Chapter 873: Preparing

Since Lin Feng had offered it, Chen Yang truly didn't dare refuse. He sighed deeply, saying, "Such a precious item… it truly surpasses the sum of all my wealth throughout my life. I merely offered you some help that day, yet I’ve received such a reward… Truly a young hero… I am utterly convinced!" Fei Qingfei clearly enjoyed his flattery and nodded with satisfaction. Lin Feng waved his hand, evidently not wishing to linger, and casually remarked, "I am tied up with many matters and cannot stay long. Since Qingya has also been retrieved, I will return to the north. I also need to help her catch up on the cultivation she has missed over the years, so I won't impose further." "As for uncles Tongcai and Tonglu… they can also come along to visit, as Qingfei has missed them dearly after so many years!" Lin Feng had met these Fei family brothers when he was still in the Fetal Respiration realm, and Fei Tonglu was the father of the Fei sisters, so Lin Feng naturally held them in high regard. At this question, Chen Yang was eager for them to leave quickly and hurriedly said, "No matter… no matter. Anyway, those two aren’t highly regarded in the Fei family. You may go visit your relatives. I’ll report it at the lake later and assign you two tasks as cover." The Fei family's talent was dwindling. Fei Tongcai was originally a core member of the Fei family, but after a trip to the north, the body he inhabited was no longer truly his own, so he was placed by the riverbank and faded from public view. Because of this, the two Fei family members were also happy to go north and nodded repeatedly.

With Chen Yang's generous facilitation, Lin Feng and his group were very satisfied. Fei Qingfei's ceaseless chatter finally ceased its unpleasant remarks. Lin Feng led her in a respectful bow, then ascended into the wind, carrying his entourage swiftly northward, quickly disappearing into the horizon. Chen Yang, meanwhile, remained standing, clutching the long jade box.

Before he could react, the scent of pine pervaded the air. A white-robed True Person appeared on the peak. Ning Wan, cradling a sword, quietly stepped into the courtyard, startling Chen Yang, who immediately knelt and respectfully greeted her, "Greetings, True Person!" The Fei family women huddled in the corner of the courtyard and the bewildered Fei family members bowed alongside him. Chen Yang quickly offered the long box he held, exclaiming, "Please, True Person, take a look!" Ning Wan nodded gently, picked up the Black Stream, and examined it meticulously from tip to hilt. Finding no abnormalities, she sighed lightly, "Indeed, it is from the Mi Fan lineage, with the aura of the Wanling Grand Sect from the near-ancient past…"

After only a few breaths, several streaks of light swiftly arrived, landing on the mountain one after another. Li Jiangqian flew in, bringing Fei Qingyi from the Fei family. Both bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, True Person!" Ning Wan exhaled, appearing much more relaxed, and said, "Congratulations… it's beneficial and harmless. Has Zhaojing gone to the Southern Wilderness?" Although Ning Wan's question was somewhat rhetorical, it was a polite inquiry, so Li Jiangqian replied, "With the True Person's immense blessings… our ancestor has already departed for the Southern Wilderness. Before leaving, he instructed that all matters concerning the riverside are to follow the True Person's directives!" Ning Wan nodded and softly said, "Your family's True Person is not here, but fortunately, Fei Qingya's allegiance has been settled. It’s estimated that with the Master’s assistance, this young woman will be nearing Foundation Establishment upon her return. The Grand Xiukui Temple will personally come to escort her, so we won't trouble your esteemed clan." She added, "Understanding that your esteemed clan is a Sword Immortal family, those few people and swords… some must be distributed to your clan…"

Li Jiangqian merely nodded in agreement. Ning Wan then sighed, "Chongxin Song Yunbai, Cheng Yun is quite interesting, so it's not ideal to seize his magic sword… Bai Yinzi is useless; it's unknown how many days he has left to live. Luogui is easy to acquire, Fenhai is in Han Li's hands, but this one's whereabouts are very secretive…" She mused, pondering the Master's earlier words, and whispered, "He has already searched through the entire lineage…" Hearing her murmur to herself, Li Jiangqian's heart was instantly filled with the same doubt.

Back then, True Person Chang Yun had specifically mentioned this very lineage when he met Li Ximing! The True Persons in the vicinity coveted Mi Fan not merely for a few magic artifacts; this lineage was known to contain ancient spiritual artifacts! Since ancient spiritual artifacts were confirmed to exist within the Mi Fan lineage, Lin Feng's so-called trump card would be far more than just this Gengjin spiritual embryo; there must be one or more spiritual artifacts or ancient spiritual artifacts. Ning Wan's thoughts weren't far from his, but standing at a higher vantage point, she had more predictions about the future situation: 'With the northern stage being interfered with like this, only the Master can enter and exit the Mi Fan secret realm. He has already reaped immense rewards, so there's no way it will simply fall into someone's lap without reason…' 'And the Master has stayed long enough in Jiangbei. Once he cultivates a bit more and enters the late Foundation Establishment stage, he can go north to seek opportunities for breakthrough, and break through amidst the encirclement of numerous Buddhist cultivators…'

'But once he leaves, he will certainly have to share treasures with those few sworn brothers and lovers… it’s not as simple as merely snatching a person. Ancient spiritual artifacts are out of the question; the Master will definitely keep those for himself. However, as long as there are enough spiritual artifacts within this lineage, he will surely leave one or two behind… There will be another battle then! Even those from overseas might intervene…' Ning Wan was quite worried. She looked at the Li family members beside her, deeply conflicted, and softly said, "The Mi Fan lineage is precious, and there will be another dispute when the time comes. Choose what you desire beforehand… lest you end up with nothing." After saying this, she seemed to sense something – apparently, fighting had resumed in Jiangbei. With a gentle wave of her hand, she transformed into wind and snow and dispersed.

"Thank you for the True Person's reminder!" How could Li Jiangqian not understand the meaning behind her words? Although the group in Jiangbei seemed glorious, once Lin Feng left, everyone from top to bottom would be like fish on a chopping block! He waited for the wind and snow to dissipate before rising, his gaze still fixed on the Black Stream.

This magic sword was simple yet elegant, its guard as wide as the blade at the hilt, immediately capturing his attention. 'It’s similar, truly too similar…' He appeared unconcerned, picking up the entirely black sword and examining it closely, as if appreciating its unique style, and praised, "This is the sword-making style of Mi Fan…" The only true Purple Mansion spiritual sword in Qingchi was the Grand Snow Absolute Edge. However, there were many sword cultivators in Jiangnan, and the way of the sword differed from other paths; many sword cultivators referred to 'spiritual swords' and 'immortal swords' as those that had received enlightened sword intent and given birth to a spirit. Thus, the term 'Purple Mansion' was often added when referring to the Grand Snow Absolute Edge to highlight its special nature. The Black Stream before him had already given birth to a spirit, making it very precious. Chen Yang relayed the information beside him, and Li Jiangqian gradually fell into thought, silently musing, 'Four magic swords, each falling into a different party, and a Gengjin spiritual embryo in the Grand Void… I wonder which one it is.'

Li Jiangqian still remembered the grey sword from back then. He turned the Black Stream over; its hilt was completely unadorned. After careful inspection, a hint of anticipation arose in him: 'This sword is surely meant to be revealed in combat. If there's a major battle in Jiangbei and the spiritual embryo reveals its form, then we'll know the truth.' 'Before that, I must quickly gather the appearances of those other magic swords!' Li Jiangqian glanced around and ordered, "Find Qu Bushi!" Fei Qingyi, who had listened all along and also heard Ning Wan's words, had long been convinced by Li Jiangqian's previous evasive remarks. He hurried off to call for the man. Soon, the old man was seen descending on the wind. Li Jiangqian whispered, "Any news?" Qu Bushi bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, that Yaksha Cheng Mi has been pressing his advantage in the Xuanniao Temple territory. As a result, the True Person of Xuanniao Temple has also gone missing. It is said their market was breached and they lost a lot of property." Li Jiangqian didn't think it was a big deal and said naturally, "The True Person has already warned us. These few people are all heaven-blessed talents. You and Chen Yang should communicate well, inquire about them by name, and draw their portraits…" "Yes!" Chen Yang bowed. Only then did Li Jiangqian add, as if an afterthought, "Investigate their clothing and magic artifacts thoroughly if possible…"

The Grotto-Heaven was hazy. The pale white platform was boundless, osmanthus trees swayed gently, and in the sky, the sun and moon shone together, radiating brilliantly. Beyond the light of the sun and moon on either side, a translucent, shimmering color appeared at the very top, revealing another realm. This expanse of sky was dim, with colossal figures faintly emerging, casting their dim glow upon the pale white world below, brimming with layers of radiance. Lu Jiangxian stood within the Grotto-Heaven, gazing far into the Grand Void. The splendor of the Grand Void in Jiangbei was clearly visible even from the north bank. Without a doubt, more than one True Monarch was supervising. For caution, his true body had not even crossed the riverbank, remaining hidden only on the lake. 'Emperor Taizu Wei’s methods are unknown, but from the gold within the Jinyang Ring, I know this person probably has deep ties with me, not to mention that the current Li clan also shares the surname Li…' As Lin Feng crossed Wangyue Lake, the gold within his mirror immediately became restless, repeatedly trying to break out of the Immortal Mirror and settle upon Lin Feng. If this item were still in the Jinyang Ring, it would probably have already soared up and returned to him. Fortunately, the Immortal Mirror’s rank was extremely high, steadily suppressing the Mingyang Gold without any fluctuation, thus keeping it safe.

As for the Grand Void, there were other formidable figures besides Ning Wan! He sighed faintly, and a scene emerged: the Grand Void above Hanyun Peak on the north bank was silent, yet a cultivator stood within it! This man wore everyday clothes of dark and black, with a white-trimmed straight collar and a right-overlapping lapel. He wore a Taoist crown, and a small gourd was tied to his waist. His long beard was black. He stood silently in the Grand Void, seemingly possessing some mysterious concealment that rendered Ning Wan completely unaware of his presence. This person had a long face and slightly high cheekbones, but his phoenix eyes concealed these flaws, making him appear upright and dignified. His eyes held a light as he quietly gazed at Wangyue Lake beyond the Grand Void. Although this person's cultivation was concealed by divine abilities and profound methods, it could not escape detection under spiritual sense; he had already reached the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, with five perfected divine abilities! Behind this great True Person, six sharp, prismatic three-foot flying swords were aligned at their tails, standing upright behind him like a screen. A faint, colorful radiance shimmered around them, suppressing terrifying divine abilities.

'Mount Luoxia!' Such a great True Person, one who could be said to be unparalleled in Jiangnan, was merely supervising the river crossing on behalf of a True Monarch. He paid no attention to the Li clan members, nor did he spare a glance for Ning Wan, or even Lin Feng… This cultivator from Mount Luoxia was extremely confident, his gaze fixed solely on Wangyue Lake. His expression was melancholic, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze drifting over the cultivators, seemingly mourning the Moonlit Primeval Mansion that once occupied this place. When he moved his gaze back, Fei Qingfei was incessantly boasting about her 'Brother Lin.' This great True Person from Mount Luoxia showed no disdain or lofty arrogance; he merely observed calmly. Not until Lin Feng returned to Jiangbei and re-entered the 'chessboard' did this person turn and leave without a moment's hesitation, transforming into colorful light and scattering into the air. Clearly, he had long been restless. From beginning to end, this great True Person from Mount Luoxia had never held the Jiangnan orthodoxies in high regard.

'Mount Luoxia…' But with just this one encounter, Lu Jiangxian sensed the disparity… "The six swords behind him are not Dao swords, but spell swords used for casting magic. Yet, all six are ancient spiritual artifacts, commonly known as 'spiritual treasures' among the cultivators of Jiangnan…' 'There's no need for a True Monarch to act. As long as he is in Jiangbei, unless a Golden Core-level trump card is used, even if all the cultivators of the Sun orthodoxy perish, they probably wouldn't be able to touch Lin Feng…' 'This is the true Mount Wuguang Luoxia!'"

Precisely because he knew the other party's formidable power, Lu Jiangxian had been waiting for the True Monarchs to depart these past few days. After all, several True Monarchs were standing in the Grand Void in Jiangbei, and how far was that from the lake? Although his Grotto-Heaven was suspended within the mirror, it was hard to say what changes might occur if the Li clan cultivators suddenly vanished into the Grotto-Heaven… What was more important now was the Immortal Mirror fragment! He had looked earlier: on Lin Feng's person, a long sword was quietly concealed. This sword was slightly longer than the Black Stream and also had a slender hilt. It was sealed with layers of black cloth artifacts and locked within his Qi Sea.

'The Gengjin sword-shaped spiritual embryo…' Currently, there were five swords: four were Foundation Establishment-level magic swords that had been given away, and the remaining one was a spiritual embryo. If Lin Feng was correct and had indeed searched through the entire Mi Fan lineage, then the fragment was likely among these five swords. This Gengjin sword-shaped spiritual embryo was sealed, submerged in his Qi Sea, and covered by layers of black cloth, rendering its aura indistinguishable. Lu Jiangxian was wary of provoking any reaction and did not delve deeper into the Qi Sea to investigate. The fragments seen by Lu Jiangxian and all members of the Li clan through their connection were merely images, also without aura, but they contained an extremely important piece of information—the sword body ratio!

'Even though it's wrapped in black cloth, the sword's form won't change much. Judging by its length, this thing is probably not the one I saw previously.' 'So, excluding this sword, it can only be among the remaining Foundation Establishment magic swords…' This discovery brought a slight joy to Lu Jiangxian's heart. The Immortal Mirror fragments were not useless; each had its own purpose, but they were extremely well-concealed. Ordinary cultivators, even Golden Core cultivators, could not discern their function. Even if spiritual sense swept over them, they would only be perceived as mundane objects. This meant the possibilities were vast!

"Lin Feng did not mention the exact number of Mi Fan magic swords, only that he obtained four. It's possible that this fragment accessory is attached to the tail of one of those four magic swords, or it's possible… that the magic sword hasn't been taken out and is still in the Mi Fan secret realm!' 'This is also good news. After all, the value of a magic sword is a step lower; no matter how difficult it becomes, it won't be harder than acquiring the one in the True Monarch's Qi Sea!' Lu Jiangxian felt a slight release in his heart, feeling much more at ease: 'Let Li Jiangqian investigate first. Once the True Monarchs leave and the Jiangbei 'chessboard' is resolved, Li Ximing can depart with light!'"