The golden radiance before his eyes shimmered with myriad splendors, scattering in the air. Lu Jiangxian caught it in his hand, feeling only a gentle warmth. Numerous illusions materialized beside him, streaming with an array of vibrant colors—a breathtaking spectacle.
At times, these illusions showed men and women in union, sparrows rising and orioles swooping; at other times, brilliant light spanned ten thousand cubits, or solitary smoke drifted through the void. There were even emperors offering worship and being crowned upon the throne, before everything finally coalesced into a pristine, clear sphere of light.
Enlightenment instantly dawned in his heart: the full name of this golden nature was the Minghua Huangyang Yujiao Nature. It governed growth, union, male leadership and female support, celestial radiance, bright flames... all things pertaining to Mingyang.
"The Jianyang Ring is truly peculiar. Xu Xiao most likely retrieved it from that Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion. As for how it ended up inside that Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion in the first place, I suppose one would have to obtain that Purple Palace spiritual implement to find out!"
Lu Jiangxian was already coveting the Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion. In his grasp, the golden nature leaped ceaselessly, imparting waves of understanding. This golden nature could enlighten demonic beasts, influence destiny, and forge connections with others—it held all manner of divine wonders, yet every effect caused immense commotion.
"So this is what a golden nature is like... Just a tiny wisp is already this miraculous!"
Clutching this wisp of Mingyang golden nature, Lu Jiangxian moved past his initial joy and pondered how to put it to use.
"First and foremost, it must never be bestowed below."
Lu Jiangxian immediately dismissed the idea of granting it to the Li clan. Setting aside whether any member of the family could withstand its power, if this wisp of golden nature were to touch the mortal realm, catastrophic trouble would erupt at once!
If his deduction was correct, were this golden nature to fall into the mortal world, it would immediately drive people into wanton lust and boundless passions, cause women to bear children without cause, spur all living things to burgeon out of control, and eventually coalesce into some demonic abomination that would slaughter wantonly and draw Purple Palace cultivators into deadly strife.
"After all, a golden nature is an exceedingly rare treasure even to Purple Palace cultivators, not to mention that the Mingyang fruit status seems to be something Mount Luoxia keeps firmly in its grasp..."
Having seen the Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion and now this Mingyang golden nature, Lu Jiangxian gained numerous insights. The forging of Purple Palace spiritual treasures was very likely linked to golden natures. That Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion might have been cast with Combined Fire nature when crafted, like a dormant fiend, which was why it exerted such an effect.
"If so, then the Jianyang Ring holds Mingyang nature, while the Six Ding Combined Fire Medallion holds Combined Fire nature. Inside this magical mirror... logically, there should be one as well..."
Having drawn this inference, Lu Jiangxian immediately thought of how the magical mirror continuously gushed Lunar moonlight. He conjectured in his heart:
"It seems it is Lunar nature beyond doubt. Looking at this display... could the entire Lunar fruit status reside within the magical mirror? Perhaps even more than one thread of Lunar nature... which is why this Lunar moonlight pours forth endlessly like water."
Reflecting on this, over the past century, Lu Jiangxian had visited many places and read the classics of numerous factions, yet he seemed never to have encountered a Purple Palace cultivator of the Lunar lineage. The few cultivation methods of the Lunar or Lesser Yin lineages he had managed to find were of exceedingly low grade, with not a single one capable of reaching the Purple Palace realm.
Nor had he ever heard of a Golden Core cultivator belonging to the Lunar lineage. There had only been an immortal titled Yingze, who might have been connected to the Lunar and Solar lineages, but that had taken place thousands of years ago.
"Regardless of everything else, at least this Golden Hall Huangyuan Formula can be refined and revised several more times!"
Lu Jiangxian examined it closely. Grasping the Mingyang golden nature, which glowed warmly in his palm, he hesitated.
"With this golden nature in hand, I finally wield some influence over the outside world. Yet I must still remain cautious and avoid acting too conspicuously, lest a Purple Palace cultivator comes knocking at my door."
After deliberating for a time, he realized that using this Mingyang golden nature had both advantages and drawbacks. It could even be directly manifested as a surge of divine light to strike down enemies, but doing so would truly be an exorbitant waste of a heavenly treasure, not to be deployed lightly.
As for the Li clan members cultivating this path, at least within the state of Yue they had no dao complements, and the cover of the Wei-Li bloodline ensured they would not easily arouse suspicion. The only concern lay to the north:
'The Mahas in the north have long shared an irreconcilable blood feud with the Wei-Li clan, and now Mount Luoxia has designs on the Mingyang golden nature... The north is completely off-limits!'
'Fortunately, unless undergoing reincarnation, Mahas generally do not travel south, and Mount Luoxia disregards mundane affairs even more; they would hardly travel thousands of li just to do harm. The journey to the Eastern Sea also revealed many Mingyang traditions along the way, so it should not pose much of an issue.'
Withdrawing his thoughts from the golden nature, Lu Jiangxian finally turned back to organize what he had gained from the Eastern Sea.
Accompanying the Li family on that voyage, he had spent most of his time drifting over the waters, making few stops. On the rare occasion they visited the ruins of Qingsong Abbey, the site was permeated with the auras of several Purple Palace masters, so Lu Jiangxian had not dared to pry brazenly.
Even so, he had collected numerous cultivation manuals and filled in many pathways regarding golden natures. Piecing them all together, he had indeed uncovered some revelations.
"Among the formulas collected from various places along the way, some were inevitably ancient, still bearing records of golden nature fruit statuses."
Within these records, the Yin and Yang fruit statuses were mentioned repeatedly. One source claimed Three Yins and Four Yangs, while another posited Five Yins and Four Yangs; opinions varied widely. Yet one fact could be confirmed—the Yin and Yang fruit statuses were not equal in number.
Likewise, many fruit statuses hung solitary and isolated, appearing particularly suspicious—such as Shaman Talisman, Jade Truth, Combined Owl... These golden natures branched out independently with very few associated manuals; often, finding the first meant one would never find a second...
Keeping this puzzle locked away in his mind, he was pondering quietly when a surge of feedback suddenly tore through the void along their connection. Enlightenment dawned in Lu Jiangxian's heart.
"Li Ximing has broken through to Foundation Establishment."
Li Ximing had been cultivating on Mount Qingdu at the time. When this Mingyang nature brushed past him, his practice of the Golden Hall Huangyuan Formula—belonging precisely to the Mingyang lineage—meant it was as though a peak Purple Palace cultivator had channeled all their divine abilities to summon a golden nature into the world solely to ensure his breakthrough. The feast had practically been fed into his mouth; if he had still failed to break through, he might as well have dashed his head against a stone and ended it all.
"This child truly has remarkable luck..."
If not for the fact that Li Ximing possessed no overt destiny or karmic mandate, Lu Jiangxian would have genuinely believed him to be the chosen child of heaven:
'Born into an established clan, supported by his entire family, blessed with innate talent for alchemy, and fond of secluded cultivation—never stepping past his door unless faced with absolute peril... How is this not heaven's mandate upon him? In the entire clan, only this child has hope of breaking through to Purple Palace.'
He cast his gaze back upon the Golden Hall Huangyuan Formula before him. With the aid of the golden nature, he was confident he could elevate this technique to an even higher tier!
'Once this formula is completed, I can explore the combination of golden nature and talisman qi.'
Time within the mirror realm always flowed away like water. Where it had once been lonely and tedious, now time actually felt somewhat scarce.
***
Qingdu Cave Dwelling.
The Jianyang Ring spun once in the air before descending gently. The anomalies filling the cave dwelling completely vanished. Li Xijun caught it and examined it closely. It appeared no different from before, its grade indiscernible and its material unknown, resting exceedingly light in his hand.
Under spiritual sense, the Jianyang Ring seemed utterly ordinary, as if it were merely a flying shuttle. Only its material remained indecipherable. Had he not witnessed the astonishing speed at which Xu Xiao flew upon it, Li Xijun would never have recognized it as a treasure.
Meanwhile, Li Qinghong glanced at the Immortal Mirror, which likewise showed no sign of abnormality. Li Xijun said in a low voice:
"Aunt... it shouldn't be a bad thing."
"Mm."
Li Qinghong nodded. Aunt and nephew studied it for a while without finding any answers. Li Xijun said:
"The altar for Aunt's lightning art has already been constructed by the family. But Aunt was away for so long and never had the chance to use it. Now that Aunt has returned, you can test out that Firmament Lightning."
Li Qinghong cultivated an ancient art; the marvel of her Dao Foundation allowed her to pray to heaven and earth for lightning. Yet now that heaven and earth had drastically changed, whether it could still be accomplished remained uncertain. Li Qinghong nodded, put away the Jianyang Ring, and flew down to return the Immortal Mirror to its shrine.
With all matters finally settled, Li Xijun had lost his chance to break through to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, yet he had preserved so much that he did not feel it was a loss. Stepping outside, he flew for a time before touching down in Lijing Town.
A crowd knelt across the stone steps of the central hall. Li Xijun swept his gaze over them and spotted several familiar faces from the Liu and Xu families, their heads bowed as weeping rose from all around.
Just as Li Xijun set foot on the ground, a member of the Liu family shuffled forward on his knees, weeping and pleading incessantly as he spoke of their old ties of friendship. Li Xijun gently helped him up, but did not linger.
Following his arrival, the Jade Court Guards on both flanks fell to their knees. He strode into the central hall. The hall was simple yet grand. Seated at the head was a middle-aged man with a square face and broad forehead. Li Xijun called out:
"Elder Brother."
This man was the current clan head, Li Xicheng. He had been managing clan affairs for several years now. He was carefully perusing a letter; his years of running the household had made him far more composed. Looking at his approaching younger brother, he spoke softly:
"It has been a long time, Brother... The Liu and Xu clans came out in full force and have been kneeling before the hall all night. What do you think, Eighth Brother?"
Li Xijun took a step back and waved his hand.
"Eldest Brother manages the clan; decide as you see fit. Younger Brother dares not presume."
Li Xicheng broke into a smile, his spine straight as a ramrod. He said softly:
"The Liu family cannot be punished harshly. Kneeling for an entire night is sufficient. Reduced to such straits, there is nothing left to strip them of anyway; let them disperse... As for the Xu family, I intend to divide them into several branches. Xu Xiao is dead, and his branch shall be expunged from the registry. The other branches of the Xu family rendered merit by exposing demonic cultivators, so they shall be rewarded according to their deeds."
"Centurion Chen has already been slain by Chen Mufeng's own hand. To the public, we shall declare that he was killed by demonic arts; his wife and children shall receive ancestral protection. Chen Mufeng is stripped of his chiliarch post, starting anew as an ordinary court guard."
Li Xijun listened for a while. His elder brother continued:
"As for Clan Elder Qiuyang... I sent rewards to him, but he declined them and went back down to farm... We can only confer protection upon his son."
"Clan Elder Qiuyang has labored long and achieved much, but after all, not a single one of his offspring has a spirit aperture. All that could be granted to him has already been granted... His dao path has reached its end... It is difficult to say what more we could give him."
Li Xijun smiled and nodded.
"Elder Brother is already well-versed in these matters; Younger Brother will say no more. As for Chengliao, the mountain will also bestow rewards."
After conversing for a time, Li Xijun cupped his hands. He could faintly sense the deep exhaustion lingering beneath his brother's composed demeanor behind the layered curtains. Pondering for two breaths, he dismissed the Jade Court Guards one by one and said softly:
"Elder Brother can appoint more aides. There is no need to exhaust yourself so. Take care of your health, and do not neglect your cultivation."
Li Xicheng froze for a moment, finally lowering his head.
"Chen Mufeng was promoted by my own hand, yet such a calamity occurred. I can hardly shirk the blame..."
Li Xijun was about to say more when a member of the Clan Rectory approached and bowed.
"The former clan head requests an audience with the two lords."
"Uncle Yuanping?"
The two brothers exchanged a glance. Realizing what it meant, both looked grim. Li Xicheng said softly:
"I will head up the mountain at once."
Neither dared delay. They hurried up the mountain and found it steeped in solemn silence. Hastening into the courtyard, people were constantly entering and exiting. Stepping into the inner quarters, they saw someone lying upon the couch.
Li Yuanping was pale, leaning against the edge of the bed. Li Qinghong sat by his side. His wife, Lady Ren, who possessed only the third layer of Embryonic Breathing, was in her forties with faint wrinkles upon her face, weeping softly.
The two bowed in trepidation. Li Yuanping swept his eyes over them, his voice weak yet gentle:
"Back then, my brother and I knelt before Ancestor Tongya's bed. Father's words still seem to ring in my ears, yet in the blink of an eye, I can no longer hold on."
Li Xijun and Li Xicheng could only offer soft consolations. Li Xicheng had learned under him for a long time and shared deep feelings with him; tears were already streaming down his face. Li Yuanping asked:
"Where is Li Ximing?"
Li Xijun braced himself and answered:
"Brother Ming is in seclusion breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
"Then let it be..."
He gazed into the distance, his pale lips letting out a faint sigh.
Lady Dou supported him, weeping in deep sorrow. She was Li Xuanxuan's primary wife and had once managed the household for a time. Now at the third layer of Qi Refinement, her cultivation had stalled, with no path forward.
Lady Dou had borne two sons for Li Xuanxuan, one after the other, both dying before her eyes. Decades ago she had sent off Li Yuanxiu, and now she was about to send off Li Yuanping. Her hair was completely white, powerless to alter their fate.
Li Yuanping glanced left and right. He had much to say, yet no time remained. He could only murmur:
"Cheng'er, from now on, you must rely on yourself."
Li Xicheng could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he knocked his head against the floor twice with resounding thuds. Li Yuanping waved his hand, cutting off the flood of words, and looked toward Li Xijun:
"Xijun, I must trouble you to clean up Ming'er's mess... In the future, when the elders are all gone, the clan will depend on you."
Li Xijun looked up, meeting Li Yuanping's gaze deeply. He understood that Li Yuanping knew everything. His sword-like brows relaxed, and he said softly:
"Xijun has only done what a junior ought to do."
Li Yuanping let out a couple of airy chuckles from his throat, his voice growing fainter:
"Elder Sister, the family matters are entrusted to you and Elder Brother hereafter."
He gradually slumped backward, his throat releasing an airy, almost silent lament:
"Ancestor, it is not that Ping broke his word... Heaven did not grant me the years..."
Amidst the utter silence, the light in his eyes slowly dimmed. Beside his pillow lay two handwritten volumes. Li Qinghong wiped away her tears and picked them up. One was Observations of the Great Desert, compiled from the notes left behind by Li Jingtian, and the other was Chronicle of Thirty-Two Years of Clan Governance.
His cultivation had been mediocre and he had labored hard his entire life, unable to author prestigious scriptures or secret techniques. The only writings he produced were simply what he had witnessed in his lifetime. Li Qinghong carefully put them away, rose, and turned back.
A crowd knelt below. Li Qinghong swept her eyes over them and said softly:
"Arrange matters properly. I shall carry these to the ancestral hall."
Li Xicheng nodded and choked back a response. Li Xijun stared blankly at Li Yuanping's hands, seemingly lost in memory, one hand caressing Hanlin without uttering a word.
Li Qinghong rose upon the wind, striding into the ancestral hall. She first read through the two volumes and stored them inside the table.
The ancestral hall was quiet as ever, dense rows of memorial tablets arranged above, smoke drifting lazily. Li Qinghong fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly:
"Grandfather... Brother and I have both achieved Foundation Establishment, yet without you in the family, it always feels as if we have no firm ground beneath our feet, hollow and bereft."
Li Qinghong had heard Li Yuanping's dying words clearly, and her heart ached. Usually a woman of few words, she uncharacteristically lingered and talked before Li Tongya's tablet for a time before quietly departing.
She had no extra time to dwell in reminiscence; she bathed, changed her attire, burned incense, and prayed. It would take a full three months before she could ascend that altar.
Chapter 428