Chapter 590 445: The Origin and Outcome (Part 2)

Li Xuanfeng, seeing this, spoke in a deep voice:

"You need not worry. I will have my subordinates inquire further. Remain here for a few months, and when the time comes, let me meet this Yuanjiao as well."

"Alright."

Li Qinghong agreed naturally, as she had various affairs on this trip. First, she was timing the days to collect thunder and lightning; second, she wanted to investigate the Cave Heaven matter at the Qunyi Strait. At that, she spoke:

"I'm just afraid we'll alert the enemy."

"It's alright."

Li Xuanfeng replied:

"The feud between the Yu Family and ours is well known. To others, inquiring about this news comes naturally."

Li Qinghong, upon hearing this, added:

"Then I'll trouble Second Uncle to also ask Ning Heyuan. The family has found one or two treasures, and it's most appropriate for an elder to speak up."

Her own family had discovered an underground dark river in the mountains of the Great Jue Court, along with a red stone the size of a table and chairs, covered in white markings, and accompanied by a golden stone fragment—what kind of treasure it was, she did not know.

Li Qinghong could not discern the grade of this treasure, and feared that a careless inquiry would leave behind hidden dangers. She thought it best for Li Xuanfeng, backed by Zifu, to ask about it—in that way, no matter what treasure it was, they'd still have a way out.

Li Xuanfeng, hearing her description, nodded. With a flicker of Spiritual Sense, someone quickly stepped forward—it was none other than that Ning Family eldest brother, Ning Dingbo. Li Xuanfeng motioned:

"Go and invite Ning Heyuan over."

The main hall where Ning Heyuan resided was nearby; the man soon strode over and greeted the two with a smile. Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly and asked:

"Has there been any movement from Yuanwu Peak in recent years?"

Ning Heyuan was slightly taken aback, then showed understanding as he replied:

"Brother-in-law, Yuanwu Peak specializes in metal and iron. Regarding the Qing Song Temple matter... it's said Yuanwu Perfected Person has much interest."

'So it's still going to fall on Qing Song Temple!'

Li Qinghong confirmed in her heart. Li Xuanfeng pondered for a few breaths, then said gravely:

"I recall… [Qing Song Temple] is famed for its mastery of Dui Metal and Fire Virtue... In the ruins, aren't most of the finds Cultivation Techniques?"

"Indeed."

Ning Heyuan spoke softly:

"There are actually many ancient methods within the temple, but the Dui Metal and Fire Virtue techniques are from more recent ages and are the most numerous. Most can be cultivated and are the most coveted."

"The ruins are just waiting for a few to open them. The Sects are all preparing."

Li Xuanfeng had vaguely heard of these events before, but hadn't looked deeply into it and knew little. He said in a low voice:

"Tell me the details of what happened before and after."

"Very well."

Ning Heyuan nodded, and recounted with measured words:

"This all starts with that [Separation Fire Spear] Chu Yi."

"The Perfected Lord of Luoxia Cave Heaven was vast in Divine Skills and versed in the mysteries of Heaven and Earth. His rank entered the mortal world, incarnating as a human and journeying north. We minor cultivators knew not his intentions, but witnessed various bizarre events simultaneously arising from the void, stirring countless destinies."

He spoke somewhat mysteriously, but found himself at a loss for words, so continued directly:

"Meaning, when this Perfected Lord's reincarnated self descended into the world, a multitude of supporting characters for him also emerged in step, each rising everywhere, carrying destinies—they are sons of Heaven's Mandate."

'So that's how Xu Xiao came about…'

Li Qinghong was suddenly enlightened. So Xu Xiao, Tulong Jian, and others were originally only supporting roles in the Perfected Lord's drama. She had many realizations in her heart. Ning Heyuan continued:

"In the end, the Perfected Lord's reincarnation rather carelessly returned to Luoxia Mountain, leaving behind this group of Children of Fate, still wandering about South and North River, stirring up countless disturbances."

Li Xuanfeng frowned slightly and asked:

"Can Perfected Persons discern them?"

From what Li Xuanfeng knew of the Three Sects and Seven Doors, these people were all rare talents—even at worst, they were blades to be used. Such Sects wouldn't let them slip away.

Ning Heyuan let out a bitter laugh and softly replied:

"Not even Perfected Persons can recognize them. They only know a batch of such folk exists in the wilds."

"Though the Perfected Persons can't pick them out, those who stand out nine times out of ten will have the mark of fate upon them. The Sects have focused on a few… and recorded all their names in the Sect annals."

He paused here, then smiled and said:

"Your noble's Xu Xiao must be one of them, and as it happens, he has a connection with Red Reef Island..."

Noticing neither wished to dwell on this, he tactfully glossed it over, and continued softly:

"Qing Song Temple lies on the island. Entry always hinges on fate—how could the Perfected Persons tolerate such a thing?"

"Later, Yuanzhen Perfected Person from Jin Yu Sect took the lead, decided to gather this group together, and devised a way to send them all to Qing Song Island. Their fates and destinies would tangle together, and if left for ten days to half a month, one of them would eventually open the Cave Heaven."

"Qing Song Temple's Cave Heaven does not allow Zifu to enter; all the Zifu direct disciples need only wait for the right time to enter in a stream."

Only now did Li Xuanfeng and Li Qinghong make sense of things. Many events over time slowly linked together. Li Qinghong frowned and said:

"But… why not take these Children of Fate into the Sect under the names of the Sect's own sons and send them out? Afterwards, they can also be properly admitted…"

Ning Heyuan looked somewhat awkward and spoke quietly:

"These people… will be divided up among the Perfected Persons afterward… If you send them out as inner disciples, it looks too unsightly, and once brought into the Sect, they must be given Magic Artifacts. If you instead let them venture out as loose cultivators, they'll stumble across all sorts of cave mansions, and the Magic Artifacts on them will be no less… In the end, the Sect gets a free set…"

"So that's how it is… what a… crafty method."

Li Qinghong fell silent. This whole group of Children of Fate now strutted about triumphantly, glorious on the surface, but who knew at the end they'd all be used at Qing Song Temple in a bloody fight, only to fall into the hands of the Zifu, becoming the very keys to unlock the ruins? She could only shake her head in silence.

Ning Heyuan exhaled and said softly:

"This isn't even the first time… It was originally a reward Luoxia Immortal Sect promised to South River…"

Now that the matter had been laid bare, all the clues before and after became clear. Li Xuanfeng paused, speaking gravely:

"So in the end, Destiny has limits… it cannot contend with Zifu Divine Skills… Since you say this has happened more than once, has no one ever escaped?"

"Nothing is absolute… Naturally there have been cases."

Ning Heyuan gave a small laugh:

"Two hundred years ago, the Zifu of South River sought to open the [Dou Xuan Cave Heaven] at Qunyi Strait. One Child of Fate actually managed to beguile a Fairy of the Immortal Sect, see through the scheme, and, joining forces with another fated one, entered the Cave Heaven. Relying on their courage and fate, they escaped in the nick of time."

"This man was named Guo Shentong, now the Island Master of Red Reef Island. His Dao Companion is Fairy Tianwan of Jin Yu Sect. As for the one who partnered with him, his true name is lost, only his Dao name, Changxiao, remains."

He gave the two a deep look and softly said:

"He went into seclusion overseas, silently achieved Zifu, and returned openly to South River to establish a Sect—now the South River Changxiao Sect!"

The weight of this news left them both speechless. Even Li Xuanfeng raised his brows slightly, revealing some astonishment. Li Qinghong, surprised, asked:

"Then these two Sects… as for the Qing Song Temple affair… did they intervene to stop it?"

"As for the Qing Song Temple matter, those two Sects also take part nowadays."

Ning Heyuan showed a mocking smile and said in a low voice:

"Interests come first—who could ignore it? Are they supposed to let these Children of Fate go free, just to have them set up Sects and achieve Zifu in turn, thus squeezing their own room to survive? Of course the two Perfected Persons will not allow it."

Ning Heyuan laughed:

"I've only heard my uncles and elders say that these two… are actually the most wary of Children of Fate among all the Zifu! I do not know much about Changxiao Perfected Person within the sea, but Guo Perfected Person himself has personally defeated two such, using Zifu might to completely annihilate two brash Fetal Breathing youths."

He spoke as if telling a joke, yet there was a subtle tone of schadenfreude, with even a hint of jealousy, as he laughed:

"That year I witnessed it with my own eyes. That Fetal Breathing youth used his fate to overcome all obstacles, preparing to flee overseas, but who would have thought Guo Perfected Person would simply break through the Great Void and descend, combining Divine Skills and Sixth Grade spell—leaving not a sliver of chance. Even his nine clans were razed."

Ning Heyuan shrugged:

"He achieved Divine Skills through Destiny, so he understands the power of Destiny best—how could he ever be careless? He won't let any go…"