“Stupid thing...” murmured Li Wushao.
Li Wushao’s eyes were gloomy as he stared at the blackened mark on his palm. He began peeling the ashes off bit by bit with mana, then carefully placed it back into the jade box.
***
Chengshui Tomb.
The deep blue Converging Water gently rippled, reflecting the demonic clouds above. Several figures stood upon the clouds. Some of them were clad in golden robes, while others were in flowing black robes. Regardless, they all had an immortal bearing.
Three Daoist Masters conversed quietly in the front while Li Xuanfeng stood with his bow. The misty blue cloud surrounding Si Boxiu wafted upward along his robes, and Li Xuanfeng felt waves of refreshing energy flow over him, gradually restoring his depleted mana.
Li Xuanfeng had been waiting at Chengshui Tomb for several days while the Daoist Masters meditated with their eyes closed. A few days passed in the blink of an eye to someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm, let alone for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. A single blink might encompass entire cycles of day and night.
When the Daoist Masters began to speak, Li Xuanfeng knew the moment had come. Si Boxiu’s cloud had already fully replenished his mana. A buzzing sound filled the air as a golden cloud flew out from the great void.
A Daoist Master stood on the golden cloud, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and he had a somewhat somber aura. Several young cultivators stood beside him, radiating glimmers of spiritual light.
“Fellow Daoist Tianyuan.” Daoist Master Chang Yun called out, and Zhang Tianyuan landed before them, nodding toward Daoist Master Qiushui. He was none other than Daoist Master Tianyuan of the Golden Feather Sect.
Si Boxiu spoke softly, “Sorry to trouble you, fellow Daoist.”
Three people descended from his cloud and stood beside Li Xuanfeng. There was one middle-aged man and two youths, all wearing the Azure Pond Sect’s robes. None appeared arrogant, and they nodded slightly toward Li Xuanfeng in greeting.
The Golden Feather Sect’s territory now stretches from Yue State into central Wu State. Their current strength far surpasses the Azure Pond Sect’s... Li Xuanfeng thought to himself.
The Golden Feather Sect was at its peak. Qiushui and Tianyuan often traveled, laying out strategies everywhere. There were two other Daoist Masters within the sect, one with the Dao title Tianhuo, under two hundred years old and often in seclusion, and the other, Tianque, known for his violent temper, stationed in Wu State.
The sect had many Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Notably, Zhang Yun, who was famous even during his Foundation Establishment Realm. He was now in seclusion for a breakthrough, reflecting a thriving, prosperous scene.
In contrast, the Azure Pond Sect had suffered nearly a century of turmoil under Chi Wei. The consequences were now clear; there was a dearth of strength. Chi Wei had fallen, Chi Buzi had disappeared, and both Yuanwu and Yuan Su had perished. In just a few decades, they had lost four Purple Mansion Realm cultivators! Once superior to Golden Feather Sect, they had now fallen to the level of a mere average sect.
As Li Xuanfeng’s thoughts ran their course, he saw Daoist Master Chang Yun raise an eyebrow and say, “So it’s the Gao Family of Qi State who arrives first.”
.bg-ssp-10081{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} As his voice faded, the great void before them split open, revealing a man whose attire was quite ornate. His upper garment was crisp and snow-white, while his lower robes were a vivid red. He also had a black cloak draped over his broad shoulders. He had a prominent nose and dark red eyes.
Behind him stood another man in dark red and black robes, holding a cavalry lance. He was clearly Gao Fangjing from earlier. The man in front must be Gao Fu, the Bo Lie King who had forged his divine powers with True Flame.
“Greetings to Bo Lie King!”
Yuan Xiu and the others treated him with due courtesy, greeting him one by one. Bo Lie King Gao Fu nodded solemnly in return, performing a meticulously formal northern salute as he said in a deep voice, “I am Gao Fu. Greetings to the esteemed Daoist Masters.”
He had a handsome beard and thick brows, with a broad and powerful chest. His garments were dignified, and surging True Flame was suppressed within his eyes. He did not resemble a northern barbarian king, but rather a noble from the ancient Zhou Dynasty famed for their mastery of Fire Virtue.
Daoist Masters Qiushui and Chang Yun nodded slightly. Bo Lie King stroked his beard and took a close look at Li Xuanfeng, tilting his head slightly as Gao Fangjing mouthed something softly behind him.
Just as Bo Lie King Gao Fu arrived, several figures emerged from the great void. Most of them were shaped like vivid golden statues; some with three heads and six arms, while others had five eyes and seven legs, covered densely with eyes. They radiated warm golden light, but had a solemn and majestic presence.
Li Xuanfeng and Lingu Rao were not ignorant novices. They lowered their heads at once, avoiding the overwhelming golden light.
The buzzing sound of scripture chanting was blocked by Si Boxiu’s cloud, and then came a chuckle, “Has everyone arrived?”
“White Horse Temple has withdrawn... the rest are all here.”
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