Chapter 631: 喜事

As Li Xijun and the others were discussing, the jade seal on the stone table flickered slightly, indicating someone had arrived outside the cave mansion.

Li Qinghong activated a spell, and the Chongming Dongxuan Screen reverted to its original form, shrinking into her sleeve. She opened the stone door of the cave mansion and saw Bi Yuzhuang entering with a smile. Bi Yuzhuang looked at the Li Xijun brothers and said, "Your clan truly produces a steady stream of talents!"

Li Xijun thanked her respectfully. Bi Yuzhuang asked a couple of casual questions, clearly not intending to linger in small talk. She quickly grew serious and whispered, "We have made arrangements regarding Hengzhu. If you have a moment, please listen."

She took out a sea chart from her sleeve and explained, "Those of us guarding the islands should primarily defend the main island and make our presence known. Wang Fu, despite his strength, is extravagant and extremely fond of women. He doesn't guard the main hall on Qingzhou Island but has instead built a grand palace on Xifeng Island. Only a few of his confidantes go in and out of that island, making it difficult to ascertain his movements."

"Fortunately, he pays close attention to the reefs around Qingzhou. Even though he indulges in debauchery, he never misses patrolling the reefs. He also dotes on his concubines, often taking them out on pleasure boats, completely unclothed, when he seeks enjoyment at sea..."

Bi Yuzhuang clearly knew this person very well. She said softly, "We have a magical artifact called the Water-Guiding Conch. It was formed from the body of a demon creature that failed to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. Although it has little offensive power, it can manipulate water veins."

'What a treasure!' Li Qinghong secretly envied it. Manipulating water veins was completely different from simply controlling water. She thought that merely with this artifact, one could likely travel through the seabed as if riding on water currents, achieving terrifying speeds.

"This artifact leaves no magical traces. We will first agitate the water veins to guide him north. Then, we'll arrange for a demon general and a rogue cultivator to pass by, fighting and chasing each other over a Shaoyang spiritual item. He surely won't miss this opportunity and will get up to pursue them."

Li Qinghong listened, then pondered for a moment before replying, "I heard he possesses a bell, a sword, and a bead. The bell is called Chenwu and can seize one's spirit. The sword is called Pingdong, a Shaoyang treasure. The bead is called Qunqing and can perceive things far and near. We should be careful."

The Li family was determined to obtain the item and naturally wished to avoid any mishaps. Li Xijun reminded her in a low voice, "Senior, Wang Fu indeed has some skill. It's said he's adept at reading expressions and observing subtle cues. Ordinary chase and escape tactics might not fool him."

Li Qinghong's information was hearsay, but Li Xijun's conclusion about Wang Fu's observational skills came from directly witnessing his actions. He specifically brought it up. Bi Yuzhuang nodded, musing to herself, "The Li family has researched this person so thoroughly... It seems they've been coveting Wang Fu's possessions for a long time."

She smiled, saying, "Of course. To prevent him from seeing through it, the rogue cultivator was specifically lured there, and the demon general is a carefully chosen fish demon. This demon doesn't know the full details of the plan."

Bi Yuzhuang revealed a cunning expression and whispered, "Once he obtains the treasure and is pursued by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he will undoubtedly flee back to his demon cave. We just need to adjust the water veins to direct his concubines' spiritual boats north. They are bound to encounter him along the way."

"Wang Fu is notorious and wicked. When the fish demon sees Wang Fu, it will surely realize it can't make it back to its demon cave and will only flee in the direction away from Qingzhou, hoping Wang Fu will abandon the pursuit out of concern for the main island."

She said softly, "This way, everything will appear genuine, and the more he observes, the more credible it will seem. We just need to set up an ambush in the direction opposite Qingzhou. Our clan also has a magical artifact called Xijia, which is skilled at concealing tracks and evading detection."

Li Qinghong reviewed her arrangements and replied, "Choosing this particular fish demon won't be easy. Thank you for the trouble, Senior."

Bi Yuzhuang chuckled softly and responded, "Don't worry. This fish demon is cunning enough and swift in evasion. That's why it's suitable as a pawn. Ordinary incapable creatures wouldn't qualify."

After discussing some details, she said, "Please wait a few days. On the day Wang Fu leaves the island, several elders from my clan will use blessing spells to empower you fellow Daoists, ensuring greater certainty."

Li Ximing and Li Xijun exited the cave mansion. Outside was a tall pavilion platform, with a bustling crowd below. The sun was shining brightly.

Li Xijun was still silently pondering, though nothing showed on his face. Li Ximing's mood, however, grew heavier. He glanced at his clan brother and asked, "Xijun, do you have any plans for now?"

"Nothing," Li Xijun casually replied. He shifted the sword from his back to his embrace, his gaze sweeping over the faces of passersby on the street. He whispered, "Hengzhu's reputation is indeed good. Looking at the attire in the market, there are more rogue cultivators and clan cultivators here than in Qingzhou Market. For the Three Sects and Seven Gates, Purple Mansion Immortal Clans receive decent treatment wherever they go, so nothing stands out. But rogue cultivators are shrewd; they know where to go for safety."

Li Ximing followed his gaze. Li Xijun gently advised, "Brother, you don't need to worry. We will do our best. I will go inspect the island myself."

Carrying his sword, he exited from the side of the pavilion and walked through the market, taking out a map to examine it.

The sea area around Qingzhou and Hengzhu reefs was vast. The closest islands were Jindou Island and Yuezhou Island. Further north, in the shallow seas, lay Yihuo Reef of Chijiao Island. Among these three sects, only Tangjin Gate and Changxiao Gate had a good relationship, but Tangjin had been secluded for many years and lacked the strength to intervene now.

"It's just that there are people from Chijiao Island in Wang Fu's palace. I only hope nothing goes wrong when the time comes."

Chijiao and Changxiao were said to have an extremely poor relationship. However, when Li Xijun used his Immortal Mirror for insight, he clearly detected cultivators wearing Chijiao Island attire on Wang Fu's island. It seemed their mutual animosity was merely superficial; secretly, there was no telling how they might be colluding.

Hengzhu's plan to ensnare Wang Fu was already quite comprehensive, yet Li Xijun had many thoughts. "When Wang Fu leaves, I should first go to Xifeng Island to confirm he has brought this spiritual item."

Bi Yuzhuang acted very efficiently. Soon, cultivators arrived, and the group left the island via a small path through the market. After flying over the sea for a while, Bi Yuzhuang appeared in mid-air, clad in a red robe.

She was clearly in high spirits, her bright smile uncontrollable at the corners of her eyes. She evidently had good news. She nodded and said, "Qinghong!"

Bi Yuzhuang seemed to be holding a translucent, shimmering veil that appeared and disappeared. Upon seeing the group, she tossed it into the air. One corner of the veil remained in her hand, while the rest expanded rapidly, covering everyone above.

White mist, condensed by the artifact, materialized under Li Qinghong's feet, as if she were standing on solid ground. Beneath the veil, there were three other people: two dressed in red robes, and the remaining one in pleated clothes with blue and green patterns.

Bi Yuzhuang introduced them, "These two brothers are junior members of my sect. The elder is Feng Chong, and the younger is Feng Yu. Both have studied magic since childhood, are highly skilled in spells, and have been gaining experience at sea. Changxiao Gate shouldn't be aware of them."

As soon as she finished speaking, both brothers, who were quite handsome, respectfully responded. Since neither party knew each other nor had any connections, there was naturally little to say. Bi Yuzhuang then pointed to the man in the blue and green patterned clothes and said delightedly, "This is Daoist Chen Xuanyu of the Yuyang Chen clan. His sword cultivation is astounding, but his family is low-key and has never sent him out. I just happened to run into him; what a pleasant surprise!"

This was Li Qinghong's first time meeting a cultivator from the Yuyang Chen clan of Yue. Before the Xiao family, this clan was the only Purple Mansion Immortal Clan in Yue. They had always maintained a low profile and were actually not far from her own family.

The southern shore of Wangyue Lake was the northern foothills of Mount Dali. Crossing Mount Dali to its southern foothills led to Tongmo Prefecture, the ancient Yuyang, where the Yuyang Chen clan had resided for generations.

Chen Xuanyu, wearing a Daoist crown, politely nodded to her. A black-sheathed magic sword hung at his waist, fitting well with his blue and green patterned robe. His gaze quickly moved from her face, lingering instead on Li Xijun.

'The Yuyang Chen clan! These families truly only maintain superficial harmony.' Li Qinghong had never heard of any discord between the Yuyang Chen clan and others. She hadn't expected them to be involved in a scheme to eliminate a direct descendant of Changxiao Gate! Moreover, this person showed no intention of hiding it, suggesting that the conflict between the Yuyang Chen clan and Changxiao was likely common knowledge among Purple Mansion cultivators.

She took a quiet breath, clasped her hands, and replied, "Greetings, fellow Daoist."

A hint of delight appeared beneath Bi Yuzhuang's radiant expression as she smiled. "I never imagined it would go this smoothly. Originally, with either Daoist Chen or Qinghong making a move, combined with the grand formation, I had over seventy percent chance of keeping him here... I didn't expect Daoist Chen to be traveling here coincidentally and to offer his generous assistance. This is a Dao Tribulation for Wang Fu; he has nowhere to escape!"

Li Xijun heard her mention "traveling here coincidentally," but he didn't believe it for a second. He simply felt relieved that a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Yuyang Chen clan could also stand behind them, minimizing the danger of this trip.

Instead, Bi Yuzhuang looked at the two with a beaming smile and said softly, "Things are going too smoothly; we actually won't need Ximing and Xijun... Your clan can simply observe. It would also be good for you to return and preside over your family."

"Brother..." Li Xijun's mind was settling, and he was about to speak when Li Ximing interrupted him. Li Ximing said respectfully, "Junior Brother Jun's cultivation is still low. It might be better for him to return. I still possess some suppressing abilities, so I'll stay here to lend a hand, just in case he manages to escape, which would be undesirable."

Li Qinghong nodded then and instructed Li Xijun a few words. The young man in white carefully considered it several times, musing to himself, 'This works out perfectly. I was going to inspect the island anyway. Just in case, if he's arrogant enough to leave the Purple Mansion spiritual item on the island, we might need to plan again, and going back and forth would waste time. It's better if I oversee it personally and eliminate any last potential error.' He finally nodded and said, "Alright."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xuanyu finally spoke, his voice gentle and tinged with regret, "I heard that young friend has cultivated a Sword Origin. This is my first time seeing a Frost-Snow lineage Sword Origin in Jiangnan, and you are also a descendant of a Sword Immortal. I would still like to spar with you and have a good discussion on swordsmanship."

Ever since Li Xijun had broken through to Sword Origin, he couldn't grasp the slightest trace of the ethereal sword intent above it. Hearing that Chen Xuanyu's swordsmanship was astonishing, he also felt a desire to exchange ideas and readily said, "Senior, rest assured! Once this matter is concluded, I will visit you in Tongmo Prefecture or the East Sea!"

He bowed to each of them and departed, riding on snow. Bi Yuzhuang then looked only at Li Qinghong and praised, "I see he is meticulous in thought and quite talented in swordsmanship. He truly has the demeanor of a Sword Immortal, which is delightful and commendable."

Li Xijun's appearance was absolutely flawless, and both his demeanor and intellect were very pleasing to elders. It was no wonder Bi Yuzhuang spoke this way. Her words startled Li Qinghong from her silent contemplation, and she began to thank her.

"Seeing this young man, one can imagine Yue Que," Chen Xuanyu articulated crisply, a look of longing in his eyes. Bi Yuzhuang stood beside Li Qinghong and whispered, "As Qinghong and I discussed earlier, Qinghong will choose one item from Wang Fu's possessions first, and the remaining items will be equally divided among the three families."

She dispatched the Feng brothers to set up a formation in the sea. The others sat cross-legged within the spiritual veil artifact, waiting quietly.

Wangyue Lake.

On Pingya Islet, formation lights glowed snow-white. Several cultivators docked on the small islets in the lake, either surveying the land veins or managing demon creatures. Small formations occasionally lit up, and spiritual boats traversed the waters.

Li Chengliao descended by the lake, riding the wind. His true essence was solid and dazzling. He had cultivated the Li family's most precious "Bright Splendorous Yuan Scripture," and his true essence was clearly superior, making his face appear much more imposing.

Beside him, Li Chenghuai practiced the third-grade "Aura Concealment Scripture," which had a rather ancient feel. Unlike his brother, his aura was unnoticeable, and his cultivation level was difficult to gauge.

When he was in the Qi Refining stage, he also had the option of "Pheasant Fire Long-Stride Art." Li Chenghuai had read both and felt that many of his siblings already cultivated fire-attribute techniques. Since he preferred low-key cultivation methods, he chose this one.

The various Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Li family had been away for several months. The brothers had already organized the islet and resealed the three main peaks: Peak Curtain, Peak Bell, and Peak Right. Now, the entire Li family was operating smoothly, surprisingly regaining its vibrancy.

"Most of the long-standing elders, veteran cultivators in fetal breathing, and those stuck in early Qi Refining stages died in the north. With those who occupied positions above them all gone, the younger generation naturally rose to power..."

Li Chengliao, having personally experienced this, understood it best. The Li family was harsh on its clansmen, though the various peaks were relatively open-minded. However, the Li family lacked everything except people. Spiritual fields and spiritual opportunities were entirely insufficient for the cultivators, making such events even a rare good thing.

Li Chengliao's concern was entirely different. He asked, "According to the clan's information... where is that grand-uncle...?"

Li Chenghuai calculated and replied, "He should be arriving soon, probably in less than fifteen minutes."

In the months since the Li family's Foundation Establishment cultivators had been away, the Qingchi Sect's interior had been turbulent. Although the Chi family had stabilized their position, Sima Yuanli was not to be trifled with.

First, the Linggu family reported demonic disturbances in the South Sea for three consecutive days, requiring personnel to be dispatched there. The forces stationed in the East Sea also needed to be moved. Several of Yu Su's confidantes from his former station either fled or were brought back to the sect, leaving no one available.

Sima Yuanli sent people to incite further, making the Chi family's cultivators hesitant to go to the East Sea, and even if they went, they dared not leave the island. This resulted in the sea remaining unguarded for a long time. Meanwhile, he heaped praise upon Li Xuanfeng and expedited arrangements for Li Xizhi to oversee affairs in the East Sea.

Furthermore, Ning Hejing sometimes disagreed with the Chi family, forcing Chi Fubo to make numerous compromises and leaving him overwhelmed. After extensive discussions, Li Yuanqin finally had the opportunity to return to the Li family to offer condolences.

Li Chengliao guessed that the Sima family intended to sow discord between Ning Hejing and Chi Fubo. Chi Fubo, on the other hand, felt that the Li family could still be won over. This matter, surprisingly, was the only point on which both factions agreed.

"Fortunately, there are still elders present." If Li Xuanxuan hadn't been in the mountains, Li Chengliao truly wouldn't have known how to face Li Yuanqin. The brief encounter he had with him that day at Tujun Gate left a lasting impression; he was not an easy person to deal with.

He waited by the islet for a while. Traces of a cloud-boat glowing with rosy light appeared on the horizon. Li Chenghuai sighed and replied, "The esteemed one has arrived."