Chapter 815: The Secret of the Grand Ancestor

"So it's the Beihai Dragon King. You only needed to summon me; there was no need to send an invitation."

The demon soldier in green cautiously raised his eyes and saw a valiant man in soft armor step out of the cabin. His attitude was rather polite as he simply said, "Lead the way."

These green-clad demons were all at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Li Zhouwei's pupil technique discerned that they seemed to be a type of deep-sea green shrimp. To command such presence in Beihai, they must surely be dragon kin. Li Zhouwei had a relationship with Ding Jiao, so this Dragon King could be considered an elder.

Then, among the sea creatures, a jeweled, ornate high-backed chair, as large as a house, was lifted. Beneath it were nine black-backed mystic turtles. The armrests were supported by two white Hook Snake heads, smooth and delicate, outlined with blue patterns to form talismans, looking quite fierce.

It wasn't uncommon for dragon kin to use Hook Snake nobility as decoration, especially for guest seating armrests. They often used Hook Snake heads, disdaining black or grey snakes and only using white ones. When Li Zhouwei settled into the seat, his entire body was smaller than the heads on the armrests. The group of demons swayed as they carried him away.

Li Zhouwei had initially thought it was merely an official of some dragon kin who had noticed him. He had not expected the Beihai Dragon King himself to send an invitation. While seemingly a great honor, it was actually a bit of a headache for him.

'Is this really necessary... Kindness without reason is almost always for a purpose, especially when it comes to demons of the Dragon Kin's caliber. Dragons and White Qilin do share a bond, and Ding Jiao mentioned that this Beihai Dragon King had even met Emperor Weigong. But if the relationship were truly reliable, there wouldn't be a single White Qilin left in the entire East Sea...'

He sat cross-legged, contemplating deeply for a while. The vehicle beneath him, seemingly slow, was actually moving quickly, covering several hundred miles. The current was swift. The toad, staying beneath the seat, fawningly called out, "Your Majesty, we've arrived at Changliu Mountain!"

'Changliu Mountain?' Li Zhouwei immediately felt something was amiss. 'Since the Beihai Dragon King invited me, why isn't he inviting me to the Dragon Palace in Beihai... What does he want me for at Changliu Mountain!'

He frowned. The green-clad demon beside him was quite perceptive. As soon as the toad had bellowed, he immediately followed up, adding in a gentle voice, "Indeed, Changliu Mountain is just ahead. Our Venerable Lord rarely comes out of seclusion and is currently on the mountain discussing the profound with a True Person. Knowing that Your Majesty was also in Beihai, he extended an invitation to meet."

'It seems this True Person from Changliu Mountain... is truly a trusted confidante of the dragon kin.'

Li Zhouwei nodded thoughtfully. The vehicle stopped at the foot of the mountain, where a young woman, appearing to be a Taoist nun, was waiting. She was sixteen or seventeen, with rosy cheeks. Upon seeing him, she actually bowed down and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty. Both esteemed sirs are waiting on the mountain."

Li Zhouwei's heart trembled slightly, and his expression changed. He re-examined the immortal mountain but saw no one else, only this one Taoist nun. The two green-clad shrimp demons followed closely onto the shore. The Taoist nun from Changliu Mountain bowed repeatedly, while the two demons merely nodded.

Li Zhouwei remained silent.

'Changliu Mountain is also a Purple Mansion lineage... to debase itself so. The Sea of Heavens... indeed, it's like the backyard of the dragon kin...'

He ascended the mountain. Along the way, he saw no cultivators coming or going, nor any herb gardens or pavilions. The spiritual trees on both sides of the path were very dense, almost completely obscuring everything, making him feel even more uneasy.

Soon, they reached the summit. The two green-clad demons moved ahead to lead the way, finally revealing a luxurious and vast palace. They passed through three successive gates, all guarded by demons. The pillars on either side grew increasingly tall, adorned with patterns of merging water waves.

"Venerable Lord! The White Qilin has been brought!" The two demons spoke in unison, their voices echoing in the vast hall. From ahead, however, came a sweet, high-pitched giggle, light and rustling.

Li Zhouwei bowed, slightly raising an eyebrow.

Seated on the highest main seat was a robust, grey-haired man with a high nose and narrow eyes, his hair disheveled. His two eyes were startlingly large, emitting a flickering red glow. The palace's light was already dim, making him appear, from a distance, like a demon in a somber mist.

He wore a silver-white soft armor, from the gaps of which long, greyish-white hairs streamed down, flowing over his body armor. His palms were as large as human heads, and his fingernails gleamed coldly as they pressed against the armrest.

The demon sat with his legs wide apart, his thighs as broad as a table. On his left knee sat a woman with long, black hair and a pure face. She wore a sheer, half-white gauze robe, her pale white thighs and most of her upper body exposed. Her eyes held a deep, indistinct color.

Within the vast palace grounds, dozens of alluring Taoist nuns of various appearances sat circled below the main seat. Some carried fruit platters, others held golden teapots, playfully chatting and each possessing her own charm.

The rosy-cheeked Taoist nun who had greeted him earlier now ascended with them. Smiling, she greeted her companions, joined her sisters, and began to caress the Dragon King's feet.

Li Zhouwei slightly lowered his gaze, choosing not to look. His suspicions were suddenly confirmed: 'As expected...'

The one on the main seat was undoubtedly the Beihai Dragon King. The cultivator who had greeted him earlier had said, "Both esteemed sirs are waiting on the mountain." Given the dissolute appearance of the entire Changliu Mountain, who else could the Taoist nun sitting on his knee be? It was most likely Xiang Chun, the True Person of Purple Mansion from Changliu Mountain...

'No wonder... no wonder Changliu Mountain receives such preferential treatment. No wonder Taoist Nun Xiang Chun treats humans and demons equally. The demons in Beihai only dare to say that the True Person and the Dragon King have a very good relationship... This is far beyond what "a very good relationship" can describe...'

'I heard that Taoist Nun Xiang Chun is at the mid-Purple Mansion stage, not very old, and only broke through in the last hundred years. The Beihai Dragon King is old enough to be her grand-master... Several of his dragon sons are probably older than True Person Xiang Chun... She couldn't possibly be his legitimate wife. Dragons are naturally lustful... and no one would dare spread rumors.'

This was indeed an awkward situation. The Beihai Dragon King certainly wouldn't mind this relationship being known, which is why he sat there so openly. However, Taoist Nun Xiang Chun's thoughts were harder to discern.

Li Zhouwei couldn't figure it out at the moment. After completing his bow, he could only vaguely say, "Greetings to both esteemed sirs..."

The grey-haired man spoke, his voice matching his fierce appearance, rough and sinister: "White Qilin... I've heard Jiao'er mention you. This time, as I emerged from seclusion, it happened that you were in Beihai, so I decided to meet you."

He released his hand, allowing Xiang Chun to get off his lap. With a wave of his sleeve, the group of female cultivators below dispersed. The moment Taoist Nun Xiang Chun's feet touched the ground, a set of dark grey Taoist robes instantly appeared, covering her completely. She then sat down in a side seat.

Only then did the Beihai Dragon King say, "This is True Person Xiang Chun, the master of Changliu Mountain."

After he finished speaking, True Person Xiang Chun replied in a soft voice, "Lieyun... so this is the White Qilin. I've read a lot about them in books, but this is my first time seeing one."

Unsure of what these two were planning, Li Zhouwei could only do his best to show proper etiquette, returning their greeting.

Dongfang Lieyun's status was clearly incomparable to Ding Jiao's. He did not offer Li Zhouwei a seat, but spoke with interest: "When I was young, I met Emperor Weigong. This one is a direct descendant of a Golden Core cultivator and the lord of a Celestial Dynasty, even purer than he was. However, the emotional aspect doesn't quite resemble a White Qilin, which I suppose is due to the decline of the nation's fortune and the instability of the Mingyang Fruit Position."

Xiang Chun nodded and softly said, "That was during the Wei Kingdom. Now, he is a White Qilin rarely seen in the world."

The grey-haired man blinked slightly, and his pair of reddish eyes finally turned towards Li Zhouwei. Dongfang Lieyun chuckled, "I sent for you because of Xiang Chun."

Li Zhouwei looked up. The Dragon King said indifferently, "Mingyang and Jueyin are born from female water. Xiang Chun requires White Qilin blood to cultivate her divine abilities."

A chill ran up Li Zhouwei's spine, but he quickly composed himself, his expression unchanged. He simply replied, "It is this junior's fortune to be able to assist the True Person."

Dongfang Lieyun let out a hearty laugh, gave a slight nod to Xiang Chun, and gently said, "I'll take him away now. Once he has matured for the full term, I will extract the White Qilin blood and send it to you."

He then rose from the main seat, casting a massive shadow. Without another glance at anyone else, he waved his sleeve, and immediately, azure seawater gathered beneath his feet, and he vanished into the void.

The entire great hall instantly became empty. True Person Xiang Chun remained standing in place, coldly gazing at the emptiness. After a long moment, a faint smile appeared on her face.

"White Qilin blood... it's mine!"

Amidst a luminous blue, a shimmering expanse appeared before Li Zhouwei, gradually revealing a crystal-like palace. Jade-green steps emerged one by one into his sight. He exhaled. Not far away, on a platform, was a jade altar.

A chilling aura permeated his surroundings.

Dongfang Lieyun, the Beihai Dragon King who resembled a demon more than a human, was straddling the steps beside him. His form was so enormous that his legs spanned five or six steps. He held a jade flask in his hand, and his pair of crimson pupils stared intently.

He glanced at Li Zhouwei, then stood up and said in a low voice, "I called you here for a few matters. In this world, only on the surface of the Sea of Heavens can some things be discussed. It's a good opportunity to talk about them all today."

Dongfang Lieyun's voice had completely changed from its previous sinister tone, becoming deep and powerful. Li Zhouwei immediately reacted, replying, "Please speak, Your Majesty."

Dongfang Lieyun paced to the grand entrance of the crystal palace, his back to Li Zhouwei, his voice low:

"Wei Taizu, Li Qianyuan, do you know of him?"

Li Zhouwei detected something amiss in his low tone, and a chilling sense of crisis unexpectedly arose within him. He replied, "The founding emperor of the Wei Kingdom, of course I know him."

Dongfang Lieyun quietly said, "During the Zhou Dynasty, the world was divided into feudal states, and their incessant wars could not be stopped. Ultimately, the True Monarch perished, and the imperial lineage was severed by Jin. From then on, the chaos in the world became ceaseless. Often, with the fall of one emperor, the dynasty would collapse immediately. There were even instances of six changes of rulers within a century. Emperor Taizu emerged from Guanlong to conquer Qi and Lu, unifying the north and becoming the first emperor to attain the Mingyang Fruit Position, as well as the first human master of that position."

"Subsequently, he established a Celestial Dynasty where the imperial throne was synonymous with the Fruit Position. Ascending the throne meant borrowing the Golden Core position, and taking an official post meant borrowing Mingyang's magical power. Although the Wei Dynasty was cruel within its imperial court because of this, it could truly be considered a Celestial Dynasty... Among Wei, Qi, Liang, and Zhao, only Emperor Wu of Liang adopted his methods. Only the Wei and Liang dynasties possessed this true capability; the others merely had the name of a Celestial Dynasty without its substance."

"As for states like Zhao and Yan, they were simply laughable, mere puppets of Buddhist cultivation, yet they dared to call themselves emperors!"

He never looked directly at Li Zhouwei, explaining to himself: "Everyone believed that the Wei Dynasty he established was the best method since ancient times to bridge the gap between immortals and mortals and establish an immortal kingdom... Yet, such a figure, one who was only half a step away from becoming a Dao Embryo, suddenly died a violent death. The Mingyang Fruit Position returned to the Great Void, and Emperor Weigong consequently collapsed and publicly fell to the ground, exploding into a pile of rotting flesh. The imperial prestige built by the Wei Dynasty over generations became a terrifying and shocking joke... At the same time, the imperial soldiers lost their power, leading to the collapse of the entire nation."

"This method of the immortal kingdom was also learned by the Great Zen School, who pondered over improvements and filled in the gaps generation after generation, leading to the current Seven Manifestations Buddhist Land method. Ultimately, the Northern Buddhists persecuted the Wei-Li family with all their might, not just because of karma, but also like ordinary people who, having stolen someone else's possessions, then jump and desperately accuse, wishing to kill the original owner to truly make the stolen goods their own."

Li Zhouwei's hair stood on end. Dongfang Lieyun finally turned his face, revealing a gloomy and painful melancholy: "It was Luoxia... You've also met Li Xunquan. Luoxia's scheme for the Mingyang position is no secret. However, Emperor Taizu's influence on the Mingyang Fruit Position was too profound. He imbued Mingyang with too much meaning, and Heaven and Earth approved of him; the Fruit Position recognized only him. But he lost his sanity, and could only fall from the Great Void repeatedly... Luoxia gradually exerted influence, eroding his divine abilities and destiny through these repeated falls—and, of course, this included torturing Li Xunquan."

"The last time... your family is no stranger to this, it was Chu Yi."

Li Zhouwei abruptly looked up. Dongfang Lieyun said, "For a thousand years, Mingyang has become greatly defiled. Luoxia gradually gained true initiative, opening up grotto-heavens and allowing a large number of Mingyang cultivation methods to flow throughout the world. Cultivators practicing Mingyang would inherently help Emperor Taizu, but he has been too defiled. These cultivators striving for Purple Mansion and Golden Core, influencing Heaven and Earth, instead help to destabilize the Fruit Position."

"And you are a watershed."

Dongfang Lieyun's expression was complex, carrying a cruel malevolence: "The Mingyang Fruit Position has finally deigned to bestow destiny upon others. With this destiny upon you, your success rate in reaching Purple Mansion is extremely high, and you might even attempt to challenge the Fruit Position itself. You don't even need to succeed; merely trying would be an immense harm to him... Although we are unable to rescue Emperor Taizu, out of the small power we possess, my Chi lineage ought to have killed you."

"Yet, you are a descendant of Wei-Li, and can be considered a junior to Emperor Weigong... From this perspective, we seem obliged to help you. You should understand the complex feelings the Chi lineage has towards you... Ignoring you... seems to have been the best approach."

His voice gradually turned sinister as he said, "My lineage is closer to Emperor Weigong. Earlier, I sent Ding Jiao to meet you and gradually reveal the affairs of the Wei-Li family, all while guarding against detection by Luoxia Mountain. But things slowly changed. You are a White Qilin, and Changxiao coveted your destiny, chasing Li Ximing to the East Sea, shamelessly probing, with Luoxia watching from the side."

"One of my dragon kin's spirit cultivators, who has ties to your Li clan, had no choice but to intervene and rescue you. She has a close relationship with the Dragon Lord. The moment she acted, high-level cultivators could deduce the extent of the Dragon Lord's secret affairs. As a result, the situation twisted and turned, becoming Luoxia's venomous scheme to probe my Chi lineage, discerning the Dragon Lord's condition. Whether Changxiao intended this is unknown, but the people from Luoxia have already succeeded."

"This move was very passive... and it felt wrong to me."

Li Zhouwei's expression abruptly changed, realizing the Dragon King's gaze before him was grim. Dongfang Lieyun's voice grew softer, then he spoke coldly: "This makes me consider a possibility: Luoxia Mountain is extremely close to Mingyang. It's impossible for them not to know about your destiny. Why didn't they come to retrieve you? Wouldn't it be better to have you under their control? Could it be that your destiny was lured out by them, intentionally cast upon a descendant of Wei-Li... to put us in a difficult position... You... and the entire Li clan, are all traps intentionally allowed to develop by Luoxia Mountain."

The Dragon King's pupils narrowed further and further, almost becoming two vertical red lines, as he chillingly stated: "You are Luoxia Mountain's doing."