Volume II: Snow over Qinchuan Chapter XVIII: Killing the Reckless Man (Part II)

Although the land of Dongyue lies in the southwest, thousands of miles away from Xuhai, Feng Changkong has now mobilized his troops for a northern expedition. The Divine Emperor has also sent messages to various sects and aristocratic families in the south, demanding their participation in suppressing the rebellion. Consequently, high-level masters of the Dao-Integration Realm, such as the Master of the White Elephant Sect, have rushed to Yanbei. Since Yanbei happens to be adjacent to Xuhai, with the speed of a Dao-Integration master, a single thought could bring them to the mountains of Xuhai in the very next instant.

The divine senses of Dao-Integration masters are extremely formidable. Despite the presence of array formations, the battles here could not possibly elude the eyes of those two figures on Mount Taixuan.

Therefore, the White Elephant Sect Master could not quite comprehend Li Xingxing’s intent.

Such a matter—why would there be any need for notification?

The commotion he created by shattering this formation was by no means small. Presently, various factions in Yanbei are searching for the Feng family’s youngest son; whether it be the Divine Wind Guards, the Master of the Heavenly Fragrance Valley, or Taixuan far away in Jizhou, they should all be able to locate this place.

Li Xingxing chuckled lightly. "You have made two common mistakes."

His expression held a trace of disdain, and with a faint sneer, he said, "Those two on Mount Taixuan are not top-tier array masters, and I, Li Xingxing, am not merely a top-tier array master."

The White Elephant Sect Master’s gaze narrowed slightly. "An array that I can pierce through is impossible for the Dao Sage not to see."

Li Xingxing replied, "Have you never considered that I let you in on purpose?"

The White Elephant Sect Master’s heart sank, and he remained silent.

Li Xingxing never lied.

That meant his previous statement could be interpreted in another light.

Although renowned across the world for his supreme intellect, that did not imply Li Xingxing was weak in other aspects.

From the side, Feng Yang let out a leisurely sigh and said, "A thousand years ago, you were able to fight the Lord of Demons to a standstill alongside Wei Sanmu and the Saintess of An. A millennium has passed; even with the weakest aptitude for Taoist cultivation, you must surely be a supreme powerhouse by now."

Pausing for a moment, he looked at the White Elephant Sect Master and said sincerely, "I appreciate the senior's kind intentions, but this place is by no means benevolent. The Sage of Wisdom harbors no ill will toward me. Could I ask the senior to withdraw first?"

The White Elephant Sect Master did not speak.

Coming to find Feng Yang was one matter; how much weight Feng Yang's words held in his heart was entirely another.

Li Xingxing smiled, looking at the White Elephant Sect Master. "No matter what, you are still counted among the human race's top-tier powerhouses. The reason I do not wish to kill you today is because you are useful in the war against the demons. However, if you continue to disturb me... I wouldn't mind causing the human race to lose a Dao-Integration master. Understand?"

The White Elephant Sect Master said earnestly, "I wish to try."

Li Xingxing raised an eyebrow, turned his head to smile at Feng Yang, and said, "Now we are right back to our previous topic. In this world, as long as one has sufficient strength, whether it be a Dao-Integration master or imperial royalty and nobility, there is none who cannot be killed."

Feng Yang sighed inwardly.

Not long ago, he and Li Xingxing had engaged in a debate. Li Xingxing had stated that he wished to kill far more than just ordinary commoners, and Feng Yang had immediately refuted him on the grounds of feasibility.

He had not expected that the latter would take so little time to prove his words were no empty boast.

He truly could kill—whether it was a Dao-Integration expert or anyone else.

While Feng Yang was entertaining these thoughts, an astonishing surge of primordial Qi burst forth from Li Xingxing’s body.

The White Elephant Sect Master transformed into a streak of sword light.

Countless spiderweb-like cracks suddenly multiplied across the red earth, with boiling magma dancing along the fissures before rapidly spreading outward. Within the spiderwebs, countless terrifying sword scars suddenly appeared, hacking the surging momentum of the magma back down.

Li Xingxing uttered a soft shout.

The White Elephant Sect Master groaned softly.

The sword light halted in mid-air, revealing the figure of the White Elephant Sect Master.

With a complex expression, he asked, "Is this the Mountains and Rivers Go?"

Li Xingxing replied, "The supreme treasure of the稷 Palace, the Five Regions: Mountains and Rivers."

Using mountains and rivers as a game board, crowned with the name of the Five Regions.

Feng Yue had once used the Five Regions Mountains and Rivers Board in the Yanbei game. At that time, having only recovered to the Mind-Connecting realm, he had relied on this Primordial Essence treasure to heavily injure Qi Luozhu. Now that Li Xingxing was using it personally, just how powerful could it be?

At the very least, the White Elephant Sect Master was no match for him whatsoever. After holding out for merely a few breaths, he suffered a defeat.

Having figured this out, the White Elephant Sect Master no longer forced the issue. He slowly closed his eyes. "I will not disturb you, but you cannot take them away."

Li Xingxing frowned and asked, "Do you truly think I dare not kill you?"

The White Elephant Sect Master said earnestly, "Of course I know you dare kill me. The problem is that you are currently just a dissociated soul. If you do not want the Mountains and Rivers Board to be taken away by Mount Taixuan, you will not engage in a mutually destructive struggle with me."

Li Xingxing thought to himself that after all these years, this fellow had still grown somewhat, being able to perceive at a single glance that this was not his true physical body.

Upon hearing this, Feng Yang was instead taken aback, blurting out, "The Dissociated Spirit Art?"

The White Elephant Sect Master glanced at him and said, "This kid has some discernment."

Feng Yang nodded at the White Elephant Sect Master and asked in puzzlement, "Isn't this one of the supreme mental cultivation methods of the Soul-Seizing Pavilion?"

Li Xingxing laughed dryly. "Given my current identity, would I still care what sect or faction the cultivation method I practice belongs to?"

Only then did Feng Yang realize that Li Xingxing’s threat to the human race surpassed even that of heretical cults. Never mind studying the techniques of the Soul-Seizing Pavilion; even if he truly acted in the style of a heretical cult, the Divine Court’s bounty on him could not possibly be raised any higher.

A man with many lice does not feel the bite—that was precisely the case here.

Yet, compared to Li Xingxing’s ethereal, immortal persona in the mortal realm, it was ultimately somewhat disappointing.

The White Elephant Sect Master did not participate further in the ensuing discussion, merely clutching his sword and waiting to one side.

He did not state what would happen if Li Xingxing tried to take Feng Yang and the others away, but Li Xingxing still grasped his meaning.

A fight to the death, then?

Li Xingxing said, "Stand further away. Your presence here is a disturbance to me."

Hearing this, the White Elephant Sect Master stepped back somewhat further, though he did not step outside the array.

Nor would Li Xingxing have allowed him to leave the array.

Feng Yang looked at the distant White Elephant Sect Master, but his words were addressed to Li Xingxing. "So, Senior has placed his bet on me?"

Pausing for a moment, he frowned. "Surely not. Then... have you taken a fancy to my eldest brother?"

Li Xingxing smiled. "Your eldest brother has fine innate talent, and moreover, he is protected by the Mandate of Heaven; even I cannot calculate him with absolute clarity, but that is only one of the reasons."

Feng Yang furrowed his brow. "I still don't understand what you could possibly want from me."

Li Xingxing said, "When you reach that altitude, you will naturally understand."

Feng Yang grew somewhat vigilant. "It wouldn't have anything to do with that heinous plan of yours, would it?"

Before Li Xingxing could answer, he hastily added, "You won't succeed."

Li Xingxing smiled, offering no explanation, and said with total indifference, "No matter, it was merely done on a whim."

Feng Yang remained silent for a moment. "What did Senior mean just now by saying you wouldn't give me the Three Woods Art?"

Li Xingxing replied, "I merely gave you the treatment plan. As for whether you can obtain the Three Woods, that depends on your own fortune."

Feng Yang thought for a moment and sneered slightly, "A single plan can be traded for three promises—Senior certainly knows how to do business, not to mention that my brother has already told me about this plan."

Li Xingxing smiled. "Since you two brothers have thoroughly read the Taoist canon, it is only natural that you could find this path of survival. Since that is the case, I might as well help you out a bit more."

Feng Yang frowned.

Li Xingxing said earnestly, "Your situation is special—it is not merely a matter of the Ten Desolate Meridians. Although the Three Woods Art can help you resolve a portion of your problems, it cannot save your life."

Feng Yang furrowed his brow.

Li Xingxing chuckled softly. "Then let me put it another way. The Three Woods can only prolong your life by four years. If you reach the age of twenty and still cannot resolve the extreme Yin Qi within your body, you will still die."

Feng Yang asked, "Is the Yin Qi within my body not originating from the Ten Desolate Meridians?"

Li Xingxing shook his head. "You have it backward."

Feng Yang was startled.

Historical records had never documented a precedent where internal Yin Qi triggered the Ten Desolate Meridians. Part of him wanted to disbelieve it, but Li Xingxing spoke with absolute certainty. Coupled with the fact that the other party truly had no reason to deceive him in this matter, it must be the absolute truth.

Feng Yang tentatively asked, "Since you have raised the problem, presumably you also have a solution to resolve it?"

Li Xingxing thought to himself that the youngsters of today were truly lacking in manners, not even addressing him as 'Senior'.

Pausing for a moment, he burst into laughter. "Gather the Three Woods first before talking about anything else. If you cannot live past sixteen, then no matter what solution I have, it won't be prepared for you."

Feng Yang thought to himself, then why on earth did you bring this up?

Seeing right through his thoughts, Li Xingxing said earnestly, "I merely wished to prove to you that your trade with me is not a losing proposition for you."

Too lazy to engage with him any further, Feng Yang stood up. "It seems Senior has no intention of keeping me, so I shall take my leave first."

Li Xingxing did not stop him, merely speaking indifferently, "I see that your thread of fate has no more than three months left. You had best hurry."

Feng Yang’s figure paused briefly. Without a word, he walked over to the White Elephant Sect Master and said, "Senior has waited long. Let us go."

The White Elephant Sect Master glanced at Li Xingxing.

A wind swept past.

And they had already vanished without a trace.

……

After they departed, a low and hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind Li Xingxing.

"Just letting them go like that—is that really alright?"

The owner of the voice was a somewhat aged man.

Li Xingxing said, "It's fine. Besides, the White Elephant Sect Master is, after all, a Dao-Integration master; it would be a shame for him to die at my hands."

The man remained silent for a moment. "Sir, I don't understand."

Li Xingxing asked, "How so?"

The man inquired, "Sir has wholeheartedly worked for the human race; I have seen this with my own eyes over the years. But since Sir cares so much for all living beings, why would you orchestrate this war?"

Li Xingxing thought for a moment. "This war was not orchestrated by me. When all is said and done, I merely planted a seed of resentment and dissatisfaction within the Five Prefectures of Bohai. As for what kind of flowers or fruits that seed will sprout and bear, that is outside my scope of consideration."

Pausing briefly, he continued, "Moreover, the population of the human race is far too vast; the population of the six southern provinces alone equals that of the entire demon race. If the Dao Abyss truly intends to settle accounts, the human race will undoubtedly bear the brunt of it. Rather than sitting here waiting to die, it is better to purge a portion first to alleviate the burden of the Dao Abyss."

The man looked in the direction where the White Elephant Sect Master had departed and asked, "Sir, where are we going now?"

Li Xingxing chuckled lightly. "You may return first. The matter at the Cloud Tomb is drawing to a close, and this wandering soul of mine should also head home."