Chapter 1844: Demonic Body (II)

Wei Xuanyin understood that the man before him was, after all, a Grand Daoist Master. Unless he explained the matter clearly, Tuoba Qiye would remain unconvinced and continue to think he was making too much of it.

He therefore lowered his voice and said, "It does not warrant this? [Boundless Essence] is the Dao of the ancient devils, the only great Dao that can stand alongside the Immortal and Buddhist Daos… You would let this fall into the King of Wei's hands? Lord Yao is already deeply concerned about the possibility of him joining the Buddhist Dao. Must he now guard against him joining the Devil Dao as well?

"When he heard that the King of Wei might be cultivating a Fundamental Dharma, he nearly came in person!"

Wei Xuanyin raised his brows and said coldly, "Had I not volunteered to come myself, Yao Guanyi would be standing here now! Given his attitude toward your family, Fellow Daoist Qiye, you would have no opportunity to explain!"

Silence settled over the hall. Tuoba Qiye kept his head lowered for a long time. Only after a prolonged silence did Tuoba Ci inch forward and speak, "[Black Soul Mara] has three transformations… We have only seen the first in him, and it remains weak. Unless he cultivates it to its ultimate perfection, he cannot connect with the Great Dao of Boundless Essence…

“Perhaps one or two cultivation teachings leaked out during the turmoil in Liang a thousand years ago, but the remaining two transformations are locked within the seal. They cannot be obtained without direct contact with it… Emissary, please take this into consideration."

Though framed as an explanation, his words were a concession, quietly accepting responsibility for the matter. Wei Xuanyin's expression softened slightly, and he waved a hand. "It was precisely because I understood these intricacies that I volunteered to come… to give you a chance!"

He considered for a moment, then said, "As for this matter… explaining it to me will not suffice. I am afraid you must accompany me back to the Pavilion of Profound Order, Fellow Daoist Qiye."

Tuoba Qiye finally broke his long silence. "Thank you, emissary."

He rose, gave Tuoba Ci a meaningful look, and gestured for Wei Xuanyin to lead the way. The two departed, one following the other.

There was no time for even another word.

Tuoba Ci remained alone, his fists clenched and his expression gradually turning cold.

Who could it be?!

His vague explanation had merely given both sides a way to save face. The Tuoba Family's rules were strict, and its profound seal, a dharma relic, remained in their possession. Anyone who had paid homage to the seal and received a cultivation technique could never write it down and pass it to another person. Not even the first transformation!

Viewed another way, if someone had obtained the first transformation, they might well be able to obtain all three!

Unless someone performed a soul search… But the profound seal is a dharma relic… Who could possibly have such power? A True Monarch? Why would one bother? A single word would be enough to bring down our family!

The thought sent an involuntary chill through him. He sat dazedly in the seat of honor, staring at the unfinished game before him.

Could this be… a deliberate attempt to frighten our family?

With events already set in motion, Tuoba Ci had no choice but to consider the consequences.

We have already handed over two dharma relics. Is that still not enough?! Are they going to use this opportunity to take our treasured seal as well?!

His gaze darkened as he stared toward the distant southern sky. Only when the heavenly glow sweeping past like a bird seared his eyes did Tuoba Ci lower his head and close them.

Yao Guanyi…

————

"In the spring of the tenth year, the Tuoba Family invaded Huai region. The King of Wei braved danger and rode forth to engage them. Zhao's general Guangchan emerged from a concealed ambush but failed in his aim. The battle was joined at Baixiang Valley, where the King won a great victory. The sky turned crimson, the mountain heights collapsed, and Guangchan died.

"At this time, Song had advanced to the edge of the lands around the Great River and the Luo River."

The ink-black words lay still upon the written record. The youth stared at the desk, dumbfounded and speechless for a long time, before finally murmuring, "Guangchan died? What?"

Guangchan had simply died like that! Li Suining was too stunned to speak.

How… does this make sense? Was it because of me?

I gave one extra warning… and the king killed a mighty Fifth Incarnation Maha just like that?!

Who was Guangchan? He represented the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm's interests in Jiangbei. According to the history of Li Suining's previous life, this was barely his first intervention. He would later advance to the Sixth Incarnation and spend many years representing the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm against the Great Desire and Compassion Daos…

It was not that he could not die… Strictly speaking, he had not died particularly late in that life either. The King of Wei had still slain him at White Horse Mountain.

I heard that a great sun appeared in the sky then, and the Buddhist land moved against its natural course. But the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm showed no sign of grief. They simply declared that he had gone to reincarnate and that he had attained his Dao. In the end, he was still dead. They merely made his death sound more dignified.

But his death coming so early changed matters. Who could take his place in Jianghuai now? Could the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm possibly find a second Li Jieyi?

Li Suining paced around his cave dwelling twice, then studied the map again. A peculiar look gradually crossed his face. "Yet the overall situation has hardly changed… The battlefront is almost identical to the one back then."

He pondered for some time before the door to his cave dwelling gently swung open. A man in an ink-black robe stepped inside, glanced at the map on his desk, and asked with a smile, "Did that frighten you?"

Despite Li Zhouwei's warm tone, the mere sight of him filled Li Suining with reverence and awe. He hurried to the foot of the steps and said, "Greetings, your highness!"

He bowed deeply and rose at Li Zhouwei's gesture, then replied, "Guangchan truly died rather early!"

"I know." Li Zhouwei smiled faintly and clasped his hands behind his back. "This was a Dharma Master's miscalculation. You feel that Guangchan died early precisely because your foreknowledge was accurate."

A thoughtful look entered his eyes as he continued, "This is a good thing, and it was inevitable. But there is something I came here to ask you today."

Li Suining raised his brows as Li Zhouwei nodded. The latter then asked, "Do you know of Heavenly Plain?"

Li Suining frowned slightly and shook his head. Li Zhouwei remained silent for a long time. He hesitated briefly, pondering Qingyu Qian's words as they echoed in his mind.

When Liu Changdie visited the lake back then, the [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument] severed his connection to the Great Expansion Heavenly Plain Scripture. Before that, only a True Monarch could detect anything unusual about him. Afterward, his anomaly became apparent to those wielding divine abilities… His mystics were taken away as well…

That was Qingyu Qian's explanation. Yet as Li Zhouwei studied Li Suining carefully, a fresh sense of unease arose within him. Was the Li Suining before him not another Liu Changdie? Yet even Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities revealed nothing unusual about Li Suining!

That meant the [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument] had not taken away his mystics!

The [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument], which the foxes cannot control, is probably in the hands of those above. Suining must carry some hidden provision of theirs. That is how he escaped the [Azure Attainment Primordial Heart Instrument]!