White vapor rose from the golden furnace as True Fire burned low. After three days, the flames died out, and the fragrance of the pill could be smelled.

Li Ximing snapped the jade box in his hand shut, then put away the pill furnace. He nodded to Shanbai and entered the cave dwelling, carrying the jade box to the bedside as he said politely, "Fellow Daoist Zhugong?"

The female cultivator, who looked about sixteen or seventeen, had a faint flush on her face as she kept coughing. Her expression was hard to read as she took the jade box from his hand and replied, "Many thanks, Zhaojing!"

She set the jade box by the bed and did not dwell on it, instead saying, "I saw Kong Xiaxiang still kneeling outside the cave dwelling. He must be terrified and hoping to find some way to secure his safety."

A chill flashed through her eyes as she continued, "I know what he fears. In the years I was away, some of those scoundrels in the gate were already acting out of line. Now that there is movement in the north, they are afraid as well. They are thinking that if Kong Xiaxiang dies, he will have no way to voice his grievances. If something truly happens, it will force a rift between Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, so they will not have to hand themselves over for others to vent their anger."

Li Ximing sighed inwardly. Zhugong, however, showed clear signs of frustration as she said quietly, "As for the Kong Family matter, back then, out of consideration for your esteemed family, my methods were already quite lenient compared to the Eastern Sea's usual practices. I paired those members of the Kong Family with the sect's direct lineages. As for Kong Guxi, I did not harm him in the slightest and instead sent him to the outer-sea for protection.

"But never before has there been a case where a direct lineage cultivator went into seclusion outside and returned after reaching Purple Mansion Realm. Now, it seems I should thank your esteemed family instead."

Seeing how tactfully she spoke, Li Ximing replied, "What happened back then was Yehui seizing the mountain, and you reclaiming it. That in itself already laid the groundwork for dealing with today's situation..."

Zhugong shook her head silently. She would normally never fear a newly advanced Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master who had achieved the Dao through the [Fool's Mountain Chase]. Even just two or three years earlier, once the Supreme Yang Dao lineage had stepped in to mediate, this matter would not have been an issue at all.

But the situation now was entirely different!

Her voice was slightly hoarse as she replied, "Do you know the origins of the Kong Family?"

Li Ximing nodded and answered, "The Kong Family was once a great family of Xu State. Back then, they suffered during the northern campaign, so the entire family moved south and established themselves at Shanji Prefecture. Daoist Master Changxi claims to follow the Profound Light Peak Moving Great Dao, under the Tongxuan Dao lineage..."

He seemed to realize something, his voice lowering. Zhugong's expression grew complicated as she said softly, "A cultivator of the Profound Light Peak Moving Great Dao, of Tongxuan Dao lineage, breaks through to the Purple Mansion Realm in Jiangbei, within Xu State. She even has a legitimate, righteous grievance against my Grace Covenant Gate and the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, one tied to restoring her Dao lineage.

"Ch'i Lanyan has come down from the north, eager to act at the slightest opening. If he fails to seize this opportunity, he should not even call himself a successor of the Pavilion Viewing lineage."

Li Ximing's pupils widened slightly as he watched the woman force herself to sit up, her voice heavy with fatigue. "It has already been over three days since the breakthrough, yet there has been no news at all. We lack the standing to go, but the Sword Gate must have gone. If there is still no word, then it means they found nothing."

"Sword Gate?"

Li Ximing was momentarily stunned, but saw that Zhugong, even though at the point of helplessness, actually let out a faint laugh. "The Sword Gate borrowed the [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain]. Do you still remember it, Zhaojing? The [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain] is a fine treasure of the Stable Earth Dao. I do not know what method Changxi used, perhaps with Sumian's help, but they kept it firmly in place."

Li Ximing froze and blurted out in shock. "What?!"

Zhugong quietly observed his expression, confirming he truly did not know, before speaking through clenched teeth, "The [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain] is a treasure beneath one of the peaks of the Douxuan Dao lineage. Setting aside its various wondrous effects that aid in breakthroughs, its most basic function is to regulate the earth veins, allowing movement without disorder. If my guess is correct, Kong Tingyun is in seclusion within the earth veins of Xuanmiao Temple!

"At the same time, Changxi secretly used the [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain] to stabilize the earth veins, converting his lifetime cultivation into spiritual energy of the same Dao lineage to quietly assist her breakthrough."

Zhugong's expression grew increasingly complicated. "You also know that earth veins anywhere else can be shattered in battle, but Jiangbei is the one place where that cannot happen. No cultivators would wage a great battle there. Even if they did, there would be higher authorities watching.

"In that case, Kong Tingyun would absolutely not be harmed. Since the earth veins will not be destroyed, after the [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain] shields her amid the upheaval of his fall, its effects will go unnoticed by anyone else."

Li Ximing said in alarm, "At the time, Sumian and I were both in the sky, and there were an unknown number of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators hidden in the dark. How did none of us notice anything?"

"Cough... cough..." Zhugong could not help coughing as she replied, "Sumian cultivates the [Treasure Earth] divine ability, the [Concealed Containment Palace]. The spirit item Kong Tingyun consumed is also of the [Treasure Earth] Dao, the [Wandering Pass Treasure Earth]. It can resonate with his divine ability. It had all been prepared long in advance. Once hidden deep within the earth, who knows how far down, the two of them worked together to preserve her life."

In that instant, Li Ximing's mind lit up, and a flood of memories surged forth, vivid and clear before his eyes, Sumian did not make a move... the place where he exerted his strength was not here... it was at Gehu Peak!

As the thought ended, Li Ximing raised his brows, his heart trembling as he realized, If that is the case, there is no way the [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain] could have changed hands. It must have been borrowed, which means the Sword Gate definitely knows about it!

There is likely another party aware of this matter... the Sword Gate!

Sure enough, he was not the only one to think of this immediately. Zhugong's gaze turned complicated as she said, "Perhaps Changxi never discussed this with the Sword Gate at all. He simply calculated that the Sword Gate, proud as they are, would never forcibly take away the spirit artifact and cause her breakthrough to fail. And now, that is exactly what happened. Even as the situation worsens step by step, fully aware that her breakthrough will hand leverage to the north, the Sword Gate has remained completely unmoved..."

Li Ximing seemed not to hear her, as his thoughts churned, Back then, when they sent people to my family to request the [Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain], on one hand, Ling Mei took the opportunity to carve away the lakeside territory of Profound Peak Gate, maneuvering within the gate while making quiet arrangements outside. On the other hand... it was likely a warning to me!

A cold glint flashed in Zhugong's eyes as her lips parted slightly. "Zhaojing, take a guess. When Wei Xuanyin personally summoned Yehui back to the capital, do you think he had this move in mind? He has been watching this move for a long time, he just did not expect it to come so soon!

"It is true that our families have private agreements, but Yehui's involvement is clear as day. If Wei Xuanyin blurs the details and slightly twists the account when explaining it to Kong Tingyun, how will this matter end? Will we even have a chance to defend ourselves?"

Her emotions surged, and the warm breeze within the cave dwelling intensified, causing the nearby lamp to dim and flicker as if about to go out. She clenched her teeth and said, "Kong Tingyun, once she has climbed up to the Pavilion of Profound Order, what need will she have to listen to our explanations? What does it matter whether she believes one-sided words or not? Even if it is false, it will be made true!"