Transmutation of the Yin Banishment

Li Ximing swept his gaze over the crowd of cultivators below, his brow furrowing slightly. He knew that as more and more Violet Palace figures learned he was in seclusion here, staying would only grow increasingly inconvenient. If they could stir up trouble today, they could disrupt his seclusion tomorrow, leaving his peace entirely in the hands of others. *It's not that I distrust Xiukui or Mount Jiuqiu… Baisha Island can still serve as a place to leave messages, but I can no longer remain here for closed-door cultivation. It would be better to find somewhere else.* With that thought, any desire to linger on Baisha Island vanished. Looking down at the motley crowd of cultivators, he secretly frowned. *Still, if I simply flick my sleeves and leave, this area will suffer again in a few years… Be it sects from the Xilian Sea or neighboring factions, they might hold back for a short while, but probing is inevitable.* If he continued to stay here, matters would only escalate. Setting aside the dragonkind, even Daci Tongcai Temple in the nearby Peacock Sea would likely dispatch monks to inquire once they heard a Violet Palace power had arisen in adjacent waters. That bunch of monks was sly and insidious to the core; who knew what trouble might brew then? Pausing briefly, he finally spoke: "I roam the various seas and passed through here by chance. I did not expect you all to gather on this island to seek my shelter. Now that I am departing these waters, our karmic affinity has run its course." Hearing his words, the cultivators below realized they would not be held accountable, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Yet hearing that he was leaving, fear gripped them once more. Weeping, they bowed repeatedly. Li Ximing merely said: "Monsters run rampant across the Sea of King Dong'e. Since I have come here, I cannot simply watch idly as they wreak havoc…" Had Li Ximing been a formation master, modifying Baisha Island's grand formation would have been the ideal solution. Unfortunately, he knew nothing of formations, and giving out pills would only incite deadly strife among them. In the end, he could only retrieve several jade slips from his sleeve. These contained several cultivation methods and spells from the inner seas. Whatever their quality, they were far superior to the crude, common goods these people possessed. Tossing the jade slips onto the stone table, Li Ximing shook his head and said: "What sort of hodgepodge arts have you all been practicing? You couldn't even defeat a handful of monsters. Pass these among yourselves and study them… No monster will dare approach for the next ten-odd years. Rely on your own diligence to pass down your lineages. "I must first make a trip to the Xilian Sea. When I return, I shall offer some guidance to those on the sea who have a chance at Foundation Establishment before continuing my travels across the realms." The cultivators were both startled and overjoyed. The old Daoist Wu shuffled forward two steps and wept, "May we know your exalted title, My Lord? The people of the Sea of King Dong'e… will be eternally grateful…" *My title?* Li Ximing could not be bothered to let these people use his name as a banner, nor did he want whatever mess they caused later to be pinned on him. Could he honestly expect this ragtag bunch of loose cultivators, possessing nothing to their names, to produce late Foundation Establishment talents? Much less a Violet Palace master? Since he harbored no such hopes, leaving his name and forging a lineage bond would merely be inviting trouble for himself. He turned to leave, casually remarking: "What need is there for a title? If you all draw upon less blood and vital essence, that will be your greatest repayment to me." He vanished into the Great Void, leaving behind the crowd who still dared not raise their heads. Hearing that single parting remark, more than ninety percent of the cultivators broke into a cold sweat, casting nervous glances toward Daoist Wu at the front. The old Daoist did nothing but kowtow incessantly. Now that the crisis had passed, his entire body relaxed, and he thought to himself: *A narrow escape… Several juniors in my Wu family are at the right age, and that Han boy went west to train… This means my Wu family stands to gain the most…* *** In the distant open sea, spiritual energy was scarce, allowing extremely swift traversal through the Great Void. Li Ximing shuttled through the void for only a few hours, crossing multiple oceans, and soon arrived within the territory of the so-called Xilian Sea. The seabed of the Xilian Sea was exceptionally shallow. As he looked along the way, the average depth was less than a hundred zhang below the surface. In shallower parts, numerous islanders could be seen wading into the sea to harvest reef stone. They were quite numerous, mostly robust and healthy, or at least well-fed. Occasionally, a harvester drowned, a corpse floating up, yet the people around showed little grief, their expressions mostly tinged with sighing resignation and surprise. Achieving such stability under the governance of an immortal path was no easy feat. Seeing the demeanor and posture of the common folk, knowing they did not lead miserable lives under the rule of this Quanjing Immortal Sect, Li Ximing felt reassured. Continuing westward, he soon spotted a maritime immortal peak accompanied by several surrounding islands. Before he had to search any further, the cultivators across the entire island were already thrown into commotion, gathering swiftly beneath his feet. Li Ximing secretly frowned. *Such sharp vigilance… This lineage is no ordinary sect, nor is it the domain of some loose overseas cultivator who attained the Dao. Judging by this response alone, they easily rival the great lineages of the inner seas…* Sure enough, when he lifted his gaze slightly, several streaks of flying light flashed across the immortal mountain in the distance, speeding toward him before resolving into two fluttering, robed youths. They bowed together and chorused: "The Zhao clan of Jishan greets the Real Person!" "May we ask… what brings your immortal presence here? What instructions do you have for us?" Li Ximing felt a slight stir of confusion, assuming he had encountered an affiliated clan under the Quanjing sect, and asked, "Is the Quanjing Immortal Sect located here?" The two youths exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting subtly. One replied respectfully, "If the Real Person seeks the Quanjing Immortal Sect, that is indeed our Zhao clan of Jishan." Just as the words left his mouth, a figure stepped forth from the Great Void. He was clad in a white feather robe over a turquoise short tunic. His appearance was aged, looking far older than Li Ximing, and his cultivation stood merely at the early Violet Palace realm, slightly inferior even to Li Ximing's. Seeing Li Ximing, this elderly man who had broken through to the Violet Palace in his twilight years was naturally exceedingly polite. Cupping his hands with a smile, he greeted: "So it is Real Person Zhaojing who graces us with his presence! I am Linyi of Jishan. Please, come inside so we may speak at leisure!" Hearing him state his Daoist title in one breath, Li Ximing pondered briefly and asked tentatively, "Fellow Daoist… you are remarkably well-informed." Real Person Linyi chuckled at once upon hearing the inquiry. "It was thanks to guidance from a Real Person of Mount Jiuqiu that I learned your Daoist title… Hearing that you were cultivating in the Sea of King Dong'e, I went there to look around. I happened to witness the incident on Baisha Island, so I knew with near certainty that it was you, Fellow Daoist." Hearing the name of Mount Jiuqiu, Li Ximing let his guard down slightly. Strictly speaking, the reputation of Mount Jiuqiu was far more reliable than that of Ziyan or Xiukui. Nodding gently, he replied: "Finding a resting spot nearby will suffice." The old Real Person understood. The two of them shuttled through the Great Void and landed at a nearby pavilion. Linyi clearly had a favor to ask, acting very courteously as he summoned attendants to serve tea. A maid stepped forward carrying a crystalline platter, upon which rested two small purple fruits. "Zhaojing, please…" Linyi spoke with a smile. Li Ximing did not have a particularly favorable impression of him, so he merely nodded perfunctorily and said, "What matter did you wish to discuss with me, Fellow Daoist? Let us speak of that first." The Real Person composed his expression and said solemnly, "You need not address me by my Daoist title, Fellow Daoist; my clan does not hold to such formalities. You and I share a historical connection. My surname is Yan, and my given name is Dushui. You may simply call me Dushui." Seeing his sincere demeanor, Li Ximing asked, "I wonder… where does this connection lie?" Yan Dushui nodded. "You are a descendant of the ancient State of Wei, while I am a descendant of the ancient State of Yan. In earlier times, our royal lineages intermarried. In those days… carriages departed Mount Yan and traveled south in magnificent procession…" This caught Li Ximing entirely off guard. He took another long look at the man and asked, "The ancient State of Yan…" Not knowing whether Li Ximing believed him, Yan Dushui raised his brows wistfully and spoke in an aged voice, "Yan and Wei watched over and assisted one another until Wei unified the north. Our State of Yan then held the northern passes to check the Sixteen Hu tribes. Later, both nations were shattered by the Buddhist cultivators among the Hu and Jie. My family fled with the Yan lineage, wandering all the way to this remote place… only to meet an heir of Wei today… "Counting the years, several centuries have passed since we last saw a descendant of Wei… Our family yearns for the past. Even these islands and mountain ranges were named after regions in our homeland… Furthermore, a great many clansmen changed their surnames to Yan in remembrance of bygone days." Hearing up to this point, Li Ximing felt no warmth or intimacy; instead, he shook his head inwardly. The first half of Yan Dushui's words might have contained some truth, but the further he went, the emptier it rang. It was not as though the State of Wei had never undergone a restoration, and plenty of people claiming descent from Wei-Li had scattered abroad over the years. There was no reason Yan Dushui could never have encountered any… Descendants of Yan were certainly not as closely related to Wei as the Cui clan, and their eventual submission to Wei rule in antiquity had hardly been willing. Now that Li Ximing had achieved the Violet Palace, had come within range, and had been identified through Mount Jiuqiu, this man came forward to claim kinship… Clearly, there was little genuine sentiment behind it. Li Ximing merely cupped his hands and said, "Rumors often claim my family descends from the Wei-Li lineage, but in truth, my clan knows nothing of our distant ancestry. It is merely because I achieved the Dao through Mingyang that various sects arrived at this conjecture…" "I understand!" Yan Dushui nodded knowingly and replied, "My clan does not flaunt its origins either. When our national destiny collapsed, we fled with several immortal sects. By the time we arrived here, almost none remained save for the royal bloodline. We adopted the names of those sects for cover, presenting ourselves to the outside world as the Quanjing Immortal Sect…" The renown of the State of Yan was vastly inferior to that of Wei, lacking such heavy karmic entanglements. These people had lived cautiously, adapting to circumstances over the centuries. Seeing Li Ximing fall silent, the old man promptly continued: "The reason I invited an old kin here is indeed because I have a favor to ask…" He assumed a serious expression. "In a certain realm, my family chanced upon a precious treasure. We have waited for many years, but it requires a Mingyang divine ability to retrieve… Previously, we inquired with Real Person Yangya of the Cui clan in the West Sea… "However, his stance was that he would never again intervene in the affairs of the East Sea or the inner lands, wishing to completely sever all ancestral karma… Because this matter was clearly tied to the ancestors of the Cui clan, he refused to take action." Li Ximing had also heard of Real Person Yangya. He was a member of the Cui family, but his branch had migrated to the West Sea and maintained virtually no ties with the main lineage. Li Ximing had not expected the division to be so stark. Hesitating slightly, he asked, "What kind of treasure is it?" Yan Dushui lowered his voice and spoke with solemn gravity, "A strand of Banished Qi." Li Ximing asked doubtfully, "What manner of treasure is that?" The other man paused, momentarily hesitating to elaborate, before chuckling. "You would only need to lend a slight helping hand, Fellow Daoist. Once the matter is accomplished, if you keep this secret for my clan, Jishan will reward you generously!" He smiled faintly and added, "This item grows atop a piece of Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood. After we succeed, I shall take the treasure, and the Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood upon which it rests can be given to you. If you have any further requests, you are welcome to raise them." Although Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood was merely a spiritual material at the Foundation Establishment level, it was exceptionally precious because it rarely appeared in the mortal realm. Most was discovered within grotto-heavens and secret realms, with a small fraction obtainable in the Southern Border. This material could be used to craft top-grade soul lamps, which could largely shield the soul flame from the interference of Violet Palace divine abilities when manifesting life or death. Such materials were typically reserved for the soul lamps of disciples from the Three Sects. If his family could obtain a portion, foretelling the fortunes and misfortunes of their core members would become far more accurate. It was an exceedingly important spiritual material. Li Ximing recalled that Minghui of Lotus Temple had once asked him to search for this spiritual item. If his clan had any surplus, he wondered if the monk would buy it. Still, Li Ximing had always harbored a poor impression of monks and remained wary of them. At present, he simply stroked his beard and stayed silent. After several breaths, Li Ximing spoke deliberately: "I would still prefer that you explain everything clearly, Fellow Daoist. If I do not even know what kind of treasure it is, how can I know whether it will bring trouble? How could I rashly agree?" Whatever the people of Mount Jiuqiu had said to Yan Dushui, the old man seemed to place considerable trust in Li Ximing. Hesitating, he nodded and lowered his voice: "In that case, I will hide nothing from you… "The Twelve Qi originated from 'Clear Qi.' Beneath the Profound Wind, all manners of Qi were born. Yet when one of these Qi fruit positions came into being, it was snagged at its inception, plunging into the infinite Netherworld and turning into a hazy, imperceptible Dao. "That occurred in an exceedingly ancient era… Once this Qi was bound and its fruit position descended into the Netherworld, myriad transformations were wrought, and it appeared less and less in the mortal realm. I have heard that back then, it was still possible to re-prove and reclaim it, but the difficulty was immense, and no one was willing to gnaw on such a hard bone. "Only the ancient immortal path practiced it to some extent. As this Qi merged ever more deeply with the Netherworld, turning back to nourish it, its presence in the mortal world dwindled until its lineages were entirely severed… It rarely manifested in the mundane realm thereafter. "In high antiquity, this Qi still possessed a name. But as its traces faded, people began to call that historical event the 'Transmutation of the Yin Banishment,' and its original name was buried within the chronicles of history. By recent antiquity, it was referred to as 'The Qi That Suffered Banishment.' Handed down to this day, even those who know of this affair can only call it 'Banished Qi.'" He clearly yearned for Li Ximing's participation, explaining in great detail with an emotional sigh: "Today's Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood and Nine-Refined Soul Essence… both belong to the manifestations of this Qi. Calling them part of the immortal path is accurate enough, but if one were to examine them strictly, only faint, imperceptible traces remain… "Furthermore, the reason why crushing jade talismans or command tokens can send warning alerts today can also be traced back to this fruit position of the Banished Qi…" Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully. Yan Dushui's eyes darkened, and he murmured softly, "The Transmutation of the Yin Banishment also provided a shortcut for a certain World-Honored One to seize another fruit position, and it even touches upon the secrets of several lineages. Ah! The intricacies within are tangled and profound; the closer an affair is to our era, the less it can be spoken of. Please forgive me…" Yan Dushui promptly closed his mouth, while Li Ximing asked softly, "In that case… you truly possess remarkable fortune, Fellow Daoist, to be able to reach something belonging to the Netherworld." Yan Dushui shook his head heavily with a sigh. "That is not how it happened. My ancestors fled here and built our foundation over dozens of generations. Fortunately, they formed a karmic bond with a certain figure from the Underworld. This item was a treasure left behind when that figure departed, but my family lacked the method to move it… We could only watch it in helpless frustration… "It was not until I attained the Violet Palace and visited Mount Jiuqiu multiple times to seek guidance with utmost devotion that I finally obtained a method to collect it. Yet it requires the aid of either the Mingyang divine ability 'Radiance Across the World,' the Binggu divine ability 'Fit for Emperors and Kings,' or the intervention of a State and Altar lineage… One merely needs to manifest the divine ability." Li Ximing remained calm, harboring little suspicion toward the man's request. First, the value of Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood was neither overwhelmingly great nor negligible; it was simply rare. For cultivators of the inner seas, it could still be sought in the Southern Border, so its scarcity was somewhat discounted. *If this were a trap to lure me in… the offered reward lacks sufficient temptation. Besides, Radiance Across the World is still far beyond my reach…* Viewed from this angle, it was very likely a simple favor. Furthermore, Mount Jiuqiu stood as a guarantor. Real Person Yuandao had granted him the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire without hesitation and had explained the lingering troubles regarding the peacocks thoroughly, leaving Li Ximing with a very favorable impression. He was inclined to trust them. Even so, he smiled faintly and nodded. "You overestimate me, Fellow Daoist. A profound lifebound divine ability like Radiance Across the World is something I have yet to cultivate. I do not even possess the cultivation method, so how could I possibly assist you?" Yan Dushui shook his head repeatedly, a relaxed smile surfacing on his face. "The Donghuo Grotto-Heaven has manifested in the world; Mingyang cultivation methods should be everywhere. Given your extraordinary talent in attaining a divine ability at such a young age, how could Radiance Across the World be far off? "It matters not. I still have a century of lifespan remaining, which should be enough to see that day… If I cannot wait until then, we can discuss alternatives." Li Ximing understood where the old man's confidence came from. In this old man's mind, Li Ximing would inevitably use secret methods to continue his path, requiring only a Foundation Establishment manual. Nor would he neglect cultivating a lifebound divine ability when the three great divine abilities of the Violet Palace threshold lay before him. Thus, mastering Radiance Across the World was only a matter of time. Pondering for a moment, Li Ximing replied, "Since you have waited for so many years, there is no need to rush. I still have a pill or two left to concoct. How about I stop by Mount Jiuqiu on the way and return to seek you out afterward?" The only potential flaw in the man's story was his invocation of Mount Jiuqiu's name, so Li Ximing naturally wished to verify it before setting his mind at ease. Yan Dushui was not surprised; he smiled and nodded, saying: "That harms nothing. I shall await you here… As for Mount Jiuqiu… you need not make the journey. Senior Lingdu is nearby. If you fly slightly to the west, you will find him in person." "Oh?" Li Ximing's heart stirred, though the smile on his face deepened. "Haha… To think Senior Lingdu is right here. Then I would be too embarrassed to run back to refine pills…" Almost the instant Yan Dushui finished speaking, suspicion arose in Li Ximing's mind: *Perhaps it is not Yan Dushui who wants this strand of Banished Qi, but Mount Jiuqiu itself… Could such a coincidence truly exist?* Yan Dushui laughed, saying, "The Xilian Sea holds a wonderful hidden cache. Every year, Mount Jiuqiu sends disciples here to gain experience. This year, Senior Lingdu brought them in person, arriving right in season." Li Ximing responded with a polite smile, rising into the air on his beam of light in the direction indicated. Inwardly, he sighed: *Is this Xilian Sea truly your Jishan's, or does it belong to Mount Jiuqiu? For the treasures of the Xilian Sea to be harvested by their people must be quite humiliating for your clan.* Evidently, while Jishan had not fallen into the Cui clan's dire straits, surviving all these years meant submitting to others. They might have been vassals of Mount Jiuqiu for ages. Had Yan Dushui not achieved the Violet Palace, their plight would likely have been far more miserable! As for whether Yan Dushui had attained the Violet Palace on Jishan or atop Mount Jiuqiu, that was even harder to say… *So the reach of Mount Jiuqiu's lineage… has extended this far… Then again, Real Person Yuandao's lifespan seems boundless. What waves could Yan Dushui or any other vassal hope to stir?* Flying in silence, he soon spotted a pillar of light soaring toward the heavens. An elderly man stood smiling aboard a flying boat. Upon seeing Li Ximing, he raised his brows slightly and laughed: "Zhaojing? To think I would run into you here, Fellow Daoist!" "Greetings, Senior!" Li Ximing had a good impression of this senior, Lingdu. Seeing his welcoming manner, he suppressed his doubts for the moment, bowed, and replied: "Junior was entrusted with a request by Jishan, supposedly to retrieve some manner of Qi. They claimed to have received the method from you, Senior. Junior did not dare act rashly, so I came to inquire on the way." Lingdu came to an understanding and invited him aboard the boat. Shaking his head, he said, "He pleaded with me bitterly for a long time over that matter. Considering that it would also bring you great benefits, I revealed a hint or two, merely mentioning that you cultivate Mingyang. I did not expect the fellow to possess such quick wit, piecing everything together and tracking you down at once." Li Ximing nodded slightly as Lingdu let out a sigh: "You have met him… and he surely poured out his grievances to you… He might be a bit overly eager for success, but now that this matter has slipped from his lips, if he cannot retrieve it, his descendants will likely lose their chance even to scrape by." Glancing at Li Ximing, Lingdu seemed to understand his misgivings and chuckled, "You must understand, if that thing remains in his hands, he cannot use it, nor can he make it public; it must ultimately be handed over to Mount Jiuqiu… But for Mount Jiuqiu, the treasure will not run away. Whether he retrieves it now or Mount Jiuqiu retrieves it in the future makes no difference to us." The moment he said this, Li Ximing understood completely. Clearly, Mount Jiuqiu had not initially known that Jishan possessed such a treasure. Yan Dushui's petition had made them aware of it. While precious, it was not an urgent matter for Mount Jiuqiu. Yan Dushui was old; if he retrieved it, he would naturally present it to them. If he failed to retrieve it and perished, Mount Jiuqiu could easily take it when an opportunity arose. Yet for Yan Dushui, presenting it personally versus having it seized after his death carried vastly different consequences! Li Ximing stroked his beard and nodded, the doubts in his heart completely dissolving. Lingdu sighed: "After all, we have shared years of friendship. I could not bear to watch him fall to such a state. Setting aside my status in Mount Jiuqiu's lineage, on a personal level, I still hope he can find a turning point… That is why I dropped a hint. I hope you will not take offense, Zhaojing." "Junior understands." Li Ximing's mind cleared instantly. For Lingdu to speak so transparently showed how highly he regarded the Li clan. And now that Li Ximing had learned this, he had essentially discerned the other party's bottom line. So long as his demands were not excessive and did not cause him to offend too many people, he could even request this Violet Palace master to take action on his behalf! If Real Person Yuandao's assistance had been intended to display the magnanimity of Mount Jiuqiu, Lingdu's deliberate favor here was even more unmistakable. Although the Mount Jiuqiu lineage never overtly offered aid or wished to entangle itself too deeply, their partiality toward his family manifested in both tangible and subtle ways, bringing Li Ximing both joy and unease. After all, the help of a top-tier lineage often came with ulterior expectations or guiding intentions… Even so, everything thus far bore the marks of goodwill. He nodded silently and bowed respectfully to this Real Person of Mount Jiuqiu, speaking with heartfelt sincerity: "Thank you, Senior!"