Li Ximing and Li Xuanxuan were slightly surprised. Ning Heyuan then retrieved an elongated jade box from his robes and said softly, "As for this item, it is a gift from my Moon Lake Peak to your noble clan, as well as a token of my Ning family's sincerity..."
He opened the jade box. Inside lay six tokens neatly arranged, emitting a silvery-white radiance. No sooner had the lid parted than a series of crisp crackles burst forth.
Li Xuanxuan took a closer look. Each of the six tokens was inscribed with unique patterns and stored silvery-white thunderbolts. An aura of thunderous retribution rushed over him, intermingled with dazzling, silvery-white lightning that stung the eyes.
Ning Heyuan said softly, "This was originally an item stored in my family's True Person Yuansu's collection, acquired from the East Sea. It is called the 'Six Thunder Xuan Punishment Tokens' and is a rare complete set among Foundation Establishment magical artifacts... Qinghong does cultivate thunder arts after all, so I sought out this set and brought it over."
Li Ximing could see plainly that this artifact was truly extraordinary, and the Ning family had undeniably paid a hefty price. Ning Heyuan added with great gravity, "It is said that this set of artifacts has several centuries of history. The True Person stated it was forged by imitating the 'Six Shocks Xuan Thunder Tokens' derived from the Thunder-Marshaling Cloud-Anchoring Method Path, possessing many wonderful uses. The person who forged it likely studied the original Six Shocks Xuan Thunder Tokens and grasped a few degrees of their marvelous design. Yet limited by his own skill, he repeatedly failed to forge it, attempting six times in total. Later, those six tokens were reworked and modified by the maker, resulting in this set of Six Thunder Xuan Punishment Tokens."
Ning Heyuan sighed faintly. "It's just that we do not know how Qinghong is faring now. Nor does my peak possess any presentable Mingyang artifacts to seek out for Ximing, so only this set of Six Thunder Xuan Punishment Tokens was most fitting."
He then laid out the clan's stakes and continued to urge them, "Furthermore... your noble clan resides in northern Yue. If the Great River fails to hold... further down lies Lake Wangyue. Heading out to guard it is not only for my Moon Lake and Qingchi, but also for your noble clan."
The Li family had no means to refuse in the first place, and Ning Heyuan had offered tangible benefits while laying out the pros and cons clearly. What words of refusal could Li Xuanxuan possibly have left? He could only look up toward Li Ximing.
Li Ximing looked over for a while. Ning Heyuan hesitated slightly, but Li Ximing simply bowed. "Ximing obeys the order."
Ning Heyuan nodded and said in a low voice, "Ximing, set out within three days. Bring seven late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators and eight mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators from your clan. As for Embryonic Breathing and early-stage Qi Refinement, your noble clan may decide at your own discretion. My duties are heavy, and I must still visit the next clan... I shall not delay any longer."
He offered a salute and swiftly rode the wind to bid his farewell, leaving two jade boxes resting in the hall.
Li Ximing picked up the jade box containing the Suiyuan Pills to examine it. Li Xuanxuan remarked, "They are quite generous now..."
"It is nothing more than Jiangnan having far too few Foundation Establishment cultivators," Li Ximing replied. "They are rushing to supply the various clans with Suiyuan Pills so that aging elders and Qi Refinement juniors can take them to charge toward Foundation Establishment. Only then will there be enough Foundation Establishment cultivators to stabilize the situation later on."
Li Ximing looked up. Li Xuanxuan inspected the pills closely for a long time, let out a quiet breath, and murmured, "The markings do not resemble human elixirs, nor do they look like Qingchi's alchemy methods. Rather, several demonic beasts were used. They were likely obtained by Qingchi from elsewhere, yet they seem so very familiar..."
Deducing origins from the concoction method of medicinal pills was an exceedingly difficult feat, and Li Ximing did not possess such extraordinary skill on his own. Yet he had been trained under Xiao Yuansi, so he had seen all these techniques before.
Li Ximing put away the jade box containing the Six Thunder Xuan Punishment Tokens and said in a muffled voice, "The Xiao family's methods."
He exhaled a deep breath and said in a low voice, "If my guess is correct, this batch of Suiyuan Pills was likely concocted by Master—or even True Person Chuting himself."
"Truly exhausting an entire generation..."
Li Ximing merely nodded heavily.
He then asked, feeling the pinch as their clan's Qi Refinement cultivators were no longer as plentiful as in the past, especially when counting late-stage cultivators, "Only, regarding this Qi Refinement manpower..."
Li Zhouwei exchanged a glance with him and said softly, "Let Chenghuai and Chengliao go... Chenghuai's cultivation is still slightly short, but taking a pill will suffice to push him into late stage."
Li Xuanxuan nodded and added in a low voice, "Mohe is already in late stage, and Donghe must go as well. Counting me, we are still short two people. Alas! Chengji is still in the East Sea, though he has reached late-stage Qi Refinement by now..."
Li Zhouwei looked over the list for a while, sent men down to arrange the manpower, and carefully went through the roster. He thought to himself: *Among the standout members of the Cheng and Ming generations, there are none other than Chengliao, Minggong, Chenghuai, and Chengji. Now Minggong's whereabouts are unknown, and with this arrangement, only Chengji remains in the East Sea...*
***
Meanwhile, in the East Sea.
"Yu Yuwei has most likely lost his life..."
Although Yu Yuwei did not have many years left to live, Li Qinghong had never expected the old man to stay behind and cut off the rear pursuit. Regardless of his considerations, they were indebted to the elder.
Before her eyes, Li Quantao appeared somehow devastated and out of his wits. After swallowing several pills, his complexion improved slightly, though his expression remained uneasy.
Li Qinghong and her companions rode the water veins forward, darting through the undercurrents of the sea. Li Quantao's Water-Cleaving Bead proved exceptionally useful; clear water converged within the water vein to form a giant sturgeon that hurtled swiftly forward.
Though he was heavily wounded, the magical artifact's luster had not diminished in the slightest. It even maintained the spell on its own, sustaining an extremely fast escape light and demonstrating the unique marvel of this ancient artifact.
At present, the group was in terrible condition and had no desire to disturb anyone. Traveling along the water vein at immense speed, they had originally planned to make landfall at Xuanyue Gate's Salt Lake ferry. However, with the war between north and south raging, more than half of the Salt Lake had already fallen into the hands of demonic cultivators, forcing them to head further south.
Darting through the seawater, they gradually approached the coastline. Faintly, intense rumbles could be heard; cultivators were likely battling up above.
From time to time, a streak of sword light pierced into the water, fierce and ferocious, jolting the water vein violently. This area was close to Wanyu Sword Gate, so it was likely Sword Gate disciples.
No sooner had the group surfaced from the water vein than they discovered the surrounding waters had long been cordoned off. Setting aside the route back inland, a figure immediately rode the wind toward them, barking coldly, "Cultivators from where? State your names! This is Wanyu Sword Gate's Taijian Crossing! Show your proof!"
Li Qinghong felt somewhat awkward. After all, her clan's renown was still limited, and if she presented her clan's jade tally, the other party most likely would not recognize it. She could only call out loudly, "We are cultivators of the Lake Wangyue Li clan, hoping to borrow passage through Sword Gate's ferry!"
She had encountered Sword Gate disciples before and knew they detested Qingchi while looking upon the Li family with considerable goodwill. Thus well prepared, she cupped her hands.
"The Li family?"
Sure enough, the opposing cultivator's voice softened a fraction, though still laced with significant vigilance as he spoke in a deep tone, "Your proof...?"
Li Qinghong relaxed considerably upon hearing this. Sword Gate was an orthodox sect with strict adherence to the Dao; since they were not demonic cultivators, there was naturally nothing to fear.
Chapter 582