Chapter 765: Retreat

Guan Gongxiao cupped his hands, still puzzled. He lifted his head, his forehead no longer pressed to the ground, and spoke in a low voice, "This junior is slow-witted... I still don't understand. According to the reports from the disciples who surrendered from Xuanyue, the person in the secret chamber was Fu'en... True Lord Zhaojing investigated him, and later, when I took his possessions, everyone said it was Fu'en."

Before Ye Gui could answer, Guan Gongxiao respectfully prostrated himself and said, "This junior understands your meaning, True Lord, that everything can be weighed. But Kong Haiying is a Purple Mansion seed, and his talent is high. How can we compromise on this matter? If this is easily glossed over and Kong Haiying breaks through, his threat might be no less than Li Ximing's."

Ye Gui finally showed a hint of approval. He nodded, and with his index finger and thumb, he flipped over the brown-yellow jade tablet in his hand, revealing golden inscriptions on its surface. The True Lord then whispered:

"How could I not know? I've seen Kong Haiying with my own eyes, exchanged blows with him, drunk wine with him, and even worked together to deal with that idiot Guo E. I'm also familiar with his aura; I wouldn't mistake it." His eyes were complex as he added, "The person in that secret chamber is indeed Kong Haiying. His aura is unmistakable. No matter how many mistakes there might be, this one is certain."

Guan Gongxiao suddenly understood and respectfully said, "This junior understands now! This is the Li family's sincerity: they spread the word that it was Fu'en to protect their reputation. In reality, they handed Kong Haiying over to us as a subtle plea for peace... No wonder... No wonder..."

With this realization, he instantly understood something else and continued, "Therefore... the fact that Funan is now heavily guarded while Xuanyue's wilderness is empty also makes sense. If not for your guidance, True Lord, this junior would have almost ruined everything!"

Ye Gui's gaze, however, did not linger on him. Instead, it seemed to transcend everything before him, fixed intently on the character for 'Kong' on the jade tablet in his hand. A hollow feeling settled in his heart: 'He's truly dead now...'

Guan Gongxiao was still pondering when he respectfully said, "Rest assured, True Lord, I will wipe out the Kong lineage..."

He was halfway through his sentence when Ye Gui looked at him with some fatigue. The True Lord's sharp eyes appeared even more fierce when he was tired, which immediately stunned Guan Gongxiao. He then heard Ye Gui say coldly, "Show Ziyan some respect. Kill, kill, kill... You've come all the way from overseas to Jiangbei, and you're still thinking about killing! Look at Chengyun Gate over there, learn from Zhong Qian! Chengyun Gate is already the leader of the righteous path in Jiangbei, and you're still going around killing!"

Guan Gongxiao prostrated himself in fear and said, "This junior knows his fault!"

Ye Gui slapped the jade pendant onto the table and said, "When you're inland, you must follow inland rules! Stop causing trouble and arguments. If I hadn't gone there myself back then, Gongsun Baifan would have long ago pledged allegiance to Chengshuize. Why would he serve you, Guan Gongxiao?!"

Guan Gongxiao lowered his head and said, "The five hundred thousand people in the wilderness hate Dushen. If we don't use them as blood offerings, we'll just leave behind countless enemies for nothing!"

Ye Gui's anger flared slightly, and he cursed, "You still have an overseas mindset! Li Cheng showed you how long ago, and you still haven't learned! Why is the Miyun region still in chaos now?! If we take the wilderness and don't touch these five hundred thousand people, granting great forgiveness, it will subvert the natural order. Minor clans will depose their legitimate heirs and elevate their illegitimate ones; minor sects will support outsiders and punish insiders. The foundation of Xuanyue's populace will immediately unravel. They will soon fall under Ziyan's control. Where will there be a chance to correct things? By then, there will only be one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators left, and three generations of enmity will be gone!"

Guan Gongxiao could only agree. True Lord Ye Gui then said slowly, "After this, I won't appear frequently, and the same goes for Bai Ye. Dismember the great clans, divide the spirit fields, prohibit mergers, and no longer practice the path of blood qi. Present yourselves as the righteous path."

Guan Gongxiao whispered, "Our lineage has many blood qi methods and techniques; we can only rely on overseas outposts for supplies."

Ye Gui shook his head and said, "Learn from the north: exert heavy pressure and exploitation, forcing those below to secretly refine blood qi. Then, you can purge demons and guard the path, and the blood qi will appear. There's something to learn from everywhere—east, south, west, and north... You still have much to improve upon."

"Learn from the Li family's authoritarian management of people's livelihoods, but don't imitate their rigid self-restraint. Learn from the Jinwu Directorate's prohibition of mergers, but don't imitate their self-preservation and lack of ambition. You can learn from Chengyun's manipulation of public opinion to become a righteous sect, and from Xuanmiao's tricking disciples into arduous cultivation, gathering spiritual energy for the True Lords from top to bottom. Even Situ Mo's opportunistic tactics are worth learning..."

"As for blood qi, your own disciples should use it less from now on. Only consume it when injured, and that's enough. Don't let people see them full of turbid energy, looking like demonic cultivators at first glance!"

The True Lord stood up and walked away. He glanced at Guan Gongxiao's expression, and his words finally took on a profound, earnest tone: "Your aunt died young and couldn't bear me children. I'm also too lazy to remarry. The Dushen Path will belong to you and your Guan clan in the future. If it weren't for your mother's dying wish, I would have impatiently changed the Young Master long ago. How could I have taught you all this? You must manage yourself well!"

Guan Gongxiao was moved to tears with gratitude. He respectfully kowtowed three times and replied, "Uncle, this humble nephew has noted every word of your guidance. You, True Lord, are the master of Dushen, and you will be for a hundred, even a thousand years. Gongxiao will always be at your service, never wavering in loyalty."

"Haha!" Ye Gui laughed twice and scolded, "Get lost... You're quick to learn flattery."

Guan Gongxiao withdrew. Ye Gui, however, felt a sense of lament. He stood up and murmured, "A junior like Gongxiao might not be a misfortune. An outstanding one like Li Zhouwei, if he doesn't strive to reach the clouds, will fall into the abyss—too dangerous. An incompetent one like Kong Guxi is merely capable of overturning things—too extreme. Talents like Zhong Qian and Li Xijun are gifts from heaven, too few. Just one who is willing to learn and listen is enough."

The Wilderness.

As the sky grew darker, Kong Guxi emerged from the hall and saw a group of people rushing up the peak. The old man leading them was his elder brother, Kong Guli. His expression was a mix of shock and terror, and he immediately cried out, "Ninth Brother! The Dushen Path is attacking!"

The situation was urgent, and Kong Guli even forgot the honorifics, blurting out "Ninth Brother." Kong Guxi had no time to mind; his limbs felt numb as he asked, "How many people have come?!"

Kong Xiaxiang stood to the side. The arrogance in the young man's brows had long faded, and he said urgently, "It's said that Guan Gongxiao, the Young Master of Dushen, is personally leading the charge! There are over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the entire world is filled with their spell light. Our scouts took one look from afar and immediately retreated in a hurry."

"I just went down to give orders," Kong Xiaxiang continued, "telling the direct lines and cultivators in each prefecture to escort the common people to safety as much as possible. Most of them are loyal..."

"Guan Gongxiao is here!" Kong Guxi was startled and gritted his teeth, saying, "There were arrangements to retreat years ago, but they've come so fast, and we might not be able to stop them. It will be difficult to survive..."

As Kong Guxi spoke, he immediately returned to the hall. He called out, "Qiuyan! Go and bring all our belongings!"

As he finished speaking, Kong Qiuyan responded and withdrew. But then, a thunderous roar echoed in mid-air, and a raging, fiery grey cloud appeared. White and red light illuminated the sky, and cloud rings hurtled through the air.

"Boom!" Massive twin-flames poured down, causing the mountain's formation to shake violently and the main hall to sway precariously. Kong Guxi had no choice but to rise on the wind and venture outside the grand formation.

The person in the sky stood on cloud rings, holding a Twin-Flame command tablet, with raging grey flames behind them. Who else could it be but Guo Hongjian?

"Remnants of the Kong clan! Come out and face death!"

As the Sect Master of Xuanyue, Kong Guxi had many magical artifacts at his disposal. With a gentle flick of his sleeve, he immediately summoned a pale green mountain peak and a deep black banner. Holding the banner, the mountain peak flew up to meet the flames. He said, "Fellow Daoist Guo, what's with such a fiery temper!"

He had long harbored a deep hatred for Guo Hongjian in his heart, but he couldn't afford to offend Scarlet Reef Island. Even with a heart full of rage, he couldn't utter a single angry word.

Just as he activated his magical artifact, he felt scalding twin-flames raining down all around him, causing his entire artifact to creak. He heard a series of incantations from the other side and vaguely saw a red light rushing towards him.

Twin-flames could harm one's life essence and were among the most insidious cultivation paths. How could he dare to be easily hit? He fearfully activated his black banner.

But Kong Guxi had little innate talent. He had spent half his life as a wastrel and had little experience in combat. Although Guo Hongjian wasn't particularly clever, he had experienced life-and-death battles multiple times. He feinted, then unleashed a fiery rope from another direction, aiming to hook Kong Guxi's artifact.

"Clang!" Fortunately, Kong Guli arrived in time. The old man was much more experienced in combat. He produced a spear, hooked the fiery rope, and a flash of fire erupted in the air. Guo Hongjian was about to utter a fierce threat to bolster his prestige, when he heard a thunderous roar from below: "You scoundrel!"

From below, a man in golden armor and a mask surged up. He held a spear in one hand and an axe in the other. The face beneath the mask was unclear, but his exposed eyes were bloodshot. He bellowed, "Harm not my Xuanyue Sect Master!"

He plunged into the flames like a golden streak, and with an axe, he struck a cloud ring, causing Guo Hongjian to stumble. Only then was Kong Guxi able to extricate himself. He saw bright light radiating in the sky, white luminous stairs descending from above, and Cui Jueyin appearing, who said softly:

"Sect Master, leave this to me! You take the others and retreat first."

Kong Guxi quickly retreated. He tried three or four times but couldn't extinguish the flames on his artifact, and his clothes were also starting to smolder. Kong Guli stepped closer and helped extinguish the twin-flames. Several other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Kong family also gathered around.

Kong Guxi looked at the black clouds on the horizon. Fu Yuezi was incredibly brave; with his Immortal Foundation Heavenly Golden Armor activated, he shone with golden light, working with Cui Jueyin's spells to firmly entangle the opponent. But more people were flying in from a distance. Kong Guxi was alarmed and asked, "Dushen is attacking with such momentum, what about Moon Lake?"

"It's said that the Dushen Path forces are attacking Funan, and Situ Mo has taken the opportunity to head south. Funan is in peril!" Kong Xiaxiang replied. Kong Guxi was horrified and asked:

"The Situ family was once our ally, but now it has come to this... Do any of you have a plan?"

Kong Guxi had already told Kong Qiuyan to pack the spiritual items. His meaning was quite clear. Even the dullest among them could see it. They respectfully said, "Dushen is powerful now, we should still retreat."

Kong Guxi then lamented, "But... but our Xuanyue people are still in the wilderness."

Several people immediately pulled him to his feet. Kong Guxi lamented verbally, but his legs were very weak. He was pulled along and began to move. The group swiftly flew on clouds like the wind, nearly leaving behind Kong Qiuyan, who was packing their valuables.

Kong Qiuyan, looking embarrassed, led the disciples in pursuit. Kong Guxi immediately said, "Quickly inventory the spiritual items and magical artifacts!"

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators quickly began counting. Having lost the Xuanyue mountain gate once before, losing their new outpost didn't seem as painful. Only a few disciples whose families were still in the wilderness, likely to be separated, began to quietly sob.

Kong Guxi then sent a few people out, quietly instructing them, "I have already crushed the jade talisman; everyone in the regions knows to flee. If you are worried, you can go and assist some of them."

Most of the Xuanyue disciples who remained until this moment were related to the Kong family. Their direct relatives had already been moved to the lake. Only a few individuals were on local guard duty, and they were not far from here, so they dispersed to provide assistance.

Kong Guli was slightly uneasy and asked, "Sect Master, if we abandon this place and flee, will Moon Lake punish us?"

"It should be... nothing serious..." Kong Guxi paused, then lowered his head and said, "Dushen is attacking with such ferocity. If we can save our lives, I believe the True Lord will also be relieved. As for punishments... they shouldn't be too severe..."

He sighed, "Leaving Guan Gongxiao aside for now, there's also Guo Hongjian, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. His twin-flames are fierce, and we are no match for him. If we were any slower and caught by one of them, it's hard to say if we'd survive. If the other one came, we wouldn't be able to escape at all."

The group stood in silence. After a while, the eastern sky was already covered by black clouds, and the dense forest of Moon Lake's First Mountain on the eastern shore gradually appeared before their eyes. Only then did Kong Guxi become alarmed, turning back several times and whispering, "First, let's go see the Third Young Master, Li Chenghuai... We'll visit later..."

He hurried towards the eastern shore's border, but found cultivators moving about everywhere, indicating an unstable situation. Kong Guxi landed on the ground and sent someone to inquire. After a moment, he saw a tall man with golden eyes and long hair, walking with steady steps, quickly descend from the hall.

"Third Young Master!"

Li Jiangxia had been extremely busy these past few days. The people in the wilderness were restless and unstable, and many matters required him, the legitimate Third Young Master, to personally resolve. Now, with Dushen attacking, the troubles only multiplied.

Although Li Jiangxia looked somewhat worried, he was still quite polite when he saw Kong Guxi. He nodded and eagerly asked, "What's the situation in the east? I saw Sir Cui head over there. Did he manage to stop them? Does Sect Master have any injuries?"

Kong Guxi replied, "It's a shame to say, the Dushen Path's forces came too quickly. Guo Hongjian is very strong, but Fellow Daoist Cui blocked him. Scarlet Reef Island is plotting mischief. I didn't dare to stay longer and proactively retreated. I wasn't injured."

Li Jiangxia had only recently bound Fu Xie and sent him away, and Kong Guxi had also endured the pain of personally executing him. Yet, both tacitly avoided mentioning it, appearing to hold no grudges. Li Jiangxia merely raised his head slightly and asked, "The Xuanyue people are still in the wilderness. Can Sect Master arrange for disciples to bring them to the east bank?"

"There were arrangements, but Guo Hongjian came so quickly that we fled in disarray and lost our bearings. However, I have already instructed our disciples to gather them."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangxia lowered his brows, nodded, and then asked again, "Have the direct lines of the minor clans and the orthodox sects under Xuanyue's rule been brought out?"

Kong Guxi was slightly uneasy and replied, "No... they just received the message. We'll count later and see how many were saved."

Li Jiangxia raised his chin, looking thoughtful, and replied, "Since you, Master, have already escorted your disciples here, have your disciples return to the east bank. Go to the junction between the east bank and the wilderness, and depending on the situation, assist Sir Cui in his retreat."

Kong Guxi nodded repeatedly. An Xuantong, who was behind Li Jiangxia, sighed inwardly and silently lowered his head: 'What a pity for Xuanyue's foundation, ultimately coming to naught... From now on, what stands before me is truly no longer the Xuanyue Sect Master, but merely a remnant of the Kong family!'