Chapter 1708: The Order Of Yin And Yang (II)

Although Li Zhouwei had endured, his body was now in utter disarray. The poison of Radiant Light coursed through every inch of his dharma body, forcing him to suppress it with his vast mana and leaving him no strength to spare for healing his injuries.

The damage Radiant Essence inflicted upon the Bright Yang origin was truly terrifying. Li Zhouwei's injuries were severe, genuine wounds to his very foundation, yet he felt no urgency.

There was a simple reason for this. As the cultivators withdrew, the mystics of [Sovereign In Peril] were steadily growing stronger.

This was precisely the reward for successfully braving peril!

It would have been one thing had this been a duel, but I was besieged alone by so many cultivators. The blessing of the [Fate of the White Qilin] reached its utmost limit, achieving ninety percent completion, while I also succeeded in braving peril... fulfilling the conditions of the mystics!

The revival triggered by [Sovereign In Peril] likewise granted an additional ninety percent increase in effectiveness. More important still was the talisman qi [Illuminating Sun and Moon]!

With his life anchored in a single mansion, these seemingly fatal injuries had first been greatly diminished. This battle had also fulfilled the conditions of [Breaking Divine Abilities and Defeating Devil and Buddhist Cultivators]. Together with the resonance of the White Qilin Fate, mana surged forth within his Shenyang Mansion in an unending torrent.

At this moment, his Shenyang Mansion was already brimming with surging mana and radiant divine abilities, all of which he had merely sealed within. Although the poison of Radiant Essence countered Bright Yang, once the major problem concerning his mana was resolved, recovery would not be difficult with the medicinal pills he carried.

However, these mystics had either been sealed away or been suppressed by him, leaving no outward signs. Moreover, they were the result of resonance with the White Qilin Fate and were not part of the ordinary effects of [Sovereign In Peril]. Yang Ruiyi was clearly unaware of this, and the sight left him both embarrassed and remorseful.

We have only just enfeoffed him as the King of Wei, yet the moment he left our court, he suffered grievous injuries defending his territory, to the point of even damaging his foundation... Granted, defending Tingzhou also means defending the Li Family, but... but this is practically trampling the Yang Family's dignity into the ground!

It will be even harder to explain this to my little sister...

His gaze grew somewhat somber at the thought, Ch'i Lanyan... Wei Xuanyin... I had thought that since the Pavilion of Profound Order was at least subordinate to Luoxia, even if the powers of the world intended to move against Bright Yang, it would not be the first to step forward and incite them... Their greed is far too blatant!

Now that Yang Zhuo had become the Song Emperor, many of his actions were beyond Yang Ruiyi's control, leaving him no choice but to turn a blind eye. Yet Ch'i Lanyan's conduct had undoubtedly displeased him greatly, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Just you wait.

Fortunately, Li Zhouwei did not leave him in discomfort any longer. He casually withdrew his divine ability and lightly swept a hand across his face. Every injury and abnormality vanished from sight, restoring his imposing appearance.

"After you."

————

Great Zhao.

The bright moon cast its radiance across the sea, making the surface shimmer silver. A white-robed man stood atop a pitch-black sea cliff with his hands clasped behind his back, saying nothing.

After a while, a faint phantom appeared, drifting among the mountains. It flitted several times through the gaps between the ridges before manifesting as a woman dressed in a man's robes. Cradling a wine jug in her arms, she sank limply to her knees upon the mountainside. A basketful of insects and snakes spilled from beneath her robes, producing a faint, rustling clatter.

A low chuckle rose from her throat as she said softly, "What fine spirits you are in, National Preceptor, admiring the moon all alone."

Wei Xuanyin turned and looked down at her, replying indifferently, "What brings you here, Attendant Zong?"

This woman was none other than Zong Chang!

Both held unusual positions and were renowned throughout the realm. One was the National Preceptor of Great Zhao, who cultivated [Veiled Yin] through the orthodox Immortal Dao, while the other was a power-grabbing palace attendant who had cultivated [Veiled Yin] through heretical methods. Though one stood above and the other below, they were surprisingly amicable.

Zong Chang narrowed her eyes, took a drink, and said softly, "I just received word that a great battle broke out between north and south, leaving quite a few dead along the riverbank... When such a fine opportunity arose, my lord had news of it yet would not even share a portion with me? Had I joined in, matters could only have gone better, not worse..."

Wei Xuanyin shook his head and sighed. He did not respond to the clear mockery in her words. Zong Chang abruptly continued, "Was Ch'i Lanyan acting on your instructions? Deliberately targeting Bright Yang and taking the lead for all the great clans... That was rather bold."

Wei Xuanyin replied evenly, "I do not know which faction was behind this. You have misunderstood, fellow Daoist."

Though both cultivated [Veiled Yin], they had taken completely different paths. Wei Xuanyin felt little animosity toward her, but Zong Chang regarded him with intense jealousy and resentment.

Her eyes shifted as she replied, "You and I both cultivate [Veiled Yin], so our interests in this matter must overlap to some extent. Why bother deceiving me?"

Wei Xuanyin looked at her silently for a long while before saying, "The path forged by Wei's Li was glorious, and the Imperial Monarch is worthy of admiration. Yet he greatly elevated the Human Dao, setting it at odds with the Immortal Dao. Since his rise, the balance between Veiled Yin and Bright Yang has once again shifted. You claim our interests align, but I do not entirely agree."

Standing beneath the moonlight, the man appeared neither distinctly masculine nor feminine. He said, "I intend to uphold the orthodoxy of [Veiled Yin], restore the harmony of yin and yang, and rebuild the Dao legacy destroyed by Li Qianyuan... If I were to attain my position by destroying Bright Yang, it would inevitably give rise to a hundred evils and lead me onto the Devil Dao. I have no such intention, so there is no need to ask again."

Zong Chang sneered and replied, "What lofty ambitions you have. You intend to attain [Veiled Yin] solely through your own ability? To attain it openly and honorably in one stroke, without attaching yourself to an Inherent rank founded upon the inversion of yin and yang and the destruction of moral order? You would need to be capable of that first!"

She laughed. "With [Bright Yang] descending into the world, those great figures care little whether the White Qilin succeeds, and they have tacitly permitted others to place their bets. Yet the Dharma Masters, great clans, and immortal sects all have their own positions. Since those on the mountain have issued no decree, everyone is free to rely upon their own abilities.

"I do not care whether you uphold orthodoxy or possess such ability. Let me ask you this, if Li Zhouwei completes all his divine abilities, strives for Fruition Attainment, and replaces the Bright Yang Imperial Monarch, ushering in the revival of Bright Yang... Whether those great figures could tolerate it is hard to say, but could you, Wei Xuanyin, tolerate it?!

"If the revival of Bright Yang truly becomes the prevailing tide throughout the realm, with Bright Yang enthroned and Veiled Yin cast into disorder, everything will inevitably return to how it was during the days of Wei State. Veiled Yin will be reduced to an inferior position, becoming precisely the Devil Dao you speak of. Your true spirit is also male, Wei Xuanyin. Would Li Zhouwei spare you? What harmony between yin and yang could there possibly be? How could you ever achieve a breakthrough? You would merely be marching to your death! Do I truly need to remind you of this..."

The woman remained kneeling on the ground, drinking by herself as she laughed. "It would be another matter if those on the mountain were intervening, but they plainly are not. You are an ambitious man seeking a position of your own. Can you truly allow someone so unpredictable, someone who might destroy every possibility of your attainment, to continue down his path unchecked?

"And now, Ch'i Lanyan has gone to such lengths to test him, already harboring the intent to destroy Bright Yang. He is risking his own life to deal with this on your behalf. You, Wei Xuanyin, hold a high position within the Pavilion of Profound Order, and your Dao conduct is terrifyingly profound. If you claim to know nothing of this, I refuse to believe you!"

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