Chapter 574: Great Defeat

Pi Jiamohe’s figure retreated back into the colorful clouds, his layered gaze withdrawing. Only his booming voice emerged: “Zipei, what is this supposed to mean!” When Pi Jiamohe had descended into the mortal realm, he had specifically brushed the bowman with a colorful light. How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator resist the light meant to guide him into the Dharma World? He should have lost his will long ago! If he hadn't found the bowman so tempting, that brush would have turned Li Xuanfeng to dust. He had deliberately held back his power, thinking that even if he couldn't subdue him, he could still leave him for Tang Shendu to cultivate the Karma of Compassion. All these considerations and arrangements were made to spare his life. The colorful light was precisely calculated to make Li Xuanfeng weep with gratitude, planting a seed in his heart to sprout in the future.

How could this situation have come about? Li Xuanfeng’s state was completely different from what he had calculated and verified. Pi Jiamohe was both surprised and suspicious, his thoughts surging like a tide. The next moment, he reacted, and the colorful clouds rolled about. Had Zipei acted preemptively? Pi Jiamohe immediately discarded that thought. Although there were differences among Purple Mansion cultivators, and True Master Zipei practiced secret Immortal Mansion techniques and bestowed top-tier spiritual artifacts, these were all for direct combat. When it came to calculation and foresight, three Zipeis combined couldn't compare to him… If Zipei had protected Li Xuanfeng or secretly assisted him, it would have been impossible for it to escape his notice. It certainly wouldn't have resulted in Li Xuanfeng being unconscious and unable to act, as all his previous calculations suggested.

His thoughts flickered in the Void for an instant, and then everything became clear: “It’s Jinlian and Zhelu!” To conceal everything so perfectly and deceive a Maha like him, only another Maha could be involved. And Jinlian and Zhelu, who had traveled south with him, combined their efforts, which was enough to make his calculations err!

Pi Jiamohe’s gaze sank into the clouds, the clues in his mind rapidly aligning. Zipei’s seemingly playful actions, like someone near death, were merely a trick. This female cultivator had, without words, secretly reached an understanding with the two Mahas, scheming against him… As for how these two, who were slower to act than him, could have influenced things beforehand, Pi Jiamohe had no difficulty guessing: it was the work of Yuanxiu and Qiushui, who had not yet appeared. Just as hard as Jinlian and Zhelu had fought him for Tang Shendu previously, so too were they now unwilling for Tang Shendu to fall into his hands. Pi Jiamohe was not surprised by this; what truly astonished him was True Master Zipei’s attitude.

“Whether it’s Yuansu or Yuanxiu, or even Qiushui and Tiantong, these True Masters have always considered themselves pure and aloof, unwilling to compromise with us… Yet they are willing to form an understanding with Jinlian and Zhelu!”

“I only overlooked one thing… The Qiwang Xuantian Listener is far more important than I imagined! Jinlian and Zhelu also realized this belatedly, and now they can’t go back…”

Pi Jiamohe’s tone held no anger, but rather a slight chill, echoing silently in the air: “You fellow Daoists have gone to such lengths, scheming against me like this, simply because the Qiwang Xuantian Listener is important enough… Truly worthy of the Purple-Gold Demonic Path. To have this item in my possession and feign indifference for a hundred years, it truly showcases the demonic style.”

True Master Zipei’s willow-leaf eyebrows slightly arched, and she spoke coldly, uttering only a few words: “Bald-headed monk.”

“Will you hand it over yourself, or shall this True Master come and take it?” Pi Jiamohe’s voice became somewhat illusory and ethereal, vibrating in the air and scattering into the green rain: “As you wish, True Master.”

The colorful clouds in the sky receded, gradually vanishing into the Void. The green rain in the sky slowly became ethereal. Li Xuanfeng’s blurry eyes finally gained focus, and he watched two streaks of colorful light descend.

“Congratulations, True Master Zipei.” In the Void, a figure appeared, half-seen, half-hidden. Yuanxiu emerged with his stern old face, his clothes as neat and proper as always, with green flowing over them. This True Master, though clearly the youngest, never maintained his youthful appearance and looked older than he was. The other person was naturally True Master Qiushui of the Golden Feather Sect. This female cultivator waved her sleeve, unleashing a burst of golden light that suppressed Li Xuanfeng’s injuries before she spoke: “The Qiwang Xuantian Listener… at last, it didn’t cause too many complications.”

True Master Zipei nodded, showing some favor to True Master Qiushui, and softly said: “Pi Jiamohe is still young after all. Compared to those two old baldies, Jinlian and Zhelu, he still lacks some experience. Catching him off guard made him easy to scheme against.”

True Master Yuanxiu beckoned, and Li Xuanfeng’s golden bow flew up into his hand. With a gentle flick, a colorful light sprang from the golden bow and returned to his palm. “Just going with the flow,” he said. Yuanxiu shook his hand with some distaste, then waved, causing the colorful light to explode. When he withdrew his hand, the golden bow spontaneously dropped back into Li Xuanfeng’s grasp, neither heavier nor lighter, seemingly unchanged.

Li Xuanfeng understood. When he had emerged from seclusion, the golden bow had just been repaired and handed to him by Chi Zhiyan. It must have been tampered with long ago, used to set up this Maha. “Tang Shendu… had been thoroughly accounted for, nothing more than a pawn…” As the three True Masters conversed, the green light fully retracted into the seal, and the Heavenly Pond beneath their feet faded, revealing the demonic aura of Chenshui Mound once more.

Li Xuanfeng, using his recently stabilized spiritual power, stood firm on the wind. He saw a marshy area beneath him, covered in clear rainwater, with demonic energy swirling in the air. The cultivators from Green Pond were no longer visible.

“Li Xuanfeng!” He was looking into the distance, searching for traces of his clansmen, when a sinister cry arose. Dark, heavy demonic energy swept in, a vast expanse of black demonic light. Murong En flew out from Chenshui Mound below. When the two had fought within the seal, Murong En had naturally attacked the Green Pond cultivators. With his strength, he easily routed them, looking imposing and exceedingly smug. He saw Li Xuanfeng’s dimmed armor, weak aura, pale complexion, and spiritual power reduced to less than a tenth, and immediately burst into laughter: “What will you do now?!”

Although Murong En didn’t know what had happened within the seal, Pi Jiamohe’s colorful light had just receded, and Tang Shendu had most likely entered the Dharma World. Since Li Xuanfeng had escaped with his life, he must now be one of them. Although Murong En had made his own inference, he remained cautious, merely soaring on the wind and observing from afar. Li Xuanfeng saw that he seemed unable to perceive the three True Masters in front of him. He slightly lowered his head, not answering, understanding that this demon was finished.

‘Since Pi Jiamohe had agreed to hand over the Qiwang Xuantian Listener, Murong En must be a discarded piece.’

Indeed, True Master Yuanxiu glanced at him, nodded, and said: “The Qiwang Xuantian Listener.” True Master Qiushui smiled faintly and spoke softly: “I’ll do it!” A slight smile played on her face, her red lips barely moving, as if she were casually addressing one of her own servants. Her voice was clear and gentle: “You demon, come here.”

Li Xuanfeng watched closely. Murong En seemed to suddenly hear something, tilting his head to listen intently, while a burst of reddish-grey light erupted behind his head. The demon, now in human form, raised his thick eyebrows, his eyes wide open, his lips pressed tightly together. He stumbled and crawled forward, rushing to their front. The three True Masters watched silently. Murong En solemnly lifted his robe, performed a deep bow, and, with his hand shaped like a blade, gestured twice at his chest. Then he plunged his hand in, fumbled around, and pulled out a dark, glistening heart.

“By the Immortal Decree of the Esteemed True Master!” The heart was still spewing demonic energy. Murong En squeezed it tightly, as if it weren’t his own heart he’d ripped out. He hastily drew a knife from his waist, held the heart in one hand, and with the other hand raised high, he plunged the knife forcefully into the heart.

“Hiss…” Instantly, a gust of grey wind swept through the air, rustling softly. Li Xuanfeng’s heart skipped a beat. He saw the grey wind approaching from the east, and the surviving vegetation beneath his feet bent low, understanding that this was an omen of a fall. Murong En committed suicide, as if it were a casual and obvious act.

Even after dissecting his own heart, Murong En still retained some consciousness. Seizing the moment, he extended two fingers, fumbled inside the heart, and extracted a pearl-sized azure bead. He wiped the demonic energy from it clean, then respectfully knelt and presented it with both hands. Zipei gently hooked her finger, and the Qiwang Xuantian Listener landed in her hand. The True Master raised it and examined it closely. Beside her, Murong En’s demonic body was already disintegrating, yet he maintained his original respectful posture, black energy pouring from his body like a waterfall, continuously falling from the air.

“The Qiwang Xuantian Listener… after a hundred years, it has finally returned to our hands.” None of the three True Masters’ gazes lingered on him. They allowed the scattering demonic energy to drift past their feathered robes and jade boots, enveloping the entire Chenshui Mound in darkness.

“Rumble!” Thunder suddenly crashed in the sky, illuminating the surroundings brightly. Above the demonic clouds stood three streaks of colorful light. The demon cultivator, who had been rampant and arrogant just a quarter of an hour ago, died like a dog, silently, without a single ripple. Li Xuanfeng lowered his brows, remaining silent. A downpour began to fall from the sky. Chenshui Mound beneath his feet had already turned into a marshland when True Master Zipei activated the Xinyou Luzhe Seal. In the heavy rain, it became a vast expanse of water, with dark light surging within. Thunder roared in the sky. He watched the three streaks of colorful light appear and disappear amidst the white lightning. Murong En’s demonic energy crept up his spiritual boots. As the thunder boomed, he suddenly heard True Master Yuanxiu say gravely: “What has fallen is the Great Ning Palace.”

The leylines of Chenshui Mound were constantly shifting, and water veins gushed forth. The dark cavern walls were covered in water droplets; rain fell steadily, then desperately surged in, finally pooling in the gloomy depths. Li Qinghong took a medicinal pill and adjusted her breathing for a while, her complexion much improved. Li Xizhi and Li Quantao were not in good condition, and the old man Yu Yuwei also looked grim. This location was at the edge of Chenshui Mound. Li Qinghong had fought her way through the demonic energy and fled all the way to this underground abyss, where she finally found a slight respite. Years ago, she had sought lightning here and rented a cave dwelling from a local family, precisely in this underground abyss. The group, having fled all the way here, found this cave dwelling to take shelter.

“Fellow Daoist Qinghong… we’re in trouble now…” Yu Yuwei’s voice was hoarse. In truth, he didn’t need to say it; they all understood. Tang Shendu’s betrayal might have been part of the Purple Mansion cultivators’ calculations, and the extent of the loss was unknown, but it dealt a tremendous blow to the other cultivators. Tang Shendu had provided the distribution of the demonic cultivators’ forces, and a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators were defeated one by one, almost completely annihilated. The reinforcing demonic cultivators had surrounded Ling Guying, Zhuang Cheng, and others.

Li Xuanfeng and Tang Shendu’s battle in the air was of unknown outcome, but Murong En had descended on a demonic wind. The few who were already struggling could not withstand his sneak attack, immediately suffering heavy losses, scattering and fleeing for their lives. “It’s still unknown how many survived…” Li Qinghong closed her eyes. Kongheng was an ancient Buddhist cultivator; although his offensive methods weren’t strong, surviving in the chaos shouldn’t be an issue. Li Wushao, however, was much more vulnerable; it was uncertain if he could escape.

She didn’t believe Tang Shendu could defeat Li Xuanfeng. Instead, she worried that after killing him, Li Xuanfeng might remain there, besieged by demons. But now, even if he were in a state to fight, going back to rescue him would likely only result in more deaths. Li Qinghong had gone to rescue Li Xizhi, and thus was not caught in the demonic cultivators’ encirclement, nor did she encounter Murong En. Having led a few people out of the siege was already fortunate; how could she possibly go back now?

As she pondered, Yu Yuwei spoke gravely: “Have any of you seen Yu Su bringing his forces?” In Green Pond’s plan, Li Xuanfeng and Tang Shendu were to encircle and defeat the demonic cultivators, while Yu Su would head north from the only remaining southern path of Chenshui Mound, intercepting the retreating forces and supporting the two. However, as the cultivators fled south, they found demonic cultivators everywhere; the more they fought, the more enemies appeared, forcing them to take refuge here first. In the end, not a single person from Yu Su’s group was seen… Instead, Li Xizhi slowly opened his eyes and whispered: “Do you remember there were supposed to be two from the Murong family? But we only saw Murong En? Where did the other one go?”

His heart turned cold. He just whispered: “Perhaps Tang Shendu leaked the information, and Yu Su was ambushed on the way, or perhaps even defected… In any case, that contingent of forces has most likely scattered.”

“If that’s the case, Yanshan Pass is in trouble.” Li Xizhi pointed south. Yu Yuwei stood up, went to the cave entrance, and glimpsed rolling demonic smoke also rising from Yanshan Pass in the distance. He waved his sleeve, re-entered, and said in a weary voice: “Xizhi’s guess is spot on.”

Li Quantao finally understood where the other Murong family demonic cultivator, who had been missing for so long, had gone. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly realized that the path to the south was now entirely demonic territory. He whispered: “If Yanshan Pass is in distress, wouldn’t going south be a dead end for us? If Yanshan Pass is occupied, we’d have no choice but to follow the river all the way to Baixiang Valley… and who knows how many demonic cultivators we’d encounter along the way.”

“Baixiang Valley might not be safe either!” Yu Yuwei’s voice was hoarse and low. When he said that, Li Quantao muttered softly: “What do the True Masters think…”

“What do they think?” Yu Yuwei let out a deep, heavy sigh from his throat, his old face showing a mix of anger and sorrow. He said hoarsely: “Is there even a need to think? So many people in Jiangnan have died; it must be that the Purple Mansion True Masters exchanged sufficient benefits from the Demonic Release for their retreat. Perhaps it’s some spiritual artifact, a grotto-heaven, or some profound cultivation method…”

“Why do you think they’d suffer such a huge loss? Did the Purple Mansions just watch idly? As long as their direct descendants don’t die, what won’t they do? A hundred years from now, the Purple Mansions will be their direct descendants’ responsibility, not ours. In the end, we’ll just be dust. What use are we to them?”

The old man, nearly three hundred years old, had witnessed too much. His words were full of unsettling truths. Li Quantao watched him silently, then abruptly fell into a profound silence.