Jiuqiu

A pale white radiance reappeared within the pitch-black cavern. Ripples stirred across the clear pool on the ground as the young man opened his eyes once more, the world shifting from a blur into sharp focus. *Drip.* Chi Buzi raised his brows, standing quietly where he was. Lingering deep within his eyes was a thick mixture of disbelief and joy. Waking as if from a dream, he glanced around the cavern and held his hands inside his sleeves, remaining rooted to the spot. "An intercalary status in Female Water..." He stood blankly for a long while, still feeling that the few questions he had asked Zhengao were worth far more than two Violet Palace demons... First, that Lushui had an intercalary relation with Female Water; second, that cultivating Morning Cold Rain would allow him to seek Female Water's intercalary status. What kind of treatment was this? *Even the Wang and Xie families... or the dragon kin of Luoxia... could they ever receive such treatment? If descendants of those powers hit a bottleneck in their cultivation and paid a personal visit to a True Monarch, could they even obtain guidance of this caliber?!* *Four Lushui and one Fushui to seek Female Water—what an astonishing idea! And yet, coming from the mouth of that Immortal General Zhengao, it sounded as casual as idle chatter over tea... What level of attainment is this... What kind of heritage and lineage! If another True Monarch were brought here, could they arrive at such a deduction in an instant?* Chi Buzi's expression shifted constantly. "Impossible... Even among the True Monarchs of the present age, the one at Xiuyue has only nurtured a single Yuzhen after all these years. While my own determination in seeking the Dao certainly played a part, ordinary Golden Cores surely do not possess such miraculous means to turn decay into wonder..." The disparity was far too vast. For a moment, Chi Buzi even wondered what lay beyond the heavens, unsure whether other worlds truly existed. If all of this was real, then for such a terrifying heavenly palace, ruling over this realm would be nothing more than child's play. Chi Buzi was suspicious by nature. He never dwelled long on superfluous fantasies, preferring instead to seek the most plausible deduction. He mused inwardly: *His profound insight into lineages must at least hail from a heritage of the Middle Antiquity...* Sorting through his thoughts, he gradually seized upon the crux of the matter, his eyes narrowing slightly: *It's possible these words were scripted for him to say. A Golden Core cultivator whose lineage is close to Female Water and Lushui might not necessarily be unable to conceive of this approach either. But merely thinking of it isn't enough; only by actually producing a Golden Core seeking method can this truly be brought to fruition.* *And such a method will be anything but simple. Regardless of seeking the Core via the Five Elements or via Void and Reality, orthodox methods of antiquity will all be useless. A scripture must be tailored specifically for me from scratch. What is more, for a Golden Core seeking method so bizarre and pipe-dream-like, the difficulty of designing it is even greater than proving it oneself...* Still, it was Zhengao's string of words that had instilled him with ample confidence, allowing him to believe a fraction of it. Suppressing the joy and anxiety in his heart, he regained his composure: *The Core-seeking method isn't in my hands yet, so a degree of doubt remains. I'll continue capturing demons. In any case, I have nowhere left to advance in my cultivation right now, so it just so happens to be the right time to hunt these creatures... Let me obtain that cultivation method first and have a look...* In high spirits, he rose on the wind and broke through the sea. The vast expanse of heaven and earth stretched out before him, the sea breeze crisp and refreshing. Raising his brow toward the distance, he saw the stars in the heavens gleaming one by one: "One must prepare for a rainy day. I should make a trip to Shiqi to visit various lineages, leave a good impression on that Niangniang, and read through more Female Water Daoist scriptures." *** Haijiao. The sun blazed mercilessly over the island. There was not a trace of moisture above the sea; instead, an oppressive heat hung in the air. The sky was cloudless, a clean expanse of crystal blue, baking the island's crops until they were dry and withered. Upon a boulder by the shore sat a figure clad in a white-and-gold Daoist robe, celestial light glimmering between his brows as he gazed quietly into the sky. After capturing the demon and returning, Li Ximing had concocted the Suiyuan Pill and sent Xia Shouyu into seclusion. He then went into seclusion himself at Haijiao. Over three years, he took two Xuanque Yuncui Pills and diligently cultivated, completely suppressing and extinguishing the flames within his Juque Court. By now, ninety percent of his injuries had healed. What remained was merely superficial damage—his dharmic body had simply been scorched during the battle. Given some time to mend it, returning to his peak would be effortless. Of the seven Xuanque Yuncui Pills, exactly one remained. Li Ximing tucked it into his robes for a rainy day: "Had I not been an alchemist myself, I would still be trapped and lying low in that cursed place. I might even have to fight that underhanded old bastard again in the future. Keeping this one is just right; if I truly get struck by that spell again, it can still save the day." With his injuries mostly healed and Xia Shouyu having broken through to Foundation Establishment, Li Ximing intended to leave Haijiao and head for the Peacock Sea. *Having formed the Hong Fire immortal foundation, the rain clouds disperse, turning cold to heat. Truly, it is almost identical to what was recorded in the texts.* Li Ximing was well-versed in lore by now. Since the White Chi Heart belonged to Hong Fire and contained the character 'chi,' it was likely inseparable from the luan-peacock. The luan-peacock governed fire, with Hong Fire holding supreme esteem; thus, the White Chi Heart ought to possess formidable might. His timing was precise. After waiting only two breaths, he saw a bright hue surge from the temple in the center of the island. Reddish flames soared straight into the sky, accompanied by the faint, melodious chirping of birds ringing clear and sweet. As the chirping drew closer, the white-tinted red flame sped over, manifesting into a comely woman. Her face was flushed with a light pink, her eyebrows slender and high. Bearing a smile, she respectfully knelt before him and bowed: "Shouyu greets the Master. Fortunately, I did not fail your trust; having now formed my Dao foundation, I have not wasted the Master's precious pill..." Li Ximing nodded with a smile, extending a hand to support and raise her up, saying, "It is not entirely the merit of the pill. To cultivate in such a desolate place and reach Qi Refinement so early proves you are a rare talent. And to have encountered me shows your fortune and affinity run deep as well." Xia Shouyu nodded repeatedly. Li Ximing continued, "Let us take a walk around the temple together. Once you have sorted out your affairs, we shall set off." These words filled Xia Shouyu with immense excitement. She immediately bowed down again, replying, "My lord's benevolence... this lowly one will carve it into her heart and never forget it!" One had to understand that between Haijiao and the Peacock Sea at the edge of the East Sea lay layers upon layers of mortal waters. Even though Xia Shouyu had achieved Foundation Establishment, she had no idea how many months or years it would take her to fly across on her own. What was more, once she reached the shore, Mount Jiuqiu might not pay her any heed, but the peacocks certainly would not let her off. Remaining at Haijiao was comfortable enough—she could reign as a local hegemon—yet her cultivation would only languish until death. It was an unfathomably long journey to the prosperous inland regions and the Hetian Sea... Furthermore, the person standing before her was a Violet Palace master. She had secured a solid backer! Li Ximing had already taken a step forward. When master and servant arrived before the temple, they found people kneeling everywhere. Li Ximing did not go inside, merely instructing casually: "Take care of everything properly." Xia Shouyu bowed immediately and stepped inside. One could hear cries of "My lady" and "Grand-aunt" echoing with deafening reverence, interspersed with the weeping of elderly folk shedding tears of joy, the bitter pleading of middle-aged men, and soon after, ambiguous voices urging her to stay. In just fifteen minutes, the commotion subsided. Xia Shouyu walked out briskly and said respectfully: "Reporting to the Master, the temple's affairs have all been settled. During my breakthrough, a three-month drought harmed the common folk. I have left behind the supplies bestowed by the Master with the temple, bidding them to send people to purchase rice to compensate the people." Xia Shouyu had clearly discerned Li Ximing's disposition. This action was both a sounding stone to test his reaction and a final compensation for her temple. Taking it all in, Li Ximing gave a slight nod. The two of them rose on celestial light and flew toward the horizon. Xia Shouyu remained kneeling, catching faint glimpses through the shifting celestial light of the crowd below still prostrating and kowtowing. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. Suddenly, an ink-black darkness spread rapidly, turning heaven and earth pitch-black. "The Great Void!" Traversing the Great Void, Li Ximing spoke: "You did well. I cultivate in Jiangnan and hail from an immortal clan, which is a renowned righteous lineage. You possess a shrewd mind, but once you arrive at the clan, you must discard your overseas habits and temperament." Relieved, Xia Shouyu nodded respectfully. Li Ximing casually retrieved an outer robe embroidered with moon-lake patterns from his storage bag, tossing it into her hands along with a pair of silver boots, and instructed: "We are going to meet guests shortly." Xia Shouyu's patchwork attire was unfit for public display. Although this outer robe was not a proper dharmic garment, it was at least made of soft, expensive spiritual cloth. Paired with the boots, draping it over herself could conceal her ragged appearance. The moment Xia Shouyu felt it in her hands, she was utterly charmed by it: *Tsk, tsk, tsk. This fabric, this spiritual qi—this must be genuine Jiangnan goods.* She draped it over herself and quietly admired it, no longer speaking to disturb him. Meanwhile, Li Ximing traversed the Great Void, pondering inwardly: *I can pay a visit to Mount Jiuqiu. The Tantai family is a good friend of Si Boxiu. Back then, he was the first one I visited. My family currently maintains an amicable relationship with the Sima family, and he has close ties to the inland, making his sources of information the most accurate. There is no harm in seeing him.* Having decided on his itinerary, he shuttled through the Great Void for a short while before tearing through it and emerging into the physical world. The seawater beneath his feet was an interplay of bronze-green and brilliant red—clearly, they had arrived at the Peacock Sea. Xia Shouyu did not comprehend the principles of the Great Void and was struck dumb by such speed, unable to speak. Li Ximing, however, wore a look of suspicion. Seeing peacocks crisscrossing through the sky, he immediately concealed their forms: "What madness has seized these peacocks... searching all over as if their mother had died..." He promptly ducked back into the Great Void. Although he did not know the exact location of Mount Jiuqiu, he simply flew toward the most precipitous point within the Great Void and then returned to the mortal realm. Sure enough, a vast, majestic mountain emerged from the sea, looking all the more imposing amidst the surging waves. The entire mountain range was purplish-red, covered with maple trees rarely seen overseas, tossing wave after wave of foliage in the sea breeze. Sweeping his gaze across it, Li Ximing materialized at the foot of the mountain. Before him stood an enormous mountain gate archway, over a hundred fathoms tall and pure white throughout. On the right, grandiose characters read: *The Path of Great Wonder Conforming to Reality* On the left stood: *Spiritual Yi Clear Moon Mountain* Li Ximing glanced at the center, which bore: *Nine Paths of Taiqiu* Just as various factions regarded the Li family as belonging to the Wei-Li lineage and thus knew to counter them with the various paths of Xi Qi, every lineage traced their heritage as far back as possible. The names of these lineages were of great significance, so Li Ximing committed them to memory first. A cultivator immediately flew out from the mountain, looking startled. He bowed respectfully and said: "Greetings, Master. This humble cultivator is Tantai Muming of the Jiuqiu lineage. Unaware of your immortal carriage's arrival, I failed to welcome you from afar. Please enter the mountain to rest for a while." Both at Haijiao and here in the Peacock Sea, Li Ximing had heard that the master of Mount Jiuqiu was hospitable and entertained numerous friends. This Tantai Muming was evidently a person of wide experience, receiving him quite naturally; the surprise in his eyes was mostly because he did not recognize Li Ximing. Behind him, Xia Shouyu was still lingering in the awe inspired by this majestic mountain and the colossal archway. Because she stood behind a Master who served as her backer, she felt little inferiority, stepping forward slightly with shared pride while trying her best to appear natural so as not to embarrass Li Ximing. Li Ximing nodded slightly and replied: "Is this Master Tantai's place of cultivation? I have long heard of his great name. Last time, I had a delightful conversation with Senior Yuanxiu and heard of the Master's reputation. Passing by the Peacock Sea with some leisure today, I came to pay a visit." Li Ximing did not mention his own Daoist title, yet Tantai Muming was pleasantly surprised and nodded: "So you are a good friend of Master Yuanxiu! Forgive our negligence... Please sit in the pavilion, Master; I shall go inform my elder." Although Li Ximing spoke with great familiarity, Tantai Muming still maintained a sense of vigilance. He did not invite him rashly into the mountain depths, instead dispatching someone to deliver the message while apologizing: "A few days ago, Dacitongcai Temple to the north suddenly caused a disturbance. Our sect's Great Master was invited to Mount Dacitong to discuss important matters with the peacocks and cannot return immediately. "However... Master Lingdu of our sect is currently discussing the Dao with Master Houfu inside the sect, a discussion that has lasted for three months now. I will send word to ask them." Li Ximing's eyes brightened: *Master Houfu is here as well!* Master Houfu was a master from the Great Xiukui Temple. The Great Xiukui Temple conducted its affairs uprightly and had no grievances with the Li family; they had even sent congratulations to Li Ximing back then. With him here, Li Ximing felt much more at ease. After only a few breaths, two masters indeed arrived, treading on the void. The one in the lead was senile and decrepit, leaning on a wooden staff—presumably Lingdu. The one behind wore shamanic robes, tall and thin; it was Houfu, whom he had met before. When the two reached them, Lingdu looked slightly puzzled and said: "Greetings, my friend..." Li Ximing responded with a smile. Houfu, however, recognized him. Stepping forward, he pulled his lips into a subtle smile and spoke: "Senior Lingdu, this is a master from my Jiangnan, Zhaojing." Master Houfu rarely traveled in Jiangnan, but whenever he did, it was with the beating of gongs and drums and spirit steeds drawing his carriage—he loved a grand spectacle. The Li family had also sent congratulations to him back then. Li Ximing hurriedly bowed and smiled: "Greetings, Senior Houfu! I never expected the Master to be here. What an unexpected pleasant surprise!" In truth, Houfu could only be considered of the same generation as Li Ximing. With Li Ximing elevating his status, Houfu's smile broadened slightly as he replied: "You flatter me... Zhaojing is truly formidable!" Li Ximing understood his meaning: seeing that he was in good condition, Houfu was subtly referencing his safe retreat from a Great Master like Changxiao. But Li Ximing knew his own circumstances best; being in this state owed far too much to luck... He laughed it off with polite deflection. Meanwhile, the elderly Lingdu looked quite surprised, looking him up and down before praising: "So you are the imperial descendant, Zhaojing! This old man is Cao Xiyan of the Jiuqiu Immortal Dao, titled Lingdu. Greetings, Master." "I dare not accept the title of imperial descendant... it is merely an erroneous rumor in Jiangnan." Li Ximing hurriedly demurred. Lingdu wore a smile, clearly not quite believing him. Gathering his sleeves, he welcomed him: "Zhaojing, please..." The three rode the wind inside. A gentle breeze blew through the mountain, maple leaves fluttering down. Beneath the largest maple tree at the highest peak sat an antique bronze chessboard. The black and white stones were locked in fierce combat, deeply entangled; evidently, they had been right in the midst of their enthusiasm moments ago. Feeling slightly guilty, Li Ximing cast a glance at it: *...In all my life, I have never even touched a Go piece... Please don't ask me to play a match.* Fortunately, Lingdu immediately put the chessboard aside. Houfu stood behind him with hands clasped behind his back, laughing: "Zhaojing... you've certainly led Tinglan on quite a chase these past two years! Just now I asked the old senior, and it turns out this woman not only inquired at my Great Xiukui Temple, but even came asking at Mount Jiuqiu, all in a rush to find you!"