white feather robes, he appeared utterly divine. Li Xuanfeng found it familiar. He had read the “White-Headed Knocking at the Court Scripture” and felt that these feather robes were quite similar to the scripture’s description, only infinitely more wondrous. He thought to himself, “This must be the Jade Court General, or perhaps a superior immortal scripture, or an ancient name for this immortal foundation…”