Chapter 994: Original White (1+1/2) (Extra update 8/10 for Silver Alliance

The world was a dim, ash-colored expanse.

Layer upon layer of combined fire poured down from the sky, burning fiercely, its brilliance rising and falling. A man stood proudly in the air, clad in white-gold battle armor and a snow-white feather cloak. True Qi swirled around him, and he gripped a gleaming golden halberd, its surface crackling with interwoven lightning, water, and fire.

His eyes were short and pitch-black, his brows handsome. He stood upright in the void, as if he were the only source of light in the darkness.

Beneath his feet, a dark ink-colored tripod sat steadily on the ground, suppressing the surging, heavy karmic fire. Though thousands of flames, like venomous snakes, darted around the tripod, trying to overturn it, they remained firmly suppressed, unable to move.

Beneath the tripod, the Peacock Carp had already transformed into a sea of karmic fire, struggling incessantly and causing waves of disturbance, yet it could not push the tripod away.

"Peacock Carp. Six-generation Moha..."

In the Great Void, everything was overturning and rolling; there was no place of peace, save for a single point of green light that remained fixed amidst the surging waves, quietly observing it all.

It was Si Si Yuanli.

Si Si Yuanli had been standing in the Great Void for a long time, remaining silent, watching the descendant of the Peacock struggle beneath the tripod. His heart felt no ripples, only a tranquil coldness:

The Great Desire Dao must have planned to plant the Great Virtue Golden Lotus outside the prefecture long ago. This matter was known to all under heaven, and this Peacock was so arrogant, surely it had something to rely on. But now that this treasure had appeared, did it still have a way to survive?

Si Si Yuanli naturally recognized the dark ink-colored tripod—it was one of the founding ritual vessels of the King of Yue, a spiritual treasure of the "Deduction Qi" known as the 【Guzhou Tripod】.

Precisely because it was linked to "Deduction Qi," Si Si Yuanli could not help but worry that those below would find it difficult to return to the north!

The path of "Deduction Qi" had been severed for a long time. Most Early Zifu cultivators, let alone spiritual artifacts or treasures, had never even seen a "Deduction Qi" spiritual object in their entire lives. The 【Guzhou Tripod】, which occupied the position of "Deduction Qi," was nine times out of ten leaked from the hands of the Underworld; this was powerful evidence of the connection between the State of Yue and the Underworld.

With the disappearance of the King of Yue, the 【Guzhou Tripod】 had also vanished, yet now it appeared before his eyes. If he were not living under the tyranny of others, Si Si Yuanli would have burst into loud laughter:

"Regardless of everything before, now it stands majestic; this is clearly a second attempt to interfere with Jiangnan, lacking only Magistrate Yang to come and offer a pointer or two!"

He smiled hypocritically on the surface, fearing that his thoughts might be detected, so he stopped thinking about it, watching as the gray fire was suppressed bit by bit. The sound of shrill roars echoed in his ears, and the fluctuations of the Great Void grew more intense, causing a trace of envy to rise in his heart:

"The water and fire of True Qi are truly formidable... Back then, Senior Tinglan relied on a single 【Boundless Water and Fire】 to make many cultivators wary, and this 【Boundless Water and Fire】 was merely one of his six phases. This person is born with a Golden Nature; it is truly enviable!"

The path of True Qi emphasizes "holding martial arts to preserve truth" in cultivation; reaching the extreme allows for the birth of six types of water and fire. Yang Zhuo himself was a reincarnation of Golden Nature; he did not need his divine abilities to be perfected to summon the six types of water and fire. Although their power and form were slightly weakened, it was still enough to make one marvel.

He waited for a moment until the spiritual treasure was firmly fixed on the ground, then stepped out, appearing amidst the chaotic water and fire. He bowed slightly and said respectfully:

"Si Si Yuanli of the Sima clan of the State of Yue... on behalf of the Sima clan, I offer congratulations to you, my lord, for achieving this divine ability!"

Truth be told, Si Si Yuanli knew he was no match for the other party, let alone the vast difference in status. Despite the many thoughts in his heart, he was not a man who could not let go of his pride. At this moment, his face was submissive, and his attitude was so humble that he did not look like a Early Zifu cultivator at all.

Water and fire intertwined. The person in the sky lowered his head slightly and glanced at him. The overwhelming pressure finally receded, and he said casually:

"So it is True Person Qinghu. Over this past year... I have troubled you, True Person."

"I dare not... I dare not!"

This naturally referred to Si Si Yuanli taking the initiative to fend off intrusions and protect the overseas territory while he was in seclusion. Si Si Yuanli was flattered; he bowed low and said respectfully:

"My clan was once subordinate to the Great Ning, serving as officials under Heavenly Martial, a noble family of the Immortal Dynasty. Today, returning to the command of Heavenly Martial, I am moved to tears..."

This sentence clearly pleased the person in the Great Void. It also explicitly pointed out Si Si Yuanli's unique status, and the words were extremely pleasant to hear. Even Yang Zhuo lowered his head slightly and praised:

"Back then, all the lords served Heavenly Martial together. The causes and effects of the past must all be returned to today, to restore the glory of the old dynasty."

Si Si Yuanli bowed deeply, overjoyed in his heart, knowing that this matter was settled. He immediately stepped forward, preparing to escort him back to the prefecture, but heard Yang Zhuo smile: "True Person Si, have you ever thought about being enfeoffed as a King?"

Si Si Yuanli's heart trembled violently.

"Sure enough... sure enough, he asked!"

Since the Great Desire Dao moved south, Si Si Yuanli had been anxious. After inquiring through many channels and relying on the connections left by his predecessors, he finally managed to contact Mount Jiuqiu of the Peacock Sea!

But after he asked several times, Mount Jiuqiu finally could not bear the harassment and only replied with one sentence:

"The Sima clan are subjects of Heavenly Martial."

It was precisely this sentence that made him call himself the Sima clan in front of the Yang family. Now, facing Yang Zhuo's mention of enfeoffment, he replied without the slightest hesitation:

"The Sima clan are subjects of Heavenly Martial, and shall remain only subjects!"

These words made even Yang Zhuo pause his steps. He looked at him with higher regard, smiled, stepped inside, and said gloomily:

"You are not bad."

Si Si Yuanli lowered his head and followed him into the prefecture, where cheers like a landslide erupted all around. This reincarnation of True Qi Golden Nature smiled and said casually:

"True Person Chen is a senior after all; it seems I cannot avoid making another trip."

Si Si Yuanli was not stupid. With Mount Jiuqiu's hint beforehand and various verifications, he was very clear in his heart:

"The turmoil in the Four Min just now... there were many people observing in the Great Void. It must be that Senior Chen Yin looked from the Great Void but quietly retreated."

Yang Zhuo's divine ability was obscured by the "Deduction Qi" 【Guzhou Tripod】; ordinary people could not even see his figure, so naturally, there was no scene of celebration. Only he, Si Si Yuanli, had surrendered early, allowing him to watch from the sidelines. Chen Yin could not investigate clearly and retreated, which was normal. Although Yang Zhuo's words contained no blame, Si Si Yuanli secretly rejoiced:

"The Chen clan... others don't know, but doesn't the Underworld know? The Chen clan was immensely powerful at the end of the Ning State. The so-called Yushui Chen clan is also a branch that came down from the Ning State, just not descendants of the Chen Chen Xuanli brothers, but rather an earlier migration south... The best move for Chen Yin... is to wait outside the prefecture for my lord!"

Although he thought so, after careful consideration, Si Si Yuanli felt a secret lingering fear:

"The great noble families of the Ning State, apart from the Li and Jiang clans who governed one side and had special backgrounds that were difficult to control, the rest of the surnames either dominated one side in Jiangnan, or were famous, or at the very least, their traces were exposed and they were subdued early... it can be seen that they were well-prepared."

Three feet of ice does not form in a single day...

Mount Zhijing Mountain.

The sky was scorching, gardenia flowers flew, and a piece of colorful light intertwined. A Daoist sat before a white jade table, calm and composed, holding a jade slip, pressing it against the table.

Sitting opposite the Daoist was an old man, looking honest and kind, with a sword on his back. He looked ordinary, and if not for the divine abilities gathering around him and the brilliant light, he would truly look like an ordinary person.

Two Early Zifu cultivators sat silently opposite each other; clearly, some time had already passed.

"True Person Can Zhaojing..."

The swordsman before him was naturally Chen Yin, True Person of Yushui.

The Yuyang Chen clan and Wangyue had always been harmonious, growing closer due to the Solar Dao. During the turmoil at the Turbid Killing Mausoleum, Li Li Zhouwei lent him a helping hand, adding a few more favors, and the relationship grew even closer.

Thus, when the karmic fire of the Four Min fell and the water and fire shone, this Yushui True Person lost his Solar reliance and came all the way to Mount Zhijing Mountain, sitting in the mountain, sighing, appearing quite uneasy.

Li Li Ximing remained silent for a moment, lowered his head slightly, and asked:

"How is the Four Min?"

"With the protection of 'Deduction Qi,' it is not very clear, but... I am afraid the Peacock Carp can no longer be arrogant."

Chen Yin nodded somewhat melancholically and said:

"That junior of my clan has already sent news back. I suppose the True Person knows... in the future, it will likely be the matter of founding a state, perhaps rebuilding the Great Yue!"

Li Li Ximing secretly sighed in his heart, finally finding an opportunity, and said solemnly:

"Now that things have reached this point, I have a few things to ask you, senior, and I hope you can enlighten me."

Chen Yin nodded to indicate he should proceed. Li Li Ximing frowned and asked:

"The State of Yue... it was the State of Yue of the Underworld, known to all back then. Why did it fall to its current state?"

This doubt had been hidden in Li Li Ximing's heart for a long time, but for a long time, the Three Sects and Seven Gates had blocked the news, covering up the past. These matters had sunk into history and were always taboos...

Li Li Ximing originally had no intention of exploring, but now that the Yang family was rising and rebuilding the state, the past State of Yue became particularly important.

Hearing this, Chen Yin was not surprised. He nodded slightly and sighed:

"This matter... my Chen clan's records are limited. Regarding the news of Jiangnan, we must start from the Great Chu..."

"Back then, the Chu State was in chaos, the royal clan fought incessantly, and there was even a situation of five emperors in ten years. Finally, the powerful minister Xiao Ci usurped the entire Jiangnan from the Chu State and established the Great Wu. At this time, the Yang family was merely a subordinate of the Great Wu."

His face looked somewhat complicated, and he continued:

"To my shame... my Yuyang Chen clan... back then also received favors from the Great Wu, starting from that time, possessing a prefecture in Jiangnan..."

"But the world is unpredictable. Although Xiao Ci was immensely powerful and skilled in conspiracy and intellect, he was merely a Early Zifu cultivator. Although he usurped the throne by taking advantage of the chaos in the Chu State, he had no foundation to rely on and soon followed the same path. The Wu State also headed toward collapse, and righteous armies rose everywhere. Only then did the Yang Yue step onto the stage of history."

"The power of the Xiao Wu retreated to the Wu State, while the Yang Yue quickly established a state. The first capital was Guzhou, and the main body was the Jingchuan Prefecture of the Sword Gate today; the 【Guzhou Tripod】 also became famous because of this!"

He thought for a moment and said:

"I suspect... that treasure has already appeared, and it is in the hands of that lord."

Li Li Ximing nodded to show he understood, looked at the old man, and said:

"The Yang Yue and the Xiao Wu are now both in name only. The roles they played back then were completely different, but they have one common characteristic: people call the Wei and Chu 'Emperor Wei' and 'Emperor Chu,' while Wu and Yue were merely Kings!"

"Xiao Ci usurped the throne and called himself Emperor, but who among later generations recognized him? Not to mention the most domineering Emperor Wei, Emperor Liang, or Emperor Chu. Even if it was the Southern Departure and Western Rebellion, sighing in vain, that Shi Chang was a True Monarch, how could a Early Zifu cultivator like Xiao Ci have the name of Emperor?"

He paused, organized his words, and continued:

"As for the King of Yue, it was even more straightforward. Back then, the Yue Prefecture rose in rebellion, sweeping across most of Jiangnan. It was on the verge of impacting the True Monarch realm, but disappeared overnight. His descendants inherited the imperial throne but could not unify it. Several times they were given imperial titles by their ancestors, but they were blocked by many noble families, and finally, they were left alone and called themselves Kings."

"Various noble families..."

A look of doubt appeared on Li Li Ximing's face. Chen Yin understood immediately and explained:

"The King of Yue disappeared too suddenly. The entire State of Yue had not been completely pacified, and there were not even a few members of the royal clan. At that time, there were many noble families, most of whom could divide the land and govern themselves. The royal clan of Yue had no power to control them and could only govern together with the noble families, and their power was lost bit by bit, but they still retained a few points of majesty."

"Later, the Solar Dao successively laid down inheritances and established sects. As the Origin Prefecture avoided the world, the prohibitions were broken one by one. The last bit of dignity of the imperial descendants of Yue also disappeared. Everywhere existed in name only. The original noble families all evolved into sects, such as Hongxue, Wuzhu, and Li Chi... Even those who did not achieve sects mostly occupied important positions in the sects, and their surnames were prominent."

"It's just that... the Wuzhu and other families have long been submerged in dust and have no traces left!"

A look of emotion appeared on his face:

"The survival of the State of Yue may rely on the protection of ancestors, but this rise and fall... is ultimately a matter for the descendants themselves."

He spoke politely, but in his heart, he was quite disdainful:

"If it weren't for borrowing the prestige of the Underworld, I'm afraid it would have followed in the footsteps of the Wu State long ago... How could it have dragged on until now, becoming this neither-fish-nor-fowl appearance."

His words were not spoken, but the meaning was already very clear. Li Li Ximing thought secretly and had not yet asked when Chen Yin said solemnly:

"Don't look at the State of Yue like this, the Wu State is also deeply trapped in turmoil. I heard that a great figure with the light of True Qi is beating the various surnames of the Wu State until they are crying out in pain."

Li Li Ximing picked up his tea and took a sip. The old man opposite narrowed his eyes and said:

"My family is close to the Wu State, so the news is relatively well-informed. In today's situation, which Early Zifu cultivator cannot feel the strangeness? Even the most unlucky one, after suffering a loss, can react. The stability of the Wu State is just around the corner!"

He said in a low voice:

"Back then, there were three portions of True Qi in the Anhuai Heaven. One was obtained by Changhuai, another fell into the hands of Senior Zipei, and if the last one turned into a demon, it must be the one in the hands of the Yang family."

The old man's meaning was very clear. He gritted his teeth and said: "Qing Qing Tangyin practiced True Qi early for no reason, specializing in the Heavenly Martial Dao. On one hand, he learned to cultivate 【Ask Martial Peace Clear Tripod】 from Heavenly Martial, and on the other hand, he came to refine 【Serve True Strategy Mysterious Whip】, and finally had to learn 【Power Industry Martial Seal】... refining this into something unlike anything, that into something unlike anything... I only thought he was practicing wildly. Now it seems it was just a rehearsal!"

Li Li Ximing keenly captured the fluctuations in his emotions and vaguely sensed that the relationship between the Chen clan and Changhuai was not very good. Chen Yin just shook his head:

"Two out of three portions have appeared. The turmoil here should not be over yet. If there is news, I hope your clan will definitely inform me..."

At least in his eyes, no matter how great the cause and effect of the Li clan, as long as Li Li Zhouwei does not die young, Wangyue Lake will definitely usher in a glorious scene. No matter how great the fall will be when this glory passes, at least before this glory arrives, the Li clan is safe and sound.

He did not know the inside story and made such a sigh, but Li Li Ximing's heart became clearer and clearer.

Where is the last one?

"My aunt has already explained it! It is naturally in the hands of the Dragon clan, preparing for the Dragon clan's seeking of truth... It is hard to say whether the Dragon Lords will let it reincarnate. Even if there is reincarnation, it is a True Qi dragon in the sea..."

Li Li Ximing remained silent after hearing this. He picked up his teacup and made a gesture to see him off, sending the old man out all the way. Just as he turned back, he saw Li Li Zhouwei appear in the mountain with a solemn expression, saying in a low voice: "News from Li Jiangliang."

"Hmm?" A trace of doubt arose in Li Li Ximing's heart, and he vaguely had a bad premonition. Li Li Zhouwei looked at the court guard on the side, and the two sat down in the mountain. Then Li Li Zhouwei took out a letter.

Li Li Ximing watched as he placed the letter on the table. He just took a quick glance, and the expression on his face instantly froze.

"Yang... Yang Tianya..."

He raised his eyes to meet Li Li Zhouwei's equally solemn gaze, knowing that the situation was not good, and said in a deep voice: "Invite the old master!"

The name Yang Yang Tianya was not famous in Jiangnan, and it had only been heard of a hundred years ago. Now, few of the younger generation knew it. But the Li family could never forget this person!

Thinking back then, in order to cover up the fact that the elders all had talent, his family falsely claimed that the ancestor Li Li Mutian was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Relying on this lie, they briefly protected the Li clan. It was just that a Foundation Establishment cultivator having so many descendants was naturally easy to arouse suspicion. It was not until Li Li Zhouwei was born and the name "Mingyang Wei Li" was placed on the Li family that the foundation of this clan was barely filled.

But as the immediate superior of the ancestor Li Li Mutian back then, Yang Yang Tianya even intentionally acknowledged the existence of the Foundation Establishment cultivator Li Li Mutian—but this was simply nonsense!

"Descendants of an old friend..."

These four simple words, seemingly plain, had lethal power. He did not know if it was sarcasm or a threat, which made Li Li Ximing frown.

It was not until the old man came to the mountain and sat down, picked up the letter and read it twice, that his lips turned slightly white. Li Li Ximing then frowned and said:

"Since he is already a Early Zifu cultivator, he must have a photographic memory. If the ancestor had not fallen into his eyes, we might still have room for maneuver, but if he had seen through it long ago, this matter would be tricky."

"Regardless, the ancestor had four sons, at least three of whom had spiritual apertures. This is an undeniable fact!" He said solemnly:

"The four elders of the four branches are of similar age, almost born one after another. Logically speaking, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could not possibly have such descendants, unless they were also Mingyang Wei descendants and Foundation Establishment cultivators, only then would it be possible for such a situation to occur."

After thinking for a few breaths, he continued:

"You know, even if he has a photographic memory, there are thousands of names in the world, and it is impossible for him to remember everyone's name, let alone accurately match the ancestor among these vast mortals. As long as he hasn't seen the ancestor, we can say he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator from elsewhere, fabricate a background, and falsely hang it under his name..."

Li Li Xuanxuan was silent for a long time, and finally spoke slowly:

"Yang Yang Tianya must have seen him. He not only saw him, but even... could call out his name."

Li Li Ximing's heart suffocated, and the two True Persons looked at him together. The old man said gloomily:

"When I was young, I was fortunate enough to see the ancestor. He once told me about the conscription of the Ancient Li Dao. At that time, he was also a small official in the army."

The old man's face was terrified, with a lingering fear:

"He said: 'General Yang was strict in governing the army, but he also ate and lived with us, as close as a family, and personally passed down the Yue soldier battle method.'"

Li Li Xuanxuan's pupils dilated, and his voice trembled slightly:

"Now we naturally know that Yang Yang Tianya did that to sacrifice weapons with the battle formation of ten thousand people... Since that is the case! Since that is the case! As a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator and a descendant of the Yue State Emperor, why did he have to eat and live with mortals and be as close as a family..."

"He was intentional. He was the first to notice my family, notice the Wei Li bloodline on us, and earlier than anyone else... earlier than anyone else..."

Li Li Xuanxuan's words were meaningful, making Li Li Ximing feel a chill down his spine. He put down his teacup and lowered his head slightly:

"In other words, he had already seen the ancestor, and even... intentionally let the ancestor go back, letting him return to Wangyue Lake."

"It is precisely because of this that he would guarantee my family for no reason..."

Li Li Zhouwei's face was gloomy, and he took over the conversation:

"It was also from that time that the Underworld's methods were arranged long ago. On Qinghui Peak, it was not Peak Master Yuan Tuan who went to find the person, but the Diyun Peak side took the initiative to find it. At least it is possible that Diyun Peak intentionally let her come to the door..."

"The Wei Li bloodline of our family was exposed. It seems that the Yang family had expected it long ago."

Li Li Ximing wanted to speak but stopped, while Li Li Zhouwei's expression became more and more gloomy:

"If it is said that the combination of the Wei Li bloodline and the Yang bloodline is the promotion of the Underworld, then the junior has doubts—to promote this matter without leaving a trace, it must first let the Li family enter the Mount Qingchi Sect. In this way, was Peak Master Si Si Yuanbai of Qinghui Peak back then really just passing by?"

As soon as he said this, Li Li Ximing broke out in a cold sweat, and Li Li Zhouwei narrowed his eyes and continued:

"If it is said that the elders of the family entering the sect was the first goal, then the Sword Immortal showing talent and obtaining the Taiyin Moon Essence was probably beyond their expectations, so they had to give up."

"But what about Si Si Yuanbai?"

Li Li Zhouwei's tone grew colder:

"He disappeared from Mount Qingchi for no reason, leaving only a sentence about fleeing to the west. This disappearance has lasted for more than a hundred years, and there is no trace of him until now... even Si Si Yuanli has forgotten him completely... could there be any reason for this?"

Although there was not much change on Li Li Ximing's face, he still sat quietly in place, but his heart was already turned upside down, and the chill struck him again and again.

Si Si Yuanbai.

This name was not unfamiliar to him. Si Si Yuanbai could even barely be considered his grandmaster. His disappearance should have been a matter of great concern to Xiao Xiao Yuansi, and he should have been thinking about it all the time. But after being mentioned like this, a doubt suddenly arose in his heart:

"If Master had always been thinking about Si Si Yuanbai... even if Xiao True Person didn't care, when I achieved the Early Zifu back then, I went to the lake to pick him up and talked to him for a long time. He should have asked me then..."

"But he didn't."

When did Xiao Xiao Yuansi remember Si Si Yuanbai?

It was in Cangzhou.

Xiao Xiao Yuansi's original words were: "For these years, I have repeatedly thought about one thing in my heart."

"That was in Cangzhou... In Jiangnan, I would never remember him. Even if I occasionally thought of him, it was as if I didn't notice, and I easily brought it over. Only after leaving Jiangnan and arriving at Cangzhou in the North Sea, only then did he think thoughtfully and think of asking me about the whereabouts of my grandmaster."

Before his eyes, Xiao Xiao Chuting's old face suddenly appeared, and the vicissitudes of his voice sounded in his ears again:

Be cautious in making friends and seeking protection.

"Can it really be explored?"

The entire Mount Zhijing Mountain was terrifyingly quiet, and the rolling white flowers danced wantonly in the wind. Li Li Zhouwei's voice grew lower and lower, saying gloomily:

"Since that is the case, since the Wei Li bloodline was noticed long ago, sending one or two Yin messengers, or even not sending Yin messengers, just sending one or two cultivators to monitor, wouldn't it be a matter of course?" ===== CHAPTER 996 =====