The Sea of King Dong'e.
Within the earth veins, darkness hung thick and heavy, pierced only by the faint, flickering gleams of flame. A massive, man-height alchemy furnace stood upon the primary vein, adorned with intricate patterns. Its body was carved all over with surging waves and ferocious beasts, supported on three legs planted firmly upon the ground—exceedingly archaic and primitive.
Spiritual fire roared with fierce brilliance. An outer ring of bright, surging flames enveloped the pitch-black alchemy furnace, embracing it from all sides, while bright-white flames leapt beneath its base.
Li Ximing had been refining this pill for nearly two years. Although he considered the pill's theoretical principles quite sound and comprehensive, it was ultimately his first time forming a pill through Heavenly Mind Single Intent. There had been several perilous junctures along the way, but fortunately his foundation was exceptionally solid, allowing him to pull through each of them safely.
'The power of the [Three Hou Shuxuan Fire] was beyond expectations and has aided me immensely, and the domineering force of [Heavenly Mind Single Intent] is no less formidable. Were it not for both, this pill would have been very difficult to complete.'
'Everything is going well, save for one issue... this furnace can hardly endure it any longer.'
The [Jiangzhong Furnace] before him was an heirloom handed down from his ancestors, obtained by a forebear during the catastrophe of the market fair. It was only of the Qi Refinement rank, but having been forged in ancient times, its materials were remarkably sturdy, which was the sole reason it had served adequately until today.
Yet no matter how sturdy, it could not withstand the joint refinement of a Violet Palace cultivator's divine ability and true fire. Such power was enough to melt the furnace into liquid; only through the protective shielding of his divine ability had it barely maintained its shape.
'Once this batch of pills is finished, this furnace can never be used again.'
At present, the pill's refinement was approaching its final nurturing stage, allowing him to finally ease his focus. Li Ximing formed an incantation gesture and cast a technique. The divine ability enveloping the furnace shimmered. He stood up, pressed two fingers together before his lips, and exhaled a speck of purple radiance.
Imbued with his divine ability, this speck of Mingyang flame was brimming with spiritual vigor. It burrowed beneath the furnace and sank into the [Three Hou Shuxuan Fire]. Li Ximing then chanted:
"Three Hou True Fire, foster the treasured pill; focused and secure, await its radiance."
With that, he withdrew his presence entirely, not even leaving behind a thread of spiritual sense. Leaving only his divine ability to protect the furnace, the spiritual fire obediently carried out the process of nurturing on his behalf.
After all, the [Three Hou Shuxuan Fire] was a spiritual flame for alchemy praised even by Real Person Yuandao, Dantai Lingtong. It had provided tremendous aid throughout the refinement of this pill, and with its abundant spiritual nature and minimal destructiveness, such tasks of gentle nurturing could be completely entrusted to it.
"Phew."
He relaxed at once. A full two years of unbroken concentration, fusing and refining spiritual materials, while employing an alchemy method he had never used before—even with Li Ximing's Violet Palace physique, he felt somewhat fatigued and could not help exhaling a long, deep breath.
Taking out several soul-nourishing pills and ingesting them to recuperate his divine ability, thirty-six days passed. A faint ripple stirred between his brows, and an intuition suddenly seized his heart. He opened his eyes.
'Tinglan of Ziyan Gate has tracked me down.'
Before entering seclusion in the Sea of King Dong'e, he had left a jade pendant with Houfu, imbued with a wisp of his divine ability, agreeing to meet at the boundary between the two seas. Now, his celestial light resonated—someone had crushed it.
Back during Foundation Establishment, items like spiritual jade required frequent nurturing to maintain remote resonance and often lost their effectiveness after a few years. Now that he had achieved a divine ability, a simple flick of power could keep the resonance intact for over a decade—vastly more convenient.
Thus, he shrouded the area with formations and reinforced it with warnings from his divine ability, then tore open the Great Void and shuttled through. First observing from within the Great Void, he indeed saw a purple cloud carriage resting at the boundary between the two seas, adorned with fluttering golden ribbons—instantly recognizable as a Real Person of Ziyan Gate.
He did not rush forward heedlessly. Only after probing to confirm there was no ambush did he transform into celestial light, darting downward to manifest before the carriage.
Standing before the carriage was a young woman of pure, lovely countenance; illuminated by the celestial light, she proved to be a transformed rabbit demon. Seeing Li Ximing, she bowed repeatedly. Before Li Ximing could speak, the carriage curtain brushed open with a rustle. Tinglan, still dressed in that autumn-yellow satin robe, said with a touch of embarrassment:
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"
Li Ximing had barely survived at Changxiao's hands, surely suffering no small loss. And yet the matter had been triggered by Ziyan's arrangements; though that was merely an excuse, it made Tinglan feel awkward nonetheless. Offering a slight salute, she said:
"It has truly been many years... The matters with Xuanyue have come to an end. Fortunately, you are safe and sound, Fellow Daoist, or else... I would never have forgiven myself..."
Li Ximing had little intention of blaming her. The incident was ultimately due to his own lack of caution, something Ziyan Gate could never have anticipated. Moreover, as he gradually learned how overbearing the Taiyang lineage's origins were, how could he have any right to reproach Ziyan? He replied:
"This matter... Changxiao caught me unawares. It is no fault of your sect."
Unwilling to make a conspicuous display here, and mindful that the pills in the earth veins were not yet finished, he continued:
"The treasured medicine in my furnace is not yet complete. Please come to my humble abode to rest a while, Tinglan."
Hearing this, Tinglan nodded in agreement. The purple cloud carriage descended into the sea, proceeding all the way down to the seabed, where white sand rolled in ripples. Tinglan stowed the carriage and instructed:
"Wait for me here."
The spirit beast complied. Li Ximing activated the Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger, shrouding them in earthy-yellow radiance, and led Tinglan deep into the earth veins. Tinglan shifted her gaze and remarked:
"The [Great Dao of Xuanguang Moving Mountains] does possess some notable merit. Traveling through the earth is no trivial feat, yet this [Mountain-Driving Sea-Crossing Tiger] navigates earth veins just like an Earth Virtue cultivator. It clearly demonstrates the lineage's excellence."
This was Li Ximing's first time hearing the full name of Xuanyue's lineage. He murmured thoughtfully:
"A Tongxuan lineage... No wonder they are so close to Xuanmiao Temple."
Tinglan let out a soft laugh and said:
"It hardly qualifies as a Tongxuan lineage. Every single branch of that rank has specific provenance and recorded heritage. Douxuan is somewhat looser, but Tongxuan is the strictest of all. Fellow Daoist Sumian at least possesses a Portrait of the Patriarch, whereas Xuanyue has nothing of the sort."
As Li Ximing led the way downward, he recalled the scandalous [Qi Stone Demon Embryo] that Changxi had given Sumian, but made no comment. Tinglan sighed:
"Around the Zhulu Sea, an incident occurred on an island belonging to our Ziyan Gate. We investigated for quite some time, and it has turned out to be terribly troublesome."
"Oh?"
Li Ximing prompted. Tinglan's expression grew suspicious as she replied:
"At first, we assumed it was shifting earth veins or a disruption in the undersea fire veins. Yet after circling the area several times with a fellow Daoist, we discovered traces of Earth Virtue divine abilities. We then asked Zhu Gong to examine it, and she guessed that a cultivator had made a breakthrough there."
Li Ximing furrowed his brows and replied:
"In recent years, Earth Virtue cultivators have truly become more and more numerous..."
In truth, most demonic cultivators could be counted among Earth Virtue practitioners, but Li Ximing and his peers naturally did not consider such demonic figures of any real significance; when mentioning Earth Virtue cultivators, they invariably meant figures of the immortal Dao Real Person caliber. Tinglan nodded in agreement, her voice sinking as she replied:
"Indeed. And this kind of terrestrial phenomenon somewhat resembles 'Xuantu'—namely, what later became known as the Shetu path among the twin soils of Sheji, also referred to as She Immortals. This has given me a headache for a long time. I discussed it with several fellow Daoists, and their stance was... the She Immortal path is the foremost among the immortal Daos; it is best not to delve too deeply into it."
The Earth Virtue was manifold and convoluted; Li Ximing had heard of more than six branches himself, offering a faint glimpse into just how illustrious the Dao's ancient origins had been. The two paths of She and Ji were especially renowned. Although the Qingsong Taiyang lineage was noble, its patrons were currently either missing or living in seclusion, perhaps placing it a step below. It was no wonder she felt unsettled.
Before long, they passed into the cave abode. Tinglan's eyes lit up, and she gasped in surprise:
"What an excellent true fire! This is... a true fire of the Three Hou lineage, is it not? It is truly ancient."
With just that single remark, the discernment of the Qingsong Taiyang lineage was on full display. Li Ximing nodded gently. His divine ability had already shielded the furnace completely, concealing it from view. Tinglan swept her spiritual sense over it and chuckled:
"You are truly bold because of your consummate skill—for a top-tier spirit pill like this, a mere Qi Refinement furnace suffices!"
It all boiled down to his poverty, though Tinglan had phrased it handsomely. Li Ximing said:
"This pill was born of a fleeting inspiration and is not yet finished. Fortunately, it has reached the nurturing stage. Your pill requires the [Measureless Water-Fire] and will not need this furnace anyway, so there is no conflict."
Hearing him finally bring up her pill on his own accord, Tinglan folded her arms across her chest and teased with a smile:
"Your family's formation had driven in its mountain-piercing black nails, and I could not even find a trace of your shadow. If not for getting word from Houfu, I fear I would have worked for you for nothing."
Tinglan meant it playfully, but it held a grain of truth. Li Ximing repeatedly offered apologies and replied:
"Though there was a delay, it was a blessing in disguise. My attainment in alchemy has grown substantially, giving me far greater confidence in refining this batch of spirit pills for you."
Tinglan chuckled, then turned serious:
"It cannot be put off any longer. I need this pill urgently; otherwise, out of consideration for your current state of mind, I would not have come all the way out to the Outer Sea."
"Now, the [Tianyi Pure Element] has been brought along, and the [Measureless Water-Fire] is also on my person. As for the furnace..."
Her already fair countenance turned entirely solemn:
"Even the spirit artifact, the [Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace], I have borrowed for you."
'What grand preparations... This pill is truly extraordinary.'
Li Ximing now had great confidence in refining the [Tianyi Exuding Essence Pill], especially with the aid of the furnace and talisman qi. Nodding slightly, he answered:
"Then let us select a location to refine the pill... Your batch requires refining the spiritual materials, which is a time-consuming process. The earlier we begin, the better."
He pondered:
"To refine such a spiritual pill, it is best to find a suitable precious ground... though I know not if the Sea of King Dong'e has one."
Li Ximing was an alchemist after all, and hearing this, Tinglan fell into contemplation. Li Ximing glanced at her and smiled:
"How about this: refining the spiritual materials is a time-consuming project, but fortunately it is not picky about the location. I shall perform the material refinement here first, while you ride your immortal carriage to seek a suitable spot. Once I finish refining the materials and reach the next step of forming the pill, we can move to the precious ground to conclude the refinement."
Tinglan nodded slightly, finding the proposal sensible, yet she still retained some caution. She replied:
"This is a good method, and it is not that I distrust you. The [Measureless Water-Fire] can be left here for you to use in refinement on your own, but the furnace, the [Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace], was borrowed from the Great Xiukui Temple. It cannot be left behind here. You can only make do with my [Baoxiang Furnace] instead; it is a Dharma furnace of the Foundation Establishment rank."
With his [Heavenly Mind Single Intent] pill approaching completion, Li Ximing's actual intention had been to send her away. After all, the sovereign ingredient of his spiritual medicine was made from a Taiyin lineage spiritual item, and she had once been a subordinate of the Yuan Palace, so he feared she might discern something. Hearing about her Dharma furnace, however, he could only grumble inwardly:
'Fine, fine, even cultivators who don't practice alchemy have better furnaces than mine.'
Whether it was the [Baoxiang Furnace] or the [Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace], either could leave his [Jiangzhong Furnace] ten streets behind. What reason did he have to mind? He smiled and said:
"No matter."
Tinglan then produced a clay pot no larger than a palm. Its surface was smooth and incised with numerous golden-white patterns. Holding it in hand, she cautioned:
"This [Shangxiang Pot] is also a spirit artifact, forged in past years by Martial Uncle Zimu. This portion of [Measureless Water-Fire] cannot escape or break free; even if lost, it will dart back through the Great Void."
After all, the [Measureless Water-Fire] was an exceedingly precious entity, and her words served as a subtle reminder. As she uncapped the pot, a ball of radiant flame immediately leapt out. The two complementary hues—deep indigo-green and lustrous azure-blue—intertwined into a single mass. The spiritual mechanism in the cave abode instantly plummeted and withered. Beside it, the [Three Hou Shuxuan Fire] hummed with agitation, its flames warping rapidly, threatening to ruin the pill in an instant.
Yet Li Ximing casually reached out and caught it. The [Measureless Water-Fire] immediately settled down, resting obediently within his palm. Its two colors stabilized, coalescing into a quiescent variegated cluster that lay docile in his grasp.
Tinglan audibly exhaled a breath of relief, the hand she had tensely kept pressed against the pot's lid relaxing as well. She nodded in astonishment:
"Remarkable skill, Fellow Daoist!"
The [Measureless Water-Fire] was inherently ferocious to begin with, and having been refined into an artifact, its root remained within that spirit artifact. It could not truly be refined for personal ownership, only borrowed, which made controlling the flame all the more arduous. Tinglan's earlier repeated warnings had not been without reason.
Seeing that Li Ximing handled it effortlessly, she felt that the matter was practically half-won. Filled with joy, she drew a precious box from her sleeve and spoke in a low voice:
"The spiritual ingredients for refining the pill are all inside this box. Most have two portions. As for the few truly precious ones, if the refinement goes awry, you may adjust accordingly as you see fit."
Scanning it with his spiritual sense, Li Ximing clicked his tongue in awe, his mind growing cautious instead:
'These materials are too vital to Ziyan. If the refinement succeeds, all will naturally be well; but if it fails, it will not only be embarrassing, but will deeply offend them.'
The female cultivator in autumn-yellow robes waved her hand gently, retrieving from her sleeve an alchemy furnace intertwined with golden-yellow and ivory-white. It was immensely massive, cast with elephant heads on all four sides, shimmering with spiritual luster—undoubtedly the [Baoxiang Furnace].
Passing the magical artifact into his hands, Tinglan looked as though a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and her tone turned noticeably livelier. She promptly bade farewell and took her leave, stepping back several paces to clear the range of the [Measureless Water-Fire] before shuttling off through the Great Void.
Li Ximing examined the [Measureless Water-Fire] in his hand, its deep indigo-green and lustrous azure-blue interweaving, and felt a touch of envy:
"This spiritual fire was never meant for alchemy in the first place. Brandishing such a spiritual object in combat would make one practically invincible. No wonder Zimu went to the trouble of refining this flame into a spirit artifact. Severing spiritual mechanisms while fleeing ensures that enemies cannot drop out of thin air right beside you, and it is even more terrifying when setting an ambush..."
It was not as though he could not feel the recalcitrant unfamiliarity of the flame. Yet with [Valley Wind Fire-Guiding], mastering it was effortless. The [Shangxiang Pot] was ingeniously conceived with superb craftsmanship, granting the [Measureless Water-Fire] a degree of autonomy; even though Tinglan had departed with the spirit artifact, what remained in his hand was not mere magical flame, but the [Measureless Water-Fire] itself.
'The handiwork of Real Person Zimu... Calculating by age, he must be extremely advanced in years by now. Whether he is truly missing or feigning his disappearance is hard to say...'
Urging the [Measureless Water-Fire] into motion, he properly positioned the [Baoxiang Furnace]. One spiritual ingredient after another flew up in succession and plunged into the furnace.
'The Tianyi Exuding Essence Pill is a troublesome task, but there will be plenty of time for the [Three Hou Shuxuan Fire] to nurture my spiritual pill to completion!'
Chapter 826