Chapter 1264: Upholds Martial Force And Preserves Truth (I)

Li Zhouwei pondered deeply and replied, "The method you obtained has spanned a hundred years. It rose first from the sea, then moved toward the lake, with every matter arranged. Dragons cannot go ashore, and Luoxia cannot control the sea. If divine ability were involved, who could wield such overwhelming authority? Perhaps, my lady, you truly carry a thread of fate."

Li Zhouwei’s words seemed merely a reflection on Li Qinghong, yet it sounded different to each of them.

Who could possess such overwhelming authority?

Both of them had an answer in their hearts, yet neither dared to speak it, nor even dared to think it through. Since suspicion already existed, they could only cling to the idea of fate and no longer dared to mention anything else.

Li Qinghong immediately said in a gentle voice, "This matter must begin with the conflict of north and south. In those years, the grotto heaven of the True Essence Dao was thrown wide open. On the surface, the True Monarchs went to the Outer Heavens, and the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators each acted on their own. In truth, the Golden Feather Sect took the lead, acting under the immortal decree of Taiyuan True Monarch to probe the Fruition Attainment state of the True Essence Dao.

"When the grotto heaven opened, three strands of Tianwu True Qi Divine Fiend Essence appeared. It was said that they all belonged to Tianwu True Monarch himself. At that point, everyone understood that Tianwu True Monarch was displeased."

Li Qinghong took tea from a white porcelain jar beside her and shook some into the pot. Her slender hand complemented the jade teapot perfectly.

Li Zhouwei asked doubtfully, "Relying on just three strands of Golden Dao Metallic Essence, one could already confirm news of a True Monarch?"

Li Qinghong said quietly, "In those years when Anhuai Heaven was established, Tianwu True Monarch shook an entire region, and all demons lay low. He took out three suits of armor, set them in three locations within Anhuai Heaven, left behind a single sentence, and departed for the Outer Heavens. That sentence was..."

There was a hint of reverence on her face as she said, "When the armor lives, the fiendish divinity stands; when the armor dies, the Tianwu True Essence hangs vacant, inviting later generations to ascend.

"In the ten years that followed, those three suits of armor grew skin and flesh, into two men and one woman. Their appearances and voices were indistinguishable from living people. All achieved great divine ability and guarded Anhuai until Anhuai was sealed and the Ning State collapsed, after which they were never seen again.

"During the conflict of north and south, the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators charged into Anhuai Heaven. However, it was completely empty. No armor could be seen. Only three strands of Tianwu True Qi Divine Fiend Essence remained."

She shook her head as she said, "This greatly enriched Jiangbei. One portion was taken by Mount Changhuai of the Wu State; one portion was obtained by the Purple Smoke Gate; and the final portion escaped and vanished due to Daoist Master Chengyan's negligence, causing the fall of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Southern Sea.

"These three were all extremely important. Leaving aside the general cultivators and the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, the Golden Feather Sect, which gained nothing at all, was especially dissatisfied with him. Even Mount Changhuai, which obtained True Essence, and the Dragon Clan showed him no goodwill whatsoever. Those with worse tempers, such as Hengli of the Hengzhu Dao Gate and Pingyan of Yinzhou, openly called for his death."

Li Zhouwei shook his head repeatedly and replied, "No wonder it is said that Chengyan dares not move about openly and does not dare leave the mainland. So that is the reason."

Li Qinghong continued, "That Metallic Essence even turned into an extremely ferocious demonic entity. Since it was left behind by Tianwu True Monarch, it carries a trace of a True Monarch's inherent rank. It is even more terrifying with no one occupying the Fruition Attainment. Even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators must avoid it. Moreover, it transformed from one of the three suits of armor and possesses intelligence and wisdom no less than ordinary people. Now no one knows where it has hidden itself, and it refuses to emerge."

Li Zhouwei let out a deep breath and replied, "Even a single suit of armor holds such power. One aspires to be like Tianwu True Monarch, leaving armor behind to stabilize the world and seeking higher ground. Even death would hold no regrets."

Li Qinghong nodded slightly. She clearly held Tianwu True Monarch in high regard as well, and said, "He was a genius of the late ancient era and a forthright figure. It is said that when his own sister fell and her name appeared on the Underworld's registers, he could have used his divine ability to detain her soul. Yet Tianwu True Monarch respected the order of the Underworld and refused to act privately. He later personally went to the Underworld to retrieve her."

Li Zhouwei organized the information in his mind and suddenly felt a doubt arise. He asked, "Taiyuan True Monarch holds a prominent position in the present age and is highly active. Cultivators of the Golden Feather Sect can even enter grotto heavens to cultivate. Since the Golden Feather Sect gained nothing and the Metallic Essence turned into a demonic entity, why did the True Monarch not personally act to capture it?"

Li Qinghong had clearly considered this long ago. After all, there were still True Monarchs existing both on the mainland and in the outer-sea. Something that could even stir Golden Core Realm cultivators had no reason to be allowed to roam freely as a demonic entity.

Thus she replied, "I have already asked. Once a Metallic Essence turns into a demonic entity, it becomes a matter of the Underworld, and it must be the Underworld that captures it. If the Underworld's judiciary does not send anyone, even a True Monarch has no authority to act. This falls strictly within their jurisdiction. If Taiyuan True Monarch were to act personally, it would be an act of extreme disrespect."

She furrowed her brows, seeming to choose her words to convey the gravity of the matter, and gave an analogy, "It would be like going to Luoxia and standing at the foot of the mountain to intercept the forty eight Heavenly Glows descending from the sky, preventing them from returning to the peak of Mount Luoxia, and even stealing one or two along the way."

"

Oh...

"

Li Zhouwei immediately understood. Luoxia and the Underworld's judiciary were both unique powers. Luoxia manifested more openly and inspired greater awe, yet the Underworld's judiciary governed all demonic entities, and its domineering authority was not to be underestimated.

The tea before them began to boil, and the lid of the jade pot trembled slightly. Li Qinghong She poured a cup of pale purple tea for Li Zhouwei. She said softly, "This comes from a tea tree called Winter Sound's Fall, gifted by another. It was planted in the Lie Sea, and this is its first harvest."

Li Zhouwei offered his thanks and examined it first. The snow white tea leaves showed veins of gold and silver. Taking a careful sip, he felt a numbing sensation run from his tongue down to his stomach, followed by a surge of rich spiritual qi that swept away all fatigue.

The flavor was nothing but numbness and could hardly be called pleasant. Li Zhouwei swallowed and replied, "Good."

Li Qinghong seemed intrigued and asked, "This is the first thing I have ever grown. Although my sense of taste is now quite different from ordinary people, I can roughly guess the flavor... it should be decent enough."

"

Mhm, mhm.

"

When the tea was first poured, it was merely ordinary spirit tea. However, the Thunder Pool was an extraordinary and wondrous place. The power of thunder between heaven and earth had been drawn in by the tea and gathered rapidly. Li Zhouwei faintly felt his Baihui acupoint[1] tingling, as if lightning were about to strike from the heavens.

This teacup cannot be held...

Li Qinghong was naturally unaffected. There was no lightning in heaven or earth that would strike her. Li Zhouwei, however, calmly yet swiftly set the teacup down. When he saw Li Qinghong press her lips together in a smile, he shook his head slightly in embarrassment.

Her pale purple apricot eyes blinked, and her crimson lips parted as she smiled and said, "If it does not taste good, then it does not taste good. You cannot lie in this place. In ancient times, when people swore to the heavens, thunder was the retribution. There can be no falsehoods within the Thunder Pool. It is only because you carry fate upon you that you would be spared. If it were anyone else, the lightning would have struck first.

"If you say it is good, then when I host others later and numb all the guests with it, they would have to say it is good as well..."

Li Qinghong could not help laughing and refilled his teacup. "If it were Xizhi visiting, he would surely say it is good too. When lightning strikes, Xizhi could still endure it, but that little Wushao body could not take thunder. Even with me around to prevent total destruction, it would still turn into a roasted snake."

1. Baihui Acupoint (百汇穴) is the acupoint located at the crown of the head in traditional Chinese medicine, regarded as the meeting point of all yang channels and closely associated with consciousness, spiritual clarity, and the flow of vital energy. ☜