Li Ximing listened for a while, feeling suddenly enlightened. He said thoughtfully, "When I was cultivating, I felt that Binggu was quite different. Be it the Five Virtues or the Twelve Qi, they all merge by virtue of similar divine wonders, whereas Binggu is vastly different. At the time, I often attributed it to ancient arts being fundamentally distinct... merely the principles of Heaven and Earth."
He paused, then added, "Years ago, I visited Poluoduo once and heard the designation of 'Three Shamans and Two Invocators.' I thought it was a subdivision within Binggu, never imagining it applied here!"
Lingdu raised his brows, a smile appearing as he said, "Poluoduo was originally a barren, untamed land, yet many ancient cultivators seeking peace and demonic cultivators seeking refuge went there. It is only natural that some inheritances were left behind."
He then turned to pour the tea, saying, "Our Taitao Jiuqiu Dao tradition is passed down from Qingxuan. The Mount Jiuqiu beneath our feet was also called Mount Lingyi Yueqing in ancient times. It is only because Yin and Yang waned that it became vastly different from before. In terms of Dao tradition, we are heirs to the Doctrine of Yin-Yang Primacy."
He smiled and continued, "This is not hard to explain. In our lineage's Dao tradition, Yin and Yang stand above the Five Virtues; there are only Three Yin and Three Yang. As for how to synthesize the methods of Binggu, opinions on the mountain vary, and adherents of the Doctrine of Pure Virtue are not few..."
"Jiangnan experienced the preaching of the Chu State and Yuan Prefecture one after another. In general, the Daoist Canon consists of Yin-Yang, the Five Virtues, and the Twelve Qi. Though they do not weigh Yin-Yang against the Five Virtues in rank, it is still Three Yin and Three Yang, close to our view."
Li Ximing did not know what practical use there was in ranking Yin-Yang against the Five Virtues, but this did not stop him from having an epiphany. He looked up and asked, "To place the Five Virtues above Yin and Yang... that is likely a northern Dao tradition?"
Lingdu's hand pouring the tea abruptly froze. Hesitating for a moment, he shook his head and said, "The concepts within are complex, with manifold disagreements. I fear only our Great True Person can untangle them. But if Zhaojing is speaking of what lies above Yin and Yang... in truth, only 'Clear Qi' finds some who agree."
Though his words were reserved and he dared not say much, Li Ximing had already reached full certainty in his heart.
*Who in the world places the Five Virtues above Yin and Yang? Does using Earth Virtue to shepherd Mingyang count as a manifestation of the Five Virtues suppressing Yin and Yang?*
In his mind surfaced Li Zhouwei's low, heavy words from years ago:
*Too many people in the world want Li Qianyuan dead! The north's conflict with him was rooted not only in Dao lineages, Dao paths, and divine abilities, but also in grudges, ideologies, and cultivation...*
Li Ximing sighed inwardly:
*Mingyang being pressed under Earth Virtue was probably something many did not wish to see. Yet Li Qianyuan's path was too domineering—so domineering that the world's immortal cultivators put aside their disputes to deal with him... which led to such an end...*
His thoughts grew complicated. He sipped his tea in silence for a time, then set down his cup and smiled. "Such precious ancient secrets could not be unraveled without the Jiuqiu immortal path. Yet Senior has generously imparted them. Zhaojing has gained immensely and thanks Senior!"
Lingdu smiled and shook his head. Li Ximing turned back to look at Li Quewan and smiled. "The senior elder gave you guidance and held this metaphysical discourse especially for you. You must thank him properly."
The meaning of Lingdu's words was profound; they were obviously not spoken for Li Quewan's sake. Yet whatever the fundamental motive was, with the northern twilight rays blazing brightly, an excuse had to be made. Waiting for Li Quewan to offer her thanks, Li Ximing felt a stir in his heart:
*True Person Lingdu is quite genial, and the Jiuqiu lineage is easy to get along with... Right now, Zhentao Manor is unstable, and whether the matter of Fuxun can be handled well is even harder to say. If it implicates Senior Liu and a fight breaks out one day while Quewan is in seclusion on that island, our family will lose a Violet Palace!*
*Since we have come to Jiuqiu, why not rent a grotto dwelling and let Quewan go into seclusion here to break through...*
Li Ximing was not worried about anything else—this mountain might well be safer than Lakeside. The difficulty lay in Lingdu's willingness. Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then began with a smile, "Junior's visit this time is also to answer an appointment with True Person Yan. I wonder, after several decades apart, how True Person Yan has been?"
Lingdu stroked his beard in contemplation, taking a long while before saying, "He is just his usual self. A few years ago, an important junior of his failed a breakthrough, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted. Then, while traveling the outer sea, he fought an unknown opponent; not only did he fail to seize the treasure, he was even wounded. Upon returning, his eldest son brought trouble upon him again, enraging him to the point he almost killed his own son... In short, he is not having an easy time."
Li Ximing nodded, seemingly considering something. Lingdu, however, smiled and said, "Quewan... it is inconvenient for you to take her along. Leave her on the mountain; I will look after her for you."
Li Ximing had been waiting for precisely these words. After having someone escort Li Quewan down, his expression turned solemn. "What does Senior think of my child?"
Lingdu raised his brows with a smile, showing a touch of admiration, and answered, "Rare indeed. This body of magic power and true essence ought to be shown to my Jiuqiu disciples, so they know there are always talents beyond their horizons!"
Li Ximing then lowered his voice. "Ashamed to say, this junior of mine has also reached the point of striking for a divine ability. Alas, I will have many affairs to handle next, and who knows when True Person Yan's matter can be concluded. It is hard on her, following by my side and hurrying back and forth."
Lingdu raised his eyebrows, understanding clearly:
*He is seeking shelter... Fortunately, she is a young lady and not of Mingyang bloodline, otherwise it would truly be difficult to forge this karmic tie...*
He then chuckled and said, "What is difficult about that? The spirit ambience of Jiuqiu is stable and Clear Qi permeates the area. If Fellow Daoist estimates the timing is right, she may simply go into seclusion on my mountain!"
"How could I impose so..."
Li Ximing cheerfully exchanged courtesies with him, and the matter was settled. Yet this reminded Li Ximing of something more urgent.
*In all these years, I have not gathered the slightest news regarding Complete Dan spiritual items. If Quewan breaks through, she would still have to use Six-Aspect Ceremonial Hue. What a waste...*
Six-Aspect Ceremonial Hue was not bad; rather, it was too good, to the point of extravagance. He subsequently asked Lingdu, but the old man ultimately shook his head and replied, "There was once a portion of Pure Resonance Metal Attribute. Later, when Master Qiushui was about to cross the immortal threshold, he gathered six types of Complete Dan spiritual items to verify his cultivation. The people of Jinyu traded it away from my hands."
Li Ximing felt his teeth ache at the thought. He was about to take his leave, but Lingdu stopped him, taking out a jade talisman from his robes with a smile. "Take this and show it to him to prove you have already been to Jiuqiu."
Li Ximing froze slightly, then understood at once.
He was no longer afraid of Yan Dushui harboring malicious intentions; on the contrary, Yan Dushui had grown afraid of him. If Li Ximing opened the treasure for Yan Dushui and was seized by greed, killing him for the treasure, Yan Dushui's frail old body truly could not withstand it. Having this Jiuqiu jade talisman as witness would put Yan Dushui at ease.
Thus, he accepted it with a smile and rode the wind out of the mountain. Passing over the shimmering sea surface, he soon arrived at the Xilian Sea.
The towering seabed emerged before his eyes once more. After several decades apart, the mortals here were still gathering reefs for the Quanjing Immortal Sect, just like their ancestors, suffering the calamity of drowning. The only difference was that things looked far more turbulent, likely because the immortal sect was unstable.
He waited for a while, releasing a bright ray of skylight into the horizon. After shining for a time, a tremor ran through the Great Void, and True Person Linyi, Yan Dushui, arrived in haste.
The old True Person was still clad in a white feather robe, his appearance not drastically changed, but his demeanor was far worse than before. In those eyes floated a murky, unpredictable ferocity, devoid of the peaceful bearing of former years. Only upon seeing Li Ximing did it recede, and he said with joy, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing has arrived!"
Fearful that his hopes would be dashed in vain, the old man stared intently at him. Seeing Li Ximing smile and nod, taking out the jade talisman from his sleeve, he finally came to a sudden realization, exclaiming with equal parts joy and envy, "Zhaojing, your cultivation speed is truly formidable."
Li Ximing was no longer the fledgling youth of the past. Much more composed now, he took an extra look at him and smiled. "It seems True Person Linyi has not had it easy these years."
Leading him inside, Yan Dushui said in a somber tone, "A sensible junior perished, and those left behind are unfilial—rotten to the core, beyond saving even with divine abilities. Yesterday I executed several of them to calm the atmosphere in the mountains."
No matter how worthless disciples and juniors might be, few masters would actually raise the butcher's knife against them. Li Ximing was slightly astonished, finding it awkward to respond. Understanding that Quanjing Immortal Sect had declined drastically over these decades, he merely said, "Was that truly necessary?"
A look of bewilderment crossed Yan Dushui's face as he replied, "It does not matter much. What worries me more is that the spiritual veins of the Xilian Sea are languishing. Having few resources is one thing, but with later generations faltering in cultivation, spirit aperture bearers are becoming fewer and fewer..."
The two traversed numerous sea areas, and Yan Dushui plunged toward the seabed. Soon, he discovered a thumb-sized fissure on the seabed. The two transformed into two rays of radiance, plunging downward all the way into the depths.
With nothing else to occupy his mind, Li Ximing pondered:
*Yan Dushui seems to be nearing the end of his lifespan... Then... matters must be arranged in advance.*
Yan Dushui owed him a favor of taking action. Li Ximing's original intention in keeping him indebted was to deal with Violet Palace demon beasts for sacrifices. If he waited until Yan Dushui fell, even if Mount Ji could not evade the debt, what use would a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators be?
*Jiangqian is also about to break through. I must make use of this fellow's favor! It just so happens there is also Guo Nanwu!*
The two sometimes slipped into the Great Void, sometimes leaped out at breaks. After traveling an unknown distance, Yan Dushui finally came to a halt. Li Ximing raised his brows and saw that this place was a grotto dwelling. Before the entrance was very crude, lacking even a plaque.
The stone gate was slightly ajar, with a threshold shockingly high—reaching up to an adult's torso. On both sides, small niches had been dug out, where faint blue flames burned gently.
Li Ximing's expression finally turned solemn. Scanning carefully with his spiritual sense, he found that the objects before him were completely blurred, even less clear through spiritual sense than to his naked eyes!
*This is 'Banished Qi'...*
Li Ximing's heart tightened. He heard Yan Dushui sigh with emotion, "This is the place!"
Turning his head, Yan Dushui solemnly instructed, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, this grotto dwelling is supported by a certain treasure. Normally, the things inside are like dead objects, motionless. But as soon as someone enters, the treasure immediately resumes burning. Once it burns out, this grotto dwelling will vanish into smoke..."
"My ancestors entered many times, passing it down to this day, and half of it has already burned away. Once inside, there cannot be the slightest hesitation in our movements; we must act swiftly!"
*As expected of an Underworld Court relic...* Li Ximing mused secretly and nodded in agreement.
Yan Dushui stepped inside, his figure flickering between light and shadow. Li Ximing stepped forward slowly, stopping before the high threshold. Immediately seeing the grand hall of the grotto dwelling, he found it steeped in darkness. A single table and stool stood in the center, and upon the table seemed to rest a bowl, in which flickered a speck of red light. Everywhere else was murky, deep, and dark, like a ghostly realm.
Here, spiritual sense was useless; one could only rely on hazy eyesight. Yan Dushui himself had only visited a few times and appeared somewhat nervous. Li Ximing, however, settled his mind and linked his spiritual sense:
*Immortal Mirror!*
A sensation of airy lightness poured down like a torrent. In an instant, all the darkness before his eyes vanished into thin air—the threshold, the stone table, and the stone chair all disappeared! Before him was solid black stone; there was no grotto dwelling at all, merely a low, cramped stone recess about the size of a desk!
In the center of this stone recess lay a bundle of faint black dry firewood. Seen from afar, its size was just right, resembling a dog's den.
Resting atop this faint black firewood was a pure white skull, facing upward with its jaw tilted high, revealing the emptiness within. Seen this way, it looked like a cenotaph hastily excavated by some cultivator!
Li Ximing swallowed quietly, realizing where the grotto dwelling came from.
*This is an immortal realm built by an ancient cultivator... a tiny grotto dwelling, yet anchored upon this skeleton!*
He was struck with sudden realization. Hearing Yan Dushui call out to him from inside the cave, he stepped within. The darkness rushing toward him brought a bone-chilling cold. Li Ximing pinched lightly, gathering the darkness in his hand, and was struck dumb:
*Purple Qi, Cold Qi... and what seems to be Shaoyin and Taiyin...*
Li Ximing looked down and saw half a stick of light yellow incense, about as thick as a little finger, resting in the bowl upon the desk. Just one glance left him slightly stunned.
He happened to recognize this item—it was identical to the profound incense Li Zhouwei had brought back from Wanling Heaven!
And that speck of red he had seen from outside the grotto dwelling was the slow-burning ember at the tip of this incense, already half consumed. The other half was greyish-white ash broken off inside the bowl, completely intact without scattering in the least.
Yan Dushui walked up before him, his voice laced with anxiety and a touch of yearning as he urged in haste, "Fellow Daoist!"
Snapping out of his reverie, Li Ximing swiftly followed him inside. Taking several steps past this grand hall, he saw an inner palace.
This hall was exceptionally deep and secluded, slender and oblong as a whole like a casket. In its depths, it seemed connected to some vast open expanse, from which a faint, frigid wind blew out, brushing against rhombic pieces of jade suspended from the ceiling and producing a tinkling chiming sound.
On both sides were arcane patterns and bizarre, inexplicable decorations never seen before, depicting numerous shamanic talismans, birds, beasts, and ghostly figures that loomed faintly under the dark black mist.
This inner hall had three tiers of steps. Upon the highest golden circular platform lay a section of withered wood, resembling a broken mulberry tree that had withered halfway through its growth. The severed trunk was the size of a fist, while the root system beneath was vast, nearly the size of a tabletop!
Floating above the severed surface of this pitch-black mulberry wood was a faint black object—a feather as long as an index finger and as thick as a thumb. Beneath its pitch-black surface wound dense golden patterns. It possessed not the slightest trace of transcendent immortal grace; rather, it struck dread into those who beheld it, utterly eerie!
Yan Dushui had already rushed forward. Gently turning his hand, he cautiously produced a pale green jade box covered in profound patterns. Appearing to be some momentous treasure, he gently placed it into Li Ximing's hands and said urgently, "Now it all depends on Fellow Daoist!"
Li Ximing felt a chill upon touching it. Looking down, his pupils dilated abruptly, and his thoughts swirled in chaos—he had seen this jade box before as well. In fact, his own family possessed a jade box with similar, mostly identical patterns!
*An item from the Lake Central Islet market back then!*
Chapter 1051