Chapter 1339: Withdraw (II)

Great void.

Daoist Master Kuiqi walked through the air on his divine ability, his expression grim.

Zhugong had suffered severe injuries, so she would certainly not show herself. Kuiqi had no personal relationship with Zhugong, and she would never allow her badly wounded self to be exposed before anyone, not even Kuiqi who had just saved her.

This meant that even attempting to persuade the Daoist Master from the Eastern Sea was impossible, making Kuiqi grow even more gloomy as he ground his teeth inwardly,

Bestowal of the Crown is no weaker than any Purple Mansion Realm technique, but all of its abilities are aimed at a single target. It is extremely strong in single combat. She simply did not cultivate it deeply enough and ended up like this when facing a group of Merciful Ones. The Three Retributions World Entering Lotus had also appeared far too abruptly!

As a Daoist Master of the Great Xiukui Temple, Kuiqi naturally knew what kind of Dao lineage Bestowal of the Crown belonged to. There was even an Immortal Foundation of Bestowal of the Crown within the Great Xiukui Temple itself. Kuiqi might even understand Zhugong’s divine ability even better than she did.

"A perfectly good immortal Dao divine ability, yet cultivated into such an improper state... It seems she only obtained an incomplete Dao lineage... A Majestic Earth Dao lineage is not something so easily acquired."

After observing for a short while, Kuiqi could already infer the origin of her divine ability and sighed inwardly,

It looks like a substitute Dao rather than the Orthodox Dao. Yet the Tongxuan Dao lineage is too powerful. Even a narrow road becomes a path reaching the heavens today, which allowed her to reach the Purple Mansion Realm.

His expression soon darkened. His eyes narrowed as he pinched his fingers and calculated. Finally, he muttered, "Zhelu is still probing. He may not dare to truly push Tinglan and Ning Wan too far... But allowing the two of them to be trapped in the north, without enough manpower to strike back or reclaim their dignity, would severely damage the face of the Supreme Yang and only encourage the Northern Buddhists to grow more insolent."

Tinglan and Ning Wan both held many hidden cards, but Buddhist cultivators excelled at laying formations to trap others. Once caught off guard, it was difficult to break free. Kuiqi was not afraid that anything would truly happen to them, but rather that this matter was deliberately meant to cause the Supreme Yang Dao lineage to lose face.

This cannot be allowed to end like this. The cultivators may be unwilling to interfere in Jiangbei affairs, but that does not mean you Buddhist cultivators can scheme against us at will...

It is a pity that Hengzhu, because of what happened back then, became estranged and disheartened to the point of refusing to involve himself again. Otherwise, there would have been no need to endure such grievance.

The Chen Family has always been amicable and is not hard to persuade. Old Daoist Master Yuming is also easy to speak with. Daoist Master Shanbai by the sea is on good terms with my family as well. All of them can be counted on. Daoist Friend Ling Mei would very likely take action. Once he moves, this matter is already half settled. As long as Daisi's obstruction can be broken, Zhelu, no matter how formidable he is, cannot withstand attacks from both inside and out.

With the reputation of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, so many years of connections, and the target being the infamous Zhelu, a single call to arms would naturally gather many Daoist Masters.

"There is only one problem. Daoist Masters Yuming and Shanbai are both near the Yue Cultivating Sect. They were once under the Northern Sect, and the relationship has been awkward for a long time. Since the lord has gone to the Outer Heavens and the Yue Cultivating Sect sealing its mountain, the two of them may find it inconvenient to travel."

When Daoist Master Kuiqi mentioned the Yue Cultivating Sect, his tone became unexpectedly complex, sounding both close and awkward. Yet when he referred to the True Monarch of the Yue Cultivating Sect, the word lord was spoken with deep respect.

Yet the great void was utterly silent, with no one present at all, and the matter was passed over in a single sentence. Daoist Master Kuiqi then thought of that Daoist Master Zhaojing by the lake,

And he just happens to be absent. Divine abilities each have their own uses. Perhaps in single combat, Zhaojing is inferior to Zhugong, but when fighting the Merciful Ones, Heaven Venerating Gate is far more useful than Bestowal of the Crown!

Tinglan was right in her thinking. Li Ximing bears the Li surname after all. Even if the entire Li Family might not be able to stir even half a ripple under Heavenly Glow, it is still good to avoid suspicion. It is just unfortunate that something like this has happened now, fighting Buddhist cultivators. The Li Family would certainly be willing to lend a hand, and there would be even more reason to call him back.

Moongaze Lake...

He rode the wind upward and moved through the great void without stopping for even a moment, heading south along the great void. When he emerged, he found a lake under torrential rain.

Such violent weather clearly had the Li Family on edge. Mana lights flickered across the lake, and one could even see many cultivators dressed in Purple Smoke Gate attire. Daoist Master Kuiqi observed for a while before riding his divine ability down.

He immediately encountered a man dressed in black, with gray eyes and long brows. Upon seeing him, the man's eyes filled with shock. Riding the wind forward, he performed a grand salute with utmost respect and bowed as he spoke, "Greetings, my lord. I am Chen Yang of Moongaze. I was patrolling the lake and did not expect to encounter an immortal carriage. If my lord has any immortal instructions, please speak. I will certainly spur my mount and risk my life to deliver them."

Kuiqi waved his sleeve and said casually, "Bring me to your family head."

Those words already gave sufficient respect. This Daoist Master clearly would not waste time flying slowly. Chen Yang felt the colors before his eyes flip, and he was already manifesting before the great hall. Kuiqi said nothing, and Chen Yang tactfully went inside to report.

Kuiqi stood with his hands behind his back and examined the man's physiognomy. His divine ability held certain related subtleties, and he silently evaluated him,

This man has a sinister appearance. When bent, he is a hound or hawk. When standing upright, he is still a man of substance. For the Li Family to obtain such a servant is no less valuable than acquiring a fine dharma artifact. Moongaze Lake gathers talent and accepts the capable. Its atmosphere and fortune far surpass those of the southern prefectures.

No sooner had this thought arisen than a figure in crimson robes hurried out before the hall, lowering his brows and eyes as he spoke respectfully, "I do not know which Dao the Daoist Master’s immortal carriage hails from. I failed to welcome you properly and am deeply fearful. I beg your forgiveness."

The Daoist Master with flowing robes stepped inside, glanced appreciatively at the furnishings in the hall, took a seat in the main position, and raised his brows as he said, "Great Xiukui Temple. Kuiqi."

Li Jiangqian's guess had been correct in essence. He surmised that matters in the north had grown even worse and bowed respectfully in the hall. Kuiqi, however, observed him and frowned as he thought,

Li Zhouwei truly has some substance. Even this eldest son is hard to read. It is just that there are very few good figures among the direct lineage of the Wei's Li lineage.

He quickly focused on the matter at hand. He looked at the teacup on the table without touching it, and asked without preamble, "Where is Fellow Daoist Zhaojing?"

Li Jiangqian did not know his intent, nor did he know whether this person had been summoned by Qianlizi. He did not add anything extra as he replied respectfully, "Daoist Master, the ancestor should still be in the Eastern Sea."

As for any request for aid or return mentioned by Qianlizi, he did not speak of it at all.

Kuiqi merely traced the rim of the teacup with its jade lid once. His pale gray eyes sank as he said softly, "You must have sensed it as well. Something has happened in Jiangbei, with Buddhist cultivators taking the lead, retaliating against the Azure Pond Sect and the Purple Smoke Gate... In recent years, Purple Smoke Gate has had complicated grievances with Buddhist cultivators; the troubles Ning Tiaoxiao left behind back then were not few.

"As for the matters in the north, Zhugong has been seriously injured and will not show herself. The one who injured her was Daisi, who is also the one who ambushed Tinglan. Do you know Daisi?"

Li Jiangqian shook his head, and Kuiqi merely said, "Li Xuanfeng. He was the one responsible."

"Tinglan has now been ambushed, but I see that her life is not in danger. Presumably, they do not want her involved in Jiangbei affairs. I hope that Fellow Daoist Zhaojing returns. This is something your family cannot avoid."

The Daoist stared at the tea, his tone toward the two seeming even gentler than Zhugong's as he said, "I understand your concerns. I will not ask you to involve yourselves in Jiangbei matters. On the contrary, having Zhaojing take action against the Buddhist cultivators is precisely to prevent him from being forced to act later if Jiangbei spirals out of control. What is needed now is to strike the Buddhist cultivators hard. On this point, the Li Family has surely harbored hatred toward them for a long time as well."

Kuiqi looked at the two of them quietly and spoke, "Whether from the standpoint of personal ties or the overall situation, rescuing Tinglan quickly is the choice that best serves Moongaze's interests. It is the choice that allows Moongaze to avoid touching Jiangbei’s affairs. If Zhaojing extends a helping hand at this time, the Supreme Yang Dao lineage will naturally remember it."

He set down the jade cup in his hand and said softly, "Moongaze can judge the weight of the matter for itself."

Clearly, though he too wanted Li Ximing to return to Jiangnan, Kuiqi's status and manner of persuasion far surpassed Qianlizi's. He had laid out the pros and cons plainly, making them all the more compelling.

More importantly, this Daoist Master Kuiqi was an actual mover and shaker of the Great Xiukui Temple of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, a mid stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Who would gainsay his words?