Chapter 840: Farewell

The Ghostwood Hall did not make Li Jiangqian wait long. Before the heavy rain had stopped, a black wind swept in from the north, menacingly reaching the northern shore.

Once it had crossed Cold Cloud Peak and the northern bank of the river was out of sight, it immediately recoiled. The black wind dissipated, and the malevolent energy vanished, leaving only a shriveled, bald old eccentric. He flew low over the lake, bowed before the great formation, and howled:

"I am Daoist Wu Kui, one of the eight great guardians from the Ghostwood Hall of Jiangbei... I request an audience with the immortal lord!"

Li Jiangqian had already given orders for Daoist Wu Kui to be monitored throughout his journey. Someone immediately came forward to escort him. Daoist Wu Kui hurried inside. Upon entering the grand hall, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread and solemnity everywhere. He looked up and saw those golden eyes hidden in the shadows, then quickly knelt down and exclaimed:

"This humble cultivator greets the immortal lord! My Hall Master is in a dispute with Fanyun Cave and cannot come in person. I apologize to the immortal clan on behalf of my master..."

With just one glance, Li Jiangqian knew that Wu Kui was definitely more sensible than that "rat." He wasn't sure if it was because Wu Kui had a better understanding of the Purple Mansion forces or if he was simply inherently timid. He mused to himself:

'Hmm... this name sounds legitimate. Perhaps he might even work under a True Monarch.'

So he replied righteously and sternly:

"So, people from your northern region have arrived! Since Ghostwood Hall claims to continue the Dao lineage of Mysterious Waves, why do you not abide by the rules of protecting immortals, wantonly harming civilians? And you even sent this fiend to wreak havoc on my river!"

Li Jiangqian, of course, didn't know if this fellow had used any blood qi on the river, but he knew with absolute certainty that there wasn't a clean spot on this person. Wu Kui was so startled that he hastily said:

"My Lord... My Lord... That fiendish Black Rat has committed many evils. My Hall Master is also greatly displeased. This time, the Hall Master gave me a strict order to capture him and punish him severely. We also thank the family head for the grace of his guidance..."

'Can Daoist Bai really say such things? That donkey-kicked brain of his... can he actually utter such words?'

Li Jiangqian knew that the person before him was trying to smooth things over to complete his mission. He also had no intention of getting involved in this matter, so he seized the opportunity to concede, saying:

"The Hall Master's words are sound. He certainly needs proper discipline. As a leader of a major force, how can he engage in such acts?"

Hearing this, Wu Kui immediately explained:

"Exactly! Exactly! The Hall Master also said that he plans to punish him by sending him to a remote area in the east to supervise lower-level cultivators in mining operations. He will only retain his position as store manager..."

Li Jiangqian shook his head inwardly upon hearing this. Both individuals before him were like harbingers of misfortune. He pulled out the token from his hand. He had originally intended to let this person escort him, but after careful consideration, he muttered to himself:

'This cannot be seen. That Black Rat clearly looks like someone who's going to die at someone else's hands. Wu Kui, on the other hand, is like a weather vane. If I let him see my family's treasures and he talks too much, he might lead some lord here to take my family's Boundless Glazed Pagoda.'

So he changed his words:

"Wait here. I'll have someone bring him up."

Wu Kui nodded repeatedly. Li Jiangqian pulled out Wang Quwan's message from the table. Remembering that Wang Quwan was in secluded cultivation on Panglu Ridge, he asked in a deep voice:

"Remote area? Which mountain was he transferred to?"

The man quickly replied:

"It's near Baiku County, which is close to the immortal path of Baiye Metropolis. As for mountains... there seem to be several ridges nearby, but no actual mountains."

Li Jiangqian seemed to mention it casually and quickly lost interest. But he secretly opened a map in his hand and checked carefully. Sure enough, Panglu Ridge was indeed in Baiku County. Moreover, the local clan in Baiku County was the Wang clan, though it was the branch of Wang He from the Metropolitan Immortal Path.

'Aha.'

He dared not get too deeply involved. Then he saw Qu Bushi bringing the person up. This person had only been in the wind of the Boundless Glazed Pagoda for a few hours and was already trembling all over. Clearly, his Foundation Establishment was extremely unstable, merely achieved by luck and accumulated blood qi. He couldn't even compare to the Wen family brothers.

'Perfect. He established his foundation through blood qi cultivation. His recovery from injuries will be particularly fast. He can go back and replenish some blood qi, and this minor injury will heal immediately. He'll be ready to deal with the True Monarch's matters right away...'

As he was pondering, he heard a commotion in the hall.

"You plague-ridden wretch! You come to the immortal clan's territory to cultivate blood qi! If I don't beat you to death, I won't be able to explain myself to the Hall Master when I go back!"

When Wu Kui saw this person, he began to scold and beat him. These few words were clearly meant to save him. Li Jiangqian, however, waited with interest, letting Wu Kui scold him a few more times. The Black Rat immediately showed resentment on his face and opened his mouth as if to retort.

"Slap!"

Daoist Wu Kui was quick-witted. With one palm, he slapped the man, making his mouth bleed profusely. Li Jiangqian tutted inwardly. He waved his hand, and Qu Bushi immediately pushed both of them out.

Wu Kui's scolding was muffled outside. Li Jiangqian, meanwhile, looked at Wang Quwan's letter and chose not to reply:

'For a person as intelligent as him, if I don't reply, he'll surely understand immediately that something is amiss.'

The people from Ghostwood Hall had been sent away. As expected, Daoist Bai was indeed entangled with Fanyun. The master of Fanyun Cave was Ping Wangzi. Both he and Wen Hu had paid respects to Li Ximing years ago and used the name of Chenyun Sect to escape trouble. Now, the wheel of fortune had turned, and it was this old fellow's turn for misfortune.

'I wonder if he'll die at the hands of Ghostwood Hall, or if he'll have died at the hands of Chenyun Sect even earlier... After all, he's a person of renown and substance from Chenyun Sect. And then there's Daoist Wen Hu from back then. If Wen Hu hadn't died, he should be in this role now...'

Li Jiangqian repeatedly pondered. Back then, Wen Hu was cunning and deceitful and was blown to dust by Li Ximing in a single breath. Although Li Jiangqian wasn't present for that event, Li Chenghuai, upon descending from the mountain, was filled with emotion and even faintly broke into a cold sweat.

The black-robed young man on the main seat slowly put down the letter in his hand. Facing the massive vortex of destiny in Jiangbei, which seemed capable of tearing everything apart and drawing all talented individuals into it, his expression was almost cold. He murmured silently:

"When destiny is exhausted, the Purple Mansion realm is unattainable; when fate is shallow, divine abilities cannot be mastered."

That sentence, spoken by Li Ximing, was filled with emotion. Li Chenghuai, when relaying it, felt lingering trepidation. Now, uttered by Li Jiangqian, it carried coldness and deep vigilance.

He sat with his back to the light, crushing Wang Quwan's letter tighter and tighter in his hand. A bright handful of *Li* fire sprang from his hand, interwoven with red and yellow, twisting and coiling. It quickly incinerated everything to ashes. The scattered ashes then drifted from between his fingers, spreading across the steps below the main seat.

Purple Mist Sect.

In the Purple Mist Blessed Land, clouds drifted ethereally, and rays of light rose. A golden light intertwined with the purple light that flickered in and out of the clouds. On the highest purple platform, they merged into a dazzling purple-gold radiance.

The two guardians in front of the platform looked solemn. Beyond the flowing purple qi clouds, the dharma seat at the top was magnificent, with intricate patterns.

True Monarch Tinglan, in her autumn-yellow robes, stood within these vast clouds. Today, she was surprisingly not on the main seat, but stood to the side, bowing slightly, appearing very respectful.

On the main dharma seat, another person was seated. He was clad in purple-gold Daoist robes and held a Daoist scripture, reading it carefully.

His face was very young. His eyes were like stars, and his lips were slightly thin. His features were exceptionally perfect, like an immortal statue in a temple. Yet, he possessed an extraordinary aura that set him apart. Even in the simple act of lowering his head to read, he captivated observers.

Tinglan's demeanor was already exceptionally refined. Yet, standing beside this man, as perfect as an immortal statue, she seemed like a mere subordinate deity, not daring to move a single step.

After an unknown period, the purple-gold radiance on the platform slightly receded. The man closed the scripture in his hand. Only then did Tinglan raise her hand, presenting a box of elixirs, and respectfully said:

"Reporting, Martial Uncle, the Heavenly Essence Expulsion Elixir has been refined. We invited True Monarch Zhaojing of Weili for it. A total of four pills were successfully produced... they are here."

After saying this, she also took out the original clay pot and respectfully said:

"The Boundless Water and Fire are also here!"

The man she called Martial Uncle slightly closed his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he put away the elixirs, revealing his purple-gold eyes. Then he made a quick calculation with his fingers, truly like a deity in a temple.

The purple-robed True Monarch's voice was like a deep bell:

"The Grand Ancestor Emperor... has appeared in the world."

Tinglan nodded respectfully and replied:

"Reporting, Martial Uncle... The day I saw Martial Uncle return from the South Sea, all the Sun Dao lineages gathered and discussed. It was decided that my clan and Green Pond would handle this matter."

Hearing Tinglan's words, this person was none other than True Monarch Zimu, who had been missing for years! He was also the last remaining Grand True Monarch of the Yue Kingdom's Sun Dao lineage, who had mastered all five divine abilities!

True Monarch Zimu had clearly just arrived here. Hearing her reply, he said:

"The one from Xiukui is Hou Fu, and the one from Hengzhu is Heng Xing."

Tinglan cupped her hands and said:

"Martial Uncle's divine abilities are vast. Even without being present, you know the people from each sect."

Zimu's face, with features as perfectly sculpted as a divine statue, showed no change. But his tone was clearly somewhat disappointed:

"Heaven does not favor my Sun Dao lineage."

Tinglan stopped, at a loss for words. Zimu, meanwhile, sat quietly and replied:

"Lou Xing was once hailed as the Dao Child of Xiukui Dao and was also considered the next Grand True Monarch. However, while his combat abilities were exceptionally strong, his Dao cultivation was unsatisfactory. He has been stagnant in Sanzi for so many years, I don't know how many life-shortening methods he used to try and break through. Now, even such a significant event cannot stir him. It seems he doesn't have much life left."

True Monarch Lou Xing was also a figure of the same era as Green Pond's Three Yuan. Zimu could lament, but Tinglan couldn't even withstand one of his divine abilities. How could she dare to make any comments about him? She listened with her head bowed as the man said:

"Once he and I pass away one after another, the Sun Dao lineage will have no more preeminent figures. The last glorious afterglow of Green Pine Temple may also come to an end."

These words made Tinglan suddenly look up. Zimu said softly:

"The vast Green Pond, a formidable sect-level force, almost failed to sustain itself. Now it relies on a True Monarch who cultivates frost and snow, newly entered the Purple Mansion realm, to support it. Sword Sect, with all its renown, once sought to emulate Thunder Palace and uphold morality in Jiangnan. Yet, for hundreds of years, it has been in decline. Now it relies on someone named Li for support, not even daring to leave its mountain gate."

"Xiukui and Hengzhu are both branches of Moon Splendor. Grand Xiukui Temple will soon only have Hou Fu and Kui Qi left. Hengzhu Dao, unyielding and unrestrained, fought fiercely with the Murong family and stubbornly severed the Dao lineage that had finally shown some signs of recovery. Heng Li and Heng Xing are propping up the very last remnants of Hengzhu's foundation..."

"Xiu Yue has entered secluded cultivation and is no longer in Yue Kingdom. Once I let go, the Purple Mist Blessed Land will be left with only you."

Tinglan was at a loss for words and replied:

"But... but no matter what, it is still the Sun Dao lineage..."

Zimu let out a cold laugh and replied:

"A fine Sun Dao lineage indeed, a Sun Dao lineage that doesn't cultivate the sun!"

Tinglan dared not speak again. The Grand True Monarch took a step and said in a low voice:

"The Yuanfu has been secluded for many years. Li Jiangqun was even besieged and killed at Wangyue Lake. Where do you think the deterrent power of the Sun Dao lineage lies? Back then, there were magic treasures, and two individuals, Lu Shui and Xiu Yue, were still fighting in the heavens! Who is Lu Shui? Others may not know, but can you and I not know? Xiu Yue, the only one who could possibly offer protection, no longer comes to Jiangnan. And True Monarch Yu Zhen has gone to the North Sea to establish another Dao lineage!"

"Ultimately, it's the Sun Dao lineage; all the clans can sit together. One family's Purple Mansion is the Purple Mansion of five families. One Grand True Monarch is the Grand True Monarch of the Grand True Monarch of the entire Yue Kingdom. To put it nicely, it's mutual assistance; to put it harshly, it's colluding to intimidate Jiangnan... Now that Lou Xing and I are departing, see if the five families combined can compare to a single Golden Feather family!"

"Most importantly... there are no Grand True Monarchs left... Yuan Dao won't get involved... The Sun Dao lineage will have no Grand True Monarchs then."

His gaze swept towards the distant sea of clouds, and he said in a deep voice:

"Li Jiangqun extended the life of the Sun Dao lineage by five hundred years, but there comes a time when it ends... Numerous cultivators repeatedly failed to break through to the Golden Core stage. Green Pond conceded Shitan. And a domineering person like Lou Xing didn't even ask a single question..."

Tinglan saw his solemn, god-like pupils looking at her:

"Whether he is still alive or not, is unknown."

Tinglan pondered for a long time, then respectfully said:

"But how... how could the Sun Dao lineage decline? There are also exceptionally talented individuals among the younger generation, who could summon a good number of Purple Mansion cultivators to assist. If such a great war were to erupt in Jiangnan, the Underworld Office would not permit it either."

Zimu held the scripture in his hand, his tone calm:

"The Underworld Office has been too lenient with you, so much so that you have come to rely on them. When that time comes, Jiangnan will not only lack Grand True Monarchs, but even cultivators with the potential to become Grand True Monarchs will be gone. Harvesting gold will be postponed indefinitely. Could the Underworld Office not have other ideas? If that thought ever occurs to them, you few will be like stray dogs."

He said indifferently:

"The Wuguang Luoxia's contemporary bestowal of fruit positions makes each of you tremble with fear, feeling like thorns in your backs, constantly on guard day and night, daring not to complain. Yet, you are not afraid of the Underworld Office, which is a force on the same level as the North. This shows you have been domesticated for too long, so much so that you can't even discern where the other side makes its moves."

Tinglan was speechless and could only bow, saying:

"Please, Martial Uncle... enlighten me!"

Zimu had a magnificent physique. Tinglan appeared petite and delicate before him, not even reaching his shoulders. Her expression was a mix of confusion and unease.

Zimu smiled faintly and paced once around the purple platform, seemingly bidding a final farewell to the blessed land that had nurtured him. He reached out and gently patted the woman's head, as if comforting her:

"Don't worry, no matter what happens, you can hide in the blessed land. The spiritual barrier will be left for you, and you don't need to return the Boundless Water and Fire to me. As long as there's no news from me, the blessed land will remain safe. If I die and my Dao fades, you can offer the magic treasure and emulate the story of the Tuoba family."

"What Grandmaster, Senior Sister, and even Grand Ancestor Taixu left behind has already elucidated the mysteries of cultivating the Purple Qi Immortal Yuan. I will journey towards the furthest eastern lands where purple qi originates to seek it."

He raised his eyebrows, his eyes glowing with purple-gold. His lips were like painted vermilion, and his face was like porcelain jade. Layers of purple qi emanated from beneath his feet. His voice resonated like a divine chant:

"On this journey to the furthest eastern lands to seek the fruit position, if I witness purple qi coming from the east and the clear capital of Ziwei, and hear the grand music of Juntian and the hymns of a hundred immortals, then the lingering fragrance will be restored, and fallen wood will become scriptures. Deer, birds, and sparrows will all come to bow before me. The Purple Qi Blessed Land, with its twenty-three mountains and one realm, will rise from the earth, ascend beyond the heavens, and transform into a Grotto-Heaven."

Tinglan fell to her knees, kowtowing ceaselessly. After completing nine prostrations, she looked up. The dharma seat before her was empty, with only a bright, round, purple-gold orb remaining.

"Magic Treasure — Purple Qi Immortal Yuan Profound Shield!"