Chapter 1670: Dongli (II)

The Li Family was more than familiar with this name. The [Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual], one of the earliest cultivation arts their family had obtained, had been written by this very cultivator! It had been attributed to the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion, which meant Cui Mu had written it before leaving the mansion and entering imperial service.

Moreover, the [Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual] had been bestowed by the mirror!

This was the first time in more than a century that the Li Family had uncovered any trace of the origins of a Bright Yang art bestowed by the mirror! Li Zhouwei immediately grew alert, his vigilance rising to its peak.

He frowned slightly and asked, "But that does not seem right. If Sect Master Dongli was a figure from the Wei era, how could he have survived for so many years before becoming the sect master of Dongli? Could he have been a True Monarch?

"What was Cui Mu of Dongli's cultivation realm?"

At this question, Cui Changyan looked somewhat awkwardly toward his Daoist Master.

Cui Changfu answered instead, "If your highness puts the question that way... Then before the fall of the dynasty, he held the borrowed position of a True Monarch. After the dynasty fell, he was merely a Daoist Master."

Li Zhouwei raised his head slightly, his pupils widening. Having already heard the dragon's account of such matters, he understood exactly what Cui Changfu meant and asked, "Can the system of an immortal state... sustain a True Monarch?!"

Cui Changfu hesitated briefly, then shook his head. "The sect master was a genius rarely seen in the Cui Family even once in a century. He was selected to cultivate in the Immortal Mansion, and by the time he entered imperial service, he had already reached the stage of perfected divine abilities."

"At the height of the Great Wei Celestial Dynasty, there were two positions of authority. Their titles differed under each emperor, but their functions remained largely the same. During the reign of Emperor Gong of Wei, one was the [Privy Minister Who Suppresses Calamity and Exalts Letters], while the other was the [Luan General Who Subdues the Barbarians and Hunts Demons].

“Once vested with the authority of these positions, the Privy Minister could borrow a Golden Position when governing the realm, while the Luan General could borrow a Golden Position when leading campaigns abroad. However, both wielded the power of a True Monarch..."

Li Zhouwei listened with a frown as Cui Changfu continued, "The last Privy Minister of Great Wei was none other than our sect master. It was precisely because he had once possessed the power of a True Monarch that he was able to enjoy such extraordinary longevity, migrate to Yue State, and establish a sect.

"These two positions of authority were exalted, but they came with many onerous restrictions. Not only did one have to cultivate to the stage of perfected divine abilities before even attempting to ascend to either position, but once the position was attained, one's path to the Dao was severed. There would no longer be any chance of truly becoming a True Monarch, and one's entire existence would be bound to the fate of the state...

"When Great Wei collapsed, the esteemed Luan General perished in Mobei. Although our sect master managed to preserve his life through the Cui Family's bloodline oath and certain means derived from his Dao conduct, and thereafter retained some unorthodox abilities that surpassed the stage of perfected divine abilities, his vital qi had already suffered grievous damage. His existence was worse than death. He could no longer move freely through the world, and in actual combat, he was no match even for a peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator."

A trace of bitterness appeared on Cui Changfu's aged face. "We only learned this later... When Dongli Sect was founded, his divine might seemed boundless. Everyone in the world believed that he had risen anew from the ruins of his former path and attained a certain position within Bright Yang..."

Li Zhouwei neither agreed nor disagreed as he thought, Who knows how much truth there was to what 'everyone in the world believed'? Perhaps the north deliberately allowed it to happen, then struck three times to sweep up everyone in the world who remained loyal to the Wei's Li imperial house. Fortunately, they only carried out that plan to cultivate Bright Yang later.

Cui Changfu continued in a somber voice, "Now that Dongli has fallen, everything has long since vanished into the dust. After all, only grotto heavens that have yet to collapse and inheritances that still hold benefits worth uncovering will draw the world's attention..."

Li Zhouwei fell into thought, Dongli...

He asked, "How did this lord meet his end?"

Cui Changfu's expression turned solemn as he replied, "We have no detailed records; however, after comparing what was passed down by generations of Chongzhou elders with the many texts left from Wei State, we have formed a few conjectures. He most likely never recovered from his grievous injuries and eventually passed away in meditation!"

He sighed as he said, "Although the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven produced many outstanding talents, its relations with the various Dao lineages of the sea were strained at the time, and had even reached the point where they attacked the sect's mountain gate. His lordship repeatedly failed to appear, emboldening the outer-sea Dao lineages to press their advantage. Meanwhile, another Supreme Yang Dao lineage had established itself in Jiangnan and was steadily expanding its influence. Dongli was beset by troubles both within and without.

"It was then that Daoist Master Donghuo, who had long guarded the sea, perished near the Suzhu Reefs. This Daoist Master cultivated the Radiant Fire Dao and possessed astonishing divine abilities, having once reached the stage of perfected divine abilities... The phenomenon accompanying his fall shook heaven and earth, boiling the surrounding seas boiled as endless baleful fire rained down. Even today, Radiant Fire still flourishes in that region, and countless salt reefs cover the waters.

"Once Daoist Master Donghuo fell, the Dongli Sect could no longer keep its dire circumstances under control. The cultivators stationed in Chongzhou withdrew one after another, while the several ancestors my family had sent there subsequently perished in succession. From that point onward, we received no further news..."

After listening for some time, Li Zhouwei could not help but sigh with emotion. "Your esteemed family has guarded the Eastern Sea for many years. It truly has not been easy!"

Cui Changyan, however, misunderstood his meaning and hurriedly explained. "Our Chongzhou branch originally came from Zhaoyuan, but when calamity befell the state, all word from the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion had already ceased, and [Wei Radiant Heaven] was sealed... Even the cultivators of Wei State within the mainland could no longer be contacted, so naturally, we lost contact as well...

"Later... the Qi... the Qi rebels founded their state and plunged the north into chaos. It was not that we could not return... We did not dare to return!"

Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes. "Tell me about the events surrounding the rise and fall of Qi."

Cui Changyan paused briefly and was about to speak when Cui Changfu coughed and answered instead, "He is only a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, and is not well suited to discussing matters of ancient history. Allow me to explain..."

He sighed. "The Qi emperor, Qiji Tanluo, whose Han name was Shi Chang, was born in Mobei and served as a general under Wei. He excelled at mounted archery, and was a valiant warrior skilled in battle. When my family's forebears pacified Mobei, Lord Shi rendered distinguished service and was appointed as the General Who Pacifies the North. For a time, he was stationed in the Hetao region.

"At the time, the Helian Family was merely a minor Xiongnu tribe[1]. It was only because Shi Chang promoted their ancestor, Helian Bo, while he was stationed in the Hetao region that the Tiefu royal clan later came into being."

Cui Changfu studied Li Zhouwei's expression and hesitated repeatedly before finally continuing, "At the time, one of my family's ancestors... served alongside him under the same command. Shi Chang appeared exceedingly obedient and humble. Since the commanding general was also surnamed Cui, he deliberately sought to ingratiate himself with my ancestor. Whenever my ancestor traveled by carriage, Shi Chang would attend him with whip in hand. At times, when addressing my ancestor, he even referred to himself as this servant..."

Li Zhouwei raised his brows and asked in some surprise, "Which ancestor was this?"

Cui Changfu appeared somewhat embarrassed, yet his expression also carried the wistful realization of how completely times had changed. "His name never became known, and he did not even attain divine ability... Yet the man who once walked before him carrying a whip and calling himself a servant eventually became an emperor. It only goes to show how unpredictable the affairs of the world can be!"

Li Zhouwei remained silent as Cui Changfu went on to say, "That is why my family knows something of what happened... At the time, a young man frequently came and went from Shi Chang's tent. His cultivation was not particularly high, merely at Foundation Establishment Realm, but he was elegant and distinguished in bearing. He was known as Daoist Shanqing.

"Later, when Qi established its imperial rule, he became the state's National Preceptor and cultivated to the very pinnacle of divine ability. When Great Qi collapsed, he vanished and never revealed another trace of himself..."

"Daoist Shanqing..."

Li Zhouwei pondered the name for a moment as Cui Changfu said, "Indeed... This man's methods were exceedingly terrifying!"

A trace of hatred appeared on the old man's face as he explained, "The former state maintained exceedingly strict oversight of its territories. Not only were its various powers kept separate, but Immortal Masters from the Immortal Mansions were also appointed to supervise the regions.

“Although Bright Yang lost its radiance overnight and the imperial armies suffered defeat, the many cultivators stationed throughout the realm by the Immortal Mansions swiftly assumed authority and used their power as cultivators to suppress the unrest. The situation was already beginning to stabilize...

"Yet this Daoist Shanqing drove the people like cattle and sheep, broke through three fortified passes, opened the route into Guanlong, and gathered the people of Wei together so that the Qi emperor could bury them alive. After the imperial palace fell, he rounded up the members of the Li imperial clan and used an art to obscure the heavenly light, allowing the Qi emperor to humiliate Bright Yang at his leisure... Some imperial descendants were slaughtered like livestock, while others were boiled alive in cauldrons and eaten. Their anguished cries shook the heavens.

"Even though he concealed it with his art, Bright Yang was ultimately a Dao that manifested openly in the world. Whenever one of those noble figures died, the sky would inevitably shine brightly for three seconds before dimming once more, only to brighten again. It happened more times than anyone could count..."

Li Zhouwei listened with rapt attention, the cup in his hand suspended motionless in midair. Suddenly, he asked, "Which Dao lineage did this National Preceptor cultivate?"

Cui Changfu answered in a low voice, "Dui Metal!"

1. 匈奴 (Xiongnu) is an ancient nomadic confederation that inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe and frequently came into conflict with early Chinese dynasties. ☜

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