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Yet his gaze had barely swept past the endless slaughter beneath his feet when the disturbances in the Great Void suddenly intensified. Waves of gentle white light shimmered, pouring downward like surging river water. Li Ximing observed quietly, estimating inwardly, 'It is coming from the direction of Mount Changhuai.' Unfortunately, this white light flickered only for a moment. As if drawn by an invisible force, it rapidly coalesced back toward the center, vanishing like a fleeting mirage. Li Ximing swept his gaze around once or twice without finding anything out of the ordinary. His heart drummed anxiously. All around was silent and dark; not a single Violet Palace cultivator had shown themselves. 'Where have all the cultivators of the State of Wu gone?!' He had no choice but to return to the mortal realm. Riding the wind, he surveyed the land, likewise discovering no cultivators clad in the garments of Mount Changhuai. Inspecting along the way, he shook his head in secret. The great formation beneath his feet flickered erratically, appearing exceedingly frail amid the firelight. A crowd of cultivators was hurtling their magical artifacts through the air, smashing them down upon the barrier and triggering wave after wave of thunderous blasts. He was, after all, a Violet Palace cultivator. Though he knew little of the State of Wu, relying on the fluctuations of spiritual energy and the surging malevolent qi, he had already formed a rough guess in his mind: 'It has to do with the earth veins... It seems there has been a violent shift in the earth veins, causing malevolent qi to boil upward. That is why the formation is reacting like this. If it were a more ordinary array, it would have shattered by now.' He could see clearly that while a rabble of low-tier Qi Nourishing and Qi Refinement cultivators fought and scrambled over one another, a young man at late Foundation Establishment was pinching an incantation to conceal himself in midair, seemingly observing something with great care. Li Ximing lightly crooked his finger, and celestial light poured down like wisps of silk. In his daze, the youth lost all sense of direction and was guided directly before him by the celestial radiance. Upon seeing the divine ability shining before him, how could the youth fail to realize he had been brought here by a True Master? His body shuddered, and he bowed with profound reverence. "Junior pays his respects to the True Master!" Li Ximing saw that the youth possessed little fear, showing more trepidation and prudence instead. His reactions were also exceedingly swift; clearly, this was not his first time witnessing a divine ability. Li Ximing understood at once: 'He has a background as well.' Thus, he asked indifferently, "Which house do you hail from?" The young man bowed politely. "Junior is Li Nitan of the Tanshan Li clan of the State of Wu. Appointed by my clan to observe the situation toward Shu, I never expected to encounter a True Master. Please forgive me for failing to greet you properly." 'So it is the Tanshan Li clan!' The State of Wu was different from the State of Yue. Back then, when the Taiyang lineage carved up the State of Yue, the remaining territories were few to begin with, and they governed various regions through their own influence, preserving many rules left behind by the Yuan Mansion. In contrast, most of the State of Wu fell entirely under the overarching might of Mount Changhuai. Aside from the four sects that were the earliest to submit, all those who rose to prominence later had unbreakable ties to Changhuai, or had even originated from Mount Changhuai itself. Among them, nine Violet Palace masters had emerged over time, commonly known as the Nine Surnames of Wu. The Tanshan Li clan was one of them! Li Ximing understood now. Mount Changhuai styled itself as the Changhuai lineage and maintained strict control. The Violet Palace masters beneath it were clustered together and seldom communicated with the outside world. Correspondingly, however, Mount Changhuai was intensely protective of these de facto subordinate Violet Palace houses. Under such shelter, combined with the fact that the Tanshan Li clan's Violet Palace ancestor was still alive in his prime and had capable successors, they genuinely had no fear of any True Master causing them trouble. Formidable though they were, the Tanshan Li clan had for years referred to themselves merely as the local Li surname, never daring to associate themselves with the Mingyang Wei-Li clan. Li Ximing smiled casually and replied, "Then we are indeed of the same family." Li Nitan was no ordinary cultivator. Seeing the divine abilities of Mingyang upon Li Ximing, cold sweat broke out all over him at those words. He said respectfully, "So it is True Master Zhaojing's immortal presence! Naturally, we share the same surname. Back when we heard of the True Master's attainment of the Dao, our clan was overjoyed... Alas, by the decree of Changhuai, we are forbidden from associating freely with outside clans..." "Enough!" Li Ximing had no patience for his rambling. He had merely plucked a passerby at random to question; why should he care about Tanshan's attitude? He simply asked, "I am passing through this place. Do you know what has happened?" Li Nitan hurriedly answered, "To report to the True Master, junior was also just disturbed from my cave dwelling and do not know the underlying cause... I only observed that the slaughter across the commandery arose from changes in the earth veins and spiritual energy. Formations of many clans, market towns, and even elixir pavilions and cave dwellings failed simultaneously. "How could ordinary cultivators resist such temptation? Naturally, they began smashing, looting, and battling. Amid all the chaos, several clans across the commanderies are entangling with one another; there must be annexations underway!" This was precisely what puzzled Li Ximing. Logically speaking, suppressing local magnates and prohibiting annexations was standard practice for most sects. He asked, "Where is Changhuai's prohibition?" Li Nitan gave a wry smile. "To report to the True Master, ever since Great True Master Pingwen fell, the mountain has hoped for more Violet Palace masters to emerge and lifted the restrictions. Many bans now constrain only the Nine Surnames. With turmoil erupting all at once, unrest has naturally spread everywhere, giving rise to this shifting landscape." 'Hoped for more Violet Palace masters to emerge?' Li Ximing mulled over the words and felt something was amiss. But as for what had truly triggered this upheaval, Li Nitan would likely refuse to elaborate even if he knew. Li Ximing simply released him and vanished into the Great Void. Although Li Nitan had appeared very composed before him, facing a Violet Palace cultivator after all had filled him with immense trepidation. Now, quietly riding the wind downward, the cold sweat on his body finally ceased: 'To think I would run into the Wangyue Li clan here!' His Tanshan Li clan did not have illustrious roots. Their ancestor, True Master Tanfu, was originally a Changhuai cultivator who attained the Dao only after receiving guidance from True Master Pingwen. After leaving the mountain, what he feared most was getting entangled with the Wei-Li clan! It was true that nine Violet Palace masters had established clans in the State of Wu over the years, but with some of those masters having fallen, there were still those whose reputations exceeded their reality. Their own ancestor had been in seclusion for years without stepping out, ranking among the higher-cultivation group of the Nine Surnames and already advanced in age. With Grandfather Li Muyan attaining the Dao, their clan had produced a second Violet Palace master and was flourishing. How could they afford to invite trouble over nothing? 'For such a coincidence to happen... perhaps some clan is trying to set us up!' He hurried back to his cave dwelling, killed several restless demonic cultivators waiting at the mountainside with a few palm strikes, and immediately took to the wind, rushing home to deliver the news. *** Mount Baiyang. Li Ximing descended upon a ray of light, finding this place relatively peaceful. Dingyangzi's disciples already recognized him and stepped forward one after another to pay their respects. Once reaching Qize, the chaos of the State of Wu subsided somewhat. After all, unlike densely populated commandery seats, this region was dominated by wilderness and vast marshes, with several rogue Violet Palace cultivators holding the fort, making it difficult for conflicts to break out. Though Dingyangzi sat beside the furnace, chanting incantations while pinching hand seals to control the spiritual flames, Li Ximing could tell from his expression that his mood was hardly pleasant—his countenance could even be called grim. "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!" Li Ximing returned the greeting. With the fog of doubt in his mind unresolved, he did not even inquire about the spiritual resources, instead bringing up the events in Wu first: "I saw a vast swath of white light in the Great Void over Mount Changhuai, and coming through the State of Wu, various lands have already descended into utter turmoil. Do you happen to know the reason?" Hearing him mention this matter, Dingyangzi let out a heavy sigh. Turning away from the fire, he invited Li Ximing to sit down once more in the pavilion, poured some tea, and shook his head. "It is because the [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] has shattered." Seeing the puzzled look Li Ximing cast toward him, Dingyangzi asked softly, "Does Fellow Daoist know of True Master Pingwen? Or rather... do you know of Qing Tangyin?" Only then did Li Ximing stroke his beard and reply, "Qing Tangyin... the Great True Master of Mount Changhuai." Li Ximing had naturally heard the name. Back when he had just broken through and visited Yuanxiu at Qingchi Sect, he had encountered the atmospheric shifts marking this Great True Master's demise. Dingyangzi nodded with a complicated expression. "Pingwen was his Daoist title. Born in the State of Jizhong, he roamed that region in his early years, so his fame in Jiangnan was not widespread. The [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] was his treasure." "Oh?" "The [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] was a spiritual tool, yet far from ordinary. Cultivated through a specific lineage, rumor has it that it was even connected to True Monarch Tianwu. It was exceedingly formidable, and he was renowned for it back then..." Speaking to this point, Dingyangzi's expression turned somewhat peculiar. "He was fine in every other regard, except that his nature was notoriously stingy—famous for it among the Violet Palace." He shook his head and said, "Let me give you an example... He had an offspring named Qing Jifang, who was also a scoundrel... Back before achieving the Violet Palace, he caused trouble and engaged in rivalries with Tuoba Lan out in the world. When Tuoba Lan visited their sect as a guest, Qing Jifang brought up the artifact, saying he wanted to fetch it for Tuoba Lan to see... "At the time... I and several other True Masters were present, helping True Master Pingwen evaluate a spiritual embryo, and we watched the young master come to ask..." Li Ximing sensed something odd, and watched as Dingyangzi continued sluggishly: "True Master Pingwen merely said, '[A tool of True Martial was obtained through my own fortune; what has it to do with you? What is there for you to see?]'" The old man wore a mocking smile and answered, "Qing Jifang refused to accept it, and even dared to mutter in private, '[A day will come when I shall examine it in detail!]' "Oh!" Those were audacious words indeed. Ximing was taken aback, secretly clicking his tongue, at a loss for how to respond. He could only shake his head with an inward chuckle. "After all, he was Senior Pingwen's late-born son, obtained through the precious [Mingfang Xuanyuan]. It is only natural that he was pampered..." He had learned this secret while inquiring about [Mingfang Xuanyuan] from the Cui clan. Dingyangzi seemed surprised that he knew of such things, pausing briefly before continuing: "True Master Pingwen was never a forgiving man. He summoned the youth and replied, '[Watch closely, then.]' "The True Master immediately took the [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] and, using supreme divine techniques, locked it within the Great Void, binding it to the grand formation into an extraordinarily unique spiritual tool that could never again be retrieved." Li Ximing smiled inwardly, but Dingyangzi added, "Yet as I said, this man was never one to suffer a loss! "In the beginning, everyone just watched for amusement. But as time went by and Changhuai's cultivators continuously refined and inscribed it, the artifact spread its wonders through the Great Void, linking with Mount Changhuai's grand formation. It cascaded downward along the earth veins, regulating the spiritual energy and veins across various regions, quietly harmonizing them into one. "This artifact also became the treasure through which he confirmed his personal cultivation. The channeling of spiritual energy and shifting of earth veins across all territories—if not entirely within his grasp, were influenced by him at least fifty to sixty percent, placing an invisible shackle upon every faction under his rule..." Li Ximing nodded silently. Dingyangzi laughed without reservation, saying, "The True Masters of Qize often joke that cultivating in the State of Wu requires not only paying tribute, but if one absorbs a bit too much spiritual energy... one must pay an extra share of spirit stones to True Master Pingwen!" Li Ximing sighed inwardly at the tale. 'This father and son... what a pair!' Dingyangzi reined in his smile, his expression turning calm as he returned to the main topic. "Now, the current situation is because the [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] has been shattered! "Mount Changhuai spent all these years regulating the spiritual veins and laying down array nodes, going through immense pains to forge this supreme method to control the State of Wu. With the [Wenwu Pingqing Zhi] shattered, it has all vanished like smoke and vapor of true qi!" Li Ximing furrowed his brows, arriving at the answer inwardly: 'No wonder the spiritual energy fluctuated and the earth's malevolent qi surged...' Thus, he spoke, "That must give Mount Changhuai quite a headache..." "Haha!" Dingyangzi shook his head, a different gleam appearing on his aged face. He laughed and said, "The ones with headaches are the Nine Surnames! After Changhuai lifted the bans, annexations were exceedingly rare across the lands, showing that the regions had long been divided among the intricately intertwined and united Nine Surnames. With such a turn of events now, who knows who stands to gain!" Li Ximing still felt something was amiss. Though he nodded outwardly, he pondered within: 'What kind of lineage is Mount Changhuai? A lineage graced by the manifestation of a True Monarch! If they did not wish for the regions to fall into the hands of local magnates, why parcel out the Nine Surnames over the past century? For Mount Changhuai, conferring the commanderies to the Nine Surnames may well have been a scheduled arrangement from the start. Now that upheaval has arisen, there must be a deeper scheme...' 'In this present age... not a single house is resting idle!' Casting aside the topic, he asked, "Fellow Daoist, the reason you invited me here this time is..." Dingyangzi subtly shifted his gaze, drew two jade boxes from his sleeve, placed them gently upon the table, and said softly, "Have a look, Fellow Daoist." Li Ximing opened the first box with his divine ability. Inside lay a fingernail-sized piece of crimson ore, its edges flashing with bright white brilliance. A dense wave of Li Fire qi rushed toward him, coalescing into phantom birds that circled the jade box. [Astral Red Gold]. Dingyangzi said leisurely, "This is a half-portion of [Astral Red Gold], brought by True Master Luo." Setting that jade box down, he opened the box on the other side. A burst of radiance erupted as a liquid resembling a white sea filled the box, faintly reflecting multicolored brilliance, though it quickly receded once exposed to the air. "This one is 'Xiaojin', the [Huakan Gold Essence]." "'Xiaojin'? That is truly rare in Jiangnan," Li Ximing praised. Dingyangzi pressed his hand over the jade box and said solemnly: "Entrusted by another, I must explain this clearly. "Though [Astral Red Gold] is a spiritual resource, 'Li Fire' is always in high demand, and this item ranks quite well among Li Fire resources with its broad applications. Though Fellow Daoist's [Subtle Wisdom Whiskers] was also rare, it was only enough to trade for this half-portion—he only possessed half a portion to begin with." Li Ximing naturally understood how much exaggeration lay in 'was also rare'. A resource derived from a spiritual plant could never match another's red gold. To put it in terms of the Great Dao, Wood virtue was the weakest among the Five Virtues; spiritual fruits and whiskers were generally inferior to flourishing Li Fire. Thus, he shook his head and replied, "To obtain half a portion is already wonderful." "Good!" Dingyangzi praised with a smile. "As for the [Huakan Gold Essence], it can cleanse heterodox light, conceal traces, and sever karmic ties—an uncommon treasure indeed. Said to balance Geng and Dui, Xiaojin is thoroughly harmonized, formed after six hundred years of seclusion deep underground. Very few circulate in the world. "Most importantly, 'Xiaojin' not only poses no conflict with 'Mingyang', but is also commonly known as the gold of carefree concealment and unburdened karma. It causes no clash with most spiritual tools." Li Ximing nodded repeatedly as he listened. His family had encountered the descendant of True Monarch Xiaojin, that Little Wang the Sword Immortal, so he had a deep appreciation for this carefree concealment. He smiled and asked, "May I ask who..." Dingyangzi laughed and said, "True Master Junjian visited my humble mountain several months ago, seeking to exchange for an item. Hearing news of you, he was delighted and specifically left this item behind, instructing me to trade it to you." "What!" This was the first time in many years that Li Ximing had heard the name of Tulong Jian. Back then, this True Master had repeatedly called Li Yuanjiao his benefactor, yet in the end, he had become the benefactor of the Li family. Li Ximing stood up excitedly and asked, "Has Senior Tulong returned to his sect?!" Dingyangzi shook his head and answered, "He is currently seeking an item in the Northern Sea. He came to me to seek a 'Cold Qi' spiritual resource, [Han Cloud Heart Iron], to forge a spiritual sword." "[Han Cloud Heart Iron]?" Li Ximing was slightly puzzled and asked, "Now that I do not understand. Why forge a Cold Qi spiritual sword? Senior uses no sword, and furthermore... 'Mu Fire' is one of the lineages that counters 'Cold Qi'..." Dingyangzi shook his head with a smile, sipped his tea, and said, "That is where you are mistaken. The Tujun Gate originally cultivated Cold Malevolence; naturally, he wishes to revive his sect's lineage. I hear he has a junior he values greatly who cultivates 'Cold Qi', who went into seclusion about ten years ago to break through to the Violet Palace. Tulong Jian is merely planning ahead!" "So that is why!" Li Ximing fell into thought. "It should be that Gao Xuanzi..." Dingyangzi replied, "I have no idea who it is... I only remember him smiling, saying something along the lines of... it is only right to have you search for it!" "Naturally!" Li Ximing nodded and smiled. "After all, Ning Wan cultivates 'Cold Qi' and has ample connections, and there is also Tianwan in the East Sea. Senior does not wish to get involved in disputes, and he had that brief unpleasantness with Tianwan, so this matter ought to be left to me. I shall find a few fellow Daoists to handle it." "Good!" Dingyangzi agreed immediately, clearly in high spirits. Raising a hand, he produced another box and smiled. "As for this [Cangzhou Viper Scale]..." "Leave it to me!" Li Ximing wished he would bring out even more, agreeing readily. Inwardly, he recalled the [Cangzhou Viper Scale] he had already pocketed, feeling secretly awkward: 'It would be awkward to bring that one out; otherwise, since Kan Water is useless to me, trading it to him for resources would have been fine... Keeping it in hand now, I can use it to trade for the [Han Cloud Heart Iron].' Having accepted the task, Li Ximing had a thought and drew a colored glaze bottle from his sleeve, inside of which gray mist drifted unsettled. This item had been brought to the Li clan by Kong Guxi during Xuanyue's final days, rumored to be the scale of a Violet Palace monster. Unfortunately, no one had been able to identify it, knowing only that it was of 'Kan Water' and had found no use. Since he was visiting Mount Baiyang this time, and remembering that the pills Dingyangzi took pertained to 'Kan Water', which was close to 'Shangwu', he had specifically brought it for him to examine. Dingyangzi picked up the glaze bottle and examined it closely. A look of surprise crossed his face. After pondering for a long while, an ardent flame rose in the depths of his eyes, and only then did he ask, "Where did Fellow Daoist obtain this!" How could Li Ximing know where Changxi had scavenged it? He simply offered an evasive excuse. Dingyangzi praised: "This item is [Yuxin Armor], fine as powder. It is indeed a scale... but its wondrous nature is extraordinary; it should never be used to forge a spiritual tool." "Oh?" Li Ximing was quietly intrigued. Dingyangzi praised further: "Though small in quantity, its quality and origin are exceedingly profound—likely rare even in the present world. I hear it is meant to be consumed. You should preserve it well; when the time comes that you need such a spiritual item, it will surely be of immense use." Li Ximing had never held high hopes for things left behind by Real Person Changxi. Hearing Dingyangzi offer such high praise, he was secretly astonished: 'Truly so? No wonder Changxi never used it until his death... That old man was indeed remarkable... Over all those years, he accumulated no small number of treasures, not to mention that demonic embryo...' 'As for this item, I can also consult Senior Chuting.' He offered his thanks. After these matters, his trust in Dingyangzi had grown considerably. Taking out Chen Yin's [Blameless Spirit Wood], he handed it to Dingyangzi and calculated inwardly, saying, "Senior Chen traded this with me. I heard it is used for crafting sword hilts. I have no use for it, so I shall leave it here. If Senior Tulong has a use for it, let him take it; if not, please exchange it with someone else." Tulong Jian had avoided meeting his family several times; Li Ximing had quietly realized that the man had certain reservations, perhaps because of Li Zhouwei, or perhaps because of reasons that made a meeting inappropriate. Yet judging by his attitude regarding spiritual resources, his heart was still inclined toward the Li family. Li Ximing would not trouble him directly, merely asking Dingyangzi to mediate—killing two birds with one stone. Having settled matters with Dingyangzi, he rode a streak of light and headed all the way toward the East Sea. *** Xuanmiao Abbey. The archaic pavilion stood quietly amid the mountain forests, accented by faint golden lanterns, appearing exceedingly elegant. Over the years of repeated warfare north of the river, the landscape had changed drastically; forget pavilions, even the forests were few and far between. Yet Xuanmiao Abbey had repeatedly escaped disaster. The pavilion built by Sumian's own hands back then still stood to this day. A young man wearing a white gauze tall crown and robes adorned with dark cloud patterns sat on the stone steps, holding several bone tiles in his hand, clicking them together crisply. With the doors behind him shut tight, he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Murong has arrived!" The Great Void stirred, and a rotund man stepped out. His complexion looked rather foul. With hands clasped behind his back, he nodded. "Lord Qi is truly living at ease!" Seeing Murong Yan unharmed, a flicker of disappointment crossed Qi Lanyan's heart. He smiled and said, "Naturally not as at ease as Fellow Daoist Murong. Fighting north of the river, you still had numerous cultivators guarding you from the side, unlike me, lonely and desolate, keeping watch over Xuanmiao Abbey!" Hearing his sarcasm, Murong Yan did not anger, but laughed instead. "I am still injured; otherwise, I would not have waited so long before coming to seek Lord Qi." Murong Yan understood in his heart that in this battle, Xindu was the sacrificial pawn, while he himself was never meant to come to harm. The crowd of cultivators Qi Lanyan spoke of was no lie, even if those cultivators had not come to protect Murong Yan. He naturally understood that many lords were acting for Wanling Heaven, and he even knew that Xindu, possessing the 'Floating Cloud Body', would never meet a good end. He had only miscalculated one thing—that this day would arrive so quickly! Even though the matter had not harmed him, he felt a deep sense of crisis. The fact that he had been kept entirely in the dark about Xindu was warning enough! After retreating from the river, he had sent several letters back to the clan in succession. Yet the lords who had sworn solemnly to guarantee his safety when he departed had all fallen silent, merely pacifying him and urging him to seize treasures in Wanling Heaven. 'Those bastards sitting high in the Buddhist lands... it is impossible they knew nothing of Xindu's situation... All of this was deliberately orchestrated by them... deliberately kept from me!' Murong Yan was almost certain that not long after he departed the State of Yan, a dramatic shift had occurred quietly in Yan's decision-making, and this shift excluded him—perhaps even placing him in mortal peril. A deep haze flashed through his deceptively dull eyes, harboring countless suspicions: 'Walking on thin ice indeed...' *** Li Zhouwei smiled and replied, "It should be." A hint of regret quickly surfaced as he added, "It is just a pity that lately... racing against time, I have been either in secluded cultivation or practicing spells, without constantly monitoring the changes. I cannot tell which battles earned them!" Li Ximing nodded inwardly and soon smiled. "No matter. Just pay a bit more attention next time. There is no rush to use them right now—as long as we do not miss out on what we can obtain, that is fine!" Li Zhouwei nodded and continued, "At the time, this junior was overjoyed. At the highest prayer mat in the Shanghuan Pavilion, I performed the rites with the [Immortal Ascension Method], inscribed the talisman requesting [Imperial Divergent Light], and cast it into the bronze furnace. There is no news yet." "Good, good, good!" Knowing that Zhouwei would have arranged things properly, Li Ximing smiled. "Thank goodness for you... When it was just me running the family, I was always stretched thin, having to concoct pills and cultivate, inevitably overlooking things." He looked at Li Zhouwei and asked in a low voice, "There is just one more thing to ask you... Having received [Brightening Sun and Moon], did those battles aid your Dao attainment?" Li Zhouwei pondered slightly and replied, "Though those battles were fierce, they were not life-threatening. I suffered no real injuries, so it was not entirely satisfying, but there was indeed a share of Dao attainment reflected back... As for how it aided me... it was not apparent at the time." He sat down and said with clear logic, "Yet having witnessed so many divine abilities, I now have some understanding of this Dao attainment. That day when I returned with True Master Chen Yin, he was grateful for my generous assistance and also had designs on the [Throat Feather]. We chatted a bit more, so I took the opportunity to question him, gathering intelligence while also categorizing the levels." Chen Yin possessed decent strength, and his ancestors had ties to Jinyu, giving him considerable insight. Li Ximing listened intently as Zhouwei spoke: "Speaking of Dao attainment, Jiangnan always cites the Two Purples, with True Master Zimu, Wen Qingzhou, as the foremost. Yet as this junior sees it now... there is one more person—if he can still be counted as human." Li Ximing mused, "Sui Guan?" "Indeed!" Li Zhouwei said solemnly, "Though Dao attainment does not simply scale with age, with ample time, one can always grind one's Dao attainment upward bit by bit. What is more, he is intricately connected to a True Monarch... that is the truly terrifying part. "In terms of Dao attainment, the likes of Sui Guan and Dongfang Heyun could probably be called the foremost beneath True Monarchs. That stems from their innate origins, unreachable by ordinary mortals, so let us set them aside. "Beneath those two is True Master Zimu. Though I have never seen the True Master with my own eyes, rumor has it that Zimu is a cut above Zipei, renowned as a standout among those with perfected divine abilities." With a touch of awe in his expression, he continued, "True Master Chen holds him in utmost reverence, offering only this praise: '[Cultivating the Dao to this stage may truly be called perfection]!'" Li Ximing sighed with feeling. "I have long heard of him!" Li Zhouwei also remembered that Great True Master from Mount Luoxia, but not knowing his title, he could hardly say much and did not bring him up, merely ranking him alongside Zimu above Zipei before continuing: "Real Person Zipei does not excel at combat, yet his Dao attainment is widely celebrated. The Pure One Dao once had the high-attainment True Master Yuanshang, and Mount Changhuai had the fallen Great True Master Qing; these can be counted in the first tier, the pinnacle a Violet Palace cultivator can reach in a lifetime." Li Ximing clicked his tongue and remarked, "For Real Person Zipei to fall so far down the list... ninety-nine percent of the world's Violet Palace masters should hang their heads in shame!" Li Zhouwei shook his head. "That is already extraordinary. Further down are Great True Masters whose lineages themselves manifest brightly and facilitate raising Dao attainment, such as Changxiao and Chi Buzi; or mid-Violet Palace masters who received a portion of Golden Core heritage, such as True Master Puyu of Penglai. These belong to the second tier, having honed their Dao attainment and techniques to an exceedingly profound realm. "The third tier consists of ordinary Great True Masters and certain mid-Violet Palace masters whose Dao attainment surpasses their peers, such as Chi Wei, or True Master Fuxuan of the Pure One Dao... "A tier further down are Great True Masters whose divine abilities are innately deficient or restricted, along with mid-Violet Palace masters who diligently apply themselves to Dao attainment, such as Helian Wujiang... As for the Great True Masters, he could not speak of them openly and only told me through hints." "Oh?" Li Ximing's eyes lit up. Rarely having the chance to hear such gossip, he focused his attention at once. Li Zhouwei lowered his voice: "Chen Yin said... among the Twelve Qi, 'Xi Qi' and 'Cold Qi' correspond to each other. It seems that in ancient times, both were subjected to unimaginable methods by a certain Immortal Monarch, forced to yield and alter their cultivation paths. From then on, their divine abilities were weakened by a fraction, and their Dao attainment struggled to reach deep mastery... When the State of Wei collapsed, 'Xi Qi' was freed from the predicament, leaving only 'Cold Qi' burdened." Though no name had been uttered, it pointed plainly to one person. "Tianwan of Chijiao Island!" Li Ximing did not cultivate Cold Qi himself, so he merely enjoyed the story with a laugh. Li Zhouwei continued: "Further down, the fifth tier can be called stepping through the threshold. There are finally a good number of them here; usually, cultivating two or three divine abilities allows one to touch this boundary." "Heh!" Li Ximing, naturally optimistic, pressed his hand over his teacup and laughed. "Here I was wondering if I could cross the threshold, only to find I am still standing at the foot of the mountain." Li Zhouwei chuckled somewhat awkwardly. "Granduncle has worked diligently for a century, devoting his time to pill refinement... Naturally, you should not compare yourself with them..." Only then did Li Ximing ponder carefully, replying, "Changxiao is truly formidable; I still remember his technique vividly... Where do you place yourself?" Li Zhouwei nodded solemnly and replied, "In my early years, I read more secret techniques and benefited greatly from them. By my estimate, my Dao attainment can cross the threshold. "Having gained this fraction of improvement now, I estimate that if I could gain ten parts, I should be able to test my hand against Helian Wujiang." Li Ximing calculated inwardly and said with a touch of envy, "That is remarkably fast! You haven't even had your fill of fighting yet." Li Zhouwei bowed slightly, and Li Ximing took his leave with a smile, riding a streak of light toward the East Sea. Seeing him off, Zhouwei reminded him: "Since Granduncle is heading to Poluoduo, you should ask Demon King Qingyan for news of spiritual items. He cultivates 'Qingxuan'. Do you remember our family has the [Nine Weirs Green Goat Mountain]? Its grade is exceptionally high, and its requirements are stringent; it is difficult for us to cultivate, but it can fetch a fine price." Li Ximing felt this made great sense. Given Qingyan's rough-and-ready bearing, his fighting style was likely bold and sweeping—it would suit him perfectly. Thus, he agreed with full delight. After seeing him off, Li Zhouwei returned inside the [Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda], communing with the talisman seed to elevate his Dao cultivation. Cultivation knew no passing of time. Having meditated for long within the realm of the Sun and Moon in Mutual Splendor, he finally sensed a warm heat from the jade pendant at his waist. Exhaling deeply, he stood up, yet did not rush out. Instead, he strode casually through layers of cloud and mist to the Shanghuan Pavilion. The stone dais shone brightly beneath the radiance. Faint golden characters surfaced one by one upon the dark purple wooden slip: "Observing the primal sovereign throne to become an emperor, light spans the ocean's corners, all gazing upon its might, yet like the sun moving through the mortal realm, it ranks as the second manifestation, forming the foundation of this technique... The Emperor said: When the sovereign enters the hall in the host position, divine brilliance fills the chamber—this is the Upper Luminary; when entering the hall in the guest position, divergent light drifts unsettled—this is the ultimate Yang. Thus is formed [Imperial Divergent Light]! Its Dao is vast indeed..." This technique would eventually be cultivated by Li Ximing as well. Reading through these golden characters, Li Zhouwei swiftly condensed them into a golden slip in his hand, annotating it as he comprehended. Turning lightly, he had already landed within the pagoda where thunder crackled. "It is indeed a technique of ultimate Yang, an inverted Mingyang..." "[Upper Luminary Concealed Light] is said to embody 'The sovereign steps into peril, hence a concealment is made,' which complements this remarkably well; they truly aid each other..." He manifested on Mount Zhijing, sitting down amid the drifting gardenia blossoms. Having read through the doctrinal portion, he examined the more critical incantations: "Within the Great Palace Chamber, store malevolent fire; light and lightning coalesce into a single room. Enter in the guest position with various divine abilities to herald divergent light; aiding the guest position's cultivation with Mingyang spiritual items is optimal." Li Zhouwei lacked a Mingyang spiritual item, but he held a Taiyang spiritual item in hand. The symbolic imagery of this technique was too strong to be replaced directly, yet he calculated inwardly: '[Fulve Gold] does more than enhance spiritual light. When my Dao attainment deepens, I should also be able to let [Fulve Gold] become the master of the chamber; its Taiyang status is seamless, nothing could be more fitting... By then, not only will its upper limit far surpass [Upper Luminary Concealed Light], but it might also transcend the fifth rank.' Examining it carefully, he was quietly delighted. With a gentle wave of his hand, he summoned an item from the purple-malevolence Mingyang spring on Mount Zhijing—it was none other than the [Mystic Pattern Bottle]. "It requires malevolent fire, light and lightning coalescing... The [Mystic Pattern Bottle] has been refined in this fire vein for decades; there is no purer fire malevolence than this!" As for light and lightning, lightning was exceedingly rare in Jiangnan, which would normally take time to gather. Yet while scarce elsewhere, the Li clan had plenty! Back then, Li Qinghong had been diligent throughout her life, using the convenience of her cultivation method to store over a dozen lightning bolts in the family, refusing to spend a single one... To gather such an amount of lightning would take even a Violet Palace master considerable time. "The blessings of predecessors should not be consumed without replenishment. Zhouda has also achieved the Immortal Foundation; I should have him put the altar to use..." Having arranged these matters, Li Zhouwei saw Li Quewan ascending the mountain, reporting with slight unease: "Reporting to the True Master... trouble has befallen the Yuan family!" "What?" Li Zhouwei raised his head in slight surprise and asked. Li Quewan said respectfully: "Yuan Chengzhao has been missing for years, and the Yuan family has been run by Yuan Zibin. This man was tyrannical and unbridled, whipping his elders and subverting patriarchal order, yet vicious and ruthless, purging the clan several times. With no one in the Yuan family to check him, matters reached today's state. "Yet news has come from the Xunlin Plain: while touring the plain, Yuan Zibin was slain by a cultivator, who killed several others alongside him. The Yuan clan was thrown into utter chaos, and their clan governance completely collapsed." Li Zhouwei frowned immediately. Li Quewan continued: "Yet this cultivator did not leave... He fought his way into the Yuan clan, opened the treasury, emptied out all the treasures within, and distributed them among the small clans across the entire Xunlin Plain..." The Yuan family possessed ancient heritage. Though they had produced no Violet Palace masters for years, they had never truly declined. Their rule over the Xunlin Plain nearly matched the history of the Qingchi Sect. Their methods were harsh; even the Qi Nourishing methods they handed down had to be divided into six portions according to the six wheels... With this turn of events, those small clans would surely be weeping tears of gratitude. Li Zhouwei pondered and asked, "In recent years... the Yuan clan rarely cultivated 'Qingxuan', did they?" At these words, Li Quewan understood and nodded. "Indeed. Junior investigated specifically: over the past few decades, the Yuan clan... favored cultivating the paths of 'Fushui' and 'Kan Water'." "No wonder." Li Zhouwei asked, "Which member of the Yuan clan did that cultivator support?" Li Quewan knew what he meant and replied, "The True Master is perceptive. Though few members of the Yuan clan remain, that cultivator still propped up a direct descendant, returning the clan to him and instructing him to rebuild the ancestral order, return to the ways of their ancestors, and revive the name of Qingxuan—only, they are no longer the masters of the Xunlin Plain, but have merely settled within a commandery on the plain." Li Quewan's gaze grew complicated. "Junior believes... perhaps back when the Yuan ancestor failed to break through to the Violet Palace, exposing the Yuan clan's scheme to seek their own way out, that led to Yuan Zibin, and ultimately to today." Li Zhouwei nodded, but his focus lay elsewhere, his expression slowly turning strange: "You are saying the Yuan clan is no longer the master of the Xunlin Plain. That means... this person has brazenly... claimed the Xunlin Plain, which belongs to Qingchi Sect, as his own!" No matter what, the Xunlin Plain was Qingchi territory... and the Yuan clan was a Qingchi vassal. To put it bluntly, it was all Qingchi's private property. If this person had acted as a chivalrous rogue, dusting off his robes and leaving after the deed, Qingchi, overwhelmed with its own affairs, would hardly have bothered with him. But this carried an entirely different meaning! Li Quewan lowered her head and said, "Precisely! As of now, there has been no reaction from the mountain." Li Zhouwei's gaze gradually sharpened. He asked, "Does this cultivator have a name?" The woman before him wore a bitter expression and replied, "His surname is Yang, given name Zhuo, with a cultivation base at peak Foundation Establishment." *** The Great Void was pitch-black. Bright light galloped through, and a scholar in white stood beaming with gratitude. "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing... if you ever have need of me in the future, speak freely. I possess 'Auspicious Qi' divine abilities, after all; I can be of use in many things!" The Daoist in white and gold agreed repeatedly. The scholar saw him off across a great distance before turning back, leaving the bright light to speed eastward. "He is far more enthusiastic now..." Li Ximing had just returned from the State of Xipo; Fuxun had escorted him all the way to the sea before departing reluctantly. After all, that cauldron of great pills had resolved the demon king's foremost worry, and the quality of the [Wangjin Xuanyan Pill] was exceptionally fine. Fuxun's desire to befriend him practically overflowed from his face. Last time, Qingyan and the others had delivered the goods, so they had not met; this time, the demon king had caught him. Li Ximing had delivered the request to search for spiritual items, but had mainly come to inquire about Qingyan's spell. Lingering for several months, he finally received news from Qingyan. That demon king was skilled at blessings, possessed quite a fortune, and was straightforward. Skimming the outline of the spell, he struck a deal without hesitation, even offering to produce Fushui spiritual items to trade. Yet Li Ximing was not lacking in Fushui at all and was exceedingly busy, so he tactfully stated several of his needs, asking the demon king to trade for them first before taking his leave. '[Nine Weirs Green Goat Mountain] is fifth-rank, after all, and 'Qingxuan' techniques are rare. Seeing this fellow so eager, our family has no need to rush.' Li Ximing had not anticipated that the other party would be generous enough to offer spiritual items; his mood was splendid. Leaving Poluoduo and crossing the State of Piaoren, he headed north all the way. While he was a guest in Poluoduo, the token he had given Dingyangzi had begun to warm slightly—the craftsman was sending word according to their agreement. News of the [Astral Red Gold] had already been delivered once, so there was no need to send another jade talisman for that. Nine times out of ten, the old man had finally found another buyer. Li Ximing's heart was immediately drawn to it. He had originally intended to cross the Southern Border, pass through Shu, and see how the influence of Jianmen and Xiukui fared in Longshu along the way, before heading south to Qize to finalize the matter. Yet the further he flew, the more amiss things seemed. Halfway through, his expression changed completely. Looking across the entire State of Wu, firelight covered the ground beneath his feet. Dense specks of light spanned nearly every commandery seat below. Everywhere, cultivators took flight, slaughtering one another in midair. From time to time, severed limbs fell from the sky along with all manner of spiritual items, sparking frantic brawls! Mortals fought in the commanderies, cultivators battled in the sky, and all four borders were in ruins. The land across several commanderies before his eyes—Mount Changhuai's peaceful back garden for hundreds of years—had become a bloodbath of slaughter and carnage! "What in the world happened to Mount Changhuai?!"