Gao Xuanzi

Mount Zhijing. Li Ximing paused slightly. Placing his hand upon the jade box, he tapped it gently, looked at the old man before him, and said in an earnest tone, "Since the bond between our two families runs this deep, please reveal to Zhaojing what backup plans and arrangements you have made, Senior." Naturally, Li Ximing did not believe Changxi had come pleading on the spur of the moment. *His lifespan is nearing its end, so he must have arranged his affairs decades ago. By now, he surely has something to rely upon... and in his original plans, there certainly was no Li Ximing.* Since Xuanyue was asking for the Li clan's aid, Li Ximing could not disregard the friendship forged by his forebears. Even so, matters had to be clarified. At these words, Changxi's expression turned solemn, and he let out a sigh. "I might as well let you know, Zhaojing. My Xuanyue... migrated from north of the river. We are not of the Qingsong lineage, nor were we former subordinates of the Immortal Abode. Thus, we have faced much discrimination in the south. Over these past few centuries... I have held things together solely on the credit of my old face. If we speak of those who can truly be called upon as allies, there are not many... "Now that my longevity is nearing its end, those willing to lend a helping hand are fewer still. Over the past century of cultivating ties, I have secured aid from two factions." "..." Li Ximing recognized this sect. Over the past ten years, two Violet Palace cultivators had returned from overseas north of the river, giving rise to two new sects: one was the Baiyedu Immortal Dao, and the other was Xuanmiao Abbey. Seeing that he knew of this abbey, Changxi continued: "..." "As for the other two or three moves I have placed, I will say no more, lest I make a fool of myself. Better to find a day to introduce you, Zhaojing..." Changxi was not on intimately familiar terms with him, so he naturally would not lay all his cards bare. It was enough for Li Ximing to have a general idea. Still, Li Ximing dared not meet them casually. Who knew what background Xuanmiao Abbey and Mount Jingyi had? Xuanmiao Abbey was right next to Chengyun Gate—might there be friction between them? If other Violet Palace cultivators misunderstood, he might find himself inexplicably pulled into some faction or another. He thus replied, "Junior still needs to visit the various families to return their courtesies one by one. There is no rush to meet." Changxi stroked his beard. "I was thoughtless!" Having reached this point in their conversation, Li Ximing hesitated again and again. The Gen-Earth spiritual artifact felt warm in his hand, yet he finally asked, "I have heard that in those years, you were on very close terms with Situ Tang, Senior... Is that so?" The Li clan had a short history, but their information was fairly well-informed. In the early years, the Kong family had been related to the Situ family by marriage—a bond almost comparable to that between the Xiao and Li clans. The Situ family was Tangjin Gate, with whom the Li clan now shared a feud of blood and deep hatred. How could Li Ximing not be wary? At present, Situ Ku was still imprisoned beneath Mount Qingdu. Next, they would have to take action against Tangjin Gate. If that ended up dragging in a whole host of Kong family members while he had just promised to shelter the Kongs, would he not end up trapped in an impossible position? Faced with this question, Changxi was momentarily struck speechless. Glancing at his expression, he said in a low voice, "I do not fear making a fool of myself before you, Zhaojing. In the early years, my family and the Situ family were indeed close friends. Though Situ Tang was arrogant and overbearing, he was open-hearted and generous to those close to him. He held great disdain for the sects of Jiangnan and was likewise excluded from the Seven Gates. When I traveled in all directions paying visits, he alone was willing to receive me. It was then that I forged ties with him, and we even arranged a marriage alliance. "Yet he was wild and unruly after all, offending countless Violet Palace cultivators. Once he died, I gradually did not dare associate too closely with Tangjin Gate. Internal turmoil erupted within Tangjin Gate. Several of his sons were exceptionally gifted, producing two Violet Palace cultivators in succession. Although they were outwardly warm, in their bones they looked down on this old man, and so our friendship slowly severed." He understood the enmity between the Li clan and Tangjin Gate and had no intention of playing peacemaker. He merely distanced himself from them and even cautioned in a low voice: "All cultivators know that Jinyu Sect looms behind Situ Mo. You had best remain vigilant, Zhaojing... Jinyu Sect has flourished for three generations, and its strength reigns supreme in the State of Yue. Its Violet Palace cultivators are not limited to just these few... By all means, be careful." Changxi was utterly unwilling to see Li Ximing go looking for trouble with Tangjin Gate. His own Xuanyue was already a difficult mess that left him overwhelmed; if the Li clan were dragged into collapse, Xuanyue would meet an even worse end. "Thank you for the warning, Old Real Person!" Li Ximing acknowledged solemnly. He weighed things in his mind for a while. The medium-grade Gen-Earth spiritual artifact, the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger, remained on the table. Li Ximing pushed it forward and said in a grave voice: "Senior Changxi, there is no need to speak further of the friendship between our two families. Should Xuanyue face calamity, my Li clan will certainly help. The Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger is truly too precious; it is not fitting for it to remain in my hands like this." Changxi stroked his beard, somewhat surprised, and asked, "What does Zhaojing mean...?" Li Ximing pondered for a breath, then said: "Our two families watch over and assist each other; we walk the same path. The Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger is a medium-grade Violet Palace spiritual artifact. Senior should keep it in hand for now and consider carefully whether it can be used to secure greater aid from other powers, which might alleviate your pressure later on... There is no need to use it to sway me... "If Senior's lifespan draws near its end and you truly have few options left, you can hand the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger over to me then... That will add to my clan's foundation, making it easier for me to deal with pressures from all sides." Real Person Changxi froze, seemingly never expecting Li Ximing to utter such words. He paused for several long breaths before saying in a raspy voice: "Back then, Tingyun offered much counsel and spoke some unpleasant words. We truly wronged you, Zhaojing." Li Ximing knew he was referring to Kong Tingyun advising Li Qinghong to leave the Mingfang Sky Stone for Li Zhouwei. He shook his head and said: "Zhaojing is not blind to the bigger picture. It was precisely because of those warnings that I understood Senior Tingyun's painstaking intentions. To say nothing of the aid over the years, when my elder brother ran into trouble in the East Sea back then, it was Senior Tingyun who covered for him. I remember all of these things." Back then, when Li Xizhi mistakenly intruded into the lands of the dragon race in the East Sea, he had sought out Kong Tingyun to manufacture an excuse and defuse Chi Zhiyun's murderous intent. Although Changxi's name had been used as a pretext, from start to finish, only Kong Tingyun had genuinely treated the Li clan with sincerity. Hearing this, Real Person Changxi understood that it was Kong Tingyun's goodwill that carried weight. He sighed and replied: "Zhaojing... your noble clan's conduct truly..." Li Ximing could not bear to hear such praises, and feared even more that the various Violet Palace cultivators would flatter the Li clan with high hats of righteousness only to exploit them. He quickly interrupted him with a smile: "It is only because Senior has taken such painstaking pains to prepare multiple retreats that my Li clan dares to lend a hand. If the situation were so dire that Xuanyue were on the verge of destruction overnight and our own foundation were endangered, Ximing would not dare agree either." Changxi nodded silently. Yet were it not for the Li clan's established reputation, how would he have dared to take out the spiritual artifact? Had it been some East Sea Violet Palace cultivator, they surely would have agreed with sweet words, pocketed the artifact first, and then patted their buttocks and walked away once he died. Changxi's expression gradually grew solemn. He shook his sleeves, releasing an ocher-yellow glow from his cuff that enveloped their surroundings. At this point, his tone reverted to how it had been at the very beginning; no longer flattering Li Ximing as a fellow Daoist, he whispered: "Little Friend Ximing, truth be told... within my sect, three cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment are in seclusion." "Three?" Li Ximing was startled. Changxi's face had already shifted into an aged guise. His hair was snow-white as he muttered in a low voice: "..." "..." "..." As the saying went, a wily hare had three burrows, and Changxi had clearly made many preparations. Reflecting on it now, Li Ximing realized why Xuanyue had so few late Foundation Establishment cultivators—it turned out Changxi had been urging them year after year to attempt breakthroughs... After a moment's consideration, Li Ximing felt much more at ease. If Kong Haiying succeeded, then the Li clan providing help in their hour of need would undoubtedly be perfection itself. A sudden realization struck him, and he chuckled inwardly: *He truly is an old fox... Revealing this information probably wasn't out of gratitude at all! Even if I hadn't agreed, he would have told me about Kong Haiying... just to entice me.* He gave a solemn nod of agreement. Changxi thanked him repeatedly. Suddenly, Li Ximing's ears twitched slightly, and he apologized: "Old Senior, the various families have already arrived at Mount Milin. It would not be proper to keep them waiting." The two took to the wind, conversing in detail as they headed toward Mount Milin. ... "Ziyan Immortal Gate! Kong Yuzi arrives!" Li Jiangqian's gaze swept across the seats. Beside him, Si Tongyi had already looked up. A woman in yellow feather robes descended among the seats. Before anyone could take a closer look, the herald called out again: "Tujun Immortal Gate, Gao Xuanzi arrives!" The Daoist moniker made Si Tongyi's eyes narrow slightly. A fresh wave of curiosity washed over the crowd, and everyone looked up together. Amid the open sky, white snow drifted and bright frost crystallized as a young man manifested at Tujun Gate's seating area. The young man wore dark blue pleated robes patterned with bright frost, draped in a thick brocade mantle. A sword tassel peeked faintly from the mantle, while the collar was lined with delicate fluff as white and luminous as snow, accentuating the sleek line of his jaw. His lips were pressed tight, and his skin was slightly pale. His brows were sharp and fierce, and his pupils were greyer than those of the Li family members. Those eyes held an unusual, eerie quality, but with a slight blink, it was quickly concealed beneath a veil of smiles. "Hmm..." Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea, his golden pupils shifting slightly. The entire courtyard was bustling with excitement; everyone seemed engrossed in lively chatter, yet every single person was paying close attention to this Gao Xuanzi. *I have never seen this person before...* *Tujun Gate's direct lineage had such a figure?* *He seems to be a sword cultivator as well...* Gao Xuanzi sat down among the seats. Tujun Gate had sent only him; dozens of seats sat empty, with only him seated right in the center, appearing strikingly distinct among the many sects. Yet he paid it no mind, merely caressing a jade cup as if savoring the tangible sensation of the object. He cast his gaze forward, meeting Li Zhouwei's gaze looking from afar. Both possessed the appearance of young men. One had solemn golden eyes, clad in white-gold armor, imposing and majestic; the other had grey eyes and snow-white skin, dressed in plain downy robes, calm as snow. Their eyes met in midair. Li Zhouwei tightened his grip on his jade cup. The other party was, after all, of Tujun Gate's direct lineage, so he offered a rare smile in return. Gao Xuanzi likewise smiled back, his gaze carrying a look of approval. "Real Person Zhaojing... arrives..." With all Three Sects and Seven Gates assembled, Li Ximing finally revealed his form in the center. The various Violet Palace cultivators raised their cups in salute, the direct disciples bowed respectfully, and the rogue cultivators and clan cultivators at the lowest seats prostrated together, forming a dense mass of heads. "Congratulations to the Real Person on attaining the divine ability!" Voices shook the clouds, shattering the drifting mists as colorful clouds rose and dissolved in the sky. Li Ximing returned the courtesy in thanks. Music erupted throughout the courtyard, and the spiritual feast began. Changxi had already returned to Xuanyue's seats. Li Ximing took a brief sweep of the scene. Tianque of Jinyu Sect was of an impatient temperament; leading the female cultivator Zhang Duanyan beside him, he stepped forward, carrying a green stone box. Jinyu Sect was now the hegemon of the State of Yue. Li Ximing rose to welcome them, adopting the courtesy of a junior. Zhang Duanyan said respectfully: "Jinyu presents the Hexagonal Red Flame Cup to congratulate the Real Person!" The stone box in her hands presumably contained the Hexagonal Red Flame Cup. Li Minggong bowed and accepted it. Tianque laughed: "Zhaojing, you are an alchemist, after all. If you have any spiritual medicine requirements in the future, be sure to come to me. My Jinyu's produce is abundant and will surely satisfy you, Fellow Daoist." Li Ximing naturally agreed with pleasant words. Tianque then said: "My Jinyu possesses two Mingyang spiritual artifacts. Should you have any need, please send someone over; it will save you the trouble of refining them yourself." "Junior will keep that in mind." Li Ximing responded cautiously, and Tianque took his leave. Just as his front foot departed, Hengli, dressed in a Lihuo Daoist robe, had already stepped through the void. Presenting a jade bottle, Bi Yuzhuang smiled and said: "Hengzhu offers congratulations to the Real Person, presenting a portion of Pure Feather Lihuo!" Li Ximing felt slightly awkward. After all, it was common knowledge that Tianque and Hengli did not get along. With the two running into each other like this, the smell of gunpowder was pungent. Hengli said in a rough voice: "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, there is no need for words between our two families. My family has also studied Mingyang artifact craftsmanship. Should you have need, I will naturally forge magic artifacts for you!" *This is putting me on the fire to roast...* Li Ximing shook his head inwardly. Tianque's earlier words had been deliberately projected at the top of his voice; to say nothing of Hengli, eight or nine out of ten in the venue had heard them. Only then did Hengli speak with such pointed defiance... Hengli's words were warm and quite generous, but once offended, he was also of a stubborn, ruthless nature to the end. Li Ximing smoothed things over, and Hengli, clearly disinclined to linger in this place, departed soon after. With these two gone, the rest were easier to handle. Changxi had already discussed things in detail earlier. Sword Sect, Xiukui, and Ziyan had all sent Foundation Establishment cultivators. Ziyan Gate was the first to approach. "Ziyan Gate presents the celebratory gift, the Queyan Alchemy Tome, to congratulate the Real Person!" Li Ximing gave a slight nod and raised his cup. Kong Yuzi, the female cultivator from Ziyan Gate, poured wine on behalf of her master, avoided facing him directly, and returned the salute from the side. Kong Yuzi hurriedly retreated. Only then did Li Ximing have the leisure to pay attention to Tujun Gate. Seeing the young man who mostly cultivated cold qi, he found it reasonable enough: *Although Tu Longjian cultivates Mu Fire, Tujun's heritage is originally cold qi Shaoyin... It is not strange... It is just that this young gentleman has quite the bearing...* Gao Xuanzi was smiling as he looked toward an adjacent seating area. Li Ximing followed his gaze, only to see Li Xuanxuan surrounded by the crowd amid boisterous music. The old man was laughing heartily, returning toast after toast. It had been a hundred years since Li Ximing had seen him this carefree. Li Ximing could not help but smile. Stepping forward, he manifested at the empty seating area. Gao Xuanzi quickly rose and cupped his hands, his eyes carrying an inscrutable glint as he said with a respectful smile: "Greetings, Real Person Zhaojing!"