Chapter 582: Exploration

The cultivator paused, saying with some doubt, "Daoist Jin Zhu..."

His tone wavered slightly, but fearing they were deliberately questioning in Cheng Jinzhu's absence, he ultimately said in a deep voice, "Do the three of you have any other credentials? If not, I'm afraid I cannot let you pass based solely on your word."

Li Xizhi immediately felt awkward. The Sword Gate would most likely not give face to the Green Pool Sect. If he were to present the Green Pool Jade Token now, it would not only be ineffective but also raise suspicion due to the inconsistency. He gripped his sword, about to speak, when Li Qinghong, behind him, stepped forward. A clear bolt of lightning, shimmering purple like a swimming fish, appeared in her hand. She said softly, "I am Li Qinghong from Moon Lake. I cultivate the ancient lightning path. I wonder if this can serve as proof..."

Hearing this, the cultivator carefully examined the lightning in her hand. After considering the details, he finally relented. After a moment of thought, he said softly, "Since you are from the Li family, my Sword Gate has reason to offer some assistance. I see that all of you Daoists are injured. It happens that some seniors from our sect are going to Daxieyuan in Wu Kingdom. Why don't you all travel together and disembark at Moon Lake along the way?"

'The Sword Gate acts with great integrity...' How could Li Xizhi not understand his arrangement? Since he couldn't ascertain their true origins and they didn't look like villains, he decided to get to the bottom of it by sending them all the way to the Li family for verification. If they were demon cultivators impersonating, a simple check with the Li family would reveal it. This was a good method, but it was truly troublesome for the Sword Gate. Li Xizhi thought to himself that if he were guarding the ferry, he would at most refuse them entry, and certainly wouldn't go through such elaborate measures.

Li Quantao nodded. He had a good impression of the Sword Gate and advised telepathically using a secret method, "Brother Zhi, the Sword Gate has been a righteous sect for many years; they won't harm us..."

"Then we shall trouble your esteemed sect," Li Xizhi responded. The cultivator's expression softened like ice thawing in spring, and he said gently, "Then quickly follow me. If we miss the time, it will be truly troublesome."

The group followed him forward, flying over the ferry. The architectural style of the Wanyu Sword Gate was unique, sharp and refined, truly embodying the spirit of sword cultivators. Corridors often connected pavilions, with upturned eaves that were quite striking.

The Sword Gate's large vessel was moored directly at the ferry. In front of it stood a sword cultivator, dressed in a simple black robe, with a gleaming white longsword on his back. He had narrow eyes and long eyebrows, and was gazing westward.

"Junior Martial Uncle!" the cultivator who led them called out, then quietly explained the situation. The dashing sword cultivator turned his head in surprise and asked, "The Qingdu Li family?" He smiled slightly, and the white sword on his back hummed softly. The dashing sword cultivator asked, "I am Cheng Gao. It has been many years. I wonder how Brother Yuanjiao is doing? He once said he would visit if he had the chance, but I never heard from him."

Li Xizhi was taken aback by this unexpected question and could only reply, "My father perished in the Mirage Heaven... It has been eighteen years now."

Cheng Gao paused, then asked again, "Killed by whom?"

"Tang Shedu..."

Cheng Gao stood with his hands clasped, paused for a breath, observed Li Xizhi's appearance, and then said, "You are his descendant? No need to wait here in the clouds; come aboard..." He waved for the Sword Gate cultivator to withdraw, then led the group into the sword boat. As they sat down at a table, someone immediately came forward to serve tea. Cheng Gao said in a deep voice, "I was cultivating my sword essence in the East Sea for twenty years. I never imagined so much would happen... It's truly a pity..."

Li Xizhi didn't know the exact relationship between Li Yuanjiao and this person, so he didn't dare say much. He then saw Cheng Gao exhale and say in a low voice, "Now that Tang Shedu has been slain by Senior Xuanfeng, it can be considered that karma has been resolved!"

Hearing this, Li Xizhi felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart and immediately relaxed. Cheng Gao then asked, "Are all of you from the Li family?"

"I am Li Qinghong, Li Yuanjiao's younger sister," Li Qinghong answered softly. Cheng Gao nodded very amiably. Li Quantao, feeling slightly awkward, mumbled, "Chen Feng of Green Pool Prefecture, Li Quantao."

Cheng Gao, who was holding the teapot and pouring tea into a cup, slowly raised his head upon hearing this. He set down the teapot, his sword-like eyebrows subtly raising, and asked, "Who is Li Encheng to you?"

"He is my father..." Li Quantao's voice trembled slightly. Cheng Gao then nodded and said amiably, "Then you're all our own people... No need to be polite."

Li Quantao's chest puffed out slightly, and his complexion became much rosier. Cheng Gao glanced at him a few more times and said softly, "Daoist Master Guanxue was once on good terms with my Sword Gate and provided much assistance. Although your clan has pledged allegiance to Green Pool, the sentiment remains. Quantao, there's no need to be reserved." Previously, none of them would have understood these words, but with Yu Yuwei's earlier hint, they now quickly realized, "That Daoist Master from the Hongxue Sect!"

Li Quantao was stunned, one hand gripping his cup tightly. Cheng Gao glanced at him and said gently, "There's no need to be like that... No matter who it is... Even Sword Immortal Donghua wasn't perfect, and not all who besieged him back then were evil. Some entanglements have nothing to do with good or evil; they are merely the whims of fate." These words were like a sudden enlightenment, causing Li Quantao's eyes to redden slightly. The pent-up frustration in his heart dissipated. He slowly took a sip of tea and asked, "Senior, could you please tell me... how did our Daoist Master... meet his end?"

Cheng Gao nodded gently, one hand resting on the table, and began to recount, "When Donghua perished back then, scattering his Changzhen Marvelous Arts, all things that existed in the void by virtue of his magic fell to earth, truly filling the sky with brilliance and radiating light. A great battle immediately broke out over the lake, a scene of utter chaos. Daoist Master Guanxue obtained that immortal sword, secretly clasping it to his chest. He dared not return to his own sect and fled westward, not daring to enter the void, running all the way towards Wu Kingdom."

Cheng Gao showed a look of emotion and said softly, "It is said that sword was called Bili, truly an immortal sword. Upon reaching Xunyang Pond in Wu Kingdom, Daoist Master Guanxue's injuries flared up, forcing him to stop and seek a place for seclusion. However, the immortal sword leaped from his embrace, circled his neck, and severed his head from his body. Daoist Master Guanxue was caught off guard, his body entangled by sword qi. He dared not move a single step, standing isolated by the pond, and soon died. The immortal sword then vanished into the void, never to be seen again."

Since it was an immortal sword, Li Quantao naturally did not question why a Purple Mansion cultivator would die from decapitation, but instead thanked him, "Thank you for informing me, Senior."

Cheng Gao merely nodded and replied, "I am going to Ganzi Commandery in Daxieyuan for a meeting this time, so I cannot chat much with you. When you have time, you are welcome to visit my Sword Gate."

Li Quantao naturally nodded. The group drank a little tea, and the sword cultivator pointed to the floor, saying softly, "We've arrived at Moon Lake."

Cultivators from the Li family had already come to check, and upon seeing them, were overjoyed. Cheng Gao nodded at the sight, escorted the three out, and said softly, "I will be cultivating in Ganzi Commandery in Daxieyuan for the next few years. If any of you travel to the west, you are welcome to visit me here." After he finished speaking, he piloted the sword boat to ascend again, returned to his seat within, refilled his tea, and sank into silent contemplation.

'What a coincidence... Li Quantao is actually traveling with the Qingdu Li family...' The sword cultivator sipped his tea, deep in thought, "It makes sense... The Qingdu Li are Wei Li, and the Hongxue Li are also Wei Li. It's normal for them to assist each other."

***

Chenshui Ridge.

Demonic clouds rolled in the sky, thunder rumbled dully, and everything was shrouded in darkness, with only faint glimmers of light swirling in the air. A soft rustle of rain fell continuously. Li Xuanfeng, riding the wind, stopped above the dark water. Demonic mist churned on the surface. The strange phenomena accompanying Murong En's death had dissipated, but the black smoke gradually thickened, obscuring the sky.

This place was already the edge of Chenshui Ridge, naturally appearing somewhat better. The water had turned gray. Li Xuanfeng gazed into the distance. Beside him stood a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance, with two gourds tied to his waist and a shimmering rattan armor. This man was Lingugao Rao Zixie, the high-level cultivator from Green Pool who had long guarded the South Sea. His voice was hoarse as he said deeply, "Daoist Friend Xuanfeng, can we still proceed?"

Lingugao had actually gained fame earlier. In terms of seniority, he would have been more appropriately aligned with Li Tongya's generation. However, he had spent years in the South Sea with little social interaction, and within this pass, there was no need to be overly concerned with such matters, so they simply addressed each other as "Daoist Friend." Lingugao didn't know what medicine Yuanxiu had given Li Xuanfeng, but only three months had passed, and fearing he might still be injured, he specifically asked. Seeing the man nod, he said, "Rest assured, Daoist Friend."

That day, Li Xuanfeng witnessed the True Masters kill Murong En. Ruins fell from the void amidst torrential rain, lightning, and thunder. He had no chance to linger and was quickly taken back to Bianyanshan by True Master Yuanxiu. Yuanxiu, still maintaining his stern expression, took a strange wooden bottle from his robe and instructed, "Your injuries this time are not severe, but you have suffered the techniques of the Maha, wounding both spirit and body. This bottle contains a drop of Cascading Gold Dew. Take it, and you will be able to break through your current state within three months. At that time, I will have tasks for you." Li Xuanfeng naturally accepted the medicine and consumed it in his cave dwelling. As expected of something used by Purple Mansion cultivators, his injuries were indeed mostly healed within three months. Upon closer inquiry, it was clear that the losses were heavy.

"Zhuang Cheng, sent by the Golden Feather Sect, was severely wounded. Lin Shouye lost years from his life. Lingugao Lan Ying's Hook Serpent died, and she herself disappeared. Few others have any news..." Not only did personnel from various factions suffer losses, but Green Pool's defense lines also significantly shrank. Originally, with Bianyanshan as the center, one side was Yanshan Pass, and the other side was Baixiang Valley and Xian Lake, occupying most of Xu Kingdom. Now, both ends suffered heavy losses. Baiguang Valley in the east was somewhat better off, having retreated to the edge of Yushan. Yanshan Pass in the west directly retreated to the riverbank, leaving only Bianyanshan in central Xu Kingdom. With several defense lines connected, it was merely a quarter of Xu Kingdom. What was worse, the northern forces gained another faction, the Jingbo Gao family. The Purple Mansion cultivators in the void must also be under considerable pressure. Fortunately, the Gao family was on the Golden Feather Sect's side, so Green Pool did not have to directly face these demonic tribes.

Li Xuanfeng's purpose in exploring Chenshui Ridge this time was twofold: first, it was a command from the sect; second, he wanted to search for traces of his own people. If he was right, Lingugao probably had the same idea. The two navigated through the demonic mist for a while. The few Qi Cultivators flying in the demonic land naturally couldn't detect their traces. After circling the perimeter twice, Lingugao's voice, slightly lowered, reached Li Xuanfeng's ear via spiritual power, "Daoist Friend Xuanfeng, I have a doubt, and I'm not sure if I should speak of it..."

Li Xuanfeng glanced at him subtly, his spiritual sense continuously scanning the ground, and replied with spiritual power, "Please, Daoist Friend, speak your mind."

Lingugao's voice was slightly hoarse as he whispered, "I heard that Daoist Friend previously received a reward, an unheard-of spiritual elixir called the Gengjin Three Qi Pill. What are its wondrous uses, I wonder?"

Li Xuanfeng guessed he would ask about this, but it was inconvenient to answer him, so he could only apologize, "This medicine was bestowed by the True Master. Without his permission, I cannot speak of it freely."

Lingugao's eyes were slightly small, yet they conveyed a calculating coolness. He gazed at him deeply and said in a deep voice, "The upper sect intends to dispatch me to reclaim Baixiang Valley and Xian Lake, to prevent the northern demon cultivators from colluding with those from Jiangnan and the East Sea, from exchanging knowledge and growing stronger... and attacking together..."

Li Xuanfeng said calmly, "Daoist Friend, your strength is considerable; you will surely not disappoint... It's just a pity that my strength is insufficient. I was injured trying to attack Chenshui Ridge and failed. The sect also wants me to rest more, so I cannot accompany you."

Lingugao's attention remained on him, as if his words further confirmed certain suspicions. With lowered eyebrows, he replied, "Xuanfeng is being too modest. Daoist Friend is no longer a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator; naturally, I cannot compare."

"Once the sect's reward is bestowed, Daoist Friend's strength will also greatly advance," Li Xuanfeng added, and Lingugao immediately let out a deep breath. His long-troubling conjecture had finally been confirmed. His expression remained unchanged as he continued transmitting via spiritual power, "Thank you, Daoist Friend." By now, Li Xuanfeng had already guessed many things; they only awaited confirmation. The reward Lingugao would receive next would also corroborate his suspicions, so he said politely, "At that time, Daoist Friend, we should spar more often."

"Naturally."

The two flew for a while, communicating through spiritual power. Soon, they saw the demonic clouds roll away, and the dark water before them gradually turned blue. The demonic qi in the air also became increasingly thin. Lingugao took out a thin piece of gauze, tossed it lightly into the air, and it immediately enveloped their figures. The light concealed them so completely that even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't detect them.

The two flew along the blue water for a while. Finally, the aura of Foundation Establishment cultivators emerged, and they could even sense a familiar presence: the lineage of Southern Purple Mansion Golden Core cultivators. The northern demonic path also had many ways to cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Core, accounting for a significant portion among demonic cultivators. However, their cultivation methods were more extreme, often involving the consumption of blood qi, leading to faster and more convenient progress. Indeed, in the eyes of northern cultivators, the Purple Mansion Golden Core path was originally a branch of the demonic path, often referred to as the Purple Gold Demonic Path. As for the "Different Mansion, Same Furnace" demonic path, known in Jiangnan, it was called the Heavenly Embryo Demonic Path in the North. Ultimately, it was merely a matter of differing perspectives. Therefore, when northern and southern cultivators clashed, they often called each other 'demonic fiends.' Unless one cultivated the ancient immortal path of qi absorption and self-cultivation, they would be denounced as a demon wherever they went.