“So that is how it is.”
Changyun was the one seated by the bank holding the fishing rod, so he naturally understood the matter best. Hearing his explanation, Li Ximing also knew that these Violet Palace masters only answered what they were asked; wherever he failed to think ahead, he would not even qualify to share in the spoils. He therefore remarked:
“So it turns out that Wenhu’s Juguinyin lineage is in my hands, and you, Daoist friend, fostered that Pingwangzi precisely to prepare for opening the array. It seems I ought to groom someone of my own as well.”
Changyun chuckled and said, “That is easy enough. That Wenhu in your hands… once sought the Mifan lineages in the South Sea on behalf of Duxian Dao. Back then, Duxian Dao had not even entered Jiangbei, yet they had already begun searching! It shows that Duxian Dao had long harbored designs…”
Li Ximing narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up. “Oh? And what was the outcome?”
“They found another Fuyunshen! Duxian Dao kept it strictly secret, so truly few people know of this matter. I only learned of it from a certain Daoist friend over casual conversation. In the end, their sect did not reap much… On the contrary, the person who had acquired that lineage was led in circles by Wenhu and ultimately met their end, body and Dao destroyed! Perhaps every secret technique on their person was swindled away!”
Li Ximing knew Wenhu was no simple character. Considering this, the former Fuyun Cave had been an ally of Tangjin Gate—which was Jinyu Sect’s share. Now that it was exterminated, things were rather awkward to account for. Thus he asked:
“These three paths… how many factions are sharing them?”
Changyun seemed to see through his concerns at once and said:
“The Fuyunshen lineage was claimed by Jinyu Sect long ago, and disciples of Jinyu Sect are already cultivating it. Kongyingsan is Pingwangzi’s method, so that share is mine… As for Juguinyin, it belonged to Duxian Dao, who also possess Fuyunshen. There are a few other factions quietly waiting, but at this point, nothing is certain.”
He glanced at Li Ximing and smiled.
“It is not as if each lineage can only be claimed by one person. The Xiaoshi Spirit Repository was prepared by the former Mifan Temple for their descendants. Any Foundation Establishment cultivator who cultivates one of these lineages may go and claim a share. How much one obtains depends entirely on the individual; one formidable direct descendant is worth more than ten good-for-nothings.”
“Fortunately, once these opportunities fall into our hands, they all benefit our people—amounting to a veritable cash cow.”
Li Ximing’s mind cleared completely:
‘So many opportunities… so many arrangements. The Mifan Xiaoshi Spirit Repository can only be entered to retrieve treasures by those of the respective lineages, so several factions have turned it into a shared cornucopia…’
Having sorted out the cause and effect, Li Ximing finally asked:
“I often heard that Mifan Temple had a great backing. I wonder which path it was?”
This did not appear to be any secret. Changyun said:
“Mifan was a remnant of the Wanling High Sect. The Wanling High Sect was an immortal sect on par with the Three Great Sects, and even to this day, its Grotto-Heaven lies hidden within the Great Void.”
“Oh!”
Li Ximing understood immediately and said:
“Mifan has such a background after all. Could meddling with it like this bring about any calamity?”
Changyun gently shook his head, while Minghui chuckled and said:
“Daoist Friend Zhaojing! How do you know this was not… a method left behind by Mifan Temple to ensure the continuation of its lineage? Year after year, time after time, if someone among them truly attains the Violet Palace, or if some unforeseen turn frees them from a Real Person’s control… then they would have every rightful justification to claim the spirit repository of Mount Xiaoshi Mifan all to themselves! With such a golden, profound background, signboard, and sect-founding orthodoxy… who, upon achieving the Violet Palace, would not want it? Who could ignore the Mifan lineage?”
Li Ximing fell into thought. Changyun also smiled and said:
“Daoist Friend Minghui speaks the truth. Although gathering all five lineages yields a bountiful harvest, truly opening this spirit repository cannot be done without a Violet Palace divine ability of the Mifan path. We have divided the spirit repository several times and swept it clean; as for the remaining Violet Palace portions, they must be considered in the long run and are not so easily touched.”
Having gotten the measure of the situation, Li Ximing silently resolved to address these affairs upon his return. After he voiced a few words of gratitude, Real Person Changyun replied:
“No need for courtesy! I hold young Zhong Qian in high regard. Because of Ning Tiaoxiao, he formed a bond with your noble clan, so there will be plenty of occasions to look out for one another in the future.”
Li Ximing chatted casually for a bit, listening to the two discuss which lineage had achieved a breakthrough to the Violet Palace here or there, and who had accumulated merit to become a Lianmin. Just as he was about to take his leave, Minghui spoke up warmly:
“Just across the river lies my Lotus Temple! If you have any needs in the north, Real Person, be sure to seek me out!”
Taking this in, Changyun set down his teacup and said, “I say… Daoist Friend Minghui, as an esteemed Lianmin who excels at divination, why not perform a calculation for our Daoist friend here to offer some practical convenience?”
At these words, Minghui ground his teeth, a pang of sharp irritation clutching his chest:
‘Divination? Divination my ass… You want me to calculate and throw away my life? You sure talk the most!’
He wished he could slap Changyun across the face, but he forced a dry chuckle and replied:
“It is hardly fitting for me to divine directly regarding Daoist Friend Zhaojing, and I fear he would not feel at ease letting me do so either…”
There was indeed reason to this. Li Ximing held no affection for either of them and had long intended to refuse anyway, so he followed along and declined. After drinking a few cups, having no desire to linger in polite back-and-forth banter with the two, he took his leave and departed.
Just as he exited the pavilion, the monk Minghui emerged alongside him. Unwilling to entangle himself further, Li Ximing stepped into the Great Void, yet Minghui pursued him right into it, calling out:
“Daoist Friend Zhaojing! Might I have a brief word?”
Since the monk had chased him out in one breath, it was no longer appropriate for Li Ximing to keep avoiding him. He could only respond:
“Mahasattva Minghui, what business do you have?”
Minghui said:
“Just one matter… A friend of this humble monk obtained an orthodoxy and seeks to ascend to Lianmin. In constructing a magnificent spirit instrument for a great monastery, he lacks a single ingredient: Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood, which is produced in Qingchi’s Southern Border. Si Boxiu despises Shakya followers, making it difficult for me to venture there. You have connections in Qingchi, Daoist friend; if the opportunity arises, please keep an eye out on my behalf…”
Li Ximing, curious to test whether he could cross the river, traversed the Great Void alongside him and gave a noncommittal assent. Minghui added:
“My Lotus Temple is in the north after all, and we possess a Mingyang spirit embryo. If you can obtain the wood, Daoist friend, we are willing to trade it with you.”
To this moment, Li Ximing still did not trust monks. Even with a Mingyang spirit embryo mentioned, he merely gave a perfunctory reply. As they neared the borders of Funan, Minghui changed the subject:
“Earlier, when divination was mentioned, it was not that I truly intended to slight you, Daoist friend, but that I feared you would not let me divine you. How about this: you need not pick a disciple or a blood descendant, but simply name an ordinary guest elder of little consequence. It will be easy and thorough for me to calculate, and it will not put you in too difficult a spot!”
Li Ximing looked down beneath his feet. The lands of Funan held a substantial population, and since they were north of the river, Minghui could divine them whether Li Ximing agreed or not. He said cautiously:
“If that is the case, and you wish to divine on your own, I have no reason to stop you.”
He dared not let the monk divine An Siwei, who was currently the most critical, and instead picked the one of least importance, saying:
“My clan has an elderly guest elder… named Qu Bushi.”
Minghui cast his gaze through the Great Void, sweeping downward. With just a name, he had already identified the person. In his hand, he first calculated the person’s magical artifact, confirming that divining him would bring no severe backlash, before proceeding to divine the man himself. He mused thoughtfully:
“Cultivates life and nature, blessed in lifespan, growing sturdier with age. Stricken by Kan Water in fate, incapable of taking charge, yet a useful guest elder.”
Li Ximing, however, was paying attention to Minghui’s position. Sure enough, once they reached the riverbank, the monk halted.
“I shall see you off this far, Daoist friend.”
Minghui departed along the Great Void. Only then did Li Ximing ponder the monk’s words.
‘This monk was unexpectedly courteous. Qu Bushi is a guest elder after all, and Zangna Palace excels at self-preservation. With so much lifespan left, he will end up as an old hand akin to An Zheyan in the future.’
Descending into the lake, Li Ximing found himself with rare leisure. Instead of landing on Mount Zhijing, he sped toward the islet.
The vast courtyard on the islet stretched wide, sheltered by a white flowering tree over thirty zhang tall. Its leaves were smooth and almost transparent, casting no shade beneath the boughs. Dotted amidst the foliage were slightly reddish spiritual flowers, palm-sized with five petals blending red and white.
The Wanling Flower!
Beneath the tree sat an old ape with snow-white fur, cross-legged, clad in simple stone armor with a staff resting across its knees. As Li Ximing strolled over, the white ape opened its eyes, stood up, and bowed respectfully:
“Greetings, Real Person.”
Li Ximing nodded. The very first task the old ape had taken on upon coming to the Li clan was guarding the Wanling Flower, and over seventy years had passed since. Once the great battle on the river ended, it had returned to heal and stand guard beneath the tree.
Li Ximing looked at the Wanling Flower Tree. Over these years, his family had reaped eight hundred, if not a thousand, spirit stones from this flower, not to mention the cultivators whose lives were preserved by it… Even Miaoshui had relied on this flower just days ago!
‘The mere scraps slipping through the fingers of Golden Core immortal scions have benefited our clan immensely!’
On the other side of the courtyard stood another tree, only the size of an ordinary tree: a wild persimmon tree. Brimming with spiritual awareness, it was swaying and twisting about in its corner, but the moment it saw Li Ximing glance over, it immediately froze still.
This was naturally the spiritual persimmon dug up and brought back from Quanwu, at the Qi Refinement level. Though of humble origins, this mountain persimmon was blessed with remarkable fortune; it had become an enlightened spirit with cultivation of its own. In ordinary times, it would ingest some spiritual herbs and drink spiritual water, currently possessing a cultivation roughly equivalent to the mid Qi Refinement stage.
The Li family also possessed a Serpent-Flood-Dragon Fruit Tree, but its grade was lower, so it was merely kept in the spiritual courtyard on the islet.
After surveying them, Li Ximing took out a casket from his sleeve and flipped it open. Inside lay a glittering golden needle spike of hornwood—precisely the Hornwood Golden Spike presented by the Sword Sect!
“This is fine material for nourishing spiritual plants…”
The moment the casket opened, the Wanling Flower Tree immediately stirred, and the mountain persimmon in the corner stopped pretending altogether. It stretched its boughs forward, not daring to touch Li Ximing, and instead covertly tugged at the white ape.
Li Ximing infused his divine ability into it, channeling the celestial light, and waved his hand to disperse the Hornwood Golden Spike, letting it shower upon the two spiritual plants along with the celestial light, causing both to rustle and sway.
Li Ximing knew nothing of the art of spiritual botany. He simply bestowed it upon the two spiritual plants, instructed the white ape to watch over them well, and turned to depart.
He landed on Mount Zhijing. After a moment, he saw a youth in a dark crimson-black pleated robe descend upon Lihuo, coming up through the mountains. Reaching the front of the courtyard, the youth bowed:
“Jiangqian pays respects to the Real Person!”
Li Ximing had truly not seen Li Jiangqian many times. He bid him step forward. Facing this junior who had been bestowed a talisman seed, Li Ximing did not hold back his smiles and asked:
“Jiangqian, you are here. Why have I not seen Quewan?”
Li Jiangqian replied:
“Reporting to the Real Person, my sister ran into a bottleneck in her techniques and traveled to Northern Shanyue to gather shamanic arts, so she could not accompany me. I have come up the mountain this time by Father’s order to deliver a message.”
“Speak.”
Li Ximing poured tea while listening. Li Jiangqian said:
“A few days ago, the Wu family of Commandery South came to pay a visit. The Wu family’s old ancestor at the peak of Foundation Establishment arrived in person to deliver thanks-offerings, claiming it was to thank the Real Person for passing by the Wu family and slaying demonic cultivators on their behalf. Father was unaware of this matter and sent me to inquire.”
Li Ximing naturally understood what had happened. He took a sip of tea and replied:
“When I clashed with Ye Gui, I passed by the Wu family. My escaping light must have scalded one or two of those demonic cultivators to death. Ye Gui followed behind me; when he manifested his divine ability, he probably crushed a few of the Wu clan members as well. This Wu family head certainly knows how to borrow another’s banner—quite shrewd indeed.”
Li Jiangqian caught on immediately. Showing no timidity before a Real Person, he answered:
“So that was it. Xuanyue also has a Guest Elder Wu who shares kinship with the Wu family of Commandery South; this must have brought him quite the limelight…”
“Just explain it clearly to your father,” Li Ximing replied. Li Jiangqian continued:
“Shanji Commandery has suffered several raids over the past few days. We could not protect that place, so considerable supplies and resources were looted, and we even lost a town…”
This did not surprise Li Ximing. In his clan’s hands, Shanji Commandery was merely a burden. He asked:
“How is your father handling it?”
Li Jiangqian said respectfully:
“Father had long since begun relocating the people of Shanji to populate the wilderness. The morale of Xuanyue has not fully dispersed, and with our clan’s backing, quite a few prominent surnames, distinguished clans, and even noble houses are willing to come over. Except for the Sword Sect’s territory, which remained largely untouched, most of the populace has already set out. Father regards this matter with utmost gravity and has personally set out to escort them…”
“Good.”
Li Ximing nodded and said:
“Nine times out of ten, Xuanyue will only be able to rebuild its foundation in the wilderness from now on. This task is essential; leaving it to your father is best.”
Li Ximing paused slightly, then inquired after his eldest son with an indescribable tone:
“How is Chengzhi doing nowadays?”
His eldest son, Li Chengzhi, was a mortal. After attaining the Violet Palace, Li Ximing had seen him once: Chengzhi had brought his son, Li Ximing’s grandson Li Zhouming, who was in early Qi Refinement, along with him. Both of them had been timid and deferential, covered in cold sweat. With snow-white hair and beard, Li Chengzhi had not dared look Li Ximing in the eye; after merely paying respects, he had hurried away.
Though Li Zhouming possessed cultivation and had even been sent over early on by the eldest son, Li Ximing’s consecutive seclusion sessions meant they had rarely met either. Yet because of a deeper understanding and fear of the Violet Palace, his grandson had behaved even more abjectly than his father.
When Li Ximing asked, Li Jiangqian answered at once:
“Clan Elder Chengzhi has grown advanced in years and no longer moves about much. Clan Uncle Zhouming is currently serving at Mount Milin…”
Li Ximing naturally knew Li Jiangqian had little to say. Although his eldest son Li Chengzhi was not close to him, he still had some sense; his lack of cultivation was simply too fatal… But as for Li Zhouming, Li Ximing had interacted with him and knew he was genuinely a mediocre child, somewhat greedy in character as well. That Li Jiangqian refrained from speaking ill of him was already saving him face, let alone having anything praiseworthy to say.
He lowered his brows imperceptibly and merely replied:
“Let him be. Chengzhi is old and at times cannot rein in Zhouming. Do not let him think I am paying special attention to them, lest it encourage him to do something foolish.”
Li Jiangqian had initially assumed Li Ximing was subtly hinting for him to look after them, but hearing Li Ximing say this, he could only nod, his thoughts clearing:
‘The Real Person is not entirely unconcerned with clan affairs after all… At the very least, these few remarks struck straight at the core of both elders’ situations. Without keeping some tabs on them, it would be impossible to be so clear…’
Li Ximing waved his hand to dismiss him, calculating in his mind:
‘Presently, there are three pressing matters: first is the Violet Palace great array—for now I can only wait for news and watch how things unfold. Second is settling the affairs of Shanji Commandery and properly defending Xuanyue… Third… is to deal with Ye Gui, so he does not constantly oppose my clan.’
Chapter 738