Although Li Ximing's attainment in Lihuo was nothing extraordinary, his fire-controlling skills were undeniably formidable. Even though he had only just begun practicing the technique, once he closed his eyes and sensed it with care, he quickly grasped the profundity of the spell.
*This Dali Xi Light is unlike an accumulation of magical power or a divine ability; rather, it is more like a reflection of the Violet Palace Lihuo. It is like using a bronze mirror to reflect a bright flame and thereby focus the light of Li. Yet no matter how ornate or expansive this mirror is cultivated to be, or even if several mirrors are produced, once the bright fire dies out, the light will ultimately scatter, and everything will come to naught!*
Therefore, the starting point of cultivating Dali Xi Light lay in the Violet Palace Lihuo, and nothing other than Lihuo would do!
Precisely because the profundity stemmed from this source, no matter how brief his cultivation of the spell had been or how feeble the mirror was, as long as he practiced it, there would inevitably be a glimmer of candlelight.
Thus, the moment the Red Pheasant Chongli Flame settled into the Lixi aperture, his Qi Sea brought forth this first spark of Dali Xi Light without requiring any prolonged cultivation—to be precise, Dali Chixi Light.
Delighted, he opened his eyes. Bringing two fingers together and turning his wrist inward, a speck of red lit up at his fingertips, no larger than a pinky, dim and hazy.
*The power is decent...*
If this beam of Dali Chixi Light were shot forth, its power would actually fall short of Radiant Surging Waves. But Li Ximing did not forget how long he had cultivated Radiant Surging Waves compared to how briefly he had practiced the Xi Light! To possess such power immediately upon reading the manual was, of course, thanks to borrowing the strength of the Lihuo, but it also attested to the spell's magnificence.
For a time he lost himself in it completely, not only finishing the introductory section but skimming all the way to the end in a single breath. By the time he finished reading through this rank-six spell, he finally understood the respective uses of the nine profound apertures.
The immortal cultivator who penned this Dali Chixi Light manual had originally used eight apertures to take in spiritual energy and a single aperture, Lixi, to spout forth Liguang. Yet it seemed that once he had mastered this spell and his divine abilities and attainment reached an extraordinarily exalted realm, he discovered another path forward.
*Once Dali Baixi Light reaches great completion, the eight apertures lose their function of taking in spiritual energy. One can continue to collect spiritual fires, using immense attainment to sustain multiple spiritual fires within the body simultaneously and house them within these eight apertures to pursue an even higher breakthrough...*
*When that stage arrives, one must gather five types of Lihuo and four types of True Fire... What's more, among the five Lihuo flames, there must be one known as Lixing Changming Fire, also called Zhefen Lihuo... Truly an extravagant requirement!*
Li Ximing had heard of Zhefen Lihuo before. Not only had Huoyang mentioned it, but Li Ximing himself had learned of it long ago. This fire was exceedingly rare, immensely powerful, and possessed a peculiar trait: once its owner perished, it immediately split into eighty-one portions of Continuous Motion Primordial Fire.
Li Ximing let out a sigh and reopened his eyes. The sun was already slanting westward; clearly, several hours had passed.
Yet the mountain remained bright, and a woman dressed in red stood quietly at the side, waiting respectfully.
"Greetings, True Master..."
The lake's response was swift. Li Minggong had already arrived on the mountain. Seeing Li Ximing deep in thought, she immediately swallowed back the words on the tip of her tongue.
Li Ximing pondered for a moment, casually waved his hand to bid her take a seat, and stirred his spiritual sense:
Gu Wind Fire Summoning!
The Juque Court immediately trembled incessantly. The Three Hou Shuxuan Fire surged forth, racing upward through his Dharma body before coming to rest in his Qi Sea.
*On this point... I don't need any great attainment, so what difficulty could there be?*
Under ordinary circumstances, Li Ximing would never have been able to make the slightest move. He could not even alter a rank-four spell placed before him, let alone cultivate Dali Baixi Light with his meager Lihuo attainment... But with Gu Wind Fire Summoning, his fire-manipulation skills were theoretically terrifyingly high. He forcefully compelled the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire to bow its head and meekly squeeze itself into the profound aperture.
That spark of Dali Chixi Light immediately extinguished. Li Ximing deduced for a moment using his divine ability, his eyes glinting in secret. He dragged the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire back out and tested each of the eight profound apertures one by one.
Instead of relying on his attainment to adjust the profound apertures, he suppressed the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire, forcing it to bow its head and conform to the apertures. Soon, his eyes brightened slightly, and he extended his hand once more.
*Buzz...*
Two specks of red Xi Light actually surfaced at his fingertips.
However, the extra spark was somewhat ethereal, flickering like a dying candle in the wind, liable to extinguish at any moment.
"Haha."
Li Ximing chuckled and waved his hand to disperse the spell, having fully understood the mechanics.
Through Gu Wind Fire Summoning, he could temporarily produce an extra portion of Dali Chixi Light! This portion was entirely an external addition; it did not count toward his own cultivation nor could it grow, but it allowed him to conjure an extra spark on short notice.
This method seemed of little practical use because, unlike Lixi, the other eight apertures required the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire to shrink back into his body and remain tucked away inside, unable to ward off enemies outside. Furthermore, the power of a single portion of Dali Chixi Light could hardly compare to that of the Three Hou Shuxuan Fire, rendering it virtually useless effort...
*Yet that is the case with a single spark of Dali Chixi Light. What if there were nine? Bridging the gap from a spark of Dali Chixi Light to a measure of Dali Jinxi Light is a massive hurdle in the spell, exceedingly difficult to cross. But as long as I cultivate nine beams, I can temporarily withdraw the True Fire during battle and unleash it just the same.*
Contented, he put away the spell, turned his head toward Li Minggong, and asked with a smile, "How did it go?"
His question naturally concerned news of Dingyangzi from Qize. He had already planned everything out in his mind:
*Since I must borrow his Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace, why not seize the opportunity to settle the matter? By concocting those several medicinal pills for him, not only will I earn a share of Violet Palace spiritual resources, but I can also use the Violet Palace spiritual furnace to produce one or two extra pills. As the saying goes, ride the wind and follow the current—everything that needs to be refined will be refined!*
Moreover, who was Dingyangzi? When he departed from Mount Zhijing that day, he had mentioned that 'there is still a spiritual artifact being refined in the furnace'—a spiritual artifact, not a spiritual embryo! The man was a rare artifact master! Dingyangzi sought something from Li Ximing, and to Li Ximing, Dingyangzi was just as prized a partner. That was precisely why Li Ximing had displayed his capabilities early on to foster good relations with him.
Li Minggong understood his intention and said respectfully, "When this junior arrived at Qize, True Master Dingyangzi's lineage, Mount Baiyang, treated me with great courtesy, and I was granted a personal audience with the Violet Palace master himself. Upon hearing True Master's intentions, the mountain master intended to pay a visit in person and escorted me all the way to the lake. However, since True Master was not present, he could only return with regret and left a message for me."
With a spiritual artifact in his furnace, Dingyangzi naturally could not wander about at will. Making the journey in person had already shown how highly he regarded the matter. She continued respectfully:
"He holds True Master's alchemy skills in the highest esteem. He is willing to continue refining the High Shaman spiritual embryo for True Master; if True Master no longer requires it, he can also be entrusted with refining a spiritual artifact."
This was precisely what Li Ximing coveted most. He gave a slight nod, and Li Minggong continued:
"Unfortunately, the True Master still has an artifact in the furnace, and his schedule is full. Secondly, he wondered whether our clan possessed sufficient spiritual resources to forge an artifact... Thus, he stated plainly that as long as True Master refines these three cauldrons of pills for him and produces at least fifteen pills, he can design a spiritual artifact for our lake and draft a manuscript. As for the subsequent forging and expenses, they can be discussed later.
"If our clan has connections in artifact forging, we could directly take his manuscript to have someone else forge it, which would also greatly reduce the difficulty..."
Li Ximing's eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "What confidence!"
Li Minggong silently lowered her head, while Li Ximing remarked, "There is no need to say more on that. Simply report back to him: since we are engaging his services, how could we possibly turn to someone else? We accept the task. Not only will I refine the full quota for him, but I will also borrow the spiritual furnace from Mount Huyi for the concoction to show our respect!"
After laughing, he adopted a serious tone. "Before you went to Qize, I had Quewan look into the matter of Bichen Water. We need to purchase a large quantity. Let her decide roughly how much can be procured, and then have her come to the inner formation."
Li Minggong promptly acknowledged the order. Just then, a beam of celestial light streaked in from beyond the mountain, materializing amidst the peaks into a man with golden eyes, refined brows, and white-gold armor. Cupping his hands, he greeted:
"Seventh Granduncle has returned."
"Mm."
Li Zhouwei took a seat, seemingly in good spirits, and smiled. "There was some commotion in the wilderness this morning, so I made a trip out and could not come see Granduncle right away... Please forgive me."
"Nonsense."
Li Ximing smiled. The two stood up in tacit understanding and headed all the way toward Lake Central Islet. As they descended into the inner formation, Li Zhouwei recounted the matter concerning King Bolie. Li Ximing's smile gradually faded, and he let out a quiet sigh before replying:
"That is indeed a trouble... Still, I have several pieces of good news to share with you!"
They sat down, and after pouring some tea, Li Ximing retrieved a jade box from his sleeve and handed it over. Li Zhouwei took a close look and exclaimed in surprise:
"Donglu Primordial Water!"
Li Ximing chuckled heartily and narrated the events of his journey, leaving Li Zhouwei somewhat astonished. After contemplating for a long while, Li Zhouwei said softly:
"Granduncle is a man blessed with destiny and bound to immortal fortune, far beyond ordinary mortals!"
Li Ximing shook his head in amusement, entirely disagreeing. He said plainly, "The immortal fortune belongs to the ancestors, and the destiny is borrowed from yours. Any benefit I gain today is merely nourished by the waning of the Great Sun. What is there to boast about?"
Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea. "I see no difference..."
Li Ximing did not dwell on such talk, so Li Zhouwei had no choice but to remind him, "True Master Tinglan came by once, saying that True Master Zhugong is gravely injured and hoping that True Master might pay a visit and administer some pills."
Hearing this, Li Ximing shook his head. "It would be better to have Sumian look at this. Seeking me out is merely turning to any doctor in a panic. Once matters settle down, I will pay a visit simply to preserve face."
He then straightened his expression. "Idle talk is useless. I have secured a favor from Dingyangzi, which gives us an opportunity to forge a spiritual artifact. Since you placed Dasheng at Guanxie Terrace, send Yuan'e to Qize for him to inspect."
Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow, a hint of joy appearing on his face. Before he could politely decline, Li Ximing pressed on without pausing:
"After all, ancient relics are inherently scarce, and armor handed down from the past is rarer still. There is no need to harbor vain hopes; we will forge it ourselves... Furthermore, now that I have obtained Lihuo, this item ought to be given to you."
With that, he reached out his hand. Celestial light flared between his brows, and a spiritual battleaxe flew forth. Measuring roughly three chi in length, with the two tips of its curved crescent blade shaped like new moons, it was none other than the Huayang Royal Battleaxe!
The moment this spiritual artifact emerged and was held in hand, there was a sensation that it might fly off at any second and land in Li Zhouwei's grasp. Li Ximing sighed and said, "Entrusting this item to you... is how it will be of greatest use..."
Li Zhouwei truly dared not accept it now. He immediately rose to his feet and said solemnly, "Our elder has labored for years and paid countless prices for a spiritual artifact before finally obtaining this treasure. How could I dare usurp it!"
"What was spent was our family's assets to begin with!"
Li Ximing shook his head and lightly loosened his grip. The Huayang Royal Battleaxe's Miuji ability took effect at once; it actually recognized its master on its own and flew into Li Zhouwei's hands!
"This!"
Giving him no chance to speak, Li Ximing feigned anger and said, "I wander about leisurely, living freely outside, while you guard the northern shore. If you lack a spiritual artifact to hold the ground and a handy weapon to wield, how can that do? They may not be able to harm you, but if you are pinned down, the descendants along the river will be in dire straits."
Thus, brooking no argument, he thrust the weapon upon him. To their surprise, only a brief moment passed before Li Quewan knocked on the palace doors. Li Ximing immediately shifted the conversation, bade her enter, and asked, "How stands the procurement of Bichen Water south of the river?"
Li Zhouwei had never been one for excessive words. Under the circumstances, he could only bow in gratitude and fasten the royal battleaxe to his waist first.
Li Quewan was currently in charge of the clan's spiritual materials, so she was naturally the most knowledgeable person to ask. The woman offered a graceful curtsy and said respectfully:
"If True Master requires a large quantity, we must not let others catch wind of it, lest they raise the prices on us. This matter must be handled quietly by our people, dispersed across various market towns for procurement. Unfortunately, the Fushui path is inherently scarce, and Bichen Water is mostly used in artifact forging. Fortunately, it comes in large volumes. This junior estimates... we can only procure several dozen portions at first. Over the course of a year... we should secure at least ten to twenty small vats, though the clan will have to endure some strain."
Li Ximing calculated briefly. A year's time would certainly be sufficient, so his mind was set at ease. Knowing that he needed to arrange the matter of the Feather Beneath the Neck, Li Zhouwei asked:
"As for the method of transformation, you still need to inspect and test it with your divine wonders."
"This junior understands."
Recognizing that the two were making long-term preparations, Li Quewan promptly took her leave. Li Ximing hesitated for a long while before lowering his voice:
"I intend to establish an office in the vicinity of Lulai Isle, and I suddenly thought of Liu Changdie... He mentioned that the divine ability he cultivates can nurture metal essence and resources. If he truly has the inclination now, we could invite him to inspect the Feather Transformation Pool in the cave dwelling and devise a method."
Liu Changdie had associated with their family for a long time and was trustworthy. Unfortunately, he carried a great deal of trouble, and Li Ximing feared drawing unwanted attention. Finding himself in a dilemma, Li Ximing decided to inquire into the Fushui path first, and turned to Li Zhouwei instead: "Is the Zhaoche Primordial Qi here?"
Li Ximing's return had other purposes as well, one of which was to retrieve the clan's Zhaoche Primordial Qi!
Despite his constant travels, he had never neglected his cultivation. During brief moments of leisure, he studied spells; during longer intervals, he refined his Qi. He had casually completed the six wheels and was now preparing to refine his Qi with the Zhaoche Primordial Qi to cultivate his second divine ability.
*In past years, troubles abounded and battles were frequent. Now that Jiangbei has stabilized and there seems to be little prospect of war, with Minghuang guarding the riverbank, I can finally cultivate in peace.*
Taking it from Li Zhouwei's hands, he tucked it into his sleeve and remarked with a sigh, "I still marvel at how wonderful Ziyan Gate's Duqian Medallion is. Nowadays, I wish I could split myself into multiple bodies for every task, and I envy even more those divine wonders that allow one to practice spells while cultivating."
Lamentations aside, he did not tarry. Once everything was settled with Li Zhouwei, he rode his light and departed.
Li Zhouwei saw him out of the palace and returned alone.
Ever since returning from Mount Dali, he had known no peace of mind. At this moment, Li Ximing's words still echoed in his ears:
*Bestowing the royal battleaxe to protect the clan's descendants along the river.*
*Sheltering them for a time is possible, but if I do not comply with Luoxia's wishes and undergo reincarnation, what fate will befall the children on the lake!*
The inner formation was perpetually dim, and at this moment, it was exceedingly quiet. Only his footsteps resonated through the grand hall. The man walked all the way to the highest seat, sat down in the primary position, unfastened the three-chi-long royal battleaxe from his waist, and held it up to examine it.
A royal battleaxe—the authority of Mingyang.
The deep, dense brownish-yellow surface of the axe held a silvery sheen, carved with undulating patterns of a lin beast whose head looked downward, while atop it was etched the Shangyao Diagram, signifying both the front face and orthodoxy.
His five fingers turned, flipping the axe over. Beneath the Yangji Diagram on the reverse side were still the patterns of a qi beast, only its head faced upward, those ambitious eyes staring intently back at him.
*Clack, clack...*
Hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the grand hall, hollow yet forceful. His second son stopped outside the hall and announced respectfully:
"Father, True Master Tianhuo of the Jinyu Sect has arrived."
The golden-eyed man did not answer. He remained seated high within the grand hall, quietly gazing at the patterns etched upon the royal battleaxe.
As the voice echoed through the hall and gradually faded away, this White Lin of the mortal realm, this pride of the Li clan, finally stirred. Exerting force with his fingers and wrist simultaneously, he turned the royal battleaxe little by little, bringing the sharp edge closer and closer to his face.
With his turn, all the lin beast patterns sank out of sight due to the shifting angle, while the Yangji Diagram grew increasingly bright. A gleam of light arose along the long edge, reflecting his cold, golden eyes.
"Invite him onto the islet."
Chapter 929