The river surged endlessly, illuminated by the morning glow that rose along the horizon. The long-faced man sat within the Scarlet Flame Gate tower that was bathed in the new day’s sun, waiting until Murong Yan strolled before him.

The man asked quietly, "Fellow Daoist Murong... do you have any thoughts?"

Murong Yan sat down casually. There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment on his plump face. Instead, he looked perfectly at ease as he replied softly, "He definitely has arrangements in place. You and I are stationed by the riverbank, so naturally he has to show us a little color."

He seemed to treat Shilou Yingge as one of his own. With divine ability shielding the area, he spoke without the slightest restraint.

Chuckling, he continued, "Bai Ziyu[1] is a smart man. He knows his own opportunities can only come through Ch'i Lanyan. As for that uncle and nephew of the Helian Family, they only fear his Pavillion Viewing faction. Just look at Tuoba Ci. He will not take a single extra step. The people from Zhao Palace are about to descend now. If no authority is established beforehand... how will anyone be commanded later?"

Shilou Yingge smiled faintly and asked, "If that is the case... What methods do you think will be used? Hengli and Hengxing... They will not be coming, will they?"

Murong Yan stroked his beard and smiled. "How could that be possible?!"

Shilou Yingge merely let out a long sigh before replying, "True enough. In the end, the methods of your esteemed family's lord are truly remarkable. Just by arranging a southbound reincarnation, the matter was settled... taking the route of a True Monarch and leaving the Supreme Yang Dao lineage unable to say a word, having them descend into chaos on their own."

"My family's methods?" Murong Yan gave a mocking smile, as though there were many hidden details behind it, and simply said, "Back then, even my family did not dare speak of it for fear of ruining the matter. But now things are gradually becoming clear, and there is no turning back anymore. Speaking of it with Fellow Daoist is not impossible.

"You speak of my family's methods, then let me ask you this, Fellow Daoist. Over all these years of the Supreme Yang's decline, what has Hengzhu Dao truly lost? When all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were locked in a stalemate back then, a direct descendant of Hengzhu Dao just so happened to run off for no reason... does my family really possess such heaven-defying capability? Do not simply believe what everyone says about the Murong Family causing internal discord within the Supreme Yang Dao lineage...

"As for who truly wished for discord... that remains unknown!"

The moment those words were spoken, Shilou Yingge's pupils contracted slightly. It was obvious he had thought of something unpleasant. For a moment, he found himself at a loss for words.

After hesitating for quite some time, he finally concealed it behind a forced response. "Fellow Daoist's words go too far. Hengli and Hengxing... should not be such people..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Murong Yan burst into laughter and replied, "Naturally. Hengzhu Dao's higher-ups remain unseen, so this matter can be pinned on anyone."

Those words were deeply disrespectful, clearly hinting at someone of even higher standing. Shilou Yingge could not continue the conversation any further, and a chill quietly crept into his heart.

If that is the case... then either that person from Hengzhu Dao made arrangements far earlier, having noticed some clues and realized the one from Jade True had hope of attaining the Dao, while also foreseeing the troubles to come...

Or... the great tide of the world is about to rise. That figure from Hengzhu Dao has remained hidden for many years, and someone above did not wish for the Hengzhu Dao to become too deeply entangled and produce unforeseen variables, so they deliberately split things apart...

Which is why, after all these years, Hengzhu Dao has emerged almost entirely unscathed. Their only real loss was a mere direct descendant who would never have reached the Purple Mansion Realm anyway. Sacrifice one man to pacify an entire region...

His gaze flickered slightly as he thought, Hengli likely does not know... but when Hengxing was willing to come for the battle at Lower Luo, had he already noticed something? Did he have his own calculations in mind... secretly cooperating while not daring to get too deeply involved?

Neither wished to speak further on the matter. In the end, they pulled the conversation back, and Murong Yan lowered his voice, asking, "Could it be Chi Buzi?"

At the mention of that name, Shilou Yingge fell silent for a moment before replying, "I have heard of him... the Azure Pond Sect's greatest genius. He is already a Grand Daoist Master now, and his cultivation speed is astonishing. He crossed the Purple Immortal Threshold at almost the moment he wished to. It seemed even easier for him than it was for Wei Xuanyin back then."

Murong Yan's expression darkened slightly. "It is not impossible. Although Chi Buzi is skilled at preserving himself wisely, if there is real profit to be gained, he may not refrain from stepping back in... The question is... just how capable is he?"

The imperial descendant of Yan State smiled. "You, me, and Xindu make three already. Daisi is also nearby on the riverbank. Three Sattva Seats and one Lotus Seat. Even if Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Mountain refuses to send anyone and Tuoba Ci refuses to move, how many more people could it possibly take to deal with them?"

Yet Shilou Yingge frowned. His eyes slowly turned southward as he answered, "They are already here."

Murong Yan also lifted his gaze. Snow drifted along the riverbank in the morning light, yet unlike before, it no longer lingered by the shore. Instead, it drove waves of icy wind across the river toward them.

An expressionless Ning Wan stood amid the biting cold wind with a spirit sword in her arms. Behind her, another figure emerged. White waters surged endlessly as the sword cultivator Daoist Master Yushui[2] appeared.

But Murong Yan's gaze quickly swept past the two of them and landed on the golden-eyed man beside them.

Li Zhouwei...

Whoosh!

The True Fire overhead rapidly withdrew. The long arched bridge and the armor of True Fire all dissolved back into flames, falling into Shilou Yingge's palm before vanishing like illusions.

The man's golden robes fluttered as he stood in the air beside Murong Yan, his tone calm and indifferent. "Fellow Daoist Ning... What is the meaning of this?"

Without giving the two time to speak further, Ning Wan sent twenty-eight white banners soaring into the sky. Hanging high above, streams of white light scattered like countless tiny swords descending from heaven, blanketing the entire area.

In an instant, killing cries shook the heavens as cultivators, monks, and devil cultivators from both sides clashed fiercely. Murong Yan merely chuckled darkly, thick killing intent surging into his eyes.

"Good!"

The colors of the world immediately dimmed as layers of darkness surged forth. Even the once brilliant snowflakes turned pale and lifeless.

[Dawnless Deceit]!

The divine ability swept forward like crashing tides. Chen Yin vanished as his divine ability roamed outward. Two streams of water collided, yet the white Mansion Water divine ability merely enclosed itself, standing amid the raging waves like an immovable reef.

Li Zhouwei watched quietly with those golden pupils of his. The light between his eyebrows had long since gathered into a brilliant radiance. He had already known the effects of Murong Yan's [Dawnless Deceit] and had prepared against it beforehand. Standing calmly behind Chen Yin's Mansion Water divine ability, he stabilized his own divine ability with ease!

Boom!

The [Valley Water] divine ability rapidly spread outward, staining the entire sky with an ink-dark hue. Several divine abilities in motion stalled at once, yet a single blazing light burst forth from the dark clouds.

Shilou Yingge's golden robes billowed wildly. His eyes had completely transformed into a brilliant crimson. Clouds across the heavens rapidly parted around him, revealing a blazing and boundless sea of fire.

"The Gao Family's[3] [True Fire] art!"

1. Referring to Daoist Master Yehui. ☜

2. His given name is Chen Yin. ☜

3. This is referring to Shilou Yingge's family as they were previously surnamed Gao. ☜