Northern Shore.

The mountain wind howled, and snow swirled through the air. Snow began to fall again for no reason, piling up in thick white layers around the pavilion, creating a lively yet pristine scene.

But at the foot of the mountain, along the river, a great number of cultivators were locked in battle with monks. The sounds of killing shook the heavens, like a blood-stained painting against the white snow, dyeing the rocks on both sides dark red.

The north had only been calm for half a year, yet large numbers of monks had once again crossed the river. Like fearless locusts, they charged headlong into the grand formation constructed by the lake cultivators. The conflict continued to escalate. There had already been repeated clashes between Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and Master Monks in just three days.

Li Zhouwei rarely changed into white robes, but now he stood quietly within the pavilion. Li Ximing had just stepped out of the great void and was pouring tea from a teapot. He was about to speak when he saw someone fly in through the heavy snow and fall to his knees.

Li Ximing immediately stopped speaking and glanced over. Kneeling in the snow was a restrained man in long robes, his forehead pressed to the ground, his expression complicated.

Li Ximing exclaimed, "Jueyin? What happened?!"

This man was Cui Jueyin!

Li Ximing frowned slightly and told him to rise, but the man did not dare move and remained kneeling, his voice low. "I have come... to beg forgiveness!"

Li Zhouwei glanced at him in mild surprise, noticing the man's subdued and uneasy tone. "Not long ago, when Daoist Master inspected Jiangbei, I had already received a letter from the Eastern Sea. They hoped that once my Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation stabilized and I had hope of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm, I would return to the Eastern Sea...

"Unexpectedly, a senior in my family was killed while away; my grandfather remains in seclusion with no sign of emerging; and chaos has broken out in the province. Daoist Master Yangya returned to the ancestral land, asked about the recent years, and brought back the Purple Mansion Realm technique, the [Everbright Platform]. It carries the same intent. They wish for me to return to the Eastern Sea, enter seclusion, temper my cultivation, and prepare to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm.

"This matter has been delayed for far too long. Now that the Daoist Master has spoken... I fear... I cannot avoid it any longer."

Li Ximing froze for a moment, then shook his head and clenched his teeth, "What a move by Yangya!"

Li Zhouwei immediately understood, The situation is growing more intense, and the Cui Family's elders have little hope of breaking through. Chongzhou still lacks a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Yangya does not want Cui Jueyin, a seed for the Purple Mansion Realm, to be dragged into the chaos of the north-south conflict. Nor does he want the Cui Family entangled in my affairs.

Though Cui Jueyin had spoken gently, judging from Yangya's actions, it was clear he had always leaned toward cutting ties between the Cui Family and the Li Family. Now that he had returned in person and discovered the situation, he had likely scolded many in Chongzhou thoroughly before bringing back the Purple Mansion Realm technique, leaving no doubt that he intended to force Cui Jueyin to return.

Cui Jueyin immediately grew frightened and choked out, "Please do not blame him, my lord! Daoist Master has his own considerations! It is not his intention! If this causes any rift because of me... I would deserve death a thousand times over!

"I had intended to wait for you to return before coming to beg for forgiveness, but you have not been seen for so long, and the orders from the province come from Daoist Master Yangya... I could not delay any longer. It was only by chance that I met you today..."

Cui Jueyin had spent many years on the lake and had long been treated as one of their own. Li Ximing trusted him even more than most direct subordinates, yet now he had to leave. He was overcome with tears, leaving Li Zhouwei silent.

After a long while, Li Ximing said, "Since this is the command of your Daoist Master, we cannot force you to stay. But with your merits and contributions, how can you leave empty-handed?"

Cui Jueyin was about to speak, but Li Ximing shook his head. He took out several jade slips from his sleeve, placed them in a jade box, and said softly, "Take these techniques and use them. As for pills and provisions, no matter how Chongzhou arranges things, the lake will prepare them for you as well. You will not be lacking!"

Cui Jueyin said in alarm, "I dare not accept the Daoist Master's resources!"

Li Ximing let out a cold laugh and said, "You dare not accept them? If they were sent to Chongzhou, even Yangya would not dare take them. Just keep them in your storage pouch. If Yangya asks, say they are compensation for cutting ties. That will be enough!"

Li Ximing felt not only heartache but also a helpless anger. His voice softened as he said, "We had once planned for an exchange of disciples between our two families, but the identities of the two in my family who cultivate Bright Yang make it difficult for them to go. You have been on the island for so many years, and we have long treated you as one of our own. Seeing Yangya's attitude now, perhaps it is better that we never went through with it... I only hope you achieve divine ability soon and do not waste your years of cultivation."

Cui Jueyin kowtowed repeatedly before finally gathering his robes and leaving. Li Zhouwei turned his head away, feeling a trace of guilt, while Li Ximing calmly drank a few cups, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

At that moment, someone came to report, "Guest cultivator Wushao has returned. He says he has an urgent matter to report!"

The snow grew heavier across the world. A man in black ascended with a gloomy expression, the shadow beneath his feet twisting like coiling snake tails. It was Li Wushao, who had just returned from the Azure Pond Sect.

Quan Yuduan and his martial brothers had deliberately let information slip, making no effort to avoid him. They revealed everything they had learned within the sect, along with intelligence the Si Family had gathered through its connections. This demonic creature did not dare delay for even a moment, nor show any sign of suspicion. He simply returned to the lake as quickly as possible.

Though Li Wushao was merely a demonic creature, the father and son he served were highly respected figures on the lake. His status there was not low at all. With a simple report upon arrival, he was immediately granted access to meet the two highest cultivators present.

He knelt on the ground, his voice low and sharp, and began to recount everything in detail.

...Based on what was said... it should be Daoist Master Suiguan without a doubt...

Suiguan!

Li Ximing had not initially been paying much attention to him, instead quietly observing the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators fighting by the lake to see if they needed aid. But upon hearing this, his gloomy mood vanished, replaced by a deep sense of unease.

He paused, then said in a low voice, "Why is it him?!"

The two exchanged a glance and saw the unease in each other's eyes. Back when Li Qinghong had passed by the Profound Peak Gate, Kong Tingyun had revealed a secret to her, If the True Monarchs went to the Outer Heavens, Suiguan would remain in Pristine Cadence Heaven at the Azure Pond Sect. He would not dare enter the present world, much less Jiangnan.

That means... the battle among the True Monarchs in the Outer Heavens has already ended! That one has most likely returned to Pristine Cadence Heaven!

Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan had just arrived. The man in crimson robes wore a dark expression, his voice filled with ice, "It is said this person is a Grand Daoist Master, not just at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, but with an extraordinary origin... Daoist Master Qiuhu... is no longer in control!"

No wonder Ning Wan hasn't been seen for months... The people of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage probably still think she is recovering from injuries!

Li Quewan thought for a moment, then said quietly, "If Daoist Master Suiguan has returned... No matter what, he is still a figure of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage... At a time like this, with the north and south in confrontation and the Kong Family matter unresolved, his stance is even more important."

Li Zhouwei gave no clear response. He simply listened to Li Wushao finish speaking before replying, "You've worked hard... coming all the way back under such danger..."

Li Wushao shook his head solemnly. A trace of doubt flashed in Li Zhouwei's eyes as he said, "There were long-standing suspicions that Daoist Master Suiguan is similar to Dongfang Heyun. If he is not a transformation through divine ability or an incarnation of a dharma relic, then at the very least he is a manifestation of Pristine Water. It is unknown how many years he has existed since achieving divine ability. Among those with divine ability, he stands in a class of his own and possesses the strength to halt the conflict between north and south. But placing hope in him would be less reliable than even Chi Buzi.

"From the looks of it, with Ning Wan no longer able to contribute, even the Azure Pond Sect may not be willing to stand with the Supreme Yang Dao lineage."

Everyone fell silent. Li Ximing said, "I just wonder whether the various families are aware of this."

A trace of fatigue passed through Li Zhouwei's brows. Discussing matters of Pristine Water and Suiguan was far too dangerous, and the younger generation should not be involved.

He exchanged a glance with his granduncle, then dismissed Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan before continuing, "I had already heard that the Azure Pond Sect had withdrawn personnel and reduced its disciples. I thought it was Daoist Master Qiuhu reorganizing things in preparation for Si Yuanli's breakthrough. Now it seems it was likely Suiguan's intention..."

The two could not grasp Suiguan's intentions and fell into brief silence. Li Wushao, however, said carefully in a low voice, "I searched throughout the sect but found nothing. However, while passing through the marketplace, I obtained a portrait left behind by the Chi Family, depicting Daoist Master Suiguan... I have brought it with me."

Obtained from the marketplace?

This could not have been more obvious. It was likely the same group that had secretly spread word of Suiguan's return. Li Ximing sighed inwardly and nodded. "This place lacks formations. Let's go to the island to take a look."

Li Zhouwei stopped him and said thoughtfully, "We'll look at it here."

The demonic creature immediately stood up, lifted his sleeve, and took out a scroll from within. Raising it to his own height, he freed the silk, revealing a painting.

The figure in the painting stood quietly, tall and slender, with narrow eyes. Only he was depicted on the white paper, but the pupils of his eyes had not been drawn, leaving them blank.

Those with divine ability and great strength were often depicted in unusual ways. The True Monarchs on the [Chongming Profound Insight Screen] of old had no faces at all, while immortals were represented only by a golden circle. It was not strange for a Purple Mansion Realm figure to have no pupils drawn.

But the painter had been extremely cautious. The figure's form was only lightly outlined, with no colors filled in, save for a touch of blue at the hem to indicate the robes were azure. It suggested the figure wore azure robes with golden tassels, the usual attire of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Azure Pond Sect.

Even the name Suiguan was not written. Both sides were left blank, without a single character.

The skill is impressive. Even through the painting, there is a faint, ominous aura.

Li Wushao was not particularly tall. Holding the scroll up like this, his arm fully extended, he appeared somewhat stiff. Fortunately, a fair and considerate hand quickly took the painting from him, turned it around, and examined it closely.

The man glanced at the painting in his hand, the corners of his lips curving upward. In that instant, the heavy snowfall seemed to halt, freezing in midair as it became his backdrop.

Li Wushao remained unaware, standing respectfully in place. Still, the other’s strange blue-violet eyes and smiling face were reflected in his gray-black pupils.

Then, amid the falling snow, a soft chuckle sounded. "Si Yuanli really didn't put much thought into this. Am I really that fierce?"