Smiling, the King of Great Suopo beamed with obvious delight. A monster king of many years, he could easily tell that the two before him shared a bond akin to generational friendship, and his heart soared.
‘There was truly no flaw in my divine ability—how could they possibly be enemies! I recognized early on that Brother Liu possessed profound good fortune and skillfully guided him to forge good karma with me. To think that after so little time, the rewards have already arrived!’
‘Even if I hadn’t used my divine ability to examine that tiger demon and learn that the master behind him would surely aid me, had I just waited another year or two, Brother Liu would still have brought this Li Ximing before me. When that time came, the pill would have been concocted all the same!’
He chuckled inwardly, marveling at his own divine ability:
‘Now, those lingering doubts and the tedious process of feeling each other out to build trust can all be skipped! With Brother Liu here as an intermediary, how could I fear him plotting against me?’
With a hearty laugh, he promptly summoned his demons to lay out a grand banquet. Hurriedly bringing out wine, he filled both their cups, radiating grand ambition and enthusiasm:
"Among old acquaintances of men, how many ever meet again in the Violet Palace? The past flows away like water; let us celebrate and drink a cup together!"
His words were well suited to the occasion. Li Ximing and Liu Changdie drank together. Li Ximing gave a polite smile, while Liu Changdie sighed with lingering nostalgia, then turned with a solemn expression:
"Senior Fuxun's kindness toward me is as heavy as a mountain, and he is someone with whom one can share one's heart. You need harbor no doubts, Ximing."
These words laid the matter completely bare. Li Ximing nodded quietly to show he understood. The monster king urged his attendants to strike up the music and said with a smile:
"Now Fellow Daoist need not worry about me breaking my word, and I need not worry about you exaggerating your abilities. With Fellow Daoist Yuanbian here, how could either of us ever seek to harm the other?"
This was indeed the truth. Li Ximing nodded; Liu Changdie's trustworthiness was beyond compare. Then the monster king laid out their previous plan in meticulous detail, grasped Liu Changdie's hand, and said awkwardly:
"Both of you are my own people, so I won't mince words. At present, my pockets are empty, and I lack the Lihuo spiritual resources needed. I am hoping you can help make up the difference."
Liu Changdie nodded and smiled.
"Alright!"
He pressed against his storage bag, pondered for a moment, then lightly turned his wrist to reveal a stone box, flipping it open.
Upon the clear azure stone lay a red lotus, no larger than a palm. Poised to bloom, it appeared plump and lustrous, while a soaring wisp of Lihuo Qi circled the red lotus like a sparrow in flight.
Liu Changdie said softly:
"This item is the Chihu Lianxin Flower. It grew beneath the nest of a Chongping sparrow in the Feather Shedding Ground. I obtained it during my travels back when I was at Foundation Establishment, and it has remained in my possession for many years. It is only fitting to use it now to repay Senior."
"My deepest thanks, Brother!"
Overjoyed, Fuxun treasured the stone box and passed it into Li Ximing's hands. Yet Liu Changdie furrowed his brows with some difficulty and reminded him:
"If there is only one portion of Violet Palace spiritual resource, then no matter how peerless Ximing's skill may be, the pill that is produced will ultimately be bound by that foundation. Offering that to the ruler of Zhuluo State... would seem a bit too much like outright bullying."
This was true enough. Even if Li Ximing could produce six or seven pills from a single furnace, at most they would be refined from two portions of spiritual resources. To exchange that for a spiritual fire—even if Fuxun offered protection for a time—left too great a disparity in value...
Li Ximing was not afraid of other consequences; rather, he was wary that the ruler might possess genuine backbone and simply abandon Zhuluo State to flee. The three of them would hardly dare raze her ancestral foundation, but Li Ximing's own Lake Wangyue would be left vulnerable to trouble.
Seeing both men caught in a dilemma, Li Ximing smiled for Liu Changdie's sake. He likewise retrieved a stone box from his sleeve, revealed the Chongli Treasure Leaf, and said in a soft voice:
"A Lihuo Violet Palace spiritual resource, the Chongli Treasure Leaf, fallen from a spiritual flower in the Donghuo Grotto-Heaven."
At these words, Liu Changdie felt inwardly distressed and hesitated, while Fuxun exclaimed in sheer delight:
"Fellow Daoist is truly a straightforward man!"
Liu Changdie had no choice but to transmit his voice quietly with Dharmic power:
"I will certainly make it up to you, Ximing!"
Once the three finalized their arrangements, they did not rest for a single moment. Tearing through the Great Void, they ascended from the area. As Fuxun led the way, he remarked:
"This demon actually has some skill. Her name is Huoyang, a pheasant who cultivates Lihuo. Her divine ability resides in her beak. Her ordinary combat arts are nothing impressive, but the technique she learned from her elder allows her to abruptly spit a burst of flame that forces even me to keep my distance... Yet once that mouthful of fire is spent, she is nothing to write home about!"
He spoke with an imposing air of full confidence, though his tone soon shifted, carrying a touch of reverence:
"Her elder, however, was formidable. His sons cultivated True Fire, and his daughters cultivated Lihuo. When her elder was alive, even my grandfather had to pay him respects. Zhuluo State once dominated more than half of Poluoduo. As arrogant as that Vermilion Bird of Baijia State was, it is said he would shamelessly call him Uncle every time... Had he successfully broken through, Poluoduo might very well have seen the revival of the ancient pheasant-and-sparrow realm!"
Li Ximing stroked his beard, while Liu Changdie said with a chuckle:
"The land beneath our feet is what we in Jiangnan call the Southern Border. But the Southern Border is truly vast. The territory extending north of the Pyu State and below Great Xiyuan is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, almost dividing the northern part of the South Sea in two. It is known as Poluoduo."
Li Ximing nodded, and Fuxun continued:
"Back then, when he sought to attain True Fire, even the master of the Tongxin Chi came to observe. Alas, he fell short on the verge of success, his body perished, and his Dao was extinguished. When the demon fell, the tea went cold; others carved up his flames, and Zhuluo State was nearly reduced to a mere island."
In the span of a few sentences, they arrived at Zhuluo State. Birds flocked everywhere here, crimson cattle wore draped mantles, fires burned across the land, and the towering jungles were a fiery red. Fuxun tore through the Great Void, leading the two before a colossal crimson palace, and called out:
"Fellow Daoist Huoyang! Come out at once!"
It was indeed a lineage that had once enjoyed great glory; this palace was far more magnificent than his pagoda. More importantly, Li Ximing sensed carefully and could actually detect the presence of a Violet Palace grand formation resting over the palace. He nodded secretly:
‘Ordinary demons naturally have no access to formations, but having had a great demon for an ancestor, inviting a few formation masters to construct one would certainly have posed no issue.’
While Li Ximing remained composed, Liu Changdie's eyes lit up the moment he saw the palace, and he became rooted to the spot, stroking his chin with his head tilted upward as he studied it closely.
After a short while, a young maiden clad in white with red hair leapt out from the sea of crimson. Her irises were a dusky reddish-black, flame-like runes dotted her cheeks, and the collar of her robe was densely patterned with True Fire markings. Her sleeves resembled feathered wings, and she was unexpectedly quite beautiful. A scarlet whip was coiled around her waist. Faced with such a formidable lineup, she prudently halted before the formation, adopting a submissive posture as she said in a soft voice:
"So it is Senior Fuxun... Has something happened?"
Fuxun laughed.
"What could have happened? I heard from a few fellow daoists that that foolish bird keeps coming to cause you trouble. This time, I've brought you a deal to help resolve the problem on your hands."
"Oh?"
Fuxun and the Vermilion Bird of Baijia State had never gotten along, so his words carried considerable weight. The maiden returned a smile; unable to risk offending him at this moment, she said meekly:
"Then please, come inside."
She emerged from the formation and guided the three to take their seats in a side hall. Several maidens promptly served wine. Demonic beings were not known for elaborate formalities, and Fuxun cut straight to the chase, laughing:
"No need for idle talk. This is Fellow Daoist Zhaojing of Jiangnan, a supreme alchemist who reigns supreme throughout the realm, to whom even the Sol heritage must yield ground!"
Li Ximing was holding his cup, and Fuxun's boast almost made him leap to his feet. Yet unable to contradict him, he gritted his teeth in silence, rose, and cupped his hands in greeting. Hearing this, the maiden parted her red lips in immense astonishment, repeating:
"I have truly been remiss in my hospitality!"
To the demons of the Southern Border, alchemy was a rare art indeed, let alone one supreme across Jiangnan. Huoyang clearly showed an inclination toward warmth and smiled:
"If I could receive Zhenren's assistance in refining pills, it would be my great fortune."
Before her words had even settled, Fuxun chuckled:
"That is precisely our intention! Fellow Daoist Zhaojing urgently requires a portion of spiritual fire and wishes to trade with you. The pills can be negotiated... and they can resolve the obstacle in your cultivation."
Huoyang's smile stiffened for a fleeting moment as she realized their purpose, yet she kept her smile and said in a lowered tone:
"When my late father was alive, our resources were indeed plentiful. But after he passed, my eldest brother wounded me and fled with those resources... As Senior well knows..."
Fuxun's expression did not change as he smiled:
"There must be a spiritual fire. The Tianzhi Xuanfu Formation is right here; even if the formation base is stripped away, wouldn't there still be a spiritual fire? I cultivate the Good Merit Register, so certain things... need not be spoken aloud."
The atmosphere instantly grew awkward. Li Ximing was secretly appalled, thinking:
‘What a bizarre divine ability! It is unquestionably a lifebound divine ability! Rather than manipulating people's hearts, it genuinely aligns toward cultivating karmic destiny—who knows what subtle wonders it holds!’
Beside them, Liu Changdie was not surprised, but Huoyang's expression had turned rigid. Li Ximing, who had already taken note of her cultivating Lihuo, spoke up immediately:
"Senior's words are too severe; we merely came to propose a trade, with no ill intentions. If Fellow Daoist is willing, I will surely present top-grade spirit pills in return. Neither the quantity nor the quality will disappoint you."
Fuxun turned to sip his wine, remarking lazily:
"I will handle that Vermilion Bird matter for you. Furthermore, I will owe you a personal favor."
Huoyang's eyes visibly brightened, and a lively smile returned to her face:
"I am deeply grateful for fellow daoists' consideration. Although the palace's resources were stolen, and the spiritual fire formed when my late father fell was carved up, I still have one portion saved."
"Only, regarding the pill..."
Li Ximing smiled faintly and said with utter ease:
"It can be concocted right here and now!"
They truly were the type not to release the hawk until seeing the hare; once the benefits were adequate, her memory cleared instantly, and she recalled that she indeed had a spiritual fire. Having clearly developed a desire to forge ties, Huoyang smiled:
"When my late father lived, there was a Limian Palace whose True Fire vein was among the finest wonders of this world. Please... all three of you!"
Demons conducted their affairs with none of the cumbersome formalities of Jiangnan. Settling the matter in mere sentences, they promptly entered the palace within the formation, climbed seventy-two golden steps, and arrived in a crystal-like grand hall.
Li Ximing raised his brows slightly. The place was grand and imposing in the extreme, with feathers strewn across the floor. The throne at the center was as large as a hill, painted everywhere with golden patterns of True Fire. At the exact center lay a flawless hexagon, over which the formation's golden light patrolled and intermingled.
Yet having witnessed the wondrous spectacle of Sun and Moon in Mutual Radiance, this place possessed grandiosity to spare but inevitably lacked profound subtlety. What truly drew his attention were the large characters inscribed upon the pillars on either side. Flowing like dragons and radiating a scarlet glow, they had been inscribed casually, yet possessed an effortless perfection that held the gaze:
‘True Fire breaks the pillar, yet bids Lihuo proceed; four arts question the nature, how speak of reaching the peak!’
Li Ximing swept his eyes across them, committed them to memory, and turned toward the grand formation, asking with a smile:
"Might I ask about these feathers in the hall..."
The maiden replied with a trace of melancholy:
"My late father placed them here. They were shed before his breakthrough..."
Li Ximing nodded secretly and inquired:
"Might I borrow a few?"
Huoyang chuckled:
"Feel free to use them. Our kind's true form is colossal; a single molt sheds countless spiritual feathers... It is just that once seven days pass, not much spiritual vitality remains."
Li Ximing did not mind and turned to examine the fire vein.
The Heavenly Mind Single Intent Pill Method he employed formed pills through the union of intent. Though these feathers were not precious treasures, they were molted feathers shed by a Violet Palace great demon before his breakthrough, possessing an exceptional rank.
‘The fire vein here is indeed pure True Fire, extraordinarily refined... A true rarity in the world, nurtured through who knows how many generations of demons. Mount Zhijing falls far short of this, and even in Jiangnan it is seldom seen...’
His mind was immediately settled:
‘Taking the True Fire vein assisted by True Fire flames as the father and mother, and the Lihuo pill as the middle daughter—the Dao of alchemy is realized.’
Such principles of Dao were easy to find, yet the exact measure was exceedingly difficult to master. He then took a feather and a bit of Dharmic blood from Huoyang, had the three wait outside, and only then retrieved the Baoxiang Furnace. Mapping the imagery of father and daughter onto the flower-and-leaf signs of the Chongli Treasure Leaf and the Chihu Lianxin Flower, he opened the furnace to concoct the pill.
For a time, the Three-Hou Fire blazed fiercely, and the sky shifted colors. Two demons and one man chatted outside. After more than half a month, a faint golden mist wafted out of the hall, refreshing and invigorating, accompanied by the chirping of birds. Even the attendant maidens approaching could not help slowing their steps to inhale a few extra breaths, causing Huoyang to glance back repeatedly, waiting with restless anticipation.
She did indeed possess a spiritual fire, but the foundation left by her predecessors had long since been plundered clean by her elder brother. With what few treasures she had on her person exhausted, she had not used a fine spirit pill in who knew how long...
After another half month or so, a man in platinum daoist robes finally flew out of the grand hall and smiled:
"Fellow Daoists!"
Huoyang sprang to her feet, seeing a jade box held in his hands. Resting neatly upon the box's golden-silk lining were eight spirit pills.
Each of these spirit pills was embraced by the shape of a bird, inscribed with radiant plumage patterns where every minute strand of down was distinct. They radiated a soft glow, and listening closely, one could hear faint, subtle chirping.
All three outside were filled with wonder. Fuxun and Huoyang each rejoiced in their own thoughts, and even Liu Changdie stroked his beard and sighed inwardly:
‘In my past life, I knew his alchemy was astounding, but I never expected that after breaking through to the Violet Palace, he would ascend to yet another level. Eight pills from a single furnace... Calling him foremost in Jiangnan might be a stretch, but he can certainly leave others in the dust!’
Li Ximing smiled:
"This pill is called the Baoyu Hexin Pill. It is a Lihuo pill, yet born of True Fire, perfectly suited to Fellow Daoist's path. It can stimulate the bloodline, enhance divine subtlety, and harmonize with your legacy. Tailor-made for you, it would be far less effective if consumed by anyone else!"
Overjoyed, Huoyang examined the pills meticulously. Both the quality and quantity clearly exceeded her expectations, not to mention the ingenious craftsmanship tailored precisely to her. A single whiff was enough to tell her that it would greatly benefit her divine ability and shave years off her cultivation.
Seen in this light, the deal was even more advantageous. She beamed:
"Fellow Daoist's alchemy—even against Yanque of back then, a contest would be needed to tell who is superior!"
Treasuring the box, she carefully put it away, raised her two feathered sleeves, and lightly flicked them:
"Go!"
Instantly, an apricot-red fire flew from her sleeve, transforming in midair into an apricot-red spirit sparrow no larger than a palm. Its eyes were black and gleaming, extraordinarily lively. It alighted on her fingertips, raising its beak to look at them.
Although she knew she had to part with it, a spiritual fire was precious after all. With no small reluctance, she stroked the spirit sparrow's head and said softly:
"Violet Palace Lihuo, the Red Pheasant Chongli Flame. It dissolves baleful energy and merges Qi, harmonizes and stirs the profound, and bears an aura of grand, orthodox standing. It dispels disasters, resolves crises, and refines various metals, standing supreme in nurturing spirituality and moving the heart.
"This fire has been in my hands for over eighty-one years. Today... I present it to Fellow Daoist!"
Chapter 926