Chapter 500 395 Shi Kongheng_2

Trailing behind were two promising youths—An Siming and An Siwei, one carrying a spear, the other a sword, both with Qi Cultivation Levels, guarding the left and right flanks.

An Zhiyan might not have accomplished much, but he had good sons. Although these two brothers were not as talented as An Jingming in his prime, they were also practitioners at the Fifth Layer of Qi Training in their mid-twenties, very sensible, and always low-profile.

Surrounded by the crowd, Monk Kongheng squinted his narrow eyes, his pale hands clutching a Zen Staff; he spoke softly, and Li Xijun, with his strong Eyesight Power, could make out his words:

"Why do you all stop this monk?"

Li Xijun sighed inwardly, pondering:

"He appeared a bit early, and it's been several years since he was last active, making it hard to explain."

With that thought, he tugged at his older brother's sleeve, whispering,

"Please trouble my brother to disperse them first and bring Kongheng to Qingdu Mountain."

Li Xihong was momentarily stunned, then realized that Li Xijun had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training. Pleased and astonished, he complied, while Li Xijun rode the wind back to the mountain.

In a small forest atop Qingdu Mountain, Li Xijun casually set up some stone stools and tables and silently brewed tea.

The Li Family had long since figured out Monk Kongheng's personality; Li Xijun was not worried he wouldn't come. After a short wait, Kongheng indeed followed, riding the wind to the mountain.

The monk was slightly taken aback at first, disbelieving as he gave Li Xijun a couple of looks. He recited a long, unrecognizable honorific, then said:

"Young friend's cultivation level has advanced rapidly."

"I just got lucky."

Li Xijun responded. Kongheng had only met him a few times many years ago, which was still within the realm of understanding. Kongheng quickly redirected the conversation, politely saying,

"This monk needs to make a trip. Please allow this Taoist Fellow to let me go."

But Li Xijun had already figured out his character, staring straight into his eyes, he solemnly said,

"The Mage practices the Orthodox Law of the Buddhist Sect. I'll ask the Mage one question, are you going to Heavenly Thunder Peak!"

Kongheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly and nodded. Li Xijun, amiably, said:

"An elder of mine is currently attempting a Foundation Establishment breakthrough there, and it was the Mage's own suggestion. To go there now so abruptly and without a sound, if you cannot provide a reason, I'm afraid I cannot let you go."

Kongheng sighed softly, then replied,

"This monk practices an ancient method, and the opportunity for a breakthrough lies there. I hope the Taoist Fellow can accommodate me. If you trust my integrity, please allow me to go; I will only cultivate in a hut at the foot of Heavenly Thunder Peak."

Li Xijun looked at Kongheng's earnest eyes, and gritted his teeth,

"It's not that I don't want to help the Mage, but it's difficult to distinguish the truth in this excuse, and Xijun cannot take that risk."

No sooner had he spoken than his hand was already on his sword; he continued,

"Is the Mage compelled to go?"

Kongheng, with his slender eyes fixed on him, nodded and said,

"Indeed."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Green Ox River Embracing Formation atop Qingdu Mountain suddenly activated, shooting up nine beams of green light, intertwining as they rose. Li Xijun also drew his sword, its glow pointing straight at Kongheng, and said in a low voice,

"Mage, extinguish this thought and cease!"

Kongheng's body also exuded golden light, with the sound of jingling from his hand, his face as calm as still water, resisting Li Xijun's Sword Qi. Behind him, a giant patterned green ox appeared, its hooves hovering, about to stamp on his back.

Caught in the formation, Kongheng couldn't even flee by riding the wind; he was only able to withdraw the staff to block, getting pushed back several steps and losing a move, which put him in an even more passive position.

On the other side, Li Xijun was already casting a spell, his hands emitting a cold light, alongside a few strands of white Dharma light, which began to wind around Kongheng. He spoke again,

"Does the Mage have other intentions?! My family does not wish to provoke Buddhism. If you can speak the truth, I will not kill the Mage and will allow you to go north!"

As he uttered these words, his eyes shimmered with flickering white light, veiled in mist, watching intently for changes in Kongheng's expression. Seeing his complexion turn pale, with the Qing Ox now just in front of him, he still gritted his teeth and said,

"Kongheng's sincerity is pure, I have never deceived anyone!"

"Bang!"

No sooner had the words fallen than the spell, the green ox, and the sword qi all dispersed. Kongheng staggered, and Li Xijun hurriedly held him up, whispering,

"Xijun dares not trust lightly, and I hope the mage can understand... My family has been devastated by the Furious Moha, and we truly cannot afford a second occurrence..."

Kongheng didn't immediately respond, staring blankly at him for a moment. Li Xijun then said,

"Please wait outside the formation, and I will call upon Senior Wushao to escort the mage over!"

Kongheng was instantly overjoyed, his expression unable to maintain composure after repeated impacts, repeatedly saying,

"Many thanks, Taoist Fellow, for making this possible! Many thanks, Taoist Fellow, for making this possible!"

The chance for a breakthrough regained—what seemed a matter of life and death had suddenly turned into an impending breakthrough. Even this monk, who had practiced for many years, could not contain his excitement as he gravely said,

"Should the nobles have any requests in the future, Kongheng will personally attend to them! If Brother Xijun has any needs, Kongheng would face death unflinchingly!"

Kongheng was very clear-sighted; he truly owed Li Xijun a great debt of gratitude. Leaving behind a reassured "Don't worry!" he cheerfully rode the wind away.

After he vanished, a young man in black slowly emerged from the shadows. Li Xijun softly said,

"Please trouble Senior to make a trip and keep an eye on him... If there's any anomaly, the Yuan Family has people watching too. Communicate with them first."

"Alright."

Li Wushao, still somewhat shaken, looked at him once more before riding the wind away, leaving Li Xijun alone. His expression changed several times before he cast his sword onto a branch, looking dejected.

"Thud!"

The sword stuck in the pine tree, still buzzing. Li Xijun rubbed his brow and said,

"If anything goes wrong... my death wouldn't even begin to atone for it!"

Li Xijun was usually very good at reading people, so among the members of the Li Family, he was the one who trusted Kongheng the most and had the highest regard for him. He had put on this whole act simply to satisfy his own caution.

This monk's thoughts were clear, and his gaze before departure was filled with gratitude. In doing Li Xijun a favor, he was quick and straightforward in his response.

"If Kongheng really acts consistently with his words, I may trust him more in the future..."

Although that was the case, now that Kongheng had actually gone, the pressure remained squarely on Li Xijun. He was sweating on his cheeks despite his certainty, as the stakes were too high.

Summoning someone, he said tiredly,

"Has the Old Ancestor not emerged from seclusion?"

This time Li Yuanjiao was genuinely healing injuries in seclusion, not just undergoing normal cultivation training; otherwise, he would have been called out when Kong Tingyun arrived, instead of being treated like now, not daring to disturb him, feeling hamstrung.

Witnessing his confidant shake his head, Li Xijun let out a breath and thought to himself,

"If... If I caused harm to Auntie, even killing myself would not redeem me from this sin."

He dared not linger on the thought, sitting dazedly on a stone bench in the forest. Several moments later, he saw Li Ximing hurriedly approaching on the wind, urgently asking,

"What happened? Why was the Great Formation opened?"

Li Xijun opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. Li Ximing was even more indecisive—if he were informed of this matter, it would only add to his worries, further disrupting their plans.

So, he merely sighed and said,

"It's nothing... nothing... You just focus on your cultivation, and leave the rest to me."

...

A heavy snow, rare for Yi Shan City, blanketed the sky, with snowflakes falling chaotically. Li Xuanfeng, clad in golden armor and holding a longbow, stood silently on the city wall.

It took him decades to fully cultivate the "Clear Vision Spiritual Pupil," his eyes shimmering with Dharma Light. Scanning through the heavy snow, he simply stood on the wall and the demon creatures outside retreated a good distance, trembling in fear.

Li Xuanfeng's reputation was not grand in Yue Country, but in the Southern Border, his name resounded like thunder. His "Jin Geng Bowstrings" sounded and the arrows struck, leaving creatures either dead or severely injured—the demon generals he had slain numbered in the dozens.

Li Xuanfeng was lost in thought, not taking any action. Time had not left many traces on his face, but it had ravaged his soul and thoughts. From his appearance, he no longer portrayed the wild demeanor he once had.

Li Xuanfeng stood for a moment, and a streak of light approached from the north, landing beside him. A woman appeared, wearing a mysterious-patterned feather garment with her waist elegantly bound by a white silk band, her eyes and brow etched with a hint of sorrow. In a low voice, she said,

"Husband..."