Chapter 583: Seeing the Opportunity

Li Xuanfeng and Ning Gurao paused for a moment above the shimmering blue water, not venturing further. Ning Gurao watched intently, while Li Xuanfeng pondered:

"Since Yuan Xiu, Qiushui, and others are all in the Great Void, and even watching from Chenshuiling, why do we need to investigate? This blue water at Chenshuiling must be an anomaly, likely influenced by the Great Ning Palace. Sending us here surely has another purpose."

As he pondered, Ning Gurao glanced at the deep blue water beneath his feet and transmitted a message with his magic:

"Daoist Xuanfeng, the water at Chenshuiling has already transformed into something of the Confluence Water lineage. There must be a problem."

Li Xuanfeng mused for a moment, looking at the shimmering blue water in the black mist, and asked:

"Dragon lineage?"

"Perhaps not a dragon lineage..."

The Ninggu family originated from the Shan Yue people and was one of the very few surnames not to migrate from the north, essentially acting as local powers in the south with some unique family traditions. Ning Gurao whispered:

"Daoist, you may not know, but while the Shilu Gao family is now famous for True Fire, they originally started in the Yan Kingdom's Confluence Water coastal region and also possess a Confluence Water Dao lineage. Even the Tuoba family... back then, they tried to seize control of both the Confluence Water and Fushui paths... I only have one doubt: to transform the entire Chenshuiling into a Confluence Water marsh, even a Purple Mansion cultivator would expend great effort without a special spirit artifact. Why go to such lengths?"

Having flown to this point, both were filled with doubts—one speculating about the Purple Mansion, the other about the northern cultivators. Neither was willing to proceed further north. Li Xuanfeng activated his eye technique, gazing goldenly into the clouds for a while, and asked:

"Daoist, do you know what Dao lineage the Ning Kingdom's royal descendants cultivate?"

Ning Gurao pondered for a moment before replying:

"They cultivate True Qi. There's even an Anhuai Heaven hidden in the Great Void. During their peak, they had several Purple Mansion cultivators. As for whether they had True Monarchs, that's beyond our knowledge."

Li Xuanfeng thought for a moment, then he and Ning Gurao simultaneously raised their heads to look east. True enough, a golden immortal light broke through the demonic mist, rushing towards them. The brilliant blue water reflected the glow of various true energies and magical artifacts.

Ning Gurao slowly lifted his head, gazing thoughtfully, and softly said:

"It's the Golden Feather Sect."

Li Xuanfeng's heart settled. He and Ning Gurao simultaneously activated their artifacts, and indeed, he heard Ning Gurao say:

"The True Lord is in the Great Void; what can't they see? Ordering us to transmit messages and investigate surely isn't so simple. So this is where it lands."

Both understood the situation clearly. Li Xuanfeng mused for a moment, then whispered:

"Why can't True Lord Yuan Xiu be direct, instead using the guise of investigation? I'm afraid the Golden Feather Sect doesn't want other families to know about this. We must still be careful."

His words subtly hinted at the friction between the various sects. Ning Gurao nodded in agreement, his face showing approval. The two then rode the wind together, trailing far behind the Golden Feather cultivators.

After flying just a few miles, demonic light flickered in the sky. A group of demonic cultivators were actually fighting fiercely. Bloodlight and white light intertwined, black mist rolled, and scattered blood rain fell from the sky. Li Xuanfeng's confusion eased slightly, and Ning Gurao said:

"No wonder we didn't see many patrolling demonic cultivators on our way here. So, there was trouble inside!"

Li Xuanfeng's eye technique activated, and he looked into the demonic clouds. Indeed, a massive battle of demonic cultivators filled the sky, already chaotic to the extreme. Buddhist light, demonic clouds, blood energy, and white smoke intertwined, reflecting a dazzling array of magical light.

The cultivators at the very top were fighting fiercely. A black-clad youth held a long spear, black qi swirling around it. His eyes were sharp, his features clear, and his demeanor particularly striking. He pointed his spear directly at the demonic cultivator before him.

The demonic cultivator on the other side had a grim expression, surrounded by purple light. His clothing was very luxurious, emitting dazzling colorful light, likely indicating he was a direct descendant of the Murong family. The two seemed to have just exchanged blows, each poised for further engagement.

Li Xuanfeng glanced at the spear-wielding youth. A sense of familiarity welled up, and he narrowed his eyes slightly:

'Zhong Qian?!'

This was precisely Zhong Qian, the youth who had led Li Xuanfeng into the Grotto-Heaven years ago! After entering the Grotto-Heaven, he had vanished without a trace. Li Xuanfeng had assumed he hadn't met a good end and hadn't heard any news of him for many years.

"I never thought he'd fallen into the demonic path..."

Doubt arose in his heart, but then he saw the Murong demonic cultivator, enveloped in purple light, gaze intently at Zhong Qian, and whisper:

"Daoist... what play are you putting on? You suddenly led your people out of formation; presumably, you have the Golden Feather Green Pond's approval... But you cultivate the demonic path; how can you expect a good outcome by defecting to the south?"

"It seems Murong En was blind not to see your heroic youth! If you stop now, I will personally introduce you to the Purple Mansion..."

Zhong Qian did not respond. He stood with his spear, and as the rolling black cloud surged forward, the purple light flared brightly. The two forces collided, scattering a cloud of black dust. Only then did he speak:

"Murong Gong... this is also my first time fighting alongside the Purple Qi faction. Why don't you show some real skill!"

Li Xuanfeng watched the two fight fiercely. Below, demonic cultivators attacked each other, and Buddhist cultivators also released golden light in response. It was impossible to tell which side was fighting which; instead, it seemed like they were settling personal grudges, fighting in pairs. He only watched for a moment before quickly discerning the general situation.

The northern forces were extremely complex, comprising the Seven Buddhist Cultivator Aspects, various demonic paths, and even Purple Mansion Golden Core cultivators. A large portion were also demonic cultivators conscripted from nearby areas.

These individuals were inherently greedy and selfish, harbored deep grudges against each other, and coveted each other's possessions. Zhong Qian had privately gathered his followers and headed south, only to be intercepted by this person. However, the demonic cultivators under their respective commands had already devolved into a chaotic brawl, settling old scores, seeking vengeance, or simply acting on greed.

Ning Gurao watched for a while and gradually understood the situation, whispering:

"Daoist Xuanfeng... it seems there's a rebellion among the demonic cultivators..."

"If there's no Purple Mansion support behind them, how can it be called a rebellion?"

Li Xuanfeng calmly agreed, and Ning Gurao replied:

"Indeed! Could the Golden Feather Sect be behind this group of demonic cultivators? That would be truly strange..."

Ning Gurao's confusion was not hard to understand.

One must know that this group of demonic cultivators consumed human blood and elixirs; their actions and cultivation methods marked them as thoroughly demonic. Moreover, these demonic cultivators had killed countless cultivators from Jiangnan, and the various families already held intense hatred for them.

If this was the case under Green Pond's rule, how could the aristocratic families under the Golden Feather Sect be any better? The Golden Feather's aristocratic influence was already substantial, and they had sacrificed countless lives in this war. How could they tolerate demonic cultivators defecting to them? And whose territory would these demonic cultivators occupy under the Golden Feather Sect?

At least in Jiangnan, all sects, regardless of their foundations, had to maintain a façade of morality. Green Pond was already considered a demonic sect by many families; even when harvesting blood energy, they had to do so under the guise of mutual attacks, not daring to openly kill people for blood.

The Golden Feather Sect's reputation was far better than Green Pond's. Under everyone's watchful eyes, how could they possibly take in this group of rebellious demonic cultivators? It simply didn't make sense...

And from the perspective of these demonic cultivators, defecting to the Golden Feather Sect was a losing proposition. Even if the Golden Feather Sect protected them temporarily, accounts would surely be settled once the North-South conflict ended...

"If not Golden Feather... then where do all these Golden Feather Sect cultivators come from?"

"Clang!"

After a few breaths, the Golden Feather Sect members could no longer stand by. A cloud vessel swiftly broke through the air, its concealing mist completely dissipating, and numerous cultivators descended from both sides.

"Golden Feather Sect..."

These cultivators did not go to assist Zhong Qian in the air. Instead, they dispersed into the demonic clouds, engaging the demonic cultivators in fierce combat. Taking advantage of Murong Gong being tied down, they precisely avoided Zhong Qian's forces and moved to encircle and eliminate the other demonic cultivators.

The scene became even more chaotic, filled with a cacophony of screams and angry shouts. Li Xuanfeng and Ning Gurao watched silently from above. Just then, a shrill whistle echoed through the sky, and another demonic cloud flew in from the north.

"Lord Gao and Dharma Master Lüejin's forces have arrived!"

A person below shouted loudly, and then a blast of scorching energy surged forth. Zhong Qian's expression changed, and he parried with his spear, retreating as he shattered the incoming fire light. His spear was already glowing faintly red.

A figure appeared in the air, wearing a large dark-red robe with black undertones, a golden jade belt at his waist. He had deep-set eyes and a prominent nose, and his boots were a dark red. He held a horse-spear, propping himself in the clouds, and chuckled:

"Is this all the Murong family is capable of? It seems a century of adhering to Buddhist practices has worn away the bones of your nobility!"

Murong Gong's expression was displeased, and his voice was cold and low:

"Shilu Fangjing, why don't you try it yourself? You're all talk."

The man in the dark-red robe's face instantly darkened, and he said coldly:

"Murong Gong... My Gao family's surname was personally changed by Emperor Gong of Wei to a northern surname. A True Lord can speak of it as 'Shilu,' but how dare you call me that? You truly don't know what's good for you..."

Murong Gong spat disdainfully and chuckled:

"Fine, fine, a Gao surname indeed. Shilu Chongyang and Tuoba Changming and a few others sold out my Sixteen Eastern Hu Tribes, then ran to the Wei Emperor to beg for wealth, utterly shameless!"

"The Yuan family changed back to Tuoba, and your family is still gloating here. Utterly shameless!"

Gao Fangjing merely stared at him coldly, his horse-spear pausing for a moment as he softly said:

"My Gao family ancestors were originally descendants of Zhou; how can you compare them to the likes of you!"

As the two conversed, a monk stepped out from the air, quietly stopping beside Murong Gong. His face was densely covered in golden patterns, both eyes tightly shut, and his face was turned towards the mist.

Li Xuanfeng listened silently. Ning Gurao beside him felt slightly uncomfortable and whispered:

"Xuanfeng, should we intervene?"

"Let's wait for a bit."

Li Xuanfeng restrained his longbow. Indeed, a person flew up from below, looking grave, dressed in Golden Feather Sect attire. He stopped beside Zhong Qian, took a thin golden sword from his sash, and held it level, remaining silent.

The few of them watched intently. The monk with a face full of golden patterns opened his eyes. A tiny, grain-of-rice-sized golden speck in the pure white penetrated directly through the mist. He softly said:

"Two benefactors, please show yourselves."

Li Xuanfeng and Ning Gurao were silent for a breath, then put away their gauze-thin veils, revealing their figures in the air.

Zhong Qian had initially looked over with wary eyes, but his gaze paused on Li Xuanfeng's attire. Then he looked at his face, and his heart sank. He felt a hint of shame and secretly sighed:

"It's Senior Xuanfeng!"

He had once received Li Xuanfeng's guidance and had a deep impression of this senior. Although he now suspected it might have been a Purple Mansion's doing, Li Xuanfeng's influence on him was significant, and solving his crisis was undeniably real.

Now, meeting as a demonic cultivator, Zhong Qian felt a touch of shame.

'Fortunately, we didn't meet in the midst of battle... that's a blessing in disguise.'

The Daoist from the Golden Feather Sect seemed not to have anticipated their appearance and was quite surprised. He bowed slightly to the two of them.

On the demonic cultivators' side, their expressions were much more varied. The Buddhist cultivator with a face full of golden patterns quietly observed him, while Murong Gong's expression was somewhat complex, a mix of fear and hatred. His lips moved, and he sneered:

"Shilu's dogs and horses! Your Wei descendants are here!"

Gao Fangjing seemed not to have heard a word he said, meticulously studying Li Xuanfeng. He didn't speak, but his grip on the horse-spear in his hand tightened.

The atmosphere in the air became tense due to their appearance, until Murong Gong said in a sinister tone:

"What are you two waiting for?"

"Boom!"

Immediately, a burst of magical light exploded in the air. The Buddhist cultivator with a face full of golden patterns clasped his hands together, trapping Ning Gurao's scimitar. Gao Fangjing flicked his horse-spear, encircling the two individuals before him, and golden-red True Fire surged out, forcing both of them to raise their magical artifacts to defend.

Murong Gong raised an eyebrow, meeting Li Xuanfeng's gaze directly. Bright patterns began to light up, bit by bit, from the man's chin. He slowly raised his longbow, and a golden light settled on the string.

"Damn it!"

He stepped forward, drawing closer amidst purple qi, already secretly regretting it. Had he known Li Xuanfeng and the others were coming, Murong Gong would never have provoked Gao Fangjing with words. It was only because he had thought everything was under control that he had shown his disdain.

Although he disdained the Shilu family and even scorned their character, Gao Fangjing's strength was indeed superior to his. It would have been most suitable for Gao Fangjing to handle Li Xuanfeng.

"Never mind... the Shilu family are inherently petty. Whether provoked or not, they ultimately wouldn't make a move."

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning. His ears buzzed, and his chest ached. He had no choice but to form a hand seal, cast a spell, and release a purple cloud, quickly entering it to try and block the arrow light.

This was indeed his best response. Li Xuanfeng's reputation was growing, and enemies he encountered no longer casually met his magical arrows; their first instinct was always to evade and hide. Without aura to detect his enemy, this purple qi spell was very clever, and Li Xuanfeng could not immediately pinpoint the person.

Yet, his expression remained unfazed. He allowed Murong Gong to duck away, then lightly raised his longbow and released the golden string. The monk beside him, whose face was covered in golden patterns, suddenly looked up and coughed out blood.

The monk lightly wiped himself. The hole in his chest slowly closed. As he caught Ning Gurao's spell, he said with a resonant voice:

"Daoist Murong..."

No sooner had he spoken than he saw Li Xuanfeng's golden bow already pointed at the purple cloud. The man's eyes quietly gazed over. Murong Gong was caught between a rock and a hard place and shifted the purple cloud to charge towards Ning Gurao.

"Dharma Master Lüejin! You don't fear bodily injury; you confront this fiend!"

Dharma Master Lüejin showed no anger. The golden patterns on his face flickered, and a gentle look appeared in his eyes. He put his palms together in front of his chest and softly said:

"I am Lüejin of Baima Temple in the Great Mu Dharma Realm. Greetings, benefactor."

Li Xuanfeng took a careful look. This person actually exuded a sense of pure and clear magical power, entirely different from the many Buddhist cultivators he had seen before. He was somewhat similar to Kongheng, the family's guest minister.

However, meeting on the battlefield allowed for little conversation. Li Xuanfeng raised his bow as usual, and brilliant golden light condensed on the string. Lüejin stared intently at the golden light, his voice calm and deep:

"Arrows are instruments of harm; they cannot manifest the Buddhist pure land."