Chapter 579: 绛遨

Li Zhouwei unfolded the small letter in his hand, read it one by one, and handed it to Li Xuanxuan. The elder took it, examined it closely, stroked his beard, and read aloud:

"Jade Fuzi, whose common name is Wang Fu, hails from Jiankan Commandery in the State of Wu. He has three disciples, one of whom is a Foundation Establishment cultivator... He is now nearly a hundred years old, and his master is Zhou Han of the Longxiao Sect, who has been in seclusion for many years..."

The Longxiao Sect was established relatively late. Its founder, Longxiaozi, is still alive and at the height of his powers, giving the new sect a vibrant energy. Not only does everyone have a daoist title, but master-disciple relationships are often not based on blood ties.

Halfway through reading, Li Xuanxuan felt a headache coming on. He muttered, "The State of Wu... surname Wang... there shouldn't be much family power, should there?"

Li Zhouwei nodded and replied softly, "The State of Wu once had the Wang family of Yishui, a first-rate aristocratic family. I heard that was a thousand years ago. Later, turmoil in Jiangnan led to the decline of the Wang family of Yishui. However, they were so prosperous back then that there are still many powerful cultivators named Wang in the State of Wu today."

Jiangnan was divided into Wu and Yue very early on, unlike the rapid dynastic changes in the north. The various immortal sects and aristocratic families have completely sidelined the imperial families of both states, to the extent that Wu and Yue have become mere regional designations, with no national conflicts. Furthermore, Jiangnan has a news blockade, with only major aristocratic families from the past few hundred years keeping secret records. This means there's no information about the names of the former southern dynasties from a thousand years ago...

Li Xuanxuan asked a detailed question, then continued reading: "This person cultivates the Shaoyang attribute, and his immortal foundation is unknown... He possesses three powerful magical artifacts: a bell, a sword, and a bead, all of remarkable potency... He has been at the late Foundation Establishment stage for many years, demonstrating outstanding strength..."

"He has recently emerged from his immortal cave with treasures. He is now stationed at Knee-Offering Isle in the East Sea, a stronghold of the Longxiao Sect, leading the Longxiao Sect cultivators in defending against attacks from the Hengzhu Dao..."

The Longxiao Sect and the Hengzhu Dao have been engaged in back-and-forth conflicts, with increasing friction in recent years. Now, large-scale confrontations are occurring, which is why the powerful Jade Fuzi was deployed there. After reading, Li Xuanxuan furrowed his aged brows and whispered, "This matter seems difficult... We still don't know where Qinghong and the others are, or if they're injured... This person seems formidable... and he has a master and disciples, making the relationships complex... Let's wait for a while first."

Li Zhouwei agreed, replying, "Since we've received this news and there are major developments ahead, perhaps we should ask Uncle Li to come out of seclusion..." After all, Li Ximing had only been in seclusion for a month, which is just the beginning of cultivation for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Unless the situation was critical, Li Zhouwei would not have wanted to disturb him. Seeing Li Xuanxuan nod, he sent someone to fetch him.

After a moment, Li Ximing indeed arrived, riding the wind to land before the hall. The brilliant light around him had not yet dissipated, bringing with it a warm glow. He simply asked, "How are things at home?"

Li Xuanxuan drew him aside and began to explain the strange occurrences in the north. He then handed the small letter to him. Li Ximing read it, feeling a mix of joy and concern, and replied, "The news from the north is so bad that we might have to wait a bit longer to know the exact situation. As for Knee-Offering Isle in the East Sea... and news about the Hengzhu Dao, Zhouwei, have you managed to gather any information?"

The Mingfang Heavenly Stone was crucial to Li Ximing's path to the Violet Palace, so he was naturally very concerned. Li Zhouwei was already prepared and replied softly, "Knee-Offering Isle, belonging to the Longxiao Sect, is over a thousand li north of Fenkuai Isle, and it's quite a decent island. It has a continuous chain of reefs that form a large array, providing very strong defenses. As for the Hengzhu Dao's Heavenly Blessing Isle, it's over five hundred li east of Fenkuai Isle, guarded by Bi Yuzhuang, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. There have been many bloody clashes between the two factions... they are quite at odds..."

Li Ximing nodded silently. This was a good time to get involved. However, his own family couldn't spare any personnel. He could only say, as if to console himself, "It's alright. This person has only just gone to the East Sea; there will be another opportunity for deployment in at least four or five years. Let's wait for news from the north first."

There was already a stir outside the great array. An Siwei hurried forward and said solemnly, "Your Highness, Master Kongheng has returned!"

"Bring him up quickly!"

Li Xuanxuan was immediately excited, stepping out of the hall in two or three strides. He indeed saw the narrow-eyed monk standing before the hall. The monk's aura seemed stable, though his clothes were somewhat disheveled. His bronze monk's staff stood firmly on the ground, and he showed a hint of shame.

"Senior Xuanxuan!" He lowered his gaze and said softly, "Chengshui Ling suffered a rebellion, and Tang Shedou caused chaos... the immortal path suffered greatly..."

He recounted the events in detail, and the three listeners fell silent. As a guard cultivator at Yan Mountain Pass, Kongheng had also been conscripted with other cultivators to Chengshui Ling. However, being a low-profile person, he had never revealed his true strength and was assigned alone to Yu Su's command.

According to the Qingchi Sect's deployment, Yu Su and his group were a step behind Li Xuanfeng and Tang Shedou. Heading north from Yan Mountain Pass, they were supposed to face the weakest and easiest part of the demonic cultivators. Therefore, although these cultivators were the weakest of the three groups, they showed no signs of tension. Instead, they excitedly traveled north until, halfway through their journey, they encountered an immortal and a demonic cultivator engaged in a chase, fleeing eastward.

These two individuals were unremarkable. However, the magical artifact held by the demonic cultivator shone brilliantly, exuding an ancient and grand aura, clearly no ordinary item, and quite powerful. He was relentlessly chasing the immortal cultivator. Yu Su took two glances and was immediately rooted to the spot.

This person was already known for his greed within the sect. He even earned the nickname "Brocade Black Rat" due to his greedy nature and his unique immortal foundation and magical artifacts. While claiming to offer assistance, he clearly harbored covetous thoughts. The cultivators had no choice but to slightly alter their course, flying a few more li. Who would have thought that the demonic cultivators seemed to have known their itinerary in advance and had set up an ambush right there and then! They immediately fell into a demonic encirclement.

"That Daoist Yu Su... was besieged by no less than five demonic overlords... The demonic smoke was thick, and the cultivators were scattered and fled, with no one willing to help him..." Kongheng, being discreet and having traveled extensively for years without ever fearing for his life, naturally possessed many life-saving methods. Being vigilant early on, he quickly fled eastward through the demonic smoke, all the way to Baixiang Valley.

"I arrived at Baixiang Valley, and within fifteen minutes, the pursuers arrived... Halfway there, I saw Patron Yuan Huyu... He and some of his family members had fallen into the demonic smoke and were forced to flee alone. I flew halfway and happened upon him weeping softly."

After listening for a while, Li Xuanxuan asked in a low voice, "So you weren't inside the pass... Has Yan Mountain Pass fallen?"

"It's more than ninety percent likely that it has fallen..."

Kongheng was alone under Yu Su's command, with no other members of the Li family beside him. Thus, he didn't know the precise situation at Yan Mountain Pass. Li Ximing remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke, "We can't possibly enter the demonic cloud to the north, so we can only wait for news... The two elders are powerful and should be fine... I'm only worried about Xizhi and Wushao... Xizhi was injured earlier, and now he's in danger."

Kongheng considered for a moment, then softly consoled them, "Although Yan Mountain Pass has fallen, the situation at Chengshui Ling may not be as dire as it seems."

After all, Kongheng was a Buddhist cultivator, and an ancient one with a profound heritage. He had clearly deduced Tang Shedou's intentions from the preceding and succeeding clues, and explained, "Tang Shedou merely wishes to join the Northern Buddhist Sect. The struggle between North and South is a great fated opportunity on the level of orthodoxies. He has deep accumulations and holds a high position of power. Once he joins the North, he could not only achieve great compassion but also have limitless prospects for his future cultivation path. If he intended to use the method of 'transforming karma and clinging to connections,' he would certainly join a Mahasattva. Once successful, not only would colorful light appear in the sky and lotus flowers descend, but we who cultivate Buddhist dharma would also sense it..." He shook his head. "The place I was at was close enough to Chengshui Ling, yet I felt no such sensation. There was no news even when I reached Baixiang Valley. Something must have gone wrong; perhaps it was interrupted by a Violet Palace cultivator."

Upon hearing this news, a look of relief appeared on the faces of the Li family members. Li Xuanxuan, still uneasy, meticulously inquired about the details. Meanwhile, Li Ximing sat quietly by the table, carefully folding the message about Jade Fuzi that he held in his hand. The snow outside the window had significantly lessened. Below, a person rushed up, their footsteps hurried, face panicked, quickly reaching the front of the hall.

With a pale face, he whispered, "Your Highness! Lady Xu is in labor..."

Li Zhouwei's gaze immediately fell upon him. He quickly exited the main hall, soaring rapidly on the wind. He descended through the clouds, skimmed over the frozen lake, and immediately landed before the central hall. Though anxious, he could not show it. He patiently and steadily flew through the corridor, only then approaching the palace gate of the rear hall, where a scent of blood already wafted to his nostrils.

Li Zhouwei's ears twitched as he heard gasps of alarm. With a somber expression, he pushed the door open, his breath hitching slightly. A heavy, bloody, warm breeze rushed out, mixed with a strange, nauseating fragrance. Candles had been knocked over everywhere, and he saw tiny beads of blood scattered across the floor, shimmering with a golden hue in the candlelight.

Two maidservants had retreated to a corner, huddled together and weeping. Their soft cries filled the air. Following the trail of blood upward, he finally saw Xu Peiyu. The surroundings were dim and murky. The woman lay motionless on the couch, blood trickling down her thighs, and a baby lay on the floor.

The baby was wrinkled all over, its golden eyes already open. Its two hands were tightly gripping Madam Xu's thigh. It extended its tongue, licking the dripping blood. Its lips moved slightly, faintly revealing a chilling white glow.

The nearby Imperial Guard was already stunned, standing helplessly beside the child. Their hands were covered in bloody bite marks. They didn't know whether to reach out or not. Upon seeing him step in, they dropped to their knees with a thud. "Your subordinate... your subordinate is incompetent..."

Li Zhouwei had no mind to listen. A long-held premonition was gradually confirmed in his heart, leaving him speechless. This child should be his eldest son. Li Zhouwei had already named him in advance: Li Jiang'ao.

His heart sank bit by bit. He stepped through the pool of blood. With one hand, he seized the child by the neck and lifted him. Li Jiang'ao shrieked, opening his deeply set mouth to reveal crisscrossing, chillingly white teeth, trying to twist his head to bite him. But how could he possibly threaten Li Zhouwei? With a gentle flick, he infused it with his magical power. Li Jiang'ao became completely immobilized. His overly large eyes stared at him foolishly, revealing a hungry greed.

Li Zhouwei swept his spiritual sense over the child. The strange connection in their bloodline made him understand. The child before him was not a reincarnated being, nor was it the result of some evil spell... "He's just... not human-like."

His gaze fell upon Lady Xu's young face. Her eyes had lost their luster, staring straight up at the sky. A thin veil lay motionless over her lips.

The hall was eerily silent. The few people nearby dared not speak or leave. They all knelt on the floor, watching Li Zhouwei's boots step up to the side of the couch as he pulled away the thin veil.

He slowly raised the child, bringing him level with his eyes. He observed him carefully for a few moments, one hand supporting him from below, the other gripping his throat. His two fingers rested motionless on Li Jiang'ao's tiny neck. His eyes gradually narrowed. The blood beneath his skin pulsed continuously, conveying a faint, subtle sensation.

The child seemed to sense the threat of death; his golden eyes widened, glaring fiercely at him.

"Minghuang! Minghuang!"

During the confrontation between father and son, his hand had gradually tightened. Li Xuanxuan rushed forward, the elder's voice calling out twice. Li Zhouwei nonchalantly pulled the thin veil, wrapped it twice around his wrist, and then bundled the child in it. More accurately, he bound him tightly. His gaze then settled on Lady Xu's face. When Li Xuanxuan's gaze shifted from the blood-soaked floor to him, Li Zhouwei, holding Li Jiang'ao, said grimly, "A misfortune for our family."

Lady Xu's condition had been closely monitored by the family. After a month, her belly suddenly swelled, then gradually became still, seemingly growing slowly like a normal infant. The family had given her medicine to gradually restore her health, and things had been improving. However, no one expected her to give birth without warning after three months. Master Kongheng, whom they had planned to contact, had lost contact, and although he had returned now, it was ultimately too late.

The woman lay lifeless on the couch, her face pale and ashen. Li Xuanxuan stared, stunned, and could only ask, "How... could this be..."

Li Ximing and Kongheng were a step behind him, watching Li Zhouwei hand over Li Jiang'ao. The child bared chilling white teeth, struggling to bite Li Xuanxuan's wrist. But Li Zhouwei had bound him so tightly that he couldn't turn over. Li Xuanxuan was horrified by his mouth full of sharp teeth and golden pupils. He turned to Kongheng and said incredulously, "Master! This..."

Kongheng's eyes also twitched as he looked. He slightly lowered his gaze and recited several Buddhist phrases. Only then did he reach out to take Li Jiang'ao, examining him carefully for a few moments, then softly replied, "He's not human-like... He's been affected by His Highness... The Bright Yang is no ordinary thing; it's not as peaceful as the Twelve Qi... And with that previous connection... it has indeed had an influence."

Li Zhouwei picked up the woman's remains, apologized quietly, and left first. The hall remained filled with a thick, almost suffocating scent of blood, mixed with a nauseating, strange fragrance. Li Ximing took two steps back. Kongheng's voice lowered as he spoke gravely, "In our Buddhist scriptures, the Great Victorious Bright King, who achieved the Bright Yang Dao, took four wives in his secular life. All of his concubines collectively bore him five sons, who all became enemies of Buddhism, sweeping through with light and wind, killing countless people... They were the Five Demonic Overlords... As for the Wei-Li family... similarly, their imperial family has had anomalies through generations, with empresses and consorts dying suddenly, and mothers dying after their sons achieved nobility. This is likely also related to the Bright Yang..."