Chapter 1156: Threat (I)

He lifted the man by the collar, tossed him to a trusted aide, paused briefly, and instructed, "Send him to Kong Guxi."

The aide left with the prisoner, and only then did a young man enter from outside the hall. He seemed to have been waiting for quite some time. When he approached and cupped his hands in greeting, Li Jiangxia's expression softened considerably as he said, "Xuantong, your timing is perfect."

An Xuantong was the most outstanding member of his generation in the An Family. He was a year older than Li Jiangxia and had already achieved the Qi Cultivation Realm. During his seclusion deep within the forest, he mastered a third grade cultivation technique known as the Azure Cliff White Mist Art. It belonged to the Jiang Family's Dao lineage, which, after Jade True's return, regained its spiritual energy, allowing him to practice it once more.

His robes were still dusty from travel. Bowing with clasped fists, he took a jade pendant from his sleeve and said, "Young master, I've just come from the forest. Lord Cui sent this message. This jade pendant carries his spiritual imprint. Should there be any disturbance in the Wilderness, crush it, and he will come to your aid."

"Good."

Li Jiangxia tucked the pendant into his sleeve and started walking forward, only to hear An Xuantong speak quietly behind him, "I heard that Profound Peak Gate has lost much of its influence. The smaller families along the Wilderness border are beginning to waver and are exchanging glances with Capital Immortal Dao. Neither side seems at peace."

Li Jiangxia showed little concern. "There's no need to pay attention for now. After all, they're still people of Profound Peak Gate. If they truly defect to the Capital Immortal Dao, it'll only disgrace Profound Peak Gate itself. My elder brother holds grudges deeply, and everyone in the family remembers. Once matters settle down, those traitors will get what they deserve."

He asked instead, "Lord An has gone missing, and with all that's happened lately, has your household remained at peace?"

An Xuantong respectfully replied, "The An Family has served loyally for five generations. Everyone in the household worries for the clan's affairs. Several of my younger brothers have already emerged from seclusion, while the elders have repeatedly petitioned to go east and fight Capital Immortal Dao, though the old elder stopped them each time."

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Unlike his taciturn forebears such as An Siwei, An Xuantong was far more assertive. Li Jiangxia knew his words were no mere politeness. The An and Chen Families were deeply intertwined with the Li Family; they were firmly bound to its cause. Whenever the Li Family faced trouble, these two houses grew most anxious.

He simply replied, "Elder Zheyan is too old to take such risks. Leave these matters to the younger generation. Has Pei Xie come out of seclusion? I'll go see him. Handle the affairs below as you see fit."

An Xuantong quickly nodded and replied, "Lord Pei is currently handling affairs in the Wilderness."

Pei Xie was a rogue cultivator of the Wilderness and one of Li Jiangxia's closest friends, whom he had known for five or six years. Gifted by nature and older in age, the man had advanced to the late stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm largely due to the cultivation resources he received from Li Jiangxia when they first became acquainted.

As Li Jiangxia's most trusted subordinate, An Xuantong had already arranged everything. After reporting Pei Xie's location and seeing Li Jiangxia off, he turned back and sought out one of his men.

He inquired about what had happened earlier. After listening to his subordinate's detailed account, he fell silent for a moment and sighed, "Some people are just born courting death. That Fu fellow was always reckless. I tried to rein him in several times, but he thought I feared he'd steal the spotlight. The moment I went into seclusion, he ran off to get himself killed."

He gave a cold laugh and asked, "So be it. Did the young master send him to the lake... or to Profound Peak Gate?"

"My lord, he was sent to Profound Peak Gate."

An Xuantong thought to himself,

So it's to prevent the eldest young master from making an issue of Profound Peak Gate. It seems the third young master still feels pity for the people of the Wilderness. Even if a retreat is coming, he'll likely try to block the Capital Immortal Dao and bring more people back to the eastern shore...

But by sending him there, Profound Peak Gate will find itself in a difficult position. Fu En, after all, was loyal and upright. Some people's hearts will surely grow cold over this.

Having foreseen what might happen, he immediately began making preparations. He flipped through a set of bamboo slips, ordered several cultivators to deliver them to the designated location, and after a moment's hesitation, returned to summon a messenger bound for the lake.

He quietly said, "Profound Peak Gate's mountain stronghold has fallen, and Fu En died midway through his breakthrough. This is an extremely sensitive matter. Now, with the situation so critical, that fool from the Fu Family had to stir up trouble instead of lying low. His death was inevitable. I doubt many of the Fu Family members will survive this. If anyone comes begging for mercy on their behalf, the household must not agree."

————

Wilderness.

Kong Guxi had just returned from the lake when a chill crept up from beneath his feet. Behind him, Kong Qiuyan hurried off to instruct the disciples, while the gate master strode quickly to the front hall, where a crowd had already gathered.

The people's expressions varied: some were families of former disciples who had fled from Mount Ji, seeking refuge, while others were local cultivators from the edges of the Wilderness whose territories had been seized by the Capital Immortal Dao and had come seeking help. There were even members of the Kong Family itself. The new Profound Peak Gate was far smaller than the old one's Welcoming Peak, so the hall was packed shoulder to shoulder. Upon seeing their gate master, complaints burst forth like a storm.

Kong Guxi had no time to speak before a gray cloud descended from the horizon. The mountain fell silent as a commanding voice echoed from above, "The Guo Family of Crimson Reef Island has come to visit the Kong Family. Please show yourself!"

Crimson Reef Island had a notorious reputation. The old family cultivators and opportunistic visitors alike scattered like wind-blown leaves. Kong Guxi understood his gate's precarious state, with nearly seventy percent of his disciples wavering in loyalty, yet he hadn't expected word to spread so quickly and widely.

They haven't even set out... and already trouble has come knocking.

A moment later, a middle-aged man descended from the gray cloud, clad in an ornate crimson robe. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and a command token hung from his waist. Behind him, rows of Crimson Reef cultivators stood in formation. Though his expression was dark and severe, the sight of that retinue gave him an unmistakable air of authority.

"May I ask, my lord..."

Kong Guxi stepped forward to greet him, but the man's face remained expressionless as he said, "Crimson Reef Island, Guo Hongjian."

Kong Guxi did not recognize him but knew at once he was of the island's direct descendant. He quickly led him to the seat of honor, yet Guo Hongjian ignored him entirely, refusing even the tea offered, and asked directly, "Have you discussed it with your master regarding the matter of qi gathering?"

Kong Guxi's face changed drastically. When Crimson Reef had come to inquire previously, they addressed not Profound Peak Gate but the Kong Family. Now, they did not even call him gate master and referred to the Li Family as 'your masters’; the implication was clear. Profound Peak Gate had already fallen, and the Kong Family had become vassals of another house.

Though the truth might not differ much, the Li Family refused to acknowledge it, and Profound Peak Gate would not yield. Other families gave them due courtesy, but none could compare to Crimson Reef Island.

Kong Guxi dared not voice his anger and respectfully said, "Fellow Daoist Guo, I have already received a reply. The Wilderness is a place of chaos and constant battle. The Capital Immortal Dao watches our Profound Peak Gate like a hungry tiger, ready to strike westward at any moment. Your esteemed family seeks to gather qi to build palaces, but the turmoil might spread and it would not be convenient for your family to act here."