Chapter 817: 太遏

Li Zhouwei awoke from his meditation, his magical power surging like a river. His breathing was steady, his cultivation complete, and his immortal foundation shone with a pristine glow.

*Thanks to the White Sycamore Blood, I escaped significant harm this time. Still, drawing on vital essence is no small matter. Even with such a powerful spiritual item, it only managed to balance things out, merely stabilizing my cultivation.*

This also demonstrated Oriental Heyun’s precise judgment regarding the dosage. Mingyang aids in procreation, and while the dragon clan is generally generous, they prioritize their own offspring above all else. Consequently, they are naturally stingy when it comes to Mingyang spiritual items.

He exhaled.

He exhaled a puff of white air and opened his eyes. The clouds beside him still drifted ethereally, making it seem as though he were in an endless sea of clouds, with no trace of the crystal palace visible. The Beihai Dragon King had already departed, leaving only the young man in white standing silently by his side.

Li Zhouwei didn't know how long he had been cultivating, but Oriental Heyun's gaze seemed never to have left him. The moment he saw Li Zhouwei, the young man immediately smiled thoughtfully.

"One hundred and twenty-eight days have passed. According to the Li Wei orthodox calendar, which designates the Douchianzi month as the first, today is the seventh month, when fiery stars are seen. If following the Liu Chu orthodox calendar, which the Yue Kingdom uses, it would be the twenty-second day of the sixth month."

Li Zhouwei already knew that the Yue Kingdom followed the Liu Chu orthodox calendar, differing from the dating method of the Li Wei Dynasty. However, Oriental Heyun spoke so naturally, as if he had lived in Wei and routinely converted dates, which subtly startled Li Zhouwei.

*Just how old is this person? The Northern Jia Dragon Lord is a Chi, so if this man was the very first breath exhaled by the Dragon Lord, wouldn't he be nearly as old as the Dragon Lord himself?!*

He sighed inwardly, then bowed respectfully and said,

"Thank you for watching over me, Senior. It turns out nearly four months have passed. You are truly learned and knowledgeable, even knowing the Wei calendar."

Oriental Heyun didn't respond. He gestured for Li Zhouwei to rise. The clouds throughout the palace swirled, gathering at their feet, and a spot of deep black appeared. Only then did the young man speak:

"It's just a habit, fellow Taoist, please."

Oriental Heyun addressed everyone as "fellow Taoist." He stepped into the Great Void, and Li Zhouwei saw a deep, dark light of converging water, which must have been a grand formation of the dragon clan. As Oriental Heyun traversed the Great Void, he replied:

"The matter of the Ranks of the Sea originated as a favor for True Master Zipei."

"During the North-South conflict, Anhuai Heaven had to be opened, releasing those few vital energies. This also revealed the state of the True Qi Fruit Position… the one who held that position is likely gone. This situation is very favorable to our dragon clan, so True Master Zipei seized the opportunity to make a deal with us. As for her motives…"

Oriental Heyun shook his head with a half-smile and replied,

"It is still unknown."

Li Zhouwei’s heart sank. Although the Li clan and Ziyan were not entirely unrelated, their connection was merely superficial, and he had no personal acquaintance with Zipei herself. After a moment’s thought, he asked,

"Senior, are you sending me to…"

"Ho."

Oriental Heyun smiled faintly and replied,

"Having just left the grotto-heaven, we are, of course, heading towards Beihai. If you have a place to stay, I can go along and drop you off."

"You needn't worry about Changxiao now. As long as you don't stumble upon any of Changxiao Gate's overseas outposts, he won't seek trouble with you. However, returning inland… would still be somewhat unsafe."

Li Zhouwei understood his meaning. Regardless of anything else, the overseas regions were the dragon clan's territory, meaning no overt or covert attacks would target him there. However, once he returned inland, the dragon clan would be unable to intervene. While Changxiao might not dare to kill him, his formidable life-taking divine abilities meant he would undoubtedly employ other tactics.

After saying this, Oriental Heyun nodded slightly and replied,

"Your True Master will have to put in some extra effort."

Li Zhouwei then replied,

"In that case, please trouble Senior to drop me off at a nearby market town. I still have some magical artifacts to process; otherwise, traveling at sea would eventually become unsafe."

Li Zhouwei most wanted to trade with the dragon clan, as they possessed top-tier items and weren't deterred by holding items from Changxiao Gate. However, he hadn't had the chance before, and Oriental Heyun likely lacked the authority to make such major decisions. Li Zhouwei's request to be dropped off at the market was a deliberate query, merely to see how Oriental Heyun would respond.

"Easily done!"

True to form, Oriental Heyun said nothing more. He raised an eyebrow, peered out from within the Great Void, and replied,

"In Beihai, there's Changliushan Market Town. To the east, there’s an island called Ta'e, a small trading post of the Qingchi Sect in the Hetian Sea. To the west is Xianshan, which has a market town, though it's not worth visiting. To the south lies the Zhulu Sea."

Li Zhouwei nodded in understanding, feeling a slight regret. He had originally wanted to go east, to the easternmost Ranks of the Sea, to take a look. He then said,

"Then I'll trouble Senior to go to Ta'e Island."

"Okay… Ta'e Island… that's also a newly changed name."

Oriental Heyun mentioned it was a newly changed name, though it was unclear when this "new" change had occurred. The young man nodded. After traversing the Great Void for only a short while, the two broke through it and returned to the real world. Li Zhouwei felt his feet lighten, and he ascended on the wind. The white-robed young man beside him had already vanished, leaving only a pleasant voice:

"After all, it is a place of the immortal sects, and it's not appropriate for me to approach. This location is only about a hundred li from Ta'e Island, so you can fly there on your own."

Li Zhouwei descended on a beam of light, bowed to the empty air, and exhaled, feeling much more relaxed:

*Finally got through it!*

*Although the dragon clan bore no great malice, being around these powerful demonic beings — one a peak Purple Mansion cultivator, another a Purple Mansion spirit demon, each holding high positions of power and belonging to the universally revered dragon clan — was ultimately unsettling.*

*I also managed to get news about Changxiao, so I won't be overly wary of him now… I can act with more ease.*

Although the matters concerning Luoxia and the dragon clan were troublesome, fortunately, they were not for him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to worry about. Li Zhouwei never fretted over such things, and his mood instantly brightened. He looked up from afar and was surprised to see the seawater a purplish-red, spreading across the area.

The seawater here was surprisingly purplish-red, faintly mixed with bluish-purple hues, with no trace of the Hetian Sea’s azure blue. At least a large portion of his view was a swirling blend of purple and blue. He immediately rose on a beam of light, observing it with a touch of curiosity.

After flying just over ten li, he spotted a rogue cultivator hovering on the sea surface, carried by the wind. Li Zhouwei needed directions, so he gently waved his hand, and a beam of heavenly light shot out, materializing not far from the cultivator.

Li Zhouwei’s speed was already far beyond that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, and with the light-transformation and spatial traversing ability of the Yuane Soft Armor, the rogue cultivator naturally couldn't react in time. Seeing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator appear nearby, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Noticing Li Zhouwei’s extraordinary demeanor and magical artifacts, he quickly bowed in salute:

"This humble cultivator greets the Daoist!"

Li Zhouwei had no intention of troubling him; he merely inquired:

"Which direction is Ta'e Island in? Why is the seawater here purplish-red?"

The cultivator hurriedly said,

"Reporting, Daoist, Ta'e Island is about seventy li to the southeast. This place is the Small Lilac Reefs, one of the few areas around Ta'e Island where resources can be collected. It originally produced spirit sand, but over the years, passing cultivators have hollowed it out, leaving only cinnabar veins on the seabed. The seawater also contains cinnabar, appearing purplish-red when viewed from afar."

He smiled fawningly and replied,

"Both this name and the area have their origins. Back then, Senior Li, known as Golden Geng Steel String, guarded this place. Water apes attacked, showing immense power. It's said that a mighty demon beast, nearly at the Purple Mansion level, was shot dead by that Senior with three arrows right here, transforming into a hundred li of cinnabar and thus forming this small reef… I heard it’s because this demon beast had some kind of… 'complete' something or other…”

Li Zhouwei’s eyebrow twitched at the words, and a slight smile played on his lips. He found this person much more pleasing. He then rose on a beam of light with the cultivator, flying in the southeast direction the man indicated, and said,

"Such a history! You're referring to the Quan Dan... Who named these Small Lilac Reefs? And who is in charge of Ta'e Island now?"

The rogue cultivator, skilled at flattery, immediately feigned enlightenment, nodding repeatedly as he said,

"Yes, yes, yes… Quan Dan! Your knowledge is truly vast, my lord. The Small Lilac Reefs wasn’t originally called that; it was known as the Small Ape-Slaying Reefs. However, the island master guarding this island is surnamed Yuan, and the name didn't sound very pleasant, so they replaced the 'ape' with a color instead…"

Li Zhouwei flew with extreme speed. In just a few words, the yellowish-brown island already appeared in the distance. As they landed nearby, the rogue cultivator respectfully said,

"My lord, please give your commands… This humble one is Xiahou Damo, and I am somewhat familiar with this island. It is this humble cultivator’s good fortune to be able to serve the Daoist…"

In the East Sea, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of such noble status, traveling alone and without attendants, was considered a great opportunity. This rogue cultivator tried to seize the chance. Li Zhouwei merely nodded and replied,

"Take me to the place where magical artifacts are sold."

Upon hearing that the island’s guardian cultivator was surnamed Yuan and belonged to the Qingchi Sect, he knew it must be the Yuan clan of Mushroom Forest. Had it been a few decades earlier, there would have been no need for a guide; Li Zhouwei would have personally gone to meet him. But now that the two families had parted ways, Li Zhouwei couldn’t be bothered and simply allowed the man to lead the way.

After just two streets, they arrived at the island’s most opulent district, where a four-story pavilion stood. The moment Xiahou Damo stepped inside, the attendants on either side approached with grim expressions. However, as Li Zhouwei followed him in, their faces instantly transformed into bright smiles, and they repeatedly hailed him as “my lord.”

Li Zhouwei wasted no time. He proceeded directly to the top floor, where a man came to greet him. This time it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in blue, whose discerning gaze was far superior to Xiahou Damo's. He courteously said,

"May I ask which lineage you are from?"

Li Zhouwei sat down firmly and replied,

"These are top-grade Foundation Establishment magical artifacts, obtained by killing a direct descendant. Take them if you can. My elders also cultivate in Qingchi, so there's no need to be perfunctory with me."

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the man, his golden eyes sweeping over the man’s face twice. He suddenly felt a sense of familiarity and asked,

"From where are you, cultivator?"

The man’s expression had already changed. While quietly instructing someone to go fetch a superior, he respectfully said,

"This junior hails from Jiangbei. My surname is Zhou, and my given name is Baiyun."

As soon as Li Zhouwei heard “Jiangbei” followed by “Baiyun,” he immediately recalled a swordsman. Comparing their faces, he raised an eyebrow and said,

"Gongsun Baiyun… I’ve met your elder brother; his blade techniques are quite good."

At these words, Zhou Baiyun broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Li Zhouwei had no intention of dwelling on it. He took several jade boxes from his sleeve, laid them out one by one, and said,

"Two Golden Thorn artifacts from Tangjin Gate, both decent items. A green gourd from Fushui, a top-grade Foundation Establishment artifact of heirloom quality. A wooden staff, unremarkable but capable of maintaining one's physique and assisting in healing."

He then took out a common cloth storage bag, placed it on the table, and said,

"The items within are also valuable and easier to handle."

Zhou Baiyun bowed and said,

"May I ask... what does Senior require?"

Ordinary people, of course, would not exchange these items for spirit stones; there was simply no need, especially since artifacts of this caliber could not be bought with mere spirit stones. However, for Li Zhouwei, and indeed for the current Li family, most items that didn't reach the Purple Mansion level held little significance, which complicated matters.

Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment and replied,

"I need an excellent magic shield, a flying shuttle, or artifacts of similar grade..."

He paused, then finally asked the question he cared about most:

"Are there any Purple Mansion-level resources or items available here?"

The question left Zhou Baiyun at a loss. As merely a guest elder on this island, he had no such capabilities, and his face was flushed with embarrassment. Fortunately, a commotion on the stairs was followed by a loud laugh:

"From where does this fellow Daoist come! Welcome to Ta'e Island as our guest!"

Zhou Baiyun, as if granted a great pardon, quickly stepped aside and respectfully said,

"Island Master!"

Li Zhouwei knew that the person named Yuan had arrived. His expression remained largely unchanged. He wasn’t an arrogant person and would normally have risen to show respect. However, the current relationship between the two families was genuinely awkward, to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say there was some lingering resentment. He could only lower his gaze and remain silent.

An old man ascended from downstairs. He appeared very ancient, with a benevolent face, a full head of white hair, and leaned on a staff. Seeing the young man remain seated, he was somewhat displeased.

If an ordinary cultivator dared to put on such airs, Yuan Hu'e would have long since berated them. But the other party possessed profound cultivation and was remarkably young. Yuan Hu'e worried that Li Zhouwei might be a direct descendant of a powerful Purple Mansion entity, so he dared not let his expression turn too stern.

His Ta'e Island was inherently small, and though it bore the name of Qingchi, it was easily underestimated. Furthermore, these direct descendants of Purple Mansion cultivators were all aware that Qingchi’s Purple Mansion was currently in a precarious state. Seeing the jade boxes laid out on the table, he made a guess and spoke with a tone that was half-soft, half-firm:

"I am Yuan Hu'e, of the Yuan clan of Mushroom Forest. I humbly serve as the Island Master of Ta'e Island and Peak Master of Qingchi’s Lianfeng Peak, guarding Ta'e under the orders of Qingchi…"

"May I ask from where this fellow Daoist hails? There’s no need to worry that my Qingchi cannot afford these. The Lilac Slaying spiritual traces are still here, and the Heavenly Pavilion's might suppresses the South Sea. Even for ten thousand li of stone pond, transport wouldn't take long…"

Li Zhouwei saw that the other party didn't recognize him and understood that the old man had likely been stationed there for many years, never personally experiencing inland affairs and rarely even venturing inland. He casually said,

"I cannot compare to Senior's esteemed reputation."

He smiled and replied,

"This junior hails from a small lake inland. My surname is Li, and my given name is Zhouwei."

The pavilion instantly fell silent. Zhou Baiyun’s face was bewildered, seemingly still trying to pinpoint the location of this “small lake inland.” Yuan Hu'e’s expression, however, froze in an instant. His pupils suddenly dilated, and his gaze belatedly settled on the young man’s golden eyes.

His mind roared, a blank. His hands and feet turned cold, and then a complex and terrifying dread washed over him:

*Li Zhouwei… that Li clan prodigy, the White Qilin of the Li family!*

*The White Qilin Li Zhouwei, who intercepted and killed Situ Mo, the master of Tangjin Gate, fought one against six, and, despite the spirit artifact Yongjing Xuanhuan, forcibly slew Yu Nanzi, a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion and a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator!*

*How did this malevolent star end up here?! Doesn't he fear Changxiao?!*