‘About one hundred and eighty ren long, and thirty-two chi around!’
By Li Zhouluo’s estimate, the islet’s main hall was three hundred and eighteen chi in length, meaning a single Purple Gen Broad Valley Mountain-Piercing Profound Spike was four times the length of the main hall. Erected upright, it would stand taller than twelve Chengqing Gates stacked together...
And thirty-two chi around was fully the size of a small cottage. What was more, this Purple Gen Broad Valley Mountain-Piercing Profound Spike certainly could not be forged from ordinary iron or bronze; it required an infusion of spiritual materials. The sheer volume of resources needed had reached a terrifying scale!
Li Xuanxuan was visibly startled as well. Taking the scroll in both hands, he looked at the dense list of spiritual materials recorded on it, feeling a chill in his heart. Maintaining a calm composure on his face, he asked, “These thirty-two Mountain-Piercing Profound Spikes... What will serve as their primary body? How much will they cost?”
Wen Wu cupped his hands and replied, “The body relies only on iron essence and copper essence. The East Sea has an abundance of such materials. Our Ziyan has a market in the East Sea as well as several mining islets, and we will deliver them in batches. Senior need not worry.
“As for the cost, it is actually not expensive. Refining iron essence and copper essence merely takes manpower, and your esteemed clan can smelt them yourselves. The runes, array patterns, and forging will all be handled by our disciples on your clan’s behalf. Your clan will only need to procure the remaining spiritual materials. By my estimate... it should be around ninety spirit stones.”
He paused for a beat before adding, “Per spike.”
Li Xuanxuan turned the scroll over and over, examining it thoroughly. Selecting several spiritual materials that were required in large quantities, he said in an aged voice, “There is no need to trouble the blessed land with every single matter. When it comes to spiritual materials, our lake can supply quite a few.
“Qingwu stone, Wuhui spirit molybdenum, and Mishui cold iron are all abundant minerals from the lakebed. Both their yield and reserves are immense, and they have often been excavated over the years. Shubai copper, Fufu glazed iron... These eight varieties are all produced on the West Shore, while the East Shore provides Cuiyuan copper essence and the like. Most of them can serve as substitutes.”
Whether the stockpiles of these items were large or small, Li Xuanxuan had long ceased managing clan affairs; he only knew the names on the inventory, not the precise quantities. There was actually also Yecai Stone produced on Zongquan Island, but because the required amount was modest and Zongquan Island was not meant to be exposed, Li Xuanxuan did not mention it to him.
The moment he finished speaking, Li Zhouluo had already run the calculations. Nodding slightly, he answered, “Since our clan produces these materials, the remaining manufacturing cost can be driven down to sixty to seventy spirit stones. Furthermore... please wait a moment, seniors.”
He retrieved a jade slip from the desk, cross-referencing it against the purple-gold scroll. His expression turned slightly peculiar as he said, “There are some... inheritances left behind by predecessors, as well as spiritual materials gathered from the wilderness. They match what is listed here quite neatly. I shall hand over the inventory to you shortly...”
Wen Wu chuckled and nodded, seemingly not surprised at all. Bowing, he said, “These thirty-two Purple Gen Broad Valley Mountain-Piercing Profound Spikes are quite troublesome, especially regarding materials. If purchased in bulk, prices will inevitably surge, so we cannot afford to rush. It likely cannot be finished in three to five years. I must ask the clan head to designate a resting quarter within the islet for our blessed land’s cultivators. Many of our sect’s cultivators will be traveling in the surrounding areas or traveling back and forth to make handovers, so we will have to trouble your esteemed clan.
“Rest assured, however. Everyone sent from our sect has sworn spiritual oaths and belongs to the elite; secrecy will be strictly maintained. Not only are the array patterns drawn in separate fragments and the components forged separately, but none of them even know the names of the parts or the grand formation.”
“What are you saying? It is our Wangyue who should thank the blessed land.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Wen Wu took his leave early, as he still had spiritual materials and pills to deliver to Li Quexi’s family, and the Ziyan cultivators on the islet had not yet been settled in. Once the heavy doors of the main hall swung shut, Li Xuanxuan frowned and asked, “Zhouluo, what was all that about predecessors’ inheritances and wilderness spiritual materials? How could one or two scraps be of any use for such an immense number of Mountain-Piercing Profound Spikes? How much could they possibly save?”
Li Zhouluo no longer concealed the strange look on his face. Lowering his voice, he said, “Old Master, this can save at least twenty spirit stones per spike! Twenty per spike means six hundred and forty spirit stones across thirty-two spikes!”
Li Xuanxuan was shaken with surprise. “Where did all that come from?!”
Li Zhouluo looked somewhat embarrassed as he replied in a hushed tone, “This... Old Master is unaware. Back when Xuanyue collapsed and Kong Guxi moved the mountain into the wilderness, he was afraid of being raided clean by the Baiyedu Immortal Dao, so he deposited a large amount of spiritual materials with our family...
“Later... the wilderness fell as well, and Kong Guxi packed his belongings and came to the East Shore, leaving those items stored with our clan just as before. In the end, when Xuanyue’s lineage was completely extinguished, Kong Guxi was unwilling to take back such a vast amount of Embryonic Breathing and Qi Nourishing spiritual materials, packing only precious medicines... The rest was either gifted or sold off at rock-bottom prices to various powers as favors...
“Yet the volume of most of those goods was simply too immense. Dumping them all at once drove prices into the dirt, and selling them in batches would take five to ten years... After all, no single power was willing to absorb them all. So he practically gave them away to our family as a favor.”
With a look of marvel and uncertainty, Li Zhouluo whispered, “Just now, as I read through the scroll and compared the lists, I discovered that nearly eighty to ninety percent of the materials needed are things Xuanyue produced and stockpiled! And that is after Xuanyue’s sect mountain was lost and Kong Guxi took a portion of spiritual materials back with him. Had we obtained Xuanyue’s resources in their entirety, we might not have had to spend a single spirit stone to forge these thirty-two profound spikes!”
Li Xuanxuan finally understood. Pondering for a moment, he sat down in the hall and looked up, saying, “The Real Person planned this well in advance. Xuanyue’s current plight was likely anticipated long ago. Otherwise, where would such a grand formation have come from so abruptly...?”
The old man’s expression grew shadowed with caution, and he lowered his voice. “The matter of the Purple Gen Broad Valley Mountain-Piercing Profound Spikes must remain confidential. Above all, this name must never be leaked. Since Ziyan has pledged secrecy on their end, it is even easier on ours. Do not mention mountain, do not mention Gen, and it would be best not to mention Profound either. If anyone asks, say they are called the Thirty-Two Mansions Purple Broad Spirit Needles.”
Li Zhouluo respectfully complied. Coughing softly, the old man continued, “Let Jueyin handle both the spiritual materials and matters involving the blessed land. His cultivation is profound and his conduct clear-headed; he is more capable than anyone on the islet.”
After giving a few more instructions, the old man walked out of the hall. Drawing that carp-shaped wooden box from his sleeve, he sat down in an empty side hall and opened it.
The first box belonged to Li Quexi. The girl had clearly applied herself diligently in the sect; even her handwriting had become far more graceful. She inquired in general about affairs at home and expressed concern for Li Xuanxuan’s health. Across three pages, she added a brief note at the very end:
*‘Ziyan possesses many extraordinary spiritual materials. I received rewards during the grand tournament and have an allocation to request items. If the family is in urgent need of anything, please ask me.’*
The old man set the letter down. Li Queyi’s letter was noticeably much thicker. Unlike her younger sister Li Quexi, who had Wen Wu personally deliver her family letter, Queyi had bundled all her letters to various clan members together here. Li Xuanxuan picked out the one addressed to him. The girl gave her greetings and specifically asked whether her father, Li Zhoufang, was still begging for official positions day in and day out. The remainder of the letter beat around the bush for quite some time before asking whether the family could send three kinds of resources to her.
Li Xuanxuan looked it over. He already had two of those three resources in his storage bag, and the remaining one would not be difficult to collect. He could supply it himself. Gathering a generous number of pills as well, he packed them together, penned a reply, and arranged for someone to send it back.
He had the remaining letters distributed to their respective recipients, tucked the two sisters’ letters into his sleeve, and walked alone down the side corridor back to Qingdu, thinking to himself:
*What an upside-down world. Queyi worked diligently and attained Qi Nourishing early, yet ended up in Ziqi Peak. Had she slacked off a bit in her youth and taken one step slower, Muzuo Peak would have taken her for sure... Quexi was aloof, proud, and unremarkable in talent, born two years later, yet she ended up entering Muzuo Peak.*
*That fellow Wen Wu knows how to teach and is willing to teach, and Quexi seems willing to learn as well... With the flaws in her temperament mended, her resources and backing are like night and day compared to before. She is about to soar to the heavens...*
Li Xuanxuan was advanced in years and had witnessed many things; he had a faint premonition of what the future held. Seeing the letters of the two sisters, his heart was tangled with complex emotions.
While Li Xuanxuan returned to Qingdu, Pingya Islet bustled with activity. Li Zhouluo swiftly made all the arrangements, settling the cultivators from Ziyan Gate in the east of the islet and sending for Cui Jueyin. For a time, lanterns blazed brightly, surrounded by a hum of voices.
The courtyard on the western side, however, remained quiet and dim. Ding Weizeng rode the wind, descending into the courtyard. The burly man with tiger whiskers and a sturdy jaw looked somewhat anxious. Seeing the maidservant before the door, he asked, “How is the Madam?”
The maid bowed her head and replied, “Madam has lacked appetite these past few days and frequently complains of stomach pains...”
Ding Weizeng’s wife, Lady Ma, was someone he had wed in Jiangbei back when he was merely a minor Qi Nourishing cultivator. Later, after joining the Violet Palace immortal clan, his status rose with the tide, and prominent clans often offered their daughters in marriage. Ding Weizeng had rejected them all, continuing to live his days faithfully with Lady Ma.
It was never easy for cultivators to bear children, all the more so when both parents were cultivators. Having finally conceived this single child after great difficulty, now three months into the pregnancy, the burly man treasured her immensely.
He went inside to check on his wife, helped nourish and regulate her body, and was just about to return to Qingdu when he saw his nephew come up to report, “Wang Quwan requests an audience.”
Ding Weizeng froze for a moment. No missions had been handed down from the clan recently. His current duty was to patrol the lake and protect Li Zhouming and his son. His whereabouts were irregular, so by all accounts, they should not have crossed paths. He immediately asked with suspicion, “Such a coincidence?”
The nephew replied, “Lord Wang has come every single day during this period. It is just that since you instructed that you would see no one, the message was never passed up. Lord Wang seems to have an urgent matter; he has been waiting for you on the islet for some time.”
“I see.”
Ding Weizeng had no desire to get involved in the factional struggles of various branches and typically refused to see anyone. Wang Quwan, however, was an exception. This man had been personally promoted by Li Ximing and held considerable importance. Thus, he said, “Then let him come up.”
Before long, a middle-aged man walked into the courtyard. He possessed an extraordinary bearing, with a blue-and-gold precious sword belted at his waist, looking thoroughly valiant. Ding Weizeng smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Wang has come! I haven't even had the chance to congratulate you... That Jingxiqing sword of yours has made the cultivators of Jiangbei and Funan green with envy... Right now, everyone hails you as the foremost sword cultivator of Jiangbei!”
“Senior flatters me... It was merely thanks to the Real Person’s favor that I gained an early advantage... and took the lead.”
Although Ding Weizeng addressed him as a fellow Daoist, Wang Quwan remained impeccably polite and assumed the etiquette of a junior, saying respectfully, “Senior has important duties, and Quwan has no wish to delay clan affairs. However, I have run into a thorny and perplexing matter connected to Jiangbei, so I specially came to seek Senior’s advice.”
Ding Weizeng truly did not wish to waste time, so he made a welcoming gesture. Wang Quwan said in a solemn voice, “After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, I paid my respects to the various seniors on the lake, then received clan orders to go to Jiangbei and stand guard. After crossing into Funan territory, I heard that the cultivators below were in considerable turmoil. Inquiring further, I caught wind of rumors... word has it that an opportunity is about to appear in Jiangbei...”
“Haha, I thought it was something serious.” Ding Weizeng shook his head, explaining with a laugh, “No matter where it is... wherever spiritual energy exists, which place doesn't have rumors cropping up every three to five days? Did you manage to uncover any real news, Quwan?”
Ding Weizeng also hailed from Jiangbei and was naturally familiar with his homeland. The past war between the North and South had claimed the lives of countless cultivators in Jiangbei. In his youth, rumors of some cultivator obtaining someone’s lineage surfaced every ten days to half a month; it was a common occurrence. But Wang Quwan was extremely dependable and would never bring something up without concrete proof. Sure enough, Wang Quwan spoke tactfully:
“The Wang clan migrated to Jiangbei during the time of the State of Ning, and our relatives are widely spread. Though my family declined and I was born into humble circumstances, I still have two relatives farther north...”
Ding Weizeng’s gaze sharpened, and he interrupted, “Tangjin Gate or Duxian Dao?”
Wang Quwan lowered his voice. “Chengyun Gate!”
Seeing Ding Weizeng nod thoughtfully, Wang Quwan continued, “I heard... two cultivators from overseas sought refuge with Chengyun Gate and brought word that the former Wanling Supreme Sect of Jiangbei left behind an underground palace beneath Chengshui Marsh. This palace is intricate and complex, with numerous entrances and exits... In their hands, they hold three dark stone medallions, which serve as the key to activating the formation...”
“Oh?”
Ding Weizeng looked at him intently, asking only that single word. Wang Quwan drew an item from his sleeve and whispered, “This was obtained from intercepting and killing a demonic cultivator.”
Wang Quwan lowered his gaze to look at it. Held in his hand was an exquisite, delicate medallion displaying ink-wash black-and-white patterns, carved with the ancient seal script for ‘Wanling’. Flipping it gently over, three characters were inscribed on the reverse:
‘South Seventh’.
He offered the medallion into Ding Weizeng’s hands with both palms. The burly man held it up to examine it, feeling a biting chill upon touching it. Applying sudden force with all five fingers, the medallion did not budge in the slightest.
This medallion did not seem like an extraordinary magical artifact, yet its grade was impossible to discern. It subtly contained the brilliance of a divine ability and was exceptionally sturdy. Ding Weizeng gently set the medallion on the desk and murmured, “My post here cannot be shifted or moved, so I naturally have no chance to break away. If you came seeking to travel there with me, I will have to disappoint you... May I ask what your intention is, Quwan...?”
Wang Quwan rose, bowed respectfully, and said, “I ask Senior to submit this to the main family on my behalf and let the elders decide!”
Ding Weizeng was taken aback and frowned. “This is your fortune...”
Wang Quwan shook his head and replied, “One should only take on what matches one’s ability. I am merely a minor figure who has just broken through to Foundation Establishment; how could I partake in a struggle between such ancient lineages? I only hope to offer it to the main family so they may gain an upper hand in the contention among the various powers. That would be putting it to the best possible use.”
His words left Ding Weizeng noncommittal. With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, his identity as a sword cultivator, and having been personally promoted by the Real Person, as long as Wang Quwan did not rashly meddle with Violet Palace-level interests, turning a handsome profit would not be difficult. This was likely a move of retreating in order to advance. Ding Weizeng responded:
“Wangyue is by no means a harsh master. If this is truly a fortune you obtained, no one on the lake will snatch it from you... At most, I will go up and inquire about this matter for you, and hopefully investigate some details to make your journey north easier.”
His words came as a surprise to Wang Quwan. After all, he was merely an affiliated Foundation Establishment cultivator. Once such an opportunity was handed over, it would usually fall into the hands of one of the young masters or Ding Weizeng himself; he had never imagined he would still have a share in it. Stunned, he stammered, “This...”
“What ‘this’ or ‘that’?”
Ding Weizeng looked at the medallion and chuckled. “The lake has always treated external surnames, guest elders, and protectors with the utmost fairness... You do not spend much time on the islet, so you are unaware. Even the direct descendants of a grand Violet Palace clan would not dare humiliate a Qi Nourishing guest elder without cause, and I have even less interest in taking your fortune... Let us head to the hall together, so you won't have to overthink it!”
Chapter 794