Chapter 607: Plotting

Lu Lu Jiangxian had read the memories of several prominent Buddhist cultivators and possessed dozens of their cultivation techniques. He did not practice them himself; his daily cultivation experience was derived from the Li family members after they formed their Jin Dan, which had nothing to do with Buddhist cultivation.

Therefore, not only was Lu Lu Jiangxian's understanding of fate limited to the Five Eyes, but the shortcut he once used to cultivate by molding magic power into a human shape was also useless against fate—magic power could be operated out of thin air, but how could fate settle upon a mass of magic power?

Lu Lu Jiangxian held this strand of fate, not yet incorporating it into the mirror, and extracted the soul of Dang Jiang. Dang Jiang remained in a muddled state, having been sealed since emerging from Bu Zi's body.

"When the time is right, I can take this fellow out for use. For now, I shall keep this fate in reserve."

He was suddenly moved, and he saw the 【Minghua Huangyang Yu Yu Jiao Xing】 in the sky faintly emit a radiance. A scene slowly appeared: it was an island in the sea, covered in palaces and pavilions, with cultivators coming and going.

On the island, the stone door of a cave dwelling slowly closed. Inside, a youth sat cross-legged, the bright light on his body reflecting and illuminating the cave in perfect clarity.

"Li Li Zhouwei is in seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment."

Lu Lu Jiangxian had seen the monsters transformed from the 'Tianwu Zhenqi Shensha Nature' in the Great Void. Even without transformation, it was difficult for ordinary Early Zifu cultivators to suppress the Metal Nature. The Metal Nature on Li Li Zhouwei was personally linked by Lu Lu Jiangxian; the immortal technique was profound, so it did not have much impact.

However, Lu Lu Jiangxian had also seen Li Li Zhouwei's eldest son, Li Ji'ao, with his own eyes. Without Lu Lu Jiangxian's constant maintenance and suppression, Li Ji'ao's current state was already considered mild...

"The Mingyang Nature produces many offspring; the elder is fierce and the second is evil. The deepest impact is on the eldest and second sons. If my calculations are correct, the political situation in the Wei Li palace will likely be quite bloody. The struggle between the legitimate eldest and the legitimate second is no simple matter, especially since both are born with divine anomalies."

Li Li Zhouwei's current status was not simple. In Lu Lu Jiangxian's calculations, Li Ji'ao even had the potential to transform into a monster like a Red-Eyed White Cicada or a Golden-Eyed White White Qilin, so Lu Lu Jiangxian had kept a close watch on him from the moment he was born.

"Fortunately... perhaps influenced by the decline of the Wei Li, or perhaps because Li Li Zhouwei's fate was molded by me after all, Li Ji'ao is merely non-human."

Lu Lu Jiangxian observed for several months before slowly shifting his gaze, thinking to himself:

"Once he has a few more children, it won't be so troublesome. It will just be a matter of their temperaments being affected. With more wives, concubines, and offspring, his cultivation speed will increase by several fold."

"As for the Early Zifu, Li Li Zhouwei should have over a seventy percent chance of success after learning the secret technique. If he can use a Mingyang spiritual object, his chances will be even greater."

As his horizons broadened, Lu Lu Jiangxian no longer cared much about the Seven Phases of Buddhist cultivation or the various immortal sects of Wu and Yue. His only concerns were the forces of the Fetal Embryo level, such as the Mount Luoxia Mountain within the sea and the Underworld. Every move he made required years of deliberation, making him even more afraid to act rashly.

The fact that these two immortal-mansion-level forces left no traces made them all the more daunting.

Wangyue Lake.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Li Qinghong rode the thunder, hovering in the air. The members of the Fei family all lowered their heads. She landed lightly, her voice gentle yet capable of resounding through the heavens.

"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Please, rise quickly."

Fei Fei Tongyu naturally refused, but the purple thunder had already lifted him up. Li Li Qinghong said softly:

"My uncle was a close friend of your family's predecessors, and our two families have been on good terms for generations. How did it come to this? My lord fell at the shore, but kindness is not meant to be used to annex another family!"

She took a jade box from her storage bag and handed it to Fei Fei Tongyu, saying warmly:

"This box contains the life-prolonging elixir refined by Li Ximing. Fellow Daoist, take good care of your health. Fei Qingyi is still in seclusion at Mount Qingchi breaking through; she will have great achievements in the future..."

The woman looked to the side and instructed:

"Li Xijun, arrange for people to escort them back to the north shore."

"Yes."

Li Li Xijun had already made preparations and helped Fei Fei Tongyu down. It was not until Li Li Qinghong and Li Li Ximing landed on Mount Qingdu Mountain that the gazes of the various families shifted, and they returned to their respective homes.

Li Li Ximing landed on the mountain and sighed:

"Fei Fei Qingyi has not come out of seclusion for many years; the Fei family is truly at the end of their rope."

In recent years, the Li family had become increasingly powerful. The Fei family's stubbornness on the north shore was merely pinning their hopes on Fei Fei Qingyi. But with the woman having been in seclusion for years without news, and Li Li Xuanfeng having slaughtered the Buddhists, the Fei family could finally no longer hold on.

Li Li Qinghong heard this and replied:

"Since he has expressed his stance in public, he will soon send the direct descendants over. Let Li Xijun handle the arrangements."

With the internal strife in Mount Qingchi, it was indeed a good time to annex the Dahu. Fei Fei Tongyu was naturally willing, but the strength gap between the Li and Fei families was already terrifyingly large. The various aristocratic families and the Sichi family would not think so.

Accepting it with such great fanfare would only make people feel that the Li clan was arrogant, domineering, and ambitious. Although Li Li Qinghong had refused him, with the Li family's strength and influence, whether the Fei clan attached themselves or not was merely a matter of a nod.

"Fei Fei Qingyi is, after all, a variable."

Li Li Ximing crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. Li Li Xijun had already stepped into the hall. He had an excellent appearance and entered with the snow, giving the hall a sudden sense of brightness. Hearing his brother's words, he said casually:

"Fei Fei Tongyu has made much progress."

Seeing Li Li Ximing look over, the young man replied:

"The chaos at Shui Ling has not yet been settled. Si Si Yuanli will inevitably purge the Tang family to buy people's hearts. Fei Fei Qingyi is a person from Tang Yuanwu Peak; whether she is involved or not is merely a matter of a single sentence."

He had always seen through the situation clearly. Holding his sword in his arms, he said softly:

"He specifically chose this moment when all eyes were on him, letting everyone see clearly—Oh? The Fei family are people of the Li clan! Then that precious daughter naturally has nothing to do with the Tang family."

Li Li Qinghong understood that he always had his calculations. She listened carefully and nodded, saying:

"This move is indeed brilliant. After all, even if I refused, I still had to say some polite words."

"There is no benefit that comes for free. The north shore belongs to our family now. The south shore has many spiritual objects, the east shore has many spiritual fields, and the north shore has many spiritual mines. Now that this link is filled, the shortage of our own magic tools can finally be resolved."

Li Li Xijun raised his head, a look of reminiscence appearing on his face, and replied:

"Years ago, Uncle Ping asked about our family affairs, and I replied: the Li family on the lake, the prefecture peaks around the lake. Now, forty years later, the Dahu has finally fallen into our family's hands."

His words made Li Li Ximing lower his head slightly. Li Li Qinghong immediately added, saying softly:

"Now there is only the Daoist He on the west shore."

It was interesting to say that this Daoist He had the strength of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and was rumored to have a background in the Mount Qingchi Sect. He did not need to pay tribute to Mount Qingchi on the lake. The Li family had been by the lake for over a hundred years, and this person had never appeared once.

Foundation Establishment cultivators only had a lifespan of three hundred years, and this had been over a hundred years! Since he had been famous for a long time, to put it bluntly, he did not have much lifespan left. Li Li Qinghong pondered for a moment and replied:

"Years ago, I heard that he was a close friend of someone in the sect, which is why no one on the lake dared to provoke him, and he busied himself with his own affairs..."

"Now, apart from the True Person Li Yuanxiu, who else can be considered a background? To be a close friend of his, I fear that among those old Foundation Establishment cultivators who broke through to the Early Zifu, that person has likely already passed away!"

Li Li Ximing replied. Li Li Xijun nodded slightly and said softly:

"Why not wait a few months, get the family settled, and I will go visit him with Aunt. In the meantime, I will write a letter to ask Brother."

"Mm."

Li Li Qinghong responded softly. Li Li Xijun took the opportunity to say in a low voice:

"Speaking of this, the sect is complex, and Brother has no one of his own by his side. I am thinking of letting Senior Li Wushao go to help him..."

Li Li Xijun always spoke pleasantly and logically. Li Li Wushao had pledged allegiance to Li Li Yuanjiao. With Li Li Yuexiang having fallen, Li Li Wushao should indeed follow Li Li Xizhi. Li Li Qinghong nodded and said:

"His savings are already quite deep. It is just the right time to give him a precious medicine for this contribution, so he can go to Mount Qingchi and seek an opportunity to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment."

Mount Qingchi Sect.

The immortal array was bright, and the various peaks were tightly closed. Only on Yuanxing Peak were people coming and going. This peak was almost entirely made of metal and iron, with thousands of iron pillars erected. Iron chains connected the pillars, looking ferocious and terrifying.

In the hall on the mountaintop, the master appeared anxious, standing with a spear in hand, his brows clouded with gloom.

Ning Ning Hejing had received the news very early.

Chi Chi Zhiyun could not rest easy regarding Chi Chi Zhiyan. He did not think his younger brother would lose all his troops, but he feared he would be deceived by his subordinates, so he had planted spies in many places.

When Li Li Xuanfeng slaughtered the Buddhists and there was no news from the north, personnel specializing in flight sneaked back from the river bank. Using talismans and exhausting all their magic power, they traveled rapidly and landed in the market. The moment they landed, their magic power was exhausted, and a second person immediately took over and ascended. Day and night, they finally allowed Ning Ning Hejing to receive the news on the second day.

"Slaughtered eighteen Buddhists? What kind of joke is this!"

Ning Ning Hejing had almost all his attention on Li Li Xuanfeng, his mind filled with this terrifying battle record. He also noticed the disadvantage at Mount Bianyan, but at first, he did not think much of it. Chi Chi Zhiyan had Early Zifu talismans in his hand and could even traverse the Great Void; what could mere demonic cultivators do to him? At most, some people would die.

However, the order left by Chi Chi Zhiyun required him to control the Xiaguang Cloud Ship, blockade the peaks, and summon all the Chi family members back to Mount Qingchifeng. It was overkill, but Ning Ning Hejing feared punishment from Chi Chi Zhiyun after he came out of seclusion, so he followed the orders in the end.

When the second piece of news returned, saying there was no news from Mount Bianyan Mountain and Li Li Xuanfeng had died, Ning Ning Hejing, while fortunate, finally realized something was wrong. On the morning of the third day, the soul lamps on Mount Qingchifeng were like candles extinguished by the wind. The entire expanse of purple was extinguished, leaving only a few scattered points. Chi Chi Zhiyan's soul lamp had also gone out. Ning Ning Hejing was stunned for half a quarter of an hour.

"How is this possible!"

He turned to look at the green lamps on the other side, and they were completely extinguished, with only a few cultivators guarding the sect surviving.

Ning Ning Hejing was now sitting in this hall, his entire body cold. He sat quietly in the upper seat, with a crowd of cultivators standing below, most of them looking aged, their hoarse voices overlapping and rising and falling in the hall.

He was extremely annoyed in his heart but did not dare to scold these Chi family members. He just endured it and said in a low voice:

"My lords, Si Si Yuanli must already be on his way back! Do you have any thoughts?"

More than half of those below were watching coldly, keeping themselves out of it. Ning Ning Hejing saw this and felt a surge of angry blood rush to his head, though his expression remained unchanged.

The main figures of the Chi family's elder branch had died at Mount Bianyan Mountain, and the people of the elder branch in this hall had no say. The rest were Chi family members of the middle branch, who had long-standing grievances and were now gloating, all watching coldly.

Ning Ning Hejing understood that these pampered old dandies were no good; if they had any ambition, they wouldn't be so old without any position. But he didn't expect them to be this stupid, and his heart turned cold:

'Si Si Yuanli's move has already harmed Chi Chi Zhiyan. Rushing back so eagerly, he clearly has no good intentions! You all share the surname Chi; you should share honor and disgrace. How can you watch coldly!'

He was both angry and afraid. Fortunately, the elders of the middle branch were not all useless; a few were lost in thought, but these old foxes did not speak, waiting quietly.

Ning Ning Hejing looked around, and only two people stood in front of the hall without speaking, looking slightly anxious. He recognized the person in front as Chi Brother Fupo, the legitimate eldest of the Chi family's middle branch, a formidable figure.

He hurriedly spoke up:

"Brother Fupo! What is your take!"

Chi Brother Fupo's expression was heavy, and he said in a low voice:

"Uncle Ning Hejing! Mount Bianyan was plotted against by the Early Zifu! This Anhuaitian is targeting my Chi family!"

This statement made the hall go silent. Chi Brother Fupo had a reputation in the middle branch, and everyone was willing to give him face. Ning Ning Hejing heard this and just sighed:

"Do I not know this? Si Si Yuanli is about to arrive. How can I refuse him outside the array? If he enters the sect, True Person Bu Zi is missing, and True Person Li Yuanxiu is not here... Mount Qingchi will be under his command!"

Ning Ning Hejing was at Yuanxing Peak. Si Si Yuanbai was under his supervision back then, and Si Si Yuanli had requested to see him many times, but he treated him as a nobody. The Early Zifu had also issued a ban, so he left him out in the cold... If Si Si Yuanli presided over sect affairs, Yuanxing Peak would definitely have to be his Si family. With public and private grudges, how could Ning Ning Hejing have a good end!

Although Chi Chi Buzi was missing and not dead, Li Yuanxiu had always been friendly and kind to the Chi family, and Si Si Yuanli was usually low-key. Ning Ning Hejing actually didn't believe Si Si Yuanli dared to do much, but even if he didn't dare, Ning Ning Hejing had to incite a few words for his own sake. He hurriedly said in a low voice to Chi Brother Fupo:

"Si Si Yuanli is a wolf with wild ambitions. The Sect Master is in seclusion breaking through, and the main seat is vacant. He will definitely not let it go... If the Si family takes the main seat, and the main family is severely damaged, the Chi and Ning families will likely be squeezed out..."

He hit the nail on the head. Chi Brother Fupo was also no simple character and was ambitious. He replied in a low voice:

"Uncle Ning Hejing is right... but what can be done at this time? He is returning on the heels of a great victory, and our family's manpower is exhausted. What more can be said!"

The two exchanged words, both frowning, their hearts filled with terror. Ning Ning Hejing said:

"True Person Bu Zi's soul lamp is still lit!"

"There are many strange places in the world... how do we know if it's a place where fate is chaotic?"

The two calculated together, feeling a sense of horror at Si Si Yuanli's rapid return. Chi Brother Fupo immediately turned around, found a few elders, and drove the group of people out of the hall, leaving only a few of his own people. After pondering repeatedly, Chi Brother Fupo said in horror:

"If the True Person has an accident, the elder branch will be wiped out, and all the aristocratic families will have grievances. If True Person Li Yuanxiu has intentions, how can Mount Qingchi still be surnamed Chi!"

"But True Person Li Yuanxiu is closest to my Chi family!"

An old man with gray hair on the side said in a low voice. It was Chi Chi Buhua, the eldest brother of the Chi family's middle branch, his face full of hesitation and disbelief.

His voice echoed in the hall, but it made him lose confidence, and to the ears of the few, it sounded even more ironic. Chi Brother Fupo's expression was ugly, his hands clenched until they turned white.

Ning Ning Hejing was shocked. He slowly raised his head, his face covered in shadows, and replied hoarsely:

"The heart of the Early Zifu, who can fathom it?" ===== CHAPTER 608 =====