Old Matters

He clearly felt that the deep river of Profound Qi within his body was no longer a river, but rather like a line that stretched across the heavens and earth. One end of the line was tied to him, while the other end disappeared into the vast and unfathomable depths of the sky, connecting with the many calamities in the distance.

With just a gentle flick, those things would fall.

Five days later, Yang Xiu slowly opened his eyes, his palm open, and a gray-purple cloud of energy rose from his palm. It was only three inches long, but it weighed as much as a thousand pounds.

Within those clouds, flashes of lightning, fire, and Wu Earth could be faintly seen, as if countless calamities were compressed within them, awaiting only a command.

Then he whispered:

"The one who comes is the descendant."

When this Divine Ability came into his hands, his first thought was still of Qingnuo Mountain. It was better to control calamities himself than to let others set them aside.

Yang Xiu closed his eyes for another half a day, carefully contemplating the wondrous effects of "Calamity Befalls Fate," before finally opening them again.

Now that he Purple Mansion, all his treasures can finally be put to use, starting with the golden robe he wears.

This garment is Spirit Treasure magical Spirit Treasure made of Geng Metal, named "Golden Armor Robe," and was crafted shortly after the completion of the Investiture of the Gods.

This garment is entirely made of pure gold, its color neither dyed nor painted, but rather the natural, radiant hue inherent in the "New Light Splintered Metal," a spiritual object made of Geng Metal.

The garment is made with a base of "New Light Splintered Metal," woven with ancient Golden Crow feathers. While the fine gold represents sharpness and the Golden Crow represents intensity, these are merely the base materials. The true magic lies in the strand of "New Light Splintered Metal" woven into the garment.

This magical object was born from the cracks in old gold, and is the essence of the "leather" of Geng Metal. After the garment was completed, the entire golden garment had no armor plates or patterns, only a very faint crack hidden on the inside of the collar, like old gold just cracking, with new light about to shine through.

Wearing it makes one impervious to weapons and magic.

However, the principle of its defense lies not in "blocking," but in "reforming."

The element of Geng Metal represents tools and leather. This garment embodies the wondrous Divine Ability of Geng Metal, its Its Mandate Remains essence."

"Though Zhou was an ancient state, its Its Mandate Remains."

Whenever a battle approaches, a faint new light shines through the crack in the garment. Before the weapons and spells touch the garment, they are illuminated by this new light, as if the old phantom has been peeled away by a shattered mirror. The old sharpness, killing intent, and wit are all "removed" the moment they touch the golden garment, turning into the new light and returning to nothingness.

When weapons strike, it's like a withered leaf thrown into a fire—it burns instantly; when magic strikes, it's like lingering snow at dawn—it vanishes before it even touches the ground.

The purpose of guarding this garment is to make all external forces become "past events".

His lineage of Profound Qi was perfectly matched with Yang Xiu's, making them a match made in heaven.

The Profound Qi is the source of calamities and governs "calamity"; this garment contains its Its Mandate Remains and governs "revolution". Calamities descend from heaven, and the golden garment revolutionizes the old and establishes the new - what is in chaos is heaven, what is being reformed is the law.

One attack, one defense; one chaos, one reform—it's as if a calamity descends from heaven and changes the laws of the world, as if the old order collapses and a new light emerges.

This is the only wondrous one, no more and no less.

Then, he took off the golden bell from his waist.

The bell is no bigger than an infant's fist, and its entire body is dark gray, but the inner wall is engraved with a circle of extremely fine Profound Qi inscriptions.

This bell was a gift from his master after he became a disciple of the Golden Court. It had been with him for a hundred years, and their spirits were now intertwined.

With just a shake, Profound Qi like waves, capable of disrupting the enemy's spirit and triggering small-scale calamities. It works best when combined with "Calamity Befalls Fate".

As for the Storage Bag, there were five or six Spirit Artifact, three Spirit Treasure, and several bottles of pills. He quickly checked them, then tied it back up and didn't look at it anymore.

Then, Yang Xiu stood up, tied the golden bell back around his waist, straightened his golden clothes, and pushed open the stone door.

A mountain breeze blew in, carrying the dampness of the rain after the storm. Lu Daoyuan and the other two were already waiting outside the cave. When they saw Yang Xiu come out, they all looked up.

Yang Xiu glanced at the sky and said:

"Let's go to Golden Ao Mountain."

Golden Ao Mountain has been closed since Su Yao was seriously injured and went into seclusion a year ago, and there has been no further activity since.

Down the mountain, Yang Nan and Li Chaoxue gazed at the silent mountain from afar, each lost in their own thoughts.

Yang Nan's mind was simple. His clan members had already joined Qixia Temple, and he had risked his life alongside Su Yao. Now that things had come to this, there was no turning back. Even if the Nanzhao Royal City were willing to accept him, the mountain god and priests might not dare to use him. He had no choice but to stick with Qixia Temple to the bitter end.

Li Chaoxue, however, was different.

She had studied Daoism in Cang Mountain in her early years and had the blood of the Nanzhao Royal Family flowing in her veins. Although she was no longer in the royal family or in Cang Mountain, she still had a natural affinity for Nanzhao in her bones. Back then, she and Ni Polu were ambushed by Kuiwu and Ao Xiao and almost died, but no one from Nanzhao came to their aid. It was this disheartening feeling that made them hit it off when Su Yao came to their door.

But just a few days ago, when she had recovered from her injuries and left the Water Palace, the City God of the Royal City suddenly came to visit.

The City God presented an image, a record of the priest secretly rescuing her and Ni Polu from the deadly attacks of Kuiwu and Ao Xiao.

This isn't the first time.

After the two of them left Cang Mountain, Nanzhao secretly protected them more than once. Otherwise, two cultivators who had just reached the Purple Mansion and were carrying four Spirit Treasure and two Spirit Artifact would have been devoured whole long ago.

She and Ni Polu were not without trump cards. Each of them had a hidden Spirit Treasure for Subterranean Water, one for escaping and the other for concealing, which they had never shown to anyone. Even if they were truly facing death, they would not be helpless. However, the secret favor from Nanzhao had truly fallen into her lap, leaving her speechless.

That day, the City God's message was delivered clearly, word by word:

"You two were originally members of the royal family in the open. The Dusk Snow Flute and the Morning Mist Drum were used by a disciple of the Spirit Witch Dao Lord. When that person failed in his quest for gold, before the Purple-Blue Secret Realm was sealed, the Witch Hall used various means to lure these two items out, but they were outmaneuvered and the late king seized them, treasuring them to this day. Five hundred years ago, the king felt the situation was collapsing, so he took them out, using the excuse of expelling your father, and secretly helped you and Ni Polu achieve the Purple Mansion. He then bestowed these two items upon you and released you two to see who had designs on the Purple-Blue Secret Realm."

"While there is indeed a hint of exploitation in it, it is also true that Nanzhao has secretly assisted you on several occasions over the years. As for Qixia Temple, the King will not stop you. On the contrary, he hopes that you can get along well with Abbot Su. In the future, the people of Nanzhao will inevitably have to rely on Qixia for protection. Just remember: never get too involved. You two are ultimately Nanzhao people. Once this matter is settled, you can return to the royal register, Ni Polu can also enter the Cang Mountain Secret Realm for quiet cultivation."

"If you are determined to go with Su Yao, the King will not say anything more. However, after the Purple-Blue Secret Realm opens, the Dusk Snow Flute and the Morning Mist Drum must be returned."

These words silenced Li Chaoxue's last bit of resentment.

She had reasons that compelled her to turn back.

Her father's lifelong regret was being expelled from the royal family. Returning to the royal lineage was an obsession he never forgot until his death.

Ni Polu's master was originally a protector of the Cang Mountain Secret Realm. His so-called "break" with the mountain god was just a show for outsiders, so that Ni Polu could leave Cang Mountain openly and legitimately and join the game.

Although Ni Polu's master had long since passed away in the cave, Ni Polu still had to go back for his master's sake... After all, as a Nanzhao person, he would be Nanzhao ghost even in death.

Therefore, their relationship with Su Yao could only end with this matter being resolved.