Chapter 1343: Joining Forces (II)

Li Ximing lifted the spirit artifact disk with both hands, examining it with great fondness. He flipped it over to find a back as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the heavy snow falling from the sky above.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

If I could study it a bit...

Li Ximing still had a very long road ahead before reaching Sovereign In Peril and Severed Crimson Arrowhead, but how could he not covet a Bright Yang spirit artifact? However, since it was said to be a registered item, it was not easy to bring up.

He smiled and said, "Truly formidable. Hearing a single sentence from Senior Kuiqi surpasses reading ten years of Dao collections."

This was not mere flattery. That description of Radiant Fire alone was testament to the other party's level. Li Ximing infused the spirit artifact with his divine ability and muttered inwardly,

After we fight, I will see the might of this spirit artifact and then test his tone. If the price is something I cannot afford, I can still try to obtain a spirit artifact from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. Having one in hand is always better than having none.

He had only just begun to ponder when he saw an elderly man walking through the snow. The man wore gray robes and carried a sword on his back. A gentle expression rested on an ordinary face.

When he landed on the platform, he cupped his hands in greeting, "Fellow Daoist Kuiqi!"

This person appeared somewhat honest and plain. If not for his cultivated divine abilities and the aura he carried, one might not even think him remarkable. He first paid his respects to Kuiqi, then turned and said, "Daoist Master Zhaojing. We finally meet at last!"

This man was none other than Chen Yin, the Daoist Master of the Yuyang Prefecture Chen Family, one of the three immortal families of Yue State, known as Daoist Master Yushui.

This Daoist Master was even older than Xiao Chuting. He had cultivated two divine abilities, and was quite renowned for his swordsmanship. Li Ximing quickly rose and performed a formal salute, "Greetings, senior!"

When Chen Yin achieved the Purple Mansion Realm, the Li Family was likely still nothing more than a small landowning household. This address of senior was entirely sincere. Chen Yin turned slightly to the side and smiled meaningfully, "We should have met long ago!"

Li Ximing felt deeply moved and nodded as he said, "Indeed. When I was able to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm, Chen Xuanyu of your esteemed family also lent his support. I have remembered this matter. Our two families have always been on the same path..."

Li Ximing's Radiant Sky Stone had been obtained from Wang Fu, and Chen Yin had sent Chen Xuanyu to assist at the time. Although it was merely a struggle of interests and could not be said to stem from goodwill toward the Li Family, now that the Chen Family was at odds with the Changxiao Gate, they were undoubtedly a potential ally of the Li Family.

Chen Yin sighed and said, "Xuanyu is a rare talent in our family. He is currently in seclusion and has yet to break through. Who knows how many years it will take before it ends!"

Kuiqi smiled and waited for the two to finish reminiscing. He then withdrew his gaze and stood up, as Chen Yin said gravely, "I have already inquired. Daoist Master Zhusheng of the southern border is not in residence, but Daoist Friend Luo was very enthusiastic and has already gone to Jiangbei."

Kuiqi was slightly surprised and replied, "Daoist Master Zhusheng will indeed find it inconvenient because of that Northern Dan family. But that Luo fellow actually dares to come? Very well then. Since he has the guts, all the better. Those devil cultivators only follow the wind and are of little real use."

By referring to him in this way, it was clear that the other party was not someone who followed the Orthodox Dao, and in Kuiqi’s mind, was of the same despised sort as Zhugong. One had to know that the Li lineage could be traced back to imperial descendants of an immortal dynasty and was now a renowned Orthodox Dao house. It was only after generations of fighting and dying against Buddhist cultivators that they earned Kuiqi's gentle regard. How could some unknown devil cultivator possibly be worthy of his notice?

For this very reason, even though the other party had come to offer support, he did not dare approach the gates of the Great Xiukui Temple. Instead, he had run off early to wait in Jiangbei, clearly harboring no small amount of fear and caution.

Chen Yin shook his head. "It is nothing more than trying to curry favor with Daoist Master Qiuhu[1] and urgently needing the Si Family's Dao lineage. Those who go barefoot fear nothing from those wearing shoes. When the time comes, he can simply slip south, and even the Emptiness Dao will have no way to deal with him."

Kuiqi nodded to show that he understood. Li Ximing could not help but ask, "Senior Houfu?"

Kuiqi shook his head as he replied. "When True Monarchs clash, it is the land below that suffers. The land of Shu has been struck by great drought, and the Western Plateau devil cultivators are moving east again. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with us, but those Western Plateau devil cultivators are descendants of Lesser Yang. Our Supreme Yang Dao lineage holds the Lesser Yang branch and has long had the rule of taking turns to guard the Western Plateau. Now it is Xiukui's turn, and our family has the spare capacity. Houfu must go and cannot be moved lightly."

He was clearly somewhat pressed for time. As soon as he finished speaking, his expression turned solemn. "Time is tight, so I will not say much. This time, we have invited Fellow Daoist Ling Mei to anchor the formation. Several Daoist Masters in Jiangbei will also judge the situation and come to lend support. We are bringing our Xiukui spirit artifact over... we must kill a few of the Merciful Ones to raise the banner!"

His expression gradually turned cold as he growled, "Back then, a battle broke out when the Buddhist cultivators entered Xu State. The Yue Cultivating Sect fought them until they cried for their parents and schemed to eliminate Jingzhan who was the most eager to head south. Only then did they restrain themselves for several decades. In the struggle between north and south, several Mahas suffered losses without shedding blood, and now they dare to push their luck.

"If we do not smash the dog brains out of these Buddhist cultivators, they will ride right over the heads of all the Dao lineages in Jiangnan!"

He stepped forward and flew into the great void, his face dark. The two followed closely behind. Li Ximing silently glanced at Chen Yin, the Daoist Master Yushui. The old man lowered his eyelids and seemed to let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

————

Jiangbei.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and the torrential rain continued to pour without pause. The longer it rained, the more terrifying it became. The White River Stream fared somewhat better, but the White Ye and White Sea creeks downstream breached their banks and changed course several times. No one knew how many commoners had died.

It was only because the great river flowed east and Lake Xian was connected with the Eastern Sea that the water levels stayed steady enough, allowing Jiangnan to remain unaffected. As the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators traveled northward, they found the lands along White Ye Stream littered with floating corpses. The sight made Kuiqi's face darken, his mood seemingly worsening.

After quite some time, he finally said, "What a calamity! Jiangbei was once so densely populated. Now, not a single household can be seen in these desolate lands. Aside from a few great families, there are hardly any commoners left!"

The two naturally did not dare respond. Once they crossed into the territory of Mount Xiaoshi, they did not reveal their presence. Kuiqi took out several ink black jade talismans and performed a calculation with his fingers. He signaled Chen Yin with a glance, who crushed the talismans, clearly summoning the Daoist Masters who had come to lend support.

Kuiqi continued to deduce with his divine ability, as if covertly observing. He let out a breath and turned, speaking in a low voice, "We will certainly encounter Daisi first. Leave him to Senior Yushui. A sword cultivator is always more efficient against him. As for the Merciful Ones, leave them to Zhaojing. One has already been eliminated by Zhugong. There should still be four remaining.

"There is no need to consider that Luo fellow. Zhelu will definitely send people out. Unless he acts personally, there is nothing to fear!"

He finished with utmost seriousness, "Only beware of the Three Retributions World Entering Lotus. This treasure artifact is no longer what it once was. After years of refinement, even I could fall victim to it if careless. Always hold back one or two measures of strength."

1. Referring to Ning Wan. ☜