Li Zhouwei locked eyes with this red-eyed dragon king, a cultivator at the peak of the Violet Palace realm who possessed all five divine abilities. Dongfang Lieyun's murderous, baleful aura seemed on the verge of overflowing; at the fluctuation of his emotions, the entire crystal palace trembled faintly, emitting low, resonant hums.
The dragon king had spoken so rapidly and extensively, his speculations and deductions linked chain upon chain, pressing for an answer with imminent urgency. Li Zhouwei only had time to run through it all in his mind with lightning speed before replying:
"Since Your Majesty believes I was bestowed through Mount Luoxia's interference with the Mingyang Dao Fruit, and Taizu has already weakened to such an extent, even if I were to meet an untimely death right now, would there not be a second dispensation? If Luoxia were to place that second dispensation within Mount Luoxia itself, slaying me would surely be nothing more than drinking poison to quench a thirst.
"Furthermore, had I been ignorant, that would be one thing. But now that Senior has revealed these secrets to me, is attempting to attain the Dao Fruit truly something I would recklessly pursue? If an attempt on the Dao Fruit fails, death is certain. Even if it succeeds, could Mount Luoxia simply stand by and watch the Mingyang Dao Fruit—which they have schemed after for a thousand years—fall into the hands of Li Qianyuan's descendant? Mingyang values lineage and places paramount importance on the lawful order of hierarchy and seniority. If I were to become a True Monarch, how could this Dao Fruit ever suit Luoxia's wishes?"
Before Dongfang Lieyun could answer, Li Zhouwei maintained a calm expression and continued:
"I know nothing of the doctrines of karmic mandates. Yet as a White Lin, even if I was indeed born of Mount Luoxia's manipulation, cooperating with the dragonkind to preserve Taizu's position is the only proper path. No matter how formidable Mount Luoxia may be, they will ultimately never tolerate my existence. If Your Majesty truly wished to kill me, you would not have said so much—you merely wanted me to understand what is at stake."
For the dragonkind, the worst outcome regarding Li Zhouwei was for him to fail in his attempt on the Dao Fruit, which would mean all the dragonkind's efforts from beginning to end had amounted to scooping water with a bamboo basket. Conversely, Mount Luoxia desired nothing more than for Li Zhouwei to attempt the Dao Fruit... Dongfang Lieyun's expression darkened, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the hall:
"Once one's Dao path is severed, how could a White Lin ever resign himself to it? When his lifespan runs out, does he not perish just the same? Anyone with ambition would rather contend with Luoxia over Mingyang and maneuver against them. If one should happen to become a True Monarch, divine abilities are profoundly miraculous—could there truly be no way to achieve reconciliation? Even if one perishes, there are endless chances for revival, which is far better than dying as a mere Violet Palace cultivator."
Li Zhouwei's gaze did not waver as he answered:
"Should one perish after becoming a True Monarch, one would surely be suppressed by Luoxia, never to see the light of day again. As a Violet Palace cultivator, there are still intercalary and remnant positions to pursue. Even if that fails, so long as the dragonkind grants me a portion of golden nature in exchange, allowing me to reincarnate, would I not break free from this cage?"
Though Li Zhouwei had uttered something as momentous as trading for a portion of golden nature, Dongfang Lieyun showed no surprise at all. Standing at a distance before the hall, the demonic creature made no mention of the intercalary or remnant positions either, his voice growing softer:
"If you reincarnate and cultivate another path, you may not necessarily be able to reach the realm of five divine abilities."
Li Zhouwei fell silent for a moment. The demonic creature took a step forward, the ferocious light in his eyes significantly faded, and finally took the initiative to speak again:
"Regardless of whether you are Mount Luoxia's handiwork or not, I have no reason to kill you. This meeting was simply meant to lay things bare with you... Although Mount Luoxia will come looking for you just the same once you break through to the Violet Palace, the true ownership of the Mingyang Dao Fruit is not something you alone can decide.
"By the time you cultivate to the late Violet Palace stage, Taizu's state remains uncertain. Whether you plan to seek a remnant or intercalary position, or find yourself backed into a corner and choose to reincarnate and cultivate anew, all will depend on how the situation unfolds."
Li Zhouwei quietly let out a breath of relief in his heart, bowed, and answered:
"Taizu was harmed by Luoxia, whereas the dragonkind has been an old friend for a thousand years. As for right and wrong, I, Zhouwei, can still tell them apart."
The Dragon King of Beihai gave no further reply, ascending step by step to the highest jade platform. His physique was inherently massive, casting great layers of shadow. Standing at the edge of the platform, he raised his head and said in a low voice:
"This White Lin blood is something I must collect as well. First, I have my own use for it; second, it serves as an excuse to satisfy Xiangchun. Rest assured, however, you will not be shortchanged in this matter. I will have someone bring spiritual items..."
Li Zhouwei looked up. He had long known this ordeal was unavoidable, yet there had always been conjectures in his heart left unconfirmed. Sensing the opportunity while the dragon king was currently agreeable, he asked:
"I wonder if I may ask a question... May I ask which member among the dragonkind holds close ties with our Wei Li clan and stepped forward to save us?"
Dongfang Lieyun glanced at him and answered:
"That is a long story... It has much to do with Real Person Zipei of old, and it is not fitting for me to gossip about it here. If you are inclined to investigate, head due east past the Reef Sea; to the north lies an ocean called Liehai. You may go inquire there yourself."
The dragon king's expression turned slightly somber as he added:
"On the other hand, that dog Changxiao was sharp enough to perceive quite a few things. Whether intentionally or not, he at least realized he had been made into Mount Luoxia's pawn, and now he is hiding away, refusing to show himself... Who knows what he is colluding with in secret..."
Li Zhouwei understood from this exchange, and bowed in gratitude:
"My thanks to the dragonkind for extending a helping hand!"
Dongfang Lieyun gave a slight wave of his hand. Within the crystal palace, winds and clouds surged as billows of white cloud-mist surged in from outside like a tide, rapidly ascending the jade-green stairs until it rose past their calves.
Dongfang Lieyun and Li Zhouwei stood together amidst this white cloud-mist, as if situated atop the highest reaches of the sky. All the crystal and emerald scenery was engulfed, leaving only an expanse of vast whiteness and the jade platform not far away.
Soon the clouds converged, and beside the two of them rapidly coalesced a young man. He was dressed in immaculate white robes, his hair neatly combed, with a slightly round face, short and delicate eyebrows, and pure black eyes. He offered a very graceful, exemplary bow:
"Dongfang Heyun greets the Venerable One."
The dragon king's red eyes shifted slightly as he answered:
"I have told you multiple times, there is no need for such formality from now on. You too command free mastery over divine abilities now; if you continue to be so polite, it will make me feel uneasy."
Dongfang Heyun smiled faintly, yet his bowed back did not straighten as he simply replied:
"Proper etiquette should always be observed. I learned this from humankind in the Near Antiquity era and have benefited from it to this day; I cannot simply discard it just because my strength has grown and I have acquired a few divine abilities..."
The demonic king was very courteous toward him and pressed no further, merely nodding. Dongfang Heyun turned his gaze over, gave a slight nod, and said with a smile:
"So the White Lin is here. It has truly been a long time... I wanted to visit Fellow Daoist Xizhi several times, but unexpectedly he is always at the Ten-Thousand-Li Stone Pond, making it awkward for me to meet him."
Reasonably speaking, the dragonkind had no fear of Qingchi whatsoever; there were few places across the East Sea or the South Sea where dragons could not go. At the Ten-Thousand-Li Stone Pond, at most one would run into Si Boxiu; frankly speaking, Dongfang Heyun did not need to show Yuanxiu much face at all.
Yet Dongfang Heyun claimed it was awkward to meet him, leaving it uncertain whether he was merely being polite or hindered by some circumstance from entering the Stone Pond. Li Zhouwei bowed and offered a casual compliment:
"Elders in my family have also spoken of Senior's bearing with great admiration. If Senior wishes to meet, you need only give the word, and we will arrange a venue to invite you."
Dongfang Heyun smiled faintly and nodded politely. High upon the seat of honor, the Dragon King of Beihai signaled with a glance, and the white-robed young man retrieved a dark-gold box from his sleeve. Inscribed upon it in subtle patterns was a qilin baring its claws and fangs.
Dongfang Heyun stroked the box gently, seemingly chanting an incantation. The dark-gold box clicked open on its own. Inside, lined with folded black silk, sat a round porcelain saucer the size of a pastry, containing a golden-white liquid.
The moment this platinum spiritual object appeared, it was as though a golden-white sun had risen amid the clouds. Radiance shimmered as ten thousand rays of dawn burst forth through the cloud layers, illuminating the entire white expanse in brilliant splendor.
Dongfang Heyun reached out, and fierce winds instantly gathered clouds from all directions, suppressing all the morning light back into the box before the surrounding scenery returned to normal. He said with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist is likely no stranger to this item. It is called Baidu Blood, known in ancient times as the Shuyang Shengming Lin Radiance. The beast of Mingyang is Shuyang, and Shuyang's eldest son was named Shengming—the very first White Lin. During a solar eclipse, when the radiance upon the White Lin falls to the earth, it becomes Baidu Blood."
Indeed, the Li family was no stranger to the name Baidu Blood. Back when Li Ximing was preparing to attempt the breakthrough to the Violet Palace and needed to gather Violet Palace spiritual items, Baidu Blood had been among the several Mingyang spiritual items listed. No wonder there had never been any trace of it heard of in the world: the White Lin were extinct, so where could Baidu Blood possibly be found? Although spiritual items could be condensed through more than one method, this substance was largely tied to the White Lin.
Li Zhouwei, however, had a matter of greater concern. Looking up, he seized the opportunity to ask:
"You all refer to me as a White Lin. May I ask how I differ from Shengming?"
Dongfang Heyun chuckled and answered:
"You possess the White Lin's fate, and this karmic mandate is abundant—so bountiful that it is as though you were the reincarnation of a White Lin. Yet you lack the White Lin's nature. Therefore, by cultivating the Purple Gold Demonic Path, you supplement and complete that nature; once you break through to the Golden Core, there will be no difference between you and the Shengming Lin... When a solar eclipse occurs then, the Shuyang Shengming Lin Radiance will likewise fall from your body.
"Precisely because you already possess a fairly complete fate of the White Lin, the lifebound divine abilities within the Purple Gold Demonic Path come effortlessly to your fingertips... If you entered the Buddhist path, you would instantly attain a seat. The Bright King Shengming Jin of ancient times was just like this."
It was rare to hear such information, so Li Zhouwei hurriedly asked:
"Is a lifebound divine ability the same as a karmic mandate?"
Dongfang Heyun explained patiently:
"A lifebound divine ability is still a divine ability. Having a karmic mandate makes it easy to cultivate a lifebound divine ability, but a lifebound divine ability cannot generate a karmic mandate. Once one ascends to a Dao Fruit, it will naturally be bestowed upon the cultivators of the Purple Gold Demonic Path. Golden nature is not the key; the seat is the crux. It is said only ancient beings of great divine ability could generate karmic mandates relying on golden nature, and those were figures at the level of Immortal Sovereigns."
How sharp was Li Zhouwei? Hearing this, understanding struck him at once:
'It seems the crux of everything lies in seeking the Dao Fruit. Seeking fate through nature is likely, in truth, seeking the Dao Fruit through nature, and then obtaining fate through the Dao Fruit, thereby achieving both...'
After all, the Dragon King of Beihai was still waiting above, so he said nothing more. Only then did Dongfang Heyun continue:
"Preparedness averts peril. Extracting this portion of White Lin blood from you is not only for Madam Xiangchun's use, but also for the Venerable One to examine. After all, the main purpose is to inspect your bloodline, not that he needs this as a spiritual item. That is why it must be done before you reach the Violet Palace; doing so harms one's foundation, and if left until after you enter the Violet Palace, it would be exceedingly difficult to remedy."
Dongfang Heyun had always been very genial toward him and made a point of explaining this. Li Zhouwei finally saw the truth:
'So that is how it is! Truly cautious to the extreme, still wanting to inspect the bloodline within me even now... Though Xiangchun asked for spiritual items, it was merely an excuse. The dragonkind extracts it themselves to verify that I truly am the Wei Li clan's White Lin, and then casually bestows it upon Xiangchun. This verification process in between is what truly matters!'
Dongfang Heyun brought over the pastry-sized porcelain saucer and said:
"With this Baidu Blood, you need only refine it, and my extraction of your essence-blood from the outside will not harm your foundation; it will even consolidate and deepen your cultivation."
The young man had always been polite, and even made a light joke:
"Of course, such a quantity cannot all be used on you. A mere dot upon your glabella is more than enough. If you were to do this after reaching the Violet Palace, an entire portion would be required."
He seemed unable to touch this spiritual object directly, nudging it forward. Li Zhouwei reached out his index finger to touch it; his fingertip flared scorching hot, and he tapped it against his glabella. No liquid remained on his hand, while a surging radiance surfaced from his forehead between his eyebrows.
Li Zhouwei sat down cross-legged upon the jade platform. Dongfang Heyun formed hand seals beside him, seemingly scrutinizing something, while tiny droplets of golden liquid rapidly converged at the fingertips of his other hand.
The Dragon King of Beihai watched with lowered eyes from the seat of honor throughout. As time slipped by, Dongfang Heyun drew back his hand; in his palm lay a bead of golden liquid the size of a fingernail.
Li Zhouwei remained with eyes closed, his face pale as celestial light between his eyebrows enveloped his entire body, rapidly replenishing his vitality. Clearly, this process could not be finished in a short while. Dongfang Heyun raised a hand, and a sea of clouds swiftly covered him, insulating and shielding him.
He walked briskly forward, presenting the golden bead with both hands, and said respectfully:
"May the Venerable One inspect it."
From the seat of honor, Dongfang Lieyun took it gently into his palm and scrutinized it. After quite a long while, the red-eyed demon king said in a low voice:
"Though I have not examined it in detail... it is at least undoubtedly of the orthodox Mingyang lineage..."
He pondered for a long time before speaking quietly:
"Heyun, I feel his disposition is not overbearing or ruthless enough... unlike the White Lin... Yet he possesses none of the insidious treachery of the White Cicada either. Strictly speaking... he actually shares similarities with Emperor Gong of Wei."
Dongfang Heyun smiled slightly and bowed:
"In my view... this is entirely normal. After all, Emperor Taizu of Wei's condition is abnormal, and Mingyang has been affected as well. The signs were already visible in the era of Emperor Gong of Wei; is it not entirely reasonable that he resembles Emperor Gong now? That he is neither overbearing nor tyrannical is all the better; there is no need to worry that his temperament might be too fierce and that he would rashly charge for the Dao Fruit in one breath... That could not be better."
"Indeed."
The Dragon King of Beihai could not help but nod and reply:
"No matter how Mount Luoxia interferes with the Mingyang Dao Fruit, multiple karmic mandates could hardly descend. Calculating the days, Mount Luoxia is about to orchestrate the descent of Mingyang into the mortal realm again. With them having to attend to guarding over there, how much could they possibly oversee elsewhere? At most there is this one Li Zhouwei, and under our watchful eyes, he is safe as well..."
Dongfang Heyun nodded and said respectfully:
"Mingyang's remnant position is exceedingly difficult to seek. The Dongli Sect has researched the Lihuo intercalary position, but that too is no simple matter, let alone cultivating divine abilities right under Mount Luoxia's nose... Who knows what stance the north takes."
At the mention of this matter, the demonic creature on the dais clearly hesitated as well, murmuring:
"It is still early days. It was merely necessary to bring it up to him beforehand so that he harbors vigilance and wariness against Luoxia... lest things become too passive later..."
Putting away the golden droplet in his hand, he stood up and said:
"I shall make a trip to Yinzhou. If he breaks through and emerges from seclusion, explain things clearly to him and see him off!"
The efficacy of the secret technique Imperial Decree was to augment one's majesty and command others. Though its power was not great, commanding and dispatching mortals and low-level cultivators was not an issue... While there was progress on the remaining two secret techniques, they had not yet been mastered, so no effects had manifested and their practical use was negligible.
However, secret techniques were inherently not Daoist arts meant to enhance combat...
Chapter 816