Hearing these words, Li Jiangqian took a step back and bowed respectfully:
"In obedience to the superior sect's immortal command, we shall notify our Real Person at once."
It could not be helped. With Kuiqi having spoken so plainly, there was no longer any room to remain uninvolved. Even if a refusal had to be given, Li Ximing would have to come forward in person to deliver it.
What was more, the Real Person had made it clear that if they lent a hand, the Solar lineage would remember it; but if they sat idly by, the other party would remember it just as well.
Having said this, Li Jiangqian instructed, "Go invite the Old Master over, and bring out the jade talisman from the clan to use."
Great Xiukui Abbey was notoriously proud, and its lineage was eerie and bizarre. Whether it was Master Houfu from years ago or Kuiqi before him now, neither was gentle by nature. Li Jiangqian had deliberately lowered his own status, framing their action as obedience to an immortal command. This coaxed a chuckle from the Real Person, who replied:
"You are too polite."
Polite words aside, he was visibly quite pleased. Taking a sip of tea, he continued, "This affair will not mistreat Lake Wangyue or Zhaojing. Zhaojing has only recently achieved the Violet Palace, and this divine ability is no easy thing to cultivate. He is one of our own; calling upon him to take action this time will by no means be a solitary endeavor."
Hearing this, Li Jiangqian bowed again. "We thank the Real Person. The Solar lineage shelters Jiangnan, and we rely upon its radiant grace with utmost trepidation. The Real Person's intentions will be faithfully conveyed by this junior; we await only our ancestor's decree."
Kuiqi gave a nod of assent. Seizing the moment while the man before him was in fine spirits, Li Jiangqian inquired further, "However, affairs in Jiangbei involve many parties, and Master Zhugong was wounded and forced to withdraw. If there is no Real Person presiding over the situation, I fear matters may be compromised..."
"Jiangbei..."
Lake Wangyue sat right on the riverbank, unlike Great Xiukui Abbey far in the south, so they naturally worried over affairs in Jiangbei. Kuiqi paused, then spoke:
"There is no need to worry about that. They cannot cross the river; it has merely flushed out a few children of destiny. If they had emerged in the south, they might have caused you trouble. Earlier, when Zhaojing was away, you had good reason to worry. But once he returns, at most he can tear open the Great Void and crush them with a single finger.
"Although those in the south also covet these children of destiny, both Tinglan and Ning Wan have gone north. Who could discover them faster than your family..."
Li Jiangqian immediately felt much more at ease. Once he finished paying his respects, Kuiqi rose to his feet. He gazed pensively toward the rain clouds, musing inwardly:
'Since these Buddhist cultivators have stirred up such trouble, there is no need to show mercy. I shall return to the abbey to request another spirit artifact, head to Tongmo and Yuyang, and then pay a visit to Fellow Daoist Ling Mei.'
The foundations of the Solar lineage ran so deep and its connections were so vast that even the Kongwu Path only dared to pin down those two Real Persons rather than truly deal a lethal blow. Kuiqi had nothing to fear at all. Lowering his eyes, he said:
"When Fellow Daoist Zhaojing returns, ask him to wait on the lake. If he grows impatient, he may also come to Xiukui to find me."
With that, Kuiqi drifted away into the air. The two knelt prostrate on the ground, waiting a long while before rising. Li Jiangqian shook out his robes, returned to the hall, and waved his hand. Chen Yang sensibly took his leave.
"So it really is the Buddhist cultivators..."
He remained silent for a time. Footsteps soon sounded from the flanks. Li Xuanxuan had received word earlier and had been waiting in the side hall; stepping forward now, Li Jiangqian frowned and asked:
"Old Master, Real Person Kuiqi said... the one who killed Master Xuanfeng was Mohe Daixi. Have you ever heard of this figure?"
At the mention of Li Xuanfeng, the old man froze for a moment, then stroked his beard and replied in a low voice:
"I only heard... of a purplish-black treasure alms bowl."
Li Jiangqian let out a breath and finally relaxed. After giving a brief summary, he took his seat in the main chair and shook his head.
"Regardless, if our Real Person can return, we will no longer need to live in suspense, racking our Foundation Establishment brains to plot matters of the Violet Palace. All manner of arrangements will finally have a master..."
Li Xuanxuan wore a look of concern, but Li Jiangqian was visibly far more at ease. He said softly:
"The Great Void is vast. Returning from the East Sea will take half a day or a day at the fastest; even if slow, it will not differ by many hours. Let us summon the sisters and elders back and prepare to kneel in the hall to welcome the revered elder."
"As it should be."
Li Xuanxuan had also come around to the idea. Setting aside all else, being able to see Li Ximing after so many years made the old man genuinely joyful from the bottom of his heart. He shook his head helplessly and said, "Zhouming has been confined for so long, suffering quite an ordeal. Once matters are arranged, it will be the right time to release him."
"Indeed."
Li Jiangqian offered a polite smile, musing secretly: 'The day of the ancestral sacrifice is drawing near as well. If our Real Person returns and can erect the great formation, this time we will not need to go through such turmoil.'
Yet no sooner had all the orders been dispatched than Qu Bushi arrived in the hall ahead of the others. Bowing to Li Xuanxuan, he reported respectfully:
"Reporting to the Family Head, the Duxian Dao market fair came under attack. The formation shattered and collapsed. Three direct descendants of the Guan clan were killed, suffering grievous losses, and cultivators high and low all sustained injuries. The guarding cultivator, Song Yunbai, was heavily wounded and is missing."
Li Jiangqian raised an eyebrow and asked, "Such heavy losses? With whom did they clash?"
Qu Bushi replied respectfully, "A group of demonic cultivators... related to the demon disciple from earlier, and that disciple was among them. Word from the north says that their leader's cultivation is extraordinarily high, having reached the absolute peak among Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even Guan Gongxiao was at a slight disadvantage when crossing swords with him... Moreover, it was a sudden raid; by the time Duxian Dao arrived, the demonic cultivators were already withdrawing...
"Although Duxian Dao's overall losses are not considered devastating, their morale is completely deflated, and the entire sect is laden with anxiety."
"Demonic cultivators."
Li Jiangqian frowned in perplexity as he listened to Qu Bushi whisper:
"It is said that the demonic cultivator nurtured a Blood-Radiance Treasure Mirror as his lifebound artifact, of astonishing might, suspected to be an ancient magical artifact. The lord in the north gave a reminder, telling us to beware of the wilderness."
Guan Gongxiao was naturally not so kindhearted; his words were merely a warning that when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. But once Li Ximing returned, the Li family would sit completely secure. Li Jiangqian replied casually:
"Go and reply that we thank them for the reminder, and we will certainly keep an eye on the wilderness."
Qu Bushi hastily nodded and withdrew. As the hall doors opened, people began filling the room.
The matter of Li Ximing's return was kept strictly quiet; only a few core direct descendants gathered in the hall. If Li Ximing failed to return as agreed, it would signify a far more terrifying crisis, which was why not even Li Zhouming had been brought to the hall in advance to receive him.
As dusk fell, magical lamps were lit, and everyone waited in silence. Li Minggong stood solemnly before the hall, the lamplight casting shifting patterns of brightness and shadow across her face.
They waited until the dead of night, when finally, a soft glint of radiance surfaced from the deep gloom over the lake. Amidst the utter stillness, the shifting colors transformed into a man in white-and-gold Daoist robes.
The man possessed well-proportioned features and a medium build. A speck of celestial light twinkled brilliantly between his brows. His hands were clasped behind his back, devoid of any overbearing majesty; instead, as he landed before the hall, he breathed a faint sigh of relief.
The crowd fell to their knees at once, greeting him in unison:
"We pay our respects to the Real Person!"
Only then did the Real Person stroll up the steps. He first helped Li Xuanxuan up and seated the old man, and only then took the seat of honor. Looking around, he wished to see if any faces were missing. He glanced at Li Jiangqian, then studied Li Quewan, remarking with emotion:
"You brother and sister have both reached Foundation Establishment. The days of your Qi Nourishment still feel like yesterday, yet now you are pillars of the family."
The two bowed to him. As the radiant hues of Mingyang shone down upon them, everyone felt as though the very ground beneath their feet had grown solid.
As a Violet Palace immortal clan, the Li family could truly be called an immortal clan only when Li Ximing resided on the lake. Only then did everyone, from top to bottom, have true confidence. Even if they had been fretful and anxious only yesterday, once Li Ximing returned, even a single word from him brought immense relief, transforming the family's entire atmosphere.
Only then did Li Ximing ask, "Did you run into some trouble?"
Back then, Li Ximing had made an agreement with Li Zhouwei and left behind several jade talismans, each bearing a different meaning. Although this one was merely summoning him back, Li Ximing's worry and tension were not slight.
The moment he received the message, he had traveled without pausing for a moment, rushing back along the Great Void day and night. Before reaching the lake, he had first used the Immortal Mirror to inspect the situation. Seeing everyone waiting safely, he finally felt relieved and revealed himself.
At this question, Li Jiangqian stepped forward from the crowd and bowed:
"Real Persons Tinglan and Qiuhu have gone missing, and the Northern Buddhists have made a move. A Real Person of the Solar lineage from Great Xiukui Abbey has asked Your Eminence to return and assist in battle."
"Ning Wan has attained the Violet Palace!"
Li Ximing was slightly surprised at first, but then his brows knitted together in doubt. "Tinglan is missing..."
Tinglan had treated him quite well in the overseas territories and had extended protection to the Li family during his disappearance. While the sentiment was not exceedingly deep, Li Ximing still kept her Clear Illumination Heart in mind. At present, he merely asked:
"The Solar lineage is so exalted, yet they have need of me? They actually asked me to return? Which faction's enemies are we to face?"
Li Jiangqian explained the matter in detail. Hearing this, Li Ximing stroked his beard in silence before sighing:
"Tinglan and Qiuhu are both friends of our family. Since Kuiqi has spoken thus, how could I have any reason to refuse? Our family directly faces Jiangbei and rests its back against Jiangnan; offending the Solar lineage is out of the question... No wonder you asked me to return."
He pondered for a moment, and amidst his helplessness, his eyes gleamed slightly as thoughts brightened in his mind:
'This is a fine karmic opportunity to obtain the Clear Illumination Heart... The key lies not in Kuiqi, but in Tinglan and Qiuhu. This might very well be a single favor that reaps three rewards.
'No matter what, the Solar lineage possesses countless trump cards. Would a lineage left by a True Monarch lack one or two Golden Core-grade measures? Immortal cultivators are not Buddhist cultivators. So long as I ensure I can retreat at any moment without bringing myself too much trouble, this journey could yield copious benefits...'
He glanced at Li Xuanxuan and replied, "The grievances of our forebears must be remembered. Daixi is already a mortal enemy of our family, tied to the karma of the Eighteen Buddhists that can never be erased. Either our family batters him back into the north, perhaps even eliminating him one day, or he brings about my death—of this there is no doubt.
"With my connections to Tinglan and Qiuhu on top of that, it is no surprise that he sought me out."
He pondered silently, while Li Jiangqian bowed and whispered:
"Precisely so. In this junior's view, this matter is by no means a bad thing...
"Daixi is our mortal enemy. Relying solely on our family's strength, we can neither endure his targeting nor eradicate him. Nor is he alone in the Paradise of Kongwu Path; behind him stands Zhelu. The loss of the Eighteen Buddhists is a loss to the Kongwu Path. Though Zhelu's enmity toward our family might not match Daixi's, the karmic affinity still clings to us.
"The Kongwu Path is no Wrath Path! Though this matter has lain dormant, if they suddenly strike one day to persecute our family in search of the karmic retribution the Buddhists preach—ultimately giving birth to a Lianmin—that too is entirely possible...
"The current turmoil in the north is precisely a prime opportunity: a chance to tie our family's feud with the Kongwu Path to the towering tree of the Solar lineage!"
At these words, several people nodded in contemplation. Li Quewan mused aloud:
"Elder Brother's meaning is... so long as we can deal a heavy blow to Daixi this time, piling new grievances atop old grudges, intensifying the conflict between the Solar lineage and the Kongwu Path, and solidifying our family's ties with Ziyan and the Ning clan, it will be immensely beneficial."
"Correct!"
Li Jiangqian bowed and said, "Had the Real Person not returned this time, with the Kongwu Path aggressive in the north and the Solar lineage offended in the south, throwing away friendships on multiple sides, where would there be any room left for our family to stand independently in Jiangnan?
"Furthermore, the Solar lineage is proud and Great Xiukui Abbey haughty. Once this affair passes, if we face retaliation from the Kongwu Path, our family will have a legitimate reason to seek aid from the Solar lineage! Once Father breaks through, our standing will surely be even more secure!"
Qian Lizi had spoken at length with heartfelt earnestness, yet Li Jiangqian had not wavered in the slightest; after only a few words from Kuiqi, Li Jiangqian had dared to summon Li Ximing back precisely because he had already made his own calculations.
Li Ximing merely stroked his chin and nodded, thinking to himself:
'In this matter, I do not fear a disparity in strength between friend and foe, but rather formations and ambushes. Fortunately, I have the Immortal Mirror with me. Once I reach the north and use the Immortal Mirror to investigate, many of the Buddhist cultivators' trump cards and ambushes will be laid bare.'
"Good."
He chuckled and asked, "How much impact have these events in Jiangbei had on the family?"
Seeing his demeanor, Li Jiangqian knew Li Ximing had taken his words to heart, and answered respectfully:
"Fortunately, nothing is amiss..."
He reported the preceding and succeeding events clearly. Li Ximing nodded repeatedly as he listened, laughing:
"Look at that, the cultivators of Duxian Dao truly cannot compare to my Wangyue; they have been thrown into quite a mess!"
He praised Li Jiangqian and glanced around at the clan members present.
Li Quewan had just broken through to Foundation Establishment; her cultivation would see no changes in the short term. Li Jiangqian's cultivation had clearly made great strides, and he could attempt to charge toward the mid-stage. Li Minggong had not long ago entered the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
The crucial point was that none of those before him had ever taken a talisman pill!
Li Jiangqian was not far from the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. If he could break through and then consume the pill, he should soon reach the threshold of the late Foundation Establishment stage without arousing much suspicion.
What was more... Li Ximing had returned with the Tianyi Tucui Pill.
'It is truly inconvenient that Minggong has already broken through to mid Foundation Establishment; I do not know how this pill should be taken after breaking through... I will have to ask Tinglan later... When Violet Palace medicine is given to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, their cultivation will surely surge. Combined with a talisman pill, we can at least push forward one of our own direct descendants into late Foundation Establishment!'
If Li Cheng had not died, he would certainly be in late Foundation Establishment by now, but at present, they could only push Li Minggong forward. She had only just broken through to mid Foundation Establishment, so consuming the pill like this would normally carry immense danger; fortunately, a talisman pill left no adverse aftereffects and could even consolidate one's cultivation. Only by taking that pill first could such swift advancement be possible.
He tapped the table, settling the matter, and spoke:
"Then it is decided. Have Cui Jueyin come over and accompany me on a trip to Great Xiukui Abbey to see how many people Kuiqi can muster. You need not disclose the news of my return; let us watch the situation unfold for now."
Chapter 858