Chapter 1794: A False Front (II)

Clouds and mist curled through the mountains. The Daoist Master in white-golden robes stood within a pavilion, discussing important matters with a furrowed brow.

Li Ximing had brought Li Quewan and Li Jiangchun along so that they could acquaint themselves with the younger generation of the various Dao lineages. But he had barely landed atop the peak after leaving the two of them in the mountains when Chen Yin immediately pulled him aside.

In the mere few years since they had last met, Daoist Master Yushui had changed drastically. This sword cultivator had once possessed a gentle expression, and grown only more vigorous with age. Now his hair had turned completely white, and worry had taken such a toll that it had made him ill. A cold gleam filled his eyes as he stood silently and gloomily within the pavilion, sending a chill through all who saw him.

Chen Xuanyu's death had dealt him an immense blow, so immense that even Li Ximing was taken aback. He could only support the old man by the arm and say, "Senior... Please accept my condolences!"

Upon seeing Li Ximing, Chen Yin forced a faint smile. "Congratulations to Zhaojing on attaining a Fate Divine Ability... Forgive me for making such a sorry spectacle of myself!"

Li Ximing merely sighed in silence. Chen Yin did not hesitate in the slightest and continued in a neutral tone, "I heard that the Emperor of Song is selecting Profound Holders to send north. Are you aware of this, Zhaojing?"

Li Ximing had heard something about it and nodded. The old man came straight to the point. "My family has a junior named Wenyao, who is also Jiangliang's good friend... The Li Family wields considerable influence in the Song court. I only hope that this position can be given to my family... Whatever compensation you desire, Ximing, you need only name it!"

Li Ximing understood his intentions. The old man made no effort to conceal them and raised the keen-edged sword in his hand. "Ximing, you know that I pawned everything I owned to obtain this spirit sword, so you need not worry that I have nothing to offer.

“Xuanyu possessed exceptional talent, and was the greatest sword prodigy my family had produced in three hundred years. This spirit sword was originally prepared for him, but now that he has been murdered... my family's path forward has been severed. Only Wenyao offers us a sliver of hope, so we have little use for this sword anymore..."

Li Ximing's heart sank as he listened. He said, "There is no need to go this far, senior... Currently, only Jianglong of my family has any hope of securing a position, but he now serves under the grand general. You should approach the right person instead."

Chen Yin was an intelligent man himself, and understood the hint immediately. He nodded gravely. "Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!"

He put away the keen-edged sword in his hand and departed the peak with a forlorn figure. Li Ximing still had his family's valuable prospect on his mind, and pondered the matter for a while. Just then, he saw Fuxuan approaching from beyond the mountains and greeted him with a smile.

"Greetings, Senior Fuxuan!"

Fuxuan politely returned his smile. "There is someone I would like to introduce to you, Ximing!"

The great void abruptly trembled as green light flared. Li Ximing looked up, only to freeze the moment he saw who had arrived.

A man in green was strolling through the mountains. His long hair hung loose around his shoulders, and his eyes were a deep emerald. An exquisite little bronze cauldron hung from his waist, while a string of black jade pearls was looped around his hand. With his ethereal bearing, he truly resembled an immortal cultivator untouched by the mortal world.

Li Ximing's pupils instantly widened as he cried out in alarm, "Bu... zi!"

His first reaction was to rise, and he had already taken half a step forward. Yet fearing an ambush within the great void, he forcibly restrained the impulse to enter it.

The Immortal Mirror immediately sprang into operation as he demanded sternly, "Senior, what is the meaning of this?!"

Li Ximing's outburst left Fuxuan deeply embarrassed. He cursed Chi Buzi inwardly, but with matters having already reached this point, he could only step forward and hastily reassure him. "Wait, Zhaojing! This fiend... Fellow Daoist Buzi has come in friendship..."

Li Ximing swept the Immortal Mirror around him, and identified an escape route through the great void. He immediately realized that the other party truly had not come to kill him, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet when he looked Chi Buzi over, his heart abruptly tightened again. Through the Immortal Mirror, he could clearly see a faint iridescent radiance flickering around the man!

He withdrew his probing gaze while speaking coldly, suppressing the shock in his heart as he said, "What could I possibly have to discuss with... him?!"

Fuxuan grew even more embarrassed and began cursing Chi Buzi inwardly, This fiend... He is usually so silver-tongued that he could make flowers rain from the heavens, yet now he does not dare utter a single word!

Chi Buzi, however, was wholly focused on scrutinizing Li Ximing's expression. Only then did he offer a salute and smile. "There is no need to worry, Fellow Daoist Zhaojing. If I cared about the Azure Pond Sect, I would have become someone else's lackey long ago. Do you think you could have escaped me so easily?

"But Tingzhou and I have much to discuss... I have already crossed the Purple Mansion Threshold and now seek perfection. There is much room for cooperation between the King of Wei and me. Even if you will not consider this for your own sake, Zhaojing, you should at least consider the King of Wei!"

He stood confidently with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed firmly on Li Ximing.

However, the man in white-golden robes glowered coldly. "You know full well what you have done, fellow Daoist!"

Li Ximing appeared utterly resistant and seemingly filled with hatred, yet countless memories flashed through his mind. He knew all about Chi Buzi's wretched state at the lake back then and everything he had said...

The only reason Li Ximing had not immediately left was neither the radiance around the man nor any prospect of cooperation with the King of Wei, but the strange state of Chi Buzi's divine soul back then!

After all, Chi Buzi was the only Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had looked directly upon the Immortal Artifact without being a bearer of the talisman!

Chi Buzi was no ordinary man. He immediately recognized the probing undertone in Li Ximing's words, stepped forward, and replied coldly, "Indeed, I know! What do you intend to do about it, fellow Daoist?!"

His face seemed born for deception, concealing a cold and unscrupulous heart beneath it. Although he knew absolutely nothing, he delivered those words with crisp certainty, appearing so completely in command that it drew sidelong glances.

Li Ximing fell briefly silent as he glared coldly at him. Old Daoist Master Yuanshang is about to attempt his breakthrough... Who knows how many great figures are watching? This is hardly the place to talk!

Yet Chi Buzi had already arrived before him. Chi Buzi narrowed his eyes slightly and said in an indifferent tone, "Whose world is this today... Have you already forgotten exactly how Li Jiangqun perished at the lake back then?"

Li Ximing watched him take a seat, perfectly composed, before replying, "Why not enlighten me, Grand Daoist Master?"

Chi Buzi's gaze turned inscrutable as he replied, "Li Jiangqun cultivated the [Rite and Shadow] back then, which was derived from the mighty [Six Wheels of Supreme Yin]. He possessed a Moon-Glazed Body and traveled throughout Jiangnan. Although his spiritual sense was restricted, allowing Chi Wei to steal his treasure, he caught Chi Wei merely by making a quick divination. The body he had was a top-grade profound body!"

He spoke of Chi Wei as though mentioning someone wholly unrelated to him. His tone remained placid and utterly devoid of emotion as he continued, "Chi Wei once mentioned that what was even more terrifying were the many measures concealed within that profound body. To cultivate this divine ability, the profound body had to experience the mortal world and gradually cultivate the Orthodox Dao.

“Thus, Li Jiangqun secretly placed a [Karmic Talisman of Heavenly Light Invocation] within it. The moment the dharma body shattered, it would immediately summon [Supreme Yin Profound Light] to destroy both soul and form."

Li Ximing's heart convulsed upon hearing this, as though mountains were collapsing and the earth splitting apart within him.

[Supreme Yin Profound Light]!

Is it merely a coincidence, or is it the very same thing... It even bears the exact same name. It is actually the Supreme Yin Profound Light!

A secret the Li Family had concealed for a century had now casually fallen from this man's lips as though it were nothing. Li Ximing's heart churned violently, while Chi Buzi continued calmly, "None of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators dared become entangled in the karma surrounding such a profound measure, much less allow him to cultivate this divine abilities to perfection and turn it into a true Purple Mansion Realm profound body. He was indeed a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator with five divine abilities, but few knew that his [Rite and Shadow] came from an ancient Dao lineage.

“It had to experience the mortal world and break through to the Purple Mansion Realm as an entirely new incarnation. It had yet to reach perfection at the time, so his five divine abilities were not truly complete. When the time came to surround and kill him, Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from the various sects threw themselves into the formation one after another until that Moon-Glazed Body was completely worn away..."

Chi Buzi's voice was soft as he continued evenly, "If even Li Jiangqun met such an end, it is clear that the lord could barely protect himself. Even preserving Mount Dali must have stretched him to his limits, much less allowing him to intervene in the affairs of Bright Yang."

That lord?

These words made Li Ximing's heart tighten slightly. He smiled and said, "If the King of Wei wishes to attain the Dao, his only path lies with the True Dragon!"

The moment these words were spoken, Fuxuan, who had heard the entire conversation clearly from beginning to end, finally understood. He had personally witnessed the exchange of interests between Wei Xuanyin and Chi Buzi. How could he fail to see the truth after hearing this?

This fiend has joined the dragons after all. He is now preparing for the Converging Water affair!