Chapter 1329: The Fruit Of Vengeance (II)

The two waited for a while until Li Xuanxuan returned with a small vial of blood essence. Li Quewan took out three ivory command tokens from her sleeve and set them each in a position. She placed the blood essence among them, contemplated for three breaths, then drew out one command token, repeating the process nine times.

She straightened herself. The radiance of mana around her body gradually dimmed, her face turning slightly pale, as she spoke with solemn gravity, "One verdict, nine confirmations. Vengeance. Burned by the Eastern fire, leaving no remains."

Jiangqian let out a cold laugh, while Li Quewan spoke more tactfully, "Second Uncle, or his direct lineage, was burned by an Eastern Fire Virtue Dao lineage. Nine out of nine results indicate that the matter is widely known. Nine identical outcomes indicate that no Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities were involved. This was a calamity of vengeance, a life and death blood feud..."

This all but openly pointed the origin toward Crimson Reef Island. Li Jiangqian pressed one hand against the main seat, his thoughts gradually clarifying. He stroked it twice and said softly, "Widely known. What a fine widely known. It must have been Guo Hongjian. Crimson Reef Island made the move, and it was widely known. When passing Lake Xian and Grace Covenant Gate, they were likely deliberately let through."

Li Jiangqian was perfectly clear on this and sneered, "My family and Crimson Reef Island share a life and death feud. If I were Guan Gongxiao, no matter how close I was with Crimson Reef, I would never reveal the tacit understanding between the two families. Any news he spread in the Eastern Sea would certainly be that our two families were already engaged in battle.

"So that bastard could not wait any longer. After inquiring inland and learning that the two families were merely confronting each other on the river with no major casualties, he grew anxious. He secretly murdered one of my family in hopes of forcing the two sides into a full scale clash so that the Guan Family would completely turn to Crimson Reef. He certainly planned it well."

Li Quewan put away the three command tokens and said seriously, "If the ancestors of second uncle's lineage were never killed by Merging Fire, then this result points directly to second uncle himself. It was undoubtedly Crimson Reef Island."

Li Jiangqian said quietly, "As for your conclusion that no Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities were involved, that is indeed correct. This area is extremely sensitive. It is possible that several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators even tacitly allowed this to happen. They could not have failed to see the understanding between our two families. Either they felt it would be better if we truly fought, or there was some other probing intent."

Li Jiangqian let out a breath, strode forward, pushed open the hall doors, and said in a deep voice, "Go invite Purple Smoke Gate..."

Before his words had even finished, a streak of rapidly descending True Fire fell from the sky. Li Minggong rode the True Fire and landed swiftly before the hall, her voice urgent as she said gravely, "No need. Qianlizi of Purple Smoke Gate has already arrived above the lake and specifically requested to see the Li Family Head!"

Li Jiangqian's heart immediately sank. He glanced at those around him and replied, "Invite her in."

No sooner had he given the order than, after a few breaths, a woman of stunning beauty arrived in the hall, clad in white immortal robes with a glass white jade bottle tied at her waist. She was the current generation prodigy of Purple Smoke Gate, Qianlizi of the Glass Treasure Vase.

Qianlizi not only acted in place of the gate master, she was also the master of Li Quexi of the Li Family main lineage. Yet now her expression was cold, her gaze tinged with urgency.

Her eyes locked onto Li Jiangqian as she asked quickly, "I ask the family head to speak in private."

The moment these words were spoken, Li Jiangqian felt the situation worsen. He waved away those around him. As soon as the hall doors closed, Qianlizi stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Does the family head have any means to contact Daoist Master Zhaojing?"

Li Jiangqian hesitated slightly. She clearly realized that her words were startling and overly direct. The urgency on her face eased somewhat as she said softly, "Family head, please do not blame my rashness. Our Daoist Master disappeared north of Jiangbei and has yet to return. The blessed land has already sent people to seek aid from the various Supreme Yang Dao lineages. Daoist Masters Zhugong and Kuiqi have gone to Jiangbei for search and rescue. We hope that your esteemed family can temporarily prioritize the greater situation and take charge in Jiangbei."

Jiangbei really has encountered trouble.

Qianlizi had lowered her stance to the extreme. In the blessed land, she stood beneath only one person and above tens of thousands. As a member of a Supreme Yang Dao lineage, for her to personally come here and ask in such a restrained manner showed just how dire the situation had become.

Li Jiangqian listened to her words in a daze. A chill of dread rose sharply in his heart. He took two steps down from the main seat and asked, "This... they... this matter concerning the True Monarch was ordered by Luoxia."

Qianlizi lowered her head and remained silent, as though she had not heard his words. Li Jiangqian immediately composed himself. The doubts that had lingered in his heart suddenly found their answer, crashing down like thunder.

Crimson Reef Island... The matter of Crimson Reef Island is a probe to see whether our family Daoist Master has returned, or to test whether Daoist Master Zimu has gone missing?!

He then asked, "What instructions did the Daoist Master Qiuhu give?"

Compared to the news Qianlizi had brought, Li Jiangqian was clearly more interested in matters at the Purple Mansion Realm. Qianlizi lowered her head slightly and sighed. "We have not received any news from the Daoist Master."

The implications of that single sentence were vast. Ning Wan had no confidant like Qianlizi in the Azure Pond Sect. It was entirely possible that Sect Master Tantai Jin was still in the dark even now.

Once Tinglan and Ning Wan left Lake Xian, it meant that everything along both banks of the river would fall into darkness. Matters concerning the True Monarch of Mount Luoxia would certainly not be delayed in the slightest, yet without divine ability overseeing them, there was no guarantee that the forces along the river would not be drawn in. With Ning Wan gone, Li Quantao at Lake Xian would be like a small boat amid wind and rain, left at the mercy of the waves.

Li Jiangqian could only say, "What about Wanyu Sword Gate? And Hengzhu Dao?”

A trace of helplessness flashed across Qianlizi's delicate face as she shook her head and said, "For Wanyu Sword Gate, Lord Ling Mei had already given instructions long ago. The Sword Gate never involves itself in matters of Jiangbei. As for Hengzhu Dao Gate, it is better left unmentioned."

Her expression grew complicated at the mention of Hengzhu Dao Gate, a mix of disappointment and anxiety. She had clearly suffered an awkward setback in this matter, and even now, recalling it left her somewhat indignant.

Li Jiangqian fell silent for a moment. Seeing Qianlizi's expression shift from urgency to doubt, he realized that he could delay no longer. Just as expected, he heard her speak with a restrained, mournful tone, "As for the matter of Jiangbei, our Daoist Master issued orders early on to ensure the protection of your esteemed family and to prevent any immortal carriage from crossing the river. Now that the Daoist Master has gone missing, the situation is suspicious. We are not asking your family's Daoist Master to rescue anyone, only to return as soon as possible to preside over the greater situation.

"This matter does not concern my side alone. Once the river is crossed, it will also involve Moongaze Lake. Now that neither of the two Daoist Masters can be contacted, with Purple Mansion Realm cultivators absent, all deployments in Jiangbei are nothing but empty words. How can this be allowed?!"

Li Jiangqian reacted extremely quickly and was not thrown off by her barrage of questions. He sighed inwardly as deep doubts arose in his heart,

The Green Pine Supreme Yang Dao Lineage. There are so many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in Jiangnan. Even if Hengzhu Dao Gate does not act, could they really not assign a single one to stand in Jiangbei and preside over matters? Must they insist on inviting our family Daoist Master back?

How overbearing the Supreme Yang Dao Lineage was. Any Daoist Master they sent could stabilize the riverbanks. Yet she had come to invite Li Ximing. No matter how one looked at it, something was wrong.

He stared at her heavily and said solemnly, "Senior Han. Can the esteemed lords of the Supreme Yang Dao Lineage truly not preside over the greater situation? If it is merely a disappearance, does it really require so many seniors to go together? Please answer this junior honestly. Has Daoist Master Tinglan... truly gone missing?"

Qianlizi was momentarily stunned and found herself halted by his question. She reassessed the man before her, gritted her teeth, and answered, "This matter should not have been spoken of. But since Fellow Daoist asks, I must answer.

"Soul lamps have dimmed within our blessed land. There must already be a great battle in the north. Daoist Masters Zhugong and Kuiqi may be forced to act, and their final condition is unknown. It will be difficult for them to return here to hold the line. Daoist Master Houfu is tied down in Longdi and cannot spare himself. If your family's Daoist Master does not return, there will be no one above to hold the field."

It was impossible for Mount Luoxia to be unaware of such a thing happening at this critical juncture. Li Jiangqian's expression darkened as he asked, "What force dares to be so rampant? A Daoist Master of the Supreme Yang Dao Lineage actually being ambushed by others outside."

Qianlizi's expression grew even more complicated. Her voice grew softer as she replied, "I suspect it is a calamity left behind from Qi Wang's Profound Heaven Hearing. Back then, the Azure Pond Sect and Purple Smoke Gate joined forces to scheme, and elders of your esteemed family were also involved. Now that two Grand Daoist Masters have fallen one after another, the north has begun to stir!"

Li Jiangqian let out a heavy breath. The woman before him continued, "Furthermore, with no Purple Mansion Realm cultivators above, can your esteemed family truly be at ease regarding the Fei Family matter?"

Li Jiangqian fell silent. As a dignified immortal family, it was impossible that they lacked the means to warn Li Ximing. There was no way to casually brush this off before the well informed Purple Smoke Gate.

He could only reply solemnly, "This junior harbors no other intent. It is simply that I am young and this matter is not for me alone to decide. It still requires the elders to deliberate together!"

Qianlizi choked at once, took a step back, and said through gritted teeth, "Please make a decision swiftly!"

Li Jiangqian had only taken one step when both of them raised their heads together as they sensed distant tremors. Both were Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. How could they fail to detect such subtle sounds? They exchanged a glance and hurried out of the hall.

As expected, torrential rain was pouring over the lake. Within the rain clouds that blotted out the sky stood cultivators one after another. Li Quewan and the others were gazing northward with faces full of concern.

In the northern sky, a sheet of golden light had shot straight toward the heavens. Blurred plumes of dust drifted upward as dark clouds vaguely gathered. The rain wavered, casting an ominous darkness over the scene.

Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators have fallen... More than one Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator has fallen in the direction of Locust Soul Hall...

"Where is Qu Buzhi?!"

He turned with a dark expression, only to find Qianlizi standing beside him, staring blankly toward the north. Her fists were clenched as her entire body trembled, seeming both fearful and excited. Her beautiful eyes were locked tightly on the north, her lips silently murmuring.

A chill ran through Li Jiangqian's body. He had long guessed that she was deeply entangled with a True Monarch. He simply did not know whether it was the same one.

He quickly stepped back, avoided her eyes, and shouted, "Senior!"