Chapter 589: Yuan Li

Li Xuanfeng earned immense fame in a north-south conflict. His reputation spread beyond the northern bank of the river, and the forces between Yan and Zhao all heard of him, knowing such a person existed.

This formidable reputation was built on killing Murong Wu and shattering Yu Qian's Dharma body. While his renown was well-deserved, the Northern Daoist traditions he offended numbered far more than he could count.

The high-ranking Purple Mansions and Mahas might not care, but by killing their direct descendants, with entangled familial ties and interests, he had indirectly offended a large number of Northern cultivators.

Li Xuanfeng himself understood the weight of his accumulated grudges. At this point, he no longer cared which Northern Dao he offended. From the very start, he unleashed his full power, creating a buzzing sound in the air.

The Buddhist cultivator before him was somewhat unusual. He lacked the typical sinister aura, instead resembling the subtle gold of the Great Mu Dharma Realm, with much softer Dharma light, almost approaching equilibrium.

The monk didn't appear to be a villain, but blocking his path without reason meant there was no cause to hold back. As soon as the Buddhist cultivator emerged, Li Xuanfeng immediately combined his five arrows, aiming directly at the man's Dharma body.

"Buzz!"A burst of golden light instantly erupted in front of Li Xuanfeng, scattering down. A sharp, resonant sound, like breaking metal and stone, filled the air. The burly man before him, his golden kasaya draped over him, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled:

"This humble monk is Kasyapa. I've long heard of your immortal arrows, Benefactor. After much contemplation, I found this technique to counter them, and I've been waiting for your golden arrows!"

He had already rolled up his sleeves, lifting the entire golden kasaya high. He presented the side woven with glittering patterns, adorned with golden flakes containing circular holes, from which billowed white smoke and golden mist as he chanted scriptures:

"Venerable Great Container, receive!"

As he chanted in Sanskrit, layers of golden grids on the kasaya lit up simultaneously, clearly and cleanly partitioned, as if containing infinity within, with golden incantations flowing through them.

The golden light, streaking through the air, hummed for a moment before falling into the kasaya. Kasyapa, holding a corner of the kasaya with both hands, his arms sank, and veins instantly bulged.

The golden kasaya fluttered in the air, tightly wrapped. Large bulges continuously throbbed and jumped, as if a restless wild snake had fallen into the kasaya and was struggling fiercely, making Kasyapa's face flush slightly as he cried out:

"Contain!"

All his Dharma power flowed into the kasaya, and for a moment, he actually managed to restrain it. The monk, with his naturally long, thin eyebrows and clean, bald head, revealed dense, pale golden incantations under the whipping wind.

"This..."Siyuan Li stood behind Li Xuanfeng, gazing at the kasaya, holding the great cauldron in his hands, a hint of worry in his heart:

"It's quite peculiar, like a unique magical artifact combined with a complementary spell, specifically designed to counter such incoming projectiles. It seems this bald monk is not simple... I wonder if Li Xuanfeng can subdue him..."

He lowered his gaze, appearing not as bewildered as he seemed on the surface. The jade-green treasured sword at his waist subtly twitched, its tip already discreetly pointed at the monk.

Master Kasyapa had just restrained the golden light, a hint of self-satisfaction appearing on his face, his thin eyebrows raised. He lifted and squeezed his hands, intending to shake the golden light away, but then heard a low, iron-like voice:

"Bold indeed."

He felt a sharp whistle burst by his ear, and his entire body suddenly stiffened. The fierce man in golden soft armor had already stepped forward, his golden bow on his back glowing brightly. Master Kasyapa, startled, took a step back and cried out:

"You!"

Li Xuanfeng had only been five feet away from him; it was but a single step for him. The master was also quite arrogant, fully focused on defending against the next arrow, so how could he have anticipated this move?

In an instant, he was before the monk, his tiger eyes slightly open, his gray pupils quite terrifying. One hand clamped the monk's neck, the other grasped his gleaming kasaya artifact. Brilliant white-gold light emanated from his arms as he exhaled and shouted:

"Haa!"

"Crack!"Kasyapa struggled twice, flailing his limbs and spinning in place a couple of times. His neck, like brittle wood, was crushed, emitting a series of crisp snapping sounds.

The moment Li Xuanfeng closed in, Kasyapa's head had already tumbled down, then hastily shot into the air and fled. The kasaya, its light dimmed, dissolved into a myriad of golden streaks.

"Thump!"The next instant, Li Xuanfeng's straight punch pierced through Kasyapa's chest and exited from his back, trailing a burst of multicolored light. The muffled sound, though not loud, was particularly jarring.

Kasyapa's body slumped like mud, while his head, having fled the fastest, had leaped a li away and was now looking back in horror.

The man was brushing away the golden streaks with one hand, making them vanish into thin air. Five spirit arrows emerged from the remnants, lining up one after another, moving in a continuous chain, like five docile golden-scaled fish swimming around his palm.

Li Xuanfeng cast his gaze, his tone cold:

"Go."

"Buzz..."The five golden lights instantly vanished from his palm. Master Kasyapa didn't even have time to speak; he just felt excruciating pain throughout his internal organs and a rumbling in his mind. He forced himself to conjure a spell and pull out the shimmering golden kasaya.

"Thump..."But how could the kasaya he hastily conjured compare to the one he had prepared for so long earlier? It was like a ferocious wolf pouncing into a straw hut, lasting only a breath before being torn to shreds and scattering everywhere.

"Pffft..."Delicate, multicolored petals rained down from the sky, scattering everywhere. The five golden arrows reappeared beside Li Xuanfeng, while Master Kasyapa's figure had vanished.

Li Xuanfeng's sharp eyebrows twitched; he was in no hurry. His gray eyes glinted with mockery as he softly said:

"Since you had the heart for a duel, why retreat from battle and leave without a word, fellow Daoist?"

A golden-red profound arrow had been waiting for a long time, eagerly leaping onto his Dharma string. Li Xuanfeng's gray eyes narrowed slightly, he drew the bow to a full moon, and pointed it far to the north.

"Strike."

As soon as he spoke, the golden-red arrow on the string vanished. Far away, a pervasive light spread across the sky, like rustling incense flames falling, leaping and dancing on the lake surface, before quickly plunging into the water.

"Puff...!"The sound of blood being spat echoed back to Li Xuanfeng on the wind. Many cultivators stood in the air, their expressions varied, but encountering his gaze, they all averted their eyes, unwilling to meet his.

"Indeed, his reputation is well-deserved. That monk was truly naive... he's simply become a laughingstock."

Only then did the light on Li Xuanfeng's bow dim, and the white-gold patterns on his face slowly faded. Siyuan Li hastily looked over and whispered:

"Brother Xuanfeng! Is that bald Kasyapa dead?"

This Kasyapa was clearly an outstanding Buddhist cultivator, excellent at escaping and preserving his life. His aura was somewhat similar to ancient Buddhist practitioners, and his spells had no sinister qualities. Thus, Li Xuanfeng ultimately held back, not intending to kill him.

Although he secretly held back, he made a thorough display of power to deter the surrounding demonic cultivators. As if nothing had happened, he took a few steps forward, stopping before the six square cauldrons. Gazing at the dazzling array of items before him, he softly spoke to the person behind him:

"Please..."

"This..."Li Xuanfeng stood alone beneath the immortal seat. The surrounding demonic cultivators hovered in the air; although they dared not approach by wind, their greedy and reluctant gazes all shot towards him. Siyuan Li stared at the square cauldrons, swallowed, and replied:

"Brother Xuanfeng! How can I possibly take more? The best treasures are already in my hands... Brother Xuanfeng, you decide what to do..."

'Hmm...?'That statement surprised Li Xuanfeng, and he paid closer attention. Looking at the man's honest and simple face, Li Xuanfeng casually waved his hand, and only two layers of the spiritual items on the ground disappeared.

The dark green screen naturally fell into his hands as well. Li Xuanfeng didn't linger; he took Siyuan Li and flew up with the wind. The group of demonic cultivators behind them could no longer restrain themselves, breaking into a fierce battle in the great hall, erupting in a roar.

Naturally, Li Xuanfeng couldn't take everything in one go. He coldly watched the demonic and Buddhist cultivators battle fiercely. The seven figures in the main hall also reached a conclusion, with several streaks of demonic light frantically fleeing and scattering through the air.

"Murong Gong!"A thunderous roar reverberated in the air, and surging true flames erupted. Golden-red light shot up to the sky, showering down sheets of fire. The flames, golden-red at first appearance, turned dark red as they fell midway, hissing and scorching the air.

Gao Fangjing, clad in a dark red robe, with flames flowing across his face and blazing inferno coiling around his hands, chased out from the main hall like a demonic god. The purple light weakly leaped away, and Gao Fangjing laughed wildly:

"Come! Old dog Murong, bark one more time for your grandpa to hear! Do you still have time to speak now?"

His strength was indeed formidable; he battered Murong Gong and the other demonic cultivator into disarray, forcing them to flee in separate directions. Other cultivators also cast sidelong glances, watching him chase them out with his spear, leaving a trail of fire everywhere in the air.

Li Xuanfeng glanced around, and Siyuan Li's soft voice reached his ear:

"Brother Xuanfeng, what now?"

Siyuan Li's earlier words had made Li Xuanfeng uncertain of his true nature, so he simply replied softly:

"It's all at your discretion, fellow Daoist."

Siyuan Li clutched the great cauldron, remaining silent. He understood what was inside the cauldron better than anyone else present. His hands gripped tightly, knuckles white against the greenish rim of the cauldron, his expression solemn:

'The direction is wrong... The True Master said there's something from my family in a small hall in the lake, but we've already missed it... All the True Masters are watching from the surface, and I can't be too obvious...'

'Earlier, to avoid public anger, I pushed it back to Li Xuanfeng, making him suspicious... That's not a bad thing, after all, he's been on our side so far... If I can go with the flow, it will be easier for me.'

He thought with a touch of frustration, yet his face maintained that bewildered expression as he shook his head and replied:

"How about we find another place to rest and wait for the True Masters to call us out?"

Li Xuanfeng heard clearly, disbelieving his suggestion completely, which also confirmed his suspicions:

"The Siyuan clan is low-key, but not foolish... Although I've never heard of this Siyuan Li, there must be a reason why True Master Yuanxiu secretly gave me that 'Please Govern with Gold' talisman..."

"If this matter were to be resolved so easily, why would he give me a Purple Mansion-level talisman? Moreover, True Master Yuanxiu has a unique reputation in the art of talismans; this talisman is no ordinary item. How could he give it to me for nothing?"

"There must be a plan at play here. As he speaks, I'll simply protect him as we go."

Seeing Siyuan Li's eyes turn towards him, Li Xuanfeng, without much deliberation, neatly arranged his suspicions. He softly said:

"I'll follow your lead, fellow Daoist!"

Siyuan Li nodded hastily, putting on a timid and cowardly demeanor, and replied:

"There are many Northern cultivators here, and while Brother Xuanfeng is powerful and naturally fearless, it's hard to guard against unforeseen or peculiar techniques. It's not advisable to stay long..."

"Along the way here, we missed many small halls on the lake. Although they might not contain anything valuable, they are safe and convenient. Shall we go take a look?"

Li Xuanfeng responded with an affirmative sound, instantly understanding:

"I knew this old fox was reluctant earlier, acting as if he was throwing away a watermelon for a sesame seed. So it turns out the True Master's entrusted item is in these small halls on the lake..."

This thought flashed through his mind. Although Siyuan Li feigned weakness, his eyes met Li Xuanfeng's exactly, conveying perfect timidity, a flawless act.

Since he had acted this far, Li Xuanfeng cooperated by frowning, and gravely stated:

"Since I am ordered to protect you, fellow Daoist, I shall naturally follow you."

Siyuan Li chuckled, then swiftly moved away from the cliff at the center of the battlefield with Li Xuanfeng. Behind them, a few demonic and Buddhist cultivators, still harboring ill intentions, followed from a distance with hesitant gazes. He drew his jade-green treasured sword, revealing a relieved expression.

'He's skilled in battle, adaptable, understands human nature, and can still recognize opportune moments. No wonder so many Purple Mansions value him... He truly is a useful golden bow...'

He looked around, searching for palaces on the lake, his mind still working through thoughts:

'No wonder True Master Elemental would marry him into the clan... he valued him so highly. Once Elemental died, our own True Master quickly brought him in for use...'

'Yu Su is inherently greedy, She Du disregards his kin, and although Lin Gu Rao is formidable, the Lin Gu family is too deeply intertwined with the Great Xiukui Temple. Only he is exceptionally capable, values relationships, and is amenable to being leveraged. If I were a Purple Mansion, I would only feel comfortable using him...'

Siyuan Li paused briefly. A small palace had already appeared on the lake surface beneath his feet. He quickly collected his thoughts, feigned surprise, looked up, and asked:

"Are there still people collecting things outside now?"

"Let me tell you, fellow Daoist, not every family sent their direct descendants in... Some with insufficient strength stopped early in the outer areas to collect spiritual items and treasures. That's also a good strategy."

Siyuan Li was still feigning ignorance. Li Xuanfeng casually humored him, his gaze sweeping over the demonic cultivator below. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and whispered:

"Hmm?"

The demonic cultivator had a cold expression, gripping a chilling demonic blade in his hand. His nose was high-bridged, and his eye sockets deep, marking him clearly as one of the northernmost cultivators, either from Monan or Mobei, almost certainly of Hu-Jie descent.

Although Li Xuanfeng had never seen this person, he felt his attire and appearance closely matched a description he knew. He quietly gazed at him, and the golden bow on his back spontaneously leaped into his hand.

'What a coincidence. I've killed through so many layers of rolling demonic smoke, but never found this guy's presence. Yet, I run into him here in the Great Ning Palace.'

After all, the person before them was a demonic cultivator. Siyuan Li wasn't surprised to see him pick up his bow, but seeing his solemn expression, he thought it might be a formidable enemy and whispered:

"Brother Xuanfeng? Who is that?"