His words laid bare his innermost thoughts, falling coldly across the mountain and plunging the surroundings into silence.
Li Zhouwei fixed his gaze on him, his voice dropping low as he said softly, "Senior's information is truly formidable."
His remark echoed through the mountains. Ye Gui lowered his head to sip his tea, while Li Ximing silently gripped his cup before chiming in, "Now that the reactions of the various factions have unfolded, the North's true intention is plain to see. If the Taiyang lineage had known early on, they would not have suffered such a catastrophic defeat..."
After he spoke, Li Zhouwei stared steadily at the Perfected person before them. Ye Gui parted his lips slightly, letting out a couple of silent, mocking chuckles, and replied, "Known early on? Among the southern cultivators, some knew, some did not, some clung to wishful thinking, and some had subtly sensed it. Yet in the end, they still marched to Mount Tangdao. I won't say much else, but if you claim that any southern path was entirely in the dark? That is simply impossible!"
A smile as genial as gentle sunlight suddenly welled upon his face, and he reminded them, "Fellow Daoists, 'Hengzhu' is a prominent seat of this age!"
Ye Gui was truly audacious to the extreme. This statement was chillingly cold; he dared to speak it, but few would dare to hear it. It was all but explicitly pointing out that behind Hengzhu Dao was a Perfected Monarch who had stood by with folded hands from beginning to end, secretly nudging the situation forward.
The Six Sons of Chongming had studied at Qingsong Abbey and inherited the Taiyang lineage—a single sect boasting six Perfected Monarchs. Under the governance of the closely tied Yuehua Prime Mansion, they had established their lineages. Three of them remained on their thrones to this day, leaving traces of their passage through the mortal realm. Taixu and Taiyu had fallen, and of the remainder, the least conspicuous was this very Perfected Monarch Taizhu.
Over the years, the Li family had gathered no small amount of information and had interacted with the Taiyang lineage for decades. They had some understanding of almost every Perfected Monarch, yet this Perfected Monarch Taizhu alone had remained completely silent from start to finish, as though he had never made a move.
Yet the moment those words were uttered, Li Ximing's heart jolted faintly. Hengxing's words resurfaced in his mind:
*Lin Jianqi was willing to die for this; how many people in this world could be a Lin Jianqi!*
If Hengzhu Dao might have foreseen it all along, did Kuiqi know? Why on earth did this Perfected person of Xiukui Abbey... stand before Mount Tangdao to block the enemy!
Li Ximing sighed inwardly. Almost at the same instant, Ye Gui paused slightly and sighed as well: "If Changxiao truly dares to make a move, it won't just be friction with Hengzhu alone. He will be facing the entire Taiyang lineage of Jiangnan. Although his cultivation is exceptionally profound and the South cannot do anything to him for now... skirmishes along the borders will certainly not be few.
"Baijiang Creek is definitely going to be lost. I made a special trip to see you, Fellow Daoists, not to say much else, but to ensure we remain in touch hereafter, hoping our two houses will let bygones be bygones and assist each other."
"Naturally!"
Li Ximing's expression turned grave. Still, wishing to sort through what had been said earlier to avoid any misunderstanding, he immediately replied, "Whether a fruit position is manifest or not isn't up to Fellow Daoist alone to decide. While the path of Hengzhu is indeed formidable, Hengzhu spiritual items in heaven and earth are scarce. It is hard to say for sure, and this is hardly something to inquire into lightly."
Ye Gui glanced at the gardenia blossoms that had fallen before him and answered, "Naturally. I merely voiced a thought. After all, how vast is the might of a Perfected Monarch? How could an insignificant cultivator like me define it in a single phrase? It's just that hearing Fellow Daoist's words reminded me of a line I read when I received my lineage.
"It goes: *'A manifest seat suffers no loss; a lost seat brooks no doubt. Lowly cultivators strive with thrift, seeking attainment in the leap remnants.'*
"If a golden fruit position is manifest across heaven and earth, flourishing gloriously under the heavens, there must be an exalted one occupying the seat. If a fruit position is obscure and hidden, its spiritual energy severed, one must not suspect that the great one has fallen... because so long as he wills it, that fruit position will turn obscure and hidden, and its spiritual energy will be cut off.
"Lowly cultivators can only know that whichever Perfected Monarch wishes for people to know of his presence is there, and focus on cultivating diligently... But for people like us, without the accumulated heritage of an orthodox lineage spanning countless years, without master-to-disciple oral teachings and esoteric transmissions, detailed records, or different branches cultivating together to compare the might of each fruit position across centuries and millennia, how could we know which fruit position is currently manifest across heaven and earth and flourishing under the heavens?"
Ye Gui let out a scoff, which was immediately followed by a look of grim mockery. He burst into a bout of sarcastic laughter, standing up as he laughed, and stepped into the Great Void to depart, leaving only his chilling words echoing across the mountain:
"What it means is... wretched things like us, who don't even qualify as lowly cultivators, shouldn't dream of attaining a seat!"
He transformed into swirling purple light and drifted away in farewell, leaving Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei seated solemnly by the table, temporarily lost for words.
Only after a long while did Li Zhouwei take a sip of his tea and speak: "It seems this Ye Gui... harbors the ambition to attain the realm of a Perfected Monarch, along with bitter resentment over his lack of an orthodox background..."
Ye Gui was different from Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei. The Li family was hailed by all as imperial descendants, their Mingyang lineage renowned to everyone. Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing clearly knew who sat upon the fruit position above them and what their circumstances were. Even if they did not know how the future situation would shift, they at least had a clear baseline.
Ye Gui's lineage, on the other hand, was obtained from a grotto-heaven of the Douxuan path. Although the cultivation art he practiced was profound and formidable, and the spiritual instruments in his hands were quite fine, he lacked backing and knew nothing of the maneuvers concerning the Duwei seat above him. Even though he possessed opportunities that would make the vast majority of Zifu cultivators envious, he was equally bewildered and uneasy about attaining a seat.
By now, Li Zhouwei had gradually come to understand his motives as well: "If not for ambition, why would he bother stirring up trouble in the territory of Jiangbei? The mountain gate of Duxian Dao was indeed built with immense effort and is of no small worth, but now that the risks are growing greater by the day, could he not have taken Duxian Dao far away from the center of this storm?
"It is simply that he still aspires to climb higher... He established an early foothold in Jiangbei in hopes of carving out a standing of his own amid the contest between North and South. Whether making contact with the South or the North, it is all to glean more intelligence on the grand situation and the path of the Dao..."
Listening to this, Li Ximing had naturally perceived it early on as well: "Judging by how he spoke, he has already cultivated quite a network of connections in the North... He had his own schemes laid out long ago!
"It is understandable... To put it bluntly, very few Foundation Establishment cultivators in this world don't dream of the Violet Palace, and very few Zifu cultivators don't gaze up at the fruit positions. The ladder to celestial ascension is sweeter than jasper nectar and fine wine—more alluring than anything else."
Li Ximing let out a sigh, causing Li Zhouwei's eyelids to lower slightly.
With tacit understanding, the two said no more. Together, they stepped into the Great Void, drifting across the lake's surface before manifesting within the inner formation above the lake. The great hall was somewhat dim, with a treasure pagoda standing in its center.
"You've been to the place..." Li Ximing said in a low voice, looking at him with a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Hesitating for a moment, he asked, "The azure talisman-register..."
"Indeed!"
A faint smile finally appeared on Li Zhouwei's face as he replied, "I have received it—the talisman-register of Mingzhang Riyue!"
He gave a brief overview of his talisman-register qi. Li Ximing stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly in admiration. Laughing heartily, he shook his head and said, "It seems I won't have to risk my life like that in the future!"
At the mention of this, Li Zhouwei immediately took on a solemn expression and bowed. "Elder, these past few years have been arduous for you!"
Li Ximing was not one to dwell on such matters. Waving his hand with a chuckle to cut him off, he immediately asked about what concerned him most: "Your cultivation..."
Li Zhouwei smiled slightly and replied, "The register transformed into azure haze to elevate my cultivation, bringing the Audience at the Heavenly Gate within my Shengyang to immediate perfection!"
Li Ximing stared blankly at him, his expression turning somewhat strange—a blend of pleasant surprise and embarrassment: "Does that mean... you and I are now at the same level of cultivation?"
"Not quite."
Li Zhouwei shook his head. The Perfected person in gold-and-white Daoist robes immediately had a revelation and slapped his palm in self-reproach: "Right... I'm still severely injured right now. How could I be considered at the same level of cultivation as you?"
Li Zhouwei felt a bit embarrassed. Pausing for a breath, he explained, "I wasn't referring to your dharmic body... It is just that after receiving the azure register, it elevated one divine ability, yet the remaining portion was not entirely used up. It recongealed into pure cultivation and was sealed within my Shengyang... Once I cultivate my next divine ability, with just a thought, I can draw upon it just the same..."
"Oh!"
Li Ximing turned and took a seat. After pondering for a moment, he chuckled helplessly: "It is an azure talisman-register, after all!"
Yet his thoughts immediately pivoted, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Since it can elevate your cultivation, wouldn't it bring the six wheels to perfection and raise you up in an instant?! Did you cultivate the Clear Illumination Heart? Have you thought this through?!"
Li Ximing had heard Tinglan's explanation that it was best to use the Clear Illumination Heart when forming the final divine ability. Li Ximing himself had no particular ambitions about it, but Li Zhouwei was different. As he asked this, he saw the man before him shake his head with a smile:
"Naturally, I remember the advice..."
Li Zhouwei answered, then straightened his countenance and said, "I cultivated Jun Daowei, but I did not draw upon the azure haze within my Shengyang Mansion. I wished to discuss this very matter with you, Elder.
"For one thing, by relying on the register qi for a rapid surge, my Audience at the Heavenly Gate has reached perfection. Polishing a divine ability is difficult to detect from the outside; each person's mastery and depth of divine ability vary, so it is considered a private matter without a fixed standard, not a major issue... But if I continue using it, I might very well condense a second divine ability in short order! That would be completely different from before; once I engage in combat, it will be exposed for all to see."
His expression grew solemn: "Though I possess a measure of karmic mandate, no matter what, it cannot compare to the sheer terror of achieving a second divine ability within mere days. If outsiders saw that, I fear they would suspect that I am the true reincarnation of Emperor Wei! What is more, all sides are already watching me. If something so far beyond their expectations were to occur, it would certainly invite catastrophe upon us!"
Li Ximing nodded heavily. Li Zhouwei continued, "Therefore, as I see it, taking advantage of this period to cultivate on my own, and then utilizing the register qi to swiftly bring the second divine ability to perfection once it is forged, is the safest course of action and the way to make the fullest use of this azure talisman-register."
"Good..." Li Ximing stroked his beard and replied, "It is best for you to arrange this yourself."
Having said this, his tone grew complicated, and he asked, "Since you mentioned the arrangements of the various factions, our family has been drawn ever deeper into the matter of Emperor Wei. How do you view it?"
Li Zhouwei seemed to have pondered this long ago. Hearing the question, his eyes sank slightly as he murmured softly, "The maneuvering at the highest realms is something neither I nor our family has any right to question. Whether things follow the arrangements of the dragon lineage—reincarnating to cultivate—or whether he is driven to a dead end and forced to break through, nothing is settled yet. As I see it, there is only one thing to do right now: elevate our strength and accumulate our power."
Li Ximing nodded silently in agreement. After thinking for a long time, he drew an ink-colored jade stone from his sleeve and said, "You are still using a magical instrument in your hands; it really isn't fitting. The Guanxie Terrace was completed long ago. Take this portion of spiritual essence and make use of it so you can have a proper weapon as soon as possible."
Li Zhouwei had naturally considered this as well, reflecting: "During my prior clash with Helian Wumeng, my magical instrument was damaged. I have wanted to repair it for some time, but our lake has always been lacking in the dao of artifact refinement, with an insufficient supply of top-tier talents. I could only slowly nurture it myself. Although Jiangzong of our clan has studied the craft for many years and attained modest success, he is fundamentally incapable of forging something on the level of a spiritual embryo. We still need to find someone."
"That won't be difficult. Ning Wan still shows no trace, so asking to borrow Chu Ming for the crafting isn't convenient, but whether it is Ziyan or Xiukui, it should be easy to borrow someone from them now."
Li Ximing chuckled. Only then did he recall something else, quickly retrieving a small jade bottle containing streams of cyan-white qi. Showing it to Li Zhouwei, he said, "Take a look at this. It came from within that world as well."
There were five bottles of this substance in total, with several still remaining inside that world. Li Zhouwei had been concentrating on his cultivation and had not inspected them closely. Now, examining it, he appraised, "It looks to me like a kind of spiritual qi... related to Taiyin. If one truly wished to inquire about this, I fear only Chunyi Dao in all the realm would know."
Li Ximing shook his head with a slight headache and replied, "I know that as well. In fact, I have even refined a great elixir of the Taiyin path! It would be a supreme treasure for Chunyi Dao. But whether asking about the spiritual qi or mentioning the elixir, Taiyin has vanished from the world. Once such items become precious, how could they fall into our hands for no rhyme or reason? It would only invite suspicion."
Li Zhouwei nodded. "In my view... didn't we also obtain news of a grotto-dwelling inside that world? We must not rush this matter. Once you tend to your injuries, Elder, and the northern situation settles, take a trip outside. It would be best to find an excuse and handle the matter smoothly."
Li Ximing understood his meaning.
Right now was a sensitive period. It was inappropriate for Li Zhouwei to travel abroad, nor could he inexplicably venture across the seas to pinpoint and unearth this grotto-dwelling at a specific strait. Li Ximing could only depart quietly and retrieve the things himself.
"Good!"
Li Ximing nodded to himself. From his sleeve, he drew forth a pill furnace gleaming in golden-yellow and ivory-white—none other than the Baoxiang Furnace. He immediately smiled and said, "I still owe Dingyangzi his Huishui Xuandao Powder. This is just the right time to refine the pill!"
Originally, the spiritual opportunity within the world of the sun and moon shining together was far richer, making it a better place to concoct pills. Regrettably, Huishui Xuandao Powder was an elixir of Kanshui suspended karma, which clashed with the intent of equal balance. He promptly brought out the primary ingredient for Huishui Xuandao Powder.
This item had been handed to him by Dingyangzi. When the jade box was opened, inside lay a palm-sized scale of blackish-blue hue—the main ingredient, the Cangzhou viper scale. It gleamed with fine luster. The other assistant herbs had also been prepared by the other party; the pill could be refined as soon as the furnace was fired.
However, upon closer inspection, the quality of this spiritual material was exceptionally fine, setting Li Ximing to ponder quietly:
*Dingyangzi wants six pills from one batch, which I can naturally accomplish. But the excess pills will also be Kanshui elixirs, which are truly chicken ribs to my family—their use is too narrow and overly specific to a particular lineage. Unless one has a dedicated purpose, their value is not high...*
Having toiled for so many years, he placed great value on Zifu spiritual materials. Looking closely now, he saw that not only was this scale of exquisite quality, it seemed to have been shed or harvested not long ago!
A scale was unlike other items; even if Dingyangzi didn't have a steady source, it most likely meant he had more than just this single piece in hand. Li Ximing's mind turned, and an idea sprouted in his heart:
*If this matter goes smoothly this time, there is no harm in maintaining long-term dealings with him. If there are many of these elixirs and I refine them a few times, pooling the leftover pills until I have six, wouldn't that be equivalent to securing a Cangzhou viper scale for myself? Then it will no longer be a chicken rib, but a proper spiritual material that can be traded with other cultivators for things we need!*
With this thought, his spirits rose. Without the slightest hesitation, he began concocting the elixir right where he stood. In an instant, flames soared skyward, true fire blazed furiously, and shifting hues of light filled the great hall.
Li Zhouwei took his leave from the hall, his expression turning slightly solemn:
*It is also time to pay a visit to the monster cave...*
Chapter 914