Chapter 780: True Essence (I)

Thoughts raced through his mind like lightning. Since no one from the Li Family had spoken, Miao Ye had no choice but to continue and said quietly, “I came this time to resolve a certain misunderstanding...

“My family uncle... encountered a fairy from your esteemed family in the Eastern Sea and, upon suddenly seeing a senior’s dharma artifact, became overwhelmed with emotion.

“He’s reckless by nature and when he saw the spear, he couldn’t restrain himself. I heard he had a dispute with one of your seniors... I came precisely because of this.”

Though Miao Ye looked rough, his words showed a shrewd mind. His phrasing was tactful, but the Li Family wasn’t so easily misled. Everyone knew whether Miao Quan had acted on impulse when he encountered Li Qinghong in the Eastern Sea or had ulterior motives. Li Ximing showed no reaction, and both Li Xuanxuan and Li Chengliao’s expressions only had the thinnest veneer of politeness.

Miao Ye let out a quiet sigh and said solemnly, “My family uncle was cut down by the head of the Shen Family and nearly lost even his demonic core. He has already paid the price. May your esteemed family take some satisfaction from his miserable end, and perhaps not pursue the matter further...”

Li Ximing stared at him silently and only spoke after Miao Ye had finished, “These words are better said to my aunt. Surely, fellow Daoist, you didn’t come all this way just to apologize. Speak your true purpose.”

Miao Ye could only lower his head and reply, “To speak frankly, the spear known as Duruo once belonged to our Thunder Island... Long ago, one of our elders left to train in the mainland and ended up with enmity against Azure Pond Sect and Golden Feather Sect.

“This grudge... was rather convoluted. The Golden Feather Sect accused our elder of stealing cultivation techniques, while Azure Pond Sect claimed he harbored remnants of the Lingyu Gate and helped a direct descendant of the Chen Family escape...”

Miao Ye smiled awkwardly. “Heaven bears witness that our Miao Family has practiced thunder arts for generations. At most, we know a few spells for summoning and directing lightning... Though some later called it demonic, who among us uses blood arts or shamanic spell arts? Let alone any high-level thievery! Surely someone was stirring trouble behind the scenes!”

Uncertain of the Li Family’s stance toward Azure Pond Sect and Golden Feather Sect, Miao Ye chose his words carefully. Though he was polite on the surface, his implication was clear. They had falsely accused and persecuted his family.

The smiling man didn’t dare speak harshly before the Li Family, but he had undoubtedly cursed both sects behind closed doors.

For now, he simply said, “I came here today to ask about the origin of that spear. I hope your esteemed family might be willing to share some information... If it came from somewhere else, was my elder’s body perhaps found with it?”

Li Chengliao snorted noncommittally and quietly asked Li Xuanxuan beside him, “This matter goes far back... Elder, do you recall anything?”

Miao Ye immediately grew nervous as he looked at the elderly man. Yet he found it reasonable and thought,

That’s right, only by asking these senior elders of the family can I hope to learn anything.

Li Xuanxuan naturally refused to speak first. Instead, he first asked, “I wonder what Immortal Foundation your elder possessed, and what protective treasures he carried? I may have some memory of this. If you could share a few details, perhaps I might recall more.”

Miao Ye quickly nodded. “My elder’s name was Miao Dushan, a man of extraordinary talent. He merged thunder arts with devil techniques through his own efforts and established the current Dao lineage of Thunder Island. He likely carried several precious devil techniques, and his mount was a creature called the Kanxiu Python. It was large in size and skilled in manipulating water currents.

“He also had a spirit artifact called the Heavenly Crimson Pearl, blood-red in color... it should be no larger than a palm. The records of it have long been lost. I can no longer recall its exact form.”

Though the speaker had no special intent, the listener paid close attention. Li Xuanxuan, who had witnessed the events himself, grew alert. He clearly remembered that the Duruo Spear had been found in a snake demon’s cave.

That very demon cave lay beneath their feet and was connected to Mount Qingdu. It was precisely where the Qingdu Cave Dwelling now stood!

Back then, we acquired several items, two manuals, one spear, and a single pearl... The Blood Dharma Manual was claimed by Zhang Yun of Golden Feather Sect, while the River Mountain Sutra still rests unread in the treasure vault. As for the blood-red pearl... it was found on the snake demon’s remains. Zhang Yun claimed it was a demon core and left with two items.

Li Xuanxuan’s pupils widened, and his mind roared like thunder,

It wasn’t a demon core! How could it possibly be a demon core?!

Waves of shock surged through his heart. The truth he’d suddenly uncovered left a bitter taste. He had heard the account directly from Li Tongya, and even remembered the exact conversation between them.

“Zhang Yun and my uncle each chose one item. Zhang Yun, being slightly stronger, picked the ‘demon core’ first...”

At the time, the Li Family had barely owned any dharma artifacts. Li Tongya was merely a novice cultivator then, with a battered artifact of his own. How could he have recognized the worth of a Foundation Establishment Realm artifact?

A demon core from a Foundation Establishment Realm creature... How could that possibly compare to the Duruo Spear?!

Later, as the Li Family acquired more Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts and saw Li Wushao’s demon core, they knew it merely emitted a cold aura. It was never on par with a real dharma artifact. The family often explained its uniqueness as the result of a failed Purple Mansion Realm breakthrough. But after hearing Miao Ye’s words, how could Li Xuanxuan not understand now?

Of course... No wonder Zhang Yun was so composed. He quietly walked away with a Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact! The things in that cave weren’t left by a snake demon at all, they were remnants of Miao Dushan, guarded by the Kanxiu Python!

Even the claim that Zhang Yun had come to retrieve the Blood Dharma Manual, it likely wasn’t Golden Feather Sect’s at all! It was Miao Dushan’s personal manual! He took the most valuable item and left behind the Duruo Spear, which clearly pointed to their identity. Of course the Miao Family would eventually come looking for answers...

If not for Qinghong’s overwhelming strength and fortunate timing in encountering Miao Quan, she likely would’ve been attacked outright. Her life would’ve been in danger. And once a grudge like that took root, who would care about right or wrong anymore?

If we had clashed with the Miao Family’s Purple Mansion Realm cultivators... there wouldn’t even be a chance to speak...

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

A fleeting thought flashed through his mind, and he couldn’t help but feel a heavy gloom settle over his heart,

Zhang Yun wasn’t even the foremost among Golden Feather Sect’s younger generation back then, nor was he yet one of the cultivators closest to Purple Mansion Realm. But his methods were already clear to see... He surpassed Chi Zhiyun by a good mar

gin.

As Li Xuanxuan’s thoughts circled, he noticed Miao Ye still staring blankly at him.

Li Xuanxuan hesitated, then asked first, “Has your esteemed family come for the Duruo Spear?”

Miao Ye hesitated for a moment before answering, “Not exactly... We’ve searched for our elder for centuries. Our first wish is to retrieve his body and spirit shell to return them to the island. Second, we hope to find the whereabouts of the Heavenly Crimson Pearl. As for the devil techniques and dharma artifacts, those are merely a regretful loss.”

After all, it’s a Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact. No family would easily give that up...

Li Xuanxuan fell silent for a while, unsure how to respond. He could only say quietly, “Fellow Daoist, I cannot say.”

Miao Ye didn’t seem surprised. His eyes stayed fixed on the elder as he spoke quietly, “I understand your meaning, elder, but I cannot report back to my family without some cause or context. They will inevitably grow suspicious of your esteemed family.”

Fearing that Li Ximing might erupt in anger from his seat above, he deliberately emphasized urgently, “A Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact! Our Daoist patriarch greatly values it. Were it not for the North-South conflict, the other families’ watchfulness, and poor timing, the old master would have come in person long ago!”