Seclusion

Mount Wu. Spiritual energy drifted everywhere like white mist, flowing steadily along the veins carved into the jade. Atop the highest jade pillar, various qi converged, bathed in radiant heavenly light. Li Ximing sat upright upon it, the pale-white, gold-patterned Daoist robe upon his body fluttering slightly, his cultivation having attained the absolute pinnacle. Though the *Precious Steps* were difficult, as his cultivation deepened, he discovered that he could constantly verify and cross-reference his progress against the ancient Violet Palace spirit artifact from years past, the Huaijiang Map, which made things considerably easier. Having practiced for many years now, and drawing upon that past opportunity, he had experienced several fruitful epiphanies. His progress had not been slow. Meeting with this clear morning of radiant heavenly light and distinct, pure qi, he happened to bring this secret art to completion. "The *Precious Steps* is a secret art that increases mental power and enhances spiritual sense. It can be paired with *Huangyuan Pass* to work wonders, casting radiance across the entire mountain; wherever it reaches, a cultivator's magical power becomes clear, immune to the tribulations of inner demons." The method of the *Precious Steps* manifested upon his Immortal Foundation. If he were to release the Huangyuan Pass at this moment, illusory, shimmering precious steps would coalesce beneath both corner watchtowers and the central luminous gatehouse. Knowing this in his heart, Li Ximing refrained from activating his Immortal Foundation. "This is rather troublesome... I wonder how much the various sects know about the Minghuang Immortal Foundation. These Precious Steps are clearly somewhat different. If they possess records of the ancient Wei Li, they might be able to tell that I have cultivated the *Precious Steps*." Li Ximing murmured inwardly, pondering: *It seems it will no longer be advisable to engage in combat...* He let out a long breath and raised his eyebrows to glance at the water clock on a nearby jade pillar. In the jade basin below, fifty-four round jade beads lay piled together. "I originally estimated it would take ten years to master, yet it only took about half that time." This too could be considered a good thing. Withdrawing his gaze, Li Ximing produced a pale purple jade slip and turned his palm to read it. The next secret art was *Dawen*. This secret art was related to ocular techniques. Its text was much lengthier, and there was nothing familiar about it. Li Ximing gave it a cursory glance, and his expression instantly froze: "The difficulty is several times higher than that of *Precious Steps*... If one must also factor in the mutual repulsion between various secret arts, the time required will be even harder to calculate!" What was more, Li Ximing deduced that the Huaijiang Map of back then had been a Violet Palace spirit artifact combining both paths of the *Huangyuan Pass* and the *Changming Steps*, which was why it had been so beneficial to cultivating the *Precious Steps*. *Dawen* was clearly not among them, so he could no longer draw upon that serendipity. "To cultivate this secret art solidly from scratch will take at least twenty to thirty years! If there are parts I cannot comprehend, there is no telling how long it might drag on!" Having made his estimate, Li Ximing put away the jade slip. He mounted a streak of light from atop the jade pillar and flew out through the array. The morning glow was at its height as he sped in a flash of light toward the isle. Outside the great hall, the cultivators all bowed their heads to receive him. Striding into the hall, Li Ximing did not see Li Zhouwei's figure. Instead, a young man clad in black robes and silver armor stood within the hall, six slender, elegant silver-white ancient tokens suspended at his waist. This man was not particularly tall, but his armor accentuated his broad shoulders. His features were bright and refined, and his eyes were like pools of lacquer, striking and arresting. Between his brows was a mark of faint purple. He stood amidst the brilliant morning light. *How familiar!* Li Ximing paused in his steps. Although this young man was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, his bearing was extraordinary. The young man raised his eyes, filled with joy, having clearly recognized him at first glance, and bowed: "Cheng? pays respects to Uncle!" "Cheng?! Good..." Li Ximing had guessed his identity just from the six tokens at his waist. Having it confirmed now, he was overjoyed. Nodding repeatedly, he stepped forward, took his hands to have him sit down, and praised: "Good, good, good! With your breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, the Chengming generation has a worthy successor! You're only just past fifty, aren't you? Opportunities are truly impossible to measure. Back then, I thought few among you would be able to break through to Foundation Establishment, yet who would have thought that with the water receding and thunder rising, you didn't even need a Suiyuan Pill!" It was also Li Cheng?'s first time conversing with this elder in such a manner. Sitting perched on the edge of the chair, he respectfully replied: "Reporting to Uncle, Brother Huai has also entered the isle for secluded cultivation, and Eldest Brother Chengliao will likely emerge from seclusion soon as well. I acted rashly and merely seized a bit of the initiative." Li Ximing shook his head, however. Although Li Cheng?'s talent ranked near the top of the Chengming generation, the resources he had received throughout his cultivation journey had been sparse. When the water receded and thunder rose in the Eastern Sea, he had gone to an island to cultivate, but who could have foreseen the successive upheavals? At times, contact had even been cut off, let alone receiving much support from the family's supplies. In the end, when the time came for his breakthrough, he had not even been given one of the family's Suiyuan Pills. Even though Li Cheng? belonged to the direct lineage, his resources were inferior to those of An Siwei and the others, to the point where his situation almost resembled an exile. Although Li Ximing did not manage family affairs, he had heard Li Xuanxuan lament it dozens of times, so he was well aware of the truth. "You have been wronged all these years!" "Uncle speaks too heavily." These words made Li Cheng? apprehensive. The youth reined in the light in his eyes and said in a heavy voice: "My brothers went into battle to slay enemies, with eight out of ten dying, while I sat quietly at Zongquan, focusing solely on my cultivation. How could I dare harbor any resentment? Having received the *Six Thunder Xuan Punishment Tokens* right upon reaching Foundation Establishment, Cheng? already feels it is more than I deserve." Li Ximing felt relieved in his heart. After chatting with him for a few moments, he looked into his eyes and found them excessively black, faintly exuding an unusual, arresting quality. Thus he asked: "Have you cultivated an ocular technique?" Li Cheng? nodded at once and answered: "Uncle's discernment is brilliant. During my decades overseas, Cheng? chanced upon a small fortune and mastered an art called *Yinming Xuanmou*. The manual was already delivered to the family." Li Ximing nodded with satisfaction. Li Cheng?, however, said with a touch of embarrassment: "This ocular technique requires *Linmu Profound Liquid* to succeed. That spiritual water can usually only be obtained in the Mu Sea. When I encountered that opportunity, this junior used that portion first and didn't leave any for the family..." Li Ximing cast him a surprised look, only to reply: "What of it? It was your opportunity; of course you should use it." Aside from Li Zhouwei, neither the Chengming nor the Zhouxing generations had received talisman seeds, and most had performed quite conventionally. He had not expected Cheng? to transform so remarkably. Li Ximing was exceedingly pleased and encouraged him: "Lord Tongya, too, only began showing his true brilliance in his thirties back in the day. Keep striving." Ignoring Li Cheng?'s modest demurrals, he simply asked: "Where is Zhouwei?" Li Cheng? replied softly: "Reporting to Uncle, the family discovered a spiritual jade vein located in the Helin Mountains. The Patriarch sent people to investigate and found that the reserves are sufficient to construct the Great White Jade Court required for *Worldly Dust Upon the Court* from the *Scripture of Baishou Kouting*. "However, with jade flourishing across the land, that mineral vein is occupied by a demon beast of the Yuzhen lineage. It has seized the mountain peak and drives a pack of lesser demons, requiring the Patriarch to make a trip personally." Li Ximing furrowed his brows and said in a low voice: "He merely needs to be vigilant and not fall into any trap." "Rest assured, Uncle!" Li Cheng? answered gently. "After all, the distance isn't great. Now that Qingchi's affairs are concluded, traveling there is very safe." Upon hearing this, Li Ximing frowned and asked: "How went Qingchi? Did Si Yuanli make his move?" Li Cheng? smiled and said: "Indeed. Back then, Chi Buhua was slain in the Reef Sea by Third Uncle—now Peak Master of Changtian Peak, 'Tiange Xia.' The Master departed leisurely upon his xiayao, leaving the remaining six unable to catch so much as his shadow. "Meanwhile, 'Raozi Scorpion' Lingu Rao stormed Qingsong Island. Feiluoya opened the grand array, and Ning Hejing was defeated and killed. Then 'Qinghu Sword' Si Yuanli appeared in the main hall, apprehending Chi Fupo and the others who had monopolized sect governance and mistreated the various clans, and rescued the Sect Master..." He paused, then explained: "At present, the Sect Master has entered seclusion to break through, and Si Yuanli is governing the sect." "Oh..." This torrent of information was enormous. Li Ximing took a dozen breaths to digest it before asking: "Then how is Little Uncle?" Li Cheng? caught his meaning and whispered: "My father endured humiliation to bear heavy burdens. He led the Ning family in pretending to cooperate with Chi Fupo, earning Si Yuanli's generous treatment. Now he has likewise entered secluded cultivation to break through to Foundation Establishment." "Good!" Li Ximing breathed a sigh of relief. Pausing for a few breaths, he chuckled: "Brother Zhi is truly formidable now!" "Indeed!" Li Cheng? said in a low voice: "It is said that the Master's spells are exceptionally profound, surpassing even Lingu Xia of the past. He is hailed as the number one in spells within Qingchi. Now in charge of the Jiutian Pavilion that oversees spells, he is truly a preeminent figure! "What's more, it is said that he carries a longsword on his back yet never unsheathes it, fighting enemies solely with spells. Rumors say his swordsmanship far exceeds his spells; if anyone could ever force him to draw his sword, that would truly pierce the vault of heaven, allowing one to behold the elegance of a sword immortal family." Speaking up to this point, Li Cheng?'s face showed a proud joy in shared honor, his eyes brimming with smiles and gladness. "To think it has come to this!" Half-believing and half-doubting, Li Ximing pondered inward: *In the past, I always heard him say that Xijun's sword talent was even higher. I never expected that his swordsmanship and spells would advance hand in hand to such an extent! He has already far surpassed me!* Accepting it for now, he smiled: "Good! Third Brother's prestige carries great weight. If anything happens in the future, he too will be able to uphold the family." Li Cheng? assented. Hearing a flurry of footsteps outside the hall, Li Xuanxuan hurried in from without. The old man wore a light blue robe, his white beard floating in the air. An old talisman brush he had used for nearly a century hung at his waist, his gaze full of yearning concern. "Ming'er." "Grandfather!" Li Ximing rose to greet him. Looking behind him, there were two more people—a boy and a girl, both just over ten years old. The boy had a slightly pointed chin and an amiable smile, while the girl was very polite, bowing her head and offering greetings repeatedly. Though Li Ximing spent years in seclusion, he knew Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan. Looking upon them with a smile, he asked in a low voice: "Has there been any sign from Aunt's life jade?" "None." Li Xuanxuan had been checking it day after day, practically living in the ancestral shrine. In an aged voice, he said: "She has been gone for several years. Though the jade's luster fluctuates between bright and dim, there is no sign of fracturing. Right now, it is warm, moist, and lustrous; it looks as though nothing is amiss." "That is good..." In truth, both grandfather and grandson knew that by the Dragon Monarch's side, this jade talisman was nine times out of ten useless. Yet it still offered some comfort, something to hold onto. Li Ximing sat quietly, listening as they recounted the events of recent years one by one until the sun set. The daylight in the hall faded, and the magical lamps flickered to life, bathing the surroundings in bright luminescence. When they finished speaking, Li Ximing gave a soft chuckle, took the old man's hands, and said gently: "Grandfather, my cultivation has reached a bottleneck, and the family is flourishing and prosperous. I intend to enter seclusion to break through to the Violet Palace." Li Xuanxuan froze. Gazing at the young man in Daoist robes before him, the old man lowered his brows and eyes, unable to speak for a moment. He merely muttered softly: "You all may withdraw!" Looking solemn, Li Cheng? led the two children out. Li Xuanxuan had lost his father at birth and had seen off two elders one after another. When Li Xuanfeng died, he had seen off his own generation as well. Then, watching the Yuan-Qing generation depart one by one, the only one of the Xi-Yue generation left at home was Li Ximing. Words failed him for a time, and silence settled over the hall. Li Ximing spoke softly: "When I was young, I was ignorant, causing Grandfather, Father, and Uncle to worry... When Father was on his deathbed, I did not even see him one last time; this was great unfilial piety... Among ten thousand offenses, the blame lies in my mediocrity and cowardice. "In terms of sincerity and selflessness, I am not equal to Eldest Brother. In terms of decisiveness and magnanimity, I am not equal to Third Brother. In terms of intellect and sharpness, I am not equal to Jun'er. Even when it comes to being fearless in the face of danger, astute, and self-respecting, I am not equal to Yuexiang." His expression now showed no hesitation, nor any self-pity. He merely spoke quietly: "Had any of them stood in this position, there would not have been so many sorrows. It would have been best to let me merely be an alchemist, rising at dawn to consume qi and resting at dusk among the mountains. "Yet back then, I consumed this qi." Li Xuanxuan whispered: "Why must you speak so!" Li Ximing gave a quiet laugh and murmured: "Does Grandfather remember that years ago when I went to the Xiao family, I was led astray by wine and lust, causing Father great disappointment?" Li Xuanxuan merely nodded in silence. Thrown into disarray by his grandson's frank confession, the old man could not help suspecting that attempting this breakthrough was no different from seeking death, yet with a heart full of words, he could not utter them. Li Ximing took a sip of tea, as if casually bringing up an amusing anecdote after a meal, and spoke softly: "That woman was actually a young lady of a respectable household. Every time I went to see her, my heart burned with passion. Yet whenever I untied my waistband, I would freeze, a chill running up from the soles of my feet. Overcome with uncontrollable panic, I would arrive in high spirits and leave in utter defeat. "Yet I still went to seek her out time and time again, only to panic and fail every time. In the end, I simply stopped untying my waistband altogether, fumbling about for a bit before leaving. Gradually growing dissatisfied, she brought out spiritual wine to intoxicate me. When I woke up, I found things had unraveled beyond repair. "That was why when Brother Jun asked me back then, I said I didn't know. "Later, when I broke through to Foundation Establishment and awakened my past memories, the events of that day resurfaced in my mind. In my terror, even while dead drunk, I had gripped my waistband tightly, not daring to let go. She tried, but could not pry my hands away. "Spirit cloth is tough, and she couldn't cut through it with shears, so she had no choice but to undress herself and set up the scene. Whether someone was pulling the strings from behind or she acted on her own, since the scheme failed, no one looked into it anymore." Now an exalted peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, he spoke of this affair without the slightest fear or shame, saying softly: "Yet I never had the chance to explain it to him, Grandfather." Li Xuanxuan was stunned motionless by this revelation. Remaining silent for a long time, he stared at him blankly and asked: "Why didn't you tell me..." "It no longer has any meaning." Li Ximing turned his gaze aside and said softly: "I was a man of ambition but no courage, mediocre and cowardly for most of my life. But that is no longer so. Ximing has nothing left to lose. Our family has yet to see anyone perish while attempting the Violet Palace. Let it begin with me." The young man rose from his seat. Li Xuanxuan's expression was conflicted as he was escorted all the way to the front of the hall. Still stunned, his voice trembling slightly, the old man spoke: "Ximing... Ping'er... he never resented you." Li Ximing paused upon hearing this, but did not reply. Reaching the front of the hall, he bowed deeply to the old man in solemn respect, performing three kneelings and nine kowtows, then said respectfully: "Grandfather, please take good care of your health." Rising, he transformed into a bright streak of light and, not daring to cast another glance at the old man, flew toward Mount Wu. Li Xuanxuan was left sitting collapsed before the steps, his white beard trembling as he let out several deep breaths before finally recovering a bit of composure. Night had fallen, and in the moonlight, the old man began to feel cold.