Chapter 823: Immortal Decree

Li Jiangqian headed towards the river, observing the sky. The clear qi formed from Tian Zhongqing's demise had completely vanished. The scorching sun blazed, and the lake shimmered with breathtaking brilliance.

"Summers are getting drier year by year."

He descended by fire. In the town of Lijing Prefecture below, several households had already hung white mourning veils. The Tian clan, a prominent family in Lijing, had a tumultuous history. They had migrated to Shanyue years ago, their influence waned, and they were caught in the conflict between the North and South. Fortunately, Tian Zhongqing had returned safely at the time, and although his descendants were not as strong, the family still retained some prestige and goodwill. Li Jiangqian had been delayed for a while, and now there were many people gathered by the riverbank.

Although Chen Yang had departed, the Chen family, being a major clan on par with the An family, had many capable members present. Moreover, Chen Donghe himself had arrived. Li Jiangqian scanned the crowd; apart from Li Chenghuai and a few others who were in seclusion, nearly all the influential figures on the lake were there.

He was not surprised. It was no secret that the prominent families on the lake were deeply intertwined. The Li clan itself had intermarried with other clans below for many years, becoming integrated. The fact that Ding Weizeng, Qu Bushi, and Miaoshui – several Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Jiangbei faction – had not arrived made him secretly nod in approval.

Old Master Tian Ling of the Tian family, dressed in white, waited by the riverbank. He was a special case; his father, Tian Rong, had been stabbed to death by a maidservant. He grew up alone in Qingdu and had served in Yuting and Huzhou, though his cultivation was not high, and he was never a significant figure. Currently stationed on the East Bank, he had rushed back and approached Li Jiangqian, greeting him meticulously:

"Greetings, Family Head."

Li Jiangqian offered a few words of comfort and landed by the river. He glanced at the dense, overlapping reeds, exchanged some pleasantries, and showed his face just enough to convey his respect.

Stepping back from the forefront, he went to find Li Xuanxuan. The elder's brows were furrowed with worry. Upon seeing Li Jiangqian, he replied:

"Are you returning to the isle, Qian'er? Take me with you; I need to retrieve an item or two."

Li Jiangqian was indeed very busy with daily affairs and his cultivation, so he had little time to waste there. He nodded, helped the elder to his feet, and then flew on fire towards the lake, asking:

"What is it you need to retrieve, old master, that requires your personal presence?"

Li Xuanxuan sighed:

"I see that the Tian family's descendants are truly struggling. We must help them... I have some spiritual items saved; I'll retrieve them now and give some to those who seem promising."

Li Jiangqian nodded thoughtfully, replying:

"Just hand them over to the juniors."

Before Li Xuanxuan could answer, Li Jiangqian's eye technique activated. He glanced over and was slightly taken aback:

"Oh?"

He saw a man and a woman standing in the clouds by the lake. Although the woman was ordinary in appearance, she possessed a refined demeanor. She held a cold, ice-like treasure sword in her arms and had a slight smile.

Beside her stood a young man, exceptionally handsome, appearing to be in his late twenties. He wore a jade belt around his waist, a dark green top, and black boots, with a short talisman sword at his side.

Li Jiangqian smiled and approached them, first bowing to the woman, saying:

"Greetings, Aunt Xinghan."

Li Xinghan returned his greeting and promptly bowed to Li Xuanxuan. The young man, surprised, also followed suit, creating a lively scene. Li Jiangqian then turned to the man, feigning unfamiliarity, and asked:

"And this is..."

"I am Zhuang Pingye, from Guyan Zhuang."

Zhuang Pingye replied with a smile. Li Jiangqian saw that it was indeed the renowned Talisman Sword inheritor from Guyan and praised him:

"Fellow Daoist, you have a truly handsome countenance."

Zhuang Pingye's appearance was exceptionally handsome, a handsome born of wealth and elegance, opulent and dashing. His face had a broad forehead, red lips and white teeth, and a full chin, so magnificent it was hard to look away. Yet, it couldn't be described as refined. He was more striking than Li Xizhi but less captivating over time, and completely different from Li Xijun's cold, clear handsomeness.

His appearance and demeanor were top-notch, and he naturally received many compliments. He politely bowed to Li Jiangqian and replied:

"Greetings, Family Head!"

His voice was also very pleasant, making one instinctively trust him. With just a glance, Zhuang Pingye truly seemed like an impeccable suitor. Li Xuanxuan watched with a smile, nodding slightly.

Li Jiangqian nodded, and the other immediately said:

"I heard Xinghan enjoys sword arts. I just acquired a rather unique sword manual in the desert and brought it to study with her."

Li Jiangqian glanced over, saw Li Xinghan nod slightly, and exchanged a few pleasantries, praising Zhuang Pingye. Although the young man smiled, he politely returned each compliment. Li Jiangqian did not linger, excusing himself and departing.

'His appearance and demeanor are certainly not a disservice to my aunt, and he's not thoughtless... Although he's a few years older, there's great hope for him to reach Foundation Establishment...'

As Li Jiangqian flew back on the wind, he gained an impression of the man. Li Xuanxuan said:

"Seeing that Xinghan isn't averse to him, and he has a good bearing and is generous, relationships often fluctuate like spilled cups and tea. We should find out soon — how many brothers does he have in his family? Is his paternal lineage from high cultivators, and what about his maternal lineage? Are there any misdeeds... If we need to stop it, we should do so early to avoid harming ourselves and others."

Li Jiangqian gravely responded:

"Old Master, I've already inquired thoroughly. He is Zhuang Cheng's youngest legitimate son. His mother died young and was from a minor clan. Zhuang Cheng's subsequent wives bore no children, which is why he has seven concubines... Yet, legitimate sons are extremely rare. This one is highly favored, with many maidservants and singing girls around him, and he has no direct descendants."

Li Jiangqian spoke only a fraction of his thoughts, but his meaning was clear. Li Xuanxuan frowned, yet his own child also indulged in such ways, so he hesitated to reply. The two descended back onto the isle, arriving in Qingdu. The elder sighed:

"It's unavoidable... we'll see."

They landed, and Li Jiangqian returned to the main hall on the isle, flying by himself. A guard reported that Xia Shouyu was waiting outside the hall.

As she was personally designated by Li Ximing and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Li Jiangqian held her in high regard. He immediately invited her in. Xia Shouyu was ushered into the hall and bowed, saying:

"Greetings, Family Head... I've been looking for Young Master Li Zhouming these past few days. I didn't see him this morning. I heard from his attendants that he went for a spring outing by the lake, but he's nowhere to be found, and the weather isn't very pleasant. So, I came to ask..."

'A spring outing in scorching sun... where else could he be... indulging in romance.'

During this period, Li Zhouming had been remarkably well-behaved, so much so that Li Xuanxuan almost thought he was turning over a new leaf. But ultimately, a fox cannot hide its tail forever; his heart itched, and he had gone to meet some woman again. Li Jiangqian felt awkward, smiled, and said:

"My uncle does have a habit of going on spring outings, often riding alone, and his attendants can never find him."

Xia Shouyu observed briefly and understood much in her heart. However, with the marriage contract not yet finalized, how could a calculating person like her show any displeasure? She smiled and said:

"I understand now. I just mentioned it casually. The wedding date is approaching, so I came to see the Family Head to discuss the arrangements."

She then spoke seriously:

"Originally, I intended for my family members to come, but considering the True Immortal's matters... the True Immortal had explicitly instructed us not to reveal anything. I was afraid that if cultivators from my family came, their whereabouts might be exposed midway. Discussing it alone also seemed ill-considered, so I specifically came to ask the Family Head..."

Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment, also observing her expression, weighing things in his mind.

Xia Shouyu's marriage was personally arranged by Li Ximing, and her background was unknown. However, Li Jiangqian had no right to question it, and she was meticulous in every respect, leaving no room for fault.

Once she said this, even inviting her elders to meet seemed superfluous. It was unclear if this was a strategic retreat or genuine intention to discuss. With Li Ximing's name involved, Li Jiangqian could only say:

"Senior has considered this carefully. The marriage contract can proceed according to the rules. With the True Immortal present, it doesn't matter when the Immortal Sect side is met..."

He put down the letter in his hand and smiled, saying:

"However, Senior practices the rare Burning Flame Dao tradition, which requires meticulous attention to all matters. You can certainly suggest any location on the lake that would be suitable for your cultivation. After all, it is a tradition of such an immortal sect. If you cannot contact your sect at present, you may also write down any spiritual items needed for cultivating high-grade techniques."

"Our juniors are also very curious about the Burning Flame tradition and would like to seek your guidance."

Xia Shouyu's heart tightened, but she smiled and said:

"There's no need for spiritual items; I brought plenty when I left home. As for guidance... I wouldn't presume to instruct the Immortal Clan. However, if your juniors come, I will certainly not neglect to provide proper instruction."

Li Jiangqian was about to speak when he heard footsteps approaching the hall. Cui Jueyin appeared at the entrance with an anxious expression. He bowed and swallowed the words he was about to say, instead speaking quickly:

"Family Head... someone from the Golden Feather Sect has arrived. It's Zhang Duanyan, the closest attendant to True Immortal Qiushui... she's waiting outside the isle."

'Qiushui? Zhang Duanyan!'

Currently, the two most unprovokable figures in all of Jiangnan were the sole remaining True Immortal Yuanxiu among the Three Primordials, and True Immortal Qiushui. Both were at a stage where they could attempt to reach the Golden Core realm; even other Purple Mansion True Immortals greatly feared them.

Furthermore, True Immortal Qiushui was a Grand True Immortal of the Complete Core, and from the Golden Feather Zhang family, giving her a status even higher than Yuanxiu. Zhang Duanyan's authority within the Golden Feather Sect was almost on par with the Sect Master's!

Li Jiangqian's pupils dilated slightly. He abruptly stood up, quickly walked down from the dais, and offered a slight apology to Xia Shouyu, saying:

"A distinguished guest has arrived. I must go out to greet them first. I apologize for the slight."

Xia Shouyu didn't mind the slight at all; in fact, she breathed a sigh of relief. Li Jiangqian disappeared into the hall in a few steps, and she hurriedly withdrew to her own cave dwelling.

Li Jiangqian no longer had the mind to ponder anything. Feeling uneasy, he exited the hall, ascended on the wind, and indeed saw a woman standing in a small pavilion by the isle's edge.

The woman was dressed in golden robes, tall and slender, with half her face veiled by golden gauze. Her exposed eyes were calm, and her skin was fair. Her hands were clasped behind her back. Beside her stood an old man, eyes half-closed, with a stooped back.

At that moment, the woman stood in the pavilion, smiling as she gazed at the lake scenery, seemingly enjoying it greatly. However, her perfectly straight posture and a slight hesitation in her movements betrayed an inner unease.

Li Jiangqian hastily landed by fire outside the pavilion, then walked in and bowed, saying:

"Greetings, Immortal Sect Emissary."

Zhang Duanyan turned, returned the bow, looked at him briefly, and said:

"You are Li Jiangqian... Let's go inside to talk."

Li Jiangqian and Cui Jueyin led the two inside, passing through the formations and proceeding to the main hall. Zhang Duanyan observed the surroundings and nodded, saying:

"The Li clan has achieved considerable success in managing the lake, surpassing the Jiang family of old."

Li Jiangqian cupped his hands and replied:

"The Jiang clan were descendants of the Yuan Mansion; we cannot compare. We have merely benefited from the True Immortal's blessings, which allowed us to prosper somewhat in recent years..."

Zhang Duanyan smiled faintly. Facing the Golden Feather Sect's emissary, Li Jiangqian did not lead them to the main hall but instead headed to the rear hall.

The reason was that the main hall had only one principal seat, which would establish precedence. Although Zhang Duanyan was not a Purple Mansion cultivator herself, she was the mouthpiece for one, and her background was illustrious. With their own True Immortal absent, Li Jiangqian felt that letting her take the main seat would appear too solicitous, while taking it himself would seem too arrogant. Thus, he led them to the rear hall, where they sat by a table, and Cui Jueyin served tea.

Li Jiangqian respectfully said:

"Your presence, Immortal Sect Emissary, illuminates our humble abode and the entire lake. May I inquire if there are any instructions or guidance you wish to impart..."

"Indeed, there are some arrangements. I wonder if there has been any news of the True Immortal recently? For the current situation, his presence would be most beneficial."

Zhang Duanyan nodded gently, returning his politeness with a smile. She inquired about Li Ximing's whereabouts. Li Jiangqian replied:

"The True Immortal is traveling overseas and there is no news of his return yet. If the Immortal Emissary has a message for him, I fear I cannot relay it."

Zhang Duanyan let out a faint sigh and replied:

"Family Head, you misunderstand. A few days ago, an emissary from the North arrived at the Golden Feather mountain gate, carrying an immortal decree. They negotiated with our Golden Feather Sect and settled a major affair, dispatching me south to relay the order to various sects."

'An emissary from the North?'

The Zhang family had never shown much respect to Buddhist cultivators. For Zhang Duanyan to refer to them as "emissaries from the North" and subtly position herself as a step lower, the origin of this family was quite evident.

'Mount Luoxia!'

Just as Li Jiangqian understood in his heart, Zhang Duanyan, having finished speaking, rose from her seat. Her veil was gone, revealing a beautiful face with bright eyes and white teeth. She whispered:

"Normally, the decree should be received in the Heavenly Platform Dharma Realm. Fortunately, I have already received it once at Golden Feather. Now, I am merely transmitting the decree, which is a lower celestial rank, but it is still inappropriate to deliver it within this hall. If not directly under the heavens, this hall would surely collapse. If my feet do not touch the ground, the bricks and pillars would shatter..."

Li Jiangqian simply asked her to move one step. The back of the rear hall opened onto a courtyard exposed to the sky. Zhang Duanyan deemed it sufficiently spacious and then said:

"Everyone, please bow first."

The old man who had accompanied her had already prostrated himself on the ground, his expression respectful to the point of terror. Li Jiangqian and Cui Jueyin also bowed. Zhang Duanyan, with a solemn expression, first stepped back half a pace, bowed deeply, raised both hands above her head, and reverently stated:

"Profound purple glow, Wu Guang beholds the dawn, this Golden One's path, we implore its presence."

No tremor of the void was seen, nor any flicker of spiritual light. A slight tremor passed through her hand, and astonishingly, a scroll with a brown border and white background, an immortal decree, appeared. It lay in her hand, appearing as ordinary as a mortal book.

Li Jiangqian's heart trembled, and he dared not ask further. He only heard all sounds of birds in the garden vanish completely, the wind ceased, and the bright light from the sky above dimmed.

Zhang Duanyan's expression was grave; her once calm eyes now held only solemnity. Her voice was low:

"On the 22nd day of the seventh month of Shenxuan, Year 22, Wu Guang shall receive ritual offerings. The Immortal Carriage, having precious concerns, will arrive in Sanxi, Jiangbei, to observe the mortal world, bestowing virtue and grace. It will then proceed to Qilu, returning after six years and six months. In all places it passes through, all families must burn incense and perform rituals, keeping their gates closed to avoid disturbance. Wherever the Immortal Carriage treads, reverence and deference must be paramount; no karma shall be incurred."

Zhang Duanyan merely spoke; the immortal decree scroll remained unopened. Perhaps the Li family was not qualified, or perhaps something terrifying would happen if it were opened. The scroll simply lay flat in her hand.

Yet, her voice continued to echo around them. All was silent. Li Jiangqian slowly lowered his head, his heart thundering like a storm.

'The Immortal Carriage from Mount Luoxia is coming to Jiangbei to observe the mortal world...'

Who else could be the Immortal Carriage from Mount Luoxia? Naturally, it refers to a True Sovereign! "Observe the mortal world"— this sounds pleasant and conveys a lofty presence, but it means the True Sovereign will descend into reincarnation!

'Then proceeding to Qilu, returning after six years and six months...'

This True Sovereign plans to journey from Jiangbei all the way to Qilu, returning to Mount Luoxia after six years and six months, reenacting the ancient deed of Chu Yi!

As for "reverence and deference must be paramount; no karma shall be incurred," these words were less of a warning and more a compassionate reminder. The True Sovereign was to reascend to his full power, observing the suffering of the world. Any noble family or immortal sect that stood in his way would simply dissipate like smoke and dust.

'When Chu Yi suddenly rose to power, annihilating the noble families of Yufu Commandery, our family knew nothing, only having some suspicions. Now... having achieved the Purple Mansion realm, we are finally qualified to hear Mount Luoxia's commands...'

Li Jiangqian still had the presence of mind to think, but Cui Jueyin, standing beside him, was stunned, rigid as a statue, his legs slightly trembling. As a direct descendant of the overseas Cui family who had endured multiple tribulations, his fear of a True Sovereign far surpassed Li Jiangqian's—and even Zhang Duanyan's.

Zhang Duanyan's expression was solemn, her eyes infinitely revealing sublimity and awe, as if her mind had been taken, or perhaps it was truly her own feelings. Only the hands gripping the scroll were slightly pale.

She was a Foundation Establishment cultivator; such strength could crush bricks and stones. Yet, the immortal decree remained utterly uncreased. Li Jiangqian kept his eyes fixed on the ground, respectfully saying:

"This humble cultivator receives the decree!"

The immortal decree in Zhang Duanyan's hand abruptly vanished, as if it had never been there. The woman naturally stepped forward to help Li Jiangqian, her voice somewhat hoarse as she said:

"Family Head, please rise quickly."

Li Jiangqian rose, still holding a heavy breath in his chest. Beside him, Cui Jueyin was drenched in sweat, his eyes lowered to mere slits, his gaze seemingly nailed to the ground, unable to lift it.

The four entered in silence. Zhang Duanyan took her seat, not uttering a word.

Zhang Duanyan had traveled from the Golden Feather Sect to reach them. The Li clan didn't know which stop this was on her journey, but geographically, it was likely among the first or second. This woman clearly had little experience delivering immortal decrees; not only were the Li family members shaken, but her face was also slightly pale, as if she were struggling to breathe.

Li Jiangqian quickly composed himself. He poured her tea and said:

"It's truly troublesome for the Immortal Emissary to make this trip to remind our family... Jiangqian thanks you on behalf of the Li clan!"

Zhang Duanyan paused, took a sip of tea, and a hint of fatigue appeared in her eyes. However, she forced herself to remain composed, displaying the proper etiquette, and replied:

"Family Head, you exaggerate. This is merely part of my duty..."

Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment and then asked:

"However, regarding 'the seventh month of Shenxuan, Year 22,' my family is unsure when that is."

Zhang Duanyan whispered:

"Shenxuan is the Northern Dao tradition's method of calendrical reckoning based on spiritual aura. It refers to June, two years from now."

Li Jiangqian sighed softly, committing the date firmly to memory. Zhang Duanyan then spoke, her expression solemn:

"Since the Immortal Carriage will be in Jiangbei, the grievances between your esteemed clan and the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao must be put aside for now. If you still cling to these matters at such a critical juncture, I fear in the end..."

She hesitated for a moment. Li Jiangqian quickly nodded and replied:

"Emissary, rest assured, our family knows its limits and will naturally not do such a thing. The True Sovereign's affairs are beyond our reach. We will not intentionally provoke the Capital Immortal Dao... but it might not be the same for them."

"Please be at ease."

Zhang Duanyan shook her head:

"The Capital Immortal Dao will absolutely not interfere, nor will they use this as an opportunity to cause harm... Not even a thought of it will arise. This matter is beyond the control of a mere Purple Mansion cultivator. Once such an intention forms, it often leads to the destruction of both parties, and it would deeply offend the North. One could say it would provoke disaster."

Li Jiangqian then felt relieved. Zhang Duanyan continued:

"In about two days, the Capital Immortal Dao's immortal decree will also be announced... Please ensure your esteemed clan and the Capital Immortal Dao discuss thoroughly. While there are still more than two years, swiftly withdraw any personnel who need to be recalled, and quickly promote the noble families that should be elevated. Ensure the territorial handover is completed, so you won't have to sever ties to survive later."

"As for burning incense and performing rituals, it's best to do it thoroughly, as no one knows precisely what will unfold. Ideally, a high platform should be constructed to properly conduct all the ceremonies."

"This junior receives the order!"

Zhang Duanyan let out a soft breath, pondered for a long time, then spoke as if having made a firm decision:

"True Immortal Qiushui once met Senior Xuanfeng and had a considerable affinity and good impression of him. Moreover, my grandfather has a deep connection with your esteemed clan. So, I will offer a reminder here... your esteemed clan should remain content and not consider making contact. That would lead to eternal damnation."

Hearing this, Li Jiangqian felt a slight doubt arise in his heart:

'Where does that come from? We were told this once already. It's not like our family hasn't witnessed the events with Chu Yi; how could we be so mad as to try to contact a True Sovereign...'

He immediately replied:

"That is absolutely impossible... Our family would certainly not seek trouble for ourselves..."

Zhang Duanyan nodded gently, then looked at Cui Jueyin, her tone this time less polite, and said:

"And you."

Cui Jueyin was still drenched in sweat. At this question, he took a deep breath, bowed, and said:

"I swear by the Cui clan of Chongzhou that I will not defy the immortal decree!"

Zhang Duanyan took a sip of tea, finally moving past the topic, and softly said:

"Once this matter concludes, True Immortal Yuanxiu and our True Immortal Qiushui will successively seek to ascend to the Golden Core realm. It is rare for a True Immortal of my Zhang family to attain the Dao in the outside world. At that time, invitations will be sent to your esteemed clan. If your True Immortal returns from his travels and is still among your clan, you are welcome to attend the ceremony together."

The Zhang family was unlike the Chi family; they were direct descendants of True Sovereign Taiyuan and also of Golden Core Immortal lineage. The Golden Feather Sect's grotto-heaven was different from the waters of Delu; it was estimated that many direct descendants cultivated within it.

Even if a True Immortal of the Zhang family reached the end of their lifespan and was about to perish, they would do so within that grotto-heaven, returning their post-mortem spiritual energy to it rather than benefiting others. It was highly likely that Zhang Tianyuan, who had not appeared for many years, had done just that.

Zhang Duanyan spoke politely about the rarity of a True Immortal attaining the Dao in the outside world. In reality, aside from the Golden Virtue lineage, several Purple Mansion cultivators of the Zhang family had not managed to cultivate all five divine abilities to completion in recent years. Now, their hopes rested entirely on Qiushui.

As the other party was of Golden Core Immortal lineage, her words were already highly respectful. Li Jiangqian quickly returned the courtesy, replying:

"The Grand True Immortal is the foremost of all Complete Cores under heaven. His cultivation and techniques are earth-shattering. He is sure to achieve the fruit of Dao. Our family will merely prepare congratulatory gifts, awaiting the time when heaven and earth celebrate together!"