Chapter 709 511: Two Sources of Information (2)

"No need for courtesy. The founder of my sect was a cultivator from Wei Country, so there's some affinity after all."

As he spoke, a leisurely radiance rose in those handsome eyes, a deep blue that fell upon Li Xuanfeng. He gave a light "hmm?"

Yuan Su seemed to have anticipated this, poured a cup for himself, and drank. Perfected Person Pu Yu said softly:

"Your blood and Qi are truly outstanding, born with divine power—this is indeed a fine body."

Saying this, he made no effort to avoid Li Xuanfeng, letting out two soft laughs, and asked:

"Does Senior Yuan Su intend to settle into this body?"

Li Xuanfeng's expression did not change; he listened in silence. Yuan Su gave two muffled chuckles, the mist upon his face wavered slightly, then he drawled lazily:

"Forget it. I'm not used to others' bodies, and have no patience for so many spells. If I truly wished it, I'd have reached Zifu peak long ago—what need would there be to cling to life as I do now?"

Perfected Person Pu Yu chuckled, replying:

"The cultivators within the seas are all dull and rigid. You, Yuan Su, are the dullest among them."

Yuan Su laughed heartily, answering:

"If I really practiced the art of prolonging life, even Chi Wei would laugh himself to life again. That Bili Immortal Sword might break open the Great Void and chop off my head."

But Perfected Person Pu Yu fell silent, then murmured:

"Li Jiangqun…"

Yuan Su waved a hand and simply asked:

"What news from the Northern Sea?"

Perfected Person Pu Yu replied:

"Qing Jifang and others found signs of spirit mechanism shifting in the Northern Sea. They journeyed all the way to the far north, then jade rain poured down in torrents, so terrifying that everyone fled at once."

"So it's in the Northern Sea."

Yuan Su was unsurprised, responding:

"All this fighting among Xiuyue Sect is mere pretense; they prepared in the Northern Sea long ago. I believe Qing Jifang was specially ordered by that one on Changhuai Shan to search out that place."

"Exactly right."

Perfected Person Pu Yu nodded, his tone warm:

"Since it's been discovered, there is no use hiding it. In a few days, Xiuyue Sect is sure to send out formal invitations to witness the ceremony."

Having spoken this far, the two brought up Yuanwu to mock him, then lost interest in continuing. Perfected Person Pu Yu cupped his hands in farewell, looked at Li Xuanfeng with a smile, and said:

"This one's will is firm, able to withstand the red dust, with much promise ahead. Taoist Fellow, why not break through Tang Jin Sect, and retrieve the 'Tianxu Polished Gold Scripture'?"

Clouds and mist rippled across Yuan Su's face; the visage beneath was a little sinister. He merely replied:

"That brat Situ yet lives. I fear traps await."

Even as these words fell, Perfected Person Pu Yu had vanished. Only then did Yuan Su disperse the clouds shrouding his face.

Perfected Person Pu Yu could manipulate Yin and Yang, knew life and death, and hailed from overseas. If he didn't conceal himself, with Yuanwu's fate as a warning, he too might fall prey to others' schemes. Thus, Yuan Su always veiled his appearance.

Seeing the man gone, Yuan Su finally relaxed, turned to Li Xuanfeng, and asked:

"What result?"

Li Xuanfeng replied:

"I have completed ninety percent of Perfected Person's orders. The rest may be hiding in the mountains or have yet to leave their islands. Xuanfeng is incompetent and cannot grasp the last thread."

Yuan Su shrugged indifferently, sweeping up a large pile of storage bags from the floor. Indeed, none had been opened; he tapped them twice on the desk.

Soon footsteps sounded at the cave mansion's door—Ning Heyuan hurried forward. Yuan Su picked up the whole lot of storage bags and tossed them into his arms, speaking offhandedly:

"Take them to Chi Zhiyun! As for what to say, you know it in your own heart."

Ning Heyuan bowed deeply and quickly withdrew. The clouds and mist drifted, soon leaving only Yuan Su and Li Xuanfeng once again.

Yuan Su leaned slowly back against the jade throne, a touch of fatigue on his face, then said softly:

"Don't go out these next days. Yuanwu will surely go mad for a while. Wait until he passes on, then accompany me to the Northern Sea to observe the ceremony."

Li Xuanfeng assented and retreated slowly, not raising his head until he reached the cave mansion's entrance. In that dazed moment, he saw not Yuan Su seated on the jade dais amid the white mist, but a pool of pure, blue-green water.

The sound of a sobbing flute arose, drifting past his ears. Not until Li Xuanfeng exited the cave mansion did he slowly recover, inwardly sighing:

"Yuan Su's days are numbered."

...

Qing Song Island.

Qing Song Island is not large; only in recent years did it flourish with spirit mechanism, and the earth veins grew robust. The mountain itself rose higher severalfold, and mountain ranges below sea level gradually emerged. Aside from the lands carved up by various sects, some Foundation Establishment forces from overseas also established outposts here.

But ten years flash by like a finger snap. The spirit mechanism on Qing Song Island has waned year by year. After all, it was never truly a blessed land; it only once hosted an ancient cave heaven, which made the qi dense. Now it is slowly returning to its former state.

The Green Pond Sect, being a renowned force in these seas, occupied their own peak. Green pines grew everywhere, and the north wind howled.

Li Xizhi sat quietly in the mountains. Beside a jade table stood Li Yuexiang, elegant in drifting robes, sword in hand, with a trace of firelight about her. Thanks to the fortune of the local spirit mechanism, Li Yuexiang's progress has been rapid these years, already surpassing the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.

As always, Li Xizhi was composed and poised, his cultivation had broken through to Foundation Establishment middle stage, his spells ever more refined. He merely quietly pondered spells, with all sorts of rainbows and lights surrounding him—quite mysterious.

After a while, someone came to report:

"Reporting to the Taoist, Han Shizhen comes to pay a visit."

"Let him come up."

Hearing that Han Shizhen was come, Li Yuexiang made an excuse and quickly withdrew. Li Xizhi put away his jade slip, then saw a middle-aged man mounting from below, smiling heartily, and said:

"Greetings, Taoist!"

This man was the head of the Han Family of Eastern Liu. His cultivation was decent; as a youth he had personally visited the Li Family, building a connection, and joining them in selling Wanling Flower.

The Han Family was not far from here. Han Shizhen was sociable and shameless, making connections everywhere. Upon hearing there was a Taoist from the Li Family guarding here, he grew interested, visited more than ten times, offering gifts and currying favor, and finally got permission to come up the mountain.

Since the man and his family had ties with the Li Family, Li Xizhi went along with him. Years of persistent effort did get him some rapport.

Han Shizhen's smile was warm; after exchanging some pleasantries, he finally spoke:

"This time I have news to inform the Taoist."

When Li Xizhi looked over, he put on a solemn expression and said gravely:

"Taoist, I have learned that Yuan Chengdun is likely already deceased!"

"What?"

Li Xizhi frowned. Han Shizhen quickly took a green stone from his sleeve and handed it over, saying in a low voice:

"A few days ago, a band of loose cultivators came from the Qunyi Strait, bringing many spiritual objects to sell in our marketplace—things the staff had never heard of."

"So I inspected them myself, pored over several ancient tomes, and finally recognized this as the 'Evil-Suppressing Stone,' long vanished from overseas, with only a few extant inland… I carefully questioned those loose cultivators, and learned they had simply fallen from the sky, landing in the sea."

"I heard Yuan Chengdun cultivated 'Fu Qingshan.' After his death, he should transform into this spiritual object! My suspicions were aroused. I searched carefully, and indeed found more on the sea floor there."

Li Xizhi was far-sighted, and instantly grasped his meaning, saying softly:

"You mean… he died within some secret realm, became a spiritual object, returned to heaven and earth, but the secret realm expelled him, tossing everything into the sea?"

"Taoist is indeed insightful!"

Han Shizhen flattered him. Li Xizhi, grateful for his teacher's kindness and much concerned for Yuan Tuan, had searched the Eastern Sea for him these years; Han Shizhen knew his concern and came to report as soon as there was news.

Now that he finally had a lead regarding Yuan Tuan, Li Xizhi was deeply moved and asked at once:

"Did you find those two Demon-Subduing Copper Rods?"

Han Shizhen shook his head. Li Xizhi paused briefly in thought, then quickly came to a conclusion, saying softly:

"If it's truly Yuan Chengdun who died, those two Demon-Subduing Copper Rods were likely picked up by them long ago. They're too valuable, so they were hidden well and they wouldn't tell you."

Han Shizhen was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood and said in frustration:

"I was careless! With that suspicion, I dared not be lax and came straight to you. I should have detained them sooner."

Li Xizhi, well aware of the Eastern Sea cultivators' lack of scruples or morality, was not surprised. He said solemnly:

"I'll go with you to that marketplace, and by the way, check where in Qunyi Strait this happened."