The East Sea surged with boundless billows.
Two streaks of brilliance, one white and one gold, arrived in an instant. Sweeping over the rolling ocean waters, they soon sighted Changzhou Island, shaped like an armored helm.
Compared to its desolation over the years, Changzhou Island was now bustling with activity. Cultivators clad in matching robes flew back and forth, busily occupied on all sides—all members of the Li clan dispatched here in recent years.
The two traversed directly through the Great Void and landed on the island. Beneath the island's palace, tiered stairways had already been constructed, descending all the way into the deep subterranean depths. The two proceeded downward along the path, swiftly arriving above the sha lake.
Amidst the pitch darkness, the Zhentao Residence atop the Youqian Sha Liquid appeared exceptionally lofty and noble. Boundless sha winds blanketed the air above. Not a soul was in sight, and compared to when they had departed years ago, not a single trace of change could be seen.
The Li clan had many rules. With no Violet Palace master stationed here and no orders issuing from the lake, the cultivators on the island were evidently terrified of causing a blunder and dared not step into this place. Li Ximing smiled slightly and said:
"Please!"
Liu Changdie's face was filled with marvel, clearly having sensed the miraculous nature of the array. Stroking his beard in silence, his eyes sparkled with unending delight, and he merely said:
"What a blessed land, seizing the very fortune of heaven and earth!"
The two entered the Zhentao Residence together and were greeted by a massive circular hall carved with turtles and softshell turtles intertwined in mutual embrace, where black and white blended. Desks of deep blue adorned with gold patterns were neatly arranged in rows, magnificent and majestic.
Li Ximing's gaze naturally locked onto the Huayu Pool. The pool's water had become warm and lustrous as jade, radiating wave after wave of white light.
From the time he departed this place, shuttled back and forth to Parvata, and refined several batches of pills in succession before finally returning here, full a year had passed by rough calculation.
Now, the pool water was just one final step away from condensing an Under-Neck Feather!
Liu Changdie possessed exceptionally keen eyes; almost at the same instant, his gaze fell upon the Huayu Pool in the main hall. Stepping swiftly forward, he leaned over and scrutinized this pure white magical pool with indescribable shock:
"Ximing... do you hold authority over the grand array?"
The Black Turtle Palace-Guarding Spirit Array currently had him as its sole master, so controlling it was as effortless as moving his own limbs. With merely a thought, Li Ximing connected his spiritual sense to the grand array and immediately registered Liu Changdie's aura.
The moment Liu Changdie linked with the array, he hesitated not in the least and pressed both hands against the rim of the pool. Immediately, slivers of silver light began flowing around the pool water, accompanied by the clinking chime of chains:
"Tangliang Silver!"
The white water within the pool spun rapidly as its level plunged, vanishing completely in the blink of an eye. In an instant, a silver-white, metallic feather lay resting on the empty bottom of the pool.
An Under-Neck Feather.
'So fast!'
Li Ximing drew it up with his divine ability and stored it into a box with deep satisfaction. Liu Changdie, however, was not distracted in the least. He gently brushed across the white jade at the bottom of the pool; remarkably, the surface swiftly turned translucent, faintly revealing countless talismans embedded within.
He was dazed for a moment, both eyes taking on a silver-white hue that rapidly reflected all the countless talismans before him, seemingly recording them with a divine ability as he murmured:
"To think there could be such an ingenious design! How is this any different from creating an entirely new species of spiritual tree or flower out of nothing! There must be a Fushui treasure here to borrow its status!"
Li Ximing was startled upon hearing this. Although he held the array plate, he could not discern what materials had actually been used to construct this grand array. He pondered inwardly:
'The Xuanhu Yiqi Dongyuan is already in my hands; could there be something else within the grand array? In truth, that would be only logical!'
Liu Changdie looked up with bright, piercing eyes and said:
"If you dismantle the Black Turtle Palace-Guarding Spirit Array, Ximing, you will surely gain something!"
"..."
Li Ximing awkwardly feigned sudden enlightenment, but Liu Changdie waved his hands repeatedly, answering his own suggestion:
"No, it cannot be dismantled! It cannot be dismantled! Such a precious method from a predecessor must be studied thoroughly!"
He simply cast Li Ximing aside like that and began examining it in rapt fascination. Fortunately, he still retained some clarity of mind; though his eyes could not tear away, he said:
"Please allow me to borrow this treasured ground! Rest assured, Ximing—with Tangliang Silver here, the condensation speed for the next spiritual item will be at least half a year faster!"
Li Ximing nodded in satisfaction at once. Silently brushing his waist, he felt the jade pendant warming up, knowing that Li Zhouwei had already sent someone to retrieve the Xuanjie flower leaves from the Jinyu Sect.
'I can immediately go into the grotto-heaven and refine the flower leaves into pills; both he and I can take them.'
Not wishing to waste any time, Li Ximing made an excuse to step outside. Liu Changdie, however, suddenly stood up in a hurry:
"Let us head out together. It is inconvenient for me on this island; why don't you assign someone to run errands for me, Ximing?"
"That is easy!"
The two Real Persons immediately exited the earth vein, traversed the Great Void, and landed in the palace, giving the white-robed man in the main hall a fright. He rushed forward to greet them:
"Greetings, Real Persons!"
An Siwei was dressed in white. Though he still bore the appearance of a middle-aged man, his demeanor had grown seasoned and aged. He wore a long beard, and the golden ring he had worn on his wrist for years was gone, giving him a plain and unadorned look.
As the Li clan's first Foundation Establishment cultivator with an outside surname, An Siwei's talent was not actually poor. Unfortunately, his cultivation method was unremarkable, nor had he enjoyed any fine resources in his youth. By now, he had only just broken through to the mid Foundation Establishment stage. With the fierce clash between north and south, sending him into battle would naturally mean a nine-in-ten chance of death, so he had been dispatched out here alongside Li Wen.
Along the riverbanks, he could be called the least capable among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, inferior even to Li Wen. Yet out here, clashing with a few demonic cultivators was well within his capabilities. Moreover, he was loyal, making this a position exceedingly well-suited to them.
Li Ximing found him familiar and amiable. As he flew toward the interior of the island, he asked after his recent life. Liu Changdie, however, had a complex look in his eyes and suddenly asked:
"That An Zheyan... how is he doing nowadays?"
An Siwei froze for a moment before remembering that this Real Person had also visited the Li clan in years past and might share some history with him. Mentioning his father immediately brought sorrow to his face, and he answered hastily:
"Father... has grown extremely old. He was originally resting in retirement at home, but he kept making a fuss, insisting on seeing me. His days are likely numbered. He was brought to the island just yesterday, and it seems he is no longer clear of mind, doing nothing but clamoring for duck soup..."
"Oh!"
Liu Changdie responded, smoothing his robes. With a conflicted expression, he asked:
"Where is the old man? Let me see him!"
Liu Changdie also knew An Zheyan. When he built arrays for the Li clan back then, this old man was the one who assisted him. Not only that, they had known each other in his past life... The very first fortune he made to start his rise... had in fact been obtained by pre-emptively taking a spiritual ingredient that An Zheyan was supposed to have chanced upon in Lixia Commandery during his prime.
Although he had been plagued by inner demons in those days and eventually reached a great awakening, channeling all his obsessions into the pursuit of the Dao—striving for the Violet Palace and making amends for his past wrongs—facing this sight now, how could words describe the ache in his heart?
'In my past life, long before Old Man An's lifespan reached its end, I had heard he was trying to prepare for a gamble at Foundation Establishment... Yet now, in this state... perhaps his spirit is simply broken.'
Li Ximing was also moved with sorrow. Seeing Liu Changdie's intention, he nodded in agreement. The three went down together and soon saw the man in a courtyard.
The old man's head remained bald, but the white beard on his temples and chin was exceedingly long, cascading all the way down to rest upon his chest. A leather cap hung beside his chair. Face tilted toward the sky, one hand propped on the armrest and the other pressed against his forehead, he appeared drowsy and half-asleep.
The moment An Siwei stepped into the room, the old man suddenly rolled up, his eyes widening in a turbid gaze as he asked:
"Jingming! Is the Yu clan here?"
An Siwei's face turned slightly pale. Stepping forward to support him, he said softly:
"Father, the Real Persons have come to see you."
Li Ximing remained silent. He had seen him when he was young: a sturdy, somewhat simple and honest old man. Though he had heard he was once an extremely brutal clan patriarch, during all his years in the Li clan, An Zheyan had always been a gentle and easily sentimental elder.
'There is hardly any vitality left to speak of. He is hanging on entirely thanks to a few spiritual medicines gathered by the An family...'
As Li Ximing stood silent, Liu Changdie's eyes reddened beside him. Standing dazed in place, he choked out:
"Old Man An... Old Man An..."
The old man in the chair showed no reaction. Even upon hearing the words "Real Persons," he merely let out a groan and opened his trembling mouth:
"Aiya... why... why haven't you left yet!"
Tears instantly welled in An Siwei's eyes, and he replied:
"It is me... Siwei."
An Zheyan stared blankly at him, as if suddenly remembering something. Clasping his son's hand with both withered, aged hands, he murmured:
"You must abstain from wine... you must abstain from lust..."
"Yes..."
An Siwei sobbed in response. The old man rambled foolishly once more:
"Be discreet in speech and conduct... preserve yourself through caution..."
"Yes..."
"Do not think of revenge..."
No matter what the old man muttered, An Siwei answered him through tears. An Zheyan sat there foolishly, chanting those few sentences over and over again, until his gaze finally found some focus on An Siwei's face:
"Oh... and bear children..."
Li Ximing raised an eyebrow slightly. Just as he was about to step forward and use a divine ability to hold him to life a little longer, he heard Liu Changdie weep:
"Just let him go..."
At that instant, the old man's head finally drooped.
The words An Jingming had spoken during their final parting at last ceased their echoing. The door to the An family's inner chamber no longer swung open in all kinds of horrific ways within his delusions, nor did the darkness of the subterranean tunnel return—the guilt and hallucinations that had tormented him repeatedly in his dying years finally vanished along with his life.
Yet under his son's gaze, that terribly weathered face still bore a blank stupor underlain by dread.
Liu Changdie dared not look at him. Averting his gaze, he retrieved a jade box from his sleeve, set it beside An Siwei, and hurried out of the courtyard. After walking alongside Li Ximing for quite a distance, he finally lowered his gaze and said in distress:
"He ought to be sent back to Mount Yuting for burial!"
...
The Sun and Moon Shining Together Heavenly Domain.
A faint fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted through the white mist. The golden furnace wobbled slightly, spiritual light shimmering along its ivory-white corners. The Real Person raised a hand gently, and eight gold-white streaks of light fell into his palm, linked tail to head.
Li Ximing let out a breath and casually stowed the furnace away. Pacing out of the small courtyard, he ascended the pavilion steps and saw Li Zhouwei meditating quietly within.
"Eight Linguang Zhaoyi Pills!"
He showed a smile. The eight gold-white pills, which looked as though they were clad in scales, formed a ring, rising and falling continually as they were nourished by the Mingyang divine ability in his hand.
"Great Granduncle's alchemy skills are wondrous indeed!"
Li Zhouwei took the four pills divided out for him and let out a light laugh. Li Ximing pondered:
"To my eyes, their medicinal potency is a notch inferior to those from the Donghuo Grotto-Heaven. In the end, this is caused by Mingyang's increasing decline in recent years, leaving spiritual items languid. They only reach eighty or ninety percent of the original, but fortunately the quantity is sufficient, so it matters little."
"They are already splendid."
Li Zhouwei added:
"Jinyu mentioned they have a decent stockpile of the Xuanjie flower leaves. Now, each blossom blooming once a year can be given to our family. If we get eight pills every time, it will be more than enough for Great Granduncle and me to cultivate... What ordinary Violet Palace cultivator could enjoy such conditions?"
"Haha."
This was indeed true, and Li Ximing laughed in agreement. Then Li Zhouwei lowered his voice:
"Great Granduncle... Senior Tingyun has shown herself!"
"What?"
Li Ximing was startled, feeling a mixture of joy and complicated emotion. Though he had long anticipated this, he still could not help but sigh inwardly. Li Zhouwei continued:
"Real Person Qiuhu has arrived at the lake and is currently in the wilderness area. I received word from her that Kong Tingyun has in fact already visited Shanji Commandery and fetched the few survivors of the Kong clan. But Fuyuezi... could not last until today. He had already fallen during the turmoil when Zhugong disappeared back then.
"Though there is no public word at present, the Xuanmiao Abbey's domain is in constant flux. From what I see of the North's intentions... Xuanmiao has temporarily been placed under Kong Tingyun's governance as well."
Li Ximing replied:
"From what I heard from Sui Guan, it was already a settled matter. Now it can merely be considered the dust settling. By all reason and propriety, we ought to meet her regardless, but since there is no news, perhaps she cannot cross the river."
"Is there anything amiss with Ning Wan?"
When Li Ximing asked this, Li Zhouwei merely shook his head silently and answered:
"Not the slightest difference! Only a hint of helplessness between her brows... I did not speak with her much. Calculating the time, in just eight months, the day of sacrifice will arrive again, so I have already brought Jiangchun back."
"It is the exalted one's handiwork, after all."
Li Ximing sighed and took his leave from the pavilion. Li Zhouwei sat cross-legged, a scale-clad white pill appearing in his hand, and swallowed it in silence:
"While the matters outside have yet to stir, this is the perfect time to temper the immortal base!"
Pills of spiritual grade were typically used to temper divine abilities. Now with plenty in reserve and eager to advance his cultivation, Li Zhouwei directed his existing progress in Jun Daowei straight toward the perfection of the immortal base.
Within the grotto-heaven, light and shadow held no difference. Qi surged and billowed. Settling his breath for a long while, the qi sea churned incessantly. What had originally lacked about half a year of cultivation now surged violently under the catalysis of the spirit pill, the Jun Daowei dharmic power in his qi sea rising in one sustained breath!
Dark-gold brilliance converged as dharmic power churned; in an instant, radiance flooded every corner.
The immortal base of Jun Daowei was achieved!
Perhaps due to the boost from the spirit pill, the process had been astonishingly effortless. Yet the instant it was accomplished, his mind became crystal clear:
'To tread peril with the nature of Mingyang, and thereby break through it—the five divine abilities of Mingyang are not merely divine abilities; they also symbolize five distinct states of Mingyang. And Jun Daowei represents abiding humbly in perilous positions, an emblem of Mingyang seeking to rectify its momentum!'
And Li Zhouwei was currently the favored of Mingyang yet possessed modest cultivation—was that not the very meaning of Jun Daowei? Thus, his progress was extraordinarily swift:
'Whereas Audience at the Heavenly Gate serves as the facade and majesty of Mingyang's grand completion, naturally ill-suited to my current circumstances. If what the clan had obtained back then was not Audience at the Heavenly Gate but Jun Daowei, the speed at which I could break through to the Violet Palace would have been far faster than it is now!
'Even cultivating it as my second divine ability today, it should proceed much faster than I initially expected!'
This could not help but make him ponder secretly:
'If not for Luoxia's suppression, had reincarnations such as Chu Yi and Lin Feng cultivated Jun Daowei... it would be equivalent to Li Qianyuan himself occupying the position of peril and breaking through jeopardy. Wouldn't that force Mingyang to hang high in the void, directly embodying the sovereign and father of the world? That would truly be terrifying!'
Before he could think further, he snapped his eyes open. Gold-white light flashed swiftly across his pupils, and he looked up thoughtfully.
Upon the main seat in this pavilion, the pure white jade bottle originally used to house the Azure Register was trembling slightly. As though answering some summons, plumes of white smoke drifted out one after another like mist, yet they could only swirl around the bottle's body, unable to break free.
'Is this... the clan offering sacrifice?'
Chapter 946