Chapter 560: An Huaitian

Li Xuanfeng saw a brilliant radiance in his Qi Sea, and the incantation from when he received the talisman slowly emerged in his mind:

“Li Xuanfeng, disciple of the Li family, respectfully requests the Profound Clarity Dharma, to govern destiny and calm the spirit, to cultivate the Dao. I shall report my achievements as time dictates, not failing in trust and efficacy. As the talisman burns away, my body shall return to the Great Yin.”

The talisman seed also had a response:

“Hereby, a disciple of the Li clan shall abstain from passion and emotion, cease transgressions, and sever evil roots. The Profound Clarity Dharma is bestowed, enabling the cultivation of the Dao, transitioning from mortal to saint, from beginning to end, first through ascetic discipline, then ascending to truth…”

The Li family had naturally considered this response carefully. The full context was long, and a significant part had already been clarified. “Unchanging creation, unknown to ghosts and gods” referred to the difficulty of confusing Purple Mansion cultivators, while “naturally calm, peaceful disposition” referred to the talisman seed’s calming effect.

What the Li family promised was “to report achievements as time dictates, not failing in trust and efficacy, and as the talisman burns away, the body shall return to the Great Yin.”

Li Xuanfeng had once secretly exchanged a few words with Li Yuanjiao. His suspicious and ruthless nephew had said:

“Initially, our family didn't understand the situation. We consumed pills from the market; how could we know if there were no blood pills? Granduncle once broke through using pills, and now we still don't know how those pills came to be.”

Li Xuanfeng only heard two sentences but understood his nephew’s unspoken words:

“The family’s ancestral rule against blood consumption was left by my second uncle. The elder once mentioned that the Immortal Mirror views the people as its foundation, partaking of the mortal world… it should also forbid blood consumption.”

“If that’s the case, then blood pills must have been consumed back then. Why was there no reaction from the Mirror?”

The two dared not speak further, only silently suppressing the thought and upholding this ancestral rule. Now, seeing the white light surge in his Qi Sea, Li Xuanfeng’s heart finally sank.

“I have committed many wrongs; the sins should be laid upon me.”

The white light gently poured down, landing on the golden talisman-like Immortal Foundation, illuminating it with clear distinctions, separating purity from impurity, top from bottom. From within this talisman seed, a profound light actually flowed out.

This profound light, densely covered with runes, leaped and ascended, falling into the Immortal Foundation. Immediately, the gold dissipated and spiritual energy scattered. The Qi Sea violently shook, and a fierce, bone-piercing pain emerged.

Li Xuanfeng’s vision dimmed slightly. The talisman seed in his Qi Sea felt as if it could pierce the void and fly away at any moment, no longer sinking to the bottom but continuously leaping in the center of the air.

“As the talisman burns away, my body shall return to the Great Yin.”

Li Xuanfeng felt as if ten thousand silver needles were shaking in his mind. If this talisman seed were to pierce the void and fly away, it would surely take all his cultivation with it. Returning his body to the Great Yin was not an idle threat.

In an instant, his internal magic power and vital essence surged into his Qi Sea, converging into long rivers. His Qi Sea was almost depleted, condensing into the alchemical patterns on the talisman seed.

Seeing his life in peril, his consciousness dimmed. Something heavy and majestic seemed to descend into his Qi Sea, and the talisman seed immediately halted, quietly floating on the Qi Sea once more.

The next moment, vital essence and magic power surged forth again, filling his limbs and bones. The Immortal Foundation, the Heavenly Golden Armor, materialized from virtuality, re-coalescing within his Qi Sea.

Li Xuanfeng silently closed his eyes. The talisman seed still floated uneasily in the mid-air of his Qi Sea, as if suppressed by something, hovering quietly, yet unwilling to settle into the Qi Sea.

He steadied his breath and slowly opened his eyes. The sinister winds in the cave mansion still whirled and danced. Feeling the suppressed talisman seed within him, Li Xuanfeng murmured:

“Not failing in trust and efficacy… not failing in trust and efficacy… if this body can be used, I will surely atone for my sins with merit.”

He maintained a stoic expression, showing no emotion. In front of him, the golden stone spontaneously gathered, forming a mirror that reflected Li Xuanfeng’s face.

It was the face of a middle-aged man, appearing around thirty-five or thirty-six. In the pale mirror, his long hair was dark, his eyes held a sinister glint, and his features were brave and fierce. All his wrinkles and white hair had receded.

The newly condensed Immortal Foundation had rejuvenated him, restoring his appearance from many years ago.

“When I left home back then, this was my face… At that time, my second uncle was still alive, and Xuanling had not yet died.”

Li Xuanfeng looked for a moment, feeling somewhat comforted:

“My karmic debt from killing is too heavy, and I have engaged in blood consumption. I fear my time is short. If I had retained that fierce, aged appearance, I might have scared them.”

“With this appearance now, when I reach the underworld, it will be easier for my father and brothers to recognize me.”

***

In the Grand Void.

Lu Jiangxian stared at the descending cave mansion ruins for a long time, calculating in his mind, not expecting that something had gone wrong on Li Xuanfeng’s side first.

It was Lu Jiangxian’s first time observing someone who received a talisman swallowing a Dao Foundation. He hadn’t even activated it, yet the talisman seed was immediately triggered, leaping out of Li Xuanfeng’s Qi Sea in an instant, intending to consume all his vital essence and magic power and return to the Mirror.

If Lu Jiangxian hadn’t discovered it early and intervened promptly to suppress the talisman seed’s instinct, he would likely be watching Li Xuanfeng’s demise at this very moment, with the talisman seed returning inert.

“The talisman seed indeed has an instinct. Once the Profound Mandate received with the talisman is triggered, it will abandon its master and return to the Mirror…”

The doubt in Lu Jiangxian’s mind slightly dissipated:

“It seems the pill Li Tongya consumed back then must have been refined by some demon from the East Sea and was not detected by the talisman seed… Otherwise, it would have left its master and returned, just like today.”

“The one who refined this Mirror back then indeed intended for the talisman seed to investigate… In the talisman seed’s eyes, if something was consumed, it was consumed, and it would immediately demand a life…”

“Li Xuanfeng…”

He quickly withdrew his gaze and resumed observing the descending ruins.

Now, with the whereabouts of several True Monarchs unknown and Xiuyue having cleared the path, the Buddhist cultivators were clearly stirred. There were far more Buddhist cultivators than Southern Purple Mansion cultivators in the Grand Void, giving the Buddhist side a greater advantage in these ruins.

In the Grand Void, the faces of the Daoist cultivators from Yuan Xiu and Qiu Shui were not very pleasant. True Person Changxi of Xuanyue Sect was among them. Purple Smoke Sect had also sent someone, clad in purple robes, standing in the air.

Among the only two Purple Mansion immortal clans in Yue Kingdom, the Yuanyang Chen clan, adjacent to the Changxiao Sect, also sent representatives. The Yuanyang Chen clan had always been low-key; their Purple Mansion representative was a man in plain grey clothes, standing quietly behind the others.

Even the Great Li Mountain Demonic Cave had sent a Purple Mansion fox demon, who transformed into a barefoot boy in white clothes with an extra ear on each cheek. His cultivation was already late-stage Purple Mansion, and he listened absently, cocking his head.

The Xueji Sect remained in secluded cultivation. The Changxiao Sect, Hengzhu Dao, Chijiao Island, and Daxiukuai Temple were locked in fierce combat, so they naturally hadn’t sent anyone. Xiao Chuting was in the Northern Sea, and the Xiao family had no other Purple Mansion cultivators, so they naturally didn’t come.

Everyone’s expressions varied. True Person Changxi rarely looked so pleased; clearly, Kong Tingyun, sent by his Xuanyue Sect, had gained many benefits in the ruins. Kong Tingyun’s Golden Mountain artifact was particularly effective against Buddhist cultivators, truly allowing her to flourish.

True Person Qiushui’s expression was much calmer. Zhang Yun was in secluded cultivation, so Golden Feather Sect sent Zhang Duanyan. This female cultivator was naturally no match for Zhang Yun and could only be considered mediocre.

Among all the cultivators, only a middle-aged man seated in the north had the worst expression, so grim it seemed water would drip from it. His clothes were ethereal and magnificent, very similar to Tuoba Zhongyuan’s, clearly indicating he was from Shengletian.

Tuoba Zhongyuan was attacked just as the ruins of Dongning Palace descended, causing great turmoil in the Grand Void. Within a quarter of an hour, he reacted. Tuoba Zhongyuan had already lost most of his life; by the time he traversed the Grand Void and landed in the mortal realm, only a wisp of his residual soul remained.

This wisp of residual soul was largely incomplete, and even if it reincarnated, it might not be the original Tuoba Zhongyuan. He only cared about saving face, telling his demonic Dao friends that his soul was preserved, but the bitterness deep within his heart was known only to him:

“The one who attacked is truly formidable… Although Zhongyuan had gone through major battles and used almost all his trump cards, he couldn’t have been killed in just a quarter of an hour… Such power hardly seems like that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator…”

The Tuoba family’s reputation was completely ruined; how could he not be shocked and enraged? He had also broken the rules, and now had no share in the current ruins. Anger surged in his heart, yet he was helpless.

“This fiend could time his attack precisely, clearly having followed Zhongyuan in secret for a long time! The Dragon Clan’s desire to destroy my family is unrelenting; they must have plotted this back in Dai Commandery…”

Yet, he couldn’t discern the origins of the attacking Dragon Clan member. Not only could he not figure it out, but judging by the expressions of those Mahas, even they had no clue, which made him hesitant and fearful in addition to his anger:

“Could Beijia and Xiyang also be involved? But why target a junior?”

The Dragon Clan was once arrogant and had many enemies. The Tuoba family was only a few of the more prominent ones among them. He had thought that after so many years, the Dragon Clan wouldn’t target them everywhere, but unexpectedly, the moment they stepped out, they were met with a severe blow.

After all, at that time, the Nine Sons of the True Chi were all trouble-makers. From besieging True Monarchs to flirting with imperial descendants, they had done it all. At their most prosperous, they reached a terrifying double-digit number of Dragon Lords. If not for their disunity and lack of a Dao Embryo, the Four Seas Dragon Palaces could have been called the Demon Court.

Yet, none of them were content, making both immortals and demons wary, targeting them overtly and covertly. As a result, only two of the nine sons remain, with one still missing. Ultimately, the Dragon Clan lost even the Northern Sea, and Beijia fled east, having since hidden away, licking their wounds in peace and seeking thunder, so they shouldn’t have any playful intentions again…

“But it’s hard to predict… Emperor Wu once said: ‘The Nine Sons of Chi are rampant and licentious…’ Now the Dragon Clan has greatly declined. Beijia and Xiyang were spared only because they couldn’t be killed. The atmosphere of targeting the Dragon Clan has gradually faded, who knows if they will revert to their old ways?”

As the middle-aged man thought of this, he already had the urge to retreat. Suddenly, he saw light emanating from the Grand Void; a brilliant, multicolored radiance leaped forth, rapidly spreading its hues throughout the Grand Void.

“This…”

The colors flickered and vanished, gradually fading. Soon, some Mahas began to calculate with their spells, but they looked at each other and shook their heads, slowly ceasing their incantations.

The assembled Purple Mansion Mahas felt slightly bewildered, speculating about the light. However, Lu Jiangxian, hidden nearby, possessed a more discerning divine sense, and in his eyes, the scene was entirely different.

Xu Kingdom was currently very peculiar, with turbulent spiritual energy and treasures everywhere, making calculations impossible. The presence of numerous Purple Mansion Mahas in the Grand Void further complicated calculations here, making it impossible for them to determine where and when the ruins would descend.

But in Lu Jiangxian’s eyes, the dark Grand Void was clearly filled with various immortal phantoms, some sinking, some floating. Some were securely hidden behind the Grand Void, while others were already tottering, unable to last much longer.

Most of these were remnants from the former Ning Kingdom. Lu Jiangxian even saw two very stable phantoms at the highest point. After all, Lu Jiangxian had read the memories of the Five-Eyed Merciful, giving him some understanding of these ancient matters.

One manifested as a colorful light, which was Wanling Heaven of the Wanling Sect. The other, surrounded by sky-blue radiance, was Anhuai Heaven of the Ning royal family.

These two Grotto-Heavens were very stable and could not be seized by the worldly turmoil caused by a few Purple Mansion Mahas; Lu Jiangxian merely caught a faint glimpse of them.

However, among these potential descending ruins, one was particularly peculiar. This ruin was the former Great Ning Palace of ancient Ning Kingdom. Most areas within its remains still retained a luxurious imperial demeanor, with pale yellow light flowing and shifting, jade pools emitting white mist, and golden robes adorned with feathers.

The multicolored light earlier had leaped out from within it, being an arc-shaped opening the size of a doorway. Faintly, various colored scenes could be seen throughout.

Presumably, something within the recent ruins was triggered, connecting to the Great Ning Palace, the very heart of the Ning royal court. This caused the multicolored light to emanate and flash across the Grand Void.

“A Grotto-Heaven… Even without True Monarchs intervening, Ning Kingdom’s Anhuai Heaven cannot descend. But among these descending ruins, there happens to be a Great Ning Palace with an entrance to a Grotto-Heaven!”

His heart trembled slightly, and everything before him became clear:

“Judging by this… although Xu Kingdom is difficult to calculate due to many changes, the Purple Mansion and Mahas must know there’s a Grotto-Heaven within these ruins! That’s why it’s like this now!”

How could all the Purple Mansion cultivators and Mahas gather here merely for the conflict between northern and southern Dao traditions or for a few small descending ruins? Clearly, they knew there was an entrance to Anhuai Heaven within the Great Ning Palace.

A thousand schemes, sacrificing the lives of northern and southern cultivators, constantly agitating spiritual energy — all this was to shake the Great Ning Palace, make it appear in the world. The true objective must be within Anhuai Heaven!

Ning Kingdom’s Anhuai Heaven had never been discovered before. Who knew how many treasures it contained, beneficial to both Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators? And for so many Purple Mansion Mahas to gather, there must be something even more extraordinary. Many thoughts flashed through Lu Jiangxian’s mind like lightning, quickly becoming clear.

“So this was the plan… Who knows how long they’ve been preparing? Yue Kingdom probably has about a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, not many… The Green Pool Sect won’t suffer losses either. It seems the main ones sacrificing their lives will be the quickly advanced demonic cultivators from the north…”

Lu Jiangxian observed in the Grand Void for a long time, and now his doubts were finally resolved:

“There will be another struggle in Anhuai Heaven. Moving forward, it won’t just be Li Xuanfeng. If Green Pool wants to gain more benefits from the Grotto-Heaven, it will need more powerful cultivators…”

“In the upcoming great battle… Tang Shedu, Yu Su, and Lingurao will probably all have to ‘perform meritorious deeds’ to consume those pills and enter the Grotto-Heaven to fight each other…”

He watched quietly:

“Anhuai Heaven is not like Mirage Mirror Heaven. Green Pine Temple’s Grotto-Heaven involved courteous sharing of benefits within their own Dao lineage, and a few treasures were long ago predetermined. Anhuai Heaven involves a struggle between the three doctrines, a fight to the death…”

A century had passed, and Lu Jiangxian was finally not discovering the stakes only when he was already in the midst of things. Instead, he was in sync, or even a step ahead of the Purple Mansion cultivators. His heart stirred:

“If I were to enter the Grotto-Heaven… only Li Xuanfeng could be used… Now I can wander the Grand Void with my spirit. Although I cannot break through the Grand Void and enter the Grotto-Heaven directly, there’s so much more I can do.”