Chapter 1658: Countermeasures (II)

Wei Xuanyin smiled. "Those at the top all know what happened in the grotto heaven back then. Pingyan of Yinzhou, that Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Yinzhou who worked for the dragons, had once been promised that if he could obtain that portion of True Essence, the dragons would grant him a great opportunity in return.

"Although Pingyan knew his chances were slim, he still prepared meticulously. Unexpectedly, fortune truly favored him, and he actually encountered that portion of True Essence. Yet Chengyan ruined everything. The grudge born from that was greater than if Chengyan had murdered his parents!"

Yehui silently acknowledged the explanation before asking, "Then what about Master Changxiao..."

Wei Xuanyin idly stirred the water, watching white runes rise one after another from its surface as he said calmly, "The Yang Family placed a perfect opportunity before him. [Upper Rite] was practically a match made by heaven, yet he refused to cooperate. If he had truly coveted Fruition Attainment, he would have joined forces with the Yang Family long ago, while conveniently helping them maintain the balance of power within the court...

"But drawing close to us makes it obvious that he had no intention of pursuing Fruition Attainment. From the very beginning, his sights had been set on opposing whoever would inherit that True Essence and attaining his Dao within the Zhao court. Before departing, he even intended to slaughter the people of Lulai, purge the entire region, and wipe out the Li Family's foundations in the Eastern Sea..."

"Oh?" Yehui frowned. "Did he make his move?"

Wei Xuanyin smiled and replied, "He waited in Qunyi for quite some time. However, it rained with thunder every day. I'd say Dongfang Heyun kept him occupied over tea, dragging things out until Changxiao Gate was destroyed... The dragons have been meddling again."

"They're willing to throw away their pride for it!" Yehui could not help gloating at the thought of Changxiao coming away empty-handed. "Li Qinghong attained her Dao through thunder, so the dragons naturally had some standing to speak on the matter."

"That's not how it works." Wei Xuanyin shook his head and said, "That's not the right way to look at it. What happened with Li Qinghong was an exception. I suspect someone was protecting her, but she holds very little influence. Do you really think the dragons are acting out of kindness?

“The whole world originally believed they would kill Li Zhouwei first. The fact that they have spared his life now is nothing more than empty courtesy. The unspoken condition is that, so long as the powers on the mountain do not protect him, they will refrain from making the first move.

"The dragons of the Eastern Sea have not harmed him because they know that once the matter is handed over to the northern powers, someone is bound to test the authority of those on the mountain. So they simply sit quietly in the Eastern Sea and watch, observing how much room the north still has to maneuver and how much control the mountain still exerts over the entire region."

His expression remained calm as he continued, "This is merely a rehearsal, a chance to see how many people are harboring ambitions of their own. When those above truly begin to fight one day, and the north no longer has the great powers of the mountain keeping it in check... just how many variables will emerge?

"As for Qunyi... Its survival rests with Liu Changdie."

Wei Xuanyin smiled with evident amusement, his gaze remaining fixed on the characters slowly taking shape within the cauldron. "I think that fellow has finally figured it out. No one used to interfere with him because those key Douxuan Grotto Heavens still needed capable people. They still needed uncertainty. But now that the overall situation has been settled, nobody welcomes uncertainty anymore, so his position has become rather uncomfortable.

"Paradoxically, he has more room to maneuver in the outer-sea. For one thing, several of the positions the dragons seek are all connected to Douxuan, so keeping him alive is unquestionably in their interest. For another, the dragons are also on the defensive at the moment. With a variable like him in their hands, they may one day be able to turn that disadvantage into initiative."

Wei Xuanyin's expression turned serious as he said, "Do not underestimate Changxiao. He had already accounted for the variable that is Liu Changdie. Either he had been plotting behind the scenes, or he had already reached an understanding with Pure Victory Dao. His timing was impeccable. When trouble broke out in the Western Sea, if Liu Changdie had moved, Qunyi would have been impossible to save."

Realization suddenly dawned on Yehui. Lowering his eyes in thought, he steered the conversation back. "But if that's the case, then the arrangements in Jiangbei..."

Wei Xuanyin casually waved a hand, scattering every profound rune floating upon the rippling water as he said, "Gongsun Bei is in Jiangbei, and he carries spirit treasures. There's nothing for you to worry about. As for the Buddhist cultivators, I'll say a few words to them..."

Seeing that Wei Xuanyin did not seem overly concerned, Yehui cautiously voiced his own thoughts. "I've met that White Qilin myself. He didn't seem particularly demonic."

Wei Xuanyin turned to look at him, his expression growing increasingly solemn as he lowered his voice. "Do you know of [Sovereign In Peril]? If you wish to restrain a Bright Yang demonic entity, you must think in terms of Bright Yang's divine abilities. There is no mistake in that.

"As his divine abilities grow and Bright Yang comes fully into alignment with its rightful position, he can no longer be judged by ordinary standards. If you face him, you must suppress him, constrain him, and hinder him at every turn before he even has the chance to act. If you allow him a moment to catch his breath and charge into battle, Bright Yang will enter [Sovereign In Peril]. Unless I intervene personally, no method of restraint will remain effective, and you'll simply end up with another Chengyan."

He said quietly, "I will remind them regardless. If the Buddhists choose to underestimate him, then they alone will bear the consequences."

————

Moongaze Lake.

The sky was bright, and the lake shimmered beneath it. Pale streams of escaping light streaked across the heavens as cultivators rode the wind in orderly succession. Towering pillars of purple-gold profound light stretched from earth to sky, presenting a scene worthy of an immortal family.

Li Suining stood quietly atop a lofty pavilion, watching the horizon.

The King of Wei has returned...

A sea of clouds billowed across the sky as a colossal golden vessel drifted through them like a great beast. It seemed to expand its mighty frame even further as it bathed in the radiance of the sun. Aboard the vessel, rows of jade-armored guards stood in perfect order, while the crimson palace towers of the Divine Firmament rose tier upon tier, chamber upon chamber, each bathed in brilliant light.

Li Suining gazed intently at the immense golden vessel. Beside him, the old man stood in silence, his eyes fixed reverently upon the sky.

Letting out a slow breath, Li Suining said with lingering disbelief, "Old Du... Daoist Master Chengyan... really fell at Changxiao?"

Du Dou hurriedly bowed. "This humble one only heard it from my lord, so I can't say whether it's true. It's simply the news that's been going around...

“The cultivators who accompanied him said that the sky in Helin Prefecture rained nothing but earth and stone. The roads were buried beneath mounds several meters high, blacker than ink itself. Baleful Qi seeped up from the ground, saturating the soil until it could no longer even be kneaded together... Anyone who stepped onto it would sink right in, and even if they managed to crawl back out, they'd fall gravely ill afterward...

"The few of us old men talked it over again and again... In the end, we all felt that the death of a Daoist Master ought to have been like this."

Li Suining's Dao conduct was by no means shallow. As he listened, he nodded, already convinced for the most part.

"So he truly was slain!"

In his previous life, the Chen Family had made their move, and although Changxiao Gate had been similarly destroyed, Chengyan had either received a warning or possessed some means of escape. He had fled without a trace. Whether he had gone to the Eastern Sea or followed Master Changxiao elsewhere, no further news of him had ever surfaced.

The dissonance between his previous life and this one stirred a deep sense of reflection within him, and he sighed. "The clans of Helin will surely record it in their chronicles: 'In the fifth month of late spring, a brilliant heavenly gate stood above the Nine Heavens. Then the mountains collapsed and the earth split apart. Earth and stone poured from the sky, while Baleful Qi rose from the ground. Those who stepped outside found the roads buried beneath mounds of earth several meters deep, dark as black jade and slick as congealed fat... Thus it was known that Chengyan had been executed.'"

Du Dou understood only fragments of what he had said, but that hardly mattered. Folding his sleeves respectfully, he flattered, "Young master speaks wisely."

Suddenly, a clear, even voice drifted leisurely through the pavilion. "Young master seems to be in quite the poetic mood."

Li Suining quickly turned to find a man dressed entirely in black standing within the pavilion. His brows were broad and long over slightly narrow eyes, framing grayish-black pupils that shone with a cold, sinister intensity.

His gray-black eyes remained fixed on Li Suining's, carefully studying him. Then he smiled faintly and said softly, "My name is Chen Yang. I have the honor of serving under the Daoist Master, though I've been in seclusion for quite some time. I imagine, young master, that you wouldn't recognize me..."

A peculiar look entered Li Suining's eyes. His gaze lingered for a long moment on those gray-black pupils before slowly sweeping over the man's entire figure.

Then he replied, "So you're Guest Cultivator Chen. I've long heard of your reputation. We're both descendants of the Qingdu bloodline, senior. There's no need to stand on ceremony!"

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