The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1659: Myriad Chariots (I)

Chen Yang...

Li Suining lowered his gaze and cupped his hands in greeting, his expression composed.

Chen Yang smiled and nodded. "Young master speaks truly. This bond between us can never be erased. Whenever an important figure arrived on the island in the past, I would always pay my respects in person. I've only just come out of seclusion, so I was remiss in not greeting you sooner. I hope you'll forgive the discourtesy."

Li Suining had chosen his words well, and Chen Yang could hardly help but smile. The term [Descendants of Qingdu] had originally been quietly promoted by Chen Yang and others. It referred to the families that had first intermarried with the main Li line and remained closely allied to it for generations. Their ancestors had all been under Qingdu's ancestral administration, with the Chen, Liu, Tian, and Ren families being the foremost examples.

Drawing such a distinction served two purposes. First, it fostered a stronger sense of kinship with the main Li lineage. Second, it set them apart from the rising factions, such as the Ding Family's Floating South faction, the He Family of the western shore, the Nanzhang lineage, and the An Family's Huayu faction.

Their families boasted large numbers of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Others controlled the lifeblood of artifact forging, while still others commanded vast numbers of cultivators. Each possessed considerable influence in its own right.

The title [Descendants of Qingdu] drew a clear line of status between these old bloodlines and the newer rising families. It had always been championed by the four families of Lijing, while the other cultivators had remained conspicuously silent. By acknowledging it so openly, Li Suining could hardly have pleased Chen Yang more. His eyes brimmed with approval as he looked at the young man.

Li Suining understood the significance all too well. In his previous life, Nantan Chen had quarreled with Chen Jinguang.

However, Chen Jinguang had cut him down with a single sentence, "We are the [Descendants of Qingdu]. Since when do we take orders from the remnants of your clan?"

Nantan Chen's expression had changed instantly. His painstaking claim of being a descendant of the Tian Family had been stripped bare before everyone, leaving him nursing a lasting grudge. From that day onward, the conflict between the various factions had only grown more intense.

Although none of that had happened yet, Li Suining knew exactly where Chen Yang's pride lay. With just a few flattering words, Chen Yang was already nodding repeatedly, his face filled with righteous conviction as he declared, "If you run into any difficulties in the future, come straight to me!"

Li Suining did not believe a word of it, though he smiled all the same. "Guest Cultivator Chen is too kind."

This Guest Cultivator Chen, who would one day become General Chen, actually enjoyed a rather favorable fate. When the King of Wei pursued gold, both highnesses had perished in the north, and for a time no word of them reached anyone. It was only after Li Zhouming gathered the remaining forces and marched to the southern border that fragments of news had finally emerged.

Fewer than one in ten of the King of Wei's old followers had survived. General Chen gathered the remnants and defected to the Zhao court, where he was held in high regard. Wei's Li blood flowed through his veins, yet Bright Yang did not descend through his paternal line. Moreover, because he cultivated the Pit Water Dao, the Zhao court accepted him without hesitation.

[Veiled Yin] and [Pit Water] naturally complement one another. On top of that, he was a fallen [Bright Yang] cultivator who had joined Zhao. By then... He had become someone worth keeping around.

Guest Cultivator Chen was an exceptionally capable operator who knew how to stay in everyone's good graces. Eventually, he secured a minor post under the Pavilion of Profound Order. Though never a particularly prominent figure, his political skill allowed him to cultivate close ties with the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm. After that, little was heard of him. Even by the day Li Suining died, no further news of Chen Yang had ever reached him.

Chen Yang... After all, half of the Li Family's blood runs through his veins. Once he entered the Zhao court... He was naturally afforded a respectable position.

All of that had happened only after the Li Family's decline, when the tree had fallen and the monkeys scattered. Li Suining had no interest in dwelling on it, but the experiences of his previous life told him that Chen Yang was a man of exceptional ability.

He was one of the few truly outstanding figures of the Lijing faction. Even back then, he had already earned the king's trust, distinguished himself through great achievements, and possessed talent that ranked among the very best around the lake. He also had the ear of the King of Wei... If I can build a closer relationship with him, it will be of tremendous benefit in the years to come.

Keeping a warm smile on his face, Li Suining continued, "While senior was still in seclusion a few days ago, I happened to witness the spectacle to the south. The river thundered without end, drawing everyone's attention. Peak Manager Jinguang's mastery is truly profound!"

"Hahaha!"

Chen Jinguang had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, while Chen Yang himself had advanced to the late Foundation Establishment Realm after taking a medicinal pill. The Chen Family's influence had risen to new heights, making it a time of celebration.

Laughing heartily, Chen Yang patted Li Suining on the shoulder before saying in a serious tone, "Now that the Daoist Master has returned, I should report and express my gratitude, so I won't keep you any longer. When you're not occupied studying formations, feel free to visit me on the island. Jinguang and the others... have all heard of your reputation."

After exchanging a few more courtesies, the two were properly acquainted. Chen Yang then left the pavilion.

The smile on his face gradually faded as he stepped outside, where a young man approached him with lowered eyes. "Father!"

Chen Yang gave a silent nod, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Quite an impressive young man... I've heard his attainments in formations are exceptional. Like Li Quewan, he'll likely be someone who can ascend the mountain in the future. His potential is already beginning to show. He's worth drawing to our side...

He paused briefly in the corridor, his gaze casually sweeping toward the golden vessel in the sky. A flicker of hazy yet restless ambition flashed through his eyes.

The destruction of Changxiao Gate is proof enough of our power. With the balance shifting as it has, there is now enough room on the mountain... for people like us to attain a divine ability.

Opportunity... Where does my opportunity lie?

The golden vessel continued gliding across the sky as Chen Yang and his son disappeared from sight.

Meanwhile, Li Suining withdrew his gaze, and began descending the steps one by one. Rolling waves of air sent his robes fluttering, and streams of escaping light descended one after another onto the island as the golden vessel settled into place. The grand formation lit up and slowly activated.

As Li Suining admired the scene, a middle-aged man with an honest-looking face hurried toward him. His expression was filled with excitement as he called out, "Suining!"

Li Suining instinctively looked up. Before he could react, Li Zhoufang had already grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, speaking in a conspiratorial tone, "Come!"

His elder's hand was warm, and his face was flushed with excitement. He led Li Suining all the way to the boat, presented a command token, and entered through a small side door.

Only after they had stopped inside did he grin and say, "Look!"

Brilliant white light reflected in their eyes. Countless pristine jade boxes stretched into the distance, as far as they could see, stacked layer upon layer in perfectly ordered rows until they filled the entire cargo hold!

Li Suining was left speechless. Slowly scanning the hold, he watched cart after cart of spirit materials stream out from the vessel, linking together overhead into an unbroken procession that resembled a pair of endless dragons. The extra storage holds on either side burst open, releasing an immeasurable torrent of spirit crops that poured down like a golden waterfall, rapidly piling up within the jade pools before their astonished eyes.

Standing before the cascading flood of spirit crops, the two of them seemed as insignificant as tiny specks of white light, frozen in place aboard the vessel with mouths agape.

Pride spread across Li Zhoufang's face as he said excitedly, "There's still more in Changxiao Mountain Gate's hidden treasury. The family has already gathered it all. This is only the first shipment that's been brought back!"

Li Suining swept his gaze across the vast cargo, gradually setting aside his astonishment as the man continued, "Changxiao Gate's accumulated wealth will probably be enough to last our family six generations!"

Li Zhoufang was not exaggerating in the slightest. Li Suining's experience far exceeded his elder's, and if this estimate was accurate, these provisions would be enough for every descendant of the Li Family to live in luxury for a hundred years! Even during the great wars that would later engulf the north and south, opportunities to seize an entire sect's or gate's wealth so completely and claim it all as one's own were exceedingly rare.

Li Suining had expected a great harvest, and his initial shock quickly gave way to delight. Turning to his elder, he watched as Li Zhoufang stooped to pick up two jade boxes that had been left on the floor.

Opening them gently, he admired the spirit materials within and sighed. "Just look... at this quality..."

Li Suining examined them alongside him, unsure whether his elder intended to set a few aside in advance or point out some particular spirit item. Instead, the middle-aged man turned toward him, grasped his hand, and his eyes suddenly reddened as he said in a hoarse voice, "Suining... from this day forward, whether it's the Eastern Residence or the Western Residence, our clansmen by the lake will never have to endure hard days again!"

————

Inner Formation.

The great hall was somewhat dim. Li Ximing stood with his sleeves folded, while Li Jiangqian waited nearby with a respectful bow. After a short while, the golden-eyed youth descended in a streak of light.

Li Jiangqian immediately dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "Greetings, father! Congratulations on crushing your enemies in the south, slaying a divine ability cultivator, and returning in glorious victory!"

As Li Zhouwei landed within the hall, the chamber was instantly flooded with brilliance.

His golden eyes shifted slightly as they turned toward Li Jiangqian. "Rise!"

Li Jiangqian acknowledged the command respectfully before straightening slightly. His gaze flickered for only an instant toward the inverted [Brilliant Yang King's Axe] hanging at his father's waist. Neither his expression nor his eyes changed in the slightest. He merely bowed even lower.

The light in the hall brightened before gradually dimming again. The gold in Li Zhouwei's eyes was identical to the rich golden radiance of the King's Axe, flawless and without the slightest impurity. Li Jiangqian kept his gaze respectfully lowered to the floor.

Li Zhouwei took his seat and asked, "How is your cultivation progressing?"

Li Jiangqian glanced up at him briefly before replying, "I have already mastered [Layered Fire] and [Heavenly Apricot]. I've now begun cultivating [Snare], the third secret technique of the Radiant Fire lineage."

"[Heavenly Apricot]..." Li Zhouwei made a quick calculation on his fingers, a hint of surprise crossing his face as he said, "You mastered [Heavenly Apricot] much faster than expected. You must have received some kind of enhancement?"

Li Jiangqian nodded calmly. "[Heavenly Apricot] is closely tied to the [Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Radiant Day]. I received some of its blessings, and with a modest measure of Dao conduct, I was fortunate enough to master it!"

A trace of regret appeared on his face as he continued, "I was rather pleased after mastering this technique, but once I began cultivating the third technique, [Snare], I found the difficulty had increased by several levels. I'm afraid it won't be something I can accomplish in merely three or five years. And beyond that lies [Orthodox Flame], whose difficulty surpasses every other technique."

Li Ximing looked at him with clear approval and offered some reassurance, "There's no rushing a matter like this, and these techniques must be mastered eventually. Not everyone is like your father. If you can complete these two secret techniques within ten or fifteen years, you'll already be blessed with extraordinary fortune..."

Li Jiangqian bowed. "Yes, sir!"

Only then did Li Ximing take a jade box from his sleeve and open it before him, revealing a perfectly round golden stone inside.

"You needn't concern yourself with the spirit item. Your father has already found a Radiant Fire spirit item for you. We don't know exactly what it's called, but there's no doubt that it belongs to the Radiant Fire Dao."

Overjoyed, Li Jiangqian stepped forward and knelt deeply as he said, "I can never repay the immense kindness the two of you have shown me!"

Li Ximing smiled at him and raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to keep it with you?"

After all, it was a genuine Purple Mansion Realm spirit item. Even after Li Zhouwei's return from the grotto heaven, the Li Family possessed fewer than five such treasures.

Li Jiangqian's heart surged with excitement as he bowed once more. "I ask only that my elders keep it safe for me. I'll enter seclusion immediately!"

The prospect of attaining a Purple Mansion Realm divine ability was enough to make anyone forget life and death. Faced with a Radiant Fire Purple Mansion Realm spirit item lying before him, even someone as composed as Li Jiangqian could not suppress his excitement. After offering one final deep bow, he hurriedly withdrew from the hall.

Li Zhouwei watched the entire exchange in silence, seemingly lost in thought. Li Ximing gave a light cough before raising his eyes and asking, "So you really killed him?"

"I did."

A flicker of surprise crossed Li Ximing's eyes as he asked, "And what were the gains?"

Li Zhouwei smiled faintly. Raising his left hand, he held two fingers together before him, and a tiny jet-black flame ignited at their tips. The black flame appeared almost illusory, gray on the outside and pitch-black at its core. As it flickered on his finger, the atmosphere throughout the great hall transformed. The clash of weapons and the thunder of warhorses seemed to echo through the air, while waves of scorching heat rolled outward.

"This..." Li Ximing's pupils contracted slightly as he asked in astonishment, "The [Armor Cycle Soul-Refining Halberd Art]?!"

Realization struck him a moment later. Slapping the table, he exclaimed, "By killing Chengyan, this art has reaped immeasurable benefits!"