Chapter 999: 代价(1+1/2)

The Zhaoguang Xuanzi Grand Formation shimmered in the sky, a convergence of purple light. The True Master, clad in white-gold robes, sat upon the Heavenly Gate, deep in thought.

Siyuan Li pressed the scroll he held against the gate without a word. Streams of golden light, like flowing water, poured from the scroll's crevices, covering the Heavenly Gate and making it shine even brighter.

'The Huaijiang Map truly possesses such remarkable mystic power,' he thought.

The Liánmǐn had always been cautious. The situation had reached a point where they couldn't escape from under the Yatain Gate, yet Nü Xi hadn't committed suicide or even uttered a plea for mercy. This was clearly due to the miraculous workings of the Huaijiang Map.

This golden mystic power flowed out, complementing the Yatain Gate and surprisingly sealing off the great void. It transformed the entire Yatain Gate into a silent, isolated realm, cut off from the outside world, leaving only that unfortunate soul pinned beneath it, unable to rise or die.

'After all, it was a treasure inscribed by a True Monarch long ago,' he mused. 'Even though that individual had long since perished, it remains unfathomably wondrous.'

Li Ximing looked up slightly and saw a light from the horizon suddenly fly closer, sporadically carrying dozens of people who were flung into the formation in one go. Only then did the light take shape, revealing Li Zhouwei.

Siyuan Li saw those golden eyes, felt them burning his own, and lowered his gaze, saying:

"Greetings... fellow Daoist!"

At this moment, the golden-eyed young man still had fiercely leaping gray flames on his body, burning into wisps of light white smoke. Li Ximing took one glance, immediately looked up, and asked, surprised and suspicious:

"Lesser Peacock Karma?!"

What was on Li Zhouwei's body was indeed the Karmic Fire of Lesser Peacock Karma that Li Ximing had seen years ago in the Nine Mounds Daoist sect of Peacock Sea!

These four words made Siyuan Li waver slightly, and he asked, doubtfully:

"The Peacock has also come..."

However, it was not appropriate to say more at this moment. Li Ximing reached into his sleeve, but Siyuan Li was a step ahead. He plucked a gourd from the void, from which pale gray Yin Water flowed into his palm. The middle-aged man stroked his beard and said:

"Qingye Chunyuan... precisely for fire injuries!"

Li Zhouwei's battle in the east hadn't been intense, and his injuries were not severe; healing would only take a month or two. However, since Siyuan Li had produced the spiritual water, he didn't refuse. He used the Qingye Chunyuan to wash away the fire injuries and nodded, saying:

"Thank you, Senior."

"No need... It is I who should thank you..."

Although the gains in the grotto-heaven had been swept away by someone named Chi, Li Zhouwei had, after all, lent a helping hand. Siyuan Li owed him some thanks, but the timing wasn't right. He just briefly mentioned it, then saw Li Zhouwei say thoughtfully:

"Blue-purple feathers, red pupils, golden beak; it should indeed be a Peacock."

Li Ximing was not entirely unfamiliar with the Peacock clan. He frowned and said:

"Let's not discuss that for now. There's still a beast under the divine ability that needs to be dealt with first."

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow in surprise, a hint of pleasant surprise immediately flashing in his eyes. He asked:

"You managed to capture a Liánmǐn?"

"Thanks to fellow Daoist Si."

Li Ximing sneered. He asked Siyuan Li to guard above the divine ability, then descended with Li Zhouwei as streaks of light, appearing beneath the Yatain Gate.

The place was brightly illuminated and filled with waves of heat. Fierce purple flames danced and leaped, emanating a suppressive and corrosive force that circled the brilliant light in the very center, emitting grating friction sounds.

In the very center stood an old nun. Her glassy face was covered in cracks from intense resistance, and her arms showed signs of being crushed, making her look quite horrifying. It seemed she had struggled for a long time, but with Li Ximing and the Huaijiang Map suppressing her together, how could she possibly push them away?

Now, seeing the two True Masters appear and realizing that no one in the north would heed her, she immediately bent her body, with tears and snot streaming down her face, and bowed, saying:

"Greetings, honored sirs... this humble cultivator..."

Li Zhouwei acted as if he hadn't heard. He stepped forward, raised his hand, swiftly seized her by the throat, and slammed his other hand heavily into her face:

"Boom!"

The woman's words immediately ceased. There was a sound of shattering glass as countless fragments fell. Her head instantly caved in, smashed to smithereens, leaving only her opening and closing mouth. Various colored glass gems rolled off her body and were instantly consumed by the flames. Li Zhouwei lifted her up and casually said:

"I ask you, what is the Great Desire Dao doing by going south?"

Nü Xi's vision went black from the punch; she almost passed out and saw stars, yet she dared not show any displeasure. She said tremblingly:

"Your Highness... Your Highness... This humble one's status is low. I only know... this side... is going to attack the Four Min!"

"Oh?"

Li Zhouwei narrowed his eyes and said:

"What forces are involved? And how many people are following?"

Nü Xi dared not try to reassemble her face, only maintaining her opening and closing mouth, revealing a fawning smile:

"The Path of Emptiness has always been submissive. The most important thing is the involvement of my Great Desire Dao. This matter was decided when Lord Suiguan eradicated demons and cleared out the lands north of the river..."

"Oh?"

Li Zhouwei asked:

"Are you referring to the millions from north of the river?"

"You are perceptive, sir!"

Li Ximing's heart froze. He saw this Liánmǐn fawning and saying:

"Sir... although there has been no word from above, those of us who cultivate the evil path can more or less see... The millions from north of the river not only affect Wanling Heaven, but also represent a great karmic entanglement. Whoever provided these millions back then, it also meant whose family would be the first to ride the tides of the next era... This is a tremendous opportunity... Most of the people involved will likely be unable to escape!"

Many of Li Zhouwei's suspicions seemed to be confirmed. His golden pupils stared coldly at her, and he said faintly:

"There are also a few instigators of destiny, aren't there?"

Nü Xi nodded hurriedly and said timidly:

"Exactly... Lord Si... and Your Highness, both have incurred great karma... And True Master Ning... and even a few others nearby, are all somewhat involved."

Li Ximing's heart jolted with alarm. Li Zhouwei finally stood up and said coldly:

"So it is!"

When Wanling Heaven fell back then, the Great Desire Dao provided human resources, and Zhao Palace sent divine abilities and the Star-Gazing Bronze Sparrow. Suiguan could have directly intervened; why did he bring that painting?

Li Zhouwei had always believed that Suiguan could not cross the river freely and needed to use him for concealment. But since both the north and south had reached a consensus, how could a mere inability to cross the river stop it? And why bother with deliberate concealment? It wasn't just that both sides turning a blind eye required a consensus; there was a deeper purpose!

"Sir is one of the sources for drawing talismans. What was that painting? It was a talisman!"

A talisman that unleashed Suiguan's divine ability!

The one who incurred karma for the Great Desire was Qingchi. This talisman was drawn by Siyuan Li of Qingchi, used by Li Zhouwei, and was the trump card ordered by Qingchi Sect Master Ning Wan to attack the wilderness. This Lord Lushui, under the guise of a talisman, used divine ability to deceive karma, hiding Suiguan, and all the karma was then divided among everyone else.

'Did this Lord Lushui not want to incur karma?' he wondered. 'It's not just that...'

Li Zhouwei raised his head and said gloomily:

"Since all cultivators have incurred such great karma, to survive in the coming great trend... they can only pledge allegiance to the Yang clan and oppose the North. This is essentially selling off Qingchi and the State of Yue... selling them to the Yang clan!"

Li Zhouwei was already irreconcilable with the North; this merely added another layer of karma, blocking his clansmen's retreat. But whether it's Ning Wan, Siyuan Li, or even the Chen clan of Yuyang... once this matter is done, they essentially have no way back!

Escape overseas? Bearing the karma of crossing the river to kill millions of the Great Desire and obstructing the great trend of North and South, how could a few cultivators—either early Purple Mansion or with families in tow—escape the Great Desire Dao's might and the deadly hands of the many Mahas? If they couldn't stand with the Yang family, from the True Masters themselves to their numerous descendants, they would be like delicacies in the eyes of others. Perhaps nothing would happen for a while, but their lives would eventually be claimed!

The Li clan, from its former status as an imperial clan to its current decline, was a precedent! Siyuan Li deluded himself into thinking he would always have a place in the grand scheme, unaware that he had been completely bound to the Yang family's war chariot!

Li Ximing's expression was grim. But this Liánmǐn, seeing the two men's reactions, was already trembling with fear. Li Zhouwei changed the subject and said coldly:

"Let me ask you... The Seven Paths have contended with my clan for many years. Are there any converts? Any high cultivators with imperial clan bloodlines? Or any individuals with great karma connected to the Li clan?!"

Nü Xi was slightly stunned. How could she not know? She was the instigator! Fear suddenly gripped her heart,