Chapter 1657: Countermeasures (I)

The moon shone brightly, its clear light flowing across the bronze steps. Eighteen hundred stone stairs rose solemnly and cold through the clouds. Beneath the vast immortal platform, where gates stood on all eight sides, small groups of people lingered in quiet conversation.

A Daoist Master dressed in dark blue strolled leisurely up the staircase. His face was round, with bright and lively eyes, though his expression was unreadable. Only after reaching the very top did he come face to face with someone.

The monk had fair features and an imposing bearing. A spot of gold lacquer adorned the center of his eyebrows, and he stopped squarely in the Daoist Master's path as he descended the steps.

Pressing his palms together, the monk smiled. "Fellow Daoist Bai! It has been a long time."

The youth in dark blue was none other than Daoist Master Yehui, Bai Ziyu. He gave the monk a calm glance before replying, "So it is Fellow Daoist Guangchan."

Yehui had never been one to tolerate provocation. Seeing the monk planted firmly in his way, he merely smiled. "How is it that your Buddhist studies have brought you all the way to the Pavilion of Profound Order? It seems that although you may sit upon a meditation cushion in the dharma realm, it still cannot compare to the comfort of standing on the stone floor of the immortal pavilion. No wonder you keep making the trip here day after day."

The words dripped with mockery from the moment they left his mouth. Every barb was indirect, yet each struck precisely where it hurt most.

The Pavilion of Profound Order served as Great Zhao's seat of authority over its immortal cultivators. Its predecessor had been Great Liang's Pavilion of Seeking Purple. Although the Lesser Yang Devil Monarch had long since fallen, the Dao lineage of the Purple Terrace Profound Pavilion Sect had endured. The Lesser Yang Devil Monarch had always despised Buddhist cultivators. Any Buddhist cultivator who entered the Pavilion of Seeking Purple, regardless of cultivation, was required to stand, while immortal cultivators, regardless of rank, were at least given a meditation cushion to sit upon.

The Pavilion of Profound Order had preserved that tradition to this day. Even though Guangchan was a Maha, he still had to remain standing whenever he came before Wei Xuanyin.

Guangchan's expression immediately darkened, but Yehui had no intention of letting him off so easily. Casually, he added, "I'd say Que Liyu has come away with quite the prize. You've been ranked alongside him for nothing all this time. I suppose your patience has finally run out."

Guangchan shot him a frosty glance and replied, "I wondered what sort of pure Dao lineage you belonged to. How could it possibly be compared to that demonic entity? The brilliant Qilin, Peacock..."

Yehui cut him off with a laugh. "Peacock? The Peacock's ancestor, the Bin Crow, was also a Great Sage. If you were Li Zhouwei, I'd have no choice but to nod along when you said something like that. But who exactly do you think you are?!"

That remark completely tore away the last shred of civility between them. The flicker of emotion on Guangchan's face quickly vanished, and he said evenly, "Your mouth is anything but pure, fellow Daoist. You would do well to watch yourself."

Seeing that Guangchan had truly been provoked, Yehui refrained from pressing him further, merely letting out a cold sneer and falling silent.

After all, Guangchan was the Maha who had risen the fastest and drawn the greatest acclaim in the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm in the past century. Meanwhile, the [Capital Guard] lineage was not one that excelled at fighting Mahas. If they truly came to blows, Yehui knew he would be no match for him.

He could only sigh inwardly, The [Capital Guard] Dao lineage is indeed broad and unrestrained, but it also has far too many vulnerabilities... Unfortunately, someone of my background doesn't have the luxury of choosing. Since I've inherited this Dao lineage, I can only walk the road that no one else is willing to take.

In the blink of an eye, Guangchan swept his sleeve and departed. Yehui gave a derisive snort and climbed the remaining steps in two strides. He passed beneath the gleaming plaque of the [Pavilion of Profound Order], and immediately saw the great silver cauldron standing in the courtyard.

A man stood to one side of the hall, draped in a silver robe that resembled layered feathers. His eyes were long and narrow, and his fair fingers rested on the rim of the cauldron, gently stirring the shimmering water within.

Seeing Yehui approach, he turned with a smile and said, "Ziyu, you've arrived."

Yehui hurriedly returned the greeting with a smile and took his place at the side. Wei Xuanyin chuckled and shook his head. "You've been arguing with Buddhist cultivators again. I've told you before, your [Capital Guard] lineage has ties to the [Brilliant Essence] lineage. If something major ever happens, you could always seek refuge with the Buddhist cultivators... What you're doing now is cutting off your own retreat."

Regardless of the state of the northern powers, Wei Xuanyin had always treated Yehui exceptionally well. Bai Ziyu merely shook his head as he said, "I have no wish to deliver others, and they need not try to deliver me."

Whether he truly meant it or was merely putting on a front, it still took conviction to say such words. A trace of approval appeared in Wei Xuanyin's eyes.

Yehui promptly changed the subject and said in a serious tone, "Changxiao Gate has been wiped out; Chengyan is dead; and Li Zhouwei even wounded Shilou Yingge within the grotto heaven. That fellow Shilou Yingge couldn't even be bothered to go through the motions any longer and fled straight back to the land of Qi...

"Li Zhouwei is also acquiring more and more spirit treasures. An ordinary cultivator of three divine abilities can no longer keep him in check. Although we have four mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators stationed here, we're concerned that the Buddhist side will be left undermanned after Que Liyu's departure. By the orders of Lord Ch'i, I've come to ask for your arrangements."

"Que Liyu." Wei Xuanyin's expression grew somewhat complicated. "They still underestimate the one behind him. He is, after all, a descendant of a Great Sage. He may not be comparable to Riju and Yuezhu, but he stands shoulder to shoulder with Weiming and Weixi. As for the likes of Dongfang Tianye, they are fit for nothing more than serving as his stepping stones."

As for Li Zhouwei, Wei Xuanyin clearly knew of the matter even earlier than Yehui did. Even so, he sighed and shook his head as he said, "Li Zhouwei has always been extraordinary, so that's hardly surprising. As for his growing collection of spirit treasures, that's even less surprising. Destiny rests upon him. Every time he breaks through, the number of spirit items in the Li Family's possession is bound to multiply."

Although Wei Xuanyin cultivated the Veiled Yin path, he was far more detached than Zong Chang. There was not a trace of malice in his voice as he quietly asked, "Were there many casualties?"

Yehui shook his head. This was something he understood well from firsthand experience. "The Li Family governs with strict discipline. There were very few casualties, and the bloodshed was confined to Changxiao Gate."

Wei Xuanyin nodded and said, "Bright Yang follows the principle of 'I am the lord father,' with its own logic. It demands absolute loyalty and selflessness from its followers, severing all personal interests and selfish desires. The authority of the lord father reigns supreme, and thus loyalty and filial piety become selfless virtues. That is why, in years past, even immortals like Gongsun Yang and Qu Yi, who cultivated deep within the mountains, were still dragged out by the Emperor of Wei to fulfill their duty of loyalty and filial piety.

"And yet, this so-called selflessness ultimately serves only to fulfill the lord father's most overbearing personal desires... At the very least... At the very least, the common people are of some use when the lord father calls upon them. That makes it a little easier to bear."

Bai Ziyu nodded repeatedly as he listened, but Wei Xuanyin's final remark made him frown inwardly. Having come from the Eastern Sea, he found it difficult to grasp what Wei Xuanyin meant.

What's the point of saying something like that? He commands the Pavilion of Profound Order. Can someone in his position really afford to casually voice even the slightest approval of Bright Yang?

Choosing to keep himself out of trouble, Bai Ziyu said nothing. Wei Xuanyin, however, paused abruptly and fell into thought. "As for Chengyan...

"The Emperor of Wei's suppression of the world left an indelible mark. Even the Undefeated King of Brightness is merely a blood descendant, and the Metallic Essence he obtained did not come from the Emperor of Wei. At best, he's only a counterfeit White Qilin. But once his divine ability matured, he was monstrous enough to make even the Helian Family call him a monster. When contending against Bright Yang, things remain manageable if he can suppress it. But once Bright Yang gains the upper hand, very few Dao lineages can ever recover. Chengyan's death was hardly undeserved...

"Even if he had escaped, he would still have met his end upon reaching the Eastern Sea. It's no wonder Master Changxiao had no intention of saving him."

Yehui frowned slightly and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

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