Chapter 556: Encheng

Li Xizhi had realized early on that being stationed here was not a favorable assignment. If the Tuoba family merely sent a casual representative, it would be manageable, but if they dispatched a direct descendant, he would need to have an escape route prepared. Consequently, he had inquired about the roster, roughly marked down the distribution of the various checkpoints around Baixiang Valley, and clearly identified each cultivator. Now, as he fled, he was taking the most direct routes.

Traveling by cloud, he had passed over ten strongholds, both large and small. Most were either minor mountain strongholds or small formations that had been eradicated by demonic cultivators, or they remained hidden, utterly silent. He passed two major formations: one remained sealed, refusing entry, and the other was still under siege by demonic cultivators, which he dared not approach. Members of the Yang family were originally inside, but there was no sign of them now, implying they were either trapped or deceased. He had no choice but to press forward.

By now, his back was drenched in sweat, and his body felt completely ravaged. His energy core was nearly depleted, and his aura was dim. He continued flying by cloud, passing yet another small mountain, but its defensive formation remained unyielding, denying him access. Li Xizhi’s aura flickered; he glanced down twice, his body a chaotic mess and on the verge of collapse. He clutched a spell to stabilize himself, a thought forming in his mind: "More than ten formations, yet not a single familiar face? Is this simply bad luck, or is there a deliberate scheme at play?"

His aura was dim, signifying he was at his wit's end. It was clear he couldn't conserve his last Huiqiu Pill. He calculated inwardly, "Only this one remains, but Tuoba Chongyuan is closing in. By then, it won't just be an issue of insufficient magic; I might be caught before even reaching Bianyan..."

A chill settled in his heart. The Chengguan Pass ahead was very likely guarded by Yuan Huyuan, the elder brother of his master, Yuan Tuan, with whom he had already severed ties. He mused, "That old man is timid and indecisive, always appeasing outsiders. Even Yuan Chengjun, a figure of his stature, could bring himself to ruthlessly prune a 'jade tree' from his own courtyard. There's no way Yuan Huyuan would see this situation clearly." Given the old man's temperament, even the younger members of the Chi family were wary of offending him. Naturally, he would be unwilling to confront the Tuoba family. Even before the two families had severed ties, he would have wavered; now, opening the formation to welcome them was utterly out of the question.

So he accelerated, swiftly passing by. Unexpectedly, a shimmering silver-white light erupted from within the Chengguan Pass formation, moving directly to meet him. "Peak Master, I'm here to assist you!"

Li Xizhi immediately felt a surge of exhilaration, then paused in surprise. He instantly recognized that this was not a member of the Yuan family, deducing it was someone from either the Ning or Yang families. He responded, "Fellow Daoist! We are already near Bianyan Mountain; just a slight delay is all that's needed! The cultivators will arrive soon!" These words were intended for Tuoba Chongyuan. Meanwhile, Li Xizhi quickly performed a hand seal to cast a spell, guarding against any potential harm from this individual. With a flick of his finger, his last Huiqiu Pill dropped into his mouth.

Tuoba Chongyuan finally frowned. Summoning a white light into his hand, he coldly stated, "Which family's cultivator are you... do not interfere!"

Li Quantao shook his sleeve, and a warm, radiant white pearl emerged, casting its light downwards. He responded, "This is my family's affair; I cannot help but intervene." At Li Quantao's declaration, Tuoba Chongyuan's face darkened, assuming it was Li Xizhi's brother coming to his aid. However, the white pearl in Li Quantao's hand unleashed several streams of light that rustled down into the clouds. Suddenly, thunder crashed in the sky, and astonishingly, water droplets began to rise from the ground, all ascending into the clouds.

Li Xizhi suddenly felt a lightness underfoot; the magic consumed by his cloud-traveling aura significantly decreased. Tuoba Chongyuan’s momentary obstruction allowed him to catch his breath, and his complexion even regained some color. Only then did Li Xizhi pause, startled by the man's words, and recognize the magical artifact in his hand. 'Bishuidan! This is someone from Li Encheng's lineage!'

Li Encheng was known as "Bishuidan" precisely because of the artifact he wielded. This particular Bishuidan was an ancient artifact, recovered from the ruins of the Mianfan Sect, and was renowned within the sect. Since Li Encheng was now deceased, this individual must undoubtedly be his descendant.

"This person... is actually willing to help me..." To preserve his life, he had meticulously planned his escape route along the mountains, never once anticipating that someone from Fuchen Peak would come to his rescue. Though slightly surprised, he acted swiftly. Leveraging the recently consumed pill, his magical energy surged, and he unleashed an aura-based spell, soaring into the sky.

Tuoba Chongyuan's spiritual sense briefly probed, identifying Li Quantao as only being in the early Foundation Establishment stage. With Yu Yuwei's two disciples already present, he had originally paid Li Quantao no heed, casually waving his sleeve. Yet, Li Quantao was, after all, the son of a master alchemist, possessing top-tier talent and resources. Furthermore, he wielded the ancient artifact, Bishuidan. As he channeled his magical energy, countless streams of grayish-white fushui immediately surged forth, dispersing into the wind.

Fushui was a rare sight even in Jiangnan, let alone the Northern regions. Tuoba Chongyuan felt the magical wind beside him suddenly act like an unbridled wild horse, plunging headlong towards the ground. He was forced to halt, gathering the wind to maintain his position in mid-air.

"Fushui." Tuoba Chongyuan's expression instantly shifted, revealing a flicker of interest. He stared at the shimmering pearl for a moment, then a look of sudden realization crossed his face. Even at this critical juncture, he retained the composure to remark, "It's better to see it once than hear about it a hundred times! Our Great Liang's Martial Emperor founded the nation by slaying dragons and phoenix-like beasts, acquiring the Heishui and Ruoshui Pearls. The one in your possession, Fellow Daoist, must surely be an imitation crafted by ancient cultivators."

The vibrant hues around him diminished slightly. Without needing a weapon, he unleashed a spell that caused the Bishuidan to vibrate intensely. Li Xizhi and Li Quantao, combining their efforts, barely managed to resist. Tuoba Chongyuan pressed relentlessly, and within ten exchanges, Li Quantao's complexion noticeably paled.

Li Xizhi was in dire condition and should have retreated. However, if he were to withdraw, it was uncertain whether he would escape, and the young man who had come to his rescue would almost certainly perish here. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and resist, constantly communicating through spiritual sense to devise a strategy. The young man said, "Peak Master, I am Li Quantao from Fuchen Peak! This person is formidable, and Yuan Huyuan is unwilling to open the formation. However, my brothers are stationed not far from here. Let's fight as we retreat, heading south!"

Li Xizhi immediately understood and focused on regulating his breath. Li Quantao took command, his entire body's magical energy surging, his Dao foundation manifesting. He then began to stall the enemy, heedless of the toll it took on him. Although Li Quantao's individual strength was somewhat inferior, the magical artifact he wielded was exceptionally potent. It could emit a white light water barrier to repel spells and also effectively delay and entangle the enemy. Tuoba Chongyuan had just concluded a battle and had lost his weapon, so for a moment, he genuinely struggled to parry Li Quantao's various attacks.

The two fought and retreated, and after just over ten exchanges, Li Quantao's face began to pale. Tuoba Chongyuan, empowered by a great seal, attacked with the force of a magical artifact in every move. If he hadn't lost his preferred weapon, he would have long since knocked Li Quantao from the clouds.

'Several Peak Masters from Baixiang Valley are present, yet they're still in such dire straits... How can I be overconfident?' Li Quantao, possessing some combat experience, immediately took a pill, unleashing a torrent of fushui that flowed backward across the sky. Though he was struck so hard that he coughed up blood, he still managed to respond to Li Xizhi with his spiritual sense: "Peak Master, do not worry! It's only a half-hour journey from here; Quantao can still hold out!"

Tuoba Chongyuan's expression had already darkened. He had been pursuing Li Xizhi for too long and had ventured too deep into enemy territory. Although he felt confident, he secretly began to weigh the worth of continuing the chase.

The atmosphere among the three suddenly grew tense and subtle. Then, a brilliant light abruptly flared in the sky. "Boom!"

The sky instantly brightened. The spiritual essence between heaven and earth abruptly shifted, accompanied by a resonant hum and several rising halos of light. The mountain range not far away convulsed violently, then shattered and exploded. As the sky turned crimson, Li Xizhi squinted. In the distance, a large, arcing gleam of light flashed rapidly, and a golden segment detached, falling. Two crisp shattering sounds followed, and then a series of continuous structures emerged, plummeting into the distant mountains.

"Perhaps it's a change in the spiritual aura, causing something to fall from a grotto-heaven!" In a flash, several thoughts crossed Li Xizhi's mind. He seized Li Quantao beside him, and both simultaneously employed a blood-escape technique, soaring into the air. Taking advantage of the crimson sky, they flew south.

The two had just activated their blood light when they noticed Tuoba Chongyuan was not pursuing them. Instead, the demonic cultivator stood still, closing his eyes to cast a spell. Li Quantao had relied solely on his magical artifact during their earlier confrontation and had almost been killed by this individual. Now, watching the demonic cultivator begin his incantations, Li Quantao's heart pounded with terror.

As expected, after they had flown only a few miles, six rays of white light came hurtling towards them. These, however, were strikingly different from the previous faint white, appearing much denser, even tinged with a faint yellow hue. Li Quantao's heart pounded with dread as he quickly retrieved his talismans. Li Xizhi also deployed several talismans, and with a swift motion, activated the Heart Cauldron of Calamity Dissipation to neutralize the spell. Li Quantao, meanwhile, unleashed the Bishuidan, sending it crashing into the white light without a moment's hesitation. "Boom!"

The white light collided with the magical artifact, instantly transforming into ten thousand white blades that rained down. Li Xizhi's several magical shields endured for only two breaths before all were shattered against his feather robe. The feather robe once again erupted with golden light, surging forth and completely deflecting the remaining white blades. It only caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood. His wife's feather robe had once again saved his life. Li Xizhi quickly consumed a pill, then glanced at the young man beside him.

Li Quantao had taken a full assault of white blades to the face. He coughed twice, having used some talisman to protect his head, then stretched out his hand and forcefully retrieved his severed arm and leg from the air, hurriedly reattaching them. The body of a fushui Dao foundation was somewhat mystical, rendering him far less susceptible to injuries involving severed limbs compared to ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. He recalled the Bishuidan and continued to ride the blood-wind. His injuries did not appear severe, and he remained enthusiastic towards Li Xizhi, even having the presence of mind to say, "The Bishuidan itself is incredibly sturdy, capable of even confronting a Purple Mansion cultivator directly; there's no need to worry."

Tuoba Chongyuan had vanished from sight. Li Xizhi exhaled, finally able to turn his thoughts elsewhere. "At home, there's also a Jianyang Ring, equally durable and unpredictable... but it's tied to the Azure Pine Temple, so I've never dared to use it."

He and Li Quantao passed by a major formation that was still brightly illuminated, clearly signaling its unwillingness to admit them. The young man's face darkened, but he said little, only, "Peak Master, follow me. Not far from here, my elder brother is in charge, and we can enter that formation." Li Xizhi briefly observed that Tuoba Chongyuan was still nowhere in sight. The two remained vigilant, continuing their escape via blood light, and in less than fifteen minutes, they arrived before a green mountain.

Li Quantao's status here was clearly superior to his standing at Chengguan Pass. He didn't need to announce himself; a mere flash of his token granted them entry. Once past the main formation, they saw a scene of considerable disarray, with numerous collapsed structures. Although the area was in ruins, the people's morale remained relatively stable. Li Quantao asked a few questions, then turned back and replied, "Peak Master... my elder brother went to provide assistance and has not yet returned. This place is still relatively safe, Peak Master; please feel free to rest and heal!"

Li Xizhi finally relaxed, feeling every inch of his body aching, his head spinning. He barely managed to speak, "There's no need to be so formal, thank you, brother... words cannot express my gratitude..." Li Quantao simply offered a small sound of acknowledgment. Li Quantao's condition was hardly better; his internal injuries were far more severe. He was not a hot-headed, impulsive youth; his willingness to leave the pass and assist Li Xizhi out of gratitude was also tempered by the strategic consideration that his elder brother was stationed nearby. However, he had overestimated Tuoba Chongyuan in every aspect. In the end, his injuries were far more severe than he had anticipated. The fact that his elder brother was not within the formation made him break out in a cold sweat. 'Thank goodness that demon didn't press the chase,' he thought. 'If he had relentlessly pursued us, and my brother hadn't been in the formation, both of us, along with all the cultivators here, would likely have perished!'

After a period of intense flight and battle, both were physically and mentally exhausted. Whatever matters needed attention would have to wait until after they had healed. They each sought out a cave dwelling and quietly began their recovery.

Li Xizhi sat cross-legged. After a careful assessment, he noted that his feather robe was again damaged, but he had only lost a little over ten years of his lifespan, which meant his life had been saved. "Thankfully, I had the Huiqiu Pill! Thankfully... I preserved that act of kindness..."

'I've missed the appointed time.' Tuoba Chongyuan frowned for a moment, but his hands were swift. Six rays of white light chased after the blood-escape, but he decisively abandoned the pursuit of the two and rapidly flew back in the direction he had come from. Breaking through the pass was inevitable. Chasing the man in the feather robe was merely an incidental task; if he couldn't catch him, it was no great loss, as he was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, if he delayed matters for his clan, that would indeed be a significant problem.

He flew for over ten miles, and his immortal carriage, leaving a trail of white mist, caught up to him. Tuoba Chongyuan no longer displayed his relaxed, casual demeanor. He channeled magical energy into the immortal carriage, rushing back at full speed. Tuoba Chongyuan cast a spell and, after a brief calculation, quickly descended into a forest, guided by the magic. He saw his long halberd precisely where it had fallen, embedded in a moss-covered green stone, shimmering with magical light.

The magical artifact had been sealed by Li Xizhi, so he couldn't simply summon it. He had to retrieve it himself. He landed in front of the stone, somewhat absentmindedly, and gave a strong tug, yet the halberd did not budge.

"Hmm?" He jolted and instantly turned back, catching a glimpse of clouds swirling in the crimson sky, from which a young man emerged. Dressed in a cloud-patterned Daoist robe, his hair neatly combed, the youth politely stated, "Fellow Daoist, this halberd belongs to me."

Tuoba Chongyuan was already in a foul mood and burst into angry laughter. Desperate to return, he had no desire to deal with the youth. As he slowly exerted more force on the halberd, he coldly retorted, "How audacious!" The harsh words were on the tip of his tongue, but he immediately ceased, realizing the halberd remained firmly embedded in the stone, completely unaffected by his efforts. His expression grew increasingly grave.

The young man bowed slightly, carefully observed him, and smiled amicably. "I was originally tasked with coming here to claim my share, and by coincidence, a halberd fell from the sky, landing directly before me. I thought I had simply gained a fine magical artifact for nothing..." He chuckled. "So it's a young master from the Tuoba family; no wonder your actions are so extravagant!"

He nodded approvingly, looking quite satisfied. "After Tuoba Xuantan's death, your esteemed clan dared not set foot even half a step into the East Sea. It's a rare chance to apprehend one of you. I have no other intentions; I merely intend to kill you, young master."

Tuoba Chongyuan gradually realized something was amiss. He stared gravely at the youth; the identity of the person before him was now unmistakably clear. He silently clutched a jade talisman in his hand, the yellowish-white glow on his face intensifying, poised to strike.

"Dongfang Heyun greets you, Young Master." The young man straightened his sleeves, bowed respectfully, and smiled. "Young Master, why aren't you running yet? Hurry and flee for your life!"