Chapter 1660: Myriad Chariots (II)
Chapter 1660: Myriad Chariots (II)
Li Zhouwei gazed at the black flame dancing upon his fingertips with a face full of satisfaction. "Exactly. This is an art of the Great Liang's [Boundless Essence] lineage, one of the Devil Dao’s oldest and most fundamental arts. It tempers weapons with one's life soul to forge a dharma body. Until now, I had never had the opportunity to destroy an entire gate. Although the family did everything possible to create suitable conditions for me, they only managed to bring me to the minimum threshold required to use this art.
"After all the effort I invested, the destruction of Changxiao Gate has finally allowed the [Armor Cycle Soul-Refining Halberd Art] to receive its greatest possible enhancement. I've only just crossed the threshold, yet I've already condensed the black soul, laying the foundation for the [Black Soul Mara Dharma Body]."
Li Ximing listened attentively as Li Zhouwei continued, "The destruction of a gate serves only to raise the maximum potential of the [Black Soul Mara Dharma Body]. The dharma body itself must still be nourished through cultivation to sustain the black soul.
“There are two paths. One is to slaughter without end, feeding it with a sea of blood. The other is to cultivate it using the immense wealth of spirit materials obtained from destroying a gate or sect... Each path leads to its own unique mystics."
Li Ximing clicked his tongue in amazement and asked, "Using Changxiao Gate's provisions?"
Li Zhouwei shook his head and replied, "The dharma body has only just established its foundation, so it doesn't require much for now. I won't touch these resources. Only the vast stores of spirit crops are difficult to preserve over time, so I'll use some of them to sate the dharma body's hunger and restore a measure of its mystical powers... There will be no shortage of great battles in the future."
His expression grew serious, tinged with regret. "It's a pity that Chengyan was such a disappointment. [Illuminating Sun and Moon] requires an opponent of equal caliber. Even though he died by my hand, it wasn't worth as much as merely wounding Shilou Yingge. After my battles with Helian Wujiang and Shilou Yingge, my Dao conduct had already drawn close to Helian Wujiang's. Yet Chengyan simply wasn't up to the task. What a waste!"
Li Ximing's expression turned somewhat peculiar as he nodded silently.
To be fair... Chengyan had cultivated for many years. Judging by his mastery of Abyssal Mountain Subjugating Art Manual, his Dao conduct was probably even higher than mine...
As Li Ximing pondered inwardly, Li Zhouwei changed the subject. With a flick of his sleeve, several jade boxes wrapped in heavenly light settled onto the table. As the radiance faded, the spirit items within were revealed.
Li Ximing glanced over them and smiled. "Changxiao left behind quite a collection."
Li Zhouwei lifted his head slightly and returned the perfectly round [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire], which resembled a Golden Core, to Li Ximing.
He said, "I'll leave the [Crane-Embracing Stone] to your discretion. The family happens to lack a spirit pill capable of restoring the dying and regenerating flesh and bone. Please refine this [Three-Branched Qiuxin Leaf] into one, so we'll have it ready should the need arise."
Li Ximing agreed, "Very well!"
He accepted the two profound-patterned scrolls and several jade slips as Li Zhouwei continued, "[Mountain Sacrifice Stone-Sundering Art] isn't especially useful, while [Abyssal Mountain Subjugating Art Manual] has excessively demanding requirements. [Cold Radiance Scenic Edict Art] can be given to Jiangchun. As for the remaining Purple Mansion Realm techniques, they aren't of much use to our family, but they can at least be traded openly and legitimately, so store them in the family vault. This final scroll, however, will require [Stored Metal] to open. We'll have to leave it to Senior Liu to handle."
His gaze fell upon the treasured vase. "As for this [Spirit Chalice Radiance]... Granduncle, I ask that you consume it!"
"Hm?"
Li Ximing paused in surprise. The family possessed the [Sixfold Convergence Treasure Vase Treatise], so he knew exactly how this spirit material was meant to be used. Although consuming it directly could aid the cultivation of arts and techniques, doing so seemed rather extravagant.
"This..."
Li Zhouwei shook his head as he said, "I know you're thinking about the [Sixfold Convergence Treasure Vase]. It is indeed an excellent treasure, but our family doesn't cultivate the [Upper Rite] lineage, and [Bright Yang] isn't especially compatible with [Upper Rite] either. Why devote so much time and effort to refining a treasure vase? A man who grasps at too much masters nothing. The spirit treasures already in your hands and mine are more than enough to occupy us for the next hundred years!
"The value of a spirit material isn't measured by whether it's extravagant to use, but by whether it's put to the right purpose. Consuming this spiritual essence to strengthen your arts and techniques will raise them to an even higher level. That is the better use for it!"
Li Ximing pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. "You have a point.... My [Great Radiant White Light] can only barely wield golden radiance at the moment, and it isn't likely to see any major improvement anytime soon, so there's no need to invest it here. [Flame-Stepping Movement] and [Imperial Divergence Light], however, would both benefit from it.
"As for a Majestic Earth spirit artifact...
"I'll ask Kuangyu and the others to search the four seas for a Majestic Earth Daoist Master. [Mountain Sacrifice Stone-Sundering Art], [Abyssal Mountain Subjugating Art Manual], and [Hundred-Ridge Profound Stone Umbrella] together are more than enough to establish an entire Dao lineage. Someone is bound to be tempted."
With the matter settled, Li Zhouwei slowly turned around and said softly, "Changxiao Gate ruled an entire prefecture alone for centuries. Now all of those provisions belong to our family. Granduncle, care to guess how much there is?"
Li Ximing paused briefly before smiling. "Judging only by Foundation Establishment Realm resources... There must be at least a hundred treasured panaceas and dharma artifacts."
The golden-eyed youth shook his head as he said, "The golden vessel has returned with only a tenth, or perhaps a fifth. It will take another ten days to half a month to move everything. The dharma artifacts we've obtained are enough to equip ten Jade Courts, while the provisions are so abundant that even if our entire clan squandered them without restraint, they would still last a hundred years!"
Li Zhouwei smiled as he continued, "And we even acquired an [Upper Rite] formation plate!"
This was the greatest prize gained from the southern campaign against Changxiao Gate, and Li Ximing naturally had not forgotten it.
Smiling, he nodded. "Daoist Masters who already possess a mountain gate have no use for it, but we can approach those in the outer-sea who have founded sects of their own. They lack provisions, but they have ample time to gradually modify the formation. If that doesn't work, we can simply leave it with Senior Liu. He can handle both the repairs and the sale. That way, both sides profit from the same resource!"
At the mention of this matter, Li Zhouwei's expression turned solemn as he said, "Any news from Qunyi?"
The smile faded from Li Ximing's face as he replied, "News from the Western Sea arrived first. Pure Victory Dao made its move... Something happened to Fuxun and Qingyan, and Senior Liu received word as well... But he's always been cautious. Suspecting that someone was trying to lure him away, he stayed in Qunyi and refused to budge, sending only Demon King Fuxun to withdraw temporarily to the Eastern Sea."
Li Zhouwei paced back and forth twice before exchanging a glance with Li Ximing, who shook his head. "The timing is just too perfect..."
Li Zhouwei nodded without hesitation, while Li Ximing asked thoughtfully, "Pure Victory Dao has close ties with the Pavilion of Profound Order. After all, both were once connected to Lesser Yang... Could this have been orchestrated by the northern powers?"
Li Zhouwei shook his head slightly and rubbed the center of his eyebrows. "I don't think so. Wei Xuanyin wouldn't go to such lengths. Besides, what would he stand to gain?"
He suddenly fell silent, deep in thought as he said, "I need to pay that Dragon Prince a visit."
Changxiao Gate had fallen, yet neither of them felt any relief. They fell into silence together before rising and entering the Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance. Li Zhouwei remained standing in the pavilion, quietly contemplating the radiant scene before him.
After watching him for a moment, Li Ximing suddenly said, "During the days you were away at Changxiao Gate, I kept thinking about what you said..."
A complicated look crossed Li Zhouwei's face as Li Ximing raised his eyes and continued, "The truth is, from the moment you descended into this world, our family should have understood. Windfalls never fall from the heavens without reason. Everything has its purpose. You were right. That lord never sent you on this journey for nothing. The notion of reincarnation for its own sake was always nothing more than wishful thinking."
The two exchanged a glance before Li Ximing said calmly, "Our Wei's Li bloodline and my cultivation of the [Bright Yang] have both been preparing the way for you. For a mere clan to rise within a century, it needs something backing it, and you are that backing. Without you, our family at the lake would have been wiped out long ago, and the struggles between north and south would never have repeatedly stopped at our shores.
"Now, the only path left to you is to fight for it."
Li Ximing paused, his expression gradually settling into calm resolve. "Our family has no road left but this one. Whatever the price may be... Whether it's me or Moongaze Lake, if it can be exchanged for a future, then it's worth trying."
Li Zhouwei turned to face him, the light in his golden eyes dimming as he said, "Thank you, granduncle."
Li Ximing smiled before his expression turned serious. "However... There's one matter we need to begin preparing."
Seeing Li Zhouwei raise an eyebrow, Li Ximing said solemnly, "Dao lineage.
"Within the [Bright Yang] Dao, you've already completed [Heaven-Venerating Gate] and [Sovereign In Peril]. What remains are [Imperial Observation Origin], [Severed Crimson Arrowhead], and [Radiance Under Heaven].
"Your [Sovereign In Peril] should reach perfection before long. Whether you choose [Imperial Observation Origin] or [Severed Crimson Arrowhead], gathering the required qi alone will take three to five years. We still have plenty of time, but it's something we ought to begin preparing for now."
He paused briefly before continuing, "I've checked the pavilion. We have inheritances for both [Imperial Observation Origin] and [Severed Crimson Arrowhead]. Minghuang, which do you think you should cultivate first?"
The question gave the golden-eyed youth pause. "Very well."
After pacing across the hall twice, he and Li Ximing walked into the pavilion together. The jade-green stone platform still glowed softly, with jet-black wooden slips resting upon it.
Li Zhouwei lightly brushed the slips, causing lines of silver text to appear one after another. He murmured to himself, "[Imperial Observation Origin] includes the [Imperial Scripture of Brilliant Mountains and Magnificent Tides]. It is undoubtedly an ancient technique of the highest grade, very likely a cultivation method that once circulated within the Wei imperial palace.
"As for [Severed Crimson Arrowhead], there are two inheritances. One is the [Imperial Book of Radiance-Slaying for Myriad Chariots], and the other is the [Dharma Scripture of the Crimson Vanguard General]..."
His expression grew more serious as he shook his head. "All three are still shrouded in darkness. They must be acquired gradually. For now, I can only pursue one of them...
"[Severed Crimson Arrowhead] is a path of conquest, wielding the might of ten thousand chariots to sweep away every obstacle. [Imperial Observation Origin], on the other hand, is an orthodox divine ability centered on the sovereign commanding his ministers through clear decrees and manifest authority. Both would provide tremendous support."
Li Zhouwei said softly, "Strictly speaking, the orthodox imperial path of [Imperial Observation Origin] may not be the more dominant one, but it unquestionably provides greater support to the Bright Yang lineage. Otherwise, the Wei court would never have locked this art within the palace while allowing the [Everbright Platform] to circulate in its place..."
Then he changed tack. "But in terms of cultivation, the Bright Yang lineage advances in clear stages, each building upon the last. After the sovereign reaches Sovereign In Peril, one proceeds toward the Realm of Enlightenment and Regret. [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] is clearly better suited as the third divine ability. A majestic and orthodox inheritance like [Imperial Observation Origin] is more fitting for the fourth or fifth divine ability."
He carefully studied the silver text while Li Ximing said with some concern, "I have only one concern. Both [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] and [Imperial Observation Origin] belong to Dao lineages that have long since vanished. [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] is the safer choice, since traces of it still exist in Eastern Fire. [Imperial Observation Origin], however, was one of Wei State's closely guarded inheritances. Cultivating it would inevitably attract attention... [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] would be the wiser option."
Li Zhouwei nodded and raised a hand. The golden light in his eyes deepened. "[Imperial Book of Radiance-Slaying for Myriad Chariots]."