Li Xizhi waited at the sacrificial altar for a while. Among the group, he was the only one who had received a talisman seed without having yet received a register. Sure enough, a brilliant radiance soon rose from Shengyang Mansion.
"[Radiant Clouds Across the Sky]."
His aura surged instantly. His newly attained Foundation Establishment cultivation soared rapidly, rainbow light shimmering around him, lending him an even more ethereal, immortal air.
Yet the gap between Foundation Establishment stages was vast; cultivation growth that could elevate someone several layers in Qi Refinement ultimately could not push him into the mid Foundation Establishment stage, stopping just short of a breakthrough.
Li Xizhi kept his eyes closed, his lips parting slightly to exhale a plume of rainbow light. When his eyes opened, kaleidoscopic hues swirled within them before slowly dimming.
Meeting the gazes turned toward him from all around, he smiled and said, "Just one step shy of a breakthrough! That is actually a good thing. A rushed breakthrough would only draw suspicion. Going to the East Sea will give me time to polish my cultivation, practice my spells, and find an opportune moment to break through!"
Having revealed his cultivation, Li Xizhi briefly explained his talisman qi. Feeling the itch to test his newfound power, he circulated his magic power. Rainbow light danced across his five fingers as his hands formed an incantation gesture—middle and ring fingers curling into his palms, the remaining fingers standing upright to form the shape of a tripod cauldron.
In an instant, the spiritual mechanism atop the mountain ceased its flow, freezing solid in the air for just a single breath before rushing toward his hands, surging and colliding into streams of white air.
"There is indeed progress!"
Li Xizhi praised softly. Beside him, Li Ximing's eyes sparkled as he spoke, "Elder Brother was farsighted. You are already about to reach the mid Foundation Establishment stage! Truly, receiving a register after reaching Foundation Establishment yields far greater benefits... In the future, the family can follow Elder Brother's example."
Li Xizhi replied, "You flatter me, Brother Ming... In the sect, I can naturally afford to cultivate at an unhurried pace, but you all must hurry to establish your immortal foundations to support the clan and secure greater benefits. You naturally couldn't wait until Foundation Establishment to receive it."
His mind was not on this, however. His expression grew solemn as he said, "I have seen Zhouwei."
Afraid that the clan might mishandle things, Li Xizhi repeated what he had just told Li Chengliao, saying in a low, serious voice, "In ancient times, addressing someone directly by their name was taboo, which was why Daoist names came to be. When he turns six and begins cultivating, remember to grant him a Daoist name—preferably one related to Mingyang, which would be most beneficial.
"When I return to the sect, I will not only look for that ocular technique. I will take on as many missions as possible, build up connections, and exchange for some of the Mingyang spells obtained from the Donghuo Grotto-Heaven so the child can cultivate them to protect himself."
Li Xuanxuan gathered his sleeves and said with slight roughness in his voice, "Child... don't push yourself too hard. Focus more on your own cultivation. None of this should have been a burden on your shoulders... Yu Muxian cultivated for so many years and nearly drained the bulk of the Yu family's wealth, yet you... you have never asked the family for anything all these years! Your father and I were only worried that you might be mistreated in the sect..."
Li Xizhi waved his hand and said seriously, "Grandfather, please don't speak like an outsider... Back then, when the family sought the [Morning Glow Rosy Qi] for me, I doubt they weighed things so calculatingly either. If we draw the line too strictly, it loses all meaning!"
Hearing him say this, Li Xuanxuan could only nod. Li Xizhi reckoned the time; he had been away from Qingsong Island for too long and dared not delay further. He whispered, "Time is tight. I must head back overseas now. If anything arises in the family, do not hesitate to write."
The crowd escorted him out. Li Yuexiang had only just become acquainted with this elder brother and felt rather reluctant to see him go. She asked softly, "Elder Brother, how long until you return from this journey?"
Li Xizhi merely smiled and replied, "Several years at least. If you ever have free time, you can have someone escort you to Qingsong Island. Not only is it a fine place for cultivation, but we siblings can also have a proper reunion."
Li Yuexiang nodded, looking genuinely tempted, and joked lightly, "While Elder Brother is away, you must pick out a suitable husband for me!"
Li Xizhi took her words to heart. Nodding gravely, he said in a gentle voice, "Father is no longer with us, and the eldest brother is like a father. As your elder brother, I will certainly never let you suffer any injustice, Xiang'er."
Having said that, he cupped his hands to the others. Rosy clouds of colored light rose beneath his feet, and he swiftly vanished over the eastern horizon.
***
No sooner had Li Xizhi departed than Li Qinghong rode the wind back. Dust-covered from her travels, she landed atop the peak, drew a jade vial from her robes, and displayed it. "This spiritual water is called [Deep-Pool Verdance]. It belongs to the Lu Water branch. It cost ninety-seven spirit stones."
When Li Qinghong left, she had taken a hundred spirit stones and now returned three. Having gathered all five spiritual waters, Li Xuanxuan hurriedly invited Liu Changdie up.
For the past few days, Liu Changdie had been surveying Mount Qingdu, observing the ley lines and the flow of the spiritual mechanism. He had assumed he would have to wait half a year to a year, so seeing the Li clan gather all five spiritual waters so quickly came as quite a surprise.
Taking the jade vials, he examined them. "He Waters: [Distant Sea Viper Current] and [Mulin Cold Water]; Pin Water: [Water within Stone]; Fu Water: [Non-Falling White Feather]; and Lu Water: [Deep-Pool Verdance]."
Liu Changdie was pleasantly surprised and remarked, "You actually have so many varieties of spiritual water! Of the Five Virtues, we are only missing Kan Water!"
Seeing everyone looking his way, he cupped his hands and smiled. "You might not be aware, but my array formation follows precise principles. If the spiritual waters are all of the same nature, its power is increased by a fraction. If they differ, it is best to span all Five Virtues, which makes its power just as exceptional."
Liu Changdie produced a jade vial from his robes and said softly, "When I was out adventuring, in order to cultivate the *Clear-Sight Spiritual Pupil* obtained from your noble clan, I specifically collected [Clear Origin Spiritual Water]. I still have two portions left, and they are Kan Water."
Using this jade vial, he replaced [Distant Sea Viper Current] among the He Waters, completing the complement of the Five Virtues. Li Xuanxuan beamed with joy and smiled, saying, "Thank you, Master!"
Liu Changdie smiled without a word. He had long since visited a cave abode in the East Sea known from his previous life and obtained many spiritual materials. His storage bag held an abundance of spiritual waters, and he had possessed all Five Virtues all along; that was precisely why he had conceived of laying out this grand array.
Regardless of which five spiritual waters the Li clan brought out, he had already prepared his explanations and could make everything fit. He simply stowed the spiritual waters, handed over a list, and said, "I shall head down to set up the array now. Please ensure that your noble clan gathers all the spiritual items, sands, and soils on this list."
Li Xuanxuan naturally agreed, walking out side by side with him. Catching his sleeve, he asked, "May I ask if the remaining portion of [Clear Origin Spiritual Water] in Master's storage bag has any further use?"
Li Xuanxuan naturally wished to purchase it for the clan's younger generation to cultivate the *Clear-Sight Spiritual Pupil*. Liu Changdie understood instantly and said with a smile, "I can just give it to your clan..."
The old man would not hear of it. Conversing, the two descended the mountain, faint sounds of friendly dispute still carrying in their wake. In his previous life, Liu Changdie had never met this elder, but in this life, he had known him since his youth. Speaking of the past, they found themselves quite congenial.
The heavy downpour on the peak gradually slackened. Over the lake, the dark clouds slowly thinned, and hints of daylight became visible. Morning glow emerged on the horizon, and a warm breeze blew from the north, fluttering down the white cloths hanging on the walls. The dark clouds across the sky had actually dispersed.
Chapter 488