Chapter 527: Interference

Li Xuanfeng knelt quietly on the ground, holding the small seal with both hands and feeling its cool touch. The seal was indeed tiny, a square stamp no wider than two fingers and only three fingers high.

Coiled on the seal was a strange serpentine creature, quite similar to Li Wushao, the Hook Snake at home, but densely covered in feathers. Two long wings extended outwards, enveloping it and covering both sides of the seal.

"Similar to a Hook Snake, and considering the seal's name and its elemental immortal foundation, could this be the legendary Lùshuǐ Feathered Serpent?"

The small seal was a pale golden color throughout, seamless and flawless from top to bottom, with faint streams of azure flowing within it. Just holding it made one's skin feel cool, as if there was nothing in one's hand.

"This item is definitely a spiritual artifact. I heard it was gifted by Daoist Master Donghua, so it's likely an ancient spiritual item, perhaps even an exceptional one, given its ability to maintain the Elemental's reputation."

He remained silent, waiting for the figures in the sky to speak. The small seal, influenced by the spiritual power unleashed by the Elemental's nirvana, emitted a gentle glow that shone on his collar, casting a blue-gold hue.

He waited for a long time, but there was only silence. After a moment, the sound of a xiao flute echoed, and then the stern-faced Qingchi Purple Mansion cultivator in blue robes finally broke the silence, his voice calm:

"The Xinyou Lùzé Seal belongs to Qingchi; it should naturally be returned to its rightful owner."

Xiao Chuting stood silently suspended in the air. The female cultivator in purple robes let out a cold snort and said:

"Si Boxiu, you need to clarify whether this belongs to Qingchi or the Ning clan! The Xinyou Lùzé Seal couldn't possibly end up in your hands, Si Boxiu!"

This person was indeed Si Boxiu, a Qingchi cultivator. He stood with his hands behind his back, speaking bluntly and resonating:

"It's ultimately not for you to manage!"

Daoist Master Puyi, hidden vaguely in the mists, finally spoke, saying softly:

"Please don't rush, seniors. The Xinyou Lùzé Seal is the Elemental Senior's bequest; it naturally belongs in the hands of his descendants. All the Daoist Masters present are witnesses to this."

He first looked at the female cultivator in purple robes and said softly:

"Fairy Zipei, we have some connections with the Elemental Senior, so we naturally wouldn't let his belongings fall into others' hands."

Daoist Master Zipei nodded. After Puyi finished speaking, he looked at Yuanxiu:

"Senior Yuanxiu, this item should first be returned to the Ning clan. If Qingchi has any further arrangements, they can handle it within their sect..."

Si Boxiu was relatively polite to him, nodding lukewarmly. Daoist Master Zipei simply swept out a wave of purple energy with her sleeve, glanced around, and said coldly:

"There's no need for anyone to wait here. Regardless, this item will not fall into anyone else's hands."

This statement seemed directed at the Purple Mansion cultivators hidden in the Great Void. For a moment, there was silent stillness. Her eyes, brimming with purple energy, swept through the Great Void, seeing everything clearly.

Although Li Xuanfeng did not look up, he heard clearly. He had seen many spiritual artifacts, including Yuanwu's Quyun and Zhige, which were not as impressive as the Six Ding Fire Command Token. As for the seal in his hand, it was probably superior to the Six Ding Fire Command Token, which was why it attracted the covetousness of so many Purple Mansion cultivators.

Daoist Master Zipei was a peak Purple Mansion cultivator. With that one glance, she saw everything clearly. Most of the Purple Mansion cultivators who had come to observe quietly retreated; many even bowed politely before quickly disappearing into the Great Void.

Two breaths passed. The Purple Mansion cultivators dispersed, some leaving, others scattering. On one hand, they respected her status as a peak Purple Mansion cultivator; on the other, they feared the Ziyan Sect and Qingchi Sect. They quickly cleared out, yet one figure remained.

Daoist Master Zipei crossed her arms over her chest, and the purple immortal blade at her waist glowed brilliantly. She said in a low voice:

"Qing Jifang... What brings Changhuai Mountain here?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a young man in gray robes appeared, holding a hovering gray jade bead that emitted plumes of gray mist. He smiled:

"Senior, you jest. Why can't I be here? My Changhuai Mountain in Wudi is also one of the Six Veins of Chongming. For such a significant matter, it's only right for me to investigate and offer my assistance!"

Though he had just appeared, the expressions of the other Purple Mansion cultivators didn't change much, but a gloom settled in their hearts. Xiao Chuting, holding his white jade fishing rod, lowered his gaze obediently, his mind stirring:

"As expected... that one from Changhuai Mountain has also made a move... I wonder if Daoist Lord Taiyi is truly in the late Golden Core stage now... What a pity for Shangyuan."

Clearly, the surrounding Purple Mansion cultivators also had a bad premonition because Qing Jifang's words implied Changhuai Mountain's interference, but they all maintained composed expressions.

Only Qing Jifang stood leisurely in place, holding the oscillating gray bead, appearing carefree. Although the other Purple Mansion cultivators didn't show it, Qing Jifang knew their thoughts as he stood quietly.

At this moment, it seemed to be more than just a dispute over the Xinyou Lùzé Seal; the situation had rapidly changed due to the intervention of the Changhuai Mountain Daoist Lord. The various Daoist Masters pondered, remaining silent for a time.

Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Qing Jifang lightly drifted down to the spring's mouth, looking at the silent Li Xuanfeng with a faint smile.

He looked at the old general before him. Li Xuanfeng's eyes were dark gray, his eyebrows sharp. Although he appeared somewhat aged from never having consumed any precious elixirs, there was a familiar sense of fierceness and dominance about him, suddenly evoking a strange familiarity.

After all, Qing Jifang was a Purple Mansion cultivator, long adept in divine abilities. With just a brief inspection, he quickly discovered the source of this familiarity, pausing slightly before laughing incredulously.

"I knew it! This face is so familiar, what a coincidence... what a huge coincidence! It's you!"

Li Xuanfeng merely lowered his gaze and remained silent, but Qing Jifang burst into laughter, muttering:

"Father born as Yang, three-nine true talismans; Mother died as Yin, shamanic blood scrolls. Excellent, Jiang Boqing's methods are truly profound."

He bared his stark white teeth, seemingly recovering from his laughter, and called out:

"Present it."

His burst of laughter and cold words immediately drew the attention of the Purple Mansion cultivators in the sky. Li Xuanfeng raised his eyebrows, glanced at him, and remained motionless.

Qing Jifang was speechless. Without him seeming to move, the gray mist around him seemed to contend with something, emitting clanging sounds of collision. He suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked at the sky.

He saw Daoist Master Puyi, dressed in blue and white robes, nod and smile, forming a hand seal with two fingers. The gray mist in Qing Jifang's hand intensified, but then a purple immortal sword appeared, pressed against him, held by a fair, slender hand. The purple silk from the sleeve fell, transforming into purple mist and vanishing.

Daoist Master Zipei looked at him coldly, her vermilion lips parting slightly as she said impolitely:

"You can certainly try."

Qing Jifang, being only at the Mid-Purple Mansion stage, was clearly no match for Daoist Master Zipei. Yet, his attitude was firm; he stared silently. The atmosphere instantly became tense, so heavy it felt like water might drip. After more than ten breaths, Qing Jifang finally said coldly:

"Aren't you afraid, senior?"

Li Xuanfeng waited quietly, then saw the golden-robed woman, who had been motionless in the sky, finally descend beside him like a gentle breeze, a leaden glow emanating from her.

Her face was hidden behind white gauze, concealing her appearance. She said gently:

"On this matter today, my Jinyu Sect holds the same stance. Since Changhuai Mountain is on good terms with Jinyu... perhaps you could give me some face."

Only after she spoke did Qing Jifang's expression finally soften. After all, the Great White Star in the sky was still shining brightly. He could only say:

"Since it is Senior Qiushui's wish, this magical artifact will be handled by Jinyu..."

Zhang Qiushui, however, was very cautious and did not dare to accept this, saying gently:

"This is a matter for Chongming. I only hope for a favorable outcome that doesn't lose us face."

With Daoist Master Qiushui's intervention, the aerial dispute finally cooled down. Qing Jifang cast a deep glance at Daoist Master Zipei and said in a low voice:

"Daoist Master, your breakthrough is imminent; you should perhaps pay more attention to your own life!"

With that, he broke into the Great Void and disappeared. After seeing him off, Zhang Qiushui said no more, simply producing a crystal-clear jade flask.

She gently tilted it, scattering clear liquid into the air. It splattered onto the rocks below, making continuous dripping sounds, and a wonderful aroma of wine diffused.

After pouring out the flask, she put it away, and her figure gradually faded, disappearing from sight.

For a time, silence descended upon the heavens and earth. The sound of the spring whimpered. The few Purple Mansion cultivators in the sky also fell silent. The Elemental's nirvana xiao flute music was mournful, drifting back and forth across this sea area, stirring deep sorrow.

This xiao flute music must have possessed divine power. Fish and shrimp washed ashore by the waves lay listlessly on the rocks. From the deep sea, faint, sorrowful cries could be heard, likely from some demonic creatures who, unable to control their emotions after hearing the flute, had burst into wails at the bottom of the ocean.

The remaining Purple Mansion cultivators present were all old acquaintances of the Elemental. During his lifetime, the Elemental had been cold and sarcastic, not well-liked, so only these few remained.

None of them used their divine power to suppress the flute's influence. They seemed somewhat indulgent, allowing the music to guide their thoughts, each falling silent and lost in their memories.

Li Xuanfeng listened for a while, a look of sorrow on his face.

He had followed the Elemental for so long. Although in the early years there had been an element of coercion, later the Elemental had personally sought out cultivation methods and spiritual armor for him, even arranging a marriage for him as a junior. Though it was an open stratagem, it conveyed a genuine exchange of sincerity and resolved many troubles for Li Xuanfeng.

In the end, when the Elemental forced him to eliminate the cultivators on a list, Li Xuanfeng understood that it was an arrangement for matters after his own death. He couldn't bring himself to hate the Elemental for it. He also knew that the Elemental had brought his paternal uncle, Li Chijing, into Southern Xinjiang. But now, he felt a sense of bewilderment.

"Hate... whom should I hate... whom dare I hate...? They say everyone has unspoken difficulties... but do difficulties absolve one of sin?"

Now that his Purple Mansion patron had died, it was impossible for him not to feel sorrow. Yet, from this sorrow, he tasted the burning sensation of betrayal. Li Tongya's mournful expression when his paternal uncle died reappeared before him, and Li Xuanfeng bit his lip until it bled.

As he knelt on the ground, Daoist Master Zipei appeared beside Li Xuanfeng and said with a frown:

"Get up... Li Xuanfeng."

In an instant, all of Li Xuanfeng's emotions were completely reined in, suppressed deep within him, solidifying into a cold, iron-like demeanor. He quietly stood up and said respectfully:

"Greetings, Daoist Master Zipei!"

Her tone was impolite; she merely said:

"Follow me back to the Ziyan Sect."

Yuanxiu's expression immediately soured. Daoist Master Puyi had to mediate, saying softly:

"How about this... If you two still trust me, the Xinyou Lùzé Seal can remain with me. I'll accompany you to the Ziyan Sect for a visit."

"Senior Yuanxiu can handle other matters and return to the sect first, bringing the Elemental's descendant back. The three of us will personally ensure the spiritual artifact acknowledges its master; that would be acceptable!"

He was quite handsome, and spoke with a gentle smile. Yuanxiu pondered, a hint of helplessness appearing on his stern face. He could only give up, waved his sleeve, and said to Daoist Master Zipei:

"Kan Xuyu, you... take care of yourself!"

His figure quickly faded and disappeared. Daoist Master Zipei's expression remained unchanged. Li Xuanfeng stood up; before he could even react, he felt a blur before his eyes, and the small seal in his hand had already moved to Daoist Master Puyi's possession.

He stood silently among the clouds, listening to Daoist Master Puyi click his tongue in admiration, observing the patterns on the seal, and sighing:

"So this is what the true Feathered Serpent looks like! Only Daoist Master Donghua's lineage would know; after all, the Lord of the Immortal Mansion saw it with his own eyes. If even the Immortal Mansion's depiction isn't accurate, then nothing in this world likely is."

He praised it for a while, then began to perform calculations with his fingers. Li Xuanfeng noticed faint traces of blood still appearing on his hand, yet this Daoist Master Puyi was remarkably peculiar, evaporating the blood into wisps of spiritual power and continuously performing divinations.

"Xinyou Lùzé Seal," he murmured...

"Killing intent transforms into suppression, using the brilliance of two metals to propel the Lùshui. What an excellent method! When this seal descends, Xinyou unleashes killing intent, turning flat ground into a swamp. Truly worthy of being a treasure with the potential to become a magical artifact."

He continued his research, and only after a long while did Daoist Master Zipei respond:

"I wondered why you were so kind-hearted! So you were beating around the bush just to get your hands on this spiritual artifact and meticulously divine its secrets. You truly put a lot of effort into it!"

Daoist Master Puyi nodded in agreement, observing carefully. The group quickly emerged from the Great Void, appearing swiftly in a world enveloped in purple mist.

They saw mountain peaks rising, stacked like fish scales, large and small summits emerging alternately from thick purple clouds. This purple energy, like fine threads, spiraled upwards, appearing ethereal and immortal. Pavilions and towers were magnificent, and cultivators rode on clouds, flying back and forth, presenting a truly otherworldly immortal scene.

"Ziyan Blessed Land!"

This was, of course, the main gate of the Ziyan Sect. Daoist Master Puyi quickly looked up, examining the area carefully, and praised:

"What a blessed land! Back then, Daoist Lord Taixu attained the Dao here and achieved the path of Purple Qi. My grandmaster also came to offer congratulations and brought back some morning glow purple qi, which was used to craft a magical artifact for my master."

At the mention of this topic, Daoist Master Zipei's expression finally softened considerably. She said softly:

"How prosperous the Six Veins of Chongming were back then! Yet now they have fallen to this state... If our founding patriarch had not met with misfortune... perhaps it wouldn't have come to this..."

Daoist Master Puyi sighed:

"Daoist Lords Taiyu and Taixu are truly regrettable losses... If those two had not passed away one after another, perhaps the Green Pine Daoist lineage could have accomplished more."

"Some people simply wish not to see it happen!"

Daoist Master Zipei replied coldly. The two of them, without avoiding Li Xuanfeng behind them, chatted about the scenery in the blessed land for a few moments before finally remembering him. Daoist Master Zipei said in a low voice:

"Li Xuanfeng... Which Li clan do you belong to?"