Sumian

"Precious Earth?" Earth Virtue lineages were among the rarest in the world, let alone this Precious Earth, of which he had never even heard. Changxi explained: "Precious Earth is the aspect within Earth Virtue that nourishes vegetation and breeds crops. It can nourish both people and magical implements. It is precisely because of this capability that Old Real Person Qi has quite a few connections among northern cultivators." Seeing that Li Ximing showed an inkling of understanding, he added in an aged voice, "In ancient times, the two earths of Xuan and Gui passed down from the Two Immortals of the Soil and Grain were almost entirely lost to history, and they are hardly ever seen today. Of the remainder, Wutu and Gentu are relatively common, while Precious Earth is somewhat rarer. It is only natural that Zhaojing wouldn't know of it." Li Ximing looked up, and Changxi continued, "I originally intended to bring you to meet him. This timing happens to be perfect. If you bring the man along, he can treat him in passing." Changxi had prepared two contingencies for Xuanyue Gate: first was his in-law connection with Xuanmiao Temple, taking Old Real Person Qi as a backer; second was sending his direct line to study under Mount Jingyi in the East Sea. Li Ximing's wish to heal Ding Weizeng played right into his hands. Although Li Ximing felt from the description that Real Person Qi, Daoist Sumian, possessed a lineage that made him easy to get along with, he still inquired cautiously: "What is his background? Where does his lineage originate, and does he have any origins of note?" Changxi was well prepared and answered, "He hails from the State of Zhao, originally a cultivator near Mount Yan. Having obtained a lineage through some unknown opportunity, he ventured into the East Sea and attained the Dao while cultivating amid the waters. He is already four hundred years old. "As a Real Person grows old, he seeks stability in all things, making friends far and wide to ensure Xuanmiao Temple's safety after his death. This kind of Real Person never invites trouble... Moreover, his lineage is a specialized branch of Earth Virtue, so naturally there won't be any complications." Having lived for hundreds of years, Changxi understood Li Ximing's misgivings well. Now that he had laid it out plainly, Li Ximing was indeed inclined to make his acquaintance, and asked: "What realm of cultivation has he attained?" "Early-stage Violet Palace!" Li Ximing frowned. A bitter expression appeared on Changxi's face, and he said earnestly: "You should know, Zhaojing... we are cultivators of Earth Virtue! "Earth Virtue lineages count barely two or three cats across the world. Cultivating to the Violet Palace oneself already requires monumental fortune, so where could one find several dao complements? Behind us, most of us have no substantial backing... which makes the matter even more difficult." A look of regret crossed his features. Lowering his head, he spoke with an air of weathered sorrow: "For us to patch our lineages, there are only those few methods. In my younger years I was arrogant, thinking only of seeking a Violet Palace art. Later, having hit dead ends for more than seventy years, I finally gave up and turned to looking for Foundation Establishment arts instead." His phrase about searching for Foundation Establishment arts sounded vague, but Li Ximing understood immediately: 'Searching for Foundation Establishment arts... It was nothing more than attempting to execute secret methods to extend one's path by plundering someone else's immortal foundation. This Changxi possessed no lifebound divine ability, no alchemy expertise, and no profound lineage. Seeing the state he is in today, it clearly did not go smoothly.' Changxi was fast approaching the end of his lifespan, his life sustained in recent years solely by medicine. Recalling these past events, his face showed remorse, and a faint layer of dim, deathly qi surfaced upon his brow: "The path of Gen Earth is numerous, but those who build their foundations are either using Fool Driving the Mountain or its substitutes. With great difficulty, I unearthed two volumes among itinerant cultivators, yet their grade was far too low... "Xuanyue already had no successors. I could not bring myself to have my own disciples cultivate them just to extend my Dao path, so I could only cast them out into the wilderness and the East Sea, intentionally gifting some resources to see if anything would bear fruit. "In the end, lacking a lifebound divine ability, I had no way of knowing which sect's Real Person... had casually marked them off, or perhaps those arts were simply too poor. Not a single person succeeded—scarcely a few even reached Qi Refinement. "Over more than a hundred years, it succeeded only a few times. Yet I was entirely ignorant of this Dao and had to research everything from scratch... In the end, none of them worked out, and I could only take them in as guest elders." The secret arts of extending one's path were clearly no simple matter, let alone for a minor sect like Xuanyue. Calculating the timeline in his heart, Li Ximing asked with doubt: "The Qingsong Grotto-Heaven... Senior Tingyun went there, did she not?" "Indeed." Changxi nodded and sighed, "Back then, I was not qualified to share a piece of the Douxuan Grotto-Heaven. Fortunately, there was later the Qingsong Grotto-Heaven. I strained every nerve just to send Tingyun inside. She copied three arts from the Three Drums Wall, but all three had their qi severed! "For over half a century, I altered them... scattered the cultivation manuals, gathered disciples back to inspect them, and finally managed to revise one of them by sixty or seventy percent... yet it was already too late." A self-mocking smile appeared on Changxi's face as he answered, "I can only blame myself for being conceited at first and reaching beyond my grasp afterward. A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Even if I cultivated this divine ability, what of it? I would still die, and this half-finished art could only be left to posterity... If the lineage of my Xuanyue Gate can be preserved, and future generations pick up this path I forged, spending less than a century, they could at least cultivate a second divine ability." Li Ximing felt a slight chill in his heart. The old man seemed to be hinting at something, secretly using himself as an example to counsel him. Remaining silent, he listened as Changxi continued: "The Three Drums Wall of Qingsong Temple preserved three arts. If our successors adapt another, five hundred years from now, my Xuanyue Gate will produce a mid-stage Violet Palace cultivator. Moreover, the fortunes of posterity are unpredictable; perhaps they will find a way to step across the threshold to the Violet Palace." Having said this much, seeing Li Ximing still silent, he finally offered direct advice: "After all, we are not of the Qingsong lineage; these things cannot be cultivated simply because we wish to. Observing how your family searches for cultivation manuals, your Mingyang lineage is also incomplete. You must take good care." Li Ximing nodded in assent. A trip to Xuanmiao Temple was certainly worthwhile, not only for the weight carried by an elder Real Person of Precious Earth, but also because their plans north of the river required the temple's support. 'Moreover, visiting Changxi was something suggested by Real Person Chuting. He is skilled in divination and calculation, and clearly deemed it free of complications... Perhaps he also desires our family to step into Jiangbei.' He took flight together with Changxi, pinching a hand seal to lift Ding Weizeng, who was waiting at the foot of the mountain. Together they soared into the Great Void, traversing space by its power. Glancing around, Li Ximing took the opportunity to ask: "Regarding the matter of Miyun Cave, how does the Real Person see it?" Changxi felt a prickle of embarrassment. Though Li Ximing had phrased it politely, in Changxi's ears the meaning was unmistakable: 'All my family's men have advanced to organize the Fuyun territory, and have now crossed Baijiang Creek... Where are the men from your Xuanyue Gate?' He hastened to say, "My sect's cultivators have already reached the wilderness. Masked by magical implements, they are covertly heading toward Miyun Cave. "Miyun Cave is merely a subordinate of White Yedu Immortal Dao. Ye Gui possesses no lifebound divine ability and is unskilled in divination, so he will not anticipate this." Li Ximing was not worried about Ye Gui, but rather about Changxiao. However, those two had no personal friendship; they merely shared common interests in opposing his family. After pondering, he replied: "Xuanmiao Temple is only a short distance from Baijiang Creek, so it can easily keep watch. Furthermore, with the two of us appearing at Xuanmiao Temple at this very moment, who knows what suspicions he will harbor." White Yedu Immortal Dao did possess a few capable figures, but Li Zhouwei carried the Li clan's trump card—a Violet Palace talisman. Li Ximing had only feared that White Yedu Immortal Dao might be prepared, which could result in losses among Li Chengkun and the others. Hearing that Xuanyue's forces had departed, he finally put his mind at ease. The two exchanged a few more words before emerging from the Great Void. Before them lay a dark, jagged cliff hanging beside the sea. Tumbling billows battered against the stone, unleashing tremendous rumbles. Numerous cultivators were taking off and landing along the cliff. A short distance away, the mountain terrain rose continuously into a low knoll, covered in deep, lush greenery. There were no pavilions or terraces, only pristine natural scenery, with a single Daoist temple perched at the crest. Changxi guided him down to the mountain slopes. The grand array had already been parted, rippling with clear light. Standing before the array was a young man in plain white robes. His Daoist cap gave off a faint radiance, and he was tall of stature with slightly sunken eye sockets, unlike cultivators from the south. "Greetings to Real Person Changxi and Real Person Zhaojing." He bowed low with lowered brows, executing a full circle bow before saying, "This petty Daoist welcomes the two Real Persons! Our Lay Buddhist has been waiting for some time, eagerly anticipating your honored arrivals." "It has been long since I last saw you, Qiuxin; your cultivation has progressed once again!" Changxi chuckled with great warmth, treating him almost as an affectionate elder would a junior. Landing within the temple, Changxi proceeded toward the main hall. The exterior of the main hall was simple and unadorned, while the interior bore dark, rich hues amidst drifting trails of incense smoke. Li Ximing swept his gaze across the hall. Enshrined at the head was a sheet of white cloth painted with a Daoist riding a donkey, devoid of a face. "Fellow Daoist Changxi! It has been quite a while!" A middle-aged lay Buddhist stepped out from the hall. He had a somewhat squarish face, wore plain garments, and looked utterly unremarkable—he was none other than Real Person Sumian, the master of Xuanmiao Temple! He offered a bow, and as his gaze fell upon Changxi's face, he seemed to possess some skill in observing qi, for his expression promptly shifted. He asked: "Fellow Daoist, what is this... How have things grown so dire?!" Sumian and Changxi were evidently longtime acquaintances. Both were cultivators of Earth Virtue, and sharing that common bond, his face filled with worry. Changxi returned the bow and said: "Some years ago, Mount Jingyi ran into some trouble, and Xuan'yi asked me to lend a hand. Unexpectedly, I sustained a minor injury, and with the shift in spiritual atmosphere, my complexion has grown unsightly." Li Ximing watched closely. When Xuan'yi was mentioned, Sumian frowned slightly, but said nothing further, merely sighing: "The workings of heavenly fortune shift endlessly. The Upper Evil Spirit Repository can no longer hold out... It is beyond what you and I can do anything about. Ah, let it be!" Sumian was also of Earth Virtue, and the current spiritual atmosphere of Juxin Chongxuan harmed Earth, which was clearly not good news for him either. He raised his head and looked at Li Ximing: "This must be Zhaojing!" "It is indeed... Greetings, Senior!" "Ah." Real Person Sumian smiled and said, "There is no need for such ceremony, Zhaojing. Please, come inside." The group went within and offered incense together before proceeding to the rear courtyard. Sumian remarked leisurely: "My Xuanmiao Temple inherits the ancient lineage of Tongxuan Palace. The one on that scroll earlier was True Monarch Xuxiang of Tongxuan Palace, who attained the fruitional rank of Precious Earth..." "So it was a True Monarch." Seeing that the figure had no face, Li Ximing had already harbored suspicions. He thought to himself, 'Since his lineage possesses such a great origin, yet he has only one Violet Palace divine ability, I fear it is not an orthodox transmission. Nine times out of ten, he made his fortune by stumbling upon a partial inheritance.' Sumian invited the two into the rear courtyard, where an antique bronze pill furnace of exquisite craftsmanship stood. Aside from that, there were only a few meditation mats. Once everyone was seated, Ding Weizeng stood respectfully at the side. Sumian picked up the conversation and asked: "Has Changxi come this time to introduce Zhaojing?" "Indeed." Changxi drew in a breath, his features reverting to his middle-aged appearance, and gestured as he gave a brief introduction. However, Li Ximing had already learned of this Old Real Person Qi beforehand, and Sumian was likewise somewhat acquainted with this newly ascended Violet Palace, so the two merely exchanged pleasantries. Sumian showed a cordial demeanor toward him, joking, "I hear that Zhaojing is an alchemist. There will surely be many things I must ask of you in the future, so I must take care to cultivate good ties with Zhaojing here and now!" "Senior is too kind!" Such words could not be taken at face value. Merely looking at the furnace in the courtyard, it was entirely possible that Sumian's alchemical mastery surpassed his own! One had to understand that alchemy required a balance of yin and yang within the Shengyang Mansion, the fourfold rising of elixir clouds in the sea of qi, and the mutual harmonization of water and fire. Such requirements were exceedingly rare among normal practitioners, yet they were nothing insurmountable for a Violet Palace cultivator. A Violet Palace cultivator could shape even their own sea of qi at will. Not to mention having elixir clouds rise and water harmonize with fire, even an artifact refiner's unified blending of yin and yang beneath a sky of luminous clouds could be shaped just the same—with the exception of a few specific lineages, most Violet Palace cultivators could mold it into whatever form they desired. While balancing yin and yang within the Shengyang Mansion was somewhat harder, as long as one's lineage pertained to the Twelve Qis or was not excessively entangled with yin and yang, it could likewise be tuned over time. Li Ximing had been born with this natural balance and had no need to worry about such adjustments. But as Violet Palace cultivators, if Changxi and his peers were willing, they could practice alchemy just the same; it was merely a question of proficiency, and their crafting would not be as effortless as Li Ximing's. Standing nearby, Changxi listened to their exchange. Fearing that Li Ximing might ask something inappropriate, he quickly gave a reminder and spoke up on his behalf: "Fellow Daoist Sumian has developed a keen interest in alchemy in recent years. Cultivating Precious Earth and hailing from the north, he is quite different from those in Jiangnan... You may have him examine that guardian of yours." "Then I shall trouble Senior!" Li Ximing returned a smile and a bow. Sumian had long noticed Ding Weizeng standing by, and motioned him over. He pinched his fingers and examined him, then nodded without hesitation: "What a fine Dianyang Tiger! Your immortal foundation is the same as that of Real Person Yanque of Hengzhu Dao two hundred years ago. He was a great cultivator in his day." Releasing his grip, he formed a seal with one hand and gave a gentle tug. A handful of ash rose from the pill furnace and sprinkled into a jade bowl. He then broke a willow twig from the courtyard, familiarly dipped it into clean water, and said warmly: "Do you know how to refine pills or artifacts? Your dantian is damaged, and your yin-yang qi has leaked away. If I mend this dantian for you, you will no longer be able to refine pills or craft implements in the future." Ding Weizeng replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Real Person, this lowly one never had such good fortune to begin with." Sumian then had him hold the jade bowl. Dipping the willow twig in the clean water, he lashed twice across Ding Weizeng's waist and abdomen, calling out clearly: "Close your eyes!" Ding Weizeng closed his eyes in time. An illusory spectrum of divine ability burst from Sumian's mouth, circulating across the burly man's body. The celestial light at Li Ximing's brow stirred slightly; he knew that Ding Weizeng's injury was healed. 'It is truly healed, just like that!' Among the series of actions he had just performed, only the handful of ash burned from spiritual materials possessed any mystical quality; everything else was utterly mundane. Yet a terminal affliction that would have left a Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment cultivator with few days left—incurable save by a handful of rare spiritual medicines—had been resolved so easily! Noticing the astonishment on their faces, Sumian shook his head with a chuckle: "No, no. On one side stands Mingyang, and on the other Gen Mountain. My Precious Earth merely acts as a mediator. It forms a harmony where heavenly sunlight shines down, vegetation sprouts, and vibrant life flourishes. I merely borrowed the Violet Palace status of you two to play a small trick, nothing more..." "Even so, it fully reveals the Real Person's profound attainment!" Li Ximing praised. Observing him throughout the encounter, he found Sumian's conduct decent and generous. Regardless of what thoughts lay beneath, if his everyday manner was anything like this, he was truly a reliable figure worthy of befriending. Li Ximing turned and smiled: "Weizeng, quickly thank the Lay Buddhist!" Li Ximing emerged from the Great Void upon Mount Zhijing and descended to ground. He dispatched someone down to fetch Li Zhouwei, then took a seat by the table. Cui Jueyin dared not sit, standing by his side to attend to him. He questioned Cui Jueyin about overseas affairs. After only a few exchanges, as Cui Jueyin answered respectfully, they noticed someone coming up the mountain. The figure was tall and slender...