The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 563: Severing the Phenomena (II)

That Daoist Master... severed the natural phenomenon... Li Qinghong mused quietly to herself, in awe.

The cultivators were visibly shaken, staring dumbly at the turbulent skies above them. Cold raindrops began to fall, and as Li Qinghong bowed her head and closed her eyes, a warm tear traced down her cheek. She heard an elder cultivator beside her murmur, "The eclipse and falling stars... it is the True Monarch of the Yue Cultivating Sect at work!"

The Qi Cultivators could not even make out the True Monarch's form and thus escaped the more intense side effects. But Li Qinghong, at her Foundation Establishment Realm, had caught a fleeting glimpse and suffered a cascade of haunting visions. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, feeling the unsettling tremor in her heart.

She drifted away from the crowd, diving deep beneath the water's surface to distance herself. It took her a moment to recover fully before a thought surfaced, prompting her to mutter, "What weapon was that True Monarch wielding? Was it a staff? A sword?"

She mulled it over for a moment, glancing all around her. Her gaze blurred slightly, and she murmured, "How did I end up at the ocean floor...?"

Emerging from the water, Li Qinghong glanced toward the lingering, unmoving thunderclouds. She turned back to look upon the now-serene Jiangnan, muttering in bewilderment, "How strange... why are those clouds not moving?"

After flying a few more li, a sudden, chilly sensation settled over her in the Shenyang Mansion region. She halted imperceptibly, suppressing her unease, and quickly dove back beneath the waves.

————

Darkness settled over several prefectures in the Yue State, and on Splitreed Island in the Eastern Sea, the night grew even denser. Under the water, the entire seabed was cloaked in an inky blackness while turbulent storm clouds surged above, swallowing up the once-bright sky and darkening the waters until they resembled thick black ink.

Thunderstorms raged across the ocean's surface, stirring waves into a frenzy as violet-black lightning cascaded down with the rumbling force of landslides and crashing seas.

Li Xuanfeng had spent several months on the island, gradually acclimating to its atmosphere. Standing in the water with his hands behind his back, he observed the pitch-dark depths alongside Ning Heyuan, who stood just behind him. Glancing at the darkened waters, Ning Heyuan spoke softly, "Brother-in-law... These storms are rare, let alone such an immense thunderstorm. The sea is as black as ink, stretching on for thousands of li—it is a sign something has happened."

Li Xuanfeng turned slightly toward him, and Ning Heyuan, being well-informed, explained in a low tone, "Word from within the sect says a sea creature tried to break through to the Golden Core Realm in the Eastern Sea but failed, dying in the process."

Ning Heyuan paused, adding, "It was from the Converging Water lineage, which has little to do with us, but there is likely unrest in the Serpent Dragon Palace. With this phenomenon already underway, it is probably a settled matter by now."

Ning Heyuan paused briefly before answering, "Situ Mo is cautious and, after suffering a previous setback, likely will not step out easily... Golden Sack Island is fortified like an iron barrel, so direct confrontation is not advisable. But... brother-in-law, perhaps wait for an opportunity—a time when Golden Tang Gate escorts a merchant ship. That would be the perfect moment to ambush the monk. Master Monks often place too much trust in their divination skills, making them easier to catch off guard."

Regardless of Golden Sack Island's defenses, it was still a Golden Tang Gate market and thus heavily fortified. Ning Heyuan continued, "As for drawing him out, I do have one method."

He took out a clear jade box from his sleeve, within which rested an intricately carved jade figurine—three-headed and six-armed, each hand gripping a short staff or axe-like weapon.

"I acquired this especially for you, brother-in-law. It is a wrathful treasure artifact from the Buddhist cultivator, equivalent to our Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts—a rare find!"

Buddhist cultivation, after all, only began to rise in more recent ages. Although successive Revered Ones had refined and completed its lineage over time, their techniques in smithing and alchemy remained comparatively undeveloped, making this treasure exceptionally rare among Buddhist cultivators.

Passing the jade box to Li Xuanfeng, Ning Heyuan explained, "This treasure can be sensed by any cultivator from the Wrathful Dao lineage within a hundred li. In the past, if a Wrathful Maha had been nearby, they could have sensed it from thousands of li away, ordering its immediate retrieval. No one dared to reveal it then. But now... it can serve as bait."

Confident in his position as a direct disciple of the immortal sect, Ning Heyuan spoke with assurance, certain that taking down a Master Monk from a fading Dao lineage would be straightforward.

"After so long on the island, I am sure that Master Monk left behind many reincarnation channels. Even weakened, their reckless ways guarantee they will seize any chance to act. Whether you can completely eliminate him, though, depends on yourself!"

"Hmm... Well done," Li Xuanfeng remarked with rare praise as he took the jade box, murmuring, "You have gone to great trouble for this."

Ning Heyuan smiled, waving it off, and replied quietly, "What are you saying, brother-in-law? We are family."

The years had worn down Ning Heyuan's sharp edges and pride. Building his bond with Li Xuanfeng was more than seeking favor with a Daoist Master; it was to solidify this familial tie and prepare an additional path for his future.

Li Xuanfeng then glanced down at the figurine in the clear jade box, his expression hardening as he thought to himself, I still owe a blood debt to my second uncle... I will start by exacting a little interest from this bald-headed monk!