After seeing off Si Yuanli, Li Ximing sat back down in his seat. Li Zhouwei emerged from hiding and inquired about the visit. Li Ximing sighed:
"He showed some intention of making peace. After all, circumstances dictate reality. The Si family is no longer what it once was, whereas our family has weathered the storm. Even if he feels some lingering resentment, when it is time to bow his head, he must bow it all the same."
Li Zhouwei nodded and asked, "The matter of the Yang family... did Great-Uncle mention it?"
Li Ximing gave a quiet laugh and replied, "Since he did not ask, I had no reason to bring it up... In any case, the Xunlin Plains belong to Qingchi. Yang Zhuo is hardly going to turn around and attack Lake Wangyue, so let him do as he pleases."
Li Zhouwei smiled. The Yin Si was an exceptional matter after all; Si Yuanli did not place much trust in the Li family, nor was the Yang family's affair easy to speak of openly. Pouring a cup of tea, he said:
"It was quite a coincidence. Just now out in the wilderness, I ran into Real Person Xuanyi coming this way. I reckon he originally came seeking Great-Uncle, but upon bumping into me, he braced himself and struck up a conversation—it was to speak about the Hongxue lineage."
He paused, then continued:
"According to him, Hongxue originated from the Wei Li and still possessed some hidden foundation. Back then, when the various sects fell, their spoils were long since divided clean, yet only Hongxue hid away such a piece beneath the earth. Whether Qingchi or the other sects, they had realized back then that something had inevitably been stashed elsewhere, which was why they took in Li Ti's descendants.
"According to Xuanyi, that place does not resemble a cave manor; rather, it looks somewhat like a secret realm."
Li Ximing grew skeptical. "How much of that is true, and how much false? If you say the Qingchi Sect had a secret realm, relying on a cave heaven and the exalted status of a Grand Real Person, that would be plausible. But Hongxue had only a single Purple Palace; where would they get such profound means?"
"I asked him about that," Li Zhouwei answered. "Supposedly, the Hongxue Sect was founded by a fallen branch of the Wei Li. Back then, they happened to cross paths with the reincarnation of Emperor Wei and gained a stroke of fortune. The Master obtained a Douxuan lineage—one of the Four Mysteries, known as the Miyan Lineage. Once he took what he wanted, he left behind the scraps along with the hollow shell of that secret realm to them, and thus this branch of the Wei Li flourished."
Only then did Li Ximing understand. He nodded thoughtfully and asked, "A secret realm, like the Daning Palace back then, can preserve itself for several centuries if left unopened. But once opened, without a cultivator of sufficiently exalted divine abilities to maintain it, it likely cannot hold out for long."
"Indeed," Li Zhouwei replied, an unusual look in his eyes. "Fortunately, that secret realm was not large to begin with, and it relied on the stature of Wanling Heaven, so it remained relatively stable and served Hongxue for many years.
"Right now, Li Quantao has entered the secret realm. Tianwan's Chilling Qi divine ability is not Complete Dan, so she still requires various auxiliary means to enter. Yet it is also her fortune that times have changed; Wanling Heaven is continuously destabilizing, gradually showing signs of descent, and this place has become increasingly unstable... Real Person Xuanyi's point was that we need only wait. The moment an upheaval occurs in Wanling Heaven, this secret realm will surely develop cracks."
"What a pity!" Li Ximing felt a pang of regret. In truth, he had understood the look in Li Zhouwei's eyes all along.
To be honest, their clan had no desire for Chilling Qi, but a secret realm was a supreme treasure. If they could get their hands on it, who knew how much superior its concealment would be compared to the Xiaoyuan Glazed Pagoda! Stashing things away would be vastly safer, and everything far more convenient... Yet now the realm was on the verge of collapse, so they were naturally not fated to have it.
Seeing Li Ximing's deep regret, Li Zhouwei consoled him, "Our family knows nothing of the art of Great Void construction. Even if we barely managed to obtain a secret realm, we would have no way to maintain it... What is more, the maintenance cost of a secret realm nowadays is far higher than in ancient times. If our clan is ever to accomplish such a feat, it will definitely fall upon Quewan in the future."
Li Ximing nodded in agreement, then grew solemn. "Wanling Heaven draws nearer by the day, and you must certainly venture inside. I shall make my trip swift, then remain at the lake to oversee the arrangements regarding Hongxue on one hand, and... watch over the clan on the other."
He added with worry, "Although everyone's eyes will be fixed on Wanling Heaven when the time comes, Buddhist cultivators are deceitful. There is no guaranteeing a few Lianmin won't target our family. We can by no means let our guard down!"
Li Zhouwei's expression gradually grew somber. Leaving the mountains together, they descended toward an even more secluded grand formation as he replied, "I was just pondering this matter."
He shifted the conversation: "Jun Daowei occupies the hazardous and humble position of Bright Yang, and cultivation in it progresses exceedingly fast. I forged the Jun Daowei immortal foundation, received its blessings, and had the resources provided by Great-Uncle. Within just a few years, it has already reached perfection."
"Oh?" Li Ximing's face lit up with joy, and he replied, "After all, you took the Linguang Zhaoyi Pill..."
Li Zhouwei nodded, his voice grave. "Although the immortal foundation is complete, there will inevitably be strife within the cave heaven thereafter, and the chance of injury is enormous. Once injuries exceed a certain limit, it is highly likely to damage the immortal foundation..."
Li Ximing weighed the words inwardly and realized what he meant. Startled, he asked, "You wish to try nurturing a divine ability?"
"Precisely!"
In truth, Li Zhouwei had planned this all along; otherwise, he would not have taken multiple Linguang Zhaoyi Pills in succession to elevate his cultivation. At this moment, his eyes burned with determination as he answered, "Rather than suffering damage to my cultivation in the cave heaven, why not press forward in one surge and break straight through to a divine ability!"
Li Ximing listened in focused silence, but Li Zhouwei spoke with resolute certainty:
"Jun Daowei occupies the humble position, perfectly aligned with this juncture. Whether achieving an immortal foundation or attaining a divine ability, both share an affinity—this is the first reason. Jun Daowei is a corporeal divine ability, and as one favored by Bright Yang, my physical form inherently possesses wonder, innately resonating with it—this is the second reason.
"Even if it proves too hasty and fails to manifest a divine ability, so long as I push through to Ascending Yang in one breath, it will make seeking the Jun Daowei divine ability far easier and faster the next time. No matter what, it is better than letting my cultivation go to waste!"
Li Ximing grew increasingly hesitant as he listened, replying, "I fear only one thing: elevating to Ascending Yang and nurturing a divine ability requires no small amount of time. Even though you are no longer a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it is by no means something that can be accomplished in a mere year or half-year...
"If you have not yet completed it when the cave heaven opens, wouldn't you miss your opportunity?"
Li Zhouwei's expression remained resolute as he replied, "An immortal foundation is no trouble; it can be cultivated at any time. But the cave heaven comes only once. If time truly runs short and the cave heaven descends, the spiritual qi between heaven and earth will surely surge with tremendous force. The moment I sense it, I will abandon Jun Daowei without hesitation and head for the cave heaven."
Li Ximing knew this junior of his was far more decisive than himself. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Yet there is little I can do to help you... Fortunately, back in the East Sea, I once refined a kind of great pill of exceptional efficacy. It specializes in breaking through bottlenecks and calming the mind, using the pure, spiritual qi of the cold moon to nourish the dharma body and enhance life essence... It is suited precisely to your purpose! Take one and consume it; it will surely aid you!"
Li Zhouwei naturally knew how precious this pill was. Years ago in a moment of crisis, Li Ximing had consumed one, though not at the ideal juncture; while he said nothing, he had secretly regretted it over the years, and after obtaining top-quality consumables like the Linguang Zhaoyi Pill, he never mentioned it again.
How could Li Zhouwei let Li Ximing take it out now? He hurried to say, "There is absolutely no need to bring this up! What if the cave heaven falls in the meantime? Would I pull myself away, or refuse to waste the pill? My goal is to prevent losses as much as possible, not to force a breakthrough to a divine ability. We must not waste it!"
His words were well-reasoned, swaying Li Ximing. Li Ximing could only sigh with frustration, "If only Si Yuanli hadn't been so cautious and refused to trade pills with me! The Mingzhen Heshen Pill, which can nurture divine abilities, would have been the most suitable for you!"
"How could things ever be so convenient?"
Li Zhouwei merely smiled as he saw him out, saying no more. In his heart, however, there was a spark of anticipation:
*In that cave heaven, there won't just be spirit items and lineages—it will also offer a chance for a great slaughter, sparing my cultivation from lingering in stagnation!*
With that, he transformed into a streak of light, swiftly stepped into the formation, and sat down in the world where the sun and moon shone together. Without hesitation, he reached into his pouch and drew out a Linguang Zhaoyi Pill.
*Jun Daowei is complete; all that remains is this final step!*
He swallowed the pill, and billowing Bright Yang divine ability immediately coiled through his dharma body. In his sea of qi, the clouds parted, and a streak of golden light soared forth, hoisted aloft under the aid of the luminous divine ability and the pill's medicinal power.
As the manifold wonders ascended, platinum scales surfaced around the young man's neck, creeping up both sides of his cheeks, appearing utterly ferocious.
……
Zhuosha Mound.
Faint white vapors drifted across the sky, while jagged, grim white bones carpeted the ground. Accompanied by roiling chills, several minor cultivators adorned with talismans cautiously picked their way among the bones.
The sky appeared strange—not dim, but gleaming like an immense, magnificent jewel of deep purple.
"What a treasured land..."
Roiling demonic winds gathered as a man holding a long-handled zhaodao stood aloft in the air, stirring the surrounding fiendqi to coil about him. Helian Wumeng's demonic eyes gazed into the Great Void, their radiance flickering incessantly as though discerning something.
Beside him, a tall, slender middle-aged man rested his hand on the dharma sword at his waist. Imposing and dignified, he spoke in a low voice, "The spiritual qi shifts three times a day; the signs are already beginning to show."
Helian Wumeng knew his elder possessed deeper cultivation and was surely more versed in such shifts than himself. He smiled, "Have the juniors arrived?"
Helian Wujiang nodded leisurely and replied, "Changyu and Changying have both reached Jiangbei. Both are pillars of the family, and this is just the opportunity for them to fight for their fortunes."
Helian Wumeng's gaze swept swiftly across the Great Void, catching sight of a light of Pin Water rising from the opposite side, along with blazing True Fire, each holding its own domain. He curled his lips in a sneer, "They've all come."
Helian Wujiang shook his head. "They disseminated the Daoist teachings far and wide, and only with great difficulty did a Xin Du emerge. The various clans poured considerable resources into him, even preparing spiritual items for his use, and perhaps lost spiritual items on quite a few candidates along the way. Naturally, they want to recoup their losses—especially the aristocratic families of the State of Zhao."
The Helian family had risen in recent years, escaping the dire straits of Mobei and conquering numerous tribes, naturally offending many along the way. Their relations with several aristocratic clans were far from amicable. Just as Helian Wumeng was about to mock them, golden light flashed in the Great Void on the other side, cascading down like overlapping waterfalls.
Two men materialized—one elderly, one young—clad in robes patterned with golden flames and adorned with motifs of gold, stone, and windblown sand. The moment they appeared, they illuminated all directions, truly an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Helian Wujiang said in a low voice, "The Jinyu Sect. That comes from True Monarch Taiyuan... The Daoist Shanqing of the Geng First mentioned in the ancient texts was none other than Him. It is also a pinnacle lineage."
Helian Wumeng nodded in silence. He was a man who rarely bowed to heaven or earth, yet hearing that name, he felt a measure of reverence and marveled, "So it is Him... truly an evergreen tree of the Metal Virtue."
Before his voice could fade, a swath of clear clouds drifted in from the southwest, shifting and unfurling in the air. A few figures could be vaguely seen standing amid the clouds, exchanging greetings with the Jinyu Sect.
*Mount Changhuai.*
With that, divine abilities gathered all around, colorful clouds drifted in abundance, and one divine ability after another emerged in succession, waiting amid the mist. Helian Wumeng chuckled:
"On ordinary days they scream and slaughter one another, yet when it comes to carving up a cave heaven, every last one shows up, acting friendlier than the next. Those fighting have stopped fighting, and those killing have stopped killing..."
"Where is it not so?" Helian Wujiang smiled. "Otherwise, why would the likes of Bai Ziyu bother getting involved?"
Amid the confluence of divine abilities, Helian Wumeng raised his head, his eyes quickly locating a patch of bright radiance. Yet the person he expected was nowhere to be seen, so he asked, "This is..."
Helian Wujiang's gaze turned profound. "Li Ximing."
As splendor broke through the heavy Great Void in turn, a man in a platinum Daoist robe stood to the south. Li Ximing drew his sleeves close and looked around.
More than half a year had passed since Li Zhouwei entered seclusion. During this time, Li Ximing had practiced arts and refined his cultivation; ease and leisure were naturally out of the question. With the aid of talismanic qi, his progress with the Dali Baixi Light was steady. An occasional flash of inspiration had allowed him to take a major stride forward, miraculously condensing yet another crimson light.
This should have been a joyful occasion, but just as he completed his cultivation, he noticed the spiritual qi churning near the shore. Sensing trouble, his joy faded immediately. Stepping into the Great Void, he found faint silhouettes gathering on all sides, just as expected.
Just then, a golden beam leaped forward, manifesting before him as a handsome, dashing young man—none other than Real Person Tianhuo of the Jinyu Sect:
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"
"Fellow Daoist Tianhuo..."
Li Ximing had been feeling hesitant, but seeing Tianhuo approach on his own initiative gave him a greater sense of security. Tianhuo smiled with easy familiarity:
"Which juniors did Fellow Daoist bring along?"
Li Ximing shook his head with a bitter smile. The young man before him was exceedingly sharp, smoothly changing the subject without missing a beat:
"The roots of Wanling Heaven are gradually showing. What falls first will surely be the many secret realms attached to it. Does Fellow Daoist still recall the Daning Palace? Anhuai Heaven was exactly the same back then!
"These secret realms contain items fit for Foundation Establishment... There is no need for you or me to descend and contest them, but sending some juniors down... is a fine idea! Sometimes there are great surprises... And with us presiding up here, everyone exercises restraint, so severe casualties shouldn't occur."
Tianhuo had merely touched upon it, but Li Ximing understood at once.
*What seemed like great opportunities and mortal crises in the eyes of Foundation Establishment cultivators back then are merely this in the eyes of divine abilities... Our clan's elders were once the blades of Qingchi, doing the very same work!*
*If that is the case, the few from Ming Palace can certainly go in and try their luck... especially Ding Weizeng... he couldn't be more suited! He possesses the wonder of escaping cages, so he can surely enter and exit in complete safety. What a pity Xiao Cui has left...*
Thinking further, this meant there was bound to be some leeway in time, bringing quiet relief to Li Ximing's heart. To his surprise, Tianhuo proved quite warm, smiling as he spoke:
"Do you have arrangements back at the lake? Several juniors from my sect are also about to arrive here. If Fellow Daoist is inclined, we could have them enter together to look out for one another!"
Chapter 964