Chapter 546: Slave Compassion

Ning Heyuan responded and stood to the side. The distant golden light slowly faded, and cold, icy black rain scattered in the air. The demonic cultivators remained silent, slowly retreating back into the clouds.

The faint golden light on the horizon receded. Ning Heyuan estimated for a moment, concluding that the battle on the Golden Feather Sect's side was likely over, and he felt relieved. Looking at the scene before them, the black mist continued to retreat, and all the aerial battles concluded with the demonic cultivators' defeat and withdrawal.

All demonic flames and golden lights receded. Everyone withdrew their magical auras, feeling a sense of relief. Li Xuanfeng put away his golden bow, standing in mid-air, as the demonic cultivators finally rode the wind away from the clouds.

"Return to Bianyan Mountain," Li Xuanfeng commanded. Everyone promptly responded and flew back together on the wind. They exchanged glances, all showing expressions of surprise and fear.

Unlike the Foundation Establishment cultivators conscripted from below, who were stationed at the passes guarded by Li Qinghong, these individuals were all Daoists from the Qingchi Sect, including even a few Peak Masters. Their faces were now grim with solemnity.

"We heard early on that True Monarch Yuansu possessed a golden bow, Li Xuanfeng, which obeyed only the True Monarch's commands and could not be mobilized even by Ning Heyuan, specializing in acts of slaughter..."

"At first, we simply thought the True Monarch valued it, and its strength must be considerable... but seeing it now... it's truly a harbinger of death..."

The Daoists, who had initially shown deference to the Ning family and politely obeyed commands to sally forth and engage the enemy, had now fallen silent, some of them clearly unconvinced. They flew all the way beyond the pass before Li Xuanfeng finally turned, still holding the cold, gleaming armor in his hand. He said in a deep voice:

"Thank you for the trouble of accompanying me out of the mountain. Please return to your respective passes and guard them!"

Everyone responded in unison. Some departed in groups, others alone, descending into various parts of the mountain range. Li Xuanfeng returned with the Ning family members, stopping at the large array within the mountain.

As he descended, Fei Yihe hurriedly came forward to greet him. Li Xuanfeng removed his armor; his palms, as usual, were covered in cracks in the flesh. He had fought so ferociously that even his body, strengthened by the empowerment, was struggling to hold up.

Li Xuanfeng, his gray eyes fixed on his palms, used his magical power to protect the wounds and push the blood back into his hand, while quietly asking, "How are things at the pass?"

Fei Yihe, naturally understanding his question, replied softly, "The demonic cultivators' southern advance was intercepted. Damage to the eastern front was not severe, and Baixiang Valley remains calm and peaceful. Yan Pass endured some attacks, but Qinghong killed one of their number... She has now arrived outside the pass."

"Good," Li Xuanfeng finally said with a smile. He took out his longbow, which Ning Heyuan gently received, along with Li Xuanfeng's helmet and armor. Ning Heyuan then whispered:

"I'll have someone repair them for Brother-in-law."

As he withdrew with the Ning family members, Li Xuanfeng softly said, "Have Qinghong wait in the mountain. I will go to her shortly."

He also dismissed Fei Yihe. His internal organs still felt as though they were burning. He took out several pills and swallowed them. After a brief period of internal adjustment, a cool sensation gradually emerged, and he coughed out a few mouthfuls of black blood, feeling much more comfortable.

Li Xuanfeng quietly meditated, pondering, "Killing the Murong family's direct descendant this time has significantly altered the situation. This matter will certainly not resolve so easily... There will undoubtedly be further repercussions, and I must wait."

Fei Yihe, having descended, felt a surge of excitement. Empowered by Li Xuanfeng's command, he boldly sought out the Ning family members and calmly stated, "Please ask Daoist Qinghong to await orders at General Peak."

Although Fei Yihe's seniority was higher than Li Qinghong's, he lacked background and his cultivation was low, disqualifying him from asserting seniority here. Ordinarily, he would have to address any Foundation Establishment cultivator as "Senior," let alone a rising star like Li Qinghong, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Although the Ning family members in front looked down on him, they still had to show respect to Li Xuanfeng. They nodded in agreement, and the old man hurried to the peak, thinking to himself:

"Li Qinghong is intelligent, wise, and gentle, one of the kindest among all the Lis. Now that she's coming to the mountain and knows I'm by the General's side, there's an eighty to ninety percent chance she'll bring Tongyu with her..."

After a moment's wait, Li Qinghong entered, her face slightly pale. She wore an ordinary white robe and appeared somewhat fatigued.

As Fei Yihe had expected, she was accompanied by Fei Tongyu, who had traveled with her from Wangyue Lake. His eldest son no longer possessed the graceful, noble, carefree, and romantic demeanor he had when he left home; instead, he looked utterly disheveled and aged!

Fei Tongyu also appeared to be injured: his neck was bruised and pale, his eyes deeply sunken, and his cheeks emaciated. The fan he often carried was gone, replaced by a short spear gripped so tightly his knuckles were white.

Had it not been for the old man's spiritual sense sensing a familiar presence, he would not have recognized him. He stood blankly in the hall, only asking, "Tongyu?"

Fei Tongyu looked up as if startled, recognized him after a moment, and asked, "You are...?"

Li Qinghong had somewhat anticipated this scene. Saying, "You two talk first," she stepped out of the hall.

The evening wind brought a biting cold mist. From within the hall, the sounds of a father and son embracing in sorrow, desperately trying to suppress their cries, could still be heard. Li Qinghong stood in the wind, her arms crossed, her white robe fluttering.

Her black hair gently flowed in the breeze. She stood for several dozen breaths before a man approached her. He had a seal at his waist and looked at her with slight surprise, smiling, "I've always seen Qinghong in armor; this is the first time I've seen you in a robe."

This was Ning Heyuan, who was also a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Li Qinghong simply smiled and shook her head, replying, "Qinghong doesn't concern herself with such things."

Li Qinghong had always possessed such a nature; she had never consumed any youth-preserving elixirs or precious medicines. As Ning Heyuan nodded, golden lights, each trailing a comet-like tail, appeared in the sky, hovering and flickering.

"The Golden Feather Sect has arrived!" Ning Heyuan frowned. He then saw a golden light wait for a moment before the array, penetrate it, circle twice, and then land before them, transforming into a woman in golden robes.

Her brows lowered, half her face veiled by golden gauze, she wore a dignified expression. She spoke softly, "Daoist Heyuan, I hope to see Li Xuanfeng."

"Immortal Duan Yan..." Ning Heyuan recognized the person before him as a junior attendant to a Golden Feather Sect Purple Mansion cultivator. He immediately nodded and, without hesitation, entered the cave abode. Soon after, he brought Li Xuanfeng forward.

Li Xuanfeng, having spent a long time recovering his breath, had somewhat recuperated. Hearing that someone from the Golden Feather Sect was asking for him, he immediately thought, "They've come, as expected!"

He calmly put on his armor and stepped out. His gaze was serene, possessing an inherent authority without needing to express anger. Facing the woman in golden robes, he subtly nodded and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, Immortal."

Zhang Duanyan's cultivation, rooted in the Golden Aperture Heart, granted her acute perception. Upon seeing him, her heart constricted; she felt an overwhelming, fierce aura. She thought to herself, "This senior has likely killed an uncountable number of Foundation Establishment cultivators..."

She merely extended a shimmering golden light from beneath her feet and said very politely, "Senior has performed a great service. My True Monarch wishes to meet you. Please come with me."

Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng knew there was no room for refusal. He simply nodded in agreement, stepped onto the light, and ascended with her. Zhang Duanyan then politely said, "Senior! My grandfather, Zhang Yun, is an old acquaintance of your esteemed clan's elders..."

She conversed a few words, maintaining a respectful distance, ensuring the journey wasn't entirely silent. They flew all the way to the clouds, where Li Xuanfeng asked in a deep voice, "May I know which True Monarch has summoned me?"

Li Xuanfeng had met an astonishing number of True Monarchs—perhaps even more than any member of the Chi family. When he asked, Zhang Duanyan simply smiled and replied, "Just look up, and the True Monarch is right before you."

Brilliant golden light indeed emerged from the clouds. A cloud of rosy light floated in the air, and within it sat a woman in yellow robes. She wore a veiled hat with white gauze draped down, and in her pristine white hands, she held two intertwined golden rings.

"Greetings, True Monarch Qiushui!" Li Xuanfeng immediately recognized the True Monarch before him. It was True Monarch Qiushui of the Golden Feather Sect, who had mediated during the fall of True Monarch Yuansu.

He had heard she was now a late Purple Mansion cultivator. She sat gently in the clouds, slowly removing her veiled hat. Zhang Qiushui's face appeared to be that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old, with a rounded chin and large, bright, and gentle eyes.

She said softly, "When I heard the news, I thought, 'Indeed, it's you.' Under Qingchi's rule, there are only two or three individuals who are so formidable."

As another old acquaintance of Yuansu, True Monarch Qiushui was clearly much easier to converse with than True Monarch Zipu, and she also appeared gentler. Li Xuanfeng responded with a deep voice. She smiled and said, "After all, you are a direct descendant of the Wei Li family. Whether it's Li Chijing or Li Tongya, and considering your immortal bow and temperament, everything clearly indicates... you are undoubtedly a direct descendant."

Li Xuanfeng could not respond to her, and Zhang Qiushui did not give him a chance to reply. Suddenly, she looked to one side, where an old-faced cultivator in green robes appeared with a stern expression. She said, "Daoist Yuanxiu has arrived."

True Monarch Yuanxiu merely nodded, waiting silently. Zhang Qiushui looked back at him and said, "You needn't be afraid; it's merely an entanglement with the Buddhist cultivators... The Wei family was preceded by Zhou, and followed by the Qi, Liang, and Tuoba families, all of whom remain renowned to this day, and we haven't seen how the Zhao State has harmed them..."

At this point, she herself chuckled. Yuanxiu, his face stern, interjected, "That emperor of the Fuqi family couldn't even protect his own soul, so how could he harm anyone?"

Zhang Qiushui's smile faded, and she finally said, "Has Murong Wu's storage bag been touched? Give it to me."

Li Xuanfeng had already kept it with him and presented it with both hands. Zhang Qiushui, seeing that the storage bag was untouched, nodded appreciatively and said, "Xu State is insignificant. You caused a few of the Compassionate Ones a minor setback, and I've gained some leverage, so naturally, a reward is due."

She looked at True Monarch Yuanxiu. The True Monarch paused for a moment, then finally took out a jade bottle from his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Indeed, a reward is due. This Gengjin Sanqi Pill was given to me by True Monarch Qiushui. Take it and consume it."

*A pill...* Li Xuanfeng bowed in thanks and gently received it. The two True Monarchs gradually fell silent, and Zhang Duanyan, the woman in golden robes, understood the subtle cue. She softly said, "I shall escort Senior down."

Li Xuanfeng bowed his farewell and descended on a cloud with the dignified woman. As they traversed through the clouds, Li Xuanfeng's mind was filled with uncertainty. He coldly pondered the two True Monarchs' unusually pleasant demeanor, wondering, "Is this good or bad? What is the effect of this pill? Is it to help me advance further, giving the two True Monarchs an advantage in the Taixu game? Or do they have other motives, using the pill to threaten my life?"

As he was pondering, Zhang Duanyan, who was beside him, suddenly smiled and softly said, "Senior... my grandfather greatly admires Senior Tongya... he has mentioned him to me many times. He is currently in seclusion, breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage, and when he emerges, he should come to visit your esteemed clan."

Li Xuanfeng paused, lost in thought. Zhang Duanyan quietly escorted him to the peak, then mounted her golden light and swiftly vanished into the horizon with the wind.

In the clouds.

Long after Li Xuanfeng had departed, Zhang Qiushui stood quietly. Her demeanor towards True Monarch Yuanxiu was noticeably colder; though she still habitually smiled and spoke pleasantly, her warmth was replaced by caution.

Before the two could make any move, the Great Void before them suddenly tore open, and a massive golden figure emerged.

This golden figure had four arms and four legs, and two faces on its neck—one snarling, the other weeping in sorrow, both adorned with beautiful, intricate patterns. Its four arms held either staffs or clubs, or swords or blades, all radiating a shimmering brilliance.

Beside this Buddhist cultivator was a golden-bodied Arhat, with a broad back and powerful build, clad in resplendent golden armor. His face was stern and dignified, and beneath his eyebrows, four piercing eyes gazed intently. He held a long staff in his hand.

Zhang Qiushui's expression immediately turned cold. She said softly, "So, it's Nuzi Lianmin... you've specifically come out of the Great Void to find us... May I ask what important matter brings you here?"

Nuzi Lianmin's four eyes each moved, and both mouths opened simultaneously, sounds of sorrow and pain overlapping: "Thinking the True Monarch must wish to meet my fated one, I came specifically. Unexpectedly, the timing wasn't right; it seems I just missed him."

At this, not only did Zhang Qiushui's expression remain cold, but Yuanxiu's stern face also unreservedly showed disgust. He said coldly, "What? Is a Vajra with innate divine strength not enough for you, Compassionate One? You also desire an Arhat of boundless power? You have truly cultivated a great deal of greed!"

Nuzi Lianmin, seemingly oblivious, spoke with overlapping voices and a smile, "This is due to karmic affinity; you two are clinging to superficialities... This person is simply fated to my path..."

Yuanxiu seemed to despise this 'Compassionate One' to the extreme. His thick eyebrows bristled as he cursed, "Heretical cultivator of the crooked path! What an utterly shameless face! Why didn't you have the guts to come spying when Yuansu was alive? Now that he's fallen, you dare to come and harbor such covetous thoughts!"

Nuzi Lianmin closed his four eyes and replied, "Anger is the source of harm to life, True Monarch; please take care... Previously there was no karmic affinity... now that karmic affinity has arrived, how can the two situations be compared?"

After speaking, seeing the anger visibly rising on both True Monarchs' faces, he smiled faintly. Then, without ceremony, he tore open the Great Void with his hand and plunged into it without a sound.

Yuanxiu's face was grim. He bellowed, "Nuzi! If you dare to come and mislead my sect's people, I will make you taste the power of the Yellow Path Mystic Talismans! I will seal your dharma body and force you into reincarnation!"

Zhang Qiushui remained silent, merely watching coldly. Her rounded eyes were fixed on the Great Void, and only after Nuzi Lianmin had departed did she softly say, "I thought Tiaoxiao had taught him a lesson... I didn't realize so little time had passed, and he's already restless again."

"That's just how Buddhist cultivators are." The pitch-black storage bag slowly floated beside them. True Monarch Yuanxiu nodded, then raised his hand and gently pushed it forward. Everything before them shifted from light to dark, all colors rapidly dimming into infinite blackness. Startlingly, they had entered the Great Void.

Before them, demonic energy surged, enveloped by golden light, spreading and intertwining throughout the Great Void. A three-headed, six-armed body flickered in and out of sight amidst the black energy and golden light, with runes and lotus-shaped magical artifacts bobbing and sinking, revealing countless eyes beneath.

On the other side, clear qi brightened and dimmed, and the colorful lights of divine abilities intertwined in the air. Several figures stood quietly, confronting the Compassionate One and the demonic cultivators on the other side. The two stepped into the void, and colorful light likewise emerged from their bodies.