Riding the wind, Li Xijun descended upon Dajueting. He slowly closed his eyes and connected his spiritual sense to the Immortal Mirror. In an instant, his perception swept outward, laying the entirety of Dajueting clear before him.
He scanned through the palace chambers and pavilions without finding anything unusual. Beneath the throne of Dajueting lay a secret passage, reinforced and concealed by formations, used by successive generations of Shanyue Kings to flee. Yet when the Shanyue had eagerly welcomed the royal army years ago, they had exposed it completely. Not a single thing remained inside.
'I suppose I was overthinking it.'
Li Xijun inspected the area once more. He did discover several secret chambers belonging to Shanyue cultivators, which tightly concealed a few Embryonic Breathing spiritual items. With the Li clan's current scale, they naturally had no interest in such things.
"Back then, several of our elders came here carrying the mirror. If there had been any treasures, they would have found them long ago... It's only normal that there's nothing left now."
Even so, Li Xijun was meticulous by nature. He searched left and right, front and back, even surveying the northern foothills adjoining Dajueting. He pondered, 'Since I have already brought forth the Immortal Mirror, I might as well inspect the surroundings thoroughly. If I can chance upon some spiritual water or a precious herb or two, it would be wonderful!'
The Li clan had never set foot in this stretch of mountain forest before. It was remote, seldom visited by humans, and infested with demon beasts, so the existence of a spiritual item or two was quite plausible. After patiently searching for more than half a day, Li Xijun truly did discover an anomaly.
Within the dense jungle, he used the Immortal Mirror to peer past layer upon layer of stone. Suddenly, his gaze caught a dark, gloomy subterranean cavern. Stalactites hung overhead, dripping with speckles of flowing light, while a turbulent subterranean river twisted and wound below.
Beside this underground river stood a towering boulder, emitting a deep crimson glow. Connected to its top was a palm-sized, diamond-shaped mountain rock of golden light, which radiated a hazy, multicolored brilliance.
"A treasure!"
Li Xijun had searched tirelessly for a good while, originally aiming for precious herbs. Though he did not recognize the item before him, its extraordinary aura made it abundantly clear that it was a rare treasure.
He descended toward the ground without rushing in. Instead, taking advantage of having brought forth the magical mirror, he swept his perception across the perimeter of the lake.
The Yu family was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of zithers and pipes; another wedding was underway. Today, the seventh young master, Yu Chengyi, was the head of the house. Back then, Yu Su had slaughtered five of his brothers with a magical artifact and appointed him clan head, leaving Yu Chengyi to take charge in a total daze.
Yu Chengyi disliked managing affairs, so he relinquished authority to the clan elders while spending his days taking concubines, riding horses, and dog-fighting, thoroughly pleased with himself. As the elders vied for influence, they maintained a tacit understanding to prop him up, and year after year passed in just this manner.
Li Xijun cast his gaze over them. Several Yu clan elders at the peak of Qi Refinement had successively failed their breakthroughs and perished. Meanwhile, several non-clan lineages flourished, each backing a different faction in the fierce power struggle. Foremost among them was a guest elder surnamed Lu, who wielded great influence.
Li Xijun remembered this man—it was he who had instigated the Yu elders to lock Yu Mugao outside the defensive formation years ago. Li Xijun specifically searched with his spiritual sense, yet found no trace of him.
Even so, the Yu clan had remained relatively stable over the years. Li Xijun checked repeatedly and confirmed that there were indeed no rising talents in the late stages of Qi Refinement. The few late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators they had managed to muster were all elderly men in their seventies and eighties, with virtually no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.
"The internal strife back then damaged their foundation and threw their systems into chaos. Heaven knows how long it will take for them to get back on track."
The Li clan had numerous informants within the Yu family, yet he still needed to see it with his own eyes to rest easy. Crossing the shimmering expanse of the lake, he rode the wind toward the vicinity of Hanyun Peak, home of the Fei family.
The Fei family was somewhat more prosperous than in previous years. Although channeling the entire clan's resources to sustain Fei Qingyi had reduced their allowances, having a backer within the sect clearly made their lives far more comfortable. Even without a Foundation Establishment cultivator, passing cultivators still addressed them respectfully as a prominent family.
Furthermore, Fei Qingyi had cultivated friendships with fellow disciples and mentors in recent years, allowing the Fei clan's tributes to be lowered a notch, and their circumstances immediately improved. However, its members had begun cultivating various external arts, and few still practiced the Yuzhen lineage.
The Fei family had not sent anyone to visit for many years, and the two clans had drifted apart. Finding little of interest, Li Xijun turned around, rode the wind down, and went to fetch Li Ximing.
Li Ximing was holding a spiritual fruit, studying the Three Completes Realm-Breaking Pill that Li Xizhi had brought back. Although its concoction technique was archaic and extraordinarily difficult, his innate talent in the alchemical dao was high, and ideas were gradually forming in his mind.
Right in the midst of his enthusiasm, hearing that he needed to head out, he muttered under his breath as he stood and set aside his work.
Li Xijun merely chuckled. "You, oh you. You can't go wrong following me. You are the only one in our family without a Foundation Establishment magical artifact. If this thing is of high enough quality, there will certainly be benefits in it for you!"
Hearing this, Li Ximing's face lit up with delight. He quickly followed him out, saying excitedly, "You have no idea—ever since breaking through to Foundation Establishment, I've felt my cultivation progressing faster and faster. Unlike what the books say about hitting limits due to talent and slowing down, my progress feels as natural as water flowing into a channel..."
He shook his Daoist robes and stated with utmost confidence, "Ten years. If I dedicate myself to cultivating with full effort, I am confident I can touch the mid stage in ten years. Even if I must spend time and energy concocting pills, it will take at most a dozen or so..."
Li Xijun walked before him with hands clasped behind his back, softly replying, "Enough... The family can only provide you with resources. We have no prior experience beyond the early Foundation Establishment stage, so you will have to feel out the road ahead on your own."
He then recounted the events of his discovery to Li Ximing. The young man nodded along, and the two rode the wind to Dajueting, gliding through the forest before landing beside a small mountain.
Li Xijun transmitted his voice via spiritual sense: "The entrance to this cavern is precisely situated inside the mountainside, barred by layers of rock. The ley line here is shallow and the spiritual energy sparse, so no one would ever think of opening a cave abode here. That is why it went undiscovered for so long."
Seeing where he pointed, intersecting wisps of bright light quietly emerged behind Li Ximing. With a flick of his sleeves, the radiance swept past his ribs and swiftly coalesced before him.
Within a single breath, a brilliant hue manifested. White stone bricks condensed one after another, tightly interlocking to form the illusion of a massive pass gateway, luminous and crystalline, thoroughly imposing.
The pass gate loomed high, its two white gateposts carved with numerous patterns, mystic shamanic incantations, and upturned eaves. Within the gateway, bright light flared hazily, as if directly facing a blazing sun.
Li Xijun looked closely and noticed writing between the two leaves of the gate. The characters were ancient, bizarre, and blurred like talismans, impossible to decipher.
Li Ximing let him admire the pass gate before speaking: "The words above... the right leaf reads 'Brilliant and Manifest Is Huang,' and the left leaf reads 'Bright and Clear Becomes Yao.' When I established my foundation, I experienced an epiphany, which was how I came to know it."
Li Xijun found it rather peculiar and frowned. "Inscriptions upon an immortal foundation? That is truly unheard of."
He stared at it for a moment until his eyes began to sting, forcing him to look away. Li Ximing channeled his immortal foundation, and the Huangyuan Pass descended from the sky, landing upon the mountainside.
Within the gateway, energy swirled and flowed, casting down bursts of bright light that dissolved the earth and stone of the mountain into flying sand, which cascaded down with a rustle. As Li Ximing stood with hands behind his back, Li Xijun praised from the side, "To think it is so formidable! It is a Fourth-Grade method, after all."
Li Ximing replied, "It's hard to say... My immortal foundation follows the path of suppression and obliteration. Our family's Vast Sea belongs to the Kan Water branch, which is not designed for domineering devastation, so the gap appears vast. But compared to Aunt's Xuanlei Pool, their might would likely be comparable."
Speaking of this, Li Xijun recalled something and whispered, "Our informants overseas inquired and learned that the Mingyang affinity has a dao complement known as the 'Zhaoche Heart,' belonging to an immortal island among the Qunyi Islands. We can take note of it for now."
Li Ximing laughed heartily and shook his head. "I've only just broken through to Foundation Establishment and don't even possess a Violet Palace cultivation method. Why are we already thinking about dao complements?"
"It's merely gathering clues early on."
Li Xijun paused, then explained in a soft voice, "After all, Violet Palace methods are virtually impossible to obtain, and even if one is chanced upon, it is bound by heavy seals... Aunt and I discussed this, and this is what we had in mind.
"If our clan truly commits to following the Mingyang path, we must first gather many spells and methods of the same attribute to pool our wisdom..."
Reaching the crucial point, he switched to transmitting via magical power: "The family possesses the Violet Palace method 'White Head Court-Knocking Scripture,' and Xizhi is inside the sect. He can read the Violet Palace contents. Though he cannot transmit them out, he can use them to draft portions for the 'Golden Hall Huangyuan Formula'... which you can then refine... We can also seek assistance from Li Encheng and the Yuan and Xiao families.
"A method compiled by ourselves will inevitably have many flaws... Then we can only emulate the Deng family, filling the gaps with human lives again and again... After multiple generations of disciples attempt breakthroughs, someone will eventually be able to test the Violet Palace..."
Li Ximing fell silent. Raising a hand, he beckoned, and the pass upon the mountain dissolved into numerous streams of light, returning behind him. He said, "The cavern has been exposed."
Pursing his lips, Li Xijun followed him forward, setting the matter aside. Entering the cave together, they heard the gentle gurgling and splashing of water. Cold light flowed in Li Xijun's eyes, allowing him to perceive everything inside with crystal clarity.
Beside the underground river, craggy boulders lay strewn about. At the highest point stood a red stone about the size of a standard table and stool, radiating a brilliant glow, densely covered with pale white striations—a striking sight.
Growing atop the red stone was a golden rock flake, the size of a palm and the thickness of a finger. It appeared unassuming, quietly emitting a gold-and-white radiance.
Li Xijun studied it for a moment but could glean no insight. Turning to look at Li Ximing, he saw equal bewilderment. Li Ximing said helplessly, "Our family rose too quickly, spanning barely a century. Though we have a few Foundation Establishment cultivators to keep up appearances, our knowledge of such matters is still far too shallow..."
"No matter. As long as it is in our hands, we can just find someone trustworthy to ask."
Li Xijun was quite pragmatic. Hanlin leapt out from his waist, but after a moment's hesitation, he did not cut into the stone. Instead, he stopped Li Ximing and whispered, "We don't know the origin of this object, nor do we know how to preserve and store it without causing damage. Rashly cutting it might ruin the treasure. It is better to leave it inside this cave abode and seal it with a formation."
Li Ximing agreed. The two sealed the cavern, set up a concealment formation, and headed back together. Li Xijun said, "I'll have Eldest Brother send a squad to guard this place."
Just as they were about to land, they noticed a middle-aged man waiting outside. He bore an aloof expression, possessed a peak Qi Refinement cultivation, and wore the yellow-and-white Daoist robes of Xuanyue Gate. Recognizing him, Li Ximing smiled and said, "So it is Fellow Daoist Gusun! What brings you to our Lake Wangyue today?"
This man was the Xuanyue cultivator Kong Gusun. Back then, he had accompanied Kong Tingyun to Wutu Peak to develop the fire vein and was well acquainted with Li Ximing. Though his expression seemed aloof, he had simply been born with such a face; beneath his cold exterior, he was warmhearted. A smile surfaced on his countenance as he said in a raspy voice, "So it is Fellow Daoist Ximing! I have come bearing joyous news!"
"Oh? What news?"
Li Ximing stepped forward with great interest. Kong Gusun cupped his hands politely. "Yesterday, while my uncle was garrisoned in the sect, he encountered a party of Qingchi Sect cultivators entering the sea from the Salt Lake. Only then did he discover that Senior Li Xuanfeng of your esteemed clan was leading the group—he has finally emerged from the Southern Border!
"When my uncle saw Senior Li, he remarked that the senior possessed the bearing of a celestial being. His cultivation had already reached the mid Foundation Establishment stage, sharp and formidable, clad in black armor and bearing a golden bow, looking like a heavenly warrior descending to the mortal realm."
Both men froze, exchanging astonished glances.
"Second Granduncle has left the Southern Border!"
Clan cultivators sent to the Southern Border usually met only one fate: battling beasts and dying in the south. In the early years, the Li family had harbored no hope of Li Xuanfeng ever returning home.
Later, when Li Xuanfeng broke through to Foundation Establishment and gained the trust of Real Person Yuansu, everyone had been pleasantly surprised. Seeing the many items he sent back, they had held high hopes of seeing him again.
Yet Yuansu had never relented, and Li Xuanfeng had remained in that forsaken place for over a decade. Their hopes had gradually cooled. To suddenly hear this news now filled them with indescribable joy.
Seeing their expressions, Kong Gusun knew his uncle had done the right thing by doing them this favor. But when his spiritual sense swept over Li Ximing, his expression changed in shock, and he blurted out, "Ximing! You... you've established your foundation!"
Li Ximing wore a delighted expression as he waved a hand. "A fortunate breakthrough, hardly worth mentioning."
Li Xijun could not spare time for pleasantries. Asking Li Ximing to escort Kong Gusun inside to sit, he quickly took to the wind, descending into the town to find Li Xuanxuan, thinking to himself:
'Once the old man learns of this, he will be overjoyed!'
At the thought, a smile broke across his face. Having accompanied Li Xuanxuan to Hengzhu, the elder's kind countenance and heartfelt affection were deeply etched into Li Xijun's memory. He rushed in, pulled Li Xuanxuan away from his desk where he was drawing talismans, and relayed the news.
"What!"
Li Xuanxuan's face flushed red. He immediately took to the wind and rushed to Qingdu with the junior, questioning Kong Gusun in detail.
Kong Gusun was startled by the grand reception and poured out a basketful of praises that Kong Yu had lavished on Li Xuanfeng. Hearing this, Li Xuanxuan laughed heartily, turning to the two juniors beside him: "What did I say! My brother was extraordinary from childhood! When Second Uncle was alive, whenever he spoke of Xuanfeng, he praised him as the most talented and gifted among the Xuan generation. Looking at it now, his words have truly come to pass!"
The old man had not been this happy in a long time. Grasping Kong Gusun, he asked, "Where in the Eastern Sea is my brother right now?"
"He should be at the Fenkuai Island market."
Kong Gusun answered, and having delivered the message, he cupped his hands in farewell. Together, the group saw him off. Li Xuanxuan looked eager, glancing at Li Xijun's face as he ventured hesitantly, "How about... I make a trip to the Eastern Sea..."
Seeing the old man's cautious manner, Li Xijun said with an amused smile, "Granduncle... the Eastern Sea is fraught with peril. It would be far too dangerous for you to go alone. Let us drop the idea...!"
Chapter 435