Chapter 920: Qingyu Mission

Dali Mountain.

Leaves drifted across thousands of mountains, and the autumn wind howled mournfully. The peaks of Dali Mountain were steep and perilous. Spiritual energy flowed from the sixteen demon caves, dazzlingly bright. Several demons, clad in armor, traveled back and forth on the wind, their movements orderly.

The golden-eyed man stopped in the mountains, his gaze sharp. The white ape demon behind him immediately stepped forward, frowning slightly. Below, demons knelt and prostrated themselves with thuds, while those to his left and right called out "Great King!" One demon crawled forward, prostrating itself before his boots, and called out: "May I ask which esteemed lord from a sacred land has graced us with your presence? We have already dispatched a demon to invite the Demon King from the cave. Please, sir, bestow upon us a name so we may report it to the King."

Li Zhouwei glanced at the surrounding demons and replied: "A neighbor from the lake..."

Before his words had fully faded, two streaks of light rapidly approached, transforming into two middle-aged men before him. Li Zhouwei focused his gaze and recognized them as a deer and a bear, both at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level.

The two demons landed, performing a grand prostration. Li Zhouwei slightly raised a hand, and his divine ability helped the deer demon to its feet. He said softly: "No need for such formality. We arrived at the northern foothills but found the cave dwelling desolate and the elder absent, so we took the liberty of coming to the main mountain. Please do not take offense."

Lu Ken was Bai Rong's subordinate, whom he had met before, so he was naturally helped up. At this moment, he still cowered, not daring to speak much. The bear demon beside him, of course, did not have this fortune and remained prostrated on the ground.

Lu Ken quickly said: "One must always kneel before a lord, especially since your life is destined to complement our lord's, and you have reclaimed your divine ability. If I do not kneel now, I fear it will harm my own fortune."

Li Zhouwei had no choice but to release his hand, allowing him to complete the ritual. Only then did Lu Ken humbly say: "It is not that I am unwilling to serve you in the mountain, but rather that the White Qilin bloodline has achieved divine ability... The northern foothills dare not have any demon general who is not surnamed Li, nor any master who does not wear scales. This humble demon fears incurring the wrath of Wei Huang and thus did not dare to stay."

He cowered, and the bear demon beside him trembled like a sieve, unable to rise. Li Zhouwei nodded: "Just take me to see the master of Dali Mountain."

The deer immediately bowed low and led him forward. As Li Zhouwei admired the winding and perilous mountain terrain, he asked: "Since scaled creatures are governed by Bai Qilin Shuyang, under what Dao are your deer kind governed?"

Lu Ken respectfully replied: "Our deer kind follows the Dao of Purple Qi."

'So it's Purple Qi... Senior Bai Rong riding purple smoke wasn't wrong then.'

He understood implicitly. After flying only a short distance, he saw a pool at the summit of Dali's main mountain. White water boiled, mist swirled, and numerous demons offered auspicious gifts, with spirit fruits and herbs everywhere.

Lu Ken dared not advance, and the white ape also stopped silently. He then walked forward alone, taking dozens of steps into this ethereal wonderland. There, he saw a jade platform, upon which sat a man.

This man's skin was like congealed fat, his face soft, handsome, and almost alluring, his figure slender, and his eyes held a hint of a smile. He appeared graceful and elegant, with a joyous expression in his brows. He descended from the platform, laughing: "Where the Qilin treads, life flourishes abundantly! This is truly a blessing for Dali Mountain!"

"It is but a small matter of destiny, Lord, you are too kind with your praise."

Li Zhouwei returned the bow, and a golden light shimmered in his eyes: 'A Demon King with three divine abilities, though I haven't seen his abilities yet...'

Dali Mountain was firmly established in Jiangnan. Although its inhabitants had become less active in recent years, no one dared to offend it, clearly indicating a deep foundation. The one before him alone was a noble descendant with formidable cultivation.

The other party smilingly invited him to sit by the table and said: "I am the Demon King of Dali Mountain, my surname is Qingyu, my given name is Qian, and my Daoist title is Tingfu. I have long heard of your renowned name, Minghuang!"

Unexpectedly, all fox spirits of Dali Mountain used 'Bai' as their primary surname. Yet, this Demon King Tingfu was not surnamed Bai, but rather Qingyu Qian.

"Greetings, Senior..."

Li Zhouwei rose from his seat and thanked him, saying: "Dali Mountain has assisted us for many years, and the Li clan owes its present success to you. I am deeply grateful and thank you, Senior!"

Demon King Tingfu chuckled and shook his head. After all, he was a fox in human form, and his smile was captivating. He picked up the jade pot from the table, poured wine for Li Zhouwei, and simply said: "That credit doesn't fall to me."

After Li Zhouwei completed the courtesy, he returned to his seat. Demon King Tingfu raised his cup, offered two words of congratulation, and then said: "Bai Rong, that child, was promoted by me from the mountains and forests. He is now a highly valued junior, currently cultivating and nurturing his divine abilities in the mountain. It's a pity he cannot come out to reminisce with you!"

Li Zhouwei smiled: "When Senior Bai Rong achieves success, I will certainly come to offer congratulations!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qingyu Qian's eyes curved with a smile as he finally asked: "I have heard about the Dragon Clan's affairs; your clan's figure has already transformed into lightning. This must be the doing of Dragon Lord Beijia, who laid plans early regarding the Mingyang matter. It's impossible for Luoxia not to know... But I wish to ask, Minghuang, how do you view this?"

Seeing his directness, Li Zhouwei replied: "In your opinion, Senior, is there any chance of escape?"

The fox and dragon had sworn an oath in front of him back then. Li Zhouwei naturally had to speak according to that. Qingyu Qian heard this and softly said: "Difficult."

Before Li Zhouwei could respond, Qingyu Qian said gently: "Although I do not like Luoxia, the Dragon Clan is not an easy lineage to get along with either. In truth, to lay it all out, Luoxia may not necessarily covet the Mingyang Fruit Position; they simply do not wish for the Shuyang, who stands above the Mingyang Fruit Position and between heaven and earth, to be Li Qianyuan. If you comply with them, even if you attain the Mingyang Fruit Position, you would still be a great power in heaven and earth."

His words surprisingly leaned towards impartiality, neither favoring nor opposing. Li Zhouwei's brows were furrowed in confusion; he was silent for a moment, then whispered: "Why do they hate him so much?"

After Li Zhouwei finished asking, Qingyu Qian sighed: "Li Qianyuan is no ordinary figure. The exclusive Fruit Positions, which have been singular masters in heaven and earth since ancient times, are already few. He is but one step away from becoming a Dao Embryo Immortal. Once he takes that step, he will be the first person in history to combine the roles of a Heavenly Dynasty Emperor and an immortal."

"He has irreconcilable conflicts with Luoxia, and even with over fifty percent of the Daoist traditions of the Three Mysteries and Four Daos. This conflict is rooted not only in their paths, traditions, and divine abilities, but also in their grievances, philosophies, and cultivation practices..."

Qingyu Qian's gaze was deep. Li Zhouwei frowned and asked: "But I heard... at the very beginning of ancient times, there were Human Emperors who established great enterprises..."

Qingyu Qian took a sip of wine and shook his head, saying: "That was enterprise establishment, but not a Heavenly Dynasty. A Heavenly Dynasty, by definition, unifies everything, leaving nothing outside; it holds sole authority in the world, with only its imperial power, and is the singular father of the world, its sovereign father. How can it be compared to the feudal lords established by the Zhou Dynasty? To put it plainly, the so-called Great Zhou was merely a central state."

Li Zhouwei fell silent. The fox demon before him whispered: "Do you understand now? We are descendants, and with history as our mirror, it is naturally clear. How many people at that time understood? Tuoba Xuan Tan still called himself a Heavenly Dynasty; he had a strong foundation and the help of the Guanxie faction. What happened to Great Liang in the end?"

"Look at Emperor Zhao, Father Qi Yan. He established Great Zhao, ascended Mount Dayang, and facing the rolling yellow sands, only said: 'De Chang is dead, Xiao Wu is not pacified, the south is perilous, and my achievements are incomplete.' Did he ever consider what would become of his future descendants?"

"Emperor Wei could die suddenly in mid-air, Emperor Liang could drown to his death. He was halfway through conquering Yan when, after saying these words, he immediately collapsed in Jincheng Commandery. Wood and stone wept, and the position of the ancient Ku body was lost forever. In ancient times, what was the state of your cultivators' Dharma Bodies in the Violet Palace, and what are they now?"

His series of questions caused Li Zhouwei to fall silent. Qingyu Qian said gently: "No imperial family, as a rule, has a good beginning and a good end. What the Dragon Clan desires is merely to postpone his demise, not to bring him back. The people of Luoxia will eventually meet you. You must look out for yourself."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord!"

Qingyu Qian's expression was somber, and the smile in his eyes faded. Clearly, even with the dragon-fox pact in place, Dali Mountain still held an extremely pessimistic view. Li Zhouwei thanked him twice, and then they changed the subject, talking about other things to disperse the somber mood within the white mist.

Having just achieved divine ability, he still had many unanswered questions about Children of Destiny. It was difficult to ask about such things in ordinary places, and many people were simply unaware. This visit was not merely a courtesy call but also an opportunity to inquire. He said: "Now that I have attained the Violet Palace realm and gained divine ability, I find my Dharma Body somewhat stronger, and my eyes can discern many things. However, the other advantages and disadvantages are still unclear to me..."

"Senior Bai Rong once mentioned that my attainment of the Violet Palace realm is actually no different from a demon's... I hope we can discuss this in detail."

When he brought this up, Qingyu Qian nodded in understanding, then shook his head with a smile: "Then you've asked the right person. When it comes to discussing Fate Divine Abilities, our Dali Mountain certainly possesses a complete inheritance!"

He then said seriously: "A Fruit Position is a position, and it is also the authority that constantly influences the world. The common saying 'power and position' illustrates this very principle."

"Among the Violet Palace Golden Core Dao, Fate Divine Abilities can be ranked first due to their unique nature. What do they cultivate? According to our Daoist tradition's understanding, what is cultivated is actually the connection to the Fruit Position. The profundity of this part is often realized through the influence the Fruit Position manifests in the world, which is why cultivating Fate Divine Abilities places extreme emphasis on one's Daoist cultivation."

He took a sip of wine and said: "Some Daoist traditions possess more than one Fate Divine Ability. This simply means that the Fruit Position associated with them is set at a higher level, emphasizing connection more. This often requires ancient cultivators to comprehend it themselves, which is incredibly difficult. However, the brilliance of the Violet Palace Golden Core Dao lies in its simplicity and low requirements for Daoist cultivation talent!"

"Unfortunately, the world is never fair. Some have good luck, others are born into good circumstances. By the same token, there is a class of people who, whether through reincarnation, identity and bloodline, character and circumstances, mental capacity, or even inexplicably receiving the favor of a Fruit Position, possess various corresponding wonders. These are what we call 'Children of Destiny'."

"These people often possess unparalleled fortune and can accomplish great things. It's as if they are born with an unacknowledged connection, and once they achieve the Violet Palace realm, they will naturally find their Fate Divine Abilities manifesting effortlessly!"

His eyes curved with a smile as he softly said: "This matter is the same for you. If you cultivate the 'World Enlightenment', it will also manifest effortlessly. However, you also have differences from them."

"Speaking of this, we must mention transformation. In the Violet Palace Golden Core Dao, once one's body divine ability is achieved, over eighty percent of cultivators gain the ability to transform. Whether they transform into birds or fish, there is no real difference, as long as their Yang is not harmed. It's just that each Daoist tradition has its own symbols. Unless one specifically cultivates a certain transformation art, changing forms merely alters one's appearance; none are as useful as a human body that has proven the Dao of various paths... After all, we demons also undergo transformation."

"But Li Qianyuan has already ascended to the Fruit Position; how can he still be called a human? It is not an exaggeration to call him Shuyang! As his descendant, once you receive the favor of a Fruit Position, and the Mingyang Fruit Position prioritizes the father-son relationship, it will also perceive you as the offspring of Shuyang. That would no longer be a transformation; you would simply *be*."

He slightly narrowed his eyes and answered his own question: "As for why it is 'Qilin' and not 'Cicada,' it is also obvious. You are the first to shift the Mingyang Fruit Position's attention, so naturally, you are the eldest son—the White Qilin. Once your five divine abilities are complete, you will almost certainly be the White Qilin."

"If my guess is correct, both the Dragon Clan and Luoxia have made their calculations. Luoxia has been personally observing the Mingyang Fruit Position, so as soon as you achieved divine ability, they naturally knew that the White Qilin had descended."

Li Zhouwei gradually understood in his heart. Qingyu Qian before him said: "If another person were to appear one day, that would likely be the Cicada."

Li Zhouwei nodded silently, then raised an eyebrow and said: "But... the father-son connection... Is Luoxia truly not afraid that Emperor Wei has a hidden move? Are they not afraid that he intentionally released this?"

"Hahahahaha!"

The fox demon before him laughed a few times, then his tone suddenly changed as he whispered: "Of course not. Mingyang is not only the position of the sovereign father, but also the great position involving a son killing his father, a father killing his son, a father seizing his son's love, and a son seizing his father's power! When all five aspects converge, that is the true Mingyang!"

"Mingyang despises the inverse position. If the son is strong and the father is weak, how could the son not seize the position?"

Li Zhouwei lowered his gaze, feeling a deep chill emerge.

The mists in the pool rapidly swirled. After a period of silence, Li Zhouwei replied: "Lord, your knowledge is profound and your Daoist cultivation is deep, far beyond what ordinary people can achieve. This junior is filled with admiration and gratitude..."

Qingyu Qian quickly adjusted his mood, shaking his head with a smile: "It's mainly because our Daoist tradition is complete. When it comes to cultivation, I've always been inferior to the one from Purple Smoke; he is truly a profound cultivator and a master of both heaven and man..."

Li Zhouwei immediately understood that he was referring to True Immortal Zimu, the missing peak Violet Palace cultivator of the Sun Daoist tradition. He sighed: "It's just that the senior has gone to an unknown place..."

Qingyu Qian, however, said little more at this point, reining in his words and merely smiling: "His cultivation speed was terrifying. Back then, his cultivation talent was reputed as the greatest in the Sun Daoist tradition, more than sufficient for cultivating the Ancient Immortal Dao!"

He then quickly shifted the topic and said: "Actually, my divine ability is somewhat peculiar when I sit in the mountains; I can hear words from below. For the past century, I've mostly been in secluded cultivation, so I don't know much about your clan. Many things I've learned have come from my juniors."

The Li clan had known for a long time that this Demon King could hear many things. It was difficult to guess whether any words of the Li clan, even during their fetal breathing, Qi refinement, or even mortal stages, had fallen into his ears. It could be said to be an extremely sensitive and suspicious matter.

Now that the other party had openly admitted it, he clearly intended to address the matter directly. Hearing his words, Li Zhouwei was unsure how to respond, so he could only say: "Your divine ability is formidable, Lord... Is it 'Hearing the Awakened Star'?"

Demon King Tingfu smiled: "The Wei and Li clans indeed have deep foundations; you've guessed correctly. My Dao is unknown to ordinary people. Even during its most prosperous period, only two or three Daoist traditions in the world cultivated it."

As he said this, Li Zhouwei smiled: "Is it perhaps the 'Ancient Union Method'?"

This was not a difficult thing to guess. The Wushan multitude cultivated something that resonated with witchcraft. Since it wasn't a concrete manifestation of earth, water, wind, fire, lightning, or spiritual energy, it was very likely the Ancient Union Method.

Qingyu Qian poured wine for him, smiling but remaining silent. After a moment, he said softly: "Having cultivated this divine ability, it's generally not good to visit others' homes. After all, even if subordinates speak from afar, there are still some taboos and secrets. Therefore, for so many years, I have rarely left the mountain, except when old friends' descendants break through to the Violet Palace realm or cultivators seek to prove the Golden Core."

"Currently, I am attempting to cross the immortal threshold. The opportunity has arrived, and breakthrough is approaching, so I move even less. Should I truly be fortunate enough to become a Great Demon one day, then going out would offend even more people!"

"However, our Dali Mountain has a Daoist tradition and I do possess some insight. If Minghuang has anything he wishes to understand, you are most welcome to ask."

Li Zhouwei naturally agreed, musing to himself: 'Compared to Chunyidao, Dali Mountain is probably more reliable. Once I leave the cave dwelling and have a reason, I can find an opportunity to ask.'