Earlier, Li Zhouwei had been bound by these Kanjin Interlinked Rings. Fortunately, he had caught his foe off guard and suppressed them with his immortal foundation; otherwise, there was no telling how much trouble they would have caused. He remarked:
"Though this item possesses little lethal power, its binding capability is exceptional. It is particularly effective against cultivators with formidable dharma bodies—perhaps just one or two people could trap such an opponent."
Li Ximing nodded. To him, such things were of little use, but to Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were treasures. He replied:
"Its primary purpose is entrapment, and it serves that role remarkably well. However, our family lacks a Kanshui Foundation Establishment cultivator. The only one marginally connected to Water Virtue is Miaoshui."
"Although she exerted great effort in this battle, many others were injured as well. The Kanjin Interlinked Rings are valuable after all; bestowing them casually is not the way to govern a clan. Let us store them away for now, and retrieve them temporarily when war comes."
Li Zhouwei put away the Kanjin Interlinked Rings and picked up the pitch-black Dudao Bell. Sweeping his spiritual sense across it, he said with slight surprise:
"It is Clear Qi."
Clear Qi was the most common lineage among rogue cultivators. Especially south of the river, eight out of ten rogue cultivators followed the Lesser Clear Spiritual Qi lineage. The vast majority of these people never advanced beyond Embryonic Breathing, passing a single magical artifact down through three generations; consequently, Embryonic Breathing artifacts of Clear Qi were even more abundant.
While low-stage cultivators of Clear Qi were numerous, far fewer reached Foundation Establishment, though they still comprised a fair proportion among Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yet as for Violet Palace cultivators of Clear Qi, Li Ximing had never heard of a single one to this day. Foundation Establishment magical artifacts of that path were likewise rare; the few he had ever managed to encounter were shoddy goods, and this was his first time seeing one of such superior quality.
He turned the black bell over and examined it closely. Whether in material, artifact-refining technique, or array inscriptions, it conformed entirely to contemporary styles. Li Ximing frowned and said:
"How bizarre. Guan Gongxiao is the dignified young master of Duxian Dao. To go and craft a magical artifact to nurture and cultivate with, why would he eschew Duwei and switch to Clear Qi instead...?"
Meeting Li Zhouwei's gaze, he said:
"It seems Duwei and Clear Qi share some connection. Interesting."
The Clear Qi path had no prominent advantages or counter-restraints, yet this Dudao Bell was of an even higher grade than the Kanjin Interlinked Rings, practically rivaling the Yangli Red Sparrow Banner. Li Ximing told Li Zhouwei to take and use it himself, then turned his attention to the small mirror.
The mirror was merely the size of a palm and bronze in color. Its two outer rims were carved with several beasts stampeding. Although its patterns were the most ornate of the three, its quality was the lowest, and even the artifact-refining techniques used on it were crude. Li Ximing glanced at it and said:
"The magical artifact Bronze-Winged Brilliant White. The outer rim is forged from Dechi Bronze, while the mirror surface is made of White Crane Glazed Stone from the Zhenqi path. The artifact is not very old; it was likely prepared specifically to counter our family's heavenly light."
Li Zhouwei had little interest in it either, intending to bestow it upon Ding Weizeng, and slipped it into his sleeve for now. Li Ximing finally said:
"That old scoundrel Ye Gui... Who knows what game he is playing? I had best settle Shanji Commandery quickly. And as for Mount Xiaoshi... I should pay a visit to Chengyun Gate."
He rose upon heavenly light and vanished into the Great Void. Li Zhouwei was left hesitating in the hall for a moment before Li Wen arrived below to deliver a report. Still somewhat pale, Li Wen entered the hall, knelt, and said:
"Reporting to the Patriarch, the Old Master has sent someone to inquire whether there has been any resolution regarding An Siwei. The Old Master said Old Guest Elder An returned to the lake without saying a single word, and we must not let people grow disheartened."
An Siwei had been captured by Tangjin Gate, and that fellow Situ Mo had pulled his head into his shell, refusing to come out. Unless a Violet Palace cultivator went in person, Li Zhouwei had no way forward either. He could only send back word about the Real Person's concern and the like, dispatching someone to deliver the message first.
Clasping his hands behind his back, he rose and asked Li Wen, who remained in the hall:
"The Old Master inquires once every day, which is quite frequent. Was the letter sent through Mount Yuting?"
Li Wen was the Foundation Establishment cultivator serving in Mount Yuting and was most familiar with these matters. He replied:
"There is no record within Mount Yuting. The Old Master must have dispatched a confidant to deliver it to the east bank first."
Hearing this, Li Zhouwei found his suspicions confirmed. The east bank was currently overseen by Li Jiangxia, who was also Lady An's son; it was this boy's people running back and forth between the two sides. Resting his brush, Li Zhouwei said:
"No wonder he is so anxious."
Li Wen kept his head lowered and pretended not to hear, while Li Zhouwei instructed:
"Send a reply through Mount Yuting to make things clear to the Old Master: Tangjin Gate does not dare harm a clan elder, nor will Jinyu Sect harm a clan elder. Even if he fell into Duxian Dao's hands earlier, he might suffer a bit of hardship, but his life is in no danger.
"Matters as monumental as the heavens to Foundation Establishment cultivators are merely a matter of a single word or a single chess piece before a Violet Palace cultivator. Tell him to rest assured."
After dismissing Li Wen, he finally began tending to his injuries.
The wounds Li Zhouwei had suffered in this great battle were mainly to his head; two fractures had cracked across his frontal bone. Though the outer skin and flesh had healed, severe damage to bone and sinew was not easily resolved. The rest were injuries inflicted by the water cords when taking Guan Kan's life, which were swiftly repaired with medicine.
...
Li Zhouwei cultivated in the hall for only a dozen-odd days, pausing from time to time to reply to letters, when Kong Guxi and the others unexpectedly returned.
Sumian had kept his word; Xuanmiao Temple had employed genuine skill, significantly improving the conditions of the Xuanyue cultivators. Those lightly wounded had nearly recovered, while those heavily injured could heal after resting for a year or six months. Even so, Kong Guxi's expression was grim.
Li Zhouwei summoned Li Cheng and questioned him in detail, only then learning that Xuanmiao Temple had already built a courtyard on the mountain where Real Person Changxi had passed away. They had even named it: because it faced Salt Lake directly, it was called Gehu Peak, meaning that tribulations were like a lake, kept outside the temple by this peak.
Whether such matters were good or bad was difficult to say. The Kong family was at its lowest point, still needing Xuanmiao Temple for healing; Kong Guxi had naturally worn a fawning smile when he went, but upon returning to the wilderness, he remained completely silent.
Once Li Cheng finished his report, Li Zhouwei replied:
"His discontent is fine; perhaps it is even a way of showing loyalty. In any case, send someone to soothe them. We will still need Xuanmiao Temple to heal wounds in the future, so do not let the Xuanyue people become too resistant."
Xuanmiao Temple was, after all, a Precious Earth lineage and possessed profound expertise in healing. Given the chance to milk Xuanmiao Temple for what it was worth, neither Li Ximing nor Li Zhouwei would easily pass it up.
Li Cheng complied and withdrew. Light and shadow shifted in the hall, mingling bright and dark. Li Zhouwei had just repaired a patch or two of flesh when he finally saw Li Ximing descend, sundering the Great Void.
In his hand, he held a horned beast bound firmly by heavenly light. It was only the size of a calf, but its aura was ferocious. Though unable to move, its eyes still glared viciously.
Li Ximing casually tossed the beast to the floor and smiled:
"Nowadays, demon generals without a backing are truly hard to find. I circled around the river, searched all the way to the State of Wu, and questioned local clans there. This demon was in the middle of devouring humans and ran right into my hands."
He took a jade box from his sleeve and casually opened it, revealing a spiritual herb that looked like fine jade. Without pausing, Li Ximing knocked the horned beast unconscious while saying:
"Ziyan gifted the Queyan Dan Book, and the alchemy techniques within are of great benefit to me. There is also a Violet Palace elixir recipe called the Xuanque Heart-Passing Medicine, said to resolve karma.
"This beast belongs to the Clear Qi path, which is just right. Together with this Jade Ganoderma Clear Orchid gifted by the Shen family, a furnace can yield six pills, enough for several of you to use."
This was the first time Li Zhouwei had heard the name of a Violet Palace-grade medicine. As he pondered slightly, Li Ximing shook his head and said:
"To Foundation Establishment cultivators, this medicine can save a life; to Violet Palace cultivators, it merely heals injuries. It counts as ordinary fare among Violet Palace medicines. If it were truly something exceptional, they wouldn't have brought it out as a gift for our family."
For an ordinary alchemist, a batch of healing medicine using precious herbs would take at least three to five months to refine. But with his divine ability, Li Ximing didn't even need an alchemy furnace for medicines of ordinary utility; refining this elixir would take merely three to five days. He continued:
"Nowadays, I can refine medicines below the Violet Palace realm using my divine ability alone, and Xuanque Heart-Passing Medicine is not much more difficult. I will have someone deliver them to you in a couple of days."
No matter what, Xuanque Heart-Passing Medicine was still a medicine capable of treating a Violet Palace cultivator's wounds, so Ziyan's gift could hardly be considered light. Li Ximing sighed and said:
"Waiting for demon beasts to reach Foundation Establishment takes far too long, and they cannot always be captured. No wonder the lineages south of the river favor human elixirs."
As the two were conversing, they saw Li Cheng return from outside the hall. Entering with a hint of urgency, his expression was somewhat awkward, and he only spoke in a low voice once he drew close:
"Patriarch, Real Person... Someone has come from the Sword Sect, saying they want something from Xuanyue."
"The Sword Sect? Wanyu?"
That was an actor they had never considered. Li Zhouwei was genuinely startled and asked:
"Who has come? And what are they demanding?"
Li Cheng shook his head and continued:
"I have already arranged for attendants to guide them to the side hall, and I have summoned Kong Guxi and the others."
"Just have them come up."
Li Ximing spoke, and Li Cheng immediately withdrew. Li Zhouwei rose from the main seat and stepped to the side. The people of the Sword Sect were the first to enter from outside the hall, led by none other than the sword cultivator Cheng Jinzhu.
With a long sword strapped to his back and a sharp gaze, he bowed to Li Ximing first before clasping his hands:
"Greetings, Real Person. Since parting at the Sword Peak, my Real Person has often thought fondly of you and bade this junior offer his greetings on his behalf."
"No need to be polite."
Li Ximing had a good impression of Lingmei. Having conversed with him before, he found the man was not one of those old fogeys commonly imagined of the Sword Sect, but rather someone quite agreeable to his liking.
Cheng Jinzhu did not mince words. Inquiring briefly after his injuries, he went straight to the point:
"This junior has come today regarding a certain matter... Senior Changxi once borrowed a Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain from our sect, stating that after his passing, he would return it along with ceding the southern shore of Salt Lake and the eastern nine towns of Shanji Commandery. Now they should be handed over."
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire hall fell into absolute silence.
Even though the Wanyu Sword Gate was a renowned righteous sect, these words still struck Li Zhouwei and even Li Ximing into complete speechlessness. A brief silence descended upon the hall.
There was no other reason than that there had not been the slightest whisper or pretext of this affair; neither Changxi nor Kong Guxi had ever uttered a word about it. It was only because Wanyu's reputation preceded it that they hesitated; otherwise, had it been any other power, anyone would have assumed this was simply looting a burning house and kicking a man when he was down!
After a perceptible pause, Li Ximing finally spoke:
"Bring Kong Guxi up."
After several dozen breaths, the middle-aged man hurried to the front of the hall. He bowed to Li Ximing and the others, only then noticing Cheng Jinzhu. Showing not the slightest hint of comprehension on his face, Kong Guxi adopted a fawning attitude:
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Cheng!"
By now, even Cheng Jinzhu wore a trace of doubt on his face. Glancing probingly at Kong Guxi, he said:
"Greetings, Sect Master..."
Observing this with suspicion, Li Zhouwei chuckled:
"Sect Master Kong, this is an old matter concerning your Xuanyue. The Cheng clan has come to claim an item."
"Ah?"
Kong Guxi was completely baffled. Taking in the situation in the hall at a glance, he had assumed the Li clan intended to give Shanji Commandery to Wanyu and that he was merely summoned to hear the decision. Who could have foreseen such a development? An uneasy feeling arose in his heart.
Cheng Jinzhu had no choice but to recount the matter once more, causing Kong Guxi's pupils to dilate in shock. Cheng Jinzhu even added:
"The Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain is an extraordinary spiritual artifact our sect obtained from Douxuan. Now that our sect wishes to put it to use, we have come to make inquiry."
'A spiritual artifact!'
Grief and bitterness welled deep within Kong Guxi's heart as he thought resentfully:
'Fine, fine, fine! It was bad enough that everyone came to trample on us, but you, Wanyu, are an august Qingsong Taiyang lineage, so exalted and noble—why must you cast stones at my family too? If you want territory, just take it! Where would our family get a spiritual artifact to give you?!'
Yet circumstances were stronger than men. Forget the fact that Xuanyue was now in decline—even at its peak, the Kong family would never have dared show attitude to Wanyu. Dripping with sweat, he cast an imploring glance toward Li Zhouwei.
Cheng Jinzhu was far from dull-witted and immediately sensed something amiss. He asked:
"Could it be that Sect Master is unaware of this matter?"
'What does it matter whether there was or wasn't? If your Real Person says there was, then there was...'
Seeing the Li clan members remain silent, Kong Guxi could only stammer:
"Perhaps... perhaps there was such an affair... The territory was to be mortgaged to the Sword Sect..."
Cheng Jinzhu's expression shifted, and he asked:
"Sect Master Kong, where is the spiritual artifact?"
Now that the topic had reached this point, Li Ximing had no choice but to speak up. He said:
"A matter involving a spiritual artifact is of great consequence. Let the Sword Sect first take over the agreed-upon territory. As for the Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain, I have yet to lay eyes on it, so let us set it aside for now. Xuanyue can cede a few additional towns as the price for extending the lease on this spiritual artifact. If you truly have an urgent need for it, I shall discuss it in detail with Senior Lingmei."
Regardless of what tactic Wanyu was playing, and whether this matter was genuine or not, having someone take over a portion of Shanji Commandery's territory was naturally a good thing. Li Ximing settled that first. Cheng Jinzhu had no standing to negotiate with Li Ximing, but fortunately his own Real Person had made arrangements beforehand. He said solemnly:
"Since Real Person has spoken, this matter shall be arranged by Lake Wangyue. Our Sword Sect also understands that Xuanyue is in a critical moment of survival, and the Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain may well be of vital importance to your noble sect. Ours is not a lineage that kicks a man when he is down. Our Real Person already said that if it concerns Xuanyue's survival, it is not strictly necessary to take it back immediately."
Li Zhouwei, however, recalled something and asked:
"Your sect need only dispatch people to take over the land in Shanji Commandery. However, Salt Lake is already in Xuanmiao Temple's hands. To cede that portion on the southern shore, we would still need to consult Real Person Sumian."
"In response to the Patriarch,"
Cheng Jinzhu shook his head steadily and smiled:
"My Real Person sent a letter over yesterday, and Xuanmiao has already handed it over. Real Person Sumian even came to the Sword Peak to apologize to my Real Person, but my Real Person was not on the peak, so Real Person Qi was told to return first."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Wanyu Sword Gate's status was strikingly revealed. Yet both Kong Guxi and Cheng Jinzhu seemed to take it entirely for granted. Li Ximing narrowed his eyes slightly, understanding dawning within him:
"Is it because Lingmei's strength is superb and his swordsmanship extraordinary, or is it because the status of a Qingsong lineage... is even more exalted than we imagined?
"In the State of Yue, whether among the Three Sects and Ten Gates or the Seven Gates, those lineages have risen and fallen, yet the six lineages of Chongming Hall have endured unbroken to this day. How could that be mere coincidence?"
Chapter 735