Chapter 622 464: Collusion (Part 2)

This mountain peak was already explored earlier; it's completely empty. Tulong Jian spoke softly:

"Senior, my Tujun Toaist Lineage is destroyed, only I remain. Only you still have some ties to Tujun Toaist Lineage, and you showed me kindness back then—no need to say more, I will certainly act."

Li Yuanjiao gave his thanks, while Tulong Jian gazed at the stars in the sky, murmuring:

"This Cave Heaven should close in seven days. Whatever is to be done, we must act soon."

...

Li Xuanfeng steadied his heart, while Xiao Yongling beside him asked:

"Well?"

Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly at him, descended through the clouds, and composed himself amid the mists. Xiao Yongling followed, watching as Li Xuanfeng settled his mind before speaking quietly:

"Senior... The noble Perfected Person has thoughts as deep as the abyss—can you guess my purpose for entering this Cave Heaven?"

Xiao Yongling had not expected him to ask this suddenly. He pondered briefly, then whispered:

"Muxian?"

The Li Family rose rapidly, with the Xiao Family supporting them from the shadows for years. They saw through the situation at the lake very clearly, so it wasn't hard to guess. Xiao Yongling gave the answer directly; Li Xuanfeng replied softly:

"Correct."

Xiao Yongling was silent for a moment before quietly saying:

"The Perfected Person always has his own intentions. He didn't speak to me directly, but sending me to this Cave Heaven was surely with the aim to assist you."

Li Xuanfeng thanked him softly; Xiao Yongling replied gravely:

"No need to say more, Xuanfeng. None of the clans would welcome Yu Muxian ascending to Zifu, especially after the Yu Family struggled for supremacy against yours years ago and has long hated my family."

"Muxian may appear detached from worldly affairs, distant and heartless to her kin—but who can say this isn't a cover-up, a way of doing the opposite? Especially as Perfected Yuanwu and my Xiao Family's predecessor were foes... Whatever happens, I will make a move."

Since both were resolved, Li Xuanfeng said in a deep voice:

"Good. Only, I don't know when this Cave Heaven will close; let's act quickly and not linger here seeking other things!"

Xiao Yongling nodded, following forward, and reminded in a low voice:

"It's just... even facing him alone would be difficult, let alone with Tang Shedou by his side. This Tang is also renowned for many years. You and I alone may not succeed."

Li Xuanfeng had already pinpointed Li Yuanjiao's descent, and soon the jade pendant at his waist glowed gently, dispelling the mists before his eyes—a small hill emerged.

There on the hill stood two figures, both clad in black. One had a sullen air, expression unreadable, quietly standing; the other, much fiercer, bore a golden hammer and seemed deep in thought.

The moment the two stepped from the mist, they were immediately detected by Spiritual Sense. Tulong Jian's gaze swept over them, as if he'd guessed Li Yuanjiao's purpose here. He retreated a step, saying nothing yet.

Li Yuanjiao cupped his fists and stepped forward; Xiao Yongling did not waste words, and spoke gently:

"Yongling of the Xiao Family from Lixia."

Li Yuanjiao cupped his fists:

"So it's Senior Yushan Weng..."

Who would have thought Xiao Yongling, eyeing the Tulong Jian behind him, felt a jolt of shock—but also gained much confidence. Li Xuanfeng stepped forward and said quietly:

"This sea of clouds can block Spiritual Sense. Earlier, I only noticed him heading east. If we want to follow him, we must move quickly."

None wasted words; they rode the wind up. Tulong Jian suddenly spoke out:

"Let me track him. I have a way."

Tulong Jian seemed able to bypass the sea of clouds' block on Spiritual Sense, flying to the forefront. One hand gripped the token at his waist, eyes sharp on the path ahead.

Xiao Yongling considered, then said softly:

"Leave Tang Shedou to me. I can hold him off for a while, at least."

Tulong Jian turned ever so slightly, answering quietly:

"It won't be easy. He carries two Zifu Spirit Instruments on him."

At this, Xiao Yongling's pupils shrank in shock, murmuring:

"So it is—he is, after all, from Yuanwu..."

Tulong Jian continued:

"What's more, Tang Shedou, though seldom in action in recent years, has grown far stronger—he will not be easy to handle. Don't underestimate him. If we succeed, I want the jade box he carries."

The two naturally agreed. Tulong Jian seemed to harbor deep worries, some words left unsaid; he secretly communed with the token on his waist:

'You said... there's something strange about Yu Muxian... What did you mean? Does she carry fate?'

The token vibrated, the voice within gritting its teeth:

'Yuanwu Peak again! Damn it, year in and year out, it's always with Tang Yuanwu... That Yu Muxian is definitely wrong in some way. My Divine Skills are useless against her. If you ask me... Tang Yuanwu surely suspected long ago—maybe he sees this kid as his opportunity, watching in secret!'

'Useless?'

Tulong Jian frowned, quietly asking:

"Could it be that the spiritual treasures on her body resist your Divine Skills? Or is it fate at work?"

'Absolutely not! Guo Shentong and you both bear fate, but I can still calculate.'

The token's voice was grave:

'I was forced by Yuanwu to hide in Cave Heaven, stuck in this Combined Fire Command for years. By now, I can command a trace of its Metal Nature power—but I can't deduce a single thing about her origins; perhaps she's linked to something Golden Core Level!'

The token trembled:

'That's why I warned you off... If not for this, Yuanwu Peak has old vendettas too. Tang Yuanwu destroyed my body—left me barely clinging to life! Of course I hate him!'

Tulong Jian pondered and sensed something wrong, asking:

"By your logic, aren't all the Perfected Lords in the Cave Heaven watching us? Haven't we already attracted their notice?"

The token replied:

'What kind of place is Mirage Cave Heaven? With no master now, those outsiders are lucky simply to observe! How could they reach through the Cave Heaven to calculate those inside? How do you think Guo Shentong and Chang Xiao escaped years ago?'

'Besides, things above Golden Core are terrifying for ignorant folks like us—but to them, perhaps we're nothing but a tiny pawn.'

Tulong Jian lowered his eyes, using the spiritual treasure to probe the cloud sea, and soon noticed the scene ahead. He turned, glanced at the others, and said quietly:

"Found him!"

...

Yu Muxian wandered through the cloud sea, hands clasped behind his back. His demeanor was carefree, seemingly at ease. Tang Shedou held his long halberd, silently following by his side.

He rarely felt so relaxed. From youth, he entered Yuanwu Peak under Tang Yuanwu's tutelage, Yu Muxian cultivating silently, never revealing himself. Decades passed; few chances like this came by.

As a child, he didn't understand what it meant for Tang Yuanwu to take him as a disciple—only that Tang Yuanwu's spiritual sense constantly lingered on him, so he thought his Master watched over him at all times.

Not until he studied Taoist scriptures did he realize: as a Fetal Breathing Cultivator, he shouldn't be able to sense Zifu Monk's spiritual sense. Watching Tang Shedou sweat with confusion before Yuanwu, Yu Muxian knew it was not that he himself had exceptional willpower.

"All thanks to this jade clasp!"

He slowly understood, but it was too late. Once Tang Yuanwu realized his Divine Skills held no sway over this small Fetal Breathing cultivator, his manner grew wary. No matter what Yu Muxian did, Tang Yuanwu's spiritual sense was always there, like a spectral shadow.

Back then, Yu Muxian was just half a child. Without the jade clasp for Tranquil Heart, he would have surely broken down under the silent pressure. Only through its influence could he play the part—indifferent, emotionless, with the poise of the Tao itself.

Luckily he was extraordinarily gifted, and with the jade clasp's display of insight, Tang Yuanwu was drawn to another assumption: that he was a reincarnated Immortal Cultivator.

"Were it not for the jade clasp acknowledging me as master, in another's hands it would be useless—I'd have died by Yuanwu's hand long ago..."

A shadow lingered in his heart. He endured decades of torment, finally nearing Zifu—one more step, and he'd slowly break free of that man's grip.

"Decades with a knife running through my veins... Decades enduring spiritual sense piercing me daily... Decades meditating unmoving in the Cave Mansion... Tang Yuanwu..."

"Once I achieve Zifu, I will, rightfully and openly, establish my own Peak, unify Wangyue Lake, sweep up all the clans, and search for the origins of this jade clasp."