Old Acquaintances

A giant softshell turtle and river turtle coiled together, black and white interwoven. The wine vessels, deep blue patterned in gold, glittered with a faint, chilling gleam. In the center, the white water of the pool rippled with iridescent light. A middle-aged man draped in white fur, with a jewel fastened at his waist, leaned against the edge of the pool, his eyes shut tight. Three vertical marks flickered with silver brilliance between his brows. One hand pressed against the pool, sending soft white iridescence cascading down to surge across the water's surface. Within, the Real Person quietly pondered: *There is finally a response. Resonating with Tangliang Silver... I should be able to catch a glimpse of the objects locked away in the Interlocking state.* As he was deep in thought, a man stepped down through the empty air, tiny vermilion sparrows circling around him, and called out with a smile, "Senior Liu!" Liu Changdie raised his head as the luster of his divine ability slowly faded. He replied, "Ximing, you're out of seclusion! How went it?" "A modest improvement!" Li Ximing was quite satisfied with the fruits of his latest cultivation. Smiling, he answered, "And how fares the Xuan Yuan Manor-Suppressing Spiritual Array?" Liu Changdie's expression grew solemn as he replied, "I have made some progress as well... This array... is truly astonishing." He lightly turned his hand, and clusters of light drifted down into his sleeves. In a grave tone, he continued, "Ximing, you know that my Ku Jin lineage embodies the metal of concealment and storage—Qiku Interlocking. Its symbolic scope is exceptionally broad; most immortal abodes, grotto-heavens, and secret realms carry the symbolism of an interlocking lock... "This is why, when ancient forebears laid an array over the mountains, later generations could never find them. Minor cultivators, small sects, rogue cultivators, or demonic cultivators could only stumble upon small caves through sheer coincidence and incredible luck, while anything at the Purple Palace level was entirely out of the question. "Even if a Purple Palace cultivator with vastly superior cultivation came searching, they would need an exact location, scouring it inch by inch either by casting divine abilities or employing illusion-breaking methods, just to have a chance of finding it... To this day, a great many ancient dwellings and secret realms remain lost to the world." He murmured, "And a Ku Jin lineage like mine, which symbolizes the reserves of arrays, naturally possesses a slight advantage... Over the years, the boons I have managed to secure one after another were also linked to my lineage." "Oh?!" Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does that mean Senior has the ability to break arrays?" "Far from it!" Liu Changdie shook his head. "Qiku Interlocking is no joke. Too much of Ku Jin's divine marvel has already been concealed away; nowadays, breaking arrays is out of the question—at best, it allows for observing and extracting. If you want to speak of array-breaking ability, that belongs to Geng Wood and Xuan Earth. Although Tangliang Silver is intimately connected to arrays... it does not excel at breaking them." Between heaven and earth, the Wood Virtue had withered. In the present era, the most famous among the Wood Virtues was naturally Jiao Wood. The remainder consisted of the Si family's Zheng Wood and Real Person Luo's Gathered Wood; the remaining two woods had vanished without a trace. Hearing this, Li Ximing responded, "I have heard of it before... What sort of lineage is Geng Wood?" Liu Changdie shook his head with a chuckle. "It cannot be considered any formidable lineage, nor does it hold much renown. It is merely that those of us who study arrays must keep note of the lineages capable of breaking them. As for Xuan Earth, I heard that the Guanxie sect's Seat-Surveying Array-Dissecting Blade belongs to Xuan Earth, so I made a special note of it. "Nowadays, traces of Geng Wood can mostly be found only in fragmented lineage records and spiritual item mutations. As for the final wood, there has not even been a whisper of it..." Mentioning the Guanxie lineage, he bowed his head slightly and went on, "As for my Ku Jin, beyond aiding in the construction of arrays, it can now also allow Zhaojing to take a look at the treasures below." With that, he pressed a hand against the edge of the pool. His divine ability surged powerfully, and the pool water immediately began to bubble, rapidly turning transparent. The transparency expanded steadily from top to bottom, gradually rendering even the pure-white bed of the pool translucent. Amidst this transformation, an azure hue became increasingly vivid. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Changdie explained, "Purple Palace spiritual arrays are typically suppressed by Purple Palace spiritual items. In some formidable grand formations, there are even several spiritual tools beneath them. Before the array is deployed, they remain gathered inside the array plate, hidden from sight; only once the array is laid down do they drift unpredictably, occasionally settling into the pivotal nodes." He made a slight gripping gesture as though laboriously snagging hold of something. Beneath their feet, the transparency broadened further, unveiling layer upon layer of array patterns and incantations. Tens of thousands of small flags stood anchored within the formation. These little flags featured white patterns upon black banners, gleaming with intense radiance. Arranged in dense clusters like a vortex, the tails of the banners all pointed in the same direction. And at the heart of that vortex, an azure orb was held firmly in place by the Tangliang Silver divine ability, radiating a crystal-clear gleam. Streams of Fushui power cascaded from above into the orb, passing through layers of refinement before surging out once more. "Hmm?" As this scene came into view, Li Ximing immediately furrowed his brows, a look of startled doubt washing over him. Liu Changdie was visibly taken aback as well; he surged to his feet, murmuring in bewilderment, "This..." The node-suppressing object concealed within the grand array—the very source of the Feather Transformation Pool—was not a spiritual material, but a spiritual tool! Li Ximing's pupils constricted. Although he had not taken the azure orb into his hands, the shimmering light and the faint patterns adorning its surface had already caught his gaze. It was completely integrated with the entire formation, likely an item from the master's own lineage. It stirred a profound sense of familiarity within him, and a figure suddenly sprang to mind: *Li Quantao!* Though the orb before his eyes was far more magnificent and no longer pure white—instead displaying a mysterious azure shade—it was unmistakably of the very same design as the Bishui Pill Li Quantao once possessed! *There must be a connection between them. The Bishui Pill might even have been crafted in imitation of the object before my eyes!* Although Li Ximing had not interacted much with the man, and had already attained the Purple Palace by the time they truly met—leaving no need to curry favor with him—he had seen that famous dharma artifact back in the day. He had secretly envied it then, etching it into his memory with a single glance! *How could it be related to him? The Hongxue Sect? The Li clan?* *No!* A strange light flashed in Li Ximing's eyes as he searched through every relevant piece of information in his mind. Finally, he recalled: "The Bishui Pill is an ancient dharma artifact... Li Encheng obtained it from the Mifan lineage, so it had nothing to do with the Hongxue Li clan... Which means... tracing back its origin, the master of Zhentao Manor might have been a cultivator of the Mifan lineage... "And according to Brother Zhi, the Bishui Pill was actually modeled after Emperor Wu of Liang's two orbs of Heshui and Ruoshui, but only succeeded as a dharma artifact. It is likely that the one before us was truly modeled after the magic treasure... That Bishui Pill was already an imitation crafted by later cultivators... "Just how deep is the connection between Great Liang and Douxuan?" While he was lost in thought, Liu Changdie, standing beside him, stared intently at the swirling vortex of small flags. Sweeping his gaze carefully across each one, the astonishment in his heart grew heavier and heavier. He asked, "Does Daoist friend recognize these flags?!" Li Ximing glanced over, somewhat puzzled. Liu Changdie said in a low, heavy voice, "Back when I traveled to your esteemed clan to lay an array, I was fortunate enough to study the array flags in your possession. They too had white patterns upon black banners... That item was obtained from Wan Huaqian and called the White Feather Purple Catalpa Flag. "And the miniature flags coalesced within this array bear a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to that flag!" "Hmm?" It took Li Ximing a long moment to recall the name Wan Huaqian. Frowning, he asked, "The ancestor of the Wan family? That genius of the array Dao, Wan Huaqian?" The Wan family had once lived right beside the Li clan, and was even the very first clan the Li family had ever come into contact with. Naturally, Li Ximing had heard of him. At this mention, Liu Changdie nodded hesitantly, sat back down in silence, and said with a dark expression, "No wonder... No wonder..." He muttered, "The master of the inheritance Wan Huaqian obtained must certainly be tied to the master of this manor! The White Feather Purple Catalpa Flag was his natal tool; it could never resemble the formation here without reason... It seems he received a legacy..." Liu Changdie's eyes darkened slightly, countless thoughts racing through his mind. Suddenly, he asked, "Ximing, do you know of the Mifan lineage?" *Just as I thought!* Li Ximing understood inwardly and replied, "Naturally. It is one of the various mysteries of Douxuan!" Hearing this, Liu Changdie realized that he already knew quite a lot. He sighed, "Precisely... Seeing that the array here carries a strong Douxuan style, and that the orb below resembles the Bishui Pill obtained from the Mifan Sect, I knew they must share the same origin..." Liu Changdie counted on his fingers, the smile on his face growing stiff as he murmured, "Wan Huaqian fell over three hundred years ago. Counting the years, it seems awfully close to the time Chi Wei and Li Encheng went to the Mifan Sect..." "What?" Li Ximing was taken aback. Although he was born in Jiangnan, Lake Wangyue was different from places like Lixia and Simin, having something of an isolated feel, so he had heard fewer rumors. Yet he understood Liu Changdie's implication and lowered his voice, "Does Senior mean... the root of it all might lie with Wan Huaqian?" Liu Changdie sneered, as if certain rumors he had heard in the past had now found confirmation. He replied, "To put it pleasantly, one could say a stroke of fortune manifested, allowing Wan Huaqian to obtain the Mifan legacy, while Qingchi just happened to gain clues about Mifan... But to put it bluntly, who knows how Chi Wei and Li Encheng actually entered the Mifan secret realm? "Wan Huaqian could be considered the supreme genius of his generation. Back then, he crafted several arrays that even prominent figures from Qingchi came to inspect, calling him a prodigy and bolstering his fame until everyone knew his name. Would those big figures from Qingchi not have reported something back? Yet he fell abruptly at Foundation Establishment... and right after that, Chi Wei and Li Encheng entered the Mifan secret realm... Heh!" Li Ximing frowned in silence as Liu Changdie's eyes grew clearer. "I had always heard that the White Feather Purple Catalpa Flag had ended up in Li Encheng's hands. Later, when I visited your esteemed clan and discovered another set, I was puzzled. Now that I think about it... Li Encheng obtained a portion of the Mifan dharma artifacts, and rogue cultivators simply mistook the array flags in his hands, which shared the same origin, for the White Feather Purple Catalpa Flag. "The methods of that lot remain as vile as ever... Once they were done using someone... they still kept the Wan family around to see if there were any hidden reserves, casually leaving them be for a century or so... Only when Chi Wei was on the verge of death did they stop caring, casually dealing with any potential troubles..." Liu Changdie clearly harbored deep distaste for the prominent figures of Jiangnan and Jiangbei, viewing everything through a dark lens. Li Ximing was more moderate, feeling that while Liu Changdie's analysis lacked full objectivity, most of it made sense. He merely sighed, "If Wan Huaqian had kept a low profile back then and not revealed his legacy, perhaps he might have carved out his own world." Liu Changdie merely waved his hand. Gazing at the spiritual tool at the base of the formation, he said, "There is a fine treasure down here. Though I could extract it, the Feather Transformation Pool would be ruined in the process." The Feather Transformation Pool was exceptionally vital at present, and Li Ximing naturally could not bear to lose it. After pondering for a while, he asked, "If one day... I wish to extract the spiritual tool for use, could a Fushui spiritual item be substituted in its place? Even if the Feather Transformation Pool dissolves, could the grand array be preserved so that it does not collapse?" Liu Changdie gazed deeply at the array. After pondering for a long time, he answered, "It is still a bit forced right now. Once I spend a few decades thoroughly grasping this array, perhaps I can make some modifications. By then, there might be even better methods." "Excellent!" Li Ximing nodded joyfully and said, "I will fetch the clan's White Feather Purple Catalpa Flag for Senior's reference!" *** Mists and clouds shrouded Qingchi Peak, Swimming Water drifting about as the distant chiming of spring water echoed faintly. The Sect Master's Hall stood deserted; only after crossing most of the courtyard could a solitary figure be seen seated before the steps. The middle-aged man had small eyes and a long face, looking very much like a disciple born of a sect, yet at this moment, his face was clouded with worry and his eyes filled with unease. He sat alone before the steps, entirely at a loss. He was none other than the current Sect Master of Qingchi, Lin Wuning. Lin Wuning had never possessed much capability, knowing only how to cultivate. In ordinary times, he had relied on the assistance of the Ning clan and Li Yuanqin to maintain stability. Ever since Ning Wan went into secluded cultivation, causing the Ning clan's hearts to scatter, and Li Yuanqin entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough, Lin Wuning had not enjoyed a single peaceful day. He ought to have forcibly kept Li Yuanqin by his side, but Li Yuanqin had fine talent and had worked conscientiously for years without ever shirking his duties. The date originally set for his breakthrough had already been delayed year after year; having reached this juncture, it could truly be postponed no longer, and Lin Wuning had no choice but to let him go. Yet once Li Yuanqin departed, the Ning clan instantly became like headless flies. In the past, whenever Lin Wuning gave an order, Li Yuanqin would handle it cleanly in a matter of moments. But now that he had to manage affairs himself, he was left utterly bewildered. Now, unrolling the scroll in his hand, he saw a petition from Qin Xian requesting a transfer to the East Sea. Qin Xian belonged to the Si family. Without Li Yuanqin around, Lin Wuning was plagued by a splitting headache, racking his brain without knowing how to respond. Just then, footsteps echoed outside the hall. Hurriedly looking up, he found Qin Xian striding in from the mountain path in a rush, his face stern, without offering so much as a greeting. "You!" Lin Wuning sprang up in alarm, only to see a flicker of disdain cross Qin Xian's eyes. Qin Xian lightly turned sideways, adopting the posture of an usher guiding an esteemed guest. The sudden flare of anger in Lin Wuning's heart was cut short by this gesture, replaced by a surge of startled doubt: *What is this?! Which Real Person has arrived?* Before he could even process the thought, he froze on the spot in stunned silence. Strolling up from the mountain was a green-robed man. He possessed a middle-aged appearance with a square face and a prominent nose, yet his steps were light and unhurried. A long sword was strapped to his back and a scroll was bound at his waist as he looked at Lin Wuning with a genial smile. Upon his person, the dense radiance of a divine ability that he had not yet had time to rein in still drifted through the air, causing the trees on the mountaintop to sway as if standing beneath a forest of a hundred boughs. Faint mulberry leaves seemed to rustle and fall, fluttering down along his sleeves. Simply by standing on the mountain path, it felt as though every eye around him ought naturally to converge upon him, as though he sat upon an exalted throne. His divine ability was steady and orthodox, bearing the air of a venerable cultivator of an immortal sect. Lin Wuning felt as if struck by lightning, his mind going blank for an instant. At last, he understood why that man surnamed Qin looked so triumphant. His legs refused to obey him, collapsing beneath him with a thud as he dropped to his knees, gasping in terror, "Greetings... Real Person!" *** Li Zhouwei held his teacup, deliberating in silence for a moment. Li Quewan had already ascended the mountain; having evidently brought the visitor to wait at its foot, she saw the somber mood and hurriedly moved to withdraw. Yet Li Zhouwei set down his cup, gesturing for her to come listen as he answered, "Every sect shares the same view. Fairy Qiuhu's actions serve as a demonstration. When the dignified Underworld sends someone down to reincarnate, even if that figure is not quite as extraordinary as the Great Ancestor, how far behind could he possibly be... "Those throwing their weight alongside it, and those standing on the opposing side seeking to stop it, must certainly be at the level of the dragonkind and Luoxia. At the very least, they would be figures on par with Shengbai and North Shaoyang. The few Purple Palace cultivators of Jiangnan, or the one or two Great Sun lineages that have lost the protection of a True Monarch, have no choice but to offend neither side and watch from the sidelines." Li Jiangqian nodded, understanding that the 'Shengbai' his father spoke of referred to Xi Yan, and 'North Shaoyang' referred to Lady Beiyao. It was merely that they were now manifest beings, whose names could not be uttered lightly. He probed, "My thought as well is that at present... even knowing he possesses innate marvels, our clan has no need to send people to support him or curry favor beforehand... lest during the clash between these two paramount factions, some stray aftershock destroy our family..." Li Zhouwei took a sip of tea and said, "Our clan must not get involved... Your brother's statement that he would ask nothing of the clan was perhaps an unspoken warning: what Yang Zhuo is doing is of grave consequence, and we must never meddle." His expression grew solemn as he looked at his two most exceptional juniors, murmuring, "What you need to do is attain a divine ability as soon as possible... even if, in the face of such grand currents, a divine ability still does not make one a chess player. "Yet having achieved a divine ability, one can at least count as a figure of note in the eyes of those lofty lineages. Apart from a few whose special identities force them to stay behind, any Purple Palace cultivator who grits their teeth and is willing to abandon their inland foundations can always find a domain overseas where they can hold sway without bowing their heads." Li Quewan had only caught this brief fragment, but knowing it concerned Yang Zhuo, she bowed slightly and, together with Li Jiangqian, answered, "We understand." Li Zhouwei said quietly, "Although I possess a few unique traits, I am merely an overt piece in the contest between north and south. When clashes and maneuvers fall upon me, there will be no escaping them. Clan affairs in their eyes are a convenient handle to manipulate me. If one day their plans are fulfilled and I perish for whatever reason, the family's affairs will depend on grand-uncle and the two of you." His gaze swept over them, moving past Li Jiangqian, who nodded in silence, to rest meaningfully upon Li Quewan before he spoke again: "Whether we end up relegated to Chongzhou or drifting overseas, as long as a Purple Palace remains, some bloodline can be preserved. If we do not even have a Purple Palace left, we will not even have the right to pity!" A pang of sorrow struck Li Quewan's heart. She nodded in silence, thoughts churning within her: *Moving the clan's secrets into the Heaven of Sun and Moon in Mutual Splendor is safe, indeed... yet the immortal item has already vanished into the Great Void. Should misfortune befall the family and the inheritance be severed, connection may be lost forever!* *Carrying on the Purple Palace succession is of paramount importance.* While she pondered quietly, Li Zhouwei turned and asked, "Has any letter arrived from the blessed land?" Li Quewan shook her head, having clearly inquired into the matter beforehand. She replied, "The blessed land is sealed and shrouded by the grand array; no letters have come... There is, however, news from the East Sea." Li Zhouwei frowned. "The Xinyu Reefs? Queyi?" With Ziyan Gate entering seclusion, their overseas interests were naturally difficult to maintain. The Xinyu Reefs, which had enjoyed considerable fame back then, were still operating, though few cultivators remained on the islands. Li Quewan nodded. At the mention of Li Queyi, a smile graced her face as she replied, "Ziyan sealed itself off, leaving the factions of Cao Chu and Wei Danying behind at the Xinyu Reefs. In effect, it was handed over to these clans for joint management. Sometime later, a Real Person arrived, claiming to be an independent cultivator named Kuangyu." "So it was Real Person Kuangyu!" Li Zhouwei looked thoughtful. On second thought, it seemed quite fitting; since Ziyan Gate could no longer oversee matters overseas, Kuangyu, being a Real Person close to the Great Sun lineage who had aided in several great battles, naturally received a reward. Li Quewan softly agreed and continued, "However, everyone suspects... that Real Person Zhugong might also be hiding there. "Nevertheless, ever since Ziyan's main line withdrew, Sister Queyi has become someone they hold in great esteem. Everyone treats her with great regard; even Real Person Kuangyu inquired after her name. She has sent several letters home, expressing much sentiment." Changing the subject, she added, "Unfortunately, when Ziyan sealed itself... Quexi was in seclusion in the blessed land attempting a breakthrough. She is likely locked inside the blessed land now, unable to come out." "Mm." Li Zhouwei was not surprised. Whatever favors and arrangements Ziyan Gate had left to protect the Xinyu Reefs, they would never mistreat the Li clan's direct line. Knowing where things stood, he asked, "And the Zhuang family of the Great Desert... how are they?" Though the Real Person asked about the Zhuang family, Li Quewan understood his true meaning. Respectfully, she answered, "The grand conflict caused minor reverberations, but Jinyu is formidable, so none dare act recklessly... However, I heard that Zhuang Pingye has traveled abroad for years and rarely remains in the Great Desert. In several disturbances, it was Aunt Xinghan who stepped forward; she has already earned considerable renown." Li Zhouwei nodded and dismissed the two. Only then did a middle-aged man ascend the mountain. Although the man bore the features of middle age, his appearance was shrewd and sharp, looking exceptionally clever. His black hair seemed somewhat damp, gathered in strands and tied to either side. Lifting his robe, he approached with trembling trepidation, not daring even to lift his head. He kowtowed and wept, "This old servant pays respects to... the Great He Mingfang!" "Rise." Li Zhouwei was slightly taken aback. He glanced at the man with a touch of sentiment; the robust man of years past had now become a Foundation Establishment immortal cultivator, yet his shrewd look remained recognizable. With a smile, he said, "It has not been easy for you either." Only then did Di Liyoujie look up. Still not daring to look him in the face, he kept his eyes fixed upon his boots and said in a trembling voice, "This old servant... is blessed to see my lord once more..." Li Zhouwei asked, "You cultivate Gengjin?" "Reporting to my lord! Thanks to the techniques bestowed by the lake... I cultivate Gengjin!" Di Liyoujie had risen from a lowly slave outside the Grand Jue Court straight to the throne of the Northern Shanyue entirely because of Li Zhouwei... Later, as he gradually stepped onto the path of cultivation, most cultivators on the lake looked down upon the Shanyue. Di Liyoujie's supposed royal title counted for nothing; only through his own wits, invoking Li Zhouwei's name, was he able to command respect. He understood equally well that it was precisely because he had walked that stretch of road alongside Li Zhouwei that he had met with repeated success in his later cultivation, acquiring such fine techniques and resources... Whenever Di Liyoujie woke in the dead of night, he could not help but wonder: if he had not pitched camp outside the Grand Jue Court that day, he would still be that pathetic, contemptible slave. Even though he was now a Foundation Establishment immortal cultivator, the trepidation in his heart only deepened, terrified that it was all merely a dream. Li Zhouwei swept his eyes over him, musing: *Gengjin... His strength can only be described as barely passable... but his loyalty is commendable.* With a decision quietly made, he drew a Gengjin dharma artifact from his sleeve—a small golden sword no larger than a palm—and instructed, "It is merely a Gengjin dharma sword, meant for casting spells rather than head-on clashes. Guard it well. Since Quewan brought you here, you shall follow her from now on. Running errands and delivering messages for her on ordinary days will suit you well." "Yes!" The Shanyue man withdrew in utter deference, clutching the sword to his chest, tears and snot streaming down his face. Li Zhouwei took a light step forward. His foot landed within a pagoda raging with thunder. Closing his eyes slightly, the light of sun and moon intertwined at his side, and he had arrived within the grotto-heaven. A Real Person clad in platinum-and-gold robes sat leisurely within a resplendent pavilion, carefully perusing a scroll in his hand. A fist-sized Lihuo sparrow perched obediently on his shoulder, having clearly waited for some time. Li Zhouwei bowed and greeted with a smile, "Grand-uncle!" Li Ximing smiled without a word. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade bottle from his sleeve and replied, "Six Linguang Zhaoyi Pills! Added to what you already have, it should last you over a decade!" When the Divine Scroll of Linguang Huiyang and the Xuanjie Flower and Leaf fell into the hands of someone with Li Ximing's peerless mastery of the alchemical Dao, the yield of pills was naturally delightful. Li Zhouwei accepted it with thanks, then calculated and asked, "Back then, Grand-uncle obtained six Under-Neck Feathers. Mount Baiyang was entrusted with three, Chen Yin exchanged for two, and one was traded for the Xuanjie Flower and Leaf. Do you still have any left?" Li Ximing laughed and answered, "Our initial prediction was correct; this dwelling is truly a money tree. Afterward, three more coalesced one after another. Added to the one that took a full year to form before Senior Liu Changdie arrived, four replenished my reserves. Now, having traded another for a Xuanjie Flower and Leaf, three still remain in stock." Yet mentioning this brought a trace of worry to his face as he added, "Still, we must truly use them sparingly. Originally there were more than three, but due to purchasing large quantities of Bichen Water in succession, our funds have been stretched thin twice in a row, taking over half a year each time to gather enough and wasting considerable time. I reckon it will only grow harder going forward... "Because of this, I specially dispatched people to inspect several market towns in the East Sea, and they eventually went to Xinyu." Hearing this, Li Zhouwei looked up with keen interest. Li Ximing chuckled, "They even met that Real Person Kuangyu... only then managing to gather the Bichen Water for the next half-year. She is quite a remarkable figure herself—having achieved the Dao through her natal divine ability, she managed to emerge entirely unscathed from this wave of strife, even securing her own domain." Li Zhouwei nodded slightly, pondering, "Does Senior Liu... plan to cultivate in Zhentao Manor?" Li Ximing hesitated, then said, "One can hardly call it cultivating. His Dao path is already severed; his thoughts are focused entirely on studying arrays. The grand array of Zhentao Manor is unfathomably profound, more than enough for him to delve into. I imagine he will stay in the vicinity in the coming years." Li Zhouwei nodded. "In that case, I also have two matters to discuss with Grand-uncle. "The matter of Bichen Water is of the utmost importance; we cannot simply scrape by day by day. Fushui originates from the West Sea; I would ask Grand-uncle to make a journey there to establish a trade channel, rather than stumbling around aimlessly in places where Fushui does not flourish." Inspired by his words, Li Ximing grew pensive and replied, "It just so happens that I recently obtained a new batch of Linguang Zhaoyi Pills. In the West Sea, there is Yangya. While I cannot say for other cultivators, I am a Mingyang cultivator myself—how could I not know how miraculous the effects of this pill are? He will surely covet it immensely. Though he is unwilling to deal with our family, we now have Fellow Daoist Changdie, who can step forward on our behalf!" Li Zhouwei's eyes lit up. "Splendid... Bichen Water alone wouldn't match up, but having achieved the Purple Palace for many years, that fellow must possess Mingyang treasures. If we can trade elixirs for them, it would be virtually pure profit for our clan." Though Yangya harbored deep grievances against their family, what did the two Real Persons care? Unearthing good treasures was all that mattered. Exchanging a glance, Li Ximing smiled, "Leave it to me!" Li Zhouwei shifted the topic: "Second, although Zhentao Manor lies in a barren place, its wonders are now known to be worth a thousand catties of gold. It could even serve as the foundation for a clan's rise, and a magnificent retreat as well." Li Ximing's expression gradually grew solemn. Listening to Li Zhouwei explain the matter of the Yuan family in detail, he was shocked, "The state of Wu has only just begun to fall into chaos, and now the Yang clan is making moves again. I fear this portends immense upheaval." Li Zhouwei nodded and answered, "I have been contemplating this recently as well. Our family's retreat must be prepared early. Zongquan Island was the place of my breakthrough; it has now taken on a Mingyang atmosphere and draws much attention, though it may still serve a purpose in the future. Meanwhile, Zhentao Manor is another crucial location, yet thus far it lacks someone capable of holding down the fort... I wish to send Quewan there." "Quewan?" Li Ximing pondered. Li Zhouwei continued, "Zhentao Manor is already guarded by a Purple Palace cultivator, and Grand-uncle comes and goes frequently. Located in the remote Qunyi region, it is inherently safer than the inland territories, let alone the turbulent riverbanks. "Since it is to serve as a retreat, we can send Quewan there—first, to manage it properly, and second, to let her cultivate in peace and prepare for the Purple Palace." Li Zhouwei had evidently harbored this thought for more than a day, and he murmured, "I will have Di Liyoujie accompany her. That man was King of the Shanyue for several decades; the East Sea pays little heed to origins, making it easier to deal with others, and he can handle trivial matters for her on ordinary days." "That works too..." Li Ximing hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Li Zhouwei then drew the golden slip of the Diqi Light from his sleeve, offering it to him, and said, "I have achieved initial mastery of this spell. My insights, experiences, and annotations are all recorded within the slip for Grand-uncle's reference." "Good..." Li Ximing accepted it with delight. Though it took Li Zhouwei merely nine months to master the Diqi Light, it was unquestionably an exceedingly complex spell. Although they had exchanged for it nine months ago, the two had arranged their time privately: Li Ximing had not attempted to cultivate it, focusing instead on refining his immortal foundation. Waiting until Li Zhouwei mastered it before taking the golden slip would spare him many detours. And though Li Ximing had been tempering his immortal foundation, he had never wasted what fragmented time he had over the years. With the Li clan no longer requiring his fretful supervision, he had become thoroughly at ease. In recent years, he had cultivated in peace, occasionally discoursing on the mysteries of the Dao with fellow Real Persons to enhance his cultivation—how leisurely and content! Furthermore, having acquired Lihuo among his resources and spiritual materials, he treasured it dearly as a novel marvel. Studying the Great Li White Splendor Light in secret, he had already managed to condense four motes of Great Li Red Splendor Light! *Roughly one a year... Even if it grows more difficult later, in seven or eight years at most, once I gather ten, the might of the spell will rise to another level!* Receiving the golden slip now, Li Ximing carried an air of carefree liberation. Smiling, he said, "It just so happens that they are collecting Bichen Water on the lake. I shall return shortly to fetch her!"