The tall and slender man wore a green robe with golden tassels. His dark green-black hair streamed in the snowy wind, and he appeared especially otherworldly against the frozen snowfall. Astonishingly, he looked exactly like the person in the painting!

His eyes held a faint smile, glimmering with green-purple light, containing the full essence, qi and spirit of his divine ability. It was truly the finishing touch, adding an unmistakable aura of eerie mystique and transcendent grace.

It was Suiguan.

Li Wushao stood quietly and respectfully in place, without the slightest sign of anything unusual. It was as if the one holding the painting were Li Zhouwei or Li Ximing, and he simply waited in silence for instructions.

This!

Li Ximing had already risen to his feet in the pavilion, bracing himself in the face of a great enemy. His lips were tightly pressed, and his tension unmistakable. As he sensed the almost terrifying Pristine Water divine ability emanating from the other party, the heavenly light at the center of his brows dimmed slightly.

He came the moment he was mentioned! Was he lying in wait nearby earlier? Did he hear what we said? Did he come for Minghuang... or has he noticed something unusual?

Li Zhouwei was not as startled as his granduncle. He seemed to have anticipated this to some extent. He rose to show respect, gave a slight nod, lowered his gaze, and said, "I, Minghuang, Li Zhouwei of the Li Family of Moongaze Lake, pay my respects to the Grand Daoist Master."

Only then did Suiguan shift his gaze away from the painting. A trace of amusement flickered across his face as he casually returned the painting to Li Wushao, his green-purple pupils slowly turning.

"Oh?" His handsome face turned as he looked toward the golden-eyed man and asked, "Even now, there are still people raising Hooked Serpents? Looks like he's being raised for his tail hook."

Only then did the shock in Li Ximing's heart gradually subside. His expression quickly eased as he replied politely, "Wushao is a spirit beast left behind by our forebears. Back when our family was weak, he rendered many merits. He is regarded as a guest of the family. It would be inappropriate to say we raise him."

Most Hooked Serpents had no noteworthy lineage to begin with, let alone those of the Mansion Water Dao.

Suiguan shook his head and said, "Rare indeed! I was wondering why those little ones from Jiutian Pavilion were so interested. So it turns out he's a trusted demonic creature. That's hardly surprising... Still, it's rare for a Mansion Water Hooked Serpent to possess such an innate ability... and it's [Morning Cold Rain] at that."

Both of them understood his words clearly. It seemed that when Quan Yuduan and his fellow disciples had been speaking earlier, this man had been listening nearby all along. A chill crept into their hearts.

...These Pristine Water cultivators are all the same... Sharp-minded is one thing, but they're also experts at hiding... Though that bastard Chi Buzi is more insidious and ruthless, this one carries a more domineering air...

Suiguan's expression remained calm as he stepped forward and took a seat beside the round table in the pavilion, smiling as he said, "No need for formalities. Sit."

As soon as he sat down, Li Wushao naturally stepped forward to pour tea, filling cups for all three of them. Li Ximing watched him in secret and found his expression completely natural, with clear eyes. There was no trace of him being bewitched by any divine ability.

What a formidable Fate Divine Ability... Yet it's not appropriate to probe with divine ability in front of him. Still, this demeanor, these actions... they seem entirely genuine, without the slightest flaw!

As Li Ximing quietly examined Li Wushao, Li Zhouwei was studying the renowned Grand Daoist Master of Pristine Cadence Heaven before him. One hand rested on his cup as he pondered in silence, His cultivation is not concealed in the slightest; it is fully revealed to the outside. He is a great divine ability cultivator who has mastered all five divine abilities. There is nothing ostentatious about his attire, quite different from the one at Mount Luoxia...

At least in terms of cultivation, Suiguan stood almost on equal footing with that figure of Mount Luoxia. Yet combat was never decided by cultivation alone. Divine abilities, background, techniques, and spirit artifacts all played a role. Though Suiguan showed little outwardly, his ageless appearance and the rumors linking him to the Golden Core Realm suggested that even the one from Mount Luoxia would have to think twice before facing him.

The Grand Daoist Master gazed into the clear tea. Before either of them could speak, his expression turned contemplative, his voice gradually lowering as he said, "I have heard... that the Li Family once had a divine ability cultivator serving under the Dragon Clan... Is there still any contact now?"

Though no one spoke openly of Du Qing's[1] relationship with the Dragon Clan, the incident of the True Hornless Dragon devouring the Feathered Serpent was known to all. Converging Water's ambition to subsume Pristine Water and its domineering nature needed no explanation. Even now, there were rumors that this Pristine Water True Monarch, despite attaining Fruition Attainment, did not dare leave Jiangnan. It was clear their relationship could not be good! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The moment Li Ximing heard this, he inwardly cursed the situation, while Li Zhouwei answered, "In those years, the Dragon Clan spread the [Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling]. A senior of our family obtained it by chance and had no choice but to venture deep into the Eastern Sea. She transformed into lightning, and since then, there has been no further contact."

Suiguan smiled and said, "Not bad. Li Qinghong, one rainbow and one cloud. Beijia[2] has been living quite well these days. It's a pity there are no true figures in the world, letting a couple of wretched dragons thrive so smoothly in the Eastern Sea!"

Li Ximing had intended to respond, but upon hearing this, he immediately fell silent, lowering his gaze and pretending not to hear. Suiguan, however, said with a hint of humor, "You need not worry about me going to trouble her. In the current situation, not only would I not go to the Eastern Sea, even Du Qing would not go there. He cannot be bothered to go.

"Others still have some sense of dignity, but Beijia has none at all. He once shamelessly begged an immortal for a noble title. Waiting in the inner sea for Du Qing... that is something he might very well do."

After these words, not only did Li Ximing lower his head in silence, even Li Zhouwei found himself unable to respond. He could only awkwardly change the subject.

"May I ask what brings the Grand Daoist Master here, and what guidance you have for us?"

Suiguan took a sip of tea before replying, "Naturally, I came to find you!"

A faint smile appeared on his face. "After leaving Pristine Cadence Heaven, what a great upheaval it has been. I finally gathered some people to use, and now they are all gone. Meanwhile, those pigs and dogs in the north keep pressing forward. It is most unpleasant."

The humor in his eyes was gradually replaced by a sharp chill. The falling snow outside the pavilion remained frozen in place, unable to drift even for a moment. It was clearly suppressed by his divine ability, beyond the perception of ordinary people.

"Now, I intend to cross the river to handle a matter... and tidy up the scenery along the way."

The moment these words left his mouth, both men felt a chill in their hearts.

Though Suiguan spoke casually of Du Qing, Beijia, and wretched dragons, for many years everyone had regarded him as an extension of the Pristine Water True Monarch's will. His actions were seen as carrying Du Qing's intent, and the implications were far-reaching.

Could it be that this Pristine Water True Monarch truly intends to take up the banner of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage once more?

"May I ask... what arrangements the Grand Daoist Master intends?"

Suiguan glanced at the small cup in his hand and smiled. "I want the Li Family to cross the river. It will not just be your Li Family. The Supreme Yang Dao lineage will cross the river, and the Azure Pond Sect will as well."

Though his expression carried a smile, his green-purple eyes were deep and still, like a clear pond that seemed transparent yet had no visible bottom, swallowing all light within.

Li Zhouwei fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "Does the Grand Daoist Master intend to engage the north in battle?"

Suiguan smiled and replied, "What battle is there to speak of?"

The pavilion fell utterly silent. The Grand Daoist Master slowly rose, paced a few steps within the pavilion, and looked out at the frozen snowfall before speaking calmly, "In less than a year, Ch'i Lanyan will surely stir up conflict. I will have him crash headlong into the iron wall of Shanji Prefecture, then be driven back, losing even his subtle advantages in the process..."

Though his face still bore a smile, it was impossible to tell how much of his words were truth or deception. As he spoke, he took the painting from Li Wushao's hands and added, "I only need your participation, and for the Li Family to provide some cultivators with sufficient cultivation."

By 'sufficient cultivation,' he clearly did not mean Embryonic Breathing or Qi Cultivation Realms. Most likely, he meant at least Foundation Establishment Realm.

The two fell silent in thought. Suiguan turned his head as if unconcerned and took the painting back into his hands.

He produced an ink brush out of thin air, lightly dipped it in his tea, then unfolded the painting and gently dotted the empty pupils twice.

1. Pristine Water True Monarch's name. ☜

2. A Dragon Monarch. ☜