PDLP Chapter 59: Dongsheng Continent, Tianji Pavilion
Chapter 59: Dongsheng Continent, Tianji Pavilion
Li Wu stood in mid-air with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the morning breeze, and faint lightning crackling around his body.
Zhao Ziming rushed out of the house with disheveled hair, followed by two women in tattered clothes.
He looked up and his expression changed drastically:
"Master Zhu... Master Zhuji!"
Upon learning that the other party was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhao Ziming felt no urge to resist. He knelt on the ground with a thud and shouted:
"I don't know where I offended you, senior. Please spare my life!"
"You plotted against my Qingshimen, and today I have come to exterminate your entire family."
After Li Wu finished speaking, he simply raised his right hand, and a ball of silver-white lightning condensed in his palm, crackling and emitting a chilling pressure.
The lightning ball was thrown out with a roar.
Silvery-white lightning exploded above Changhe Gate, transforming into countless fine lightning snakes that struck down towards the houses and disciples below.
Wherever the lightning struck, houses collapsed and vegetation withered. The disciples who were still awakened from their sleep were swallowed up by the lightning before they could even scream.
Zhao Ziming's eyes were bloodshot as he tried to use magic to defend himself, but his spiritual power was like a drop in the ocean compared to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A bolt of lightning struck, blasting him away. He crashed heavily to the ground, his body charred black, lifeless.
In a short while, the Changhe Sect was destroyed.
This is the absolute suppression of Foundation Establishment cultivators over Qi Refining cultivators.
……
at the same time.
He Yu ascended to Zhuwan Temple and met the abbot, Li Cixi.
Li Cixi was quite surprised by He Yu's arrival and greeted him warmly:
"May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist He to my mountain gate this time?"
Time was of the essence, so He Yu didn't waste any time and spoke directly:
"I hope Fellow Daoist Li will lead his disciples to surrender to my Qing Shi Sect."
Upon hearing this, Li Cixi paused, the smile on his face vanished, and he looked at He Yu with icy eyes, saying in a deep voice:
"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist He?"
"Does your Qing Shi Men have some connection with the Zhao family, and therefore expect my Zhu Wan Guan to submit?"
He Yu explained:
"Our Qing Shi Sect leader has emerged from seclusion and has broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm. Our sect has now become a Foundation Establishment sect as well. It would be too shabby to have only one spiritual mountain."
"Therefore, the sect leader prepared to annihilate the surrounding sects, take over the spiritual mountains, and expand the territory. Fellow Daoist Li, your Zhuwan Temple is on the Destiny Record."
"What? Your sect leader has broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage?"
Li Cixi's expression changed drastically.
She also knew something about Li Wu, the leader of Qing Shi Sect. Even if he was elusive, he shouldn't have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage so quickly.
"How could this happen..."
If the sect leader of Qing Shi Men truly breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage, she indeed cannot protect Zhu Wan Guan.
"Fellow Daoist Li, if you are willing to give up resistance, I can guarantee that your disciples will not suffer any casualties." He Yu was certainly qualified to say this.
He Yu persuaded Li Cixi to surrender for two reasons: firstly, Li Cixi was indeed very capable; secondly, over the years, Zhuwan Temple had not colluded with Chongming Gate and Changhe Gate to squeeze out Qingshi Gate.
Li Cixi remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping back and forth across He Yu's face, trying to find a flaw in her expression.
But He Yu's expression was calm and his eyes were clear, not like he was pretending.
"Fellow Daoist He, we have known each other for many years, I trust you."
Li Cixi sighed, his figure seeming to age considerably in an instant, and lamented:
"But if my twenty-odd disciples from Zhuwan Temple surrender, will they truly be spared from humiliation in the future?"
He Yu said solemnly:
"Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured, although the sect leader is decisive in his actions, he is not a person who kills indiscriminately."
"As long as Zhu Wan Guan sincerely submits, the disciples under its tutelage will be treated the same as other Qing Shi Men disciples, with spiritual fields, elixirs, and cultivation techniques all provided equally."
Is this really true?
"really."
He Yu nodded affirmatively.
Li Cixi let out a long breath and bowed deeply to He Yu:
"In that case, Cixi is willing to lead the entire Zhuwan Temple to respectfully welcome the Dharma Master of Qingshi Sect."
He Yu quickly helped her up:
"Fellow Daoist Li, there's no need for such formalities. From now on, we'll be family."
Afterwards, He Yu led Li Cixi to wait outside the mountain gate.
They didn't have to wait long before they saw a bolt of lightning flying rapidly from the horizon.
Accompanied by a sound like a thousand birds singing, a dashing figure appeared in mid-air.
Li Wu's gaze fell on the woman beside He Yu, and he said:
"Are you the abbot of Zhuwan Temple?"
"Truly a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
Li Cixi's doubts were completely shattered, and he respectfully bowed and said:
"Master Li Cixi of Zhuwan Temple greets the Sect Leader."
Seeing that this person was so sensible, Li Wu nodded slightly and said:
"In that case, from today onwards, Zhuwan Temple shall be renamed Zhuwan Peak, and you, Li Cixi, shall be the Peak Master of Zhuwan Peak."
Upon hearing this, Li Cixi's face lit up with joy, and he said repeatedly:
"Disciple obeys!"
Li Wuwei nodded slightly, then looked at He Yu and instructed:
"He Yu, I have already destroyed the other three sects. You should lead your disciples to move the spiritual items back to Qing Shi Sect, and also come up with a plan as soon as possible."
He Yu was already used to Li Wu's hands-off management style, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"clear."
…………
The news of the annihilation of four sects in half a day quickly spread throughout Pukou Market, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
This made all the cultivators in Youyang County aware that the Qing Shi Sect Leader had broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm.
Moreover, he is Lei Xiu, whose killing power is among the best.
In an instant, the rogue cultivators began to discuss amongst themselves.
The group discussed the ranking of Qing Shi Men and the established Foundation Establishment forces.
Most people believe that although Qing Shi Sect has Foundation Establishment cultivators, the number of disciples is small, their strength is weak, and their foundation is shallow. Even if there is one Foundation Establishment cultivator, he is still at the bottom.
Some people believe that Lei Xiu, the leader of Qing Shi Men, is stronger than Qian Jia's ancestor, who is in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
However, these discussions naturally did not reach Li Wu's ears.
…………
At this time.
As Li Wu broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Qing Shi Sect became a Foundation Establishment power. Even though the sect had only been established for a few years, many other forces still came to visit and offer congratulatory gifts.
He Yu, along with Da Ji, Zhang Zai, and others, received them at the mountain gate.
A steady stream of people walked up and down the long steps outside the mountain gate.
He Yu stood at the forefront, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, with a polite smile on his face, welcoming and seeing off the guests.
Daji stood beside her, wearing a newly tailored blue dress that made her look even more energetic.
Zhang Zai stood aside, responsible for guiding guests to register their name cards and collecting their gifts.
"Qingshimen has managed to have a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge in just a few years. The younger generation is truly formidable."
A middle-aged cultivator clasped his hands in a fist salute and smiled, followed by two boys carrying gift boxes.
He Yu didn't recognize this person; he must be someone from some Qi-refining organization she had never interacted with before. She nodded slightly.
"You flatter me, senior. Please come in."
Similar greetings continued from early morning until the afternoon.
Almost all the powers sent people to offer their congratulations.
Gifts were carried in box after box.
Zhang Zai held the book in his hand, meticulously recording each and every detail.
Five types of medicinal herb seeds, two magical artifacts, and various spiritual materials... He wrote them down while mentally estimating their value.
All things considered, it adds up to at least a thousand spirit stones.
Just then, a graceful figure slowly descended, with a rather auspicious-looking middle-aged male cultivator standing beside her.
Upon seeing the two, He Yu was immediately delighted and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Elder Lu, Senior Zhao."
Zhao Nanxu nodded slightly and smiled:
"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Li Wu on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and congratulations to Qing Shi Sect on becoming a Foundation Establishment sect. This is a gift from my Zhao family."
After Zhao Nanxu finished speaking, he made a hand seal, and a small spaceship, five zhang long and three zhang wide, appeared beside him.
This spaceship is worth at least four or five hundred spirit stones.
The Zhao family's lavish spending surprised everyone and sparked much discussion.
"The Zhao family is surprisingly generous?"
"I had long heard that the head of Qing Shi Men had a close relationship with the Zhao family, and seeing it today, I can confirm it is true."
Upon seeing the spaceship, He Yu was also greatly shocked, but quickly regained his composure and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Thank you for the gift from the Zhao family. Please come inside, senior."
Lu Sui inquired:
"Is Brother Li inside?"
He Yu nodded and said:
"Here I am."
Lu Sui nodded slightly, and then took Zhao Nanxu to find Li Wu.
…………
Li Wu sat in the courtyard, sipping spiritual tea, pondering his next move.
"I need to go to the Dayan Sect and ask about the situation of that Core Formation power."
Li Wu then focused on preparing for the upcoming [Tai Xu] Secret Realm, while He Yu naturally took care of the sect's other affairs.
Just as Li was pondering, he suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.
As the footsteps drew closer, Li Wu put down his teacup and looked toward the courtyard gate.
Lu Sui, dressed in a green robe, stood tall and straight, while Zhao Nanxu, standing beside him, wore a light purple dress and had her hair tied up in a high bun, appearing dignified and elegant.
The two entered side by side and saw Li Wu sitting alone in the courtyard. Lu Sui immediately smiled and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Senior Li, it's been a long time since I last saw you. You look even more radiant than before."
"Brother Lu, please address me as you always do."
Li Wu raised his eyes and smiled, shook his head, then looked at Zhao Nanxu and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Fellow Daoist Zhao."
Zhao Nanxu nodded slightly and smiled:
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Li, on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Please sit down."
Li Wu raised his hand and waved it, and two teacups appeared on the stone table. Spirit tea was poured out, steam rose, and the aroma of tea filled the air.
Zhao Nanxu's visit to Li Wu was not to offer congratulations; she got down to business.
"Fellow Daoist Li, Qian Yuan must have told you about the Dayan Sect's contact with Core Formation forces, right?"
Li Wu raised an eyebrow, surprised that Zhao Nanxu would bring this up, but it was exactly what he wanted, so he nodded and said:
"I just found out too."
"Does Fellow Daoist Zhao know which continent and which power the Great Evolution Sect has been in contact with?"
"It's the Tianji Pavilion in Dongshengzhou."
"Tianji Pavilion?" Li Wu frowned slightly.
Zhao Nanxu nodded slightly and continued:
"Fellow Daoist Li, do you still remember that Celestial Parade?"
"Of course I remember."
Li Wu nodded; this Sky Parade was the most memorable market he had ever seen.
"That Cloud and Cloud Treasure Ship was built by this [Heavenly Secrets Pavilion]."
"This Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has existed for nearly a thousand years and is extremely skilled in [mechanical arts] and [puppet arts]. Its patriarch is a peak Core Formation cultivator."
"But how did the Dayan Sect get involved with the Tianji Pavilion?" Li Wu asked doubtfully.
If he remembered correctly, Dongshengzhou and Youyang County were not connected, were they?
The distance between them is at least 100,000 miles, spanning several continents.
Zhao Nanxu replied:
"It is said that the first leader of the Dayan Sect was a disciple of the Tianji Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Li Wu suddenly realized:
"Are they going back to acknowledge their ancestors?"
"That's right," Zhao Nanxu nodded.
"Jiang Changqiu of the Dayan Sect, although he is in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, is nearing the end of his lifespan. After the Red Dragon died in the battle at Chishan, he took the Red Dragon's corpse."
"I originally intended to break through to the Core Formation realm by relying on the Crimson Dragon's trace of true dragon bloodline and the blessing of the Heavenly Pool, but I was lost in my inner demons. If it weren't for the [Mind-Calming Stone] in his sect that forcibly brought him back to his senses, I'm afraid he would have already perished."
"However, although his life has been saved, he has no hope of forming his core in the future."
"Therefore, their urgent trip to the Heavenly Palace Pavilion was also in the hope of taking advantage of the situation to stabilize the position of the Dayan Sect in Youyang County."
Upon hearing this, Li Wu immediately understood.
After all, if Jiang Changqiu dies, the Dayan Sect will only have one cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
Within Youyang County, their status will likely plummet, and most of the spiritual mountains and veins they previously occupied will be taken over by other Foundation Establishment forces.
"So, Fellow Daoist Zhao hopes to stop the Dayan Sect from going to [Dongsheng Continent]?" Li Wu asked.
After all, once Jiang Changqiu dies, the Zhao family will be the most powerful force in Youyang County in name only.
However, Zhao Nanxu shook her head and said:
"It's not about stopping them, but about hoping they'll go together."
"Instead of blocking the Dayan Sect, we should go to Dongsheng Continent together. If we can establish trade relations with the Tianji Pavilion, it will be of great benefit to us."
Upon hearing this, Li Wu raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhao Nanxu with some surprise.
I never expected the Zhao family to have such a long-term vision.
"But, does the Dayan Sect also want us to go with them?" Li Wu asked.
Zhao Nanxu affirmed:
"Even with the fastest spaceship, it will take several months to reach Dongsheng Continent. We don't know what dangers we might encounter during that time. If we go together, we will be safer. I'm sure Senior Jiang won't refuse."
These words sound quite forceful.
Li Wuwei nodded slightly and said:
"When shall we visit Senior Jiang at the Dayan Sect?"
"This matter should be handled sooner rather than later, let's do it tomorrow."
"Can."
Li Wu nodded in agreement.
Zhao Nanxu stood up, took out a jade slip from her sleeve, and handed it to Li Wu:
"This is information about the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion that my Zhao family has collected. Fellow Daoist Li can take a look first to get a general idea."
Li Wu took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and glanced at it briefly. He saw that it was densely filled with records of the history of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, its distribution of power, and information on some well-known figures.
The details were far more comprehensive than he had expected.
Unexpectedly, the Zhao family would possess such a thing.
"I guess the Zhao family already knew about the relationship between the Dayan Sect and the Tianji Pavilion," Li Wuxin thought to himself.
Then he began to read the message in the jade slip.
Tianji Pavilion, one of the seven major powers in Dongsheng Continent, is famous for its mechanical and puppetry techniques.
The sect's patriarch is named Gongshu Yuan, who is at the peak of the Core Formation stage and is said to have already touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.
Tianji Pavilion is not only powerful, but also controls nearly 30% of the market transactions in Dongsheng Continent. Its wealth is unimaginable.
Jiang Taixu, the first leader of the Dayan Sect, was once a disciple of Gongshu Yuan. After completing his studies, he left Dongsheng Continent and came to Youyang County to establish the Dayan Sect.
However, with the death of Jiang Taixu, the Dayan Sect and the Tianji Pavilion gradually lost contact.
Now that Jiang Changqiu's lifespan is nearing its end, he has finally thought of recognizing his ancestors and returning to his roots; his intentions are self-evident.
"That's a clever plan."
Li Wu put down the jade slip and pondered in his heart.
If the Dayan Sect can successfully connect with the Tianji Pavilion, even if it only receives some superficial support, it will be enough to stabilize its position in Youyang County.
However, as Zhao Nanxu said, instead of trying to stop them, it would be better to go together.
If they could establish contact with the Tianji Pavilion through this opportunity, it would undoubtedly be a great help to the future development of Qing Shi Men.
"Moreover, puppetry and mechanical arts are techniques never seen before in the Qi gathering world," Li Wuxin pondered.
"If I could obtain one or two Core Formation level mechanical artifacts or puppets, I would have a better chance of success in the [Tai Xu] Secret Realm later."
Just as I was pondering this, He Yu's voice came from outside the courtyard:
"Sect Leader, the guests have been seen off. Today's gifts totaled approximately two thousand spirit stones. The detailed accounts are here."
He Yu walked in holding a book, followed by Da Ji and Zhang Zai.
Li Wu took the book, flipped through it casually, and didn't pay much attention to it.
Then He Yu added:
"Sect Leader, many rogue cultivators have heard that our Qing Shi Sect has become a Foundation Establishment sect and want to join our sect. I have roughly counted about thirty people, including many experts in the late Qi Refining stage."
Now that there are more spiritual mountains and spiritual fields, the current number of disciples in the Qing Shi Sect is definitely not enough to take care of them all.
Therefore, taking on disciples is a necessity.
Li Wu pondered for a moment:
"You should discuss the matter of accepting disciples with Zhang Zai, but remember, it's better to have fewer but better ones. Aptitude is secondary; character is paramount."
"Understood," He Yu said, bowing.
…………
The next day.
Li Wu and Zhao Nanxu went to Dayanmen together.
Dayanmen is located on Cangwu Mountain at the northernmost tip of Youyang County, about a thousand miles away from Qingshimen.
Mount Cangwu is majestic and precipitous, with its peaks piercing the clouds. Clouds and mist swirl around its waist, where pavilions and towers can be vaguely seen hidden among the clouds.
At the mountain gate, two disciples in the Qi Refining stage were on duty. Seeing the two streaks of light descend, they quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"May I ask what brings you two seniors to our Dayan Sect?"
"Zhao Nanxu of the Zhao family has come to pay respects to Sect Leader Jiang."
"Li Wu of Qingshi Sect has come to pay his respects to Sect Leader Jiang."
Upon hearing this, the disciple's expression changed slightly, and he quickly cupped his hands and said:
"Please wait a moment, seniors. I will go and inform them immediately."
After saying that, the disciple hurriedly ran up the mountain.
A short while later, the man returned, bowed, and said:
"Please come up the mountain, seniors. The sect leader is already waiting in the hall."
The main hall of Dayanmen is called "Taixu Hall". It is magnificent and the interior decoration is simple and elegant.
After the two were seated, a disciple served them spiritual tea.
Jiang Changqiu sat upright in the main seat, a smile on his face:
"These two fellow Daoists are truly young and promising!"
"I wonder what brings you to our Dayan Sect this time?"
Zhao Nanxu spoke softly:
"I heard that Senior Jiang intends to go to the Tianji Pavilion in Dongsheng Continent. I wonder if you could take the two of us with you?"
Jiang Changqiu, sitting at the head of the table, paused abruptly, looking at Zhao Nanxu with surprise and asking curiously:
How did you find out about this?
Zhao Nanxu shook her head and did not answer.