Li Ximing's words remained choked in his throat for a long while. Xiao Yuansi kept looking at him, the old man resting a hand on his shoulder in a daze.
Xiao Yuansi understood that once he departed and Li Ximing entered seclusion, the next time he came to the Li family would, nine times out of ten, be for Li Ximing's funeral. Attaining a divine ability was not overly difficult for the various immortal sects and gates, but for the present Li Ximing... it was hardly a good choice.
"To achieve a divine ability and transcend the mundane."
Hearing Li Ximing speak with a choke in his voice, Xiao Yuansi let out a soft sigh. To see Li Ximing today, he had wracked his brains.
Xiao Yuansi had noticed that his clan's ancestor had not stopped him from collecting numerous Mingyang spiritual items, but he had never taken that as a sign that the Real Person supported him. Xiao Yuansi dared not trust him in the slightest, fearing that by the time he finished concocting the pill, Li Ximing would already be in seclusion—Xiao Chuting was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
Thus, he had deliberately upended his schedule completely, even risking injury to finish concocting it early and deliver it in person. Xiao Yuansi treated this meeting as their last. As for Li Ximing breaking through to the Violet Palace... he had never harbored any extravagant hopes of that.
'Ming'er's temperament is too much like a mortal's!'
Xiao Yuansi looked at him with a heavy gaze.
"Of all who achieved divine abilities from antiquity to the present day, some were wholly sincere and devoted, some deceitful and vicious, and some harbored fathomless, brooding depths... Yet Ming'er panics when startled and shows his fury openly when enraged. He strives for the ruthlessness of the Great Dao on the one hand, yet remains swayed by kith and kin on the other. When hardened, he can sever ties and make sacrifices, only to be wracked with pain and regret a moment later. He hesitates when things cause no real itch or pain, and only knows ruthlessness once he has truly suffered... Of all the sons of the Li clan, he is the most like a mortal.
"When the divine ability bursts forth from the sea of qi and winds its way into Ascending Yang, countless phantasms and endless demonic obstacles will arise. What does he have to overcome them?"
Xiao Yuansi watched him in silence. Li Ximing stood beside the table, let out a soft breath, and finally spoke words that were not expressions of gratitude.
"Master specifically bypassed Real Person Xiao to deliver this pill. What doubts do you harbor?"
Xiao Yuansi had not expected him to ask such a question. He slowly raised his brows and said in a low voice, "My clan's Real Person... acts for your family's good."
"Ximing understands."
Li Ximing stood quietly by his side and said softly, "Real Person Xiao hopes I will leave this pill for the heir. Ximing can deduce this and see it clearly. Master, rest assured: my family holds immense reverence and love for the Real Person and has not misconstrued his intentions."
Xiao Yuansi was not an ambitious man. With Xiao Chuting of the Violet Palace above him, he was content to spend the remainder of his years peacefully concocting pills. Yet he had no reason to stop his disciple either, and could only offer this single pill as a gift.
Hearing these words now, he finally showed a look of surprise. Pondering for a long while, he murmured, "What was given to you is yours to arrange."
He coughed twice and finally rose to his feet. Li Ximing respectfully escorted him all the way out. Xiao Yuansi looked back at him three or four times along the path, and a sliver of hope unexpectedly stirred in his heart.
'If he can rein in his ambition and cut his losses... that would be for the best.'
Li Ximing saw him off, then rode the wind back to Mount Wu. He did not inform Li Xuanxuan about the pill, quietly settling down amid the mountain's swirling white mist.
Li Ximing took out the jade bottle. Without opening it immediately, he sent his spiritual sense penetrating inward, quietly gazing at that Ziming Pill.
The pill's Mingyang qi was exceptionally abundant, its pure and ethereal aura almost overpowering. Li Ximing could discern nothing amiss with it.
'Though my methods of examination are a joke before Xiao Chuting... and all my orthodoxy originates from the Xiao family, leaving me incapable of seeing through anything... Master specifically mentioned Xiao Chuting...'
Li Ximing would never suspect Xiao Yuansi, and Xiao Chuting had no reason to harm him. Master Xiao Yuansi's earlier remarks clearly stemmed from worry regarding Xiao Chuting, so arriving at the conclusion was not difficult for Li Ximing:
'Xiao Chuting simply prefers that the one attempting the Violet Palace be Zhouwei.'
He sat quietly amid the white mist, his thoughts drifting:
'Xiao Chuting truly means well... Presumably, Kong Tingyun of the Xuanyue Gate will also pass along a word or two. Every single eye is fixed on Zhouwei.
'Not only Xiao Chuting... every Violet Palace friendly to my family hopes that Zhouwei will be the one attempting the breakthrough, rather than a hopeless case like me.
'As for the other Violet Palaces... they are likely waiting eagerly to watch me make a fool of myself.'
He let out a dry, self-deprecating chuckle, retrieved a pale-golden jade slip from his sleeve, pinched an incantation gesture to channel his magical power, and began coalescing the next secret art.
"Baojie!"
***
Kong Tingyun escorted them all the way to the lake, smiling as she saw them off. Li Qinghong voiced her thanks. In a hurry to return to her sect, Kong Tingyun politely declined the Li family's invitation and took her leave after exchanging pleasantries.
She hesitated repeatedly, and before departing, she pulled on Li Qinghong's sleeve to remind her, "What I mentioned earlier—Qinghong, you must keep an eye on it... Do not be careless!"
Her words naturally referred to Li Ximing. Li Qinghong could only nod in agreement, after which Kong Tingyun smiled in relief and steered her spiritual boat away into the distance.
Returning to the isle, Li Chengliao came out to greet them, grinning from ear to ear. He took his eldest son by the hand, looking him over closely. Li Zhouwei had not seen his father in a long time either, and though he offered no flowery words, a rare look of joy showed in his eyes.
Chen Yang changed into white garments and went to the lakeshore to pay respects to his father. Li Zhouwei paid homage to Li Xijun on the isle, while Kongheng stood before the tomb, letting out a sigh. When the group returned to the main hall, it felt rather empty.
Upon seeing Li Zhouwei, the White Ape faintly wore that benevolent expression of years past, yet his demeanor remained very proper as he hurried forward to bow. Together, they entered the hall, where Li Chengliao began recounting recent events.
"Senior Yuansi is indeed a warm and generous elder... He made a special trip to offer his condolences. For the past few years, Real Person Xiao has remained in the North Sea without showing himself, and even the Xiao family cannot contact him... Senior Yuansi specifically had a chat with Ximing as well."
Li Xuanxuan was very grateful to him. Remembering how Xiao Yuansi had helped and supported their family time and time again, he added a few words, fearing the juniors might harbor resentment because the Xiao family had not intervened.
Naturally, Li Qinghong and the others would never do such a thing, and replied in gentle tones. Li Xuanxuan then waved his hand, dismissing both the White Ape and Li Chengliao. The hall doors closed, and the grand formation began to operate.
Still uneasy, Li Qinghong cast out the Chongming Dongxuan Screen from her sleeve. Its radiant screen enveloped the hall, adding another layer of protection. Only then did Li Zhouwei ask:
"In the two years I was away from home... how have the talisman seeds fared?"
Li Xuanxuan gently shook his head and replied, "Far from satisfactory... Those of the Zhouhang generation were tested three times, yet only you possessed this immortal fate. As for the Jiangque generation..."
The old man stroked his beard and said softly, "That will be a matter for the next year or two. Jiangqian is just turning five and counts as the eldest among the first batch of the Jiangque generation. We will let him have a try."
Li Zhouwei nodded. In recent years, talisman seeds had grown increasingly difficult to obtain, and the cultivation methods appended to them were of higher grade. Most generations yielded only a single solitary bearer. He had seen his cousins and brothers; while their aptitude was somewhat higher than that of the Chengming generation, it was not by much.
In the past, when the Immortal Mirror remained in the mortal realm, one could probe inward with spiritual sense to ascertain the number of talisman seeds inside. Nowadays, the Immortal Mirror had not manifested for decades and could not even be seen, relying entirely on divine curses to be invoked, let alone checking the talisman seeds...
Li Xuanxuan appeared somewhat troubled over this, murmuring, "Entrusting things to a treasure is all well and good... yet those who receive the talismans are few to begin with. If something happens one day and the line suddenly breaks, with none of the descendants receiving a talisman, wouldn't we lose contact entirely..."
He pondered for a moment, but ultimately said no more. Li Zhouwei then asked, "How is Jiangqian?"
At the mention of this matter, Li Xuanxuan's spirits lifted, and he chuckled in an undertone. "The boy is brilliant, quick to learn and draw connections. Your father dotes on him immensely!"
"Oh?"
Li Zhouwei still recalled the exchange with Dingjiao in the Dragon Palace and thought to himself, 'According to Dingjiao and the others... both my first and second sons of Mingyang are somewhat unusual. I have already seen Jiang'ao; Jiangqian must have remarkable traits as well.'
Dingjiao might not be sincere toward him, and what he instructed might not be his true purpose, but the information revealed during their conversation could still serve as a reference.
He then asked, "Aside from that, is there anything else unusual?"
Li Xuanxuan was taken aback, then frowned. "He is only a five-year-old child; not much can be seen. Those eyes of his have gradually taken on a hint of red within the gold... but that is nothing significant."
"I see..."
Li Zhouwei seemed to gain some understanding. He passed the basket of pearls over, while Li Qinghong retrieved several jade slips, laying them out one by one as she said softly, "Minghuang, these are the Mingyang cultivation methods and spells the family has obtained. Take a look."
Li Zhouwei's brow relaxed. Taking up the jade slips on the table, he read them through one after another:
'Grade Two Cultivation Method: *Clear Heart of Luminous Vision Art*, Immortal Base: "Luminous Clear Heart"'
'Grade Three Movement Art: *Flowing Sun Refraction*'
'Grade Three Cultivation Method: *Mingyuan View of Li Art*, Immortal Base: "Ever-Bright Steps"'
'Grade Four Spell: *Ascendant Radiance Subduing Light*'
Li Zhouwei voiced his thanks, putting away *Flowing Sun Refraction* and *Ascendant Radiance Subduing Light*. After skimming *Mingyuan View of Li Art*, he pushed it back toward Li Qinghong and said in a low voice, "My thanks to all the elders for your trouble."
"Think nothing of it."
Li Qinghong nodded gently, exchanged a glance with Li Xuanxuan, and said softly, "Minghuang, there is one more thing."
She rose from her seat and walked into the center of the hall. Chanting an incantation that resonated with the formation, she retrieved a brocade pouch. Stepping before the two of them, she gave it a gentle shake and brought out a large jade box.
The jade box was as large as a table, its material appearing unexceptional. Guided by magical power, it settled lightly onto the floor. Li Zhouwei made his own guess, and sure enough, Li Qinghong said softly:
"Back then, my second uncle shot and killed Murong Wu and took his dark iron precious armor, a fine set at the Foundation Establishment level. He brought it back and ordered it refined with true fire on Mount Bianyan for nearly three months, recasting it into a new precious armor.
"Once forged, Ning Heyuan handed it over to my second uncle, who secretly arranged for someone to transport it back. It has been kept in the family ever since, never once opened."
Magical power circulated through her slender hands, and she tapped nine times lightly upon the jade box. With a metallic chime, the box split open on its own from the middle, revealing the treasure within.
Li Zhouwei looked closely. A carpet of fine, white-and-gold scales greeted his eyes, bearing no convoluted patterns, layered over one another to present a soft, pliable texture. It was actually a suit of soft armor!
He lifted it gently, thoroughly astonished. Li Qinghong praised, "I heard Murong Wu's armor was the Moxuan Armor, heavy and cumbersome, exuding thick demonic qi. I thought the recast piece would be heavy plate, never expecting that eighty-one days of refinement with true fire would turn it into this."
A nostalgic look crossed Li Xuanxuan's face as he quietly gazed at the soft armor. He said in an aged voice, "The Murong family hails from the Northern Di, so their armors naturally prioritize a fierce and towering stature—even three jin of iron would be hammered into the appearance of nine jin. Qingchi, after all, belongs to the immortal path, so they naturally forge toward elegance and splendor..."
The old man had served as a shopkeeper for many years and was quite familiar with such things. Looking over it carefully, he said in an agreeable tone, "Most likely, the original Moxuan Armor was simply too cumbersome, forcing them to forge it into soft armor. Otherwise, going by the Qingchi Sect's habits, they would have insisted on turning it into a feathered robe!"
Li Zhouwei examined it for a while, growing very fond of it. With a beckoning gesture, the white armor flew up on its own and draped itself neatly over his body. Tall and broad-shouldered, he stood with his chest out, the white-gold armor shining with brilliant light. As his golden eyes surveyed his surroundings, he truly took on the air of a direct descendant of an immortal clan.
Only then did Li Qinghong say softly, "This armor uses Moxuan Celestial Iron and Huangyuan Stone as its bones, and Wolf Scale Bone and Hebai Feathers as its scales. Scorched by true fire and crafted jointly by several Qingchi senior cultivators specializing in artifact forging, it is named Yuane."
Li Zhouwei nodded with towering composure. Li Xuanxuan, slightly surprised, asked, "Have you finished refining it already?"
As was widely known, obtaining a magical artifact required refining it first, steeping it in one's magical power. While less noticeable during Qi Refinement, a Foundation Establishment magical artifact already demanded a considerable amount of time. An unowned object was the easiest, often taking several days, while an object with a prior owner took even longer; an ancient artifact like the Chongming Dongxuan Screen could take months...
Yet Li Zhouwei seemed capable of wielding it freely the moment it reached his hands. How could Li Xuanxuan not be bewildered? At his question, Li Zhouwei smiled and said:
"I have not refined it... It is simply that all things of Mingyang naturally love me, so even without refining, I can wield it!"
The Dasheng Great Halberd manifested in his hand, radiating an arc of brilliant, dazzling light. Seeing the great halberd set down lightly against the floor, Li Qinghong smiled and said, "Try it out and let the White Ape trade a few moves with you."
Li Zhouwei smiled and nodded, but remarked, "I'm afraid that won't be enough."
Li Xuanxuan let out a rare hearty laugh. Li Qinghong also put away the Chongming Dongxuan Screen and pushed open the hall doors to walk outside. A morning breeze blew in gusts, accompanied by the squeaking of wooden clogs as the narrow-eyed monk walked up to meet them.
Li Qinghong said softly, "How about Kongheng?"
With that, Kongheng was called over, looking at Li Zhouwei and the others with slight confusion. Li Xuanxuan's memories of this monk still remained from long, long ago, and he nodded with a smile. "I think that's fine."
Li Qinghong, however, felt a bit of hesitation.
Kongheng was far different from what he used to be. A Master's lifespan was by no means short, and Buddhist cultivators of the ancient art progressed much slower. Though the monk never made a display of himself, the cultivation he had polished over so many years was certainly not something easily dealt with!
'Even if he excels at defense rather than offense, his chances of victory against the cultivators of the Three Sects and Seven Gates are very high now.'
Fearing that Li Zhouwei's confidence might be dampened, she specifically asked Kongheng, "May I ask what Master's current strength is like?"
Kongheng pondered for a breath and gave a wry smile. "I fear I cannot withstand Qinghong's lightning... but against other things, I can give it a try..."
Li Qinghong was confident in her own strength. Empowered by several magical artifacts, her lightning possessed immense power, already comparable to Tang Shedu back then. Calculating it this way, Kongheng was already at the level of a Qingchi peak master.
Before she could ask further, the monk smiled and added, "If I am to defend, even a late Foundation Establishment cultivator would find it difficult to kill me. But if I am to strike out against an enemy... that falls considerably short, perhaps comparable to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."
This comparison was naturally made against the direct disciples of the Three Sects and Seven Gates. Li Qinghong immediately understood and thought to herself:
'A bit inferior to Xizhi... comparable to Ximing.'
She said gently, "Why doesn't Master test the heir's strength? Let it be a friendly spar, stopping short of harm."
"Very well!"
Chapter 654