Ziwei Immortal Path

Chapter 167 The dust has settled
Xie Shuge raised an eyebrow, indignant:

"Who else could it be but him? The others were all the same. They were all hypocritical and courteous along the way, but when disaster struck, they all turned out to be heartless and ungrateful!"

“You risked your life to save them, but they didn’t take it seriously. They searched all night but couldn’t find you, so they said you must be dead. Led by Yu Qingmei, everyone in Nanhuai left in a hurry as if they were attending a funeral!”

Xu Boyang didn't seem to care about this at all, and asked with delight:
"Is everyone alright?"

Xie Shuge hadn't expected Xu Boyang to still care about others, and unconsciously pouted, replying:
"It's alright. Apart from three fellow disciples at the sixth or seventh level of the Qi Condensation stage who went missing, the others suffered some injuries, but none of them were seriously hurt."

Upon hearing that the remaining cultivators from Nanhuai were still alive, Xu Boyang felt relieved and sighed softly:

“Those three fellow disciples have perished, and I have just laid them to rest.”

Xie Shuge's expression changed slightly, and she cupped her hands in greeting, saying:
"I, Xie Shuge, have few people I admire. Brother Xu, you are probably the first one I have ever met since I came to Yuchuan."

Xu Boyang waved his hand and said:
“Brother Xie, please don’t blame them for being ungrateful. They risked their lives to come here for others. They are not selfish people, otherwise they would not have returned to Nanhuai.”

"It's understandable that they have other things on their minds and don't want to waste their time on me."

"I was seriously injured. Fortunately, I was wearing a Foundation Establishment defensive artifact, otherwise I might have died on the spot."

Xu Boyang took off the [Dongxuan Dharma Robe], looked at it, sighed softly, carefully folded and put it away, then bowed respectfully.
"Brother Xie, we haven't known each other for very long, yet you are so noble and righteous. Thank you for your unwavering support!"

Xie Shuge chuckled and scratched his head:
"I'm all alone, with no family or friends. Where I go doesn't matter, so I might as well come and search around to see if I can find you."

Xu Boyang looked around and nodded, saying:

"Brother Xie, we shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's talk as we walk."

Xie Shuge nodded:
"Brother Xu, I see you are badly injured. I do have a wind boat, though it's not as good as Sun Rushi's, but it's still usable. Let's take the boat westward together and get away from Qingshen first!"

"Thank you."

Xu Boyang dared not delay any longer. After all, this place had just experienced a great battle, and who knew what kind of demons and monsters it might attract? He was already seriously injured and could not afford any more accidents, otherwise there would be no way to save the situation.

Xie Shuge understood immediately and said no more. He summoned the wind boat, and the two of them boarded it one after the other, heading west.

At this time, the "Zhu Ling Li Ming Dong Fire Formation" guarding Yu Chuan had already been broken by the East Sea Dragon King. Although it may not have been completely destroyed, the road to Nan Huai was now unobstructed.

After walking for a while, Xu Boyang, filled with doubt, couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Xie, your home is not in Yunfu. You declined the Qi family's invitation and came out alone. Don't you want to go back and take a look?"

Xie Shuge gave an awkward smile:
"Brother Xu, you may not know this, but I am an orphan. When I was seven years old, I wandered to Qiantang Town in Yunfu and was adopted by the Xie family. Later, when I was twelve, I went fishing in a wild pool in the mountains and met an old man in golden clothes. He and I fished in the mountains for seven days and seven nights, and that's how I embarked on the path to immortality."

“Brother Xu, my adoptive grandmother, Xie, passed away three years ago. My adoptive father was an opportunist, which I dislike. Therefore, I have severed all ties with the world and have no attachments.”

"I see."

Xu Boyang felt a chill run down his spine, but at this moment, he was preoccupied with his own thoughts and had no interest in listening to the story. He responded with a 'yes' and then fell silent.

Since seeing the remains of Xu Shaoliang and Xu Shaohua with his own eyes, Xu Boyang's heart has become stagnant. He no longer has any attachment to Qingshen and now only wants to return to Qianxing Wandao Lake in Zhufen as soon as possible.

Thinking of the long and arduous journey ahead, he pondered for a moment and said:
"Brother Xie, Qing Shen is now fraught with danger. By chance, I have learned a technique that can detect the surrounding situation. Please follow my instructions and maneuver the magic boat to fly. This will allow us to prepare for the worst and help us leave this place alive."

"Really? Brother Xu possesses such extraordinary abilities?"

Xie Shuge was overjoyed and said with a smile, "That's wonderful!"

Xu Boyang nodded, then immediately sat down cross-legged and used his [Demon Lord's Divine Sense] to investigate the surrounding situation.

His divine sense spread out like waves.

I never expected that I would be so surprised when I looked into it.

As you walk west along Huai Mountain, the valleys stretch endlessly, forming a vast expanse of water.

Xu Boyang sighed inwardly, referring to the remaining Huai Mountain and recalling past memories, he directed Xie Shuge to maneuver the wind boat towards Dongke Town.

"Dongke Town is gone..."

After flying for half a day and traversing thousands of miles of ocean, Xu Boyang finally confirmed his suspicions. Thinking of his family's Fengqing Chamber of Commerce in Dongke Town, he sighed inwardly and couldn't help but worry about Fei Wenyu, wondering where his brother was with Yu Qingmei at this moment.

"I wonder if Lou Fushan from his family is alright?"

Upon realizing this, Xu Boyang scanned the area with his divine sense and his expression immediately changed drastically. He saw that although Fei family's Loufu Mountain had not been submerged by the water, the entire mountain was covered with broken roof tiles, rivers of blood, and corpses everywhere, a truly gruesome sight. However, there was not a single living creature on the mountain, and he had no idea who had committed such a heinous act.

After searching with his divine sense for a while, he finally found no trace of the Fei brothers. He felt a little relieved. It seemed that the two brothers had probably already discovered Lou Fushan's misfortune and went directly to Nanhua with Yu Qingmei, Sun Rushi and others.

When Xu Boyang scanned the nearby water, he was taken aback, for he discovered thousands upon thousands of strangely shaped monsters swimming in the water, all wearing helmets and nails, wielding weapons, and marching in a mighty force toward Yuchuan.

His divine sense moved quickly, and in an instant, he saw a thin and long black dragon swimming at the very front.

It is called a small dragon because this dragon is much smaller than the Dragon King of the East Sea.

Upon seeing the dragon's body shimmering with an eerie light, its eyes flashing with murderous intent as it occasionally turned back, Xu Boyang was secretly alarmed and quickly said:

"Brother Xie, soar into the sky and head north! We can't stay here any longer!"

As the wind-powered boat soared into the clouds and sped northward, Xu Boyang withdrew his divine sense and recalled the scene at Loufu Mountain, feeling a deep sense of desolation.

Half a day later, Xu Boyang calculated that they should have reached the south bank of Xinyue Lake, so he asked Xie Shuge to lower the flight altitude and use the [Hidden Demon Mirror] again to observe the situation below.

Sure enough, this stretch of water connected to Xinyue Lake. The entire southern shore of Xinyue Lake was completely transformed. The reed marshes that stretched for hundreds of miles had vanished, and Old Chen's reed village was naturally submerged as well.

The wind-powered boat sped across the south bank, where they saw that even Wuyin Town had not been spared, turning into a vast expanse of water. The two paused briefly before heading towards Qidu Mountain.

Before long, the waters gradually disappeared, and dry land finally began to appear.

Upon arriving at Qidu Mountain, amidst the vermilion-purple poisonous mist, Xu Boyang saw countless ferocious demons, densely packed, some as large as mountains, others as small as rats, surging across this continuous mountain range, heading towards the left bank of Xinyue Lake.

According to Xie Shuge, Cangwu City lies to the left of Heart Moon Lake. "I'm afraid even this small area can't be protected..."

Upon seeing this scene, Xu Boyang lowered his brows and paled.

Seeing the barbarian demons' massive invasion, the two understood each other without saying anything more. They quickly flew over Qidu Mountain from the sky and headed towards the wilderness of Zhufen.

During this time, Xu Boyang used his divine sense to see many streaks of light passing by, but he didn't know whether they were friend or foe, so he didn't dare to get close. He would only notice them from a distance and then tell Xie Shuge to adjust his direction and avoid them.

After breaking through Qing Shen, the two dared not let their guard down. After all, their status as disciples of the Dao was a death warrant. They took turns resting, and the wind-borne boat never stopped flying day and night. Finally, after flying in the sky for half a month, they saw the appearance of a great lake with thousands of islands.

Xie Shuge maneuvered the wind-powered boat to descend slowly, stopping in mid-air. She gazed curiously at the vast lake, marveling at its beauty, before cupping her hands in a gesture of respect.
"Brother Xu, now that we have arrived at Thousand Stars and Ten Thousand Islands Lake, all good things must come to an end. Let us part ways here today."

"Alright."

Xu Boyang, having reached the middle of Thousand Stars and Ten Thousand Islands Lake, and having the same intention, bowed and took his leave:

"Brother Xie, it should still be half a month's journey to Wubi City. Please be careful. If you are not satisfied in the future, you may come to Nanhu Qinlong Mountain for a short stay."

Xie Shuge smiled and said, "No problem!"

Although the two exchanged words along the way, Xie Shuge still couldn't decide where he wanted to go when Xu Boyang asked him. He had been in Qingshen since he was a child and had never left. Now, with the world so vast, he didn't know where to go.

It wasn't until Xu Boyang told him about the geography near Qianxing Wandao Lake that Xie Shuge suddenly became very interested in Wubi City and said he wanted to go there to explore.

This Wubi City, known as the largest city in the country, is located north of Thousand Stars and Ten Thousand Islands Lake. Xu Boyang has been on the lake for nearly two years, but he has never been there once. However, he has heard a lot about the city while walking around South Lake.

This city is a free city. Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, demons and sorcerers are all equal. There are only private grudges, no public feuds. No matter how much trouble the various families in the world cause, once they enter the jurisdiction of Wubi City, they must put aside their prejudices and old grudges and abide by the rules of Wubi City.

Therefore, this city, along with the fields of Zhufen, can be considered a paradise for rogue cultivators.

After bidding farewell to Xie Shuge, Xu Boyang took out the [Biyouxian] sword and headed towards South Lake. He was seriously injured this time, and along the way, he had also used up a lot of spiritual power to control the magic boat, making it difficult for him to fly. He could only rely on the magic weapon and grit his teeth to persevere.

Healing his wounds as he flew, stopping and starting along the way, and ten days passed. On this day, the clouds and fog cleared, the lake water turned blue, and the islands of Qinlong Mountain finally came into view.

Xu Boyang was greatly relieved, and a smile finally appeared on his face. Since Fengqing Town, he had rarely smiled, and only today did his smile truly melt away.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted, his expression changed drastically, and he stopped in his tracks, because he realized that the protective array on the entire island was no longer the "Abyss Water Subduing Tide Array" set up by Pei Yansu!
The pale blue Foundation Establishment array has disappeared, replaced by an array flashing with purple lightning!
"This is the Confucian 'Wind Howling and Thunder Roaring Sky Formation,' could it be that our family already has…?"

Upon seeing the purple lightning, Xu Boyang was struck dumb, as if by a bolt from the blue. He dared not think further, cold sweat poured down his face, fear surged through him, and a raging fire of anger instantly welled up in his heart.

However, he has experienced many hardships over the years and is no longer a reckless person who doesn't think things through. Although he has now reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he has been through a series of setbacks and escaped death recently, leaving him no time to consolidate his foundation and cultivate properly. At this moment, he is still seriously injured and at his limit, completely lacking the true strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Xu Boyang suppressed his anger, his mind racing, and slowly descended, diving directly into the water. He then used invisibility and concealment techniques to approach slowly, channeling his [Demon Lord's Divine Sense] through the great array that enveloped the archipelago to investigate the situation inside.

His divine sense arrived in an instant, like a whirlwind. On Mount Qinlong, in the main hall, a man dressed in a deep purple brocade robe sat in the main seat.

With his phoenix eyes, filled with a gloomy and brooding gaze, he was none other than Dong Guo Shen Liang!
A man in red standing nearby, with a stone seal hanging from his waist, was none other than Dongfang Shengqi.

In an instant, a white streak of light flew up from Zhuohua Island and landed in front of the hall. The man in the blue and white scholar's robe, with a white jade tablet at his waist, was none other than Wangsun Wuyi.

Wang Sunwu strode in, his expression somber, and bowed, saying:

“My two senior brothers, we searched for three days, but the place was deserted, the mountain gate was destroyed, and nothing was left behind. Even the mortals had moved away.”

"boom!"

Dongguo Shenliang slammed his hand on the table, stood up, his face grim, and said angrily,

"That cunning Daozi! I was fooled by him last time, and this time I was a step too slow, and he's already packed his bags and run away again!"

Xu Boyang was both surprised and delighted. According to their conversation, his family had already evacuated, but he didn't know where they had gone. So, his family and the Pei family were all safe and sound.
Then... the girl in purple should be alright!

"Never mind, senior brother."

Dongfang Shengqi stood up and said,

"This kid is just a Nascent Soul Dao Child, nothing to be afraid of. It's just a pity that we haven't heard from Monk Li. That's what's truly regrettable."

"What is there to fear from a mere monk like Li?"

Dongguo Shenliang snorted and said disdainfully:

"Even though he has many secrets, Ding Qingliao has now colluded with Qingqiu and completely turned against the Qingshen Daoist School. Their affairs are no longer sustainable, so he is probably not a major threat."

Dongfang Shengqi nodded and said:
"What you say is very true, senior brother. Since things have come to this point, we can simply report the facts."

Dongguo Shenliang looked at the two of them and said in a deep voice:

“Shengqi, Wuyi, I have just received news from the Grand Minister. Qingshen is now dead, and Yunfu has fallen into the hands of our Confucian Cold Spring. It’s just a pity that the old villain from the Tu Clan of Buqi City suddenly intervened. To guard against Li Wu and the Crystal Palace, the 'Sage of Literature' had to negotiate with him and gave him half of the territory.”

"Currently, Cangwu has been occupied by the myriad demons of Qingqiu. Chenghuang made arrangements in advance and planned far ahead. Five of the nine lineages of Qingqiu are guarded there by powerful demons. The defense is very strong and it is difficult to take over. It is basically a done deal. Nanhuai is in the hands of Liwu and Jinggong. The two families have probably already reached a consensus to share this place."

"Thus, in the end, only Yuchuan remains of Qingshen's territory. Yuchuan originally belonged to us, but Qingqiu, Liwu, Jinggong, and Nanchan came one after another and fought fiercely. Yuchuan has basically become a wasteland. Considering the stability of Yunfu, the Grand Minister has already withdrawn from the struggle ahead of schedule, following the orders of the 'Sage of Literature'."

"According to the Grand Minister's message, the Witch King Zhao Mu fell for the Demon King Cheng Huang's diversionary tactic, and the East Sea Dragon King Ao Shenchang was defeated by the Southern Chan master Ti Jia. His 100,000 aquatic creatures were then blocked by eighteen Dharma Masters from the Three Thousand Buddha Caves of the Southern Chan, who formed the 'Vajra Dharma Formation.' It seems that Qingqiu and the Southern Chan have long been in cahoots, and Yu Chuan will most likely fall into the hands of the Buddhists."

"In this battle of Qing Shen, Li Wu and Jing Gong were the first to plan, but they suffered a hidden loss and in the end only gained the Nan Huai region. However, Jing Gong has taken advantage of the terrain to firmly control Jian Shui, Si Shui and Xin Yue Lake. If we calculate by territory, Li Wu is the one who lost the most."

Wang Sunwu said bitterly:
"This fox from Qingqiu is the most cunning. It always bowed and scraped to the three branches of Confucianism, but in the end it turned around and bit back. It's true that anything with fur is no good. It has the ambition of a wolf!"

Dongfang Shengqi sighed softly:

"This 'Sishui Siege' was orchestrated by Li Wu and Jinggong, but it has severely harmed the Daoist and Confucian families while enriching Qingqiu Tushan and the Buddhist Nanchan. Mu and Ao Shenchang have endured and schemed for many years, but in the end, the duck that was about to be eaten has flown away. They are probably going to jump up and curse us."

Dongguo Shenliang shook his head and said:
"You've guessed wrong. Not only did the Dragon King gain two great rivers and a large lake, but what did the Witch King lose by recruiting him? He might actually be the winner!"

(End of this chapter)