Purple Palace Cultivation Method

"A fifth-grade Purple Palace method: the *Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan*." These words carried immense weight. Even extracting half a sentence from them was enough to make anyone jump out of their skin. Li Xuanxuan stared blankly, asking in sheer shock: "A Purple Palace method!" It was not that the Li family had never possessed a Purple Palace method. In fact, compared to other regions within the inland realm, Lake Wangyue was one of the few places with the most abundant and complete array of cultivation methods, owing to the fragmentation of the Jiang family. Elsewhere, whether in the Yuan family's Xunlin Plain or the various commanderies under Qingchi, let alone cultivating a method all the way to Foundation Establishment, even the six wheels of Embryonic Breathing would be split into six separate portions and guarded meticulously, checking and choking one's progress every step of the way. It was solely because Lake Wangyue had lost its overlord that techniques could circulate with such completeness; in other places, restrictions were far stricter. Yet this was a Purple Palace method—a Purple Palace method that could actually be cultivated! It was no fragmented remnant, nor was it some ancient qi lost to time. Even setting aside the strict embargo on cultivation methods within the inland realm, even in the lawless chaos of the overseas lands, a Purple Palace method remained a closely guarded secret—a supreme art truly capable of allowing an aristocratic clan to leap into the ranks of immortal sects. Hearing these words, how could the three of them not be shaken to the core? The old man's beard quivered. Snatching a wooden slip from the desk, he sent wooden cases clattering across the floor in a heap. With his other hand, he grabbed a brush and said hurriedly: "Wei'er, come... write it down first!" His voice was urgent, tinged with the coaxing tone used with a child, as if terrified the boy might run off. Li Zhouwei simply took the wooden slip and set brush to wood. With a flourish of his small hand, he murmured: "A pity... this method can only be cultivated to the early Purple Palace realm, condensing... the first divine ability." "It truly is a Mingyang Purple Palace method..." Li Qinghong could not help showing a hint of envy. Her own method plateaued at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Regardless of her innate talent, she lacked even the opportunity to assault the Purple Palace realm. Her eyes fixed upon the wooden slip, she murmured: "What a marvelous stroke of fortune..." A delighted smile broke across Li Xijun's face. After repressing his expression for so long, the chaotic disruption of many of his prior plans dissolved into an audible laugh, and he asked: "Is Ximing still in seclusion?! He is blessed with good fortune as well! We worried so much for him before, yet now everything has fallen into place. He too has a path forward." "You never stop fretting over him!" Li Xuanxuan chuckled, though his eyes never once left the precious child. He felt a lingering sense of familiarity in the boy's every gesture, but that fleeting sensation drifted past so quickly that he could not recall where he had seen it before. Before long, Li Zhouwei finished transcribing the method. Li Xuanxuan took it and read it from beginning to end. Slowly sitting to the side, the wrinkles on his face broke into a broad smile. Holding the method and studying it intently, he slapped his thigh repeatedly: "What a splendid fifth-grade method! It is truly Golden Yang Huangyuan! Truly the Huangyuan Pass!" Li Xuanxuan slapped his thigh three times in succession, his aged face brimming with admiration. Li Qinghong could not suppress a chuckle. Pulling Li Xijun aside, she whispered: "Who knows how long it has been since the old man was this happy. In all the years since I came of age, I have never seen him like this." Aunt and nephew exchanged smiles. Li Xuanxuan read for a long while before snapping back to his senses, only to find two adults and one child all looking at him with smiles. He hurriedly composed himself and said solemnly: "Come, look at it!" Li Qinghong took the method. She merely skimmed the earlier chapters, focusing instead on the final section where the Dao foundation nurtures a divine ability. It detailed nine methods and incantations for nurturing and precipitating the divine ability; once each grueling trial was overcome, the divine ability would be achieved. She could not help reading the concluding description of the divine ability's manifestation, murmuring: "Fire elevates the heart, Yang illuminates within and without; thus the Minghuang divine ability is forged. Its luster radiates over nine feet, purple flames erupting, iridescent clouds rising and vanishing. In golden armor and golden raiment, descending across the skies... The celestial sun glows deep red in the east, earth fiends erupt in the south; thereupon roaming the Great Void, forging the golden lotus..." The Li family had once obtained a method whose qi had died out, the *Scripture of Baishou Kouting*, which was also of the Purple Palace rank. Compared to the *Scripture of Minghua Huangyuan* before them, however, the *Scripture of Baishou Kouting* was extremely brief, let alone possessing such a vivid description. Observing the yearning on her face, Li Xuanxuan remarked: "How many pursue cultivation, how many reach Foundation Establishment, and how few break through to the Purple Palace... Such majestic might appears in only one among countless multitudes." Li Qinghong smiled without pressing further. After questioning Li Zhouwei thoroughly to confirm that he had not received the *Scripture of Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Cultivation*, she said softly: "Perhaps the Mingyang constitution conflicts with Taiyin... You need only cultivate diligently. Zhouwei is a sensible child. What transpired here should probably not be mentioned to your father, lest it harm him in the end..." As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on Li Zhouwei's golden pupils, seemingly gauging his emotions. Li Zhouwei merely nodded gently without any ripple of emotion, replying calmly: "Wei'er understands." He offered no further elaboration, yet his words carried an inexplicable weight of conviction. Li Qinghong paused slightly, hummed an acknowledgment, and said gently to the two beside her: "Let us send Zhouwei down first, so Chengliao is not kept waiting in anxiety." The two nodded in agreement. Li Xuanxuan took a sip of tea; by the time he set down his cup, Li Qinghong was already standing before the hall again, having departed and returned like a flash of lightning. Settling by his side, she spoke in a grave tone: "My return this time was not solely for this matter." She murmured: "I passed through Qingsong Island and met with Xizhi. According to news from within Qingchi, Li Encheng of Fuchen Peak is nearing the end of his lifespan. He intends to assault the Purple Palace realm and has sent an appeal for aid to our family..." Li Xuanxuan was taken aback and replied: "That man... surely does not possess a Purple Palace cultivation method, does he?" Li Qinghong nodded, a trace of concern in her voice: "He has no method. Rumor has it he merely borrowed similar formulas from within the sect for study, compounded some pills himself, and plans to stake his life in a final gamble before his time runs out." A look of difficulty appeared on Li Xuanxuan's face, and he said rather helplessly: "Strictly speaking, our family asked him to handle an affair, yet before it is even done, the man is already on the verge of death... A total waste of effort..." Li Qinghong nodded. She had clearly considered this as well, replying: "More than that. Xizhi said Li Encheng could not offer much help with our family's matters anyway... All this running back and forth in circles." She drew a jade scroll from her sleeve, densely inscribed with numerous items, and said in a low voice: "He asks for precious herbs and spiritual waters, claiming he will certainly repay us after breaking through. Yet who does not know that this is a journey of no return? What chance does he truly have of breaking through..." Li Xijun took the jade scroll and examined it closely. Items like Tongyuan Water and Changshan spirit stones—several dozen varieties in total—were all exceedingly costly. At the very end, an annotation in tiny script even read: *'If clues to the whereabouts of Tianyi Pure Element can be found, a handsome reward will surely follow!'* Reading the jade scroll, Li Xuanxuan let out a scoff and said: "If our family possessed a supreme spiritual water like Tianyi Pure Element, would we hand it over to him? Preposterous!" Li Xijun read through it twice before saying softly: "Our family truly cannot bear the burden of these items. What do you and elder brother suggest, Aunt?" Li Qinghong replied: "That younger brother of Li Encheng's, Li Enxi, is a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he cast aside his pride and pleaded bitterly in your elder brother's hall, weeping tears of despair. He invoked both the debt from that Suiyuan Pill of years past and the friendship between the Wei and Li lineages... Your elder brother found it hard to refuse outright..." "I understand." Li Xijun naturally tucked away the jade scroll and murmured: "I shall gather one or two of these items and substitute the rest with Qi Refinement spiritual materials of matching properties. We will spend some spiritual materials regardless and send them over to Qingsong Island." "Our family recently constructed a great array and is indeed stretched thin. If we explain this properly to Li Enxi, he should understand." Li Qinghong gave a slight nod and said in a low voice: "That is the only way!" Li Xuanxuan felt the sting of the expense and reminded them: "Why must we keep giving him something for nothing? Li Encheng has done nothing for our family..." Li Xijun understood his distress and said gently: "Since Brother Zhi agreed, he naturally has his reasons. We need only do our best to support him." If nothing else, Li Xuanxuan still trusted Li Xizhi, so he relented: "Fair enough. Then it is settled." Li Qinghong nodded, shared the news she had gathered along her journey, and added softly: "There is no rush to come and go. Jun'er, go ahead and arrange the collection of the spiritual materials. I shall wait a few months before departing." *** Lijing Town. Li Chengliao had waited on the mountain for a long time, his anxiety steadily mounting, until he finally saw Li Qinghong escorting Li Zhouwei back down. She teased: "He was only gone for a short while. Are you truly this reluctant to part with your treasure?" Li Chengliao gave an awkward smile, swept up Li Zhouwei, and rode the wind downward, crossing the lake and entering the main hall. Looking closely, the boy appeared no different than before, yet Li Chengliao sensed a subtle change about him. He asked: "Wei'er, how was it on the mountain?" Li Zhouwei seemed to be reminiscing over the scene from earlier, replying softly: "In response to Father, there was much duruo on the mountain." Li Chengliao froze, suddenly realizing the child was speaking to him in riddles. Yet none who could sit in this central hall were simple figures. He raised his brows slightly and sank into deep thought. He quickly dredged up an incident from his dusty memories. That year, he had been only twelve years old when he was sent up the mountain for his spiritual aptitude test. His father, Li Xicheng, had not been by his side, and several younger siblings had accompanied him. *The ancestral hall... cushions... Minggong... Cheng...* The hazy memory gradually sharpened. Li Chengliao slowly recalled how his five senses had been sealed, how he had knelt somewhere, and how he had finally been led out after learning a spell. His discernment was far beyond what it had been back then. Lowering his gaze, he said in a hushed tone: "Did they take you to the ancestral hall?" Li Zhouwei raised his eyes to meet his father's. His dark golden pupils shifted slightly as he asked softly: "Did Father also go there once?" Li Chengliao nodded silently, contemplation surfacing in his eyes. His mind was exceptionally sharp, and he said in a low voice: "Naturally, I went. They could not seal your eyes... Regardless, Wei'er certainly knows." Li Zhouwei looked slightly surprised. After a pause, he answered: "Father is asking too much." Li Chengliao felt as though he had just awakened from a dream, struck momentarily speechless. He froze for several breaths before bursting into laughter, scooping the boy up, and whispering: "It was my fault. I lost my composure for a moment. With such godlike bearing, my child will never let anyone down." He sighed: "Still, whatever happens is for the good of the family..." Li Zhouwei watched his expression, seemingly studying his demeanor. As those dark golden eyes surveyed him freely, they inadvertently revealed the untamed nature of a tiger or leopard. Taking those words to heart, he thought to himself in silence: *Still, whatever happens is for the good of the family...* He broke into a bright smile, tugged Li Chengliao into the great hall, grabbed a nearby halberd, and laughed: "My halberd techniques have improved again. Let me demonstrate for Father!" *** Eastern Shanyue. Rain pattered down. Yuan Fuyao completed a patrol around the town and soon returned to his cave abode. Two servants came forward to inquire about news. Yuan Fuyao waved his hand and replied: "The weather in northern Yue seems to be gradually returning to normal. Who knows what stage the struggle between the two sects has reached." Sitting by the stone table, he could not help asking: "At home... how are things on the Second Elder's side?" The internal strife of the Yuan family was slowly drawing to a close, much like the weather. Yuan Fuyao had spies planted within the clan and was not entirely in the dark. His granduncle Yuan Huyuan did not even dare return home anymore, there was no news of his father, and the Second Elder, Yuan Hudu, now held control of the situation. Yuan Fuyao had actually anticipated this long ago. With the Chi family backing the Second Elder, how could he possibly lose? From start to finish, it had been a pointless struggle of cornered beasts, needlessly depleting their own family's strength. Now that the dust had settled, Yuan Fuyao felt somewhat frustrated, given that he and the Second Elder, Yuan Hudu, had originally been on quite good terms: "Why on earth did they arrange a marriage with the Li family! I originally shared some familial affection with Yuan Hudu and received much care from him. Now, things have turned out so that I have become Yuan Hudu's enemy... In this vast world, I am trapped in this single town!" As he sat in the courtyard sighing in grief, the two servants unexpectedly hurried up in high spirits, calling out: "Young Master! A letter has arrived from home!" Yuan Fuyao hurriedly took it and read it thoroughly from beginning to end, his hands trembling. The handwriting was sharp and vigorous; looking closely at the signature, it truly was from Yuan Hudu! Yuan Hudu treated him with great courtesy, analyzing the situation from start to finish and laying bare all the twists and turns. He wrote: *"I am now the head of the family, feigning compliance to win the Chi family's trust while having Huyuan search abroad for the peak master's whereabouts. This was all carefully deliberated with your father. I have arranged an engagement for you with the young lady of the Song family, and I hope you will return home with all haste."* *"Your father made an early pledge and had no choice but to send you there. The betrothal gifts are valuable, and the Li family will certainly demand them. If you have already obtained them or found clues, do not breathe a word. Find an excuse to flee Lake Wangyue and return immediately. So long as you return safely, I will personally visit their door to reclaim them on your behalf... My only fear is that you will fall into someone else's hands and become leverage against us, losing all opportunity forever."* Yuan Hudu explained everything clearly, even detailing which immortal sect faction lay behind each elder, and warned: *"The Li family has already sided with the Ning family. The Ning family has occupied the Southern Border for years, and the Chi family has long grown dissatisfied... Your father has you as his only son! Do not be buried alongside them!"* Yuan Fuyao broke into a cold sweat as he read, feeling a sudden jolt of realization. He thought to himself: *Could it truly be so?! It turns out Father planned this all along! The elders were merely putting on an act!* Pondering back and forth, he recalled that Yuan Huyuan's expression that day had not seemed feigned either. Torn with indecision, he did not know what to do, when the Yuan family servant beside him spoke up: "Young Master... the courier said... he will wait for you in the south at the midnight hour tonight... This..." Yuan Fuyao was terrified and cursed: "Why are you only telling me this now!" Gazing at the moon in the sky, his composure shattered completely. Never a decisive man, he grew as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, torn between bolting immediately and lingering to think things over a bit longer. He could only stomp his foot and cry: "What on earth should I do!"