Chapter 605: Urgent Advice

The Pen and Ink Literature, Xuanjian Immortal Clan!

Yu Jiang looked up, quietly watching the torrent of qi energy tearing through the distant sky. Its golden light shone as brightly as a sharp sword cleaving the air, splitting a black cloud in two and leaving a long trail of golden flame.

He watched intently, his expression largely unchanged. He silently stepped back, observing as the golden light sped toward him and materialized before him.

Li Qinghong, wreathed in lightning, turned her slender hand. Her long spear retracted, hanging inverted behind her, as purple lightning cascaded like rain. A man in platinum armor appeared beside her.

The man had a broad chest and was slightly taller than Li Qinghong. His sharp eyes were clad in armor, and he held a massive, formidable golden bow. He floated in the air, surrounded by an invisible aura of qi energy that crackled with grating sounds.

His eagle-like eyes, beneath long brows, scanned the oppressive demonic clouds.

“Second Uncle!” Li Qinghong exclaimed with delight. The man in platinum armor slowly nodded, then raised his gaze. His eyes met Yu Jiang’s directly.

The man’s scrutinizing gaze was slightly cold, and his eyes made Yu Jiang unconsciously clench his teeth. It felt as if a sheet of ice had descended upon him, chilling him from head to calf. The young man forced himself not to look away, meeting the gaze steadily.

He saw the man’s brow twitch upward slightly. His dark gray pupils slowly dilated, and all traces of fierce malevolence dissipated. The man’s lips trembled, and Yu Jiang heard a hoarse voice:

“You…”

The young man’s body was stiff with cold, yet that single word sent a rush of hot blood to his head. His hand, clutching a mystic talisman, twitched twice. A strange thought surfaced in his mind:

‘His voice sounds much older than his appearance.’

Yu Jiang raised his hand, reaching into his storage pouch. He took something out, trying his best to calm his voice, but it was still trembling and somewhat indistinct:

“Senior.”

In his palm lay a golden arrow, heavy and cold. Its fletching glowed brightly, and the arrowhead was meticulously polished and gleamed, emitting a subtle radiance.

Engraved on the arrow shaft were a few small characters: “Yishan Li Xuanfeng.” The bold calligraphy conveyed the owner’s imposing demeanor.

The man’s gaze fell upon the arrow. The young man even felt it grow heavier in his hand. Li Xuanfeng then looked at Yu Jiang’s features more gently and intently. The young man maintained his expression and said softly:

“This belongs to you, Senior; I am returning it.”

Li Xuanfeng’s gaze lingered on the arrow for a moment. Yu Jiang faintly heard his suppressed breathing. Then, the slightly hoarse voice spoke again:

“So it was you.”

The words seemed to scald the young man. He immediately closed his eyes, his figure turning from black to gray, then slowly fading away. He left a trail of black smoke behind him, as if fleeing, which dispersed into the air and vanished.

Li Xuanfeng remained standing steadily. The arrow still floated in the air, flickering with light. All his emotions were suppressed beneath an iron-hard, impassive demeanor, revealing nothing.

Qi energy twisted in the air, occasionally brushing against Li Qinghong’s peacock-blue feathers with a grating sound. Li Qinghong carefully observed Li Xuanfeng’s face, then recalled Yu Jiang’s, and became thoughtful.

Li Xuanfeng, still maintaining his rigid posture, spoke in a low, somewhat hoarse voice:

“So it was you…”

Li Qinghong stood beside him. From the sky, a streak of green light descended nearby, revealing a middle-aged man. He wore a sword at his waist, giving him an air of dashing elegance. He gazed gravely at the dark clouds to the north, his expression solemn.

‘This is bad!’

“Brother Xuanfeng!”

This was naturally Si Yuanli. As the Grand Tranquility Palace emerged from the Water-Weighing Mausoleum, both men, having just escaped, immediately rode the wind over. They arrived just as the scene of rolling demonic smoke unfolded.

He was well aware of the rivalries among the various sects and the schemes of the Violet Palace cultivators. Seeing the billowing demonic smoke all the way here and recalling that many Violet Palace cultivators were trapped within, his heart trembled. He said in a low voice:

“Brother Xuanfeng… this is likely a plot by another sect! We’re in trouble now…”

Si Yuanli took a careful look at the opposite bank, then immediately turned to Li Qinghong behind him. He said solemnly:

“Where is Chi Zhiyan?! Is he commanding from the rear? And who is in charge of the riverbank defenses? Quickly, have them come see me!”

Although Si Yuanli had been humble and submissive earlier in the Grand Tranquility Palace, he was a direct junior relative of Si Boxiu and highly regarded. While he usually kept a low profile and held no formal position within the sect, he didn't even need to bow to Chi Zhiyun!

Furthermore, though the Si family was small in number and always low-key, Si Boxiu was fiercely protective of his own. Si Yuanbai, who was considered benevolent, had once, in a fit of rage, dared to throw twelve rain-gathering talismans onto Yuanwu Peak, almost submerging the entire peak.

As he spoke, his tone was very cold, immediately revealing his high status. However, Li Qinghong merely returned a bow and said softly:

“Reporting, Senior, the riverbank is without a commander.”

Si Yuanli seemed to faintly grasp the situation, and said coldly:

“What about Chi Zhiyan?!”

“Sir is still at Bianyan Mountain,” Li Qinghong’s voice was gentle, her manner impeccable and polite:

“Sir is leading the direct lineage to guard Bianyan Mountain to observe the situation within the demonic cultivators, which will allow him to better strategize for us.”

She spoke politely, but Si Yuanli saw Li Xizhi lower his brows and Li Ximing curl his lip. He immediately understood and was so angry he almost laughed, only to declare furiously:

“What a coward! He’s not even a patch on his brother! At a time like this, he’s still bothering with such trivialities? Just watching the riverbank collapse, cultivators pouring in, leaving the whole Jiangnan region a wasteland?”

After Si Yuanli finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes. He suddenly realized something, feeling a slight chill:

“Though this man is greedy and self-preserving, he’s not this foolish… Could it be that he knows Chi Tianxing and others died in Anhuai Heaven, and the Chi family has no Violet Palace cultivators left? Is he growing wary and cutting off branches to protect the trunk, to prevent the tail from wagging the dog?”

“But Chi Zhiyun is still alive… Could it be that Chi Zhiyun has gone into seclusion to break through to the Violet Palace realm?”

Si Yuanli had grown up in the sect and was particularly sensitive to factional disputes. The Si family was thinly populated, and the Chi family wasn't much better. More crucially, internal conflicts within the Chi family had intensified in recent years, making for a precarious situation.

Feeling uneasy, he lightly touched the brocade pouch at his waist, took out a small, bright pearl, and blew on it. Immediately, a wisp of white wind flew out.

The wind enveloped the group, isolating them from outside detection. Only then did Si Yuanli say gravely:

“I just remembered something… The Chi family’s direct lineage across two generations amounted to only a few people. Now, they've died in Anhuai Heaven, and True Person Bu Zi has been missing for years. How could Chi Zhiyan not be afraid?”

“Though this demonic calamity is terrifying, and the direct lineages of many families suffered heavy casualties, Li Xuanfeng managed to hold off Tang Shendu at Water-Weighing Mausoleum, allowing the most outstanding individuals from various families to preserve their lives… In fact, they gained a significant amount of resources from it… completing many cultivation techniques, and even learning many secret rumors…”

“There aren't many Foundation Establishment cultivators among the families, and each one is a survivor forged in battle. There are no easily replaceable retainers or subordinates. Just look at the noble families, and you’ll understand…”

He narrowed his eyes slightly and said solemnly:

“Azure Pond is not like Golden Feather; it's too exploitative. Golden Feather has many clan cultivators and rogue cultivators at Foundation Establishment who can be sacrificed. But among the Foundation Establishment cultivators who survived in Azure Pond’s territory, which one is simple? They’d have to truly carve flesh from their own bodies…”

“Most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators lost in the North-South conflict were Azure Pond retainers and cultivators. Chi Zhiyan must have realized after tallying the losses that they simply couldn’t afford to lose any more… That’s why he’s consolidating power! He must use this opportunity to pare down the strengths of others!”

Si Yuanli’s voice was low:

“I understand now… The various Violet Palace cultivators merely used this chance to make Azure Pond pay, but Chi Zhiyan reacted quickly, immediately making a choice. He opted for a method of sacrifice that had both advantages and disadvantages, aiming for the minimal loss.”

Li Qinghong’s mind became clear. Hearing this, she understood immediately, thinking to herself:

‘So, some Violet Palace cultivators, those with deeper grievances against Azure Pond, are not satisfied!’

Li Qinghong silently glanced over, then suddenly understood the message Kong Tingyun had delivered on behalf of True Person Changxi. She mused internally:

“Perhaps that message wasn’t meant for me in the first place… but for me to deliver to Second Uncle!”

She then transmitted a message using a secret technique:

“Second Uncle! Earlier, when I passed through Xuanyue Gate, Fellow Daoist Tingyun delivered a message on behalf of True Person Changxi…”

Li Xuanfeng listened carefully, and finally his expression changed. His sharp brows relaxed, and he murmured in a deep, hoarse voice:

“While it's gratifying to see the crops submerged and a hundred years of harvest lost, it's even more satisfying when the river overflows, inundating the courtyards and destroying the various family branches.”

He seemed to be repeating something, but Si Yuanli was startled and stared blankly at him. How could he not grasp the meaning of the words? As long as the riverbank was a tougher target and more intimidating than Bianyan Mountain, the “river overflowing” would naturally occur, leading the forces to Bianyan Mountain, which was isolated deep within demonic territory!

And it was on Bianyan Mountain where many of the Chi family’s direct lineage were located! Compared to the Azure Pond noble family’s heavy losses—the “submerged crops” and “hundred years of lost harvest”—it was the “inundation of courtyards” and the destruction of their direct lineages that would truly cripple the Chi family!

Upon hearing this, Si Yuanli’s heart began to pound like a drum. All the blood in his body rushed to his head:

“The river overflowing… the river overflowing…”

This counter-strategy was exceptionally cunning and even so legitimate that Chi Zhiyan couldn't find fault with it. Yet, Si Yuanli hesitated, his body’s spiritual light flickering faintly.

While he would certainly enjoy seeing the Chi family suffer, even heartily laughing at the deaths of Chi Tianxing, Chi Fuju, and others, the Chi, Si, Ning, and Tang families were ultimately united. Although his own family had experienced much oppression in terms of interests, he had never harbored a desire to actively persecute them.

This method was indeed good and even legitimate, but how could an astute person not see through it? Making this decision meant offending the Chi family! Hearing these words now, even a man of his composure felt a surge of panic. His face remained impassive, but the hand gripping his sword hilt turned white.

In front of him, Li Xuanfeng slowly raised his head. His eyes were terrifyingly sharp, and his voice, cold and hoarse, struck a blow directly to Si Yuanli’s heart.

“Fellow Daoist Yuanli… why did True Person hand the Huai River Map to me?”

‘This is an ancient spiritual artifact meant to guard the riverbank… Guard the riverbank! Could it be for this very moment?’

That single sentence decisively shattered Si Yuanli’s mental defenses, causing a chill like ten thousand-year-old profound ice to instantly rise in his heart. The meaning was utterly clear: Si Boxiu himself supported this action!

“But True Person clearly never told me about this beforehand!”

Si Yuanli was immediately thrown into disarray. True Person Yuan had never shown any aversion towards the Chi family members, even treating them with courtesy on normal days. He even entrusted others to bring Chi family members to the Grand Tranquility Palace, showing no lack of effort…

“But the minds of Violet Palace cultivators are unfathomable. True Person has countless considerations in his heart; who knows what he truly thinks…”

His heart sank. Li Xuanfeng’s voice was low, and his thoughts unexpectedly aligned with Si Yuanli’s:

“Chi Tianxing and Chi Fuju were also specifically invited by True Person…”

The same sentence, coming from Li Xuanfeng’s mouth, carried an entirely different implication. Chi Tianxing and Chi Fuju were now likely unrecoverable, even their bodies, in Anhuai Heaven, prompting Si Yuanli’s suspicion:

“Could it be that True Person did this intentionally?”

All evidence pointed to Si Boxiu’s instruction, yet Si Yuanli still harbored doubts. All the clues, accompanied by the man’s words, raced through his mind, leaping rapidly in his heart, making his head throb as if it would split open.

Li Xuanfeng merely spread his hand, revealing a gleaming golden talisman in his palm, about two fingers wide, covered in bright white patterns. He said coldly:

“Brother Yuanli! You should be able to see that this talisman was personally given to me by True Person in private! Perhaps it was precisely for this moment! I shouldn't reveal it privately, but given the urgency, I have no choice!”

He said gravely:

“True Person saved my life from Maha and has helped me greatly; I, Xuanfeng, bear it in mind. As long as Brother Yuanli gives the command, I, Xuanfeng, will surely act! But if Brother Yuanli intends to abandon the river…”

Li Xuanfeng’s expression was calm, and he said quietly:

“Naturally, I will hand over the spiritual artifact and talismans to Brother Yuanli. But I, Xuanfeng, cannot regard the millions of common folk behind me as nothing. I will remain here and defend until the last moment!”

Si Yuanli didn’t even need to look closely; this talisman was incredibly potent, one he had personally witnessed True Person refining with his divine abilities. He hadn't expected it to be entrusted to Li Xuanfeng. He quietly took a breath, at a loss for words, only murmuring:

“How could this be…”

Li Qinghong, understanding everything, stepped forward slowly and urgently persuaded him softly:

“Senior… I won’t speak of my family’s selfish interests concerning our lake. Even if this place cannot be held, my family still possesses some ability to protect ourselves! But behind this river are millions of common folk… all their fates lie in our hands!”

Si Yuanli fell silent. Across from them, the demonic cultivators could no longer restrain themselves. A heavy, demonic wind slowly approached, and the white cloud energy dispersed, flowing back into the pearl in Si Yuanli’s hand. Li Xuanfeng coldly turned his face, finally making a move.

“Clang!”

Li Xuanfeng raised his bow, and dazzling golden light converged on the string. A piercing hum rang in everyone’s ears. Fierce killing intent appeared in the man’s eyes, and his voice, rolling like thunder, swept away with the wind.

“Li Xuanfeng of Bianyan is here; advance and die!”

The voice, amplified by magical power, echoed through the thick black smoke, like thunder rolling through clouds.

“Li Xuanfeng of Bianyan is here; advance and die…”

“Advance and die…”

This voice spread among the cacophony of demonic sounds, actually causing the restless demonic clouds on the horizon to halt. The cultivators looked at each other, none daring to take the first step.

Only the river flowed ceaselessly. The man in platinum armor floated above, watching with cold eyes. His single shout halted all cultivators, as if the hundreds of demonic cultivators before the river were nothing. He slowly turned his head, his gaze sharp and calm, and said gravely:

“Authority can only deter for a moment, Brother Yuanli, make your decision quickly!”

His voice carried through the air, causing Lan Ying of Linggu and others nearby to look up. Si Yuanli’s face was slightly flushed. He let out a deep breath from his chest and said solemnly:

“Defend!”

As he uttered that word, the man before him slowly raised his eyebrows. The cold, calm demeanor that had masked him faded, and a fierce, predatory expression, like that of a tiger or leopard, reappeared on his face.

A faint smile slowly curved his lips, revealing a haughty look, just as he had appeared when his uncle led him from a mountain of corpses at the age of six. His cold voice emerged from between his lips, accompanied by a flash of golden light:

“Xuanfeng obeys.”