Chapter 1246: Within Mifan (I)

Cui Jueyin responded with a hum, but Li Jiangqian shook his head and said, "The people of Purple Smoke Gate have been moved to the Eastern Sea, and their crafting speed grows worse by the day. Still, since the Daoist Master has yet to return, letting things drag a little is fine. The family is stable now, so it's no great matter. Dharma Protector Cui often stays at the eastern shore, do you know of news from Jiangxia's side?"

Li Jiangqian pointed at several letters on the desk. Judging from their seals and formatting, it was almost certain they had come from Li Jiangxia. He frowned and said, "The families along the eastern shore and in the Wilderness under its control have suddenly fallen silent for several consecutive months. The number of disciples traveling toward Milin has also sharply declined. It's supposed to be the triennial mountain entry, yet hardly anyone is coming... this is no simple matter."

The eastern shore held a hundred and eighteen families, and its vassal territories stretched into the Wilderness. Over the years, Li Jiangxia had been nibbling away at them like ants and silkworms; though the Capital Immortal Dao had struck once, its foundation was never shaken. Though people still called it the eastern shore, that term could no longer fully describe its reach. If the Wilderness were divided into five parts, the Li Family now effectively controlled the western two.

Those regions were vital sources of spiritual materials, and now that they were to forge the Purple Stable Valley Penetrating Mountain Profound Pin, they were all the more crucial; he could not afford to overlook them.

Cui Jueyin nodded and replied, "I've already received the reports... and the cause has been investigated...

"The Grace Covenant Gate of Shanji Prefecture in the east has gradually stabilized its footing in recent years. Its cultivators are recruiting disciples widely. This group of devil cultivators seems intent on imitating Chengyun Gate, and with Purple Smoke Gate backing them, they now wish to convert to the Orthodox Dao.

"They lack low-level cultivators in their sect, so they have lowered their standards, only requiring that cultivators have clean origins, preferably from Jiangnan. Shanji is bordered to the north by Xuanmiao Temple, and its sides are flanked by Supreme Yang Dao lineages, leaving the Wilderness as the main source of cultivators. But the Wilderness is full of rogue cultivators, uneven in skill and strength, with scattered and disordered Dao lineages. Even if Grace Covenant Gate lowers its requirements further, few would still qualify.

"On the other hand, the Wilderness borders the eastern shore. The families of the eastern shore have been training disciples seasonally these past years, preparing them for selection by Milin. They've focused on consolidating cultivation and laying solid foundations instead of rushing ahead. But now that Grace Covenant Gate has thrown open its doors, everyone has gone eastward to try their luck."

The vassal territories, where most families focused on mining and planting for offerings, lay beyond the eastern shore. Unlike the lake's prefectures, which belonged clearly within established factions, they did not need to negotiate comings and goings like Ding Mu did.

Li Jiangqian did not appear anxious and merely nodded. "True enough. Our family has plenty of guest cultivators, bound by endless rules and enjoying little pleasure. Their prospects for advancement can't compare to those of Grace Covenant Gate. How could it ever be as comfortable as being a disciple of a Purple Mansion Realm gate?"

Cui Jueyin bowed and replied, "What the family head says is true... but the Profound Grace Dao lineage only uses them to make up numbers. Those who join as outer disciples lack sufficient cultivation time and have inadequate resources; it may not be as pleasant as it seems."

"That doesn't matter... everyone has their own aspirations. We are not short of people." Li Jiangqian lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes dark as he stared at the scroll on the table, and said, "What I fear is that they all enter the Profound Grace Dao lineage one by one; today one is taken, tomorrow another. When more than a hundred families have all been drawn to strengthen the east, what will happen to the west?"

Cui Jueyin hesitated, then nodded softly and said, "The third young master has cultivated and accumulated strength for many years. It might be better to consolidate the eastern shore and the Wilderness territory and establish peak offices there... but forcing over a hundred families into fear and unrest will not be easy to manage."

The crimson-robed youth shook his head. "The peak offices cannot be expanded lightly, nor can we swallow over a hundred families at once. That would disgrace our family's name. These eastern shore families serve as a means for the families on the shore to stand above the lower cultivators, maintaining unity through a sense of superiority.

"Besides, these families are remnants from the era of the Jiang and Yu Families a century ago. The Yu Family is too weakened to move, but why did the Jiang Family not act back then? Why did the Xiao Family not act either? The rule that the Azure Pond Sect cannot cross prefectures or merge territories was not made without cause; it comes from the ancient Moonlight Origin Mansion, where only sects under the Mansion's authority could span multiple states. Even the Purple Smoke Gate keeps strictly within its allotted borders."

"Secondly, this prevents direct contact with other Purple Mansion Realm powers. Our family manages its vassal families through Milin, just as the Xiao Family governs theirs through Mount Yu. It is the same principle."

Li Jiangqian pondered slightly as he looked at the map boundaries, and mused, "The Wilderness borders the Xiao Family's lands as well, now near Mount Yu. No doubt many have gone there to cultivate. If the Xiao Family under Lixia has shown no response... that will be troublesome."

He looked up and asked, "Do all the families still have people stationed in Milin? Withdraw your men at once. As for those who went to Grace Covenant Gate but failed to join, ensure that Milin does not take them either. I'll send someone east to make inquiries. Dai Jinquan from the Profound Grace Dao lineage seems approachable; we'll speak to him first."

Li Jiangqian gestured for Cui Jueyin to leave. Soon after, he saw someone coming up from below the hall. Dili Guang had gone south to the Southern Sea with Li Zhouluo, and now a man of the Dou Family arrived, bowing respectfully as he reported, "Family head, the Guest Cultivator Miaoshui has returned."

Li Jiangqian's expression brightened with concern, and he immediately raised his brows and asked, "Alone? Or has she returned with Guest Cultivator Wang?"

The man replied, "Three people came back together. They've arrived at the side courtyard, and it's said their injuries are quite severe."

Li Jiangqian’s brows immediately furrowed and he went down the steps just as the three entered. Miaoshui's breathing was steady, though her clothes were a little disheveled, and she bowed first. Wang Quwan followed with a sword at his waist, his face pale.

The last person was unfamiliar. His face was covered in cold sweat, and his clothes stained with blood. Golden Astral Qi had entered his body and frozen his limbs purple as he stiffly offered a bow.

Li Jiangqian let out a hearty laugh, descended from the platform, and took Wang Quwan's hand, smiling as he said, "Quwan, you are truly gifted by heaven; safe and sound at last!"

Then he turned toward the unfamiliar face and asked in puzzlement, "And this one is...?"

Wang Quwan clasped his fists and answered, "This is Daoist Shouding of Jingyi Mountain. He fought beside me in the underground palace, was injured, and escaped that perilous place with me. Considering the journey to the Eastern Sea is long and must pass through the Chunyi Dao Gate's territory, we feared ambush, so I invited him to rest at the lake."

Jingyi Mountain!

Li Jiangqian immediately studied him. Daoist Shouding appeared no older than a youth, with narrow eyes and a somewhat plain face. Perhaps he had suffered backlash from a spell art; his hair and beard were withered, and he was so wounded by a golden Astral Qi-type spell that he could not even speak.