Chapter 1826: The Matter Of Jeweled Fang (II)
Chapter 1826: The Matter Of Jeweled Fang (II)
Moongaze Lake.
Colors roiled across the sky. A dense expanse of purple shrouded the heavens, clashing with the colors to the west as wave after wave of light spilled down.
Moongaze Lake had suffered repeated calamities, but they had always been concentrated on its northern and eastern shores. After all, the western shore had Mount Xiping at its back, and the southern shore had Mount Dali. Both had long enjoyed peace, free from the threat of outside enemies, and were also the most prosperous areas.
The western shore was rich in mineral deposits, and had always been prosperous. During the Azure Pond Sect's era, Daoist He had established rules while governing the shore, keeping bloodshed to a minimum. Later, when the Li Family reclaimed the western shore, the Yang Family had helped broker the arrangements, allowing them to take it without spilling blood.
Thus, this area had never even experienced the murderous clan schemes that plagued the southern shore. At most, a demonic cultivator or two had appeared. It had enjoyed peace for centuries. But today, countless banners flew atop Mount Xiping, which had always towered into the clouds. The glittering golden word [Shu] could just barely be seen amid the swirling mist. Huge flying vessels streamed in, and countless cultivators descended on the wind from above.
The entire western shore was in chaos. Battle cries rose to the heavens, and fighting raged everywhere. Yang Ruiyi and the two members of the Li Family had been right in their deductions. Shu's troops had arrived!
Li Ximing had placed the greatest importance on Moongaze Lake's safety. Guangchan's record was so vile that he could not be certain the man would head north after emerging from Baiye Capital Immortal Dao. If Guangchan risked heading south and attacked Moongaze Lake, would that not threaten their very foundations?!
Thus, Yang Ruiyi had arranged for Li Ximing to remain at Moongaze Lake at first. Unlike Li Zhouwei, who had already prepared to head north, Li Ximing only set out after personally witnessing from the river that the forces lying in ambush within Baiye Capital Immortal Dao were heading north rather than south. As a result, he arrived at Baixiang Valley a little later than Li Zhouwei.
The one left to guard this place was Daoist Master Wenqing of Purple Smoke Blessed Land, who had been stationed specifically to defend against Western Shu!
At this moment, the Daoist Master held a Purple Qi Dharma Conch as she exchanged spells with a white-robed Daoist Master above Mount Xiping. The white-robed man held a treasured blade, his expression calm. He was none other than Great Shu's Military Commissioner of the Desert Pacification Army, Daoist Master Hongyan of the Ni Family!
This Daoist Master had once supported the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, enjoyed close ties with the Sword Gate, and was familiar with Purple Essence. Now that he had come at the head of an army, he faced Wenqing with effortless composure, plainly having strength to spare!
Hongyan possessed two divine abilities, after all. Besides receiving the Sword Gate's Dao lineage, he had also acquired quite a few arts from Mount Changhuai. With both advantages, his strength was considerable. Fighting Wenqing placed him under no strain, and he even seemed to be showing her some mercy...
In the sky, Daoist Master Wenqing naturally knew that her opponent was holding back. The conflicting emotions in her heart were beyond words.
To think things have come to this!
Back then, she, Kan Ziyu, had belonged to Purple Smoke Gate's direct lineage and held an exalted position. She had also been acquainted with Cheng Gao, which had led her to visit the Ni Family. In fact, Daoist Master Hongyan had met her then and placed his own grandson from the direct line under her tutelage.
The child was named Ni Zan. He had returned to his clan long ago and should now have reached the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Had the situation remained as it was a century earlier, Hongyan would now have been a Daoist Master with whom she shared an excellent relationship!
Yet now we have to fight to the death here.
Her emotions were tangled. Little did she know that Daoist Master Hongyan, who appeared so calm and at ease, was inwardly shaken to his core and consumed by dread.
Hongyan had actually only attained his rank recently, gaining his divine abilities in the same year as Tulong Jian. His success had depended largely on the Sword Gate's gifts. Without the spirit item bestowed by the Sword Gate's old Daoist Master, he would have long since become a handful of dust!
Ever since Qing Jifang had assigned him to the great desert, Daoist Master Hongyan had felt something was amiss. Sure enough, now that someone was needed to cross Mount Xiping and attack Moongaze Lake, he was the one they had sent!
Daoist Master Hongyan saw through it all.
What schemes could that bastard Qing Jifang possibly have in mind... He knows I've always been close to the Dao lineages of Yue State, so he's sending me to attack and force a blood feud between me and the Li Family!
A chill filled his heart, leaving him trembling within. He's just like his father, pitifully petty. This is revenge... revenge for what happened that day! He's making an example of me!
Back when Great Song was founded and Li Zhouwei was granted the title of King of Wei, Qing Jifang had brought him and Li Muyan east.
Daoist Master Hongyan had private ties with the Li Family of Mount Tan and knew something of Li Muyan's character. The old fellow had come intending to provoke Tingzhou to protect his clan. But Li Zhouwei's terrifying divine abilities had nearly killed him in a single exchange, forcing him to call urgently for Qing Jifang. The Daoist Master from Mount Changhuai had then been dragged into the fight, beaten, and thoroughly humiliated.
Afterward, Li Muyan had returned to his mountain to recover, fully satisfied. Daoist Master Hongyan, meanwhile, had watched the struggle from the sidelines throughout, unwilling to commit his full strength. Qing Jifang had secretly held a grudge against him ever since, leading to today's events.
Qing Jifang naturally knew that Daoist Master Hongyan would not fight with all his strength. But those aboard the flying vessels behind him and the cultivators below would not merely put on a show. Even if the Ni Family had no wish to offend Tingzhou, there was no room for explanations once they met on the battlefield. Once a flying sword struck, one side or the other had to die. Blood was already flowing in rivers! The message could hardly have been clearer.
You don't want to offend the Li Family? Then I'll make sure your family leads the charge!
What left Daoist Master Hongyan feeling even more helpless and uncertain... was knowing that the dharma boats carried more than just his Ni Family's cultivators and the desert garrison. There were also one or two contingents that the Shu court had deliberately planted among them.
Daoist Master Hongyan barely needed to think to understand why those people were here. The cultivators at the lake could not distinguish one group of Shu cultivators from another. These contingents would simply act in the Ni Family's name to slaughter people across the western shore and target those few members of the Li Family's direct line!
He could only seethe inwardly, his heart sinking into gloom, After this battle... Tingzhou will likely hold a grudge against my Ni Family!