Chapter 581 439: Severing the Phenomenon (Part 2)

Noble Families rose to power, songs and dances filled the air, then dynasties fell, blades and spears clashed, and in the haze she saw armored men donning golden robes, saw the folk of the world scattered and wandering, the Taiyang plunged down, the stars eroded one by one, cliffs battered by ocean waves, riddled with countless holes, ice-cold seawater dripping steadily—until at last she was startled awake.

That figure seemed to clutch a sword, standing quietly as the black clouds swept in from the East Sea; only when those clouds crept near did he at last raise his Immortal Sword.

"Qiang..."

Dazzling white light rose in the sky, a pillar of brilliance split the heavens, darkness fell for a heartbeat, then streamers of blue and white radiance flickered alight.

"The comets..."

Countless comets trailed their long blazing tails, streaking through the pitch-black sky—the world dimmed to the extreme, then burst into myriad stars, as though the sky opened untold piercing eyes.

"Rumble!"

Dense black clouds abruptly sheared apart, retreating to either side, seawater roared and thundered, slowly falling away, following the sword's path to bare the seafloor's jagged mountains, along with countless fainted monsters revealed below.

The sound shook every cultivator, leaving them reeling and crazed, screaming with closed eyes, tears streaming, even some with unstable cultivation levels simply plummeting like birds with broken wings.

Even Li Qinghong at last had to alight atop the water, only to see the banks swept clean of black clouds like wind scouring the land; distant thunderstorm and dark clouds halted hundreds of leagues out at sea, unable to advance further.

'That Perfected Person... severed the worldly omen...'

The cultivators' faces blanched as they stared dumbly at the winds and clouds above; chill rain fell, and Li Qinghong bowed her head, eyes closed, hot tears slipping down—at her ear, she heard an elder intone:

"Eclipse and starfall—this is a sign from heaven... Surely, that Perfected Lord of Xiuyue made a move!"

Most Qi Cultivators couldn't even make out the Perfected Lord's form and thus suffered little, but Li Qinghong, with her Foundation Establishment Cultivation, caught a hurried glimpse and was assailed by countless illusions. She let out a breath—the symptoms eased, yet her heart still trembled with dread.

She slipped into the water alone, away from the crowd, remaining submerged for a long while before finally muttering, mind running:

"What magical treasure did that Perfected Lord use just now? Was it staff? Or sword?"

She considered a moment, glancing left and right, eyes clouded with confusion, murmuring:

"How did I end up on the seafloor?"

Riding the wind, breaking through the water's surface, Li Qinghong looked far off at the motionless black clouds, then back at the sunlit South River stretching behind, her voice faint and lost:

"Strange. Why do these clouds not move?"

She flew several leagues, always feeling as if something was forgotten; within Shengyang Mansion a sudden chill blossomed, causing her to falter lightly—masking her lingering horror, she again dove below the waves.

...

Several prefectures of Yue Country were shrouded in gloom; on Fenkui Island in the East Sea the night felt even deeper, the seabed pitch-black, dense stormclouds surging in as the once-bright sky swiftly dimmed, the waters dark as ink.

Thunderstorms raged on the surface, howling winds whipping the waves wild, streams of violet-black thunderbolts crashing down with the roar of mountain and tide alike.

Li Xuanfeng had dwelled here for months, growing familiar, standing within the waves, hands clasped behind his back. Beside him stood Ning Heyuan, a step behind, gazing at the inky-black seafloor and softly speaking:

"Brother-in-law... storms like this are rare, let alone such violence. The sea is like ink for ten thousand li—trouble has come."

Li Xuanfeng turned his head to him; Ning Heyuan, ever well-informed, murmured:

"Word from the sect: a monster in the East Sea failed to break through, died and vanished."

Ning Heyuan paused, then went on:

"It's from the Heshui line, not much to do with us, but Jiao Palace must be changing. Since this portent's appeared, I fear the matter's been decided long ago."

Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly; Ning Heyuan continued:

"I've been looking into some matters lately, worth mentioning... Let me tell you, brother-in-law."

Li Xuanfeng nodded in assent, and Ning Heyuan continued:

"Jindou Island of Tang Jin Sect has been silent all these years, yet within the isle a temple was built. Word is a woman gave birth on the island, her child born with extraordinary spiritual roots."

Hearing this, Li Xuanfeng glanced at the far-off thunderstorm, voice low:

"That Furious Toaist Lineage mage isn't dead? Still hasn't returned north, dares to reincarnate on Jindou Island?"

Ning Heyuan nodded, kept his voice low:

"I've gotten to the bottom of this—it's not that they can't return north, but that Furious has declined bitterly in the Northern lands, carved up by the other six paths, numerous temples destroyed. Monks understand monks; not only in the East Sea, but Furious Aspect mages have had their arts broken throughout the North, so they've all cast their fates into the Four Seas and South River as backup..."

"Understood."

Li Xuanfeng nodded, and Ning Heyuan advised:

"There's a Foundation Establishment Great Formation on that island, plus several Guest Elders guarding it; though Tang Jin Sect is much weakened, still has some foundation—safer than elsewhere, really."

Li Xuanfeng was his own brother-in-law, the only one before whom he could serve a Perfected Person; Ning Heyuan did not wish him harmed, putting things gently.

Li Xuanfeng said quietly:

"Perfected Person dislikes the Situ Family."

Li Xuanfeng had vaguely heard previously that Yuan Su and the Situ Family were at odds; before setting out, Yuan Su had again emphasized, "All can be slain, save for Dragon Kind." Li Xuanfeng hadn't caught the meaning at first.

Now recalling, Yuan Su's hint was clear enough: sending him out was partly aimed at Tang Jin Sect, to appease his own feelings—two aims, one move.

At these words, Ning Heyuan gave a small nod, quietly:

"In former years... a Perfected Person's friend gifted a [Three-eyed Hill Beast], dearly treasured, but it was killed by Situ Tang and the three eyes taken. Compensation was made with spiritual wealth, but enmity was sown."

"Among the sect's Perfected Persons, only Yuanwu is close with Situ Family; the others care little for them."

Li Xuanfeng gazed coldly at the brewing storm above the seafloor, speaking under his breath:

"Is there a way to draw them out?"

Ning Heyuan hesitated, then replied softly:

"Situ Mo is cautious, having suffered a loss—he's unlikely to show himself easily. Jindou Island's been fortified like a steel bucket, no way to force entry. Brother-in-law, best wait for an opportunity—like when Tang Jin Sect escorts a merchant vessel to sea. Kill the monk then; mages trust too much in their own technique calculations—easy to set a trap."

Jindou Island was still an important marketplace of Tang Jin Sect, heavily guarded. Ning Heyuan continued:

"Still, I have a plan to lure them out."

He drew a transparent Jade Box from his sleeve; inside, a finely carved figurine—a three-headed, six-armed idol, each hand holding a short staff, axe and the like. Ning Heyuan said:

"I sourced this especially for you, brother-in-law—an Angry Buddhist Practitioner's Furious Treasure, equivalent to our Foundation Establishment Magical Instrument—a rare marvel."

Buddhist practice is a rather recent Toaist Lineage; though supplemented by several generations of honored sages and not lacking, in alchemy and artifact refining it remains immature. Such a treasure is a rare delight for a Buddhist practitioner.

Ning Heyuan handed it over, speaking quietly:

"This treasure can be sensed by any Furious Path cultivator within a hundred li. In the past, with Furious Maha in resdience, he'd send people to claim it from thousands of li away, so none dared reveal it. But now... it can serve as bait."

Ning Heyuan, direct lineage of Immortal Sect, handling the fall of a Toaist Lineage mage was a mere trifle—he spoke with great confidence:

"That mage, despite so much time here, has left behind many techniques of reincarnation on the island. However feeble, with their boldness, they're sure to pick a body and try their luck... As for whether he can be slain completely, that's up to you, brother-in-law!"

"Mm, not bad."

For once Li Xuanfeng gave genuine approval, accepting the Jade Box, voice low:

"You've troubled yourself."

Ning Heyuan smiled, waving a hand, lowering his voice:

"Brother-in-law, what are you saying! We're all family."

The years had long since worn away Ning Heyuan's sharpness and youthful pride—befriending Li Xuanfeng was not only to curry favor with the Perfected Person, but to truly fortify family bonds, paving more paths for himself.

Li Xuanfeng lowered his gaze to the figurine in the transparent Jade Box, his expression cooled, secretly musing:

"My uncle's grudge still remains. First, let me take some interest from this bald donkey!"