Chapter 566: Visiting with Gifts

Two True Immortals appeared simultaneously. True Immortal Changxiao looked at True Immortal Hengxing, a playful smile on his face. Tu Longjian emerged from the red mist, revealing himself. He looked up at the two Violet Palaces in the sky, neither humble nor arrogant, and declared loudly, "This junior, Tu Longjian, also known as Junjian, has achieved divine abilities through Female Fire. I greet the two seniors."

True Immortal Changxiao, possessing willow-leaf eyebrows and profound cultivation, was very amiable towards Tu Longjian. With his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly said, "So it is True Immortal Junjian. To achieve the Violet Palace at such a young age, fellow Taoist, truly your talent is exceptional. We are deeply impressed." Though his words were courteous, True Immortal Changxiao himself was not much older, yet possessed sophisticated methods and decisive actions, being one of the fastest cultivators among the Violet Palaces.

True Immortal Hengxing, standing by, was clearly displeased by Changxiao's words, maintaining a cold expression that clearly showed his stance. Only when he turned to Tu Longjian did his demeanor soften considerably. He said softly, "Congratulations, True Immortal Junjian. I am Hengzhu, Taoist Hengxing. Our two sects face each other across mountains; from now on, we can communicate and interact more often."

True Immortal Changxiao, for his part, showed no ill will towards True Immortal Hengxing, merely remaining silent with his hands behind his back while the other spoke. Tu Longjian perceived the poor relationship between the two sides and did not hastily align himself with either. He simply replied, "I have long heard of the illustrious reputations of both sirs. Junjian should have come to visit, but having just achieved a breakthrough, there are still many insights to gain regarding my divine abilities, so I have remained in the mountains."

Both Violet Palaces understood his implied meaning. Changxiao smiled without speaking, while Hengxing nodded and said, "Indeed, after a breakthrough to the Violet Palace, one must thoroughly comprehend their divine abilities. When Fellow Taoist Junjian has leisure, you may travel north along the Grand Void and visit Bianyan Mountain." Tu Longjian had never left the mountains, but he was not entirely ignorant of outside news. He had heard that Bianyan Mountain was a place of conflict between immortals and devils, where Violet Palaces fought against Mahā. He had long wished to contribute. He solemnly stated, "Junjian understands."

His words caused the two True Immortals to show varied expressions. Hengxing nodded, bid farewell, and vanished. True Immortal Changxiao finally spoke, "Fellow Taoist Junjian, you and I share a certain destiny; both of us have broken free from the chessboard. I am a few years older, so allow me to offer you a reminder." Tu Longjian's expression remained calm; his face did not change color due to the words. He loudly requested, "Senior, please enlighten me."

Changxiao looked at him quietly and began, "Along your journey, Fellow Taoist, whose possessions you seized, or whose favors you received, are now meaningless. After reaching the Violet Palace, the gains and losses from the earlier 'chessboard' are fundamentally unimportant. However, there are still a few items that need to be accounted for separately. First is the Violet Palace spiritual artifact. Ordinary spiritual artifacts of the Violet Palace realm are fine, but the Six Ding Conjoint Fire Token is a treasure of great importance. The Guo family cannot compromise on this."

Tu Longjian nodded slightly, as if he had long anticipated this, and offered his thanks. Changxiao's willow-leaf eyes fixed on him, and clear clouds rose from his robes. He gazed intently at Tu Longjian and softly said, "Two jade boxes from the Green Pine Temple are missing. Fellow Taoist, you know their whereabouts, don't you?"

Upon hearing this, Tu Longjian's eyes flickered. Changxiao calmly continued, "One is Taiqing, and the other is Taixu. Fellow Taoist, you must now understand the value of these two items. Earlier, the Green Pool Sect was unable to act, and Zipai believed that opportunities were limited and refused to intervene. Now that you have come to the forefront, you either return them to curry favor with one of the sects, or you act as if you've heard nothing, refuse to return them, and seek your own opportunities." Tu Longjian listened to his words carefully and replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Changxiao looked at him quietly and said softly, "There are many paths. Guo Shentong and I each walked different paths back then, and now we have become adversaries. Fellow Taoist, you must act with prudence." After speaking, his figure gradually dissipated. Only then did several figures appear one by one in the distance: a golden-robed woman, her face wreathed in smiles; a stern old man, rigid and earnest; a gloomy man; and a female immortal stroking her sword.

From the Green Pool Sect came True Immortal Yuanxiu, who meticulously cupped his hands in greeting, seemingly paying no mind to Changxiao's earlier words. After exchanging a few polite remarks, he departed. The rest — Golden Feather, Purple Mist, Profound Peak... most of the Three Sects and Seven Gates had arrived, and their tones were all quite courteous. Only the Snow Wing Gate and Xiuyue Sect were absent. "The Snow Wing Gate has been closed off for nearly two hundred years, so no activity is normal... The Xiuyue Sect has also closed its mountains. Several Violet Palace immortal clans under Xiuyue's jurisdiction are preoccupied and probably find it hard to spare time to come here." As for the two Violet Palace immortal clans in Yue Country, perhaps because their Violet Palaces were away, not within Yue Country, they did not appear to visit. Tu Longjian stood still for a moment; when no other Violet Palace appeared, he returned into the red mist.

The cave dwelling in the mountain was a vibrant crimson. Even the table and chairs glowed red. The large cave, with several bright magic beads embedded in its ceiling, welcomed Tu Longjian. Once inside, he retrieved a black-and-red token from his sleeve and solemnly asked, "Senior, did you hear clearly?" The token flickered twice, releasing several gray flames that circled twice in the air before returning to the token.

Tu Longjian joined two fingers and placed them over his lips, fingertips level with his nose, the pads facing his face. A faint light shimmered in his eyes, and a wisp of gray wind emerged between his fingers. He softly commanded, "Wayward Female Fire, form a human body!" The gray wind swirled once around the cave, picked up the Six Ding Conjoint Fire Token, and upon landing, transformed into a gray-robed man. He had deep-set eyes, hollow cheeks, and a slender build. He stood steadily on the ground, took a deep breath, and exclaimed joyfully, "It's still more comfortable to be human!"

"Senior Guo." Tu Longjian, however, had no mind for idle chatter with him. He gave him a heavy look and whispered, "Is there anything else you've kept from this junior?" The gray-robed man casually sat down in a chair, took a large gulp of tea, and chuckled, "You've probably guessed most of it, haven't you? Even with destiny on your side, if not for the assistance of a Violet Palace, how could you have reached today so easily, so smoothly?"

Tu Longjian watched him in silence. The gray-robed man shrugged and said, "Changxiao was beating around the bush, but I'll tell you straight: it's the Scarlet Reef Island!" Tu Longjian's expression gradually darkened. He whispered, "So... the Six Ding Conjoint Fire Token was intentionally delivered to me by Guo Hongyao... and your many promises and schemes, Guo E... were all instigated by Guo Shentong, who put your soul into the token, also to plot against me."

Guo E burst into laughter and replied, "Nonsense! Guo Shentong hasn't been seen for years; he might be dead in some forgotten corner! Scarlet Reef Island claims his soul lamp is bright, with no signs of weakness, but who knows if that's truly Guo Shentong's soul lamp! As for Guo Hongyao? She doesn't have a single ounce of cunning; how would she understand anything about intentional or unintentional acts? She's merely become a casualty in the factional struggles! The East Reef and West Reef factions on Scarlet Reef Island are in constant conflict. For this spiritual artifact to fall into your hands, one side must surely be hoping for my return to unite the two factions. As for who... I don't know either!"

Tu Longjian remained silent, but Guo E continued, "They calculated correctly. Either I would seize your body, or I would gain a body through your kindness, and also gain an ally like you. There's no harm in it for them." The gray-robed man drank several more mouthfuls of tea, seemingly savoring its taste, and said contentedly, "Tu Longjian, I've been truly good to you! Once I form a real body and unite Scarlet Reef Island, with you and me working together, what problem could possibly remain unsolved?!"

***

Tongmo Commandery. Clouds drifted across the sky. Li Chengliao stood on a cloud, his feet resting on crystalline airflow, while the old man, a transformation of the White Ape, silently piloted the cloud, rapidly transporting him.

With Tu Longjian's breakthrough to the Violet Palace, the Li family deliberated. Given the turbulent times, Li Ximing was not suitable for dispatch, and Li Zhouwei had not yet established his foundation. Thus, it was deemed more appropriate for Li Chengliao, as the family head, to attend with due solemnity. Furthermore, Li Chengliao had grown up within the clan, never seeing the outside world, and had spent his days in secluded cultivation. He had great anticipation for this matter, so with nothing else urgent, he left contentedly.

Beneath them lay the Yuyang Chen clan of Tongmo Commandery, bustling with mortals, a vibrant scene. Li Chengliao, having managed his own family for many years, nodded upon seeing the neat and orderly courtyards. The Chen clan was also a renowned great clan. Not to mention the Yuyang Chen, the Lingyu Gate back then was also named Chen, though these two families had different origins. The Yuyang Chen clan had resided here for generations, while the Lingyu Gate's progenitor seemed to have migrated from Ning Country. The Li family was similar; it was said there was another Li clan in Wu Country, also residing there for generations, while the Wangyue Li clan was considered a remnant family from the north.

Putting these aside, the Chen clan's situation was much better than the Li clan's. They were, after all, deeply entrenched local powers, with kinsmen in almost every sect. Though they only had one Violet Palace cultivator, their relationship with the various sects was quite good. Seeing Li Chengliao lost in thought, the White Ape, unusually, spoke, "Patriarch, the Li family's Lijing Chen branch has a remarkable bloodline, and it should be related to these two Chen clans." Li Chengliao naturally understood; the talent of Chen Yang in his family had deeply impressed him. He merely replied, "We can investigate if the opportunity arises, but it's said this secret technique involves the Violet Palace, so it might not be easy."

As they chatted, they soon left the borders of Yue Country. The mountains became rugged, often shrouded in miasma. The forests grew tall and eerie, and demonic energy occasionally surged skyward, accompanied by roars and howls. Kuijun Mountain was located on the southern frontier. Though neither the man nor the demon had been there before, they recognized it at first glance. For no other reason than this: amidst a surrounding green miasma, Kuijun Mountain glowed with a hazy brightness, and crimson energy soared into the sky. The phenomena brought by the Violet Palace breakthrough had not yet completely dissipated. The night was deep, and the mountaintop itself was clear of clouds. In the distance, a patch of red mist enveloped the area, with cultivators flying in and out, making it exceptionally lively.

The two cultivators stopped at the foot of the mountain and saw that a decent-looking mountain gate had already been erected. Two individuals stood respectfully before the gate, inviting them to ascend the mountain. As they ascended, everything was orderly and clearly defined by function. Although the cave dwellings seemed somewhat hastily built, one could already discern careful planning. Li Chengliao was slightly surprised, thinking, "How impressive." Although Tu Longjian was a solitary figure, his current appearance showed that he had formed connections with and subjugated numerous trusted subordinates, enough to support the structure of a sect.

Li Chengliao was observing the organization of Tu Jun Gate cultivators, while the White Ape's expression was far more complex. He watched the cultivators running up and down, and everything that seemed similar yet different, lost in thought. Li Chengliao handed the jade box in his hand to the approaching cultivator and softly said, "The Qingdu Li family presents the Great Flame Long Fruit to congratulate True Immortal on breaking through to the Violet Palace!" As he spoke, he smoothly brushed the jade box, and its pure white color gradually faded, becoming transparent, revealing the item within. It was a long, narrow fruit, glowing with rising flames, bright and ethereal. Intense flames darted about within the box; truly a rare and precious medicinal treasure.

This item had been obtained years ago from the Yu family's treasure vault. Zilian Pu gave it to Kongheng, and the monk, eyes wide with gratitude, accepted it with profuse thanks. This Great Flame Long Fruit happened to be a treasure of fire attribute, and it was highly probable, perhaps nine out of ten chances, that it was Female Fire. Thus, it was perfect as a congratulatory gift. This gift, being both valuable and perfectly suited, earned high regard from Tu Longjian's welcoming subordinates, who noted it down carefully before retreating.

The White Ape opened the cave dwelling's door and said in a hoarse voice, "Patriarch, be prepared. Once this name is announced, the True Immortal will surely come to meet you." Li Chengliao nodded and sat down, still feeling some internal conflict: "It's said the True Immortal has a deep connection with Uncle Master, but at Green Pine Temple, we already requested his help, and that favor cost us greatly. Now that the senior has fallen... and the True Immortal has no relation to the other family members. Grudges are remembered for a hundred years, but favors are as thin as paper... Our ancestor is gone... While there are still some connections, if we truly ask this True Immortal to act, even the last remaining ties might fade away." Li Tongya's demise had a profound impact on the relationship between the Li and Xiao families; the Li family had witnessed it all. After Xiao Guilan's death, it weakened day by day. How could Li Chengliao not have concerns in his heart?

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, they indeed heard two soft knocks on the cave dwelling's door. Two hearty laughs echoed in, and a black-robed man appeared. "Is it the Li clan visiting?" A figure appeared before Li Chengliao—a black-robed youth with a cheerful smile and neat attire, his sleeves adorned with several deep red patterns. He stepped into the cave dwelling. "This junior greets True Immortal!" Tu Longjian's face was young and appeared ordinary, save for a faint haziness between his eyebrows. He was approachable and generous, perhaps because he had just attained divine abilities, showing none of the usual Violet Palace cultivators' haughty demeanor. Yet, he was a Violet Palace cultivator after all. As he merely stepped into the cave dwelling, an oppressive, stuffy, and slightly suffocating sensation immediately enveloped them.

Li Chengliao rose from his seat to bow, but before he could complete the gesture, Tu Longjian helped him up. He felt a slight sense of ease. The young man before him smiled and said, "It truly inconvenienced your esteemed clan to go to such lengths. The Great Flame Long Fruit is very rare nowadays. Your clan's gift is too generous." Tu Longjian also knew something of the Li family's situation. Although their current circumstances were much better than years ago, producing such a precious medicine was still not easy for them. His voice held a hint of a sigh: "A mere token of your regard would have sufficed..." He made no specific gesture, yet the cave dwelling's door closed on its own. The young man sat down and softly said, "Since we parted ways at Green Pine Temple, I have been hiding and cultivating in seclusion everywhere, seeking a breakthrough. I haven't yet visited your esteemed clan to pay respects to your ancestor. That is my fault..."

No matter how courteous Tu Longjian was, Li Chengliao absolutely dared not sit. He only poured tea for him. Seeing that Li Chengliao did not sit, Tu Longjian did not press him. Instead, he said solemnly, "Regarding the matter of Yu Muxian at Green Pine Temple, did Green Pool make things difficult for you?" He raised his head slightly, appearing thoughtful, and his gaze grew cold: "It can't be that Tang She is still making trouble and bears a grudge against your family, can it?"