Chapter 633 471: The Marvelous Uses of the Mysterious Pattern

'Yuanwu Perfected Person!'

Li Xuanfeng's heart suddenly sank, but he noticed Tang Shedou's expression lacked the expected arrogance or dominance; instead, it seemed tinged with a reluctance to show his face, head lowered in slight fear.

And yet Yuanwu Perfected Person did not make a move, but only fixed his gaze—eyes traced with gold—quietly upon someone behind Li Xuanfeng, suppressed anger smoldering in his eyes, the tension in the air so thick it was nearly palpable.

Sure enough, a breeze swept by from behind, and a figure in cyan robes strode to stand before him, arms folded across the chest, a pale gold Jade Seal at his waist rocking gently. His tone was relaxed:

"Senior brother, it's been a long time."

This was none other than Yuansu Perfected Person, Ning Tiaoxiao! Yuanwu Perfected Person must have already learned of his disciple's death and had waited for Tang Shedou the moment he left the Cave Heaven; Yuansu Perfected Person was well aware he'd be sought, so had arrived here in advance.

"Tiaoxiao, he killed my disciple."

Yuanwu Perfected Person's gaze was cold, but was blocked by the Yuansu before him. Li Xuanfeng also knew better than to meet his eyes, and like Tang Shedou opposite him, lowered his gaze and eyes. The Yuansu in front, though, just laughed:

"Senior brother, you exaggerate! It was just one disciple, you have plenty more—our junior acted rashly, was overzealous in competing for a treasure… I expect you wouldn't have let Yu Muxian reach Zifu anyway; his days were numbered. At worst, we can compensate some Spiritual Objects and let it go…"

Yuanwu's expression grew darker, his voice low:

"He was no ordinary disciple!"

Yuansu seemed to know something, but deliberately deflected, replying carelessly:

"His talent was indeed quite good."

"Ning Tiaoxiao! There were many secrets on Yu Muxian—he may have gained some rare opportunity. Now these people have killed him, and ruined things for me!"

Yuanwu called out coldly, the two Spiritual Artifacts at his side spinning rapidly, but Yuansu didn't budge in the slightest, staring him down and saying bluntly:

"What rare opportunity could there be? Senior brother, don't fall victim to someone's trickery."

The atmosphere grew razor-sharp with tension—waves thundered quietly, then parted like a retreating tide, dividing with the two as the boundary: one side billowing with pale azure boiling seawater, the other golden, calm as a mirror.

The might and Divine Skills of both men clashed subtly in the air, the confrontation intensifying, causing Lin Chensheng and Kan Ziyu on the island to turn pale and, in panic, flee beneath the waves, not even stopping to tend their wounds, just desperate for escape.

Just then, two more figures appeared amid the Great Void; the leading Perfected Person wore a dark blue Taoist Robe, slicing through the air, white-haired and serene in demeanor.

The two in the sky facing off immediately halted; Yuanwu Perfected Person glanced lightly at the newcomer, his voice deep:

"Xiao Chuting?"

Xiao Chuting's arrival broke the stalemate instantly. He took a step forward, a slight smile on his face, addressing Yuanwu Perfected Person:

"It's been so many years, it's rare to meet elder again."

Yuanwu Perfected Person's expression was ugly, darting glances at the two; Xiao Chuting softly said:

"I've come to offer apologies… Our junior acted impetuously and cost Green Pond's disciple his life… The killer has now been punished… so past grudges are resolved."

Yuansu Perfected Person idly played with his Jade Seal, casually chiming in:

"Indeed, indeed, senior brother's favorite is that [Yi Gold Stone]. I'll bring some as a closure! Let's not dwell further here!"

At these words, Yuanwu finally found an out, his face relaxing slightly. But with Li Yuanjiao dead, anger simmered with nowhere to go, and suspicion crept into his heart.

Yuanwu suspected Yu Muxian harbored many secrets; to die so ambiguously further stoked his doubts:

'Could it be… this one deliberately staged a fake death to break free of me? Yet the Great Void event is about to begin… I cannot delay further.'

Perplexed, dark in expression and with a lowered voice, he said:

"Since both Taoist Fellows have spoken, I'll pay a visit in several days to discuss compensation."

Xiao Chuting and Yuansu seemed to have anticipated his concession; watching him leave, they saluted each other, Yuansu flinging the rest aside with a light remark:

"We are to gather in the Great Void soon; tend to your clan matters as you will—return to my Southern Border within three months."

He didn't wait for Li Xuanfeng's reply, just swept his robe, disappearing promptly.

In an instant, heaven and earth were hushed, leaving only pristine blue sea and a clear sky; as if the recent standoff and strife had never happened—serene, harmonious.

When all the Zifu had vanished, only then did Li Xuanfeng and his companion relax, rising together on the wind. Li Xuanfeng felt utterly spent, lacking even the energy to answer his niece's questions.

Riding the wind overhead, the two flew all the way to the edge of Salty Lake; Li Xuanfeng nearly tumbled from the clouds and was forced to land, sitting cross-legged to adjust his Qi.

Li Qinghong stood guard by his side, taking out the relics Li Xuanfeng had handed her earlier for safekeeping.

She dared not open the Jade Box, but held it closely in her arms for a while before carefully setting it aside, then pulled out the Jade Bottle at her waist—one of Li Yuanjiao's relics—a Foundation Establishment Magical Instrument, and observed it intently.

"This should be the Foundation Establishment magical artifact, the [Mysterious Pattern Bottle]…"

Thinking of its name, Li Qinghong's lips drooped again, choking back tears.

This Mysterious Pattern Jade Bottle was barely two fingers wide, simple yet elegant, covered in dark silver mysterious patterns. Li Qinghong hesitated briefly, then injected True Yuan.

The patterns on the Jade Bottle visibly flashed one by one, the dark silver Mysterious Patterns shifting and transforming; to her surprise, they combined and changed, shifting from misty cloud patterns to cleaved thunderbolt patterns, as though riddled with cracks.

The little bottle, having lost its master, was quickly mastered by her; with dazzling light shimmering above, it spat out a surge of black thundercloud.

"Hm?!"

The thundercloud just appeared, and Li Qinghong immediately suppressed it, turning worriedly to glance at Li Xuanfeng in the stone cave, then moved further away to study it carefully.

Only to see that from the dark purple patterned, silver-white-bottomed Mysterious Pattern Jade Bottle, a wisp of black cloud rose, soared into the air, gathering into a thundercloud that rumbled overhead, striking the earth with thunderbolts.

"The power isn't bad… at least enough to hinder a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

She considered a moment, then inverted the Mysterious Pattern Bottle, raised her hand, letting it float in the air.

"Boom!"

Thunder exploded, and purple bolts burst forth from the little bottle, whistling through the air, their momentum fierce as they crashed into the mountain peak, scorching it black.

"This is quite powerful! It's almost equal to a full-force strike from a typical Foundation Establishment early stage!"

Li Qinghong had seen her elder brother use this magical instrument many times; she immediately understood:

"It seems this artifact isn't as simple as it looks—it must change its power depending on the master's Immortal Foundation… Different inheritors have different effects… No wonder it's an ancient magical instrument! So that's how it works!"

She swept her Spiritual Sense over the bottle's base, finding a few tiny engraved words:

"Wei Country, Li Clan, Li Qianyuan."

Li Qinghong quietly stored it away, only to see the formation in front of the stone cave dissolving; Li Xuanfeng emerged, clad in dazzling Black Gold Armor, his face much improved, and glanced at the Jade Bottle at her waist, asking in a low voice:

"What is it?"