Chapter 914: Observing Xie Sect

As Li Zhouda spoke, everyone present assented. Li Zhouluo, casting off his black robe, pressed forward with his sword, quickly gaining several paces and soon returning to the lake. Pang Yunqing turned to comfort him, "People often make mistakes... it's not necessarily aimed at anyone..."

In a moment of urgency, Li Zhoufang had implied that, apart from Li Minggong, no other brother cared for Li Cheng. This subtly criticized Li Chenghuai for not concerning himself with family matters while cultivating outside. How could Li Zhouluo not understand the hidden meaning?

While they might not explicitly harbor grudges over past events, they certainly didn't bring them up. Yet, Li Zhoufang had just mentioned it. Li Zhouluo, seeing that the other was overwhelmed with grief, refrained from speaking, but he was naturally displeased internally: "My travels outside were approved by the family elders; it was a settled matter. I know some of them often feel it's unfair or are jealous, but I never expected even Eldest Brother to fail to understand!"

"What did he mean by that... Is he saying my father didn't go to Tangdao Mountain with him, and doesn't care whether Li Cheng lives or dies! Father is in seclusion for a breakthrough; how could he have had the chance to get involved when this happened so suddenly!"

Pang Yunqing, hailing from the Pure Unity Sect's jurisdiction, specifically the Pang family of Zhuxi, came from a long-established lineage and was a direct descendant genius. With his extensive insights, he simply soothed, "Nowadays, people barely show affection for their own children or parents. After three generations, how many relatives can truly be called brothers? What he said was inappropriate; don't take it to heart."

"Oh, it's hard to explain to you... The Li family is different from the Pang family..."

Li Zhouluo just shook his head, hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Actually, thinking about it now, only Fifth Brother is truly lovable. His aptitude for Foundation Establishment is so precarious; nothing must happen to him..."

As they headed into the mountains together, Pang Yunqing shook his head with a smile and said, "It is quite different. I only heard he was a henpecked dandy; yet, in your words, he's lovable."

They soon arrived at the foot of the gardenia-filled mountain. The two politely asked someone to announce their arrival, then respectfully passed through the woods. They saw a brilliant golden light, and a figure was seated on the main dais above.

This person was clad in scaled armor, wore black boots, and leaned against the back of his chair. His golden eyes gleamed faintly. He rested a long halberd with a curved shaft on his lap, one hand resting on the shaft, holding a brilliant light, seemingly nurturing a magical artifact.

Beside him stood Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan, quietly conversing.

Li Zhouluo quickly bowed, respectfully saying, "Zhouluo greets True Lord!"

Even Li Xizhi would bow and address Li Ximing as True Lord. How much more so for Li Zhouluo, who had only been distantly acquainted with Li Zhouwei as a distant clan brother since childhood? Naturally, he dared not address him as 'elder brother' anymore.

He himself was a bit better, daring to look up, while Pang Yunqing beside him didn't even dare to raise his head, simply bowing next to him, waiting for the man above to relax his brows and say, "Fourth Brother has returned, no need to be so formal."

"I heard of True Lord's accomplishments, so I brought Yunqing to pay my respects to Eldest Brother," Li Zhouluo quickly replied. Li Zhouwei nodded, listening to the commotion below as everyone came forward. The first was Li Zhoufang, his face streaked with tears, kneeling on the mountain, yet he congratulated, "Congratulations, True Lord, felicitations, True Lord!"

Li Zhouwei gently released his hand, and the halberd he held vanished instantly. Seeing Li Zhoufang's state, he helped him up and softly said, "Uncle Cheng's children all perished in clan matters, and now he too has died in battle. Regarding the continuation of his lineage, the elder branches will handle it themselves... The clan will also provide compensation. Fei Qingyi deserted in battle, causing Uncle's death and colluding with the Demonic Buddhists. He has now been sent to the Sun Sect for disposition, and the others have been sent to Huyi... News will come soon."

After he finished speaking, Li Zhoufang could only remain kneeling, weeping as he thanked, "My thanks, True Lord... The Fei family deserves to die, and the Buddhists of Xiaoshi Mountain also owe us a blood debt..."

At the mention of the Northern Buddhists, Li Zhouwei's eyes glinted with cold light. He simply said, "Naturally."

Li Zhoufang immediately bowed and wept again, then clasped his hands and departed to attend to the aftermath. Li Zhouwei silently scanned the surroundings, seeing that everyone present wore expressions of unease and dared not speak. Whether it was Chen Yang or An Xuanxin, all lowered their heads in silence. Cui Jueyin never showed much expression, and the other guest elders and protectors all looked worried.

Only Li Zhouda clenched his teeth, his hair bristling with rage, lightning flashing in his eyes as he cursed under his breath, "Damn those bald monks!"

Li Zhouwei then turned and sat down, listening as Li Zhouluo whispered, "With True Lord's accomplishment, there should customarily be a celebratory banquet, but now..."

"No need."

Not to mention whether the cultivators of Jiangnan were in the mood for a banquet, Li Zhouwei himself had no heart for it. If he were the first to achieve the Violet Manor realm, such a banquet would be indispensable. But now, as a member of a Violet Manor Immortal Clan, there was no need for an overly grand display. Li Zhouwei simply stated gravely, "The North has fallen, so the shore must be guarded. You all should arrange manpower and keep a close watch on the North. As for Hanyun Peak..."

He paused, and Li Jiangqian immediately took over: "It has been arranged. The Peak Manor will be re-established, and personnel will be dispatched there as appropriate."

At these words, Li Zhouwei's gaze slowly lifted, sweeping across the faces of the An and Chen families. He raised a hand and instructed, "You may leave."

The crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion, becoming a bustling stream of light outside the mountain. Li Jiangqian's expression grew cold. Li Quewan whispered, "The Tangdao Mountain incident was a huge blow, and Fei Qingyi set a terrible precedent. It's inevitable they'd feel... apprehensive, especially since if the Buddhist cultivators reach the Three Streams area, the Fei Qingyi incident might well repeat itself."

The Li family hadn't established a Peak Manor for many years. In previous years, such news would have been met with widespread jubilation, as new positions meant new opportunities to be divided. This was also why various families had always kicked the Fei family when they were down, adding fuel to the fire.

But while the Fei family had fallen, they had never imagined Tangdao Mountain would be breached, or that the Baijiang Stream region would fall into the hands of the Buddhist cultivators. The North Shore had suddenly become a hot potato. Although the North wouldn't launch a full-scale invasion south, skirmishes and conflicts were inevitable. Upon hearing this, the various families, and even the different branches, instantly lost their enthusiasm.

Li Jiangqian's expression was icy as he replied, "Indeed... They were the ones eager to grind the Fei family to dust for the numerous positions on the North Shore, and now they are the ones cowering, afraid to move. Firstly, a battle might cost them their lives. Secondly... they are probably worried that they or their juniors might become another Fei Qingyi."

"The various clans, with their families and dependents, are naturally apprehensive. As for the guest elders... many have no direct descendants, only a wife and concubine in the lake region, and minor family assets. They have no lingering concerns at all..."

"This is the result of severely punishing the Fei family. If only the ringleader had been executed that day, they would be overjoyed now, thinking they'd have a fallback if they went to the North!"

Li Quewan clearly understood the current situation, let alone someone like Li Jiangqian, who thought maliciously about everything and had no trust in his subordinates.

How could Li Zhouwei not know? His golden eyes were filled with a grave expression as he gently spun the jade cup on the table. He said, "The An and Chen families are not like the Fei clan. Even if the situation deteriorates and someone defects to the North, they cannot be touched. As for the other families... they are of no consequence; no need to worry too much."

Seeing him frankly expose the situation, Li Jiangqian and the other person remained silent.

The Chen and An families had been pillars for many years, already closely tied to the four branches. The Li clan rarely intermarried with outsiders; most marriages were within the lake region. Of the former Tian, Xu, Liu, Chen, and Dou families, all gradually declined, with only the Chen and later the An families consistently prospering and remaining inseparable.

While it was partly due to the longevity of the clan elders, the most crucial factor was the continuous emergence of geniuses and Spiritual Aperture talents in every generation, firmly binding them to the lineage.

To be blunt, even if Chen Yang were converted by the Buddhist cultivators, could the lake region truly react? Not only was his mother Li Xicheng's sister, but Li Jianglong also had to call him maternal uncle!

And Li Jiangqian's mother was surnamed An. What could Li Jiangqian say besides remain silent? Li Quewan, facing such a sensitive issue, was even more prudent. There were already quiet doubts about her humble origins in the lake region; usually, cultivating in seclusion was fine, but at this moment, even a single word could invite gossip.

Seeing their silence, Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea and calmly said, "As long as you understand, I don't need to say more. The Fei family can be severely punished, but the remaining families can only be placated for now. The situation is still unclear; let's see how the North acts."

"You may withdraw."

The two acknowledged and withdrew. Li Zhouwei then rose, his expression slightly grim, and stepped into the void, appearing by the lake, gazing into the distance.

He saw brilliant light cascading like a waterfall across the sky, black light dissipating, and streaks of golden light darting about. A swathe of heavenly light, approaching from afar, passed through the formation and landed on the mountain, bringing with it a purple silhouette that transformed into a man in a deep blue daoist robe. He carried a long sword glowing with a halo, and approached with a smile.

It was Li Ximing and Ye Hui, arriving together.

Upon seeing Li Zhouwei, the man's eyes showed surprise. He cupped his hands and said, "I've long heard of your great name!"

Although no one had expected this scene, with the Buddhist cultivators reaching Baijiang Stream, even two previously warring parties would instantly become like close brothers. What's more, the two families had maintained an ambiguous relationship for years, and Ye Hui had just extended a favor.

Li Zhouwei said harmoniously, "Greetings, Senior Ye Hui."

Back then, Li Zhouwei had forced Guan Gongxiao to flee in disarray, which had made Ye Hui grim-faced. Now, without any awkwardness, he looked at Li Zhouwei with delight, offering his congratulations, then sat down beside him, smiling, "You are a top-tier talent... I knew it long ago. Now that you've achieved Violet Manor, you are a strong reinforcement for us!"

Li Zhouwei gave a perfunctory reply and then asked with an inquiring look. Li Ximing immediately shook his head, stating gravely, "It's been decided to abandon Tangdao Mountain. It was originally established with only array plates, so it couldn't even create any significant barriers, nor did we dare to disturb the earth's veins. It's unlikely to leave much trouble behind."

Ye Hui, sitting nearby, waited for Li Ximing to finish, then said solemnly, "Current matters must be discussed. I have connections in the North too and have received some information, so let's discuss it first."

"Firstly, although the northern forces haven't yet taken Tangdao Mountain, Wei Xuanyin, the Grand Imperial Advisor of Great Zhao and current Dao Master of Guanhua Heavenly Tower Sect, has been urgently recalled to the North to report back to Emperor Zhao and has been enfeoffed as King of Han for his merits."

He paused, his eyes full of meaning, before explaining, "This Wei Xuanyin represents the Guanhua Heavenly Tower Sect, cultivating Jueyin. He once shone brightly during the Great Liang Dynasty and was inextricably linked with the Zitaixuanxie Sect of the Shaoyang lineage, together known as the Guanxie faction. It is said that the Demonic Lord of that era... originated from the Zitaixuanxie Sect!"

Li Ximing slightly frowned, his pupils dilating. Hearing that name, his heart turned cold: 'Guanxie? The Guanxie divine ability, Fire Refinement Within?!'

All Daoist traditions in the world have origins. Once the two words "Guanxie" were uttered, how could Li Ximing not recognize it! The Guanxie divine ability, Fire Refinement Within, which he possessed, was obtained from True Lord Changxi, and he had benefited greatly from it. This was the Xuan Yue Gate's tradition! The Tongxuan tradition that Kui Qi himself had acknowledged back then!

This meant that the Guanxie faction must belong to Tongxuan. Furthermore, a little thought immediately linked it to the Lesser Yang Demonic Lord of Great Liang! Was the widely known "Divided Lesser Yang" merely a conflict between immortals and demons? Or was there a much deeper implication of opposing Daoist traditions fighting each other?

Immortal Yingze of the Green Pine Sun Daoist tradition issued an immortal decree, openly and lightly delivering it before Emperor Liang, True Monarch Tiancheng Tuoba Xuantan. Then, Lesser Yang Demonic Lord Kuai Li, the head of the Tongxuan Daoist tradition and Guanxie faction, was captured and publicly split into three parts before all cultivators in the world, ensuring it would be remembered forever!

What was the attitude of Luoxia Mountain at that time?

This incident had shaken the world. To this day, countless Daoist traditions have been severed, and many secret methods are kept strictly secret, yet the name of Lesser Yang Demonic Lord Kuai Li is still known both within and outside the realm. The Sun Daoist tradition proudly suppresses the Western Highlands year after year.

Now, Wei Xuanyin, the Dao Master of the Tongxuan Daoist tradition and Guanhua Heavenly Tower Sect, had acted, shattering the struggling Green Pine Sun Daoist tradition... How much time had passed, and how was vengeance being exacted! And why was he urgently recalled, not permitted to vent his frustrations?

Li Ximing raised his eyebrows to look at Li Zhouwei. The golden-eyed young man's expression was calm on the surface, and in that shared glance, the meaning was already unspoken.

Ye Hui, however, seemed unaffected, his previous words apparently just a casual remark. He continued solemnly, "The one succeeding him is a Buddhist general, Fachang Maho of the Great Mu Dharma Realm, who has reincarnated five times and has been tasked with governing the lands north of the river."

At these words, Li Ximing was silent for a moment. Li Zhouwei softly said, "The Buddhist cultivators must take credit for such a significant event as defeating the Southern Sun Daoist tradition, so recalling Wei Xuanyin is not unexpected. However, the Great Mu Dharma Realm and the Path of Compassion have always been at odds; how can they cooperate?"

"It's their usual tactic. Where do Buddhist cultivators ever truly get along? Don't think the Path of Emptiness and Nothingness is docile in front of the Path of Great Desire. Given the chance, Zhelu would love to get rid of every single person from the Path of Great Desire!"

He sipped his tea and said, "Senior Lou Xing cut down Vajra of the Path of Great Desire, and it's uncertain if he perished, but Zhelu must have been overjoyed. It just so happens that the Manifestation-realm Wish-Sea Maho was unable to come south, and without supervision, Zhelu immediately became active, harboring even more malicious intentions towards the Path of Great Desire... Don't think that just because Senior is a Sword Immortal, his thoughts are simple. His mind is clear; that single sword strike hit precisely where it hurt! Otherwise, how could the Path of Compassion so easily intervene to mediate, and force Wei Xuanyin to take action?"

Although Ye Hui's actions were neither purely good nor evil, he held Senior Lou Xing, a great Sword Immortal, in high regard, openly expressing his admiration without reservation. Now, he let out a sneer but said no more, simply continuing, "We cultivators north of the river have received news from the North: King Bolie Gao Fu of Qi will soon visit Chang Yun at Chengshui Marsh. As for what will be discussed, that's hard to say!"

Li Ximing sipped his tea: "Not Lotus Temple? But the Gao family, even further North..."

"Lotus Temple?"

Ye Hui sneered, "All the Daoist sects advanced north together, and Lotus Temple was as quiet as a quail. It's good that we didn't even chastise them; what desire would they have to go south... Jinlian Maho was invited to the Dayang Mountain Dharma Assembly and has no chance of returning. Do you believe that Fachang's position was originally meant for Lotus Temple? Otherwise, the Great Mu Dharma Realm had no involvement in Southern affairs whatsoever; how did a Maho suddenly appear out of nowhere?"

"According to our Daoist friends in the North, those few powerful figures in the Northern lands, rarely of one mind, have reached a consensus: the area north of the river must fall into Northern hands, whether in name or in actual control. In this process, it will be clear who stirs up trouble, who acts slyly, and who exerts their full effort. It's no longer a stage where everyone relies on their own abilities!"