Chapter 1808: Testing The Waters (II)
Chapter 1808: Testing The Waters (II)
The sky was dim and thick with clouds.
A great mountain rose beyond the broad plain along White River Stream in the heart of Jiangbei. Its earth was a dull yellow, and jagged boulders jutted from its slopes. Palaces and halls dotted the barren mountain, but there were no trees to be found.
Mount Tangdao had once been a formidable natural stronghold. However, the concealment of Prime Magnetism had disturbed its earth qi, and a transformation of Manifest Earth had then dissolved the Prime Magnetism, leaving the mountain hollow within. Once Situ Huo promptly occupied it, he then flooded it with Baleful Metal Qi. Like a dying old man given a harsh dose of medicine, the mountain had finally become a barren wasteland.
Seen from the northern plain, the barren mountain was dark and somber.
A man stood in the sky, looking to be in his thirties or forties. With a high nose and deep-set eyes, he stared grimly at the mountain for a long time without speaking.
It was Helian Wujiang.
Before long, a young man in a snow-white feathered robe descended from above, the long saber in his hand gleaming. He was handsome save for a small scar on his cheek, and his expression was somewhat gloomy.
Helian Wujiang looked at his junior and asked, "Has the Tuoba Family arrived?"
Helian Wumeng replied quietly, "Word has come that the Tuoba Family has set up camp at Lower Luo. Tuoba Lan led them here himself... The Li and Ni Families of Western Shu, who had been lingering near Liangzhou, have withdrawn. Now they're circling outside Mount Xiping instead.
"Once those two families stopped supporting that position, Murong Yan took it at once... I hear he's cultivated [Rebirth Spring] and has reached the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm."
But Helian Wujiang shook his head. "There's no need to quarrel with Tuoba Lan. He may be of my generation, but he has the Tuoba Family behind him. Let him do as he pleases for now. Be patient."
Helian Wumeng raised his brows coldly. "If his surname weren't Tuoba, what would he amount to? He reached the Foundation Establishment Realm around the same time you did, uncle. He used every rare treasure he could get his hands on and still lost to you. He fought dishonorably, too, and he's held a grudge ever since!"
Helian Wujiang had been born when the Helian Family was at its lowest point. Even so, he had reached the Purple Mansion Realm early, advancing no more slowly than a descendant of a Golden Core Realm cultivator like Tuoba Lan, who had cultivated in a grotto heaven. He had been a genius of the highest order. After reaching the Purple Mansion Realm, however, he had gradually fallen behind people like Tuoba Lan.
Still, he seemed untroubled and said calmly, "I hear the King of Dai has completed all five divine abilities. The young lord has reached the Purple Mansion Realm too. Don't provoke Tuoba Lan. You've only just formed the [Imperial Iron Pill] and haven't mastered the other two treasures yet. You should keep a low profile and build your strength."
The young man shook his head. "Situ Huo is holding the mountain, and Grand General Yang can send reinforcements at any time... There's been no major movement from Jiangjun Prefecture. But... there's news from the north bank near Tingzhou."
Helian Wujiang raised his brows as his junior said with a smile, "Sima Yuanli went with Grand General Yang's orders, but his talks with Li Ximing seem to have gone poorly. He went twice in three days and came back disappointed both times. He couldn't give General Yang an answer... and was left waiting outside the great hall for quite a while."
Helian Wujiang was skilled at reading such situations. He shook his head. "They're desperate to get Li Zhouwei out of seclusion... Li Ximing must be taking a hard line. They had no choice but to send Sima Yuanli to persuade him, but Sima Yuanli doesn't want to offend either side, and he isn't forceful enough. How could he possibly change Li Ximing's mind?"
His junior added, "If they sent someone more forceful, they'd offend the Li Family..."
Helian Wujiang shook his head. "You're giving the Li Family too much credit. Without Li Zhouwei, they'd be no different from the Lingu Family. Look at those two Li princes... Li Jiangxia and Li Jianglong. They were transferred north against their will all the same. Why? To force Li Zhouwei out of seclusion...
"The two of them are guarding White River Stream, and the danger is growing by the day. Li Jiangxia was badly wounded last time. What will happen next? Don't underestimate Grand General Yang!"
Helian Wumeng looked thoughtful. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were rolling across the south, and a streak of light sped out of them into his palm.
The Helian Family's fierce general read the message carefully and paused in surprise. "There's news from the Tuoba Family!"
Helian Wujiang turned to him at once. His junior said, "Tuoba Lan and the others have besieged the mountain for several days. They used a treasure to surround it and, sure enough, a transformation involving Banished Essence was taking place within Mount Tangdao! Yang Ruiyi... has very likely gone north to reinforce the defenders and is now trapped inside!"
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes.
With the Tuoba Family's arrival, the Zhao State coalition was already strong enough to overpower Great Song. Western Shu was eager to make matters worse for Song as well. If the fighting escalated into a full battle, Great Song would be at a severe disadvantage on the main front.
Yang Ruiyi was the reason they had held back for so long!
"He comes and goes without a trace with that Banished Essence spirit treasure. If he catches anyone in a moment of vulnerability, he could very well kill them before anyone knows what's happened and turn the whole situation around. That's what has made everyone hesitate..."
But as Western Shu's people gradually withdrew, Helian Wumeng understood that the Pavilion of Profound Order had long been considering a major push south!
"Now that the Tuoba Family's demonic barrier has descended... If a large force of cultivators with divine abilities can keep Yang Ruiyi and Situ Huo pinned down at Mount Tangdao, our forces can drive straight through on the other side. Liu Bai is the only one there who can put up a fight. That would be more than an advantage. It would be a chance sent from heaven!"
Helian Wujiang's expression grew grave. "Tuoba Lan intends to... press the attack on Mount Tangdao and force Yang Ruiyi to show himself!"
However, Helian Wumeng merely smiled. "I think he intends more than that! He's simply taking advantage of the situation... And even if Yang Ruiyi has a scheme, so what? Zhao State's forces are now strong enough to face him in open battle. They're ready for a major clash!"
Disdain appeared in his eyes as he continued, "Li Zhouwei hasn't shown himself in years. Those great figures must be growing impatient, and Ch'i Lanyan is urging them on. They certainly won't let him finish healing! As for the casualties, who cares?"
He put away the message and lowered his gaze. "I haven't seen him in years either. This order gives me the chance to cross the river and see what he can do now!"
Helian Wujiang's gaze sharpened as he warned him, "You should go, but be careful... You may have as many divine abilities as he does, but the [Imperial Iron Pill] alone won't let you come and go as you please in front of him!"
The young man drew a deep breath, barely containing his excitement. He touched the scar on his face and said, "Don't worry, clan uncle... If I can survive a brush with death beneath his halberd, I'll surely make great progress. Besides, Li Zhouwei and I... we're much the same."
A dark, unsettling look spread across his handsome face. "To avenge my forebears, I'll have to turn the world upside down. With an opponent like him, I can temper the [Imperial Iron Pill] in a fight for my life. If I can't survive Li Zhouwei, I'll only die a worse death later...
"Even if all else fails, they can't bear to see me wield all three of the Helian Family's royal artifacts. They'll come for me sooner or later. Dying beneath his halberd might at least win me some sympathy from those great figures. It would be a satisfying end, too."