Chapter 1807: Testing The Waters (I)

The cave dwelling was pitch-dark.

A round jade disk the size of a head rested on a green jade table. Emerald light flickered across it as a young man was wholly absorbed in carving fine lines in with a jade knife.

A formation plate combined artifact refining with formation arts. That was why such plates were rare and valuable, especially at higher grades. Mastering either discipline was impressive enough; finding someone who had mastered both was exceedingly difficult.

Even though Li Suining had lived a previous life, he had never considered trying to make one. Carving the jade disk was merely an unusual way for him to practice.

It's now... the tenth month of the ninth year of Cultivation and Martiality.

I wonder how Suikuan and the others are doing...

Spiritual energy flowed through the cave dwelling. The white-robed young man set down his jade knife uneasily and exhaled softly. He rose, walked a few steps, and stopped before the door. After a moment's hesitation, he stayed inside.

Li Suining had spent more than three years effectively under house arrest. He could scarcely bear it any longer.

Little Uncle said he's under house arrest too and can't leave... But in the spring of Cultivation and Martiality's tenth year, the Tuoba Family will enter Huai region, and Western Shu will test our defenses. He'll fight them and reveal his sword intent... Will they only let him out once the enemy reaches our door?

If so, why confine him in the first place?

Li Suining could not make sense of it. With the Star of Cultivation and Martiality shining over them, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could contribute on the battlefield without being killed so long as no one used a divine ability against him. Why keep him so thoroughly hidden?

More pressing still, how could Li Suining change the course of events if he could not go anywhere? The [Tuoba Entry into Huai] was one thing. But when the [Battle of the White Sea] came in Cultivation and Martiality's eighteenth year, and later the [Changhe Rebellion] that would claim Little Uncle's life, what could he possibly do if he was still confined here?

Anxious, he silently considered the possibilities. My lord was injured in that great battle. I wonder if he's recovered at all. When the Tuoba Family enters Huai this time, will the King of Wei... fight Tuoba Lan again?

As he pondered this, he noticed the door to the cave dwelling trembling slightly. The air around him stilled, and a chill ran through him.

Buzz...

Brilliant heavenly light poured in, and a black-robed man appeared. There was no malice in his golden eyes, yet his gaze still pierced Li Suining like a sword. His heart jolted, then filled with joy.

The King of Wei has come out of seclusion!

He dropped to his knees without hesitation and said respectfully, "Greetings to the King of Wei!"

Li Zhouwei’s golden eyes swept over the youth. "You know your manners."

Although Li Zhouwei was the King of Wei, most of his clansmen in Tingzhou still called him Daoist Master. It was the Daoist Masters nearby who had accepted posts under the Yang Family of Song, who addressed him as King of Wei at every turn. Li Suining's choice of address was proper.

Li Zhouwei studied him for a while, then walked over and glanced at the letter on the table. "It seems Jiangchun is quite fond of you."

Li Suining had already harbored doubts. Now, suddenly aware of the position he was in, he broke out in a cold sweat and hastily replied, "Little Uncle... cares for all the younger members of the family... not just me."

The Daoist Master nodded, watching him steadily. "The clan was already keeping an eye on the matter of Weizeng. You chose your part well. Zhoufang survived a calamity by chance when he was young, and now another chance occurrence has led him to save Guest Cultivator Ding. Everyone has their eyes on him."

Has the Daoist Master... noticed something?

The words were mild, but Li Suining felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. His heart sank. After kneeling in silence for a moment, he replied, "I... don't understand. I lost my father when I was young. I have only a few elders to rely on."

"Never mind."

The King of Wei of Great Song had only been testing him, and he had learned what he wanted to know. He studied Li Suining with the faintest hint of a smile. The hollow sound of his boots against the floor was the only noise in the cave dwelling. Li Suining kept his eyes lowered and said nothing.

Ever since Li Ximing returned from Chunyi Dao Gate and met Chi Buzi, he had begun to suspect what the shifting colors in the Immortal Mirror's vision meant.

The Li Family had encountered countless geniuses over the years. Li Zhouwei had even met Xue Yang of Mount Luoxia! Yet even that Grand Daoist Master of Mount Luoxia had failed to draw the slightest response from the Immortal Mirror. As for Chi Buzi having been possessed, Li Xuanxuan had witnessed it himself. There could be no mistake!

The Chi Buzi of today may be someone else wearing his skin. It's quite possible that the possession method used by those in Heaven was what drew a response from the Immortal Mirror!

Li Suining's extraordinary talent for formation arts and unusually mature mind seemed to support that conclusion!

Who is born knowing so much? He must have possessed this body!

But even if the person inside Li Suining's body was very likely one of their own from [Heaven], Li Zhouwei would say nothing that might give himself away. He would not even hint that they were on the same side!

He would even help Li Suining conceal it!

Li Zhouwei kept his golden eyes on Li Suining and raised a hand slightly, stopping him before he could say what was on his mind.

Whichever great figure stands behind you... If they went to such lengths, you likely can't reveal their plans. There's no need to say anything.

Li Suining tasted bitterness. His thoughts were entirely different. I'm afraid I can't hide it from these powerful cultivators with divine abilities!

What Li Suining needed most was the trust of Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing. In this day and age, what could he do to influence events without the support that came from a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator's trust? Li Zhouwei's attitude had left him uncertain what to do!

But Li Zhouwei stepped closer and smiled. "If you need anything, come straight to me. I'll take care of it. There's no need to go through Zhoufang and the others. What they say... often carries little weight."

Huh?

Li Suining stood there, stunned by the offer. "But..."

Li Zhouwei helped him to his feet. The King of Wei's golden eyes shifted, as though testing his reaction. "But... before that... I need to take you to Mount Dali! Will you come?"

Li Suining was full of doubts, but he bowed and replied, "As you command, my lord!"

Li Zhouwei had planned this move well in advance!

The foxes... Their intentions are still unclear... Li Suining is the best way to test them!

Li Ximing had mentioned Chi Buzi's hint, including that he felt it referred to someone in Heaven. But Li Zhouwei had taken part in the pact between the dragons and foxes, and he could not shake the feeling that Chi Buzi meant the great figure behind the foxes!

The foxes had protected the Li Family all this time, and had once received some sort of charge from an immortal. It was entirely possible that this had all been arranged in Heaven, and Li Suining's strange signs would make the perfect test!

The golden-eyed young man remained calm, his thoughts clear. This will test both sides. A great figure stands behind the fox clan. If Li Suining isn't the work of someone in Heaven, the foxes will most likely notice something when they see him!

Moreover, if Li Suining is part of a plan made in Heaven, I can use him to test the foxes' attitude. Judging by what Chi Buzi said, they may have ties to Heaven!

He took flight on a streak of light, murmuring inwardly, Their reactions alone will tell me a great deal! If... all goes well, Li Suining could prove immensely useful!

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