As the gauzy silver radiance drifted gently downward, Wu Fan instinctively lowered his gaze as though he had been scorched. The fear in his heart swelled rapidly, and he repeatedly knocked his forehead against the ground before stammering in terror,

"My lord... Changxiao Mountain Gate has twenty-seven peaks with Dao Collections, but they are already under the control of the Immortal Family's heavenly troops. This humble one has no authority over them. As for the rest... There are seven repositories and six collections, all under the Daoist Master's control, located beneath the formation.

"There are also twelve spirit vaults. The spirit keys were originally held jointly by the immortal peaks... But... But..."

Wu Fan raised his eyes slightly, clearly uncertain whether he should continue. Fear and hesitation were written all over his face. But by then, Li Zhouwei had already stepped past him and entered the immortal hall at the very summit of the mountain gate.

A white jade vase stood on either side of the hall. Six great pillars stretched out in a straight line, interspersed with folding screens inscribed in gold. A profound Dao painting hung at the very top. Silver patterns formed a backdrop for a faceless man clad in golden robes who was gently cradling a treasure vase in his hands.

Although it's neither a spirit artifact nor a dharma artifact, the materials are of exceptional quality. After hanging here for so long, it has even acquired a trace of mystique. Unfortunately, the figure was painted by Changxiao himself rather than passed down from antiquity, so its value is fairly limited.

Above the painting hung a golden plaque bearing four large words, [Upper Rite Celestial Firmament]

Li Zhouwei recognized those four words immediately. Years ago, while in Wanlin Heaven, he had visited Pure Rite Peak, where these very same words had been prominently displayed.

After seeing [Western Rite Changxiao] below, he had already suspected the two belonged to the same Dao lineage. Now there was no doubt. The four words carved beneath the mountain was simply the name Changxiao had adopted for its own branch of the Dao lineage, one that had originated from [Upper Rite Celestial Firmament].

Seeing Li Zhouwei stop before the painting, Wu Fan hurried forward, only to be halted by Li Minggong. The woman bowed slightly and stepped forward. She carefully removed the painting from beneath the beam, and placed it inside a jade box.

The instant the Dao painting was sealed inside the jade box, the entire immortal hall lost its brilliance. The radiant pillars and treasure vases all dimmed simultaneously, and the hall, which had glowed of its own accord, was left illuminated only by the flickering lamplight.

Soft sobbing drifted faintly in from outside the hall, but Wu Fan showed no reaction. He merely said softly, "Lady Guiqin has managed the gate's affairs for years. She frequently involved herself in matters concerning the repositories and kept the keys in her custody. Master Baibin feigned ignorance to curry favor with the Daoist Master and secure his own position. As for everything concerning the spirit vaults... It all passed through the lady's peak... We... truly know nothing!"

He had hastily seized control of the gate from Master Baibin. Though he possessed some ability, by the time the Li Family stormed the mountain, he no longer held any real authority over the gate's affairs. More importantly, there was one person he simply dared not touch: Lady Guiqin.

Chengyan, high above, appeared to be finished, but who knew what means a Daoist Master might possess to escape? And would a battle between Daoist Masters truly end in death? If Chengyan were to suddenly reappear after some time and return to the lake, then anyone who had laid a hand on the Daoist Master's favored woman would have no chance of surviving.

"Lady Guiqin..."

His words stirred the crowd. It was clear they all harbored resentment toward her, though they had never dared voice it openly. Li Zhouwei glanced at Wu Fan before turning to Li Minggong.

The woman nodded and replied softly, "She has already been imprisoned on one of the side peaks."

Only then did Li Zhouwei turn to Wu Fan and say, "Follow."

The man straightened up and let out a long sigh of relief, his confidence returning somewhat. He led the way with a deferential posture, and after taking just a single step, the three of them appeared within the palace atop a side peak.

Keeping his head lowered, Wu Fan began his report. "My lord, Lady Guiqin's surname is Ma. She is the elder sister of Daoist Master Chengyan. She once had a son and a daughter, though she has adopted many children as well. Her biological son died in the Eastern Sea. The rest all serve within the gate. Her remaining daughter attends to her personally... They're all here together."

The palace doors creaked open, revealing countless silken drapes of every size and color hanging throughout the hall, gently swaying in the breeze. It should have been a place of exquisite beauty, yet sorrowful weeping echoed within.

Amid the drifting silks, two women clung to each other and wept before the hall. One had a round face and graceful brows, dressed in flowing white gauze. Her skin was as pale as snow, and her beauty stirred pity at first glance. However, having cultivated Cold Essence, she also carried an aloof nobility that made her seem untouchable. Her face was filled with grief, her eyes shimmering with tears.

Cradled in her arms was a petite, delicate young woman with rosy cheeks and golden robes. Her pale red lips were pressed tightly together, her gaze fixed on the steps below. At the commotion outside the hall, she timidly turned her head, yet did not dare lift her eyes.

The sight delighted Wu Fan. For years, the mother and daughter had trampled all over him, and he had never dared fight back. To see them reduced to such a state today filled him with satisfaction.

Following behind Li Minggong, he strode forward and said in a loud voice, "Where are the spirit keys?!"

Lady Guiqin raised her head, her tear-filled eyes fixed upon him with undisguised hatred. She remained silent, yet her cold, elegant bearing spoke for itself. Li Minggong was already a beauty beyond compare, yet even she could not imitate the delicate, plaintive charm that mother and daughter carried when they frowned. For a moment, even her radiance seemed diminished.

Eager to curry favor, Wu Fan had no intention of showing mercy. He drove a kick into the woman's shoulder, drawing a muffled groan from her, but Lady Guiqin still refused to speak. He immediately drew his sword, cursing and striking her without restraint, until the hall was filled with sobs and cries.

Li Minggong could no longer bear the spectacle. With a casual wave, she swept Wu Fan aside and stepped back. Li Zhouwei walked forward, bent down slightly, and pinched the woman's chin, forcing her to lift her head and meet his gaze.

The instant Lady Guiqin looked into those golden eyes, she froze. The hatred filling her eyes melted away like snow beneath the sun, replaced in an instant by a dreamy, blissful delight.

She hurriedly rolled onto her back, spread her legs apart, and exposed her throat. A sweet laugh escaped her lips as she said, "My lord... My lord... The spirit keys are hidden within the secret formation beneath the main seat... My lord..."

The scene sent a chill through Wu Fan. Terror surged within him as he struggled to keep his trembling legs from giving way. Unable to fathom what this lord intended, he knelt beside Lady Guiqin and reached out to help her up.

The moment the last words left her lips, the hand holding her chin withdrew. Her head slipped cleanly from her neck, drifting lightly into the air without spilling a single drop of blood before tumbling neatly into Wu Fan's outstretched hands.

Her sweet crimson lips continued to move, and her eyes remained alluring. The severed neck was impossibly smooth, as though cut by an unimaginably sharp dharma artifact. Wu Fan stood there numbly, cradling her head, when the petite young woman facing him toppled backward at the same instant. Her delicate head rolled across the floor and came to rest beside his knee.

Speechless, the man remained kneeling in a daze as his terror reached its absolute peak. Only then did he realize that a smiling man in green robes had appeared beside him at some point and was gently patting his shoulder.

"Up you go."

Wu Fan shakily rose to his feet. The man in green smiled at Li Zhouwei, as though offering an explanation. "They are, after all, descendants of the Purple Mansion Realm. It's only proper to leave them a measure of dignity."

Only then did realization dawn upon Wu Fan, This Daoist Master had been here all along. We mortals simply couldn't perceive him with our ordinary eyes.

Li Zhouwei paid it little mind. Had he not been concerned about exposing the Immortal Mirror, there would have been no need to question Lady Guiqin at all. Seeing that Si Yuanli intended to make use of Wu Fan, alternating between intimidation and persuasion, Li Zhouwei could not be bothered to interfere.

How Changxiao Mountain Gate and its remaining remnants are dealt with is Si Yuanli's concern from here on. He lacks capable subordinates, and Wu Fan is clearly someone he can put to good use.

With a flip of his hand, Li Zhouwei retrieved the spirit keys hidden beneath the main seat and tossed them to Li Minggong. He gave Si Yuanli a slight nod, and the two vanished together, leaving only Li Minggong standing where she was.

Wu Fan hurriedly turned toward her and asked respectfully, "My lady..."

But Li Minggong merely shook her head. Several cultivators then strode into the hall from outside. They were led by a tall young man with golden eyes and a long saber at his waist. He stopped in the center of the hall and greeted Li Minggong.

Her gaze swept over him. "I'll leave it to you."

One look at the young man's golden eyes was enough for Wu Fan to realize he was someone of extraordinary status. He hurried over with an ingratiating smile. "My respects, your highness!"