Chapter 830: Pine Snow Asks the Wall

The old domain name has been compromised; please remember the new one.

This short message, with no mention of any previous mobilization or subsequent explanation, was simply inserted at the end of the letter, seeming to come out of nowhere.

Yet, this brief description of heavy snow caused Li Jiangqian to hold the letter in silence for a long time. Looking at the elder's gaze, he softly said,

"It's snowing in Yishan City."

Yishan City is located in the Southern Border, where it’s perpetually summer, and even frost is rare, let alone snow. Li Xuanxuan was slightly stunned at first upon hearing this, but quickly reacted with a shocked expression, replying,

"It must be Fairy Ning..."

If it were any other family, it would have been difficult to immediately guess the secret, but the Elemental True Lord had entrusted his orphan to Li Xuanfeng upon his death, and the Ning family's fate had once been tied to Li Xuanfeng. The Li family knew many secrets, so they immediately guessed it was Autumn Lake Fairy Ning Wan, who was in seclusion in Yishan City, attempting to break through to the Purple Palace realm.

This lady was not only the fairy who once presided over Moon-Gazing Lake Peak and the earliest direct superior of Moon-Gazing Lake, but also someone the Li family knew when they were still obscure. She was acquainted with Sword Immortal Li Chijing and Moon Gate Sword Li Tongyai. Furthermore, she cultivated Cold Qi, similar to Li Xijun's dao tradition, and the unusual phenomena of this path were pine fragrance and heavy snow!

"No wonder he was urgently called back... No wonder they called it an extraordinary event. This truly is a world-changing matter..."

But unusual phenomena are still just that. Whether successful or not, a heavy snowfall is unavoidable. When Li Ximing succeeded, the sky over Moon-Gazing Lake had cleared, but Green Pond still assumed he had perished. Li Xuanxuan murmured for a moment, then shook his head, saying,

"I only hope the ancestral spirits of the Elemental True Lord provide blessings; Fairy Ning must succeed!"

Li Jiangqian was, after all, of a younger generation. Ning Wan had already entered seclusion by the time he became sensible, and the clan history did not specifically mention her, so he was unfamiliar with this Autumn Lake Fairy. He listened to the words and pondered silently.

The elder's eyes were filled with emotion as he shook his head, saying,

"Back then, Uncle and Yuan Wankai drove a carriage out of the lake and set foot outside Moon-Gazing Lake for the first time. They met Senior Xiao Yongling there and learned of Autumn Lake Fairy's great name... At that time, she was already at Qi Condensation Stage 8 and was the foremost beauty of the Green Pond Sect. If she can now achieve the Purple Palace realm, it will be a remarkable tale."

Li Jiangqian thought for a moment and asked,

"Old Senior, how confident do you think Fairy Ning is?"

Li Xuanxuan pondered, saying,

"I think it's very high! I heard her cultivation technique was personally chosen by Elemental True Lord, and the resources she received were his lifelong spiritual accumulations, even including a Purple Palace spiritual item infused with Cold Qi!"

Although Li Xuanxuan was only at the Qi Condensation stage, his own brothers and descendants were all top-tier individuals. The elder knew many things, but he was very shrewd. He whispered,

"Elemental True Lord was one of Green Pond's Three True Lords, and unlike Yuan Xiu and Yuan Wu, his status should be comparable to Chi Wei... they were all friends of the Successors of the Elemental Mansion. If their dao tradition hadn't been severed, it would be hard to say who would be in charge of Green Pond these past years."

"How much did Chi Wei, Zi Pei, and that Jin Yu gain back then? How could Elemental True Lord be any worse off? His mount back then was a Three-Eyed Zhaoshan Beast. If not for Situ Tang, that formidable individual who feared nothing, that spiritual beast would still be alive today as a Purple Palace Grandmaster."

"Could my entire Li family be sold for even one eye of that spiritual beast? Did he only possess that one Xinyou Luze Seal? Could he not have had other good things?"

"If you look at it that way, Fairy Ning breaking through to Purple Palace is not a sure thing, but she has at least a 70-80% chance."

Li Jiangqian was truly enlightened, nodding secretly as he replied,

"It seems to be mostly good news."

Li Xuanxuan nodded, saying,

"This old man won't speak too definitively, but it truly is good news. After all, that Senior is getting on in years, as all cultivators know. This is a world-altering event. If we're backed by Fairy Ning in the future..."

Although Yuan Xiu was the youngest of the Three True Lords, his lifespan was nearing its end, and he himself was difficult to deal with, always having the intention of drawing the Li family into Green Pond. If Ning Wan were to preside over Green Pond, it would be much easier. Li Jiangqian understood clearly and replied,

"I estimate it's too late to go to Yishan City now. Li Quantao rushed back so hastily; this matter requires much consideration."

Li Xuanxuan replied,

"Ning Heyuan died in the north back then, and his spiritual artifact was lost. There's still no news of the Xinyou Luze Seal, which is a spiritual treasure, an ancient spiritual artifact! That Senior has always been the prime suspect, so it's natural he has much to consider."

After their discussion, both felt it was good news. Putting the letter away, Li Xuanxuan said,

"I don't know how you've arranged things in Jiangbei, but this old man, being idle, happened to hear some news: a sword cultivator with a great reputation, surnamed Xu, has emerged in the Wu Kingdom."

Although Li Jiangqian was busily engaged with countless affairs, his Foundation Establishment cultivation allowed him to quickly process the information. He pulled out a letter from the stack on the desk and said,

"Senior is right; I also received news. Firstly, North Sea Sword Immortal You Fu has achieved the Purple Palace realm and established a sect in Jieyu Land, known as Northern Manor Sword Dao..."

He paused, then solemnly added,

"The crucial point is... this person is not only a Sword Immortal but also a Purple Palace True Lord of the Sun Dao."

Li Xuanxuan was startled and nodded silently. Although Jiangnan was known as the Sun Dao lineage, there were few cultivators of the Sun Dao, and no True Lords of the Sun Dao, so their power was unknown. Among the Lunar Dao, only Pure Unity Dao had developed into a significant force. Li Jiangqian continued,

"The other news concerns this Daoist Xu. He killed a cultivator from Changhuai Mountain and fled far into the Southern Border, making him the first such case in this era."

The authority of Changhuai Mountain in the Wu Kingdom was truly in a league of its own. To kill one of their people and still escape meant he was no ordinary person. Li Jiangqian shook his head, saying,

"With the Grandmaster's imminent arrival, such incidents have naturally increased. There are two or three others, but none are as exaggerated as this Daoist Xu. He is also skilled in swordsmanship, and his combat ability is exceptional."

Li Xuanxuan whispered,

"That's true. Although the Immortal's carriage has arrived in Jiangbei, there are many cultivators on both sides of the river, and if chaos erupts, it would be a major problem. Don't forget the past incident with Xu Xiao."

"This junior understands."

Li Jiangqian knew he was using Daoist Xu as a cautionary tale. He nodded in acknowledgement, then saw the elder off.

***

Yishan City.

Yishan City is the premier city of the Southern Border, standing on Lingqiu Mountain, which borders Green Pond. Beyond this city, stretching southward, is an endless jungle. The Southern Border generally trends southwest. To the slightly eastern side, along the coast, are Beidan Island and Wanli Shitang.

If one travels southwest, crossing layers of dense forest, passing through the ruins of ancient Nanyue, and reaching the Shahuan Kingdom, the Biaoren Kingdom, or even the more distant Meng Kingdom and Shendu, those areas fall within the countless Demonic Ridges of the deep Southern Border.

Although human populations are widespread, the traditionally recognized descendants of Xia (Han Chinese) extended only as far as Yishan City; the rest were considered barbarians. Back then, the Chu Kingdom was already largely despised by the Central Plains, and those outside the city could only be considered "barbarians beyond barbarians," not even having the qualification to be despised.

This majestic city, which demarcated the boundary between civilization and barbarism, was already named in the ancient texts of the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion. When the Southern Fire Heavenly Mansion constructed this city, it was ablaze with flames. It was only after the spiritual mines of Lingqiu Mountain were exhausted that the fiery clouds gradually disappeared. However, the area remains rich in spiritual energy and, being backed by the Southern Border, is rarely affected by spiritual disturbances from other regions.

Yet, this ancient city, which had not seen snow for hundreds of years, was now blanketed in white. Thick snow, deep enough to cover a person, accumulated within the city, solidly filling all the streets. Many cultivators stood on the rooftops emerging from the snow, gazing at the vast, white sky.

*What a heavy snowfall...*

Having been cultivated by the Ning clan for generations, almost everyone in Yishan City, from top to bottom, bore the surname Ning. Facing the unprecedented snowfall, the cultivators naturally understood its significance and dared not clear the snow from the city, only gazing anxiously at the sky.

Inside the highest hall, a woman in simple white robes sat upright. She appeared to be middle-aged. Below the steps stood a man in armor, with a fierce and stern expression, clearly not someone easy to deal with from afar.

"Mother, the snow has lessened."

Li Yuanqin stood before the hall entrance, looking at the falling snowflakes, and spoke. Ning Hemian rose from her seat. Compared to her son's composure, she was clearly more apprehensive. She stepped out of the hall and said in a deep voice,

"Let's go together to welcome the True Lord!"

Whether Ning Wan succeeded or failed, they had no choice but to go.

Mother and son arrived together at the outer chamber of the secluded cave dwelling. The main door of this cave dwelling was already covered in frost. The stone statue of the Three-Eyed Zhaoshan Beast still crouched before the dwelling, coated in a pristine white by the accumulated frost and snow. Only its three eyes gazed intently forward.

Ning Hemian reached out and placed her hand on the long horn of the stone statue. The previously immovable mechanism had loosened. With a gentle turn, the frost-covered door of the cave dwelling rumbled open, and dense frosty mist gushed from the crevice, like a pure white river.

Li Yuanqin's hands and feet turned ice-cold from the chill. Both mother and son were now at the Foundation Establishment stage, but even they secretly felt a chill facing such cold Qi. They waited a moment for the densest part of the mist to pass before moving the cave dwelling door aside and stepping inside.

The Elemental True Lord had sealed the cave dwelling's formation. This grand formation, designed and empowered by his divine abilities, was already different from its original state. Inside, a Fire Beacon Lamp had been set up. Only when this lamp was extinguished by the invasion of Cold Qi could the previously sealed grand formation be opened.

This method was ingeniously designed, virtually solving all potential problems. Even if there were traitors in the Ning family, they couldn't disturb it. As long as the Cold Qi surged within the cave, one could enter. If Ning Wan emerged from seclusion successfully, that would be best. If she perished, the Ning family could still enter to collect her belongings.

Li Yuanqin braved the bone-chilling Cold Qi and entered. What immediately met his eyes was a jade lamp on a jade table near the inner door of the cave dwelling. It was already extinguished, leaving only the dim, yellow light of the cave.

This was Ning Tiaoxiao's cultivation place. The jade platform, perpetually steeped in spiritual energy, stood silently in the dimness, while the walls faintly glowed with intermittent, eerie light. Li Yuanqin took a careful look, only to feel his heart grow cold.

Eerie colors flickered on the stone wall, as if many people were standing on the surface of the wall, looking outward, causing sweat to break out on the back of his neck. Ning Hemian pulled him, whispering,

"This is the True Lord's cultivation place. Listen less, look less."

Li Yuanqin lowered his head. Ning Wan's cultivation chamber was on the other side of the cave dwelling, only about ten steps away. He had barely taken a step when he heard his mother behind him drop to her knees with a thud, respectfully saying,

"Greetings, True Lord!"

He abruptly looked up. On the jade platform, which had been empty just moments ago, sat a woman in a white dress.

She was tall, with curving eyebrows, and black hair cascading down her back. A tiny, snow-white vertical mark adorned her brow. Her face held an air of gentle elegance, but her eyes carried a hint of coldness, captivating one's gaze.

The woman appeared to be only about twenty years old. Golden patterns were embroidered on her sleeves. She sat quietly beside the jade platform, her fair legs dangling off the edge, her bare feet resting in the pristine white mist.

The entire cave dwelling suddenly filled with the scent of pine.

Li Yuanqin quickly stepped back and knelt behind his mother, listening to the fairy's cold voice,

"Hemian, where is Li Xuanfeng?"

Ning Wan did not ask about Ning Tiaoxiao, seeming to already know the elder's fate. Even though it was the day she achieved divine power, looking at the empty cave dwelling, her gaze held sorrow. Ning Hemian respectfully replied,

"During the North-South War, my husband died fighting to prevent the Buddhist cultivators from advancing south."

Ning Wan's gaze dimmed slightly. She replied,

"That sounds like him."

She spoke again, asking,

"Chi Zhiyun hasn't emerged from seclusion yet, has he? He always had a competitive spirit, always a step ahead of me in everything. Now he's the one who'll be behind."

Ning Hemian respectfully answered,

"Reporting to True Lord, Chi Zhiyun has already perished. The direct lineage of the Chi family has ended; there are no cultivators surnamed Chi in Green Pond now."

Ning Wan was finally moved. Listening to them recount the news, she pondered for a long time, surprisingly feeling a touch of melancholy. She replied,

"Tragic. He was quite a figure."

She calculated carefully, her expression turning serious, and asked,

"Heyuan perished. Where is the Xinyou Luze Seal?"

"Its whereabouts are unknown..."

Ning Wan gritted her teeth and let out a cold snort, saying,

"Their methods are truly disgraceful."

The True Lord stepped down through the air from the jade platform, turned, and looked at the eerily colored stone wall behind her, calling out,

"Who is here?"

Immediately, faces began to emerge from the stone wall, some blurred, some clear. Ning Wan, however, stared blankly at a corner of the stone wall, not looking closely. Soon, everything dissipated. She seemed to be calculating something. After a moment, she mused,

‘Nineteen... two are missing... Grandmaster said, 'When faces dissipate, one seeks the Fruit Status.' Excluding Senior Zi Pei, there's one more person. Since I haven't heard of anyone becoming a True Monarch, then they must have reincarnated with the aid of a certain Golden Cicada.’

‘It just so happens that the Three Golden Cicadas of Anhuai Heaven have separated. One of them should correspond to True Qi. Looking at the position, it's the one from Changhuai Mountain; they are about to seek the position of True Qi.’

She pressed her lips together in deep thought for a long time, then gently tapped the jade platform. The jade platform slightly swayed, then split apart down the middle. Inside lay a box containing twenty-eight small white flags.

The woman gently waved her hand, and the twenty-eight small flags flew up together, circling around her palm. Ning Wan smiled faintly and stepped out. The grand formation of the entire cave dwelling immediately began to tremble. Then countless white lights shone brightly, and a massive, table-sized profound-patterned formation plate flew out from the Great Void.

The setup of a Purple Palace Grand Formation has always been a complicated matter, even for a Purple Palace formation plate, its deployment and retrieval were troublesome. Yet Ning Wan retrieved it as simply as taking out a spiritual artifact from the Great Void.

"Let's go. Let's meet Senior Yuan Xiu."

Autumn Lake Fairy rose on the endless falling snow. Standing in the snow, Ning Hemian then belatedly remembered something:

‘True Lord was called Autumn Lake Fairy back then not just for her cultivation... her talent in array formations was so exceptional that it had been praised by True Lord Chi, True Lord Yuan Xiu, and others...’

The old domain name has been compromised; please remember the new one.