Chapter 864: Returning to the Mountain (1+1/2)

"Fumoku! What are you doing?!"

Akara had never imagined that the Compassionate, with hands subtly poised like lotuses behind his back, stood silently in the air, despite his face being contorted with rage. Even though the immense water and fire around Fumoku had long extinguished, and his aura was still eighty to ninety percent intact, putting him in excellent condition among this group of Compassionates, the old man remained utterly still.

"You!"

Before Akara could even utter a curse, he felt the Great Void shake, and a thunderous roar erupted in his ears:

"Aow..."

On Mount Komuro, the gathered Buddhist practitioners looked up. In the sky, dark fissures of various sizes, connected to the Great Void, inexplicably appeared. Dazzling golden energy mixed with spiritual light shot out, transforming into fluttering pink lotuses and scattered golden sand as they reached the present world.

A bright golden stream of light streaked out from mid-air, accompanied by scattered petals and golden sand. The "Three Retributions Lotus Entering the World," intricately patterned, whirled mournfully in the sky, gleaming exceptionally bright against the white snow. Akara was momentarily stunned, crying out in alarm:

"Taisi is injured!"

This stream of light seemed to trigger the unraveling of the entire battlefield. The purple immortal pavilion floating in the air grew increasingly bright, and a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair stood atop it, positioned in front of Fairy Ning Wan of Autumn Lake. And the Purple Mansion spirit sword, entirely snow-white, with patterns of profound snow and great yin on its body, and depictions of autumn giving way to winter on its blade, had already fallen into the middle-aged man's hands.

'Ling Mei!'

True Lord Ling Mei of the Sword Sect! Ling Mei, wielding the Great Snow Apex!

The difference between the Great Snow Apex in Ning Wan's hand and in Ling Mei's hand was like heaven and earth. The Buddhist Pure Land in the sky vanished almost instantly; colorful lights, precious thrones, golden bodies – all fled faster than they had appeared, leaving behind only swirling white snow.

Only now did Akara belatedly realize Fumoku's actions. Ling Mei must have used Li Ximing as bait, injuring Taisi, who was holding the Three Retributions Lotus Entering the World, with a single strike upon meeting him. If it had been Akara, he might not even have had the chance to return to the Pure Land! He had been at odds with Fumoku for hundreds of years, yet now he had saved his life thanks to the other's caution. His feelings were complex, and he immediately retreated into the Great Void, thinking:

'How cunning! They say this old man has been capricious recently, harming his disciples, but he doesn't seem senile at all... He's becoming increasingly cunning... He must be plotting for the next Buddhist position under Kongwudao...'

Little did he know, Fumoku, on the other side, was also terrified and weak, unable to even look. Muttering to himself, he darted straight into the Great Void. The other Compassionates also scattered and fled, each saving their own lives. Who would dare stay? Hadn't Zhelu dispelled his Pure Land? This Maha only remained to prevent too many of Kongwudao's Compassionates from perishing! Otherwise, a True Lord of the Solar Lineage, a Golden Virtue in swordsmanship, wielding a Purple Mansion spirit sword famed for centuries, would likely require several Golden Lotus seats to fall to be satisfied!

Meanwhile, also fleeing in terror was True Lord Luo, cloaked in black and exuding a chilling aura. The moment he saw Ling Mei, half his life force seemed to drain away in fright. He activated his divine abilities at full power, abandoning any thought of claiming credit, and turned to flee.

The snow fell more intensely from the sky. Maha Zhelu clearly became wary; the thousand eyes on his body blinked in unison, converging pink and golden light. True Lord Kui Qi's expression eased as he landed beside the Purple Radiance Pavilion, standing with his sword embraced.

Zhelu was clearly different from Taisi. His Golden Body was profound, reaching to the heavens, and his voice, like thunder, descended from the dense layers of clouds:

"So it is Daoist Friend Ling Mei. Seeing such swordsmanship, I had thought it was Lou Xing."

Ling Mei remained silent, golden energy merely condensing on his sword. The Great Snow Apex, which had not been in the hands of a masterful swordsman for years, flickered with light, seemingly brimming with excitement.

Hearing Lou Xing's name, a trace of coldness flashed in True Lord Kui Qi's eyes. He was not one to have a good temper; how could he restrain himself? He immediately cursed:

"You old bald ass, what are you playing at?! If our Great True Lord were here, would you dare show your half-bald head? If you're going to roll, roll now! When our Great True Lord wielded his sword and rampaged, would you, Zhelu, dare utter a peep?! Our Great True Lord was in seclusion for a few years, and now you come out barking wildly!"

Kui Qi's face was filled with a cold sneer as he fearlessly declared: "If you push us too far in the South, I'd like to see if it's your Golden Body that shatters first!"

Kui Qi's cursing was satisfying, causing Ling Mei's brow to relax. Ning Wan, who had been besieged within the formation for days, also let out a breath, even with her typically reserved demeanor, and quietly consumed a pill.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, emerged from the Great Void and supported Chen, who was suspended in mid-air. The Chen family elder's face was ashen; he appeared to have sustained serious injuries. Without hesitation, Li Ximing took out a Profound Phoenix Heart Elixir from his sleeve, handed it to Chen, and whispered: "Senior, don't worry. This pill was refined by the Green Water lineage; it's excellent for healing injuries and regulating Qi... It perfectly suits your divine ability. Please take it quickly."

Though also a Purple Mansion True Lord, Chen's scarcity in pills was clearly incomparable to True Lords like Li Ximing. Others were from the Solar Lineage, never lacking in good things. In fact, he was currently in the most desperate straits, and quickly thanked him as he accepted it.

Zhelu, having been subjected to this barrage of insults, showed no anger or impatience. Instead, his tone was calm, clear, and profound: "Though I am no match, if I were fortunate enough to receive guidance from Daoist Friend Lou Xing, I would undoubtedly benefit immensely and be overjoyed..."

True Lord Ling Mei, after all, had not yet surpassed the Purple Reflection realm. While Zhelu was wary of him wielding the spirit sword, he was certainly not as formidable as Great True Lord Lou Xing. Ling Mei met his gaze with a cold look and softly said: "There's no need for a senior. I shall seek guidance myself."

The moment his words fell, Zhelu was seen retreating into the Great Void. True Lord Kui Qi on the Purple Radiance Pavilion also vanished simultaneously. On Mount Komuro, the radiant light dissipated, and dark clouds once again enveloped the land, casting everything into gloom, leaving only thick snow on the ground.

The dazzling light of the Great Snow Apex pierced into the Great Void, transforming into various forms. Gentle moonlight, accompanied by a chilling gleam, instantly submerged the pitch-black Great Void. The Great Void should have been empty, but now even the darkness receded like a tide. Zhelu's Golden Body was terrifyingly vast, with hundreds of arms extending from its back, each bearing an eye in its center. It appeared both noble and eerie. These thousands of eyes opened simultaneously, each pupil manifesting a greenish-black hue. With a slight tremor, pink radiance flew out, like a peacock fanning its tail, glittering brilliantly.

True Lord Ling Mei, with but a single sword strike. This sword circulated with white snow, reflecting autumn light, ascending against the current within the countless river-like pink rays, piercing towards Zhelu's face. In an instant, the Great Void shook with a roar, exploding with infinite brilliance.

Such a grand battle erupting in the Great Void had repercussions everywhere in the present world. Layers upon layers of golden snow flickered through the air, dissipating before touching the ground. Several Purple Mansion True Lords showed expressions of surprise.

'What magnificent sword light!'

Being so close to the northern Buddhist cultivators was inherently extremely dangerous. With Ling Mei and Zhelu battling in the Great Void, it was natural for the group to leave quickly. Li Ximing looked around, then approached by light. Ning Wan on the Purple Radiance Pavilion coughed twice, spitting a little blood, which caused light snow to drift once more over Mount Komuro. Yet, her complexion gradually became rosy, clearly indicating she was much better.

Seeing Li Ximing approach, Ning Wan raised a slender eyebrow and said softly: "Greetings, Zhaojing... Thank you for your help this time."

It was Li Ximing's first time meeting her as well. He politely cupped his hands and replied: "It was my duty."

Just then, the Purple Radiance Pavilion beneath their feet finally transformed. Streams of light dissipated, and it gradually shrank into a palm-sized miniature pavilion, which True Lord Ting Lan finally revealed herself holding. The woman's divine abilities and magic power were dim, her face pale, and she appeared utterly exhausted. Most critically, her foundation seemed shaken; purple energy billowed out, and her divine abilities flickered inconsistently. Compared to her, Ning Wan had sustained hardly any significant injury.

Seeing Li Ximing, Ting Lan forced herself to be spirited, appearing somewhat surprised, and exhaled: "I've troubled all Daoist Friends... Daoist Friend Zhaojing, you were far away in the East Sea, yet you were called to make this trip..."

Li Ximing was more familiar with her than with Ning Wan. Seeing her state, he bowed and replied: "When a Daoist Friend is trapped, it is only natural to return and rescue them!"

Chen was clearly not familiar with the two. He merely nodded without speaking much. The four of them retreated into the Great Void together, crossed the river, and traveled all the way to Purple Mist Blessed Land. Ting Lan took another pill and, lowering her gaze, said: "I won't say more thanks. I am severely wounded and truly cannot delay. I will bear this assistance in mind. For now, let me stabilize my divine abilities... I will leave matters to Daoist Friend Ning for now..."

From her sleeve, she took out a circular formation disk, gray-gold at its base with purple patterns, and a jade slip. She handed both to Ning Wan, then forced a faint smile at Li Ximing and said: "Your clan's grand formation... you needn't worry. True Lord Ning's talent in formation arts is astonishing, unlike my half-hearted attempts to learn. Her cultivation will soon surpass mine, and she has more brilliant ideas. Just entrust it to her."

Ning Wan nodded silently. Having struggled through life and death together, she had grown much closer to Ting Lan. She said softly: "Elder Sister, just make the arrangements for me. Please focus on recuperating well."

Ting Lan merely held the purple jade pavilion, seemingly using it to temporarily suppress her injuries. She transformed into a streak of purple Qi and vanished into the Blessed Land. Li Ximing felt a slight relaxation in his heart, estimating that the matter was concluded, and he let out a sigh of relief.

If not for the Chongyang Stellar Control Astrolabe, Kui Qi's situation would undoubtedly have been very tricky, and he would certainly have been injured. Fortunately, the Great Xiukui Temple was generous with its assistance. The only real danger throughout was Taisi, but that Maha was repelled by Ling Mei's single sword strike, finally allowing him to escape unscathed.

Yet, reflecting on the matter, he still found it incredible. Others might not know, but Li Ximing had witnessed it firsthand: 'Just one sword strike...'

One must know that Taisi had also unleashed his full power, employing the renowned Three Retributions Lotus Entering the World. Yet, Ling Mei's single sword strike first wounded the Three Retributions Lotus, marking the spiritual artifact, then shattered its colorful light, then broke through Taisi's protective spiritual radiance, and finally sealed his throat with the last blow, terrifying Taisi into a desperate retreat! Although Ling Mei had prepared his strike in advance and seized the opportune moment, Taisi's spiritual artifact was borrowed. Without the Three Retributions Lotus Entering the World, that horse head would likely not have been saved...

"True Lord Ling Mei truly possesses the might of a Sword Immortal..." Li Ximing would absolutely not believe that someone who wielded such a sword strike lacked sword intent. He expressed this sentiment, and Chen, a fellow practitioner of the sword, sighed: "Senior Ling Mei's cultivation in the way of the sword has reached its pinnacle. Even without sword intent, he is enough to impress anyone. Even the Sword Immortal of Qi Ze, grave-robber of Wu, often came to visit him, considering himself inferior, and never gained any advantage when dueling with him. To possess the might of a Sword Immortal without sword intent... if he were to gain sword intent, his sword light now... would undoubtedly be even more terrifying."

Li Ximing nodded in admiration, but doubt arose in his heart. As he rode the wind towards the lake, he asked: "I'm a bit puzzled. After sword essence comes sword intent... How can one achieve sword might higher than sword intent without experiencing sword intent? It seems the Sword Sect's sword arts are truly extraordinary..."

Chen nodded slightly, seeming to share the same conjecture. Ning Wan, however, had a complex expression, as if she hadn't fully recovered from the northern siege. Only upon hearing Li Ximing's words did she speak with little enthusiasm: "Sword intent must precede divine abilities. Once divine abilities are achieved, no matter how high one's swordsmanship cultivation... one will be without sword intent... unless it's the 'Nourishing Azure Nether' mentioned in ancient texts..."

'Nourishing Azure Nether... the Little King Sword Immortal of yesteryear...'

Li Ximing nodded then, pondering as they traveled towards the lake. The three emerged from the Great Void, landing on Mount Zhijing, which was covered in gardenia trees. White jade pillars, some fallen, some standing, still remained, but the ground was immaculately clean, and the round tables and stools were just as before. The jade pot even contained fresh, clean water, ready for Li Ximing's return at any time.

Li Ximing had not returned for many years. Seeing this familiar scene now, he felt a surge of emotion and waved his sleeve, saying: "My humble abode is simple; please forgive its modesty."

The two did not stand on ceremony and sat down. Li Ximing began to brew tea. Ning Wan's face showed some unease as she lowered her gaze and said: "This time... thanks to Senior Ting Lan's full protection, I wasn't severely injured. But for the matters by the river... they will be entrusted to me from now on, and I will still need Zhaojing's assistance."

"That goes without saying."

Li Ximing still felt uneasy. This time he had prudently protected himself, the situation wasn't bad, and he wasn't injured. But seeing Ting Lan's appearance just now... even with Purple Mist's finest spirit medicines, she wouldn't be able to act for a while. So he asked: "How did it come to such a state?"

Ning Wan shook her head and said: "There was an unusual movement on Mount Komuro. Ting Lan suspected someone was making a move, but we didn't expect fate to fall to the Northern Buddhist side, where Kongwudao exploited it and plotted against us. We hadn't thought Buddhist cultivators could trace our whereabouts, so we were careless. Fortunately, we had the Purple Throne Mu Ling Pavilion. Such a spiritual treasure is quite marvelous and capable of resisting external enemies. Zhelu also feared the trump cards in our hands... The Great Snow Apex was also in my possession, and I had originally planned to break out of the formation... but Ting Lan guarded against other Mahas waiting outside, fearing we would be suppressed again after breaking the formation, so we quietly held our ground. Later, the grand formation shook several times, and we noticed many Compassionates' traces disappearing, knowing that reinforcements were coming to our aid. We finally gritted our teeth and broke through the formation..."

Chen clearly understood and added: "Senior Ling Mei was also waiting for the opportune moment... If he had acted rashly, it would have been difficult to protect us all and ensure our safe retreat, and it would also have been hard to account for to the Sect... With True Lord Ning and the Great Snow Apex appearing, he had good reason to intervene..."

Li Ximing pondered his words thoughtfully. Ning Wan said: "I heard that the Sword Sect is too rigid... those old folks truly wish to live in seclusion. Yet, the Chenghua Palace can allow a multitude of cultivators to petition for the Sword Canon's regulation. If Senior hadn't stabilized the Cheng family in advance... where would we have this freedom today?"

Chen, not being of the Solar Lineage, naturally remained silent. Li Ximing also said nothing, instead brewing tea for her. After a long while, Chen set down his cup and finally spoke: "In this matter... Daoist Friend Luo from the Southern Frontier also contributed. However, he had just been battling a Compassionate, and perhaps he was injured... Moreover, he doesn't fully trust us, so he left first."

Chen had invited him, so he must have been entrusted with something; naturally, he couldn't remain silent. He clearly didn't wish for much contact but had followed them all the way to the lake, evidently just for this one sentence.

Indeed, Ning Wan frowned, asking in doubt: "True Lord Luo... I haven't heard of him..."

Though Chen had to mention him, the other party was not a good person, and his audience was from the Solar Lineage, so he didn't try to hide anything for the True Lord, replying: "Daoist Friend Ning, you needn't worry. He's not an old friend of Green Pond. His lineage is merely incomplete and needs supplementing. He only offered assistance because he covets a certain path within Green Pond's hidden treasures."

Ning Wan appeared thoughtful. Chen then lifted his sleeves and politely said: "Now that I've left the Chen clan and appeared by the river, petty individuals will surely plot against me. I must return quickly to deal with any changes, so I won't trouble you further..."

Seeing him about to leave, Li Ximing hesitated slightly and asked: "Senior Ling Mei's side..."

"No need to worry. Even if True Lord Cheng has been devoted to cultivation and rarely appears, he would certainly be involved in such a major event... Though his swordsmanship and cultivation are not as good as Senior Ling Mei's, he is also a high-level cultivator of Golden Virtue, so nothing untoward will happen..."

Ning Wan also looked up and reminded: "Among all sects, Buddhist cultivators fear the Sword Sect the most. No matter how strong other lineages may be, leaving behind backup plans is not easy; some predecessors couldn't even leave anything behind... But sword intent can be preserved within the sword, passing down through generations... This trump card is truly the greatest among all clans... Perhaps our methods could at most destroy one of his Golden Bodies, but if the Sword Sect were truly provoked, killing a Maha would not be difficult... and it wouldn't even shake the Sword Sect's foundations much."

Chen nodded, sighed, bowed hastily, and then departed on the wind.

With his departure, Ning Wan relaxed considerably. Leaning on the jade table, she revealed a hint of weariness and said softly: "The Li clan hasn't had it easy these many years. If Junior Brother Chijing were here, he would be a top-tier figure now... The Chi family deserved their fate... I warned them long ago, but I didn't expect Heyuan to still get dragged into it."

This was reminiscence. As for whether the Chi family truly deserved their fate, perhaps Ning Wan thought so, but Li Ximing didn't share that sentiment much. If Chi Buzi were still in the sect, the Chi family would still be living comfortably, and Li Ximing would still have to defer to Chi Buzi... So he replied: "Their family's fortune was poor, and their power weakened, which perfectly allowed for retaliation from those under their rule. The Ning clan has also found liberation..."

Ning Wan smiled, took a small box from her sleeve, placed it on the jade table, and said softly: "It was simply tough on Daoist Friend to make this trip. I'm not very familiar with Senior Chen; I'll visit him later to express my gratitude. But between our two families, let's not be so formal... For delaying your cultivation, coming thousands of miles from the East Sea, you must be compensated. This is a cultivation resource called the Chongli Treasure Leaf, obtained from the East Fire Grotto-Heaven. It is a leaf fallen from a spiritual flower cultivated beside the Su Yuanhua, a Purple Mansion resource of the Li Fire lineage..."

"Li Fire resource?"

Li Ximing had once received a Horn Wood resource as a gift from the Sword Sect. Purple Mansion resources, while of Purple Mansion grade, were not as precious as true spirit items; most were minor scraps from Purple Mansion spiritual objects. Still, they weren't easily acquired, and Ning Wan specifically taking one out truly surprised Li Ximing. Rescuing Ning Wan was indeed a small favor, but Kui Qi had initiated it, even paying him to act. Ning Wan's gesture clearly showed an intention to forge a connection. She whispered: "Li Fire clashes with my own path, so this item is useless to me. Since Zhaojing is skilled in alchemy, it will naturally be of great use in your hands."

Li Ximing found the item somewhat hot to handle, and could only say: "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Friend, but I cannot accept such a weighty gift. Consider it a trust from you; if it truly becomes a pill someday, I shall send one to you."

After all, Li Fire items were quite valuable to the Li clan. Not only was Mingyang connected to Li Fire, but Li Jiangqian also cultivated Li Fire below. Li Ximing naturally couldn't return it. However, Ning Wan clearly took his words as mere politeness, nodding slightly and replying: "Current affairs in the North and South are troublesome, and Buddhist cultivators are interfering again. The Purple Mansion Grand Formation cannot be delayed; if it cannot be established, there will be even more trouble later. I read this jade slip on the way. Senior Ting Lan's design is exquisite. The most troublesome part is actually these thirty-two Profound Nails. Wait for me for three days, and you and I will place these thirty-two Profound Nails on the continent, connecting with the earth veins, and then we can proceed."

Li Ximing was eager for her to act sooner. In truth, his divine abilities were still somewhat unstable at the moment and required a slight adjustment, but he had already consumed a pill earlier, and these issues would naturally recover with time. Paying no heed to that, he said solemnly: "No matter. I have the Mountain-Crossing Sea-Striding Tiger; I can also handle the matter of connecting with the earth veins. You should first recuperate your magic power; I'll start driving in these Mountain-Piercing Profound Nails!"

For the first time since arriving, Ning Wan showed a truly sincere smile and laughed: "Zhaojing, no need to rush. Elder Sister Ting Lan fixed the positions several years ago. If there have been any changes in the earth veins in recent years, the key points might be inaccurate... We also need to spend a few days waiting for the two True Lords to arrive; it's best to meet them both."

Ning Wan was clearly quick-witted. She chuckled, then reminded him: "Moreover... Senior Kui Qi also possesses considerable cultivation in formation arts. The Xiukui and Hengzhuo lineages have complete inheritances, and their pill formations are not weak... Those are all artifacts from the Primordial Mansion realm. Just asking one more question would greatly benefit your family's formations! Don't worry, I don't need to ask him to look at the formation disk. I'll just ask him about the earth vein nodes he perceives. Once Ting Lan's Profound Nails are driven in, the earth veins will shift and integrate into the formation, so there's no need to worry about secrets being leaked..."

Li Ximing nodded secretly. This woman was very considerate; she clearly spoke as if Li Ximing, a Purple Mansion True Lord, had some understanding of formation arts. In any case, he didn't understand, so he merely nodded seriously. So he sat cross-legged for a moment on a jade pillar. Light and darkness intertwined across the heavens and earth. In his sleeve, he still carried Xiukui's spiritual artifact, the Chongyang Stellar Control Astrolabe, which emitted a faint, bright golden radiance, making his Heavenly Gate of Revelation even more active.