Chapter 951: 行孛

Snowflakes fell thick and fast from the sky. Helian Wumeng, radiating demonic power, wielded his signature long-handled oar-saber with lightning speed. A bloody glow encircled his face, displaying immense tyrannical might.

Yet Ning Wan stood alone in the snow, two fingers pressed to her lips. Twenty-eight pristine white banners floated in the air, forming a large, suspended cauldron that drew in all the surging bloody light and demonic energy, locking it within the formation.

Although Ning Wan had not long attained the Purple Mansion realm, she was already a renowned formation genius in Qingchi, known for her ingenuity and adaptability in array arts. Her twenty-eight banners, suspended in mid-air, formed an array ex nihilo, tightly containing all of the opponent's malevolent energy.

Several points of pure white snow-light danced in the air around the oar-saber, occasionally scattering when struck, only for the falling snow from above to constantly coalesce and replenish them.

Helian Wumeng was not afraid of her tactics; the Cold Qi lineage was not inherently strong, and Ning Wan's cultivation was inferior to his. He had already charged across the bank three times, almost breaking her grand formation when pressed, which only prompted the woman to sneer and draw out the Great Snow Absolute Blade from her embrace.

Helian Wumeng immediately grew wary, refusing to cross the river.

'The Great Snow Absolute Blade...'

This spirit sword already had a high reputation, but in recent years, wielded successively by Ling Mei and Lou Xing, its fame had resonated throughout the North again. Pi Jia, a venerable figure who had undergone five reincarnations, had his esteemed statues and clay figures in northern temples shattered by it. Although the Great Desire Sect consistently denied it, claiming he was merely reincarnated, everyone secretly knew he had fallen.

If the sword harbored any hidden techniques, a rash crossing, combined with even a slight restraint from the formation, and then taking a hit from the sword, would likely send him to meet his ancestors.

Despite his current inaction, he was being urged from the tents behind him. He pretended not to hear until several faint iridescent lights appeared on the river to the south. Only then did he slowly descend back, landing on the bank and entering the grand hall, which was an illusion created by a magical artifact in the sky.

The first person he saw was naturally his elder, Helian Wujiang, standing with a solemn expression. On the other side were Xin Du, the white-robed demonic cultivator, and True Monarch Ye Hui, Bai Ziyu; one appeared perfectly calm, the other wore a smile. Murong Yan and Shi Louying Ge, two individuals with ill intentions and in collusion, sat to the side, chuckling about something unknown.

Only Qi Lanyan stood in the main seat, nodding indifferently as a greeting to him.

In this Northern Hall, no three individuals were of one mind. The Guanche Path, royal descendants, rogue demonic cultivators, and the Purple Mansions of Jiangbei each harbored their own hidden agendas, secretly plotting against unknown targets.

He was not a person of good temper. Standing beside Helian Wujiang with a cold, silent expression, he then heard Qi Lanyan laugh and say:

"Fellow Daoists, I must journey to the Xuanniao Temple territory to support Fellow Daoist Kong... There may be a need for combat. Which of you are willing to accompany me?"

It seemed he had been waiting for Helian Wumeng's return, unwilling to wait another moment before posing his question.

Helian Wujiang narrowed his eyes slightly. For a moment, no one responded, but soon someone broke the silence, chuckling cheerfully and saying:

"We are at Lord Qi's command!"

The other Purple Mansions didn't need to look to know it was Bai Ziyu, True Monarch Ye Hui, the Guanche Path's newly recruited member, who was known for his flattery and eagerness. However, everyone else was secretly calculating, hesitating to make a decision.

Since Qi Lanyan arrived in Jiangbei, he had always maintained a polite demeanor, showing no arrogance typical of the Guanche Path. But the current matter was far from simple.

'Although the Sun orthodoxy is weak, their trump cards remain. Taking Shanjie directly... is bound to stir up trouble. The Sword Gate is nearby, and Purple Mist Owl has formed an unprecedentedly close alliance... Once the bottom lines of these three factions are provoked... there's no telling if they'll resort to a fight to the death.'

Shanjie had been Jiangnan's territory for many years. Pushing troops forward would be tantamount to overtly carving up northern influence in front of the Sword Gate and Purple Mist.

Although everyone present had been dispatched here with some intention of plunder, none of their factions were mere dogs of the Guanche Path, so they were naturally reluctant to be the first to stick their necks out.

Among the assembled, Murong Yan had a relatively deeper background. While polite on the surface, he often observed with a cold detachment, and at this moment, he remained silent, only nodding with a faint smile.

Qi Lanyan scanned the group, then looked at Helian Wujiang and smiled:

"Fellow Daoist Helian?"

With the question directly posed to him, Helian Wujiang remained composed and respectfully replied:

"During the chaos in our nation years ago, only the Guanche Path offered aid. We have no way to repay this kindness; we are at your command!"

"Good!"

Qi Lanyan chuckled. True Monarch Xin Du, the demonic cultivator with the weakest background among them, still showed hesitation. Just as he was about to speak, Qi Lanyan interjected:

"In that case, I will invite another Purple Mansion cultivator from the North, and our manpower will be sufficient."

True Monarch Xin Du was not defying him, but simply feared for his own safety. Although he had been present at the Battle of Luoxia, that was northern territory, incomparable to venturing deep into the South. With merely this hesitation, Qi Lanyan easily let him off, then smiled and looked at Murong Yan, saying:

"I'll trouble you all then!"

Murong Yan nodded with a smile, watching him depart, then turned to Shi Louying Ge beside him and chuckled teasingly:

"What's this... Fellow Daoist Shi also refuses to go?"

Shi Louying Ge's journey south was driven by his need to escape the Wei-Li label rather than any personal interest, so he naturally did not wish to take risks. However, observing Qi Lanyan's demeanor made him uneasy and somewhat embarrassed. Nevertheless, he replied with a smile:

"Too lazy to run around."

As the two chatted casually, Qi Lanyan had already led his people out of the hall without looking back. He arrived at Xuanniao Temple, still smiling, where Kong Tingyun eagerly flew out to greet him. Qi Lanyan promptly helped her up and said earnestly:

"Is the Profound Brocade Pill of the Central Mansion still effective? My junior sister wrote to me recently asking about you... When do you plan to enter the temple to obtain cultivation methods?"

Kong Tingyun's expression was clearly not as bright as it once was. She already knew her current predicament and simply put on an eager smile, replying:

"Thank you, esteemed Lords, for your concern... Such an excellent spirit pill... I truly don't know how to repay you."

Qi Lanyan merely shook his head, then pointed to Helian Wumeng and the other person, introducing them. Kong Tingyun acknowledged them, but completely ignored Ye Hui, who stood with his hands behind his back. After some pleasantries, Qi Lanyan led them up the mountain and said:

"Today, I've also come to resolve the animosity between the two of you, now that you've both achieved divine abilities..."

Ye Hui remained smiling, showing no emotional fluctuations; his eyes were as deep as a clear pool. However, Qi Lanyan had no real intention of resolving anything. After a few pretexts, he found an excuse to send Ye Hui away.

Kong Tingyun felt a slight suffocating sensation, but Qi Lanyan took a sip of tea. He then glanced at Helian Wujiang, who was continuously observing his surroundings, and said somewhat casually:

"Fellow Daoist Helian... you definitely won't regret coming to Xuanniao Temple."

At these words, Kong Tingyun's expression shifted slightly, and Helian Wujiang felt a secret chill. Yet, Qi Lanyan's face finally held a hint of playful amusement:

"Regardless of whether Shanjie can be taken... by following my Guanche Path... the Helian family will suffer no casualties."

By now, twilight had descended. Xuanniao Temple largely followed ancient customs, and the mountains within remained unlit, enveloping the entire small courtyard in a pale purple night. Only the faint, colorful glows from the three individuals were visible.

Helian Wujiang felt both shock and a chill in his heart. He first expressed his thanks, then probed softly:

"The sun sets in the west, yet retains three parts of its radiance. Lord, you must still be cautious."

"Hahahaha..."

Qi Lanyan chuckled softly twice, his voice carrying a touch of severity:

"In terms of foresight, none of you compare to Bai Ziyu... Even now, you still treat this as a mere dispute between one or two orthodoxies! Even Kui Qi has understood, yet you still don't know how all this came to be!"

He stood up, slowly turned around, and recited:

"Those who cultivate transcendence, their nature is mischievous. In times of chaos, there will be national strife, warfare, great plagues, and the death of officials. When prosperous, human hearts become sinister, punishments are abused, crimes abound, generals are executed, nobles are imprisoned, and clans suffer violent anxieties."

"Although that northern figure has learned a lesson, do not forget what kind of being He once was! The Sun orthodoxy later declined and never prospered. Where lies the problem?"

Both remained silent. Helian Wujiang watched him with burning eyes, words on the tip of his tongue. Qi Lanyan smiled:

"It lies in the return of the Jade True, which proved the position was vacant!"

He turned back and whispered:

"From the moment the Jade True returned after the sixty-nine unification with the void, it seemed that the righteous path greatly prospered and Sword Immortals attained the Dao. In reality, the mischievous trend was already established. Yet, all the southern Daoists celebrated, unaware that their necks were already placed upon the blade, awaiting their demise!"

North Bank.

Li Zhouwei briefly glanced at the ongoing combat. A figure in gray, with a sword on his back, had landed beside him. With a solemn expression, he bowed and said:

"This old one, Chen from Yushui, greets fellow Daoist!"

"Ah, it's True Monarch Yushui."

Li Zhouwei figured several Purple Mansion cultivators should be nearby, but he didn't know why this one had appeared. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked directly, and the True Monarch smiled:

"So Fellow Daoist Zhaojing is still in seclusion... I received news from Fellow Daoist Dingyangzi, hearing that your esteemed clan possesses Neck Plumes, but I lack refining materials. So I came to inquire."

"I see."

Li Zhouwei then recalled that the other party was a Mansion Water cultivator and couldn't obtain it from Dingyangzi, so he had sought him out. He saw Chen's serious expression and said:

"While I don't have refining materials, fortunately, I possess a piece of Wujiu Spiritwood, a true wood spiritual object found in the South Sea. I can exchange a bit of it with you."

He took out a jade box from his sleeve, revealing a fist-sized piece of bluish-black wood inside. It appeared to be layers of wood chips pressed together, with clear grain and abundant spiritual essence.

"This is true wood, extremely hard. It resembles metal but is different from it, so it cannot be crafted into armor. However, it's excellent for making small accessories... As for whether it can be used in alchemy... you'll have to ask your esteemed clan's masters."

"That's quite a quantity!"

Li Zhouwei praised it, and Chen smiled:

"This object was originally two fist-sizes. I cut off a portion to craft a sword hilt; the rest is all here. The remaining quantity is still considerable, and I wish to exchange it for two Neck Plumes."

The Li family could produce more Neck Plumes in the future, and exchanging them for different types of spiritual resources to prepare for unforeseen needs was certainly beneficial. Li Zhouwei nodded in agreement, and Chen immediately showed delight, saying:

"Fellow Daoist is indeed straightforward!"

He thanked him with a smile, then quickly added with some hope:

"If it's not too intrusive... may I ask where your esteemed clan obtained them? And how many do you have left?"

Li Zhouwei naturally shook his head and replied:

"That, I'm afraid, is inconvenient to disclose. However, there aren't many left. I don't know if my grand-uncle has traded them away; he might have one or two remaining. When he comes out of seclusion, senior, you may ask him yourself."

"My apologies, my apologies."

Chen quickly assented and, not wishing to linger, soon took his leave. Once he vanished into the void, the white-robed woman descended on the wind, stood firmly in the pavilion, and said softly:

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Minghuang!"

Ning Wan's demeanor remained gentle, yet her brows held deep sorrow and unease. It seemed many thoughts weighed on her heart, but she could not articulate them.

"You are too kind, Senior."

Li Zhouwei returned the bow. The two walked together towards the island's center and took seats in the main hall. A cultivator came forward to serve tea. Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment, then asked:

"What are your arrangements, my Lord?"

At these words, Ning Wan silently lowered her head and replied:

"There will be immediate action. My Lord's instructions to me were specifically to await your emergence from seclusion."

Evidently, during Li Zhouwei's seclusion, at least some of the Sun orthodoxies in northern Yue had reached a consensus—indeed, were compelled to reach a consensus—to defend Shanjie Commandery.

Li Zhouwei, however, felt calm within. He asked a rather profound question:

"What are Heng Zhu's arrangements?"

Years ago, when Ye Hui visited the Li family, he had subtly mentioned this southern immortal path, even alluding to the Grand Prayer Master behind it, implying he was merely observing the tigers fight from the mountain, remaining hidden.

While the information Ye Hui possessed might not have been entirely accurate, it certainly had some basis. Heng Zhu's actions likely carried an unusual significance in themselves.

When he asked this, Ning Wan shook her head, revealing an enigmatic smile, and replied:

"Fellow Daoist, you probably don't know this yet! It's excellent news: a few days ago... True Monarch Heng Li of Heng Zhu successfully passed the Purple Attainment, achieving the Four Divine Abilities... What a pity for Senior Tinglan; if she hadn't been injured back then, counting the days, she too would have had a great chance of breakthrough by now."

"Oh? That's certainly good news..."

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow slightly, but seeing no trace of joy on her face, he asked with some confusion. Indeed, Ning Wan's smile faded, and she said blandly:

"However... when my people went to Heng Zhu to offer congratulations, we were informed that the Heng Zhu Path was preparing to seal its mountains. The entire immortal path intends to prepare for Heng Li's ascension to the position of True Monarch."

Li Zhouwei fell silent for a moment, unsure how to reply. Ning Wan, however, her expression complex, continued:

"Senior Tinglan and the others... discussed for a while, I don't know what they said. Some matters are no longer suitable for me to hear today, but similarly, some things I am no longer suitable to speak of!"

At these words, Li Zhouwei found it even less appropriate to say more. He could only appear as if he hadn't heard, silently lowering his head. Ning Wan shook her head and let out a heavy sigh:

"At dawn, I must send word to Tinglan and Hou Fu... The northern forces are all by the riverbank. We will advance north together, cross the river, land, and the Lord will oversee our formation as we reclaim Jiangbei."

The night had already deepened. A faint golden light, accompanying the rising sun, climbed swiftly across the great hall, bathing Ning Wan in its glow.

Her expression was one of profound unease. Her lips trembled slightly as she whispered:

"So... this is what it means to be beyond one's control."

Li Zhouwei's eyes also gleamed with specks of golden light. He slightly extended his hand, and the brilliant radiance of the Great Ascendant immediately coalesced into a large halberd in his grasp. He gazed quietly at Ning Wan and sighed softly:

"Senior, please."

Characters Appearing in This Chapter:Ning Wan: Early-stage Purple MansionChen: Early-stage Purple MansionHelian Wumeng: Early-stage Purple MansionHelian Wujiang: Mid-stage Purple MansionQi Lanyan: Mid-stage Purple MansionLi Ximing: Early-stage Purple Mansion, Purple Mansion AlchemistLi Zhouwei: Early-stage Purple Mansion