Chapter 522: Yan Sheep

Chapter 522: The Weir Goat

Spring rains drag on without end.

Li Tongya’s grave was renovated merely a decade ago, yet the tombstone remains the same one from years past—plain and dignified, standing silently amid the spring downpour.

Bai Rong stood before the grave for no more than a few breaths; when he lifted his eyes to see nothing but tombstones, he babbled flustered words, then stepped back, staring blankly as he said:

“Let it be… I’ll come back another day… For now, let’s go down and sit a while.”

Li Xijun guessed Bai Rong was feeling constrained, so he led him to the main hall. He had already ordered someone to make arrangements earlier, and that person now approached bearing a storage pouch. Li Xijun spoke respectfully:

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior. I’ve prepared a modest gift—please accept it…”

As a demon, Bai Rong had no use for pleasantries; he took the storage pouch, hooked it casually to his waistband, and settled into a seat.

Small of stature, he crossed his legs on the chair, turned to the side, and asked:

“When I emerged from seclusion, I paid my respects to the Purple Mansions. I only heard that the winds of change are blowing now—isn’t it true that the Upper Yuan True Person is about to break through?”

When Li Xijun nodded, Bai Rong said:

“My master said that discord plagues the immortal way, and disputes have arisen. The Thunder Cloud Cave Heaven, which they’d been dawdling over and haggling with the Dragon Clan about, has been abandoned. A dozen Purple Mansions entered the cave together, made a quick haul, and left at once.”

Li Xijun did not understand the mysteries of this so-called Thunder Cloud Monastery Cave Heaven. It seemed that even the Purple Mansions could not plunder all its treasures, and he sighed inwardly:

“It’s a pity my clan never had a chance to get a share. I’d even hoped there might be a fortuitous opportunity for my aunt…”

Now that the topic had been raised, he seized the chance to ask:

“Dare I ask Senior… my elder brother’s master has become trapped in that cave heaven… there’s still no news of her. Is this fortune or misfortune…”

Li Xijun was naturally referring to Yuan Tuan. Bai Rong lifted his cup, as if he had long expected this question, and smiled:

“A member of the Yuan clan? Practicing the Green Declaration path? This calamity is fated…”

Bai Rong sipped his tea and replied:

“You must know that cave heaven is the [Thunder Cloud Monastery]. In its prime, it claimed to practice the [Thunder-Steering Cloud-Docking Dharma Way]. Its founding ancestor hailed from the north and was the chief disciple of the former [Weir Goat Monastery Palace]!”

“The [Weir Goat Monastery Palace]?”

The name sounded familiar. Li Xijun was well-versed in his clan’s history, and he had even personally overseen the Six Weirs Fate-Matching Esoteric Dharma to match Li Wushao’s fate. He recalled at once:

“That’s the legacy the Yuan clan’s ancestors obtained!”

“The [Weir Goat Monastery Palace] was quite a curious place in its day.”

Bai Rong chattered on, saying:

“This monastery palace originated with a master named [Can Weizi], who in the Ancient Era became a registered disciple under a Dao Embryo. Later, he had a sudden thought: he wanted to merge the immortal and Buddhist ways into one.”

“But he couldn’t sustain it—he lost his sanity and turned into a celestial peak in the north called Weir Mountain… these are ancient matters, so let’s not dwell on them… in any case, it has a notable origin.”

“My Great Li Demon Cave has watched the tides of change from here, and we know the Yuan clan. They practice the Green Declaration path—the [Green Weir Divine Mountain Yuan-Subduing Nature]. Now, very few people in the world practice the Earth Virtue, so the Yuan clan still has some renown.”

He propped his feet up, leaned softly against the back of the chair, and said casually:

“The Yuan clan thought no one was paying attention and didn’t take extra precautions, but how could they escape the discerning eyes of the Golden Core cultivators? They immediately recognized that the legacy they held was that of the former northern [Weir Goat Monastery Palace]!”

The rest went without saying. Li Xijun followed his train of thought and murmured:

“So that’s it! I’m afraid those Purple Mansions intended to use the connection between the [Weir Goat Monastery Palace] and the [Thunder Cloud Monastery] to gain more from that cave heaven…”

Bai Rong nodded and smiled sardonically:

“No matter how much the [Thunder-Steering Cloud-Docking Dharma Way] has declined, it is still a human legacy. What favor could a few dragons gathered there win? Naturally, they would seek someone whose legacy aligns… to send as a key.”

Li Xijun suddenly understood and thought to himself:

“No wonder Yuan Tuan vanished without a word—she must have had no choice. These tidbits circulate among the Purple Mansions and Golden Core cultivators; no matter how clever she is, how could she have guessed? I fear she was sent by the Green Pond, and several Purple Mansions of the Dragon Clan were waiting for her—there was nothing she could do.”

“As for Yuan Chengdun… he probably found out later, then went to the East Sea in a tragic flourish. The safety net he left for his eldest son was sold off cheaply by his own clan elders… tch!”

Li Xijun felt a sense of sorrow for the misfortunes of others. He thought that when Li Tongya fell, the Yuan clan must have felt the same way—every step from birth to death had been calculated for them. This filled him with dread:

“When Chi Wei wanted to refine a pill, Yuan Tuan stubbornly suppressed her cultivation to avoid breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. I wondered why the Green Pond had no leverage over her and thought it was because her ancestor’s celestial foundation was better. Now it seems… she had many uses, and they knew they would need her sooner or later!”

A vision appeared before his eyes: Yuan Tuan silently suppressing her cultivation on the mountain, while Chi Wei and others sat on a cloud, smiling sneeringly. He drifted into a brief trance. Bai Rong seemed not to notice; he reached into his sleeve, pulled out a string of fruits, and popped one into his mouth.

‘I still can’t get used to spirit tea—fruits are much better.’

Bai Rong muttered to himself, then continued:

“The Yuan clan is just like this! Your noble clans are no different from the spirit beasts my master keeps on the peak…”

Li Xijun gave a faint response, and his heart suddenly went empty:

“Zhi Ge never mentioned this! If the Purple Mansions are gathered around that cave heaven, won’t his trip there put his life in peril?”

Dread seized him, but he could not contact Li Xizhi now. He forced himself to calm down, hastily called over a person, and leaned in to whisper instructions for someone to go and deliver a message.

Bai Rong sat alone, suddenly asking:

“But there’s a rumor in my cave that your clan is a descendant of the Bright Yang?”

Li Xijun sighed inwardly, thinking the rumor was spreading wider and wider—after all, some things could not be hidden forever. He only waved his hand, and Bai Rong fell into thought.

After they chatted for a while, Bai Rong soon grew restless and hurried to deliver his remaining words:

“I heard that the elders in my cave will go to the Northern Sea in a few months to attend a ceremony—most likely for the Upper Yuan True Person’s breakthrough. We should avoid going to the Northern Sea; there may be Golden Core cultivators watching…”

“Even if we can’t go to the Northern Sea in person, we can watch from a distance. Who knows if we might gain some insight?”

He smiled and said:

“After all, this is a grand event that only happens once every few decades. What’s more, this is the Upper Yuan, the greatest swordsman of the past hundred years. Just thinking about how everyone from the Embryo Stage to the Golden Core Stage across the seas and lands is watching it is a delight.”

Li Xijun had finally seized an opportunity and was unwilling to let him go easily. He quickly followed up with a question:

“Is the Jade True Path’s position still vacant?”

Bai Rong paused slightly, then finally put on a solemn expression and nodded:

“That’s right! If the Upper Yuan True Person succeeds in his breakthrough, he will not only be the first Golden Core cultivator in five hundred years but also master the [Jade True Six-Nine Unity of Emptiness Nature] and become the ruler of the Jade True position. We will all witness a change in the heavens and earth.”

He smiled, a fox-like cunning flickering across his face:

“If we gain a Upper Yuan True Lord, not to mention anything else, the various arts of cultivation will probably change along with it.”

Li Xijun accompanied him all the way to the mountain gate and watched him fly back to the Great Li Demon Cave. His heart remained uneasy as he looked down at his clansmen—all rejoicing, their songs and dances echoing without pause.

After all, expansion is an excellent way to resolve conflicts. The Yu clan’s vast fortune had been seized, and seven other clans had been completely uprooted and sent to the Mountain Yue. The remaining space was enough to foster seven or eight prominent clans, and everyone was rubbing their hands in anticipation.

Li Xijun returned to the Jade Platform alone, his thoughts in disarray:

“A great change is coming… if the Upper Yuan True Person succeeds, it will be an unprecedented upheaval in five hundred years.”

……

The Central Hall

The steps of the Central Hall were polished to a shine. The crisp, melodious clatter of boots echoed as Li Zhouwei paced over, and the clan soldiers on both sides bowed their heads.

He had broken through to the Qi Refining stage and had taken on some clan duties, gradually assuming responsibility for the clan’s main courtyard. The strange aura he had carried since birth had faded significantly; he now looked more like a living person, and he even smiled occasionally when he spoke.

Yet when his subordinates made a mistake, his eyes turned sharp enough to make others tremble with fear. Chen Yang followed behind him, sword in arm, and they entered the inner chamber together.

Li Zhouwei placed his long halberd on the rack, then glanced carefully at Chen Yang standing beside him. Seeing that Chen Yang was still at the Fifth Layer of the Embryo Stage, he lowered his eyes and said:

"Chen Yang, come up here."

Below, a sudden sense of foreboding pricked Chen Yang; in a flash, he replayed all recent events in his mind, found no flaws, and muttered to himself:

"What is this fierce tiger plotting now… this shouldn’t be happening…"

He took a step forward and bowed respectfully:

"Your subordinate is here!"

Li Zhouwei pulled a jade vial from his bosom, tossed it into Chen Yang’s arms, and said casually:

"This is Bright Spirit Powder—take it at once to make your breakthrough."

Chen Yang froze for a moment, then accepted it doubtfully; as Li Zhouwei polished his weapon, he said softly:

"I know you harbor resentment. I will report to Qing Du and do my best to allocate resources to you according to the qualifications of a direct lineage member."

He sat in silence, then spoke:

"You may well try to see if you can catch up to me."

Chen Yang slowly lifted his head and saw that the usual calm in this man’s eyes had finally softened into a smile, a straightforward, unreserved gaze fixed on him; he grunted in response, then when Li Zhouwei waved his hand, he turned and hurried away.

Only when he had walked out of the main hall and slowly returned to his own cave did a glint of eagerness appear on Chen Yang’s face, his gray eyes narrowing slightly.

For years, he had been suppressed by Li Zhouwei; on the surface, he was obedient, but in secret, he studied every move Li Zhouwei made, discerned his temperament, and handled every task flawlessly as a stepping stone to advancement.

Chen Yang calculated silently and murmured:

"Then I shall try… we are both descendants of Qing Du’s bloodline…"

……

In the main hall.

Li Zhouwei watched him depart, set his weapon aside, and stared silently at the sunlight in the main hall.

"Chen Yang is shrewd and decisive… he takes pride in the Li clan’s bloodline and harbors great ambition… it’s a pity he is not my direct younger brother…"

Since taking charge of the clan’s affairs, he had gradually come to know his peers: Li Ximing’s line lacked thriving descendants, Li Xijun remained unmarried to this day, and only Li Xicheng’s branch had a larger number of members.

Looking at them all, most had good dispositions but only mediocre talent, far inferior to Chen Yang; Li Zhouwei could only promote them to mid-level positions, never to his inner circle.

He deliberated for a moment, felt no great worry, then undid his outer robe and walked to the back of the courtyard.

Li Zhouwei’s taupe eyes narrowed slightly as he sensed something amiss; his spiritual awareness pierced through, and he saw a woman standing obediently, her head bowed in silence.

He glanced at her briefly and understood:

"I turned fourteen a few days ago—my family has sent someone ahead."

Li Zhouwei knew what this meant; he strode forward boldly, pushed the door open, and the woman started slightly, rose to her feet with downcast eyes and said:

"This humble one is Xu Peiyu, and I pay my respects to the heir."

Li Zhouwei acknowledged her, walked forward slowly, gestured for her to sit, and began to observe her carefully.

The woman had a slightly round face, slender arched eyebrows, and curved eyes—an appearance typical of the northern edge of the Jiangnan region; she was clearly carefully selected, seemed several years older than him, and wore a smile before she even spoke.

While Li Zhouwei watched her, Xu Peiyu was also observing him silently; she glanced at his eyes only once, did not let her guard down, yet was suddenly seized by a strange emotion.

Suddenly, she felt as if a patch of golden light had settled before her; his eyes seemed to brim with vibrant color, irresistible to desire, and she cried out involuntarily:

"Ah!"

Xu Peiyu was eighteen; she had seen many suitors’ flattery and knew how to hold herself aloof to manipulate them, yet now she was still seized by this feeling—a strange fervor welled up in her heart, so much so that she did not notice the man before her taking her hand.

All her schemes vanished completely at the sight of his face and eyes, gone before she even realized it; she did not come to her senses even when she was on the couch.

Li Zhouwei only watched her blushing face quietly; his eyes were frank and clear, conveying his desires as he asked:

"You are from the Xu clan? What do you want?"

This was a perfect opportunity, yet Xu Peiyu had no words to reply; his face was so satisfying to her that she felt powerless to respond, but after a moment’s thought, she said:

"Men like you—some take favors without returning them, yet that only makes women like them more."

She felt immense gratification in her devotion, as if she were shrouded in the shadow of a colossus, a deep sense of security rising within her; even if he devoured her body like a tiger or leopard, she would still feel glad.

Li Zhouwei froze for a moment; he suddenly felt a strange mood—this fervent emotion was something he had never experienced before, so he couldn’t help but smile and say some kind words.

Li Zhouwei was born with the ability to perceive others’ emotions; he felt as if a fire was burning before him, offering everything completely to him, and a faint, unprecedented touch of emotion rose in his heart.

After all, he was only fourteen; even though he was cunning, the books he had read only taught him how to outwit enemies, split factions, and maintain his position—never about love. He held her, tried to converse as the books described, and suddenly felt a trace of expectation:

"Most in my Zhong branch take one spouse for life… following the example of our ancestor Lord Tongya… even if I cannot give her the title of wife, I can still have only her…"

As he thought this, he noticed that Xu Peiyu seemed not to be listening; she only stared fixedly at his nose bridge, her slender hand resting on his shoulder, sliding down quietly until it reached his chest.

Li Zhouwei’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mood calming instantly; he looked at her carefully twice and understood at once.

He turned cold, let out two self-mocking laughs, and suddenly realized a simple truth:

"To deal with those of weak will, all you need is a highly alluring yang-body of bright vitality."

He looked down, as if a fantasy were crumbling:

"It’s a pity I was born with extraordinary gifts; most people in the world have weak wills in my eyes. She is a mortal—how could she withstand my test?"

He had to push her away, sit back in the main seat, and as he looked at the infatuation in Xu Peiyu’s eyes, he thought to himself:

"No wonder they fear me!"

(End of Chapter)