Chapter 323: Chapter 46: The Wish of the Blue Lotus
A sudden conflict came to an abrupt halt.
The Plain Cloud Realm Flag slowly descended into the hands of the beautiful lady, the Third Palace Master of Kunxu Immortal Palace, Su Nu, dressed in a light cyan long gown, surrounded by a Qi shield. Her glancing eyes shimmered.
"Since Cave Heaven had entered the water veins, I shall not delay further. Elder Kaiyang, if you still wish to tangle with me, feel free to catch up and practice with me."
The latter part of her sentence was naturally addressed to Elder Kaiyang.
Elder Kaiyang, holding the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, was haughtily arrogant and grunted, "Old witch, I shall let you go this time, but next time, I will surely cut you down with my blade."
It was actually because he was no match for her.
With the Plain Cloud Realm Flag in her hands, if Elder Kaiyang dared to pursue her, it would be like throwing meat buns to a dog — a one-way trip.
Even if he went with Elder Tianji, it wasn’t safe, not to mention that Elder Tianji might not accompany him in the chase.
Therefore, Elder Kaiyang chose wisely.
"Next time, is it? I’ll be waiting for you," laughed the Su Nu Palace Master charmingly. With a wave of the Cloud Realm Flag, she was enshrouded in a faint mist and ascended into the sky, gradually disappearing into the distance.
"Next time you won’t have the Plain Cloud Realm Flag in your hand, we’ll see if I can’t cut you down."
Elder Kaiyang muttered grudgingly and, along with Elder Tianji, turned around and flew toward the Divine Capital.
Tianxuan had left halfway, likely due to an urgent matter. Their concern now was more on the emergency at Tianxuan’s end.
That left only the two from Daode Sect.
As for the others, either they were powerful enough but did not show themselves, or they were nearby but not strong enough and were swept away by the aftermath. The massive tide on Dragon Abyss Lake had not yet subsided, and one could see the court’s Magic Practitioners working their magic to calm the tide on the distant shores.
Dan Xuzi and Daoist Wenxu landed on the still-standing Shooting Flood Dragon Platform, only to see Zhang Daoyi holding a sword broken into several pieces.
This was the only relic left by Yuan Zhen.
As for his body, it had long been reduced to ashes by the Innate Eight Qi, leaving not even a trace of his divine soul.
If his divine soul had remained, they could have sealed it with magic in time, allowing Yuan Zhen to possibly convert to practice the Ghost Path. Being a Sixth Grade Sword Immortal and still of the Human Species, transitioning to the Ghost Path would have been easier for him than other paths, and with Daode Sect’s capabilities, it could have been safeguarded flawlessly.
Alas... Jiang Li was too cautious.
Dispelling the divine soul wasn’t enough; he even performed a transcendence with the "Supreme Cave Mysterious Treasure Sutra", ensuring that even though Yuan Zhen died filled with resentment, not a bit of his residual soul remained.
"All that’s left is this broken sword..." Dan Xuzi sighed softly, "Even the Incarnation Golden Core that I helped forge has been obliterated. Jiang Li...this man truly possesses an unmatched prowess."
The so-called unparalleled prowess referred naturally to the current situation among the six who dominated the cultivation world, representing the pinnacle for cultivators.
Saying that Jiang Li had such prowess was the highest compliment Dan Xuzi could think of.
"The next generation of the sect will be led by you," Dan Xuzi said to Zhang Daoyi, his words heavy yet hopeful.
With Yuan Zhen gone, Zhang Daoyi had to become the leader of Daode Sect’s younger generation.
This also spared any further controversy, but it was not what Zhang Daoyi wanted.
Yet, he could not shirk the responsibility.
Zhang Daoyi carefully stored the broken sword and remained silent.
Daoist Wenxu formed a seal with his hands, and a streak of escape light carried the three of them from Dragon Abyss Lake and headed south. After flying about three hundred miles, they landed in a mountain range.
The area was remote, deep within the mountains was a high cliff, beneath which were rugged, strange stones.
Li Qinglian was currently below this cliff.
He had leveled a massive rock, setting up an unknown array around it to temporarily isolate the Five Vile Qi. He was now using Sword Qi to inscribe array patterns on the flat surface of the rock.
Noticing the arrival of the three, Li Qinglian turned back and, with an unfathomable gaze, finally settled his eyes on Zhang Daoyi.
"Is it your turn now? The next person to take on responsibilities for Daode Sect..."
Li Qinglian shook his head, "I hope you do not become the next Yuan Zhen. We cultivators ultimately prioritize seeking the Way."
Zhang Daoyi remained silent for a moment, then responded, "Even in seeking the Way, we must not forget our roots. The sect is our foundation, its legacy has enabled our today, how could we abandon it?"
"You are wrong."
Li Qinglian moved his finger, guiding the Sword Qi that traced lines on the surface, and spoke faintly, "Very wrong indeed. The purpose of a sect’s existence is to achieve the Way, not just to carry on a legacy. The four essentials of cultivation are wealth, location, techniques, and companions. The sect gathers resources, thus providing wealth; the sect’s location is the land; the transfer of cultivation techniques provides the law; fellow cultivators are companions."
"The sect is a combination of wealth, location, techniques, and companions, created by cultivators to achieve the Way. It is true that without the sect, there would be none of you today, but the significant purpose of the sect’s existence is to mutually assist each other in achieving the Way, not just for legacy."
Li Qinglian’s face showed a trace of disdain, "Only those who see no future in the Dao would think of passing down the lineage. But that too is done so that someone could extend this lineage to its ultimate form, not just for the sake of ongoing inheritance."
Such words completely prioritized his own importance above that of the Sect, putting himself first and the Sect second.
Although this reasoning sounded accurate, neither Zhang Daoyi nor the other two fourth-ranks could accept this statement.
Especially since these words were coming from the mouth of the Sect Master’s embodiment.
"I finally understand why the Sect Master wanted to sever these distracting thoughts," Daoist Wenxu whispered.
Such thoughts, originating from the heart of a Sect Master, were not good news for the Sect.
Li Qinglian, regardless of what the three thought, maintained a steady pace in his array engraving, exceptionally calm.
A complicated array map was quickly formed, and Li Qinglian stopped his hand and took out three silk-wrapped items.
"What does the Sect Master intend to do?" Zhang Daoyi asked.
"I am not your Sect Master, but you may call me ’elder brother’ if you wish."
Li Qinglian placed the three items on the array map, unwrapped the silk, and revealed the appearance of a child-like object, "This is a Ginsengfruit. When I entered the Iron Pillar Temple for exploration, I inadvertently discovered that the Fourth Prince and others were plotting to obtain this item, so I took note. Later, when Cave Heaven Blessed Land opened, I seized the opportunity to enter and acquired this item."
Li Qinglian’s figure became ethereal and transparent, within which a quaint and mysterious sword appeared suspended and hanging downwards.
Zhang Daoyi stared intently, feeling as though he was standing on a high mountain looking down into a profound abyss, within which seemed to coil a massive dragon.
"This is the Sword Embodiment," Zhang Daoyi suddenly realized.
Li Qinglian was indeed an incarnation created by the Sect Master Li Xuan while practicing the "One Qi to Three Pure Ones" technique, which Zhang Daoyi knew. However, it was his first time learning that Li Qinglian’s body was also artificial, devoid of real flesh and blood, and entirely fashioned from Sword Qi.
"Indeed, the Sect Master’s embodiment is precisely anchored upon the Sect Master’s former weapon," Daoist Wenxu gazed deeply ahead, "and soon, he should have a real physical body. By then, this embodiment will also be somewhat independent."
As his voice fell, Li Qinglian’s image transformed into a stream of clear radiance that flew into one of the Ginsengfruits, with substantial vitality enveloping this radiance while crystalline dots emerged from the remaining two Ginsengfruits also entering them.
Li Qinglian had seized the Ginsengfruit specifically to create a physical body.
In the Upper City of the Divine Capital, within a sprawling estate surrounded by a picturesque lake and mountain views, revealing a serene ambiance with green trees shading like a peaceful grove outside the city.
This was Tianxuan’s residence within the Divine Capital, also her property. Jiang Li had been brought here by Tianxuan after leaving the Imperial City.
Suddenly, a streak of starlight fell beside the artificial mountain lake, revealing a graceful figure.
With her hands crossed in front of her lower abdomen, dragging her floor-length skirt, she walked past the little lake and reached a pavilion hidden by green trees, pushing the door open to enter.
"The Ginsengfruit has already been given to your martial sister."
Tianxuan looked at the meditating Jiang Li, with a gentle expression in her phoenix eyes, "Seeing you didn’t forget Qing Yue despite having treasures, I won’t hold this errand against you."
Her words carried disparagement, yet her tone lacked any hint of resentment, clearly indicating Jiang Li’s action was very much in line with Tianxuan’s wishes.
’It’s just that it’s gotten Qing Yue overly moved...’
Tianxuan had intended for Jiang Li and Gongsun Qingyue to slow down their progress to avoid revealing the affair of the substitute fight, but now, with the Ginsengfruit sent, the pace had advanced significantly. It was only because Jiang Li was still in the Divine Capital; otherwise, he might have taken advantage and moved forward more aggressively with the relationship.
’It seems I appear like someone meddling in others’ destinies. After this, I won’t interfere anymore,’ Tianxuan thought to herself.
For now, Jiang Li was still needed by Tianxuan to sense the status of the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, so he couldn’t just go back.
Upper City was the closest district to the Imperial City, and from there, Jiang Li could still remotely sense the operation of the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, thereby keeping track of the progress in refining the Immortality Elixir, waiting for the right moment.
"Thank you, Master."
Jiang Li stood up, presenting a Ginsengfruit with both hands, "This is your disciple’s gesture of respect toward you."
He had harvested a total of seven Ginsengfruits, having consumed one and given away two, leaving him with four. Those four were enough for Jiang Li to handle for now, so he might as well use two to further his strategies.
After observing the Karma Collection previously, Jiang Li had genuinely seen two marriage lines, which filled him with motivation, eagerly wishing for the other end of the red threads to hasten their arrival.
Of course, it might also be that he was being pulled by the two red threads towards the other ends...
’I just wonder if Master has ever experienced seeing the Karma lines,’ Jiang Li pondered inwardly, ’From her previous words, she seems unaware that I can see the Karma lines when Heaven examines the cause and effect. This must be due to my unique circumstances.’
Jiang Li looked towards the Karma Collection.
It was better if it was caused by his uniqueness; if Tianxuan could also see the Karma lines, she might one day notice the red threads.
And then she would realize that Jiang was straddling two boats, binding both master and disciple tightly together.