Li Ximing stroked his beard in thought, asking, "『Guanghong Xuanxu』, and belonging to the path of True Qi—it appears to be intimately linked with the State of Ning."
Tinglan looked at him carefully, seeming to ponder how to broach the matter with him. Only after a good while did she ask, "Zhaojing... are you familiar with the Dao Zhen sect?"
Li Ximing was startled inwardly, but replied, "Please elaborate, Fellow Daoist..."
Tinglan's expression was slightly peculiar as she answered, "The Dao Zhen sect had four lineages in total, entrenched upon the Xuanzhen Mountain of old—which is the territory of today's Xiuyue Mountain Gate... They championed the Great Dao of cultivating nature and holding all Five Virtues in harmony... In Emperor Wei's era, it was this Dao Zhen sect that primarily cultivated True Qi and Purple Qi..."
She thought for a moment before adding, "Only, they did not call them True Qi and Purple Qi, but True Yang and Purple Yin."
Li Ximing raised an eyebrow slightly, countless thoughts racing through his mind in an instant. Tinglan continued, "In primeval antiquity, a True Monarch cultivated upon Xuanzhen Mountain. His surname was Zhuang, and the people of that age called him Daoist Zhuang—in those times the intellect of common folk had yet to awaken, and 'Daoist' was an exalted title. He ascended as an immortal, leaving behind a grotto dwelling in the mountain. Within the dwelling was a scripture titled the Taihua Scripture.
"This book was passed among and studied by his six disciples. Later, one after another fell, but each left behind successors who jointly held the scripture, forming the embryonic Dao Zhen sect.
"This Dao Zhen sect traveled exceedingly far along the two qi of True and Purple. 『Guanghong Xuanxu』... was precisely the numinous atmosphere set forth by their lineage. Although by the fall of the Zhou, internal rifts emerged between the paths of True Qi and Purple Qi within Dao Zhen, and the Five Virtues theory essentially wiped out yin-yang theory, the Daoist canon preserved by them remained extraordinarily profound, serving as the fundamental scriptures for today's paths of True Qi and Purple Qi."
Li Ximing nodded slightly and answered, "The immortal cultivators of Dao Zhen, their crowns stripped and pinions clipped..."
Li Ximing naturally knew of this matter. Whether it was the battle accomplishment the Cui Clan took pride in, or the pretext used by later generations to criticize and denounce Emperor Wei, neither could ever bypass the astounding deed committed by this sovereign!
Tinglan was somewhat surprised at first, but soon grew understanding, shaking her head as she said, "Indeed... When Emperor Wei drew his sword and marched out of Guanlong, whoever cultivated immortality while forgetting the mundane world and refusing to save the common people had their crowns stripped and pinions clipped. Although Dao Zhen was not the only sect whose crowns were stripped and pinions clipped back then, they were indeed the most famous.
"After the destruction of the Dao Zhen sect, Emperor Wei read the Taihua Scripture and marveled at its heavenly genius. He then rebuilt the path of Xuanzhen and enfeoffed the Prince of Jiangling to guard the mountain. The descendant of this Prince of Jiangling... was the later True Monarch Tianwu!"
Hearing her lay it out like this, Li Ximing was struck by sudden realization, finally understanding: "No wonder Great Ning gathers the prominent clans fleeing south and intends to inherit the legal succession of Great Wei... So that is where the root lies... Matters like these, I imagine only a lineage like yours cultivating Purple Qi would understand so thoroughly!"
Tinglan nodded solemnly and lowered her voice: "In my heart, I suspect that the name 『Guanghong Xuanxu』 is something even the Sima clan does not know!
"When Tianwu appeared in the world back then, the numinous atmosphere took the exact same form as today: two qi matched with yin and yang, stars visible by day, Anhuai Heaven elevated, and Wanling Heaven expanded by bounds unknown... Great Ning drew the gaze of all under heaven. Because of the fall of the Dao Zhen sect, the relevant lineages were all locked away within the Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion. The Sima and Su clans were merely noble houses; searching far and wide through their scriptures, they could not find the name of this numinous atmosphere, and thus had no choice but to submit memorials calling it 『Zhengping Qingwu』."
She mused, "My master once deduced that since Great Ning inherited the Wei succession and founded an imperial realm, it was unfitting to use the name 『Guanghong Xuanxu』, which Dao Zhen used for cloistered cultivation and soaring to elevate grotto-heavens. Thus they adopted the name put forward by the Sima and Su clans."
Li Ximing nodded inwardly, a sudden realization dawning upon him:
'So... Zhouwei obtaining the Sleeve Abode Evolution-to-Perfection Art from the Cui Clan was no coincidence either. It was said to be something from the immortal mansion, yet had little Mingyang qi. It is very likely derived from the collected arts of Dao Zhen!'
'Grotto-heaven secret realms...'
Li Ximing felt a stir in his heart.
This was a matter he and Li Zhouwei had considered long ago. It was just that although their house was now among the prominent names of Jiangnan and their cultivation methods were not necessarily weaker than anyone else's, when it came to immortal secrets of this magnitude, their foundations were shallow after all. They did not even possess a method to travel the Great Void, much less a grotto-heaven secret realm.
Li Ximing had originally pinned his hopes on Li Quewan, and hearing this news did not leave him disappointed. He nodded inwardly:
'A numinous atmosphere—even if it does not last a hundred years, say fifty years... With the aid of the talisman seed, Quewan will definitely make it in time. As for the arts to open a secret realm...'
Spirit items and spiritual resources could ultimately be found, but such secret arts were priceless and elusive, often existing only in the vaults of great powers—that was the foremost concern. Yet he smiled inwardly:
'Even if nowhere else has it, the Heaven of Sun and Moon in Mutual Splendor might not lack it!'
Back then, in the destruction of the sect and the slaying of Chengyan, he had earned fifty-seven immortal merits; combined with what remained, he exchanged for The Emperor's Book of Ten Thousand Chariots and Slaying Light, leaving twelve. Although the battle on the river had yielded no dramatic triumph, Daixi had been broken and Chiluo crippled, while countless monks had perished in the great clash. The immortal merits were even greater than with Chengyan, reaching a full sixty-five.
'After this, there likely will be no lack of immortal merits; it is merely a matter of resolving the explanation for where the art came from!'
He turned the thought over and felt a secret burst of joy:
'The Sleeve Abode Evolution-to-Perfection Art is a sleeve-abode technique, which to put it plainly is not unlike a miniature secret realm. If the numinous atmosphere offers great aid in elevating secret realms, it should also drastically reduce the cultivation cost of this art...'
While Li Ximing was turning over his clan's affairs, he voiced his gratitude, "Such esoteric lore... you have shared it without holding anything back. Zhaojing gives you his thanks!"
Tinglan shook her head and smiled, "Now that the blessed land has joined the mortal realm, Quexi has also emerged from seclusion. She cultivated diligently all these years and possessed deep blessings, and is already at the mid Foundation Establishment stage. These past few days she has been clamoring to come back to the lake to take a look... Only, Wenqing regards her highly and immediately whisked her off to the imperial capital, so it will still be a few days before she can return.
"That said... there is another junior..."
With a wave of her sleeve, Tinglan opened the palace gates, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator strode briskly inside. He was tall and thin, yet carried himself with great propriety. Trembling with emotion, he bowed before the hall and bent low: "This humble one, Ding Mu, pays respects to the True Person—and congratulates the True Person on the great advancement of your divine ability."
Tinglan smiled and said, "He came from your lakeside. Though his days in our sect have been somewhat meager over the years, he has never disappointed anyone. When he heard I was coming to the lake, he knelt before my cave dwelling for several days, insisting that I bring him along, saying he wished to express his gratitude."
"So it is you..."
Li Ximing smiled with keen interest.
Years ago, when cultivators from Ziyan Gate came to the lake to construct formations, there was a Daoist Cao who was a man of fickle passions; he had carried off a widow by the shore, taking this orphan of the Ding family along to cultivate at Ziyan... Back then, the child had been thin and small. Who would have thought he would look like this today!
"How is your mother?"
Ding Mu kowtowed and said respectfully, "The spiritual energy on the mountain was thick, but Mother lacked great fortune and passed away early. My master entered seclusion for who knows how long, so she could not even see him one last time. I tended to her funeral arrangements myself and continued cultivating on the mountain. It should be about ten years now..."
Daoist Cao was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. When the Ding woman had been young, he could show her some tenderness, but once youth faded, how could she receive a second glance? Li Ximing nodded slightly. Tinglan smiled, "Daoist Cao's Dao companion is jealous, and the boy relied entirely on support from the lake in his early years, so he has always felt deep gratitude toward it... Seeing him in this state, I might as well assign him to guard the lake for your family, thereby fulfilling his wish."
Tinglan spoke lightly, but looking at him, Li Ximing suspected it was far more than mere support. If the Ding widow had lived until a natural death, she had likely borrowed his stature to intimidate others at times. Somewhat moved, he said softly, "Go find Weizeng... He is of your clan, after all."
Ding Mu wiped his tears and knocked his head three times before withdrawing. Li Ximing took a sip of tea and remarked, "Queyi found favor with Kuangyu, and her cultivation has been rapid, already catching up to her younger sister."
Tinglan responded quietly, then bowed and took her leave. Li Ximing saw her off the entire way, saying solemnly, "Please wait a brief moment, Tinglan. I shall go fire the furnace and refine the pills! I will have someone deliver them when they are ready."
Tinglan offered her thanks, and Li Ximing rode his light back, landing upon the islet. Putting away his smile, he hurried into the grounds. The grand hall was profoundly quiet, with Li Jiangzong and the others already waiting by the side.
Li Ximing took the head seat and cast a hurried glance around. His gaze fell first upon the youth in white standing to the side, and his eyes lit up as he asked, "Jiangchun... you are out of seclusion!"
The youth in white with a sword across his back smiled faintly, bowing in greeting: "Reporting to the True Person, Jiangchun has not failed his charge. Last year, I forged my immortal foundation!"
Li Jiangchun's period of seclusion was close to Li Ximing's own, and Li Ximing had paid special attention to him. The family had prepared a Suiyuan Pill refined from a Shaoyin spirit item early on. His talent was extraordinarily high, so his achieving Foundation Establishment now came as no surprise, yet it remained a great joyous occasion. Li Ximing nodded, looking at him with a warm smile: "Tell me... what divine marvels does it hold?"
Compared to his brothers, Li Jiangchun enjoyed great favor and was quite familiar with both True Persons. Showing no stage fright, he bowed with a smile: "『Xiang Juchen』. Through the harmony of Cold-Dry, it drives water and fire, senses good and bad, inspects pure numinous essence, connects upward to the yin of Purple Qi, ingests Taiqing, and draws upward the harmony of Cold Qi to nurture Weak Water..."
He lifted his hand and held his palm out flat. Above that jade-white palm circled streamers of tassel-like white light. Though plain in appearance, they carried wave upon wave of clear qi that drew all eyes.
Li Jiangchun said warmly, "『Xiang Juchen』 lies within Cold-Dry, holding affinity with Cold Qi and Fushui. It can command Purple Qi like one's own limbs, and possesses the ability to regulate others' injuries. What is meant by 'ingesting Taiqing' is that consuming medicines reconciled with Shaoyin and Clear Qi is like taking in pure yin magic power—employed at will without fear of illness. Circulating the immortal foundation can convert Fushui divine marvels to heal injuries."
Li Ximing nodded slightly as he listened, his eyes brightening:
'Shaoyin has little fame and is rare in the world, yet it is a reconciling path beloved by all houses!
'Not to mention that this Shaoyin and Clear Qi... are precisely suited for him!'
Joy had already risen in his heart, yet mindful of the crowd, he did not elaborate. Suppressing his curiosity, he replied, "Good. Back when I traveled the East Sea, I saw a Fangyin Pool in the Nine Mounds lineage. Within it was the Fangxi Wondrous Dew of the Shaoyin path, a treasure capable of healing spiritual sense, advancing magic power, and enhancing divine abilities without any danger to one's foundation... Thinking on it now... that must also have been due to the divine marvel of Shaoyin!"
He smiled and said, "I shall part with a bit of my face and beg a portion back for you!"
"Many thanks, True Person!"
Li Jiangchun bowed in gratitude again and again, then added solemnly, "The Shaoyin path fears only Male Fire and Gathered Wood; the Three Thunders hinder it, and Binggu is estranged from it; as for the lineages of the Twelve Qi, most are compatible."
Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully and asked, "And that Shaoyin Xuanjun Water-Fire Record... how has your cultivation of it progressed?"
Li Ximing had read the Shaoyin Xuanjun Water-Fire Record before. Its difficulty was exceptionally steep, subtly exceeding even The Great Li White Brilliance Light. Having him cultivate it was first to lay a solid foundation, and second to broaden his Taoist attainments, building groundwork for breaking through to a divine ability.
Hearing this, Li Jiangchun said respectfully, "This junior has cultivated day and night. Aside from practicing swordsmanship, I have devoted much time to this art. Now the foundation is formed, and a mystic locus has gestated within my body to accommodate water and fire..."
Having read the art himself, Li Ximing understood that he had reached the point where spirit items were needed as aids, so he asked, "What kind of spirit items do you need?"
Li Jiangchun bowed and said, "The divine marvel of Shaoyin commands water and fire. Among the Fire Virtue, Hong Fire and True Fire both answer its decree. Though Bingli is distant, it can barely serve, yet Male Fire alone is feared. Among the Water Virtue, it favors Fushui most; wherever its divine marvel reaches, He, Kan, and Pin submit obediently. Only Lushui is discordant—not quite an overcoming, but rather their divine marvels contest one another, unable to blend easily.
"The Elder often inquired of me, and prepared Fushui's Caixing Weak Water and True Fire's Changxing Primordial Fire for me early on, constantly nurturing them within the mystic locus to aid my cultivation."
Li Ximing smiled at this and replied, "Grandfather is advanced in years and holds superior insight, understanding that Fushui and True Fire correspond to each other. That alone is enough for you juniors to study carefully!"
Everyone nodded in acquiescence. In truth, Li Ximing had further plans in mind.
'If the chance arises and the family has means to spare, perhaps I can seek out a spirit water and a spirit fire for him.'
Li Jiangchun certainly could not refine a Purple Mansion object, but if the family truly possessed the means, Li Ximing could take action himself to seal it into his apertures, which would surely bring him immense benefit.
However, this matter was not yet settled, and raising it in front of all the brothers would look overly partial. Li Ximing kept it to heart and asked, "Jiangqian's side... is there any news?"
Li Jiangchun's eyes lit up as he replied, "Last year Eldest Brother emerged once from seclusion. I heard his attainments advanced again, with raging flames upon his body and an imposing presence. He originally wished to pay respects to the True Person, but was unable to see you, so he returned to the mountain to cultivate."
Li Jiangchun spoke tactfully without mentioning secret arts. Li Ximing nodded in considerable satisfaction, then looked to Li Minggong and said, "Have him come see me."
"Yes!"
The woman stepped down, while Li Ximing inquired about the cultivation of each person in turn, offering ample encouragement. Then he took to his light, landing upon Mount Zhijing. There, he opened the jade box and took out that Three-Branch Qiuxin Leaf.
The veins of this True Qi spirit item shimmered with spiritual light. Already missing a corner, it should have been refined swiftly; with several years gone by, its spirituality had weakened noticeably. Li Ximing reconciled it with Pin Water and Purple Qi, placed it into the furnace, and prepared to form the pills with Heavenly Heart Single Intent.
Li Ximing's alchemy was profound now. With merely a pat on the furnace, he felt an intuitive resonance:
'With All-Heavens Illumination formed and reinforced by my life divine ability, refining pills is all the more unhurried... Especially this Heavenly Heart Single Intent method, which resonates with the life divine ability and speeds up pill refinement by a great deal...'
He had not touched the furnace in a long while, and felt thoroughly invigorated. His movements were smooth as flowing water. Closing his eyes, he lost himself to the moment. After nine alternations of sun and moon, the furnace mouth vibrated, and fragrance wafted in every direction. Six emerald-green pills tinged with purple surged forth, and Li Ximing slowly exhaled, collecting them with ease.
'Refining pills is so much more relaxing than cultivating!'
The Three-Branch Qiuxin Leaf had after all been missing a corner, and its medicinal essence had suffered some loss; producing six pills was already no small feat. He took out two, carefully packaged them, called an attendant up, and instructed, "These two... send them to Ziyan Gate."
He looked at the four remaining pills in his palm. Thinking carefully for a while, he brought out a piece of silk cloth and meticulously penned down their effects and ingredients, adding a few lines: 'Having heard that Senior was injured while contesting treasures, this junior was laden with worry... This item offers great benefit to healing wounds... Should you have any need, I remain respectfully at your disposal...' and so forth. Packaging two more, he said, "Send these to Tujun Gate!"
The attendant hastily assented, then ventured cautiously, "True Person... seeing towering flames on the mountain, the Eldest Young Master did not dare intrude, and has already waited at the mountain foot for nine days and nine nights..."
Chapter 1043