A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had refined a divine ability already possessed an established inherent rank. Whether casting techniques, refining pills, or forging artifacts, such cultivators often relied upon that rank to achieve their aims. Moreover, Li Zhouwei was recognized throughout the world as the White Qilin!

Committing the idea to memory, he said happily, "That would naturally be excellent. I'll return and ask about it. When the time comes, if Fellow Daoist needs anything, simply send a letter to the lake!"

Master Dingyang agreed. After the two exchanged a few more pleasantries, Daoist Master Luo finally found an opportunity to interject. "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing! I also encountered Daoist Master Minghuang in the grotto heaven, though my gains were nowhere near his. I only managed to obtain some Pit Water items. I heard... I heard that a [Gathering Wood] spirit artifact ended up in his hands. I wonder..."

Li Ximing immediately understood that he was referring to the [Supplementary Court Verdant Profound Cauldron]. Smiling, he replied, "There is indeed such an artifact, and it is quite important to my family. There may come a day when I need Fellow Daoist's assistance regarding it... We can discuss the matter then."

With those words, he quietly rejected Daoist Master Luo's attempt to trade for it, yet he did not overlook the information hidden within the man's remarks.

Smiling, he continued, "It seems Fellow Daoist possesses some [Pit Water] items."

Daoist Master Luo had not expected him to seize the initiative so quickly. He paused in surprise before answering, "Indeed..."

Li Ximing waved a hand and asked, "Do you have any spirit materials available for exchange?"

Seeing that Li Ximing was acting in good faith, Daoist Master Luo simply raised a hand, drew a box from his sleeve, set it on the table, and replied, "I have a piece of [Painted Water Sunflower Stone]. It's quite a rare item."

Li Ximing nodded. He had little use for [Pit Water] materials himself, but they would serve well as gifts. The Xiao Family had relocated to Cangzhou in the Northern Sea, and Li Ximing had long intended to pay them a visit. Naturally, he could not arrive empty-handed.

Although he already possessed a portion of a [Cangzhou Serpent Scale], the material originated from Cangzhou itself and might well be connected to lands now under the Xiao Family's control. Bringing it as a gift would be rather like visiting the Li Family and spending a fortune to present them with a [Wanlin Blossom]. It would be more awkward than thoughtful.

The visit had been delayed by the affairs surrounding Wanlin Heaven. Now that Li Zhouwei had returned and the lake was secure once more, and more importantly, now that resources were no longer so tight, it was time to make the trip. Besides, he hoped the old Daoist Master might offer some guidance on the current situation.

Though Daoist Master Luo had no idea why he wanted the spirit item, he remained as enthusiastic as ever. "Take it, Fellow Daoist. It's of no use to me anyway. When you come across some [Gathering Wood] spirit material in the future, you can make it up to me then."

But Daoist Master Luo cultivated the Devil Dao and was, at the end of the day, still a notorious devil cultivator. Li Ximing could not comfortably leave the debt unsettled. He gave him a [Gathering Wood] spirit pill that a junior of the family had obtained from Southern Reach Hall, added a [Southern Palace Profound Stabilizing Pill], and promised future alchemy services. Only then did he consider the exchange properly settled.

Daoist Master Luo's true objective, however, lay elsewhere. Smiling, he asked Li Ximing to introduce him to Si Yuanli.

It was hardly a difficult request. Li Ximing understood perfectly well what he was after and readily agreed. Without lingering to chat further, he rose into the air on a ray of light and crossed the great void. At last, a weight lifted from his heart. One of the matters weighing on his mind had finally been settled.

At last, everything's settled. When the time comes, I only need to collect the spirit armor...

Yet as he traveled back to the lake, he frowned slightly. He had sensed the aura of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of [Orthodox Wood] Dao.

"Hm?"

Who else could it be? It had to be Si Yuanli.

Before leaving, I told the juniors I'd only be gone briefly... It seems he was determined to wait for me here.

He descended on his light and appeared in the pavilion at the foot of the mountain. Sure enough, the Daoist Master was standing patiently in the courtyard. He appeared calm on the surface, yet he kept sighing, and a trace of anxiety lingered in his eyes.

Li Ximing emerged from the void with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Qinghu!"

Si Yuanli immediately let out a breath of relief and turned toward him, looking somewhat helpless. "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"

As he led him up the mountain, Li Ximing asked with a smile, "What treasures did you gain in the grotto heaven, Fellow Daoist? Since you've come all the way here to find me, I assume you're looking to refine some precious pill?"

At the mention of the grotto heaven, Si Yuanli was left nearly speechless. The words that had been crowding his mind abruptly caught in his throat.

After a long sigh, he shook his head and said, "What gains? What harvests? When I emerged from seclusion, I thought a whole new world would be waiting for me. Who could have imagined that the Azure Pond Sect would turn out to be such a complete mess! How could this be called an immortal sect? How could this be called a Golden Core Realm power..."

As if suddenly recalling something, Li Ximing asked in a serious tone, "What happened?"

Si Yuanli raised his brows and gave a bitter smile. "Zhaojing! Yang Zhuo has rebelled! Mushroom Forest Plain has rebelled!"

Li Ximing froze for a moment. It took him a heartbeat to process the words before he asked in confusion, "Huh? Yang Zhuo? Rebelled? Against whom?"

Si Yuanli sat down beside him at the table. His expression was filled with frustration as he sighed. "Against the Azure Pond Sect. He killed the Azure Pond Sect cultivators stationed at the Mushroom Forest Plain marketplace, listed their crimes one by one, and has already pushed beyond Mushroom Forest Plain into the territory of Quanwu[1]. He's raised a banner claiming to be 'eliminating demons and defending the Dao.'"

"Eliminating demons and defending the Dao..."

The more Li Ximing thought about it, the more a strange sense of absurd clarity rose within him. Yet he found himself at a loss for words. He could not even decide whether the description was absurd or perfectly fitting.

The Azure Pond Sect was no longer what it had once been. The turmoil across Jiangbei had torn away every layer of pretense, and Ning Wan had become burdened with immense infamy. Even the Azure Pond Sect's own people no longer believed in the sect's claim of being an immortal sect. In their hearts, the title of demonic sect had already been nailed firmly above its gates. To speak of eliminating demons and defending the Dao no longer sounded misplaced at all.

Yet a mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, leading a handful of followers who had not even reached the Foundation Establishment Realm themselves, claimed he would overthrow the Azure Pond Sect? Any cultivator in Yue State who heard such a thing ought to laugh aloud.

Even in its current decline, the Azure Pond Sect could still mobilize thirty or forty Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators without difficulty. If those thirty or forty Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators somehow failed to kill Yang Zhuo, it would take no more than a glance from a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator to settle the matter.

Still, this had happened. The situation was so ridiculous that two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators now sat facing one another in the mountains, silent and speechless.

Even Li Ximing felt uneasy as he pointed out, "His surname is Yang... And not only that, he bears the Mandate of Heaven."

Si Yuanli merely lowered his head in frustration and sighed. "It must be the [True Essence] of Tianwu resting upon him!"

How could Si Yuanli not understand that? If Yang Zhuo did not bear the surname Yang, if he did not carry [True Essence] upon him, then merely occupying Mushroom Forest Plain would have been enough to get him and his rabble killed thousands of times over!

Eliminating demons and defending the Dao... What a fine slogan! Whose fault is it that the Azure Pond Sect has fallen to this state? Now they speak of defending the Dao... Where were they during the demon calamity? Where were they during the conflict between north and south? Where were they when the upheaval at Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum occurred?

If they truly had the courage to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, why not overthrow the seat of Pristine Water itself? It's nothing more than a rotten plaque. Usually it's tossed beneath a table leg and ignored, but once the birds are gone and the bow is put away, suddenly it's useful again!

The Daoist Master's face gradually darkened. He set his cup heavily upon the table and ground out through clenched teeth, "The powers above intend to hand the Azure Pond Sect, and Yue State along with it, over to the Yang Family! How has it come to this? This is an immortal sect! How could it have fallen so low?"

Li Ximing glanced downward, refilled his tea, and replied, "And what of it? Hasn't it always been this way? You and I are Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have the privilege of choosing sides, and the privilege of serving as pieces on the board... Those waiting to be slaughtered today are the ones who have yet to jump off theAzure Pond Sect's sinking ship. As for you, Fellow Daoist... perhaps not."

Si Yuanli looked up at him. The anger and indignation on his face gradually faded, and he simply nodded.

Li Ximing met his gaze with a faint smile and bright eyes. "Not a single member of the Si Family holds a position of real authority. In the mighty Azure Pond Sect, the one actually running the sect is a guest cultivator surnamed Qin. If you expect me to believe you've made no preparations for a day like this, then you're looking down on me."

1. Related to Mount Quanwu and Quanwu Demon Den. ☜