Wei Xuanyin smiled. "The world has already been turned upside down. The lord's methods are unmatched, firmly securing the position of Pristine Water, while the Dragon Clan exerts its dominance, suppressing the Feathered Serpent. Both sides sit steady and unshaken, unconcerned with a mere trace of Metallic Essence.

“For the lord and the Dragon Clan alike, whether or not they obtain it, destroying one of the Feathered Serpent's contingencies is always beneficial. On this matter, their interests align. All that remains is to wait for Ning Tiaoxiao's breakthrough and see what kind of contingency is drawn out.

"However, Ning Tiaoxiao secretly understood the crux of the matter and swore never to cultivate divine abilities..."

"No." Chi Buzi remained calm as he quietly cut him off and replied, "If this were true, how would the lord allow him not to cultivate? How would the Dragon Clan allow it? Do not answer me with indifference. I understand the lord better than you do."

Wei Xuanyin's expression froze for a brief moment. He looked at him anew and said softly, "I asked Lord Suiguan the same question. When the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] appeared, it was taken back to the Azure Pond Sect, where the lord examined it."

A hint of uncertainty appeared in his gaze as he said, "There should already be a conclusion. It was a method left behind by the previous master of Jade True, containing the profound mystery of his union with truth... According to Lord Xueyang's speculation, the Metallic Essence should lie within that Jade True's cave dwelling. When the current holder breaks through, it will connect with it and descend into the mortal world."

Chi Buzi understood at once and smiled. "At the time, none of you wanted to alert him, nor did you wish to hold this hot potato that is linked to the original Jade True owner. So what you said earlier was only the first layer of truth. You, I, the three Yuans, and the two Zis; all of us were part of it. Ning Tiaoxiao would have rather died than serve as the lord's provision, yet he did not know that those above were watching coldly, deliberately preventing him from cultivating. They let him die deceived by that single layer of truth!"

He rose slowly, his tone light, carrying the clarity of sudden realization. "So Chi Wei's death was not unjust, and failing to obtain the Metallic Essence was inevitable. Since the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] can help its holder draw out the Metallic Essence and attract the attention of the original master of Jade True, it is bound to be a latent threat. The severing of the Pristine Water Dao lineage is largely tied to this seal, and it has also extinguished the intentions of those who once sought to cause trouble for the lord."

A chilling light flickered in his eyes. "And the second layer... when True Monarch Shangyuan attained fruition, it also confirmed that the renowned original master of Jade True had already departed for the Outer Heavens. Without his deterrence or protection, and with no hope of breaking through, Ning Tiaoxiao was doomed to die. Only then could the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] vanish swiftly and become a piece that the few lords could easily pick up and place within their grasp."

Wei Xuanyin looked at him with a smile and replied, "That item back then... was given to Pavilion Viewing by someone from the Supreme Yang Dao lineage, in exchange for their current neutrality. Even though they intervened several times from beginning to end, and someone even interfered at the final moment, they were still lightly let off. That is the reason why."

Fuxuan, standing to the side, was shaken to his core and stared at him in disbelief. Chi Buzi, however, showed no surprise and let out a cold laugh. "I knew it was him!"

Only now did Chi Buzi lower his gaze onto the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal], a profound look of calculation surfacing in his eyes as he murmured, "...With both sides' dissent cut off, whether it be the lord or the Dragon Clan, all are now waiting for me to draw out this wisp of Metallic Essence..."

The implication was clear. His path lay with one of these two sides!

As expected, Wei Xuanyin smiled and said with a nod, "You cultivate Pristine Water, so you surely understand this better than I do. The matter of dissolving Pristine Water into Converging Water carries an immense karmic weight. If you were to dissolve your cultivation and turn to Converging Water, with your talent, you would surpass ninety-nine percent of all people! Your cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds!"

Chi Buzi replied curtly, "That is only if the transition succeeds!"

The other man smiled. "As long as the Dragon Clan is willing to assist you, there will be a chance. Dissolve your cultivation and convert to Converging Water, and with the principles of the Dao supporting you, your future holds promise. As for pledging yourself to the lord... you may also attempt to seek a Surplus Position. The choice is yours." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Whether his words carried jest or not, the meaning was clear. Only two paths lay before him, and both required extracting the Metallic Essence. Either he joined the dragons, reincarnated, and cultivated Converging Water, or he aligned with Pristine Water and sought a Surplus Position.

Chi Buzi's expression grew colder as he stared at the small golden seal for a long time, unable to look away.

Though Converging Water favors the Intercalary Position, would the Dragon Clan truly tolerate me? My lord's heart is unfathomable. How could Pristine Water allow the Surplus Position? Neither path is an easy one...

And besides... attainment is not something one achieves just by saying so... Where are the principles of the Dao to come from? Where is the method to seek the Metallic Essence?

Yet Fuxuan's earlier words still echoed in his mind. His judgment of Ning Tiaoxiao's predicament now extended to himself.

How could the lord allow one not to cultivate? How could the Dragon Clan allow it? Some opportunities, once obtained, cannot be questioned as to their origin, and must be used, no matter what!

He could only silently put away the jade box before him and raise his eyes to meet Wei Xuanyin. "My thanks, Lord Wei."

Wei Xuanyin also let his smile fade. "It is nothing."

For people like them, standing on the brink of perfected divine abilities, with a chance to contend for Fruition Attainment and attain Intercalary or Surplus Positions, who had not wagered their lives against the current of the age for a chance at the Dao?

Whether it is me or Chi Buzi, the older generation like the Two Zis, Yuanshang, Yuandao, or Yehui, at least we still have some room to maneuver. Unlike Li Zhouwei... no matter how exalted his fate, he can only wait for death like livestock penned in a corral!

At this moment, he felt a trace of shared fate and no longer teased Chi Buzi, watching as he dissolved into Pristine Water and vanished.

Once Chi Buzi left, Fuxuan's gaze grew complicated. He did not know whether he envied Chi Buzi for being able to stand within the great current and make a choice, or marveled at his sharpness, which allowed him to rise within it and see more clearly.

With a sigh, he said, "I think I finally understand why Master could see that Xiao Jinzhou was a seed of Dao attainment. There really are people like that."

"He rose with the tide. He was always an ambitious man." Wei Xuanyin replied briefly before continuing, "He certainly has no intention of living beneath others. As for his final divine ability, who knows where it will settle. In any case... it is unlikely to be the Orthodox Position of Pit Water, which does not suit his breakthrough.

"As for the surplus paths of Converging Water, Pristine Water, Mansion Water, and Valley Water, the lord already has measures within his soul. Converging Water clearly leans toward the dragons. Pristine Water will not come without cause, and even if it does, he would not dare cultivate it, since it would raise suspicion of using dragon power to seek the Pristine Water Fruition Attainment. He might even die on the spot. Most likely, he will choose a Mansion Water close to Pristine Water to seek a Surplus Position, or perhaps select a safer Valley Water and reincarnate."

Wei Xuanyin's Dao conduct was exceedingly profound. He cut straight to the heart of the matter in just a few words and laid everything bare. His earlier probing might well have been an attempt to test Chi Buzi's final divine ability.

Now, he finally turned his gaze toward Fuxuan and said with a hint of helplessness, "You were willing to step in personally and help push this matter through... It must still be for that same reason..."

"Lord Wei is perceptive." Fuxuan's gaze was steady and his voice clear as he replied, "The Supreme Yang Dao lineage is ultimately my fellow sect... Now both sides have withdrawn into seclusion and no longer interfere. I ask that you all show mercy... Do not wipe them out completely!"

"Wipe them out completely..." Wei Xuanyin only said, "That is not something we do... If you are looking for someone, you should go to the Underworld's judiciary!"

Fuxuan lowered his gaze and said, "I ask Lord Wei to point out a path forward!"

Wei Xuanyin rose and drifted away, leaving behind only a single question. "Stop concerning yourself with the mortal world. If you had upheld the separation between immortals and mortals back then, instead of controlling territories and carving up the Yue State, how would things have come to this today?"