Chapter 559: Heavenly Golden Armor

Li Xuanfeng had recently been summoned and rewarded by the Purple Mansion cultivators of both the Green Pool and Golden Feather Sects, who encouraged him to work harder. Everyone knew that Baihsiang Valley was protected by his junior. With this in mind, no one dared to meet his gaze.

On the other side, Tang Shedou, the wielder of the Long Sky Halberd, harbored some old grudges against Li Xuanfeng and boasted that his strength was comparable. Yet, he was content to cause a stir without stepping forward, instead turning his head to look at Yu Su of Jinwu Xi.

Ning Heyuan simply continued:

"Baihsiang Valley has fallen. The surrounding areas of Qunmian Mountain and Nu Mountain have been thoroughly plundered, and large numbers of demonic cultivators have surged south, sweeping through the wilderness to Xianhu Lake, and reaching as far as the Xiao family in Lixia County, and the regions of Yushan and Yuyuan."

"The cultivators of Baihsiang Valley failed to defend, suffering grievous losses. Li Xizhi of Changtian Peak fled to Chengdu Mountain, Yu Yuwei of Panqi Peak escaped into Xianhu Lake, and Quan Yi of Linghe Peak was slain by Tuoba Chongyuan, his essence extinguished. None of the other cultivators survived."

After he finished reading the news, everyone began to murmur. Li Xuanfeng paused, showing no trace of anger, then suddenly spoke:

"Xianhu Lake is quite a distance away... and Baihsiang Valley is over a thousand li from Chengdu Mountain, with several intact arrays within it. Why did they only manage to escape once they reached such a remote location?"

Ning Heyuan understood that his brother-in-law was asking a rhetorical question. Tang Shedou, standing nearby, sneered. Seeing Tang Shedou about to interject, Ning Heyuan quickly offered an answer:

"As the two Peak Masters passed through various checkpoints, the cultivators, fearing Tuoba Chongyuan's might, dared not leave their posts to greet them..."

Li Xuanfeng nodded, then spoke in a natural, deep voice:

"The cultivators who lost Baihsiang Valley must, of course, be punished... It's merely a shame that the casualties were so severe that few survivors remain."

"The two Peak Masters are both paragons among Foundation Establishment cultivators, managing to evade numerous demonic cultivators and escape with their lives. The other cultivators, unable to enter the formations, perished along the way."

Li Xuanfeng's words elicited varied expressions from the cultivators. Chi Zhiyan, suffering a headache, had no trouble discerning his meaning. Seeing the cultivators' hesitation, he quietly reassured them:

"Xuanfeng is correct... The guards at the checkpoints must also be disciplined. The immediate priority... is to dispatch people to Baihsiang Valley to reconstruct the grand array."

He made no mention of the ruins that had appeared near Baihsiang Valley, likely because they had already been apportioned in the Great Void. Having just suffered a significant defeat, Green Pool's share was drastically reduced, barely sufficient for the Chi family, and certainly not enough to be distributed among everyone.

The moment these words were uttered, Tang Shedou and the others, who had been observing coolly, became restless. They were all centuries-old cultivators, and by now, they could subtly perceive the shifting dynamics of this elaborate game.

In this situation, it was clear they would have no share in the ruins near Baihsiang Valley. Going there would merely serve to needlessly antagonize the Tuoba family. Furthermore, who knew the full extent of Tuoba Chongyuan's abilities, or if they would risk their own lives?

As Li Xuanfeng's injuries had not yet healed, he would most likely select someone from their ranks of long-established cultivators to go. Tang Shedou, being the most renowned among them, had not only been famous for many years but was also personally tutored by Yuan Wu...

'Tuoba Chongyuan... Who would willingly confront him? It's a thankless task that would also antagonize the Tuoba family...'

Chi Zhiyan, however, scanned the room and then, as expected, inquired:

"Elder Shedou?"

Tang Shedou could only clear his throat and step forward. With no room for subtlety, he whispered:

"Yuanwu Peak is currently short-staffed; this old man alone cannot manage..."

Chi Zhiyan simply scanned the faces in the crowd and then softly inquired:

"Fellow Daoist Linggu..."

A middle-aged man emerged from the crowd, bowing in acknowledgment. He had an unremarkable appearance, with two bulging gourds tied to his waist, and his vine armor shimmered with magical light. This was Linggu Rao, from the Linggu family of Jiachuan, known as Rao Zixie. In previous years, he had always guarded the South Sea for Green Pool.

Linggu Rao was a celebrated cultivator a century ago, and his father, Linggu Xia, was even more illustrious. However, Linggu Rao had consistently guarded the South Sea, rarely returning inland, so after a hundred years, his renown had largely faded from memory.

Just as Chi Zhiyan was about to issue instructions, he suddenly paused. The Great Void before him dramatically rent open, and a gleaming golden spell rune sprang forth, settling into his palm.

Chi Zhiyan closed his eyes for a moment, carefully absorbing the meaning within. He instantly burst out laughing, and when he reopened his eyes, they were brimming with joy as he chuckled:

"Let it be known to all fellow Daoists: Tuoba Chongyuan's magical robe was torn, his mystical body shattered, and he met a violent end in Baihsiang Valley! Only a wisp of his soul remains, presumably returned to Shengletian for reincarnation!"

Everyone was caught off guard and stared in stunned silence. Tang Shedou, especially, visibly relaxed. His spirits buoyed by the good news, and unable to contain his curiosity, he asked:

"This subordinate congratulates you, Lord! May I inquire which esteemed cultivator accomplished this feat?"

Chi Zhiyan laughed heartily and responded:

"It was the Dragon Clan of the East Sea! Perhaps a Dragon Prince, drawn by the situation in Xu State, somehow traversed tens of thousands of li to enter the mainland."

"Xu State is so vast, yet he just happened to encounter Tuoba Chongyuan! How could the Dragon Clan let a member of the Tuoba family escape? They beat him to death, even seizing his vital seal, likely to adorn a palace within the Dragon Clan's domain!"

Chi Zhiyan was in an exceedingly buoyant mood, relishing the spectacle. He even added a couple of mocking remarks. Ning Heyuan quickly seized the opportunity to flatter him, saying:

"Congratulations, Lord!"

He said, smiling broadly:

"Tuoba Xuantan murdered Dongfang Tianye, the seventh son of True Chi, to forge his Harmonious Marquis Profound Pearl and Wall Water Treasure Elixir. The Dragon Clan utterly despises him... Now that they've caught a member of the Tuoba family, it's only natural that they'd flay and dismember him."

Chi Zhiyan nodded, smiling. With Tuoba Chongyuan's demise, the Tuoba family would almost certainly not dare to remain, and the threat from the east was naturally resolved. How could he not feel triumphant?

He then leisurely remarked:

"You should still refer to him as Heavenly Accomplished Profound Qi Xuan Zhenjun or Emperor Wu of Liang... After all, he was a True Monarch. Although he has perished, addressing him by his given name might still bring harm upon your lives."

Ostensibly, he chatted casually with everyone about tales from the Liang Dynasty, but inwardly, he was making his own conjectures:

"True Man Yuanxiu's abrupt use of this rune to answer me was clearly unforeseen. Perhaps this move by the Dragon Clan was exceptionally brilliant, catching both the Purple Mansion and Maha cultivators off guard..."

"It's also strange; given that the rules of the various families are still in effect, it certainly wasn't a Purple Mansion cultivator who intervened..."

Lost in thought, he gradually fell silent. The crowd then began to disperse, and the grand hall slowly emptied.

Ning Heyuan and Li Xuanfeng returned to their cave dwelling together, each preoccupied with their own thoughts. Ning Heyuan was the first to speak:

"Brother-in-law, how are your injuries now?"

Li Xuanfeng, concerned about Li Xizhi's injuries but hesitant to press for details, waved his hand and replied:

"I've taken the precious medicine that was sent; the effects are excellent, so there's no need to worry."

Li Xuanfeng's injury this time resulted in a summons from the Purple Mansion, and the Ning family personally provided a precious Dream Lake Herb for his recovery, a treasure far more valuable than the Splendid Goblet Fruit Li Tongya had received years ago.

After Li Xuanfeng took the medicine, his face seemed several years younger. Ning Heyuan observed this, felt greatly relieved, and said in a deep voice:

"Brother-in-law, there's something suspicious about the Tuoba Chongyuan incident!"

Li Xuanfeng, of course, understood, and simply said in a deep voice:

"Of course there's something unusual... Perhaps even the Purple Mansion cultivators didn't foresee it."

Ning Heyuan nodded and whispered:

"Xu State's spiritual energy is currently in disarray, and the Great Void is teeming with Purple Mansion and Maha cultivators; it's impossible to make any clear calculations! This is precisely why the Purple Mansion cultivators are engaging in this intricate game... But how did Tuoba Chongyuan just happen to encounter a member of the Dragon Clan?"

"Moreover, Shengletian is no ordinary power; there must be a demonic cultivator from the Tuoba family within the Great Void. Even if Xu State's Great Void cannot clearly perceive the current realm, surely they can sense the vitality of their own juniors?"

Li Xuanfeng stared intently at the jade table. The image of a young boy suddenly materialized in his mind. He had specifically inquired about Li Xizhi and had also encountered Dongfang Heyun in the North Sea.

"Perhaps he was involved... Dongfang Heyun is the first breath exhaled by the Dragon Monarch's transformed elixir, making his origins utterly unquantifiable. When a Dragon Monarch is involved, not to mention Purple Mansion cultivators, even several Maha cultivators combined couldn't decipher it."

Speculating on this matter now was pointless. Li Xuanfeng asked:

"How is the magical artifact coming along?"

"The Murong family's heavy armor bears numerous traces of demonic cultivation, making it very difficult to smelt. There's still a significant amount of time remaining."

Ning Heyuan answered, then expressed concern for Li Xuanfeng's injuries, before quickly bidding farewell and leaving.

After seeing Ning Heyuan off, Li Xuanfeng returned to his cave dwelling, sat down cross-legged, and retrieved a jade bottle from his robe.

The jade bottle contained the Gengjin Three Qi Elixir, a gift from True Man Yuanxiu. Even through the precious jade, holding the bottle felt like grasping a blade's edge.

"The Chi and Ning families have repeatedly inquired about my injuries and sent such valuable elixirs, clearly hoping I'll heal swiftly and take the medicine soon... so I can contribute to Green Pool."

Li Xuanfeng paused, then gently shook the pill out of the jade bottle.

A brilliant golden light rapidly burst from the bottle, dazzling and casting a vivid white glow on everything around. The immortal elixir gently hovered in the air, seemingly surveying its surroundings.

Golden-white light continuously flowed along the elixir's patterns. A rich aroma filled the cave, and the resonant sound of metal and stone echoed. Reddish, earthy patterns materialized on the walls, and golden and silver dust rustled across the floor.

"I fear that if it's left out for even a short while, everything in this cave dwelling will transmute into solid gold and stone."

Showing no hesitation, he picked up the elixir and gently placed it in his mouth.

"Buzz!"

Li Xuanfeng's head buzzed, and the world spun before his eyes. The moment the elixir entered his mouth, it vanished, transforming into a golden light that coursed through his body, swiftly converging in his Qi Sea acupoint.

Li Xuanfeng had cultivated the Chiseled Gold Stone, and his Qi Sea was originally a vast expanse of pure golden light, interspersed with wisps of golden-red. Now, this distinctly different golden radiance plunged into it, instantly igniting a tempest.

The Chiseled Gold Stone, cultivated using the techniques of the Boring Gold Sect, possessed qi capable of shattering formations, cleaving mountains, and destroying enemy artifacts. It excelled at precise, focused attacks, and grew even more formidable through tempering with the blood qi of slain foes.

Li Xuanfeng had, long ago, refined the Chiseled Gold Stone to its absolute peak. This immortal foundation itself could augment his physique, rendering his entire being like gold and stone, enabling him to channel malevolent qi. It perfectly complemented his "Thousand-Jun Strength," and the surges of malevolent qi from the spiritual aperture in his hand were what built his current formidable reputation.

Now, the golden qi within his Qi Sea churned in a chaotic mass, some rising, some floating. The slightly lighter golden qi ascended, while the slightly denser qi settled at the bottom. The golden light reconnected, and the Gengjin Three Qi Elixir coalesced once more.

Li Xuanfeng realized that his cultivation, which he had believed could not progress further, was now slowly circulating, even ascending, breaking through the limits of the Foundation Establishment peak and reconsolidating.

"This..."

He was suddenly overcome by a strange premonition, a sensation identical to his Foundation Establishment decades ago, as if something was coalescing from his Qi Sea, gradually manifesting its form.

Indeed, the Gengjin Three Qi Elixir within his Qi Sea slowly transformed, becoming a massive golden talisman adorned with incredibly intricate patterns, radiating bursts of vibrant light.

Li Xuanfeng slowly came to a realization:

"The Immortal Foundation, Heavenly Gold Armor!"

What astonishingly manifested in his Qi Sea was a complementary aspect of his Immortal Foundation, the Chiseled Gold Stone: the Heavenly Gold Armor, one of the Immortal Foundations belonging to the Gengjin lineage!

His aura advanced yet again, and golden-patterned armor materialized on his body. However, his expression gradually darkened, and he thought to himself, a cold realization dawning:

"The so-called Gengjin Three Qi Elixir is, in fact, a method to supplement one's Dao Principle!"

Within the path of the Purple Mansion Golden Core, a single golden element lineage can possess numerous complementary Dao principles. These principles can mutually reinforce each other, and once a Purple Mansion divine ability is achieved, one can then cultivate further Dao principles of the same lineage.

Naturally, cultivating independently is not as swift as absorbing others, which explains why Purple Mansion cultivators in Jiangnan often consumed Foundation Establishment cultivators. Xiao Yuansi had also spoken of this years ago.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators can also consume elixirs to manifest an additional Dao principle within their Qi Sea... While this grants many wondrous abilities, it is a self-defeating strategy that not only affects one's mind... but also severely impedes the path to the Purple Mansion thereafter..."

Two radiant lights intertwined within Li Xuanfeng's Qi Sea. He slowly opened his aged eyes, quickly grasping the implications of True Man Yuanxiu's and True Man Qiushui's actions...

"True Man Qiushui was undoubtedly acting for the Ning family's benefit... My cultivation of this technique is, without question, the optimal outcome for them... Regardless of whether Ning Wan succeeds in breaking through, this action will greatly benefit the Ning family..."

"As for True Man Yuanxiu, now that I possess even greater strength, I can naturally secure more advantages for Green Pool... The interests of both True Men align, which is why they jointly summoned me."

Although the Immortal Foundation had condensed, the medicinal properties of the Gengjin Three Qi Elixir continued to be refined and poured into the Heavenly Gold Armor, gradually completing this Immortal Foundation.

"This, then, was the True Men's calculation..."

A chill settled in Li Xuanfeng's heart. He had never considered the Purple Mansion stage, as his subsequent cultivation technique, the "Heavenly Bristle Polished Gold Scripture," remained with the Boring Gold Sect. Regardless of whether he had the opportunity, his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion would not serve the interests of Green Pool or any other faction...

However, with one elixir ingested, the path to the Purple Mansion became remote and unattainable. Li Xuanfeng felt a surge of shock and anger, his thoughts swirling, and Yuanxiu's face slowly materialized before him.

"But I dare not harbor hatred..."

Further insights slowly dawned upon him. The magical power emanating from the Heavenly Gold Armor was slightly dim as it circulated through his meridians, causing the golden patterns on his skin to grow increasingly pronounced.

"The Heavenly Gold Armor's qi is cold and sharp, skilled at absorbing and exuding golden qi, and drawing forth golden light. Once this Immortal Foundation is activated, the Heavenly Gold Armor condenses upon the body's surface, transforming the entire physique into the color of gold and stone."

"With the Heavenly Gold Armor manifested on the body, one can tear apart tigers and leopards bare-handed, fear neither water nor fire, and especially not malevolent poisons. Wounds can be mended with gold and stone, and even severed limbs can regenerate..."

Li Xuanfeng's cultivation within him continued to ascend. He quietly absorbed the sensation, and within his Qi Sea, as if stirred, something else suddenly appeared, parting the mists.

This object, brilliantly white and luminous, caused the golden light in the Qi Sea to halt, the golden pill to recede, and all qi to condense. Li Xuanfeng's heart skipped a beat:

"This elixir... has activated the Talisman Seed!"