Chapter 625: 盛雷 Buried in the Earth

Pen and Ink Literature, Profound Mirror Immortal Clan!

Fei Qingyi rode the wind, the lake water rippling beneath her, islands scattered, and cultivators passing by with jade pendants at their waists. Banners fluttered on both banks. She looked up at the dense forests, jade courtyards, and cold clouds among the horses—all indicating one name: "Li."

She hadn't returned for decades. When she left, three clans had an agreement on the lake, with Yuanwu Peak personally forbidding mutual attacks. Now, everyone was named Li.

Fei Qingyi felt the slightly cold wind on the lake as she entered the north bank. The people who greeted her didn't recognize her, addressing her repeatedly as "Your Excellency." She silently waited for Fei Tongyu.

Soon, an old man approached, his face etched with the marks of time. His eyes protruded slightly, fingers were missing, and one leg hung limply, likely not yet fully healed. From a distance, he looked utterly disheveled.

Just like the current Fei clan.

She was only six when she left home, finding the old man before her utterly unfamiliar. Hiding her tears, she followed her father inside. In the small courtyard filled with plum blossoms, she asked, "Why aren't my uncles here?"

"They died by the river," he replied dismissively, without a hint of melancholy. His eyes blazed with a fierce, vengeful fire, his mind solely focused on his sword-wielding enemy by the river. He urgently pressed, "Have you confirmed it? That person is Si Yuanli! From the Si clan of Qingchi!"

Fei Qingyi felt completely estranged from her surroundings, and the old man before her was terrifyingly unfamiliar. She nodded silently, but Fei Tongyu became extremely agitated. His hunched body straightened as he asked, "Yuan Xiu? How many people does the Si clan have? What's their influence... what's their legacy?..."

His questions poured out like a torrent. Fei Qingyi answered each one, feeling utterly terrified, her slender hands within her white robes clenched white.

How precariously she had walked within the sect these past years was something her father, Fei Tongyu, consumed by hatred, was too preoccupied to ask.

Fei Qingyi stayed at Yuanwu Peak for three years. Yuanwu's lifespan dwindled, and he grew increasingly deranged. She gradually sensed signs of impending downfall, but what could she say? When Yu Muxian was alive, the Fei clan dared not associate with the Li clan. After Yu Muxian's death, there was Tang Shedou, and when Tang Shedou was away, there was Yu Su. The Fei clan had not corresponded with the Li clan for several years, partly due to her dissuasion—solely for self-preservation.

Fei Tongyu, however, paid no mind to her distraction. His questions grew more intrusive, gradually making him forget their current predicament. He then asked a question that startled her, his voice anxious: "How much longer does Yuan Xiu have to live?"

Fei Qingyi finally lowered her head. She closed her eyes, holding back her tears, and whispered, "Father, that's the Si clan... whose grand formation is beneath our feet... Don't you have any concerns?"

"Father, you've never been to Qingchi, nor have you seen a Purple Mansion cultivator... You don't know the terror of the Chi and Si clans, nor do you understand the Purple Mansion. Father, that's a Purple Mansion cultivator!"

Her words stunned Fei Tongyu. He frowned and said, "Of course I know something's off with the grand formation, but who in the Fei clan hasn't cursed in anger all these years? If there truly were any eavesdropping abilities, our clan would have suffered long ago. Besides, there's a formation right here in this small courtyard!"

Seeing that he completely ignored the latter half of her statement, the young woman wept, "I've seen Tang Yuanwu; he's a Purple Mansion cultivator. In their eyes, we're not ants, but tools, objects. Father, our every thought can be instantly perceived by them, and their thoughts can transform into our own desires. Father... that's a Purple Mansion cultivator..."

"Yuanwu is still inferior to True Master Yuan Xiu, and Lord Si is a Grand Cultivator in the late Purple Mansion stage. Alright, you've spurred the Fei clan, and me, to hate them, but what then? The moment we enter the sect, Si Yuanli might not know, but Lord Si would immediately become aware—and then, without rhyme or reason, disaster would strike, leading to the annihilation of our clan."

Fei Tongyu's lips trembled as he chided, "Lord Si Bo Xio, who soars high above, how would he bother to probe the thoughts of a junior like you!"

Fei Qingyi took a deep breath, her slightly reddened eyes fixed on her father: "But they can, and if they couldn't, they wouldn't be Purple Mansion cultivators. That is precisely what is terrifying."

Her words echoed in Fei Tongyu's mind, freezing him in place.

Fei Qingyi's journey had been a narrow escape from death, with one foot still in the underworld. She had no energy left for further argument. Her eyes revealed deep fatigue, and her voice grew softer: "Father, the deaths of our ancestors are enough. That was due to the overwhelming tide of events. The Jade True Immortal Foundation could be consumed by the Shangyuan, and he might not do it, but other sects must guard against it."

"If not the Si clan, there would be others... While the Li clan is indeed formidable, have you ever considered how different the Yu clan's Yu Mugao and Yu Muyuan might be? Why did the Xiao clan and many other forces behind the scenes choose the Li clan?"

"It was simply because at that time, all who cultivated Jade True were destined to die. Whether it was the Lord or Yu Yufeng, it was all due to the overwhelming tide. You might be dissatisfied with the family's situation, but from the moment True Monarch Shangyuan decided to strive for the Golden Core..."

She paused for several breaths, then said heavily, "Whether it's the Fei clan or the Yu clan, we were kicked off the card table on the lake long ago, destined for decline."

Fei Tongyu looked at her in disbelief, but Fei Qingyi didn't wait for her father to speak. She eagerly said, "Currently, the Si clan and the Li clan are on very good terms, and perhaps they will even join forces later. If the Li clan finds out about this, how will our family manage? Li Qinghong is somewhat better, but Li Xijun's methods are ruthless and formidable. How will our family be viewed then?"

Seeing her father silent and unmoving, sitting quietly by the jade table, she softly said, "Father... it's enough... Qingyi feels it's enough... Please rest well, forget these matters, and don't exert yourself anymore... Can we please let our family catch its breath?"

White snow scattered from Cold Cloud Peak. Fei Tongyu stood motionless, like a broken stone statue. Fei Qingyi waited in silence for a full half-tea-cup's worth of time. Finally, she rose and softly said, "Father, I must return to report."

Fei Tongyu remained oblivious. The young woman paused for a half-step, then turned and reached out, brushing away every snowflake from his shoulders. Only then did she ride the wind away, disappearing to the south.

Qingdu Mountain.

Li Xizhi and Yang Ruizao were pressed for time and only briefly inspected the grand formation on the lake before preparing to depart. Fei Qingyi, having returned to the Fei clan for a visit, respectfully followed behind them.

She was quite beautiful, dressed in white robes. When the large boat materialized in the air and everyone gathered before it, Fei Qingyi respectfully stated, "There is an item on the lake that originally belonged to your esteemed clan. In the past, it fell into Yuanwu Peak's possession and was never returned. It happens to be in my hands now, so I have come to return it to its rightful owner!"

"Oh?" Li Xizhi nodded, and Yang Ruizao, standing beside him, smiled and asked, "What item?"

Fei Qingyi lightly raised both hands, and a white light emerged, revealing a jade mountain.

This jade mountain was only the size of a fist, exquisitely carved and beautiful. It depicted immortal cranes and ancient trees, enveloped in swirling mist, and glowed with a crystal-clear jade luster, captivating to the eye.

"Jade Smoke Mountain!"

Everyone's gaze fell upon it. Li Xizhi took it, examining it carefully. There was a shallow sword mark on the side of the Jade Smoke Mountain.

"As expected, this mark should have been left by Li Tongya of Moon Gap, shouldn't it?" Yang Ruizao sighed, and Fei Qingyi softly said, "Precisely. This item is crafted from Superior Bright Profound Jade, making it exceptionally sturdy and impervious to countless magical powers. Only a person of such caliber could leave a mark on this artifact."

Li Qinghong stared at the sword mark, unable to tear her eyes away. Fei Qingyi's words were half-true, half-false. Now that the Jade True returned to its place, and the jade cultivation flourished, the Jade Smoke Mountain was indeed impervious to countless magical powers among Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, if it were placed in earlier times, this artifact would have been three points inferior. Ultimately, its true level of sturdiness was now impossible to verify.

This artifact held other significance for the Li clan. Li Xizhi was not in a hurry to take it, looking instead at Li Xijun. The young man in white immediately said softly, "This item was borrowed by Yu Su and is now considered returned. However, the Yu clan has been fragmented by various foreign surnames, and few direct descendants remain, with most having intermarried with our Li clan. It might be better to temporarily store it here, awaiting future generations."

Although the downfall of the Yu clan was closely related to the Li clan, it ultimately resulted from being carved up by various foreign surnames, and their descendants no longer bore the Yu surname. Li Xijun chose a pleasant way of speaking and accepted the Jade Smoke Mountain.

Seeing him accept it, Fei Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief. She quietly moved to a corner of the boat. Yang Ruizao looked at her with interest for a moment, exchanged a few polite words, and then the spirit boat headed south, returning to Qingchi Sect.

The Li clan's forces had already entered Nine Gates Peak, checking all the clans. Li Chengliao and others would handle the clean-up, so the Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't need to make another trip. Li Xijun and the others escorted them out of Moon-Gazing Lake, then turned their magic wind and headed towards the island. An Siwei was approaching on his magic wind, followed by several people, all looking respectful. He said in a deep voice, "Lord, the masters have all arrived."

Li Xijun calculated the time and said, surprised, "So punctual?"

An Siwei nodded, took a step closer to Li Xijun, and said in a slightly lowered voice, "We were looking for individuals who could break the Forbidden Grand Formation in several markets, and these masters immediately sought us out. They were all very polite and eager."

Li Xijun raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the four formation masters before him. He noticed that all four were Qi Condensation cultivators, not young, with unremarkable clothing, and their magical power was merely adequate.

He probed them, his pupil technique clearly revealing that none of them had any illusionary veils. Only then did he feel slightly relieved. Seeing Li Xijun look at them, the old men respectfully said, "Greetings, Lord!"

The path of formation arrays is as deep as the sea, one of the most complex among the hundred arts of cultivation. If rogue cultivators make any significant achievements in array arts, they are almost certainly destined not to reach Foundation Establishment.

Even the formation masters of some immortal sects rarely excelled in cultivation; not everyone could be a Wan Huaqian or Liu Changdie. Li Xijun didn't look down on them because of their cultivation level. He asked, "Have the masters examined that grand formation?"

Several of them nodded, and one even showed excitement, whispering, "It is my great fortune, Lin, to be able to break such an ancient Forbidden Array!"

This Array Master Lin was the oldest in appearance and held a particularly prominent position among the group. He followed half a step behind Li Xijun, respectfully saying, "We are all cultivators from Yue State and have long heard of the Forbidden Grand Formation here. We are also fond of arrays, and in earlier years, we all came to see it, so it's not unfamiliar to us. When we heard that your esteemed clan intended to break this array, we were overjoyed!"

"We discussed for a while. To suppress and break this kind of lightning domain forbidden array, it's best to use items of Metal Virtue, specifically Geng Metal and Dui Metal. These two are rare spirit items that can transform lightning."

"Oh?" Li Xijun raised an eyebrow, his gaze suddenly sharp, and asked, "My clan also cultivates the Lightning Dao. I've only heard that Earth Virtue can neutralize lightning, but not Geng Metal."

Array Master Lin was momentarily stunned. Some knowledge was a secret passed down within his lineage, but how could he be vague when a Foundation Establishment cultivator was asking? He had no choice but to explain in a low voice, "As the saying goes: 'Abundant lightning is absorbed by earth, residual electricity settles in metal.' The forbidden array is formed after the array is broken, belonging to residual electricity. This concept doesn't exist in cultivation, but it does in array formations."

Li Xijun silently noted the saying in his mind, musing, "'Abundant lightning is absorbed by earth'... No wonder! Dragon-type beings need to devour lightning, and it's often said that Qing Xuan is Earth Virtue. Yuan Tuan and the other cultivate Qing Xuan, and being considered keys to opening the Lightning Dao Grotto-heaven might be related to this."

"However, although Qing Xuan is Earth Virtue, it often relates to blessing rituals and witchcraft, and I don't know why..."

He pondered in silence, but Array Master Lin, assuming he was still listening, began to explain, "To break this array, you will need Metal Virtue artifacts as a complement, several types of Metal Virtue spirit items—half Geng Metal and half Dui Metal—to set up the formation. This will likely require the combined efforts of several Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Li Xijun nodded inwardly as he listened, then asked, "How many?"

Array Master Lin found it somewhat difficult to speak. He exchanged glances with the old men behind him, then whispered hesitantly, "It depends on the level of the artifacts and spirit items used... If there are excellent Foundation Establishment artifacts of Metal Virtue, the number of cultivators can be reduced to six to eight. If the spirit items are better, it can be lowered to four to five. If none are available, it might require more than ten..."

After saying this, he quickly explained, "It's not that this humble one is unskilled; ancient forbidden arrays are always difficult to unravel... If you wish for a more convenient method, you might need to invite high-level cultivators from immortal sects or schools..."

Li Xijun gently shook his head and replied, "Of course I know that. If this array were so easy to break, the Yu clan would have resolved it and moved into the lake long ago."

The several men nodded repeatedly. Array Master Lin then reminded them again, "This array is a transmission from our lineage, specifically designed to break these forbidden residual lightning formations. According to ancient records, half of the Dui Metal items will transform into Geng Metal... If your esteemed clan possesses any precious or vital Dui Metal spirit items, do not use them carelessly."

Li Xijun's clan naturally possessed many spirit items, most of which were brought out by Li Xuanfeng. He had originally thought that if there weren't enough, he could borrow from a few friendly clans. However, these words immediately made him frown. He asked, "How many spirit items are needed?"

Array Master Lin replied, "The more the better. Two, four, six, or eight—as long as Dui and Geng Metals are paired."

Among the spirit items brought by Li Xuanfeng were Dui Metal items: Zimuxuan Gold and Heart-Stirring Gold. The clan also possessed Geng Metal's Wuxuan Gold. If they borrowed one more Geng Metal item, they could gather exactly four types.

Furthermore, his own clan had many Foundation Establishment cultivators; four were currently at home, and more could be invited. After calculating, he felt confident.

The array masters still looked worried, clearly not doubting the clan's connections. Array Master Lin stammered a few times, thinking to himself, "I fear he underestimated what I meant by 'excellent artifacts'; ordinary Foundation Establishment artifacts won't suffice. I might end up embarrassing him later..."

He then hesitantly recalled the immortal bow, rumored to be cultivated by someone specializing in Geng Metal. The Li clan likely possessed many treasures, so he fell silent.

Li Xijun, however, was not worried.

Metal Virtue artifacts?

In all of vast Jiangnan, besides the treasures of a few immortal sects and schools, what Geng Metal artifact could compare to the Shenbai Spirit Bow, which had been consecrated by the ancient witch artifact "Summon the Lord to Wield the Golden Talisman" and refined by Li Xuanfeng's cultivation, standing as the true master of gold?

Furthermore, if the Shenbai Spirit Bow proved insufficient, the Li clan still held another treasure. Although this item had lost much of its wonder, its original form possessed extremely high status.

"The Six Xin Gold Coalescence Token can also be tried!"