Chapter 989: 奉武

“Tick-tock.”

Cold rain had fallen all night. The lamp on the desk cast a dim light, and the handsome young man holding a brush looked slightly uneasy, his golden eyes appearing remarkably bright in the dimness.

“Cultivators around Simin Commandery are gathering... They can field at least ten Foundation Establishment cultivators without even needing people from the mountains... This is too risky...”

He raised an eyebrow and looked at the man beside him, saying,

“Registrar Chen, I think we should be more cautious with Liyuandao. It’s the height of spring planting, and the area around Liyuandao is the most important fertile land in the entire Lixia Commandery. If a conflict breaks out there, this year’s farming will be ruined... There will be no peace for the entire year.”

“Oh?”

The dark-faced man beside him, hearing this, furrowed his brows and said with difficulty,

“Lord Li, you consider this aspect too... But the timing does not permit delay. I say, let’s just fight. If it really doesn’t work out... we can just send people to distribute some grain.”

“That would be troublesome.”

Li Jiangliang put down his brush, rubbed his temples, and said,

“Who would distribute it, and to whom? It’s the local people who suffer. How could landlords and gentry show mercy? With the Xiao family gone, Lixia Commandery has not yet formed local forces of sufficient weight. Yet, the population has grown considerably over the years. If chaos erupts, it will be hard to control, and we have few people... How can we waste them here?”

He said sternly,

“The Lord said that we should ensure stability and prosperity for the people under our rule, allowing them to rest and thrive. I understand that time is of the essence, but we must also give this careful consideration.”

Registrar Chen sighed and replied,

“You’ll have to tell the Lord about this matter yourself. I just received orders to help Lord Ruan draft the regulations for the Fengwu Palace. Besides, establishing influential clans is the urgent matter. If Liyuandao doesn’t have major clans to manage affairs, who knows which passing cultivator will plunder it? They might have grain, but they won’t have the life to live.”

Li Jiangliang discerned his reluctance and frowned inwardly.

He thought, ‘Although Chen Wenyao also prioritizes the people’s welfare, he is unwilling to offend anyone; he’s a compromiser.’

Out loud, he said,

“Then I’ll ask Siyuan Lan to make a trip and inquire about the orders. As for the matter of major clans managing affairs... that’s not troublesome at all. If we truly conquer Yue, we can simply appoint some cultivators of impeccable background and outstanding character to establish clans. Currently, the northern wilderness serves as a barrier, so it won’t be an issue for a while. Once this battle is won and we gather our forces, we can temporarily suppress these territories.”

Chen Wenyao nodded, then suddenly looked at him with a smile and asked,

“I hear there’s good news in your noble family?”

“Oh!”

Li Jiangliang smiled and replied,

“Indeed, it’s my elder sister’s wedding. Unfortunately, I’m tied up and cannot return.”

Chen Wenyao clearly knew who the Ministry of Merit was, finally put down his brush, and said with some trepidation,

“However, I’m starting to have doubts. Qingchi is, after all, an immortal sect. Even if they tacitly approved of our actions in the Mushroom Forest Plain, they wouldn’t turn a blind eye and allow a group of people to act recklessly from the sidelines...”

Li Jiangliang, however, was very confident and shook his head with a smile,

“Registrar Chen, you are truly overthinking things. There are figures above us to bear the responsibility. You and I just need to handle the Foundation Establishment matters well. What is there to worry about?”

Chen Wenyao hesitated for a moment and replied,

“I just have doubts. The Lord said to eliminate demons and defend the righteous path. Whose family is a demon? Whose family is righteous? Qingchi has many aristocratic disciples... they are difficult to deal with...”

Li Jiangliang pondered,

“Whose family is a demon... this matter should not be mentioned much. The Chi family has already been annihilated. If that day truly comes, we will deal with it according to the Lord’s orders. Naturally, we won’t resort to total extermination...”

He subtly shifted his gaze, implying,

“Of the talented individuals brought to the Lord’s attention previously, how many had unsullied family names? The Lord made no particular complaints, which is enough to show his true intentions...”

Chen Wenyao sighed with some emotion. Seeing Li Jiangliang raise an eyebrow, he said lightly,

“The Lord isn’t here to establish a Thunder Palace; he’s here to preserve truth and honor martial prowess, not to suppress demons and quell evil. Otherwise, there would have been rivers of blood along the way... How many Foundation Establishment cultivators have perished so far? Your noble family can rest assured.”

Exposed by Li Jiangliang’s words, Chen Wenyao awkwardly shook his head. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, and a person quickly entered. He looked quite imposing and valiant, holding a command token in his hand, and chuckled,

“Talking late at night, you two have fine taste!”

“Lord Ruan!”

Li Jiangliang rose to greet him, but the man said sternly,

“The Lord has given an order: our forces are not to proceed to Liyuandao. Just await further instructions!”

Chen Wenyao, having received the command first, then rose and looked at Li Jiangliang with some envy, smiling,

“Lord Li truly calculated correctly!”

The North Sea.

The North Sea was covered in ice and snow, with icebergs and ice islands everywhere. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but deep blue and dazzling white. Although the North Sea was small in area, its terrain was complex, no less so than the West or East Seas. Despite being covered in ice and snow, it contained regions of thunder, Kanhydro, and Jade Purity, making it a spectacular sight.

Traveling continuously westward, the ice and snow melted to reveal a dwelling of gold and stone flames and morning sunlight, known as Jieyu.

Li Ximing had also heard this name. Jieyu was where the Phoenix-Luan resided, the location of the Heartwood Tree, possessing all five types of fire. More rarely, it contained solar spirit objects, and most of the world’s renowned birds originated from this place.

Jieyu itself was not small; in fact, a significant reason for the North Sea’s small area was its occupation by Jieyu and Cangzhou. While there were many cultivators here, the desert winds blew year-round, making it uninhabitable for ordinary people, unlike Cangzhou. This was why it had fewer factions.

Li Ximing crossed the Hetian Sea and reached the North Sea. He could vaguely see the red glow in the west, and his heart yearned for it. However, he was pressed for time, so he had to change direction, traveling northeast and crossing thick ice and snow until he finally reached Cangzhou.

The rivers here were grey-black. The mountains were steep, home to many strange insects and exotic beasts, with countless leeches and venomous snakes. He took one look and realized,

“Legend says that Kanhydro flows rampant in Cangzhou, and it’s true! While it’s not as uninhabitable as Jieyu, without extensive experience or cultivation, it’s truly difficult for people to travel outside... The people here... also don’t live very good lives.”

After confirming his direction, he quickly found Pai’er Mountain in Kanbei Commandery.

This mountain was not very tall, appearing grey-black. Palaces in ink-blue were built upon it. It stood with Mount Xianyou, which had been moved from another location, one high and one low, one to the east and one to the west, complementing each other to create a unique landscape.

Li Ximing glanced at it and suddenly recalled the Mount Xianyou of his younger days:

“When I cultivated in the mountains back then, I saw the layout: also one on the left, one on the right, with a subsidiary peak standing opposite. Today, that mountain remains in Lixia Commandery; it seems to be called Feiyi Mountain...”

Li Ximing’s emotions were somewhat complex. Unlike his brothers, he had lived with the Xiao family for a long time during his childhood, developing a somewhat indescribable attachment:

He mused, ‘I was small then, lonely and without companions... Only two or three servants. On normal days, after finishing my lessons, I would secretly don a straw cloak and hat, and wander along the river in the light rain. I even bought a boat from a boatman to play with, holding a small silver stove to drink wine... Such times... were not to be found on the lake. Nor have I experienced them again in these hundred years of cultivation.’

The Xiao family was a leisurely one, unlike the Li clan, where everything was supervised. Although Yuting and Qingdu were certainly sharp swords of restraint, they also meant that such peaceful tranquility was absent from Moon-Gazing Lake. In a family harboring hatred and constantly plotting revenge, pleasure was also a sin; such peace would not exist.

He simply descended on the wind. Indeed, he saw several Xiao family disciples sweeping the steps, with a desolate cold rain falling from the sky. Li Ximing asked,

“Are you members of the Xiao clan? Li Ximing of Moon-Gazing Lake has come to visit!”

When this group saw him, every single one of them knelt down. Then, one person hurried to report. A streak of light surged from the mountain, rapidly descending nearby, revealing an old man:

This old man’s hair and beard were all white, and he had a kind face. A wooden staff was in his hand, adorned with various scattered medicine pouches. He wore only a thin grey robe.

His gaze was gentle, though his eyes were slightly red. He said,

“Greetings, True Person!”

Li Ximing quickly supported him, freeing one hand to affectionately steady him, and simply replied,

“Master, you don’t need to do this!”

This person was none other than his master, Xiao Yuansi.

Xiao Yuansi had aged very early and quickly. He carried a knot in his heart that he could never resolve throughout the years. Although he faced no hardships in life, he remained perpetually immersed in past pain, unable to let go. He had no successful offspring and had not taken any disciples within the sect, only Li Ximing. Seeing him, he was delighted and quickly smiled,

“Times are very different now; you truly look like a True Person.”

Li Ximing shook his head with slight embarrassment, then followed the elder up the mountain, showing some concern. But Xiao Yuansi raised an eyebrow and said,

“I haven’t been within the realm for many years, but I still hear the news. If possible, I would still entrust you, True Person, to pay a little attention to my martial sister’s Yuan family...”

Li Ximing knew he always thought of old friends, so he reassured him,

“Although the Yuan clan encountered some trouble, their bloodline still persists... While they are not as prominent as before, it is not a bad thing...”

Xiao Yuansi nodded silently and asked,

“What True Person said is very true... I was actually going to seek you out as well. These past years, something has always been on my mind... Now... with True Person Qinghu’s achievement, there is finally a clue. I hope... to find out news of your grandmaster.”

With this mention, Li Ximing understood. His grandmaster was named Siyuan Bai, who, by seniority, should be Siyuan Li’s elder brother and also the master of his own ancestors. Both by sentiment and reason, he should inquire, so he kept it in mind.

In a few words, Xiao Yuansi had already led him to Pai’er Mountain, then quietly withdrew.

At the high point, there was also a lake, black as ink, with snow on the mountain. A jade fishing rod stood on the bank. The wind on the mountain was clearly very strong, yet the fishing line, as if forged from fine iron, did not budge.

“Zhaojing is here!”

Li Ximing sat down by the jade table. Only then did he see an old man materialize beside the table.

Compared to Xiao Yuansi’s fatigue, Xiao Chuting was almost unchanged from many years ago. In fact, his cultivation advancement made him appear even more at ease. His hand rested on the desk, holding a black leather-bound book.

“Greetings, Senior! Congratulations, Senior!”

Li Ximing cupped his hands, offered congratulations, and took out the jade box containing the Painted Water Sunflower Stone. He quietly placed it on the table and smiled,

“A few days ago, the realm was in turmoil, and various families lived precariously, constantly on edge. This junior was unable to come and congratulate you in time, and I hope Senior will forgive me...”

“No matter... you merely spent too much.”

Xiao Chuting’s gaze held a smile as he lightly swept over the jade box on the table, poured the tea, and his eyes rested on the white snow reflected and drifting on the black lake surface:

“Bai Lin is now known throughout the world.”

Li Ximing nodded silently, his gaze complex, unsure how to speak for a moment. He could only follow Xiao Chuting’s lead, letting his gaze fall upon Pai’er Mountain, and praised,

“What a splendid Kanhydro treasure ground.”

Xiao Chuting took a sip of tea and replied,

“The mountain gates of ancient cultivators... were all named quite casually. Once, a Great True Person perished here, causing this place to transform into a mountain of Solar Lihuo for a time. Later, with the passage of time, cultivators practicing here consumed the Lihuo. And with Kanhydro flowing rampant in Cangzhou, it gradually became impossible to suppress, thus returning to its Kanhydro nature.”

His eyes reflected the heavy snow falling from the sky:

“No matter how great a Violet Palace cultivator is, they cannot surpass a True Monarch. Cangzhou is a Kanhydro state; changes are temporary and cannot last forever. It naturally returns to the divine abilities of its original master—this is the grand trend.”

Li Ximing composed himself, listening as Xiao Chuting quietly asked,

“What were Kuiqi’s dying words?”

Li Ximing was silent for a moment, then replied,

“The brilliance of the sun, no more.”

The elder raised an eyebrow:

“He also understood in his heart. With a True Monarch achieving the Xuan position, the Sun lineage inevitably loses its protective charm and weakens. Perhaps they once harbored illusions about certain individuals... but then—they were shattered, time and again. The fall of every True Person from the Sun lineage was not just a demise; it also represented the silence of a great Lord. Although the chances were slim, he was unwilling to lose the spirit of the sun and insisted on trying.”

Li Ximing’s heart felt heavy, and he whispered,

“Why... must it be this way? Is it because of True Qi?”

There was no surprise in Xiao Chuting’s eyes. He put down his cup and replied,

“I have no more reservations now, so perhaps we should discuss this here and now.”

He slowly straightened his posture, his expression tranquil, and began,

“Zhaojing... Among all cultivators in the world, each seeks their own position. But the grand trend—that is the true power that determines which positions can be attained and which will revert. The path of True Qi, divine might and profound clarity, honoring martial arts and cultivating truth. Once this position is achieved, it brings the benefit of seeking truth and the merit of achieving the Dao to all corners... Do you know what that means? Why was An Huaitian’s fall so swift, so hasty, so impatient! There are not a few great Lords who wish to join the True Dao and pave the way for their descendants. As for those three golden natures, there have long been exalted Daoist lineages preparing masters for them again and again. And the Dragon kin... they also seek truth, and they are also waiting for this Dao to return to its place, awaiting this very day!”

Li Ximing slowly raised his eyebrows. Those scattered words finally connected little by little in his mind. The ancient, cold voice still echoed in his ears:

“Now that the True Monarch has gained the golden nature, he will naturally repeat the imperial achievements of True Monarch Tianwu of yesteryear. There will certainly be great turmoil... which also suits the tastes of several other Lords... But who will give up the positions in Jiangnan? Who else can be carved up? They’ve been lying in someone else’s plate for hundreds of years. Now that the plate needs to be washed to hold new things, who can say otherwise? Whether it’s uniting with the Dao to seek truth, or instigating chaos and turmoil, or scheming for positions and seeking change... These great figures stand silently above, all waiting for the True Qi master to return to their place! Whom this True Qi master favors has become a secondary concern!”

A strange meaning sparked in his eyes, and he said softly,

“You must know... all the undercurrents in the world, whether it’s conflicts between Daoist lineages or the rise and fall of imperial dynasties, ultimately revolve around a single golden position. Prosperity and decline are nothing but struggles for esteemed positions, where heaven and earth exert their combined power... Heaven and earth combined power! How could there be no decline?”

Li Ximing slowly closed his eyes and exhaled, unable to compose himself. After a long time, he said,

“But... but the Sun lineage... don’t they understand?”

Xiao Chuting turned his gaze, his eyes as still as the lake before them, even somewhat chilling. The elder whispered,

“They always had something they needed to pay; without shedding some blood, there would be no stability. Furthermore—the Sun lineage certainly has perceptive individuals... The matter of the Murong family back then... Didn’t they understand too early?!”