Chapter 719

Kong Guxi's words caused the few Kong family members to lower their heads. Kong Qiuyan replied that it was so, her face showing regret as she shook her head and said: "The eldest uncle was merely acting out of an unintentional mistake, I ask the Sect Master to forgive him... If it weren't for the fact that several uncles were all harmed by the Senior Chang Xiao Sect on the sea, we would not be in such dire straits now... I have troubled the Sect Master."

Before Kong Guxi could finish responding, he saw purple thunder galloping toward them, landing nearby and transforming into a man in silver armor. Kong Guxi hurriedly went up to greet him, cupping his hands and saying respectfully:

"Brother Cheng... I sustained some injuries... and was busy reorganizing the disciples, so I didn't manage to come and pay my respects in time..."

"Sect Master Kong, there is no need for this."

Li Cheng hurried to help him up. Kong Guxi's seniority was actually on par with Li Ximing's generation, much higher than his own, so he could not let him truly bow. He hurriedly said with a serious expression: "My family head requests an audience!"

Kong Guxi indeed stopped bowing, hurriedly rising and following closely behind him as he hurried away. Li Cheng understood that Xuanyue was not lightly injured and comforted him:

"I heard that several guest elders were injured, mostly while covering our family's cultivators. This junior thanks you on their behalf."

"Eh, it is only right."

Kong Guxi's legs trembled with pain, but he suppressed it with magic power and returned the courtesy with full etiquette, saying respectfully:

"If it weren't for Wangyue, the Xuanyue lineage would not exist. Brother Cheng is too polite. Although Guest Elder Bai of the 'Cave Spring Sound' has fallen, there is still Sun Bai, who is more skilled in healing, so the injuries are nothing."

The two arrived in the hall. Li Zhouwei was currently in the upper seat, asking Sun Bai in detail about the injuries of the various cultivators. Seeing Kong Guxi come up, Sun Bai immediately retreated to the side. This old man was very tactful, lowering his head and stepping back.

Sun Bai was a guest elder of the Xuanyue Sect. Strictly speaking, bypassing Kong Guxi to approach Li Zhouwei was indeed somewhat improper, but everyone follows the trend. Nowadays, the only one who didn't flock to the Li family was Fu Yuezi, and Kong Guxi didn't bother to care at all.

Kong Guxi had been arrogant in his youth and had been a playboy himself, so he knew well what one relied on to be arrogant—now, without a Zifu backer, he was just a dog picking up bones under the table. Even he himself respectfully stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Family Head!"

"Old Senior, this must not be."

Li Zhouwei was slightly polite, and people on both sides immediately helped him up. Kong Guxi stubbornly bowed and said respectfully: "The Family Head turned the tide and saved our Xuanyue lineage; you deserve this bow!"

He bowed and thanked him, performing the customary grand etiquette. Li Zhouwei waited patiently for him to finish, declined a few times, and without further ado, immediately turned to the main topic, asking:

"Old Senior, how do you plan to arrange your many men now?"

When Li Zhouwei asked this, Kong Guxi naturally could not answer with something like returning to the Xuanyue sect gate. He also knew that Shanjie Prefecture had lost quite a bit of territory. If his group returned to the Xuanyue Sect, the Zifu grand array would be safe enough, but what about the wilderness? Leave it for the Li family to guard alone? This Lord of Xuanyue immediately knelt down, showing a fearful and cowardly expression:

"Reporting to the Family Head, the checkpoints in Shanjie Prefecture have fallen, and the four borders are fraught with crises. I fear that travel will be intercepted by Guan Gongxiao... This old man requests a position from the Family Head, allowing us to first station ourselves in the wilderness, and when the situation settles slightly, we will return to Xuanyue..."

When he finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Sun Bai, waiting outside the door, couldn't help but turn his head, feeling a sense of shame. Even Li Zhouwei took an extra look at him.

Not to mention whether Shanjie Prefecture could be held, in Li Zhouwei's arrangements, the Foundation Establishment cultivators and disciples of the Xuanyue Sect were meant to be placed in the wilderness. After all, the Li family members all had their own positions, and the family itself was short-handed; naturally, it was impossible to let Kong Guxi and the others go to the sect gate to cultivate and heal. Who would guard the wilderness then?

As for letting Kong Guxi and the others enter the continent, Li Zhouwei had never even considered it. The Li family had no intention of annexing Xuanyue; this signboard still needed to be kept, and he hadn't even thought about recruiting the few guest elders of Xuanyue.

'Only this Sun Bai has some use... After all, he is "Xiao Chonglin," and most of his wonders lie in healing. Previously, I wanted to find "Cave Spring Sound," but this Wood-virtue foundation is much more powerful than the half-baked "Cave Spring Sound."'

Li Zhouwei calculated in his heart, nodded slightly on the surface, and said:

"Sect Master, you are being too formal. The wilderness is originally your clan's territory; why speak of vacating a position? I also fear that the Xuanyue sect gate is far away on the edge of the Saline Lake, which is not only inconvenient for travel but also difficult to support."

"Since the Sect Master thinks the same as I do, please find a prime mountain range in this wilderness to serve as a place to settle!"

Kong Guxi nodded hurriedly. He also needed to move out some of the sect's treasures to prevent the situation from truly reaching an irredeemable point. If the sect gate was lost, Xuanyue would still have some hope.

He waited in fear for a moment, finally hearing Li Zhouwei ask:

"Regarding the matter of Jingyi Mountain, does the Sect Master have any news?"

Kong Guxi plopped down on the ground, lowered his head, and told the story. Li Zhouwei listened with his brows tightly locked. He waited until he finished speaking, then relaxed his brows, shook his head, and said: "Sect Master, this clansman of yours... is he truly unwilling to see you?"

He stared fixedly into Kong Guxi's eyes, watching Kong Guxi nod in a way that was both desolate and fearful, not appearing to be a pretense. The Sect Master also handed over the letter written by his own brother. Li Zhouwei read it, then advised: "Overseas sects are inherently untrustworthy. Having left the sect since childhood, it is difficult for him to be inclined toward the Kong clan. Let it be!"

While letting Kong Guxi go down, he tentatively reminded him: "However, what I say on this matter doesn't count. You still need to go and find the True Person. When the True Person returns, I will naturally send someone over."

Once this was said, the half of Kong Guxi's heart that had settled rose again. He sighed and retreated to find Sun Bai for healing. Li Cheng sent him out, stepped forward thoughtfully, and sighed:

"True Person Changxi chose well. Although Kong Guxi lacks methods and planning, he is valuable in that he can see clearly, let go quickly, and is willing to lower his head. Just these few points... are enough to save Xuanyue!"

Li Zhouwei nodded in agreement, saying: "Although he lacks strategy and is an ordinary talent in daily life, he is nonetheless a pillar in times of crisis and a good steed in times of collapse. To see clearly and swallow one's pride—you say it's just these two points, but how many people can do it? When the day of collapse truly comes, life and death are but a few choices away; how many people can reach his level?"

Li Cheng praised him, then worriedly said: "It's just that the True Person hasn't returned yet, and Jingyi Mountain is wavering again. The road ahead will be even harder."

Li Zhouwei was noncommittal, only saying:

"At worst, we give up Shanjie Prefecture and the Xuanyue sect gate. We won't end up with nothing. Those at the forefront are Xuanyue cultivators. Setting aside the Du Immortal Dao, whom we have already offended, as long as our family is careful, this matter is definitely a profitable deal."

"It's just that Shanjie and the Xuanyue sect gate cannot be lost right away. After all, our family hasn't even entered them yet... Losing them right away wouldn't be good for our reputation. Guarding one step and retreating one step is better than never having obtained them."

In fact, after this great battle, apart from An Siwei, the Li family had almost no substantial losses, nothing more than some petty gains in territory and injuries. Our family has a Zifu; as long as the people are still here, none of it counts as a major event. He paused slightly, worried about An Siwei's situation for a while, finally looked at the letter from Jingyi Mountain, pondered for a moment, and replied:

"You say Jingyi Mountain is wavering, but I don't think so."

Li Cheng looked up, and Li Zhouwei said: "Whether True Person Xuanyi was truly held up by the Pure One Dao is hard to say, but this Kong Gumo of Jingyi Mountain... may not be indifferent to the Kong family."

"If I were Changxi, I would definitely leave a few bloodlines for myself. Kong Gumo might be Changxi's final arrangement—if my Li clan goes back on our word and does not protect his Kong family, taking the items and dividing them with the Du Immortal Dao... or even worse, in order to be on good terms with Ye Huai of the mid-Zifu stage, driving all his Kong family people away..."

"Then the Kong clan within the sea would inevitably be exterminated, not even leaving a direct descendant. This child who severed ties, Kong Gumo, is the Kong family's true final spark. As a disciple of a Zifu True Person, this Foundation Establishment is certain... and by refusing to rescue the family, he is clearly a white-eyed wolf. The several Zifu True Persons will not rush to kill him in front of True Person Xuanyi."

Li Zhouwei spoke while flipping through books. Li Cheng immediately understood and said: "The Family Head means... Xuanyi received benefits from Changxi, and the condition may not have been to save the Xuanyue Sect, but rather to stay out of it and protect Kong Gumo?"

"Not necessarily."

Li Zhouwei picked up a brush and said:

"Changxi is a smart person. Smart people don't look for trouble for themselves. Since he told our family that Jingyi Mountain is an aid, the conditions might also include helping Xuanyue, but whether it is light or heavy, mandatory or to the best of one's ability, or left to discretion—as long as it brushes against the edge, it can all be calculated. This way, when our family's True Person visits, there will be an explanation."

"This matter hasn't been fully explained yet, so don't place too much importance on Jingyi Mountain. Most matters within the sea can only rely on oneself."

Li Zhouwei paused his brush slightly and finally showed a worried expression, saying: "These are but minor details. Only the fact that the True Person has been slow to return is what worries me most."

No matter how difficult Xuanyue's situation is, it is ultimately just Xuanyue. Our family can withdraw. No matter what changes occur, Li Zhouwei has the confidence to deal with them. Only Li Ximing cannot have anything happen to him... Once something happens to him, not only will Wangyue and Xuanyue be finished in an instant, but Li Zhouwei himself will have to go into exile overseas!......

Grand Void.

In a vast darkness, Li Ximing was draped in heavenly light, sitting silently on the white steps.

Above his head, a heavenly gate towered into the darkness. Dragon flags and phoenix carriages shuttled within, wandering silently. The figures in golden armor and golden clothing above the heavenly gate had various postures, still as sculptures.

Only the white-gold banners fluttered lightly, sprinkling down rays of heavenly light like countless golden threads, drifting softly.

Beneath the heavenly gate were three tiers of white steps, each a zhang in length. Li Ximing sat cross-legged on the highest tier, surging purple fire flowing around his body. He remained silent, his hands forming seals.

And outside this heavenly gate, rich dark purple radiance permeated and intruded like mist, now near, now far, almost merging with the blackness of the Grand Void, occasionally being dispersed by the heavenly light, revealing even denser supernatural powers and magic, locking the entire heavenly gate within.

Ye Huai did not say a single extra word, only pressing his supernatural powers into the Grand Void, forcing Li Ximing to sit and respond. A suffocating silence always permeated between the two.

Li Ximing could even feel that the other party did not want to engage in a great battle with him, merely restricting him to this place.

Although he had the heavy treasure of the Xuanyue Sect, the 【Mountain-Driving and Sea-Crossing Tiger】, in his hands, if Li Zhouwei were in any danger, he could leave this place and go to the rescue. But Ye Huai also had his methods. Li Ximing did not want to truly fight Ye Huai, so he sat quietly, though the feeling of being controlled by others was not pleasant.

Ye Huai's strength was undoubtedly above his. Li Ximing could feel that the other party's supernatural powers were pressed perfectly, obscuring the Grand Void. With such a covering by the supernatural power of the "Southern Sorrowful Water," Li Ximing couldn't even see the distance of the Grand Void, only seeing the small patch of land beneath his feet, directly facing the wilderness.

Seeing Guan Gongxiao and the others forced back, Li Ximing felt a little comforted and relieved in his heart, calculating:

"Those who died were all Xuanyue cultivators, so that means no one died. As for the Shanjie Prefecture that was preserved... our family won't guard it, and I don't know if the Ziyan Sect is willing to take it..."

Although the Li family's great battle repelled the Du Immortal Dao, Li Ximing also understood that the remaining territory could not necessarily be held. The border was simply too long, and the longer time went on, the less stable it would be. Such a great battle, with both sides retreating to rest, only meant that the Li family could dispose of the remaining Shanjie Prefecture territory.

"If it doesn't work, I'll ask Su Mian of the Xuanmiao Temple and Ling Mei of the Sword Sect. Both families are bordering... It's better to let them have the benefit than the Du Immortal Dao!"

These were all matters for after returning. Li Ximing immediately stopped his thoughts. The purple light before his eyes showed no signs of weakening. Li Ximing held a golden-patterned profound pearl in one hand, preparing to escape.

But he thought again: "【Mountain-Driving and Sea-Crossing Tiger】 is a rare and good spiritual tool. Although this thing belongs to True Person Changxi and has been shown before, Ye Huai only came to Jiangnan a dozen years ago and is highly likely unfamiliar with it. If I use it to escape like this, I will have pointlessly let him see one of my spiritual tools. If he keeps it in mind, there will be fewer variables in the future."

Adhering to the mindset of saving one method whenever possible, Li Ximing did not move. After half a quarter of an hour, Ye Huai still hadn't spoken. He sighed slightly and said loudly:

"Does the fellow Daoist have any advice?"

He waited for a few breaths, and only then did the figure of True Person Ye Huai step out from the Grand Void. He raised his head, his eyes beneath his brows looking at him gloomily, and said:

"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, are you willing to talk about the Xuanyue matter now?"

'Go to hell with your Xuanyue, what kind of ghost plan are you hatching again? Hurry up and dissolve your crappy supernatural powers...'

Li Ximing paused slightly and said: "Senior Changxi entrusted Xuanyue to me and True Person Su Mian. Naturally, we must stabilize this immortal sect. Since Fellow Daoist Ye Huai is willing to talk, you may speak."

Ye Huai held that ceremonial-like magic sword in his arms, his expression calm, and suddenly said:

"I heard that the Mingyang lineage is not skilled in escape techniques. If I were to discuss the Dao with you, Fellow Daoist, and drag you here for three to five years, I fear it wouldn't be comfortable, right?"

Li Ximing frowned. He was indeed not skilled in escape techniques, and "Visiting the Heavenly Gate" had no wonders related to escape techniques either. Ye Huai had body supernatural powers, more than enough to suppress him... But he had the 【Mountain-Driving and Sea-Crossing Tiger】 to make up for his flaws; it was hard to say whether he could truly escape.

But he didn't know what methods Ye Huai had, and he had never truly fought a Zifu cultivator, let alone one who was a mid-Zifu stage cultivator right from the start. After considering it slightly, he decided to listen to his bird-talk and asked: "Fellow Daoist means...?"

Ye Huai's tone suddenly improved. He said softly: "There is a cultivator in the Xuanyue sect gate named Kong Haiying. If you can deal with him, Fellow Daoist, our two families can sit down and talk, and divide Xuanyue together..."

This man raised his eyebrows and laughed:

"I know your clan values reputation. On the surface, I can also fight a bit. When we reach the line we have divided, our two families will stop at the appropriate point. The Xuanyue cultivators will naturally be grateful and act as dogs for you, and I will also have removed a thorn in my side. Isn't that a win-win?"