Li Jiangqian came up from the mountain and knelt in the woods, speaking respectfully:
"Congratulations, Sir, on your achievement of divine ability... This junior is overjoyed and deeply honored."
It had also been some days since Li Ximing had seen him. These years spent in secluded cultivation, he had little to do with worldly affairs. Li Jiangqian's clothes had been simplified; he wore only a single pale white Daoist robe, quite different. Li Ximing looked him up and down and smiled:
"Your time is precious, yet I made you wait."
Li Jiangqian bowed and said respectfully:
"It is not much of a wait. In the mountains I heard from clansman Jiangchun about the changes of these years, and after long reflection I felt how swiftly the times change... far beyond my expectations. As for divine ability, it should not be delayed..."
Li Ximing knew him to be opinionated and that he likely had some view now, so he asked:
"I've heard... Jianglong received orders to guard the wilderness, and Jiangxia is still in the capital. Both brothers have their own ideas. Zijin Hall is a great opportunity... what do you think?"
Li Jiangqian smiled and replied:
"That is not for this junior to decide. My brothers are both earnest and will not shortchange the family."
Li Ximing only shook his head and asked:
"And your cultivation?"
Li Jiangqian then straightened his face and said in a low voice:
"The four secret arts of the 'Tianli Rize Sutra': the third art, 'Sheju,' is complete. Only 'Zhengyan' remains. Its difficulty is extreme. I have read it carefully, and its mysteries are as vast as smoke and sea. I fear... it cannot be mastered in five or six years. Even if things go smoothly, it may take ten years."
Hearing this, Li Ximing already had a headache. He himself was a Violet Palace cultivator and had seen the difficulty of secret arts. For he had read the Mingyang secret art back then, completely dissected and understood, written plainly... far simpler than the volume Li Jiangqian held!
'After all, not everyone can compare to his father...'
Li Jiangqian did not say more about himself but lowered his head slightly and said:
"Over these years, overseas there have been several secret letters to the family, written by my junior sister Quewan. Her progress is not slow. The 'Houshu Golden Scripture' has five secret arts, and she has already mastered three!"
"Three?"
Li Ximing was slightly stunned.
Because Quewan had to practice witchcraft for many years, her cultivation speed was slower than Li Jiangqian's. When Li Jiangqian practiced the second secret art 'Tianxing,' she had only just begun secret arts. Yet now her speed was even faster!
Li Jiangqian nodded and smiled:
"The witchcraft path she has practiced these years helps her cultivation attainment greatly, and helps her practice secret arts even more. Even though her method is more difficult than mine, she is still faster than me by a degree."
Li Ximing nodded with a smile and let the matter pass. He calculated with his fingers and secretly frowned:
"Zhengyan will take ten years... and that is if things go smoothly. Then comes secluded cultivation to break through to Violet Palace... by my reckoning, another ten years. Twenty-some years will pass in a snap of the fingers, and by then... Li Zhouwei may already be a Great True Person."
Li Jiangqian was truly young. By Li Ximing's own thinking, if the times were stable, not twenty years, but forty or even sixty years could be waited. But Li Ximing well understood Li Zhouwei's difficulty:
'To suppress the Buddhist cultivators, he most needs Violet Palace support. Estimating cultivation time, twenty-some years... that is too long.'
He secretly looked at Li Jiangqian and said in a low voice:
"'Zhengyan'... is it absolutely necessary to cultivate?"
Li Jiangqian understood from those words alone. He straightened his face and said:
"This junior came this time to discuss this matter with you, True Person. How about abandoning this art and directly asking for divine ability?"
He paused slightly, showing some regret, and said:
"Back then, while you were in seclusion and did not come out, this junior already asked Old Sir. But Old Sir firmly rejected it, insisting that I finish all the secret arts before attempting it... so I had to return to my cave abode."
Li Xuanxuan's protective heart was stronger, but Li Ximing was different after all. He frowned, nodded, and said:
"If it goes badly, it will be over ten years... truly cannot wait. If you have the time for this, you could take more pills and cultivate another divine ability..."
One must know Li Jiangqian had not yet received ordination. If all went well, after breaking through to Violet Palace his two divine abilities would be extremely simple. Reaching mid-Violet Palace was a sure thing, and the speed would be astonishing!
'A mid-Violet Palace ten years earlier... would be enough to change the situation.'
Li Ximing pondered for a long time, while Li Jiangqian on the ground had thoughts of his own, his emotions complex and cautious.
By his nature, breaking through to Violet Palace—something that could endanger life—allowed not the slightest mistake, nor would he pass up any chance to improve the odds. But the current situation... the more he heard, the more wrong it seemed.
'Father seeks Mingyang... the north-south conflict is fierce again. If anything goes awry, it will surely be a heaven-destroying, earth-ending grand situation.'
His heart grew gloomy:
'I thought Father's protection would be more than enough for us for three hundred years. Now it seems it may not be nearly enough. Seeking gold depends on the state of the world; it will not exceed a hundred years. At the extreme, perhaps only sixty or seventy.'
Among all of Lake Wangyue, Li Jiangqian was most unsure of his own father—how much certainty Li Zhouwei had... he had no confidence at all. In this situation, Li Jiangqian always planned for the worst.
'Once Father meets with misfortune, I must have enough strength to protect myself... best to already be a Great True Person... to have value in the eyes of great figures.'
Under these circumstances, Li Jiangqian could wait no longer. One art of 'Zhengyan' would take ten-plus years. Opportunity passed in a moment. Where would he find ten-plus years?
'Mid-Violet Palace is not difficult, but the Zixian Barrier is famous. I cannot wait any longer.'
Prompted by these considerations, Li Jiangqian solemnly bowed before the True Person and said with a straight face:
"Father is caught between north and south. The lake is in constant danger. In this crisis, Jiangqian will wait no longer!"
Li Ximing nodded deeply and comforted him:
"You need not be nervous. I have thought this matter through deeply."
He took a box from his sleeve and revealed the spirit object within.
Inside was a golden bead, round and bright, with floating patterns like feathers on its surface. Layers of golden light brewed within, revealing an extremely profound Lihuo qi. Li Ximing said with a straight face:
"I inquired about this thing myself. It is the 'Jinli Amber.' It is of great help to Lihuo cultivators, can expand divine ability, forge spirit artifacts—but cannot be taken when injured... It is also very suitable for use in breaking through!"
This object was obtained from the Lihuo Palace in a cave heaven back then, prepared by a senior surnamed Lu for the successor of the Dao lineage. It had clearly been carefully selected. Li Ximing first gave this to him, then took out a jade bottle and said:
"This is the 'Baoyu Hehe Pill.' It was obtained when, back in Pilatuo, pills were refined for a Lihuo demon king. It is a Violet Palace pill. Back then, to exchange for spirit fire, the ingredients were extremely substantial. It can foster one's spiritual marvels... more than enough for you."
Li Jiangqian hurriedly accepted it, but before he could thank him, Li Ximing waved him to be silent. He turned his palm and revealed a spirit treasure—none other than the 'Chonghuo Dual-Illumination Instrument'!
Li Ximing said:
"This is an extremely precious spirit treasure, and it belongs to your father. I long planned to give it to you, only keeping it in trust. Within it is a divine marvel called 'Dao Merit,' which can assist in cultivating the divine ability of Lihuo True Fire."
He smiled slightly and said:
"It is because of this marvelous spirit treasure that I am willing to let you begin secluded cultivation early!"
Li Ximing's series of actions could not but be called painstaking. He said meaningfully:
"Back then, your father hurriedly broke through at sea and did not have conditions like these, let alone I... These things... even an ordinary immortal sect could not assemble them all. Your father prepared them one by one for you. Remember this."
Li Jiangqian was moved to tears and bowed:
"The family's kindness, this junior keeps in mind... I will not fail your trust..."
Li Ximing sighed slightly and asked:
"Have you chosen a place?"
Li Jiangqian shook his head and sighed:
"Nothing but the lake. Elsewhere... I would not be at ease."
Li Ximing had considered Zhentao Manor, and secretly pondered:
'The spiritual atmosphere of Jiangnan should not have changed. It is actually more reassuring than overseas. The fear is that if, by some chance, my family cannot hold it, the enemy will break in at the end.'
'Quewan is surely at Zhentao Manor. Then Jiangqian should stay at the lake. The two will cultivate in separate places. If one place has trouble, at least one can be preserved.'
He agreed. He flicked his sleeve and said with a straight face:
"Cultivate in the inner array. The qi flow there is stable, undisturbed. I will personally activate the 'Chonghuo Dual-Illumination Instrument' and use divine ability to lock the spirit treasure within the great array to help you break through your divine ability!"
...
At the islets.
Mount Zhijing always had brilliant celestial light. Leaving this mountain, all the way to the lake, the radiance dimmed considerably. Li Suining, travel-worn from the journey, passed through and descended before the high hall at the islets. He saw a man in a cloak hurrying down.
"Guest Minister of Nan Tan!"
Li Suining bowed slightly, and Nan Tanchen cupped his hands with a smile:
"Greetings, Young Master!"
Similar to his previous life, this Nanzhang cultivator of undistinguished birth had shown talent in the path of alchemy and quickly taken up the main burden of the family's alchemy. Li Suining had come to pay respects to Old Sir Li Xuanxuan. Seeing him come from there, he knew he had personally reported to the old man. He smiled kindly and said:
"Congratulations, Guest Minister."
Nan Tanchen shook his head, bowed, and soon left. Li Suining watched his receding back, feeling a few more degrees of strangeness and reflection.
'Chen Jinxi... actually fallen...'
Chen Jinxi was Chen Yang's son and a pillar of the Chen family. His cultivation once reached late Foundation Establishment. He and Chen Jingguang were the two paragons of the Chen clan. Not that they had great fame, but among the outside clans on the lake, they ranked in the front...
'This great battle was inexplicably fierce and killed him. Nan Tanchen even sighed over it and went to offer condolences...'
This was Li Suining's strangeness. In his previous life, Nan Tanchen had been suppressed by Chen Jinxi all his life, constantly hampered. Their conflict was bitter. The entire Chen clan had never given Nan Tanchen a good face. If he learned of Chen Jinxi's death, Nan Tanchen should have laughed three times.
'It is that Chen Yang lost his pillar and drew back, no longer paying attention to Nan Tanchen. So in this life Nan Tanchen rose so rapidly...'
He reflected inexplicably, but more than anything he worried about the situation on shore, anxious at all times.
'This time the Prince of Wei may be injured even more severely and cannot easily leave seclusion. Fortunately, nothing major happened.'
He walked forward quickly, entered the great hall, and said respectfully:
"This junior Suining pays respects to Old Sir!"
The old man gave a short reply and told him to enter. Li Suining bowed again and said respectfully:
"Suining's cultivation is complete. I have come to request pills!"
He raised his head and saw that the old man before him had white hair and was leaning on the main seat. He seemed somewhat vexed and distracted, holding a book in his hands. Those old eyes, under the shining light, looked somewhat cloudy, actually approaching what he remembered from his previous life. Li Suining was momentarily dazed:
'Sir... has grown so much older.'
But Li Xuanxuan felt nothing. He stood up with great joy and smiled:
"This means your breath regulation is complete... You are preparing to break through!"
Li Suining quickly showed a smile. Li Xuanxuan personally helped him up, his eyes showing appreciation, and sighed:
"Sometimes I cannot tell. Back then, whether Quewan or your younger brother, you who grew up by the lake were instead sensible. Those who grew up at the islets... instead do not like to listen."
Li Suining thought he was hinting at Li Zhouming and shook his head doubtfully. Li Xuanxuan sighed:
"That clansman your uncle Jiangzong added for you... Li Suiqing... he grows more disobedient with age. Although his father was in seclusion during the years when he was born, clearly someone taught him. I don't know how he became like this, making everyone dissatisfied. Enough, enough, enough. Today is your happy occasion. Let us not speak of these depressing things."
Li Suining then realized.
Most of the family's great and small affairs now rested with his uncle Li Jiangzong. This uncle was a rare capable talent. He had a legitimate son named Li Suiqing, who was not up to much.
Li Suining remembered him well. Li Suiqing was wayward in character; when the elders lectured him he would restrain himself, but he could not change his greedy nature. He repeatedly committed offenses, was exiled to the market town, was heavily corrupt, and was sent back to Qingdu. After that, there was no news of him.
The family had many members, naturally mixed good and bad. Li Suining was not at Mount Yuting and did not know these things. But this person's status was noble, a great sorrow for Li Jiangzong, so Li Suining kept it in mind. He advised a sentence or two:
"That clansman is still immature... may trouble Old Sir to teach him..."
Li Xuanxuan seemed vexed and distracted and answered:
"Why, is he immature? Zhouming at least is often by my side, so I know his nature. Suiqing I have seen. He is not wayward, but vicious. I am an old man... how long can I reform him."
Li Suining marveled at his keen vision, silently drew a cool breath, and shook his head in his heart:
'This is while the Prince of Wei is present. Once the Prince of Wei is gone, several Violet Palace cultivators will go missing or fall. That will be true chaos among demons and monsters.'
As he pondered, a white-robed cultivator hurried into the hall before them. It was actually a stranger, of low cultivation, admitted only after three reports. His face was covered in tears. He knelt on the ground and wept:
"Old Sir... my family's old ancestor... cannot hold on!"
Li Suining clearly felt the old man before him freeze in place, gasp a few breaths, stand up, and blankly say:
"Qiuyang... is it Qiuyang?"
The white-robed cultivator only sobbed and nodded. The old man wept:
"Qiuyang is several years older than me. Not easy... not easy! He was burned by Combined Fire before. Even with so many miraculous elixirs and Sun Bai personally healing him, it only made his final years a misery on the sickbed..."
Li Xuanxuan's hands and feet turned cold. He threw the book in his hand onto the table and hurried out of the hall. Li Suining was full of worry, quickly supported him, and sent him outside on the wind.
All the way to the lakeside, the old man seemed to come back to himself. Li Suining only felt a coldness on his wrist. The old man suddenly gripped his hand, at a loss, choked with sobs:
"Suining... how many days do I have left to watch over you all? Qingdu is arrogant, Mount Yuting is strict. The True Persons have eyes only for those few people. In their eyes are only heavenly matters. On whatever day I am no longer here... who will mediate and care for the disciples of the four lineages?"
Chapter 1044