Chapter 1164: Drifting Into The Mist (I)

Moongaze Lake.

A black shadow flashed by as a man in dark robes sped through the wind. His feather-like garments left behind a trail of chilling frost in midair, and gray mist spread wherever he passed.

His robe was adorned with clusters of long black tassels, each over a foot in length, their shimmering ends subtly shifting in color. Empowered by these ornaments, the man grew quicker and quicker as he flew.

Plainly put, the Upper Feather Night Robe was the finest dharma robe the Li Family had ever seen. Li Xizhi had gone to great lengths to obtain it, and among all cultivators below the Purple Mansion Realm in Jiangnan, few could boast of possessing anything superior.

The two-finger-long piece of black jade in his hand looked ordinary, no more than a flawed stone at first glance, but Li Chenghuai knew better. The Night Ghost Secret Talisman was far more extraordinary.

The Li Family only knew that the Night Ghost Secret Talisman could summon Foundation Establishment Realm strength. But Li Chenghuai understood that this was in fact a genuine ancient dharma artifact. It was capable of far more than merely calling forth a night ghost. His current cultivation, however, was far too shallow to unlock its full potential.

Before long, the scenery of Floating South arrived before his eyes. The sky blazed with intertwined red and white flames. Li Chenghuai quickened his pace, his form blurring like rippling water as he rode the wind higher.

Li Minggong stood aloft, a cup in hand and spiritual flames surging around her as she blocked Guan Lingdie’s advance. Miaoshui, the white ape, and even Qu Buzhi were entangled in a fierce battle above, clearly outnumbered and struggling to hold their ground, their faces pale with strain.

My elder brother isn’t here...

Li Chenghuai pondered briefly. His elder brother Li Chenghui must have gone to aid Ding Weizeng. He drew the black jade from his sleeve, placed it on his palm, and tossed it lightly into the air.

Violent winds suddenly erupted. Wisps of Yin Qi spiraled in the air as a hulking Yaksha[1] with a single horn burst forth, brandishing a black-qi-forged trident before charging into the ranks of the Capital Immortal Dao.

The Yaksha’s strength was formidable. It dissolved into a cloud of black qi, spreading a wave of icy chill that shattered the enemy cultivators’ spell arts. With another sweep of its trident, chaos erupted within the Capital Immortal Dao formation.

Meanwhile, Li Chenghuai emerged from the shadows beside Guan Lingdie, drew his sword, and unleashed a gleaming blade arc as vast as a sail. Startled, Guan Lingdie’s body dissolved like mist.

Li Chenghuai flicked his robe, fading into the air himself, only to hear a soft voice beside his ear, "Younger brother, there’s no need to be so fierce!"

He immediately recognized the voice of his eldest sister, Li Minggong. Though startled, his reaction was swift. He slowed his strike by half a beat, letting the sword light slide harmlessly past, and spoke through voice transmission, "This is..."

Li Minggong, who had already suspected the situation, answered briefly, "The Capital Immortal Dao is merely posturing. Their true goal is to destroy the foundation of the Profound Peak Gate. At this point, there’s no need for head-on bloodshed, just focus on holding them off."

Li Chenghuai immediately understood and began channeling his sword arts. His spell and sword techniques were solid and forceful. As he pressed forward with a flurry of strikes, Guan Lingdie, though fighting two opponents at once, retreated in measured steps, never pressing too hard in return.

Guan Lingdie possessed a superior level of strength. Even when holding back with the intent to spar, she had easily suppressed Li Minggong earlier. Now that Li Minggong finally found a brief respite, the words of Daoist Master Tinglan and the ambiguous attitude of the Capital Immortal Dao resurfaced together, allowing her a moment to think clearly,

So in the end... it isn’t truly the Capital Immortal Dao behind this, but Changxiao seeking to harm our family. Could his pursuit of our family’s Daoist Master into the sea have been his sole purpose all along?

She channeled her mana into the Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp in her hand. The red-and-white plumage of the Purefeather Radiant Fire ignited in spirals of flame.

From what Daoist Master Tinglan implied, it seems Changxiao himself has yet to return... But if he had laid out a scheme long ago, seeking to seize what belongs to our family, then wouldn’t now be the time for his plans to surface?

If that’s the case, then the Daoist Master posing as Sumian must be another Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from Changxiao Gate, Daoist Master Chengyan!

For reasons unknown, Daoist Master Chengyan had always remained in seclusion. Yet given the current circumstances, his emergence would no longer be without cause. A tense unease began to coil within Li Minggong’s heart,

What instructions did Daoist Master Changxiao leave for Chengyan? If he’s here seeking information, then he must be preparing to act soon!

It felt as though she were standing within a fog and unable to see anything clearly.

Was it a mistake to defend Floating South? Yet even if we were to abandon this place and retreat north, as long as our Daoist Master doesn’t return, would we truly find peace? It would only mean drawing new schemers to our doorstep on the northern shore!

————

Floating South.

The sky grew dark and heavy. Winds roared, golden light coiled through the clouds, and thunder rolled like a cavernous roar from the heavens.

Li Chenghui stood upon the storm, his robe billowing and a long spear in hand. Lightning cascaded from the heavens, each strike converging before him to form a roaring waterfall of thunderous rain.

He had arrived riding the thunder and had descended without warning. Wielding the Sixfold Profound Thunder Punishment Tokens, he had unleashed nine bolts of lightning in rapid succession, striking down a guest cultivator from the Golden Tang Gate and freeing Ding Weizeng. Of the five Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators remaining, aside from Situ Mo, only three now formed a defensive ring around Situ Biao as they faced Ding Weizeng.

This was Li Chenghui’s first time crossing blades with Situ Mo. Though his Dao lineage did not grant him the upper hand, his dharma artifacts restrained the Golden Tang Gate’s techniques. Fighting alongside Ding Weizeng, they managed to suppress their opponents.

With a wave of his hand, the six Thunder Punishment Tokens spun around his wrist, emanating ripples of silver-white brilliance that burst outward.

"When yang reaches its peak, six thunders are born!"

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Brilliant white light flared as six slender, elegant command tokens flashed in unison, runes igniting one by one. Opposite him, Situ Mo casually flung forth a golden shield.

Boom!

A wave of black smoke surged upward. Fortunately, the golden shield was not a blood-bound weapon and managed to hold firm. Situ Mo swiftly drew his blade, parrying the thunder spear that thrust from within the smoke with a sharp metallic clang.

Clang, clang, clang.

Li Chenghui’s thunder spear whirled through the air, each strike pressing hard against the Golden Tang Gate master before him, though his own expression remained tense and unsmiling.

What is Situ Mo truly after...

Something was terribly off... the Situ Mo before his eyes was nothing like the master of Golden Tang Gate he knew!

1. A powerful spirit from Buddhist and Hindu mythology, often serving as a guardian or enforcer of the underworld. ☜