Chapter 1726: True Dao Immortal Cultivators (II)
Chapter 1726: True Dao Immortal Cultivators (II)
Daoist Cao was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He might have cherished Madam Ding while she was young, but once age had faded her beauty, how could she have received even the slightest regard from him?
Li Ximing nodded slightly as Tinglan smiled and said, "Daoist Cao's Dao companion is fiercely jealous. Ding Mu relied on support from the lake during his early years, so he is deeply grateful to your family... Seeing how earnest he was, I decided simply to send him here to help your family guard the lake. This can also be considered the fulfillment of his wish."
Tinglan made it sound simple, but Li Ximing suspected that the lake had done far more than merely provide financial support. For Widow Ding to have lived out her natural lifespan, she had likely relied on the Li Family's prestige for protection on more than one occasion.
Feeling somewhat rueful, he said softly, "Go find Weizeng... You are clansmen, after all."
Ding Mu wiped away his tears and kowtowed three times before withdrawing. Li Ximing took a sip of tea and said, "Queyi has earned Kuangyu's favor, and her cultivation has progressed quickly. She has already caught up with her younger sister."
Tinglan quietly acknowledged his words, then bowed to take her leave. Li Ximing escorted her all the way out before saying solemnly, "Please wait a little longer, Tinglan. I will begin refining the pills at once and have someone deliver them to you when they are ready."
Tinglan thanked him, and Li Ximing rode a streak of light back to the island. Upon landing, his smile faded, and he hurried inside. The great hall was utterly silent, with Li Jiangzong and the others already waiting to one side.
Li Ximing took the main seat and swiftly swept his eyes across the hall. His gaze immediately fell upon a white-robed youth standing to one side, and his eyes lit up. "Jiangchun... you have emerged from seclusion!"
The white-robed youth, who carried a sword on his back, smiled faintly and bowed. "Daoist Master, I was fortunate enough not to disappoint you. I successfully forged my Immortal Foundation last year!"
Li Jiangchun had entered seclusion around the same time as Li Ximing, and Li Ximing had paid special attention to his progress. The family had long since prepared an Essence Gathering Pill refined from a [Lesser Yin] spirit item for him. Given his exceptional innate ability, his successful advancement to Foundation Establishment Realm was hardly surprising, but it was nevertheless a joyous occasion.
Li Ximing nodded and looked at him with a beaming smile. "What... mystics does it possess?"
Compared to his brothers, Li Jiangchun was greatly favored and well acquainted with both Daoist Masters. He showed no nervousness as he smiled and bowed again. "[Sunken Fragrance] balances cold and dryness, commands water and fire, distinguishes the beneficial from the harmful, and surveys Azure Spirit. Above, it connects with the Yin of Purple Essence and draws in Supreme Purity. Below, it raises the harmonizing power of Cold Essence and nurtures Inferior Water..."
He raised a hand and held his palm flat. Tassel-like wisps of white light spiraled above his jade-white palm. Though unassuming in appearance, they released waves of pure qi so striking that no one could look away.
Li Jiangchun explained gently, "[Sunken Fragrance] lies between cold and dryness and has a natural affinity with Cold Essence and Mansion Water. It allows me to wield Purple Essence as freely as my own limbs and can also regulate the injuries of others. As for drawing in Supreme Purity, it means that I can consume medicines blended from Lesser Yin and Pure Essence as though I were absorbing pure Yin mana. I can use their power freely without fear of adverse effects. By circulating my Immortal Foundation, I can transform the mystics of Mansion Water to heal injuries."
Li Ximing nodded as he listened, his eyes brightening slightly. [Lesser Yin] may be obscure and rarely found in the world, but it is a harmonizing path welcomed by every lineage!
Not to mention, Lesser Yin and Pure Essence... are perfectly suited for him!
Delight had already blossomed in his heart, but with so many people present, he refrained from saying more. Suppressing his curiosity, he replied, "Excellent. When I traveled across the Eastern Sea years ago, I saw a [Hidden Refinement Pool] within the Nine Mounds Dao Lineage. It contained [Hidden Clarity Mystic Dew] of the Lesser Yin Dao, a treasure capable of healing spiritual sense, refining mana, and enhancing divine abilities without posing any danger to one's foundation... I imagine those effects also stem from the mystics of Lesser Yin!"
He smiled. "I will call in a favor and obtain a portion for you!"
"Thank you, Daoist Master!" Li Jiangchun bowed repeatedly in gratitude before saying solemnly, "The Lesser Yin Dao fears only Virile Fire and Gathering Wood. It is hindered by the Three Thunders and has no affinity with Ancient Merging, but is largely compatible with the Dao lineages of the Twelve Essences."
Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Then how is your cultivation of the [Lesser Yin Profound Monarch Water-Fire Record] progressing?"
Li Ximing had read the [Lesser Yin Profound Monarch Water-Fire Record] before. It was extraordinarily difficult, seemingly even more so than the [Great Radiant White Light][1]. He had Li Jiangchun cultivate it firstly to establish a firm foundation, and secondly to deepen his Dao conduct in preparation for attaining divine ability.
Li Jiangchun replied respectfully, "I cultivate day and night, devoting much of my time to this art whenever I am not practicing the sword. I have now established its foundation and nurtured a Profound Position within my body to contain water and fire..."
Having read the art himself, Li Ximing knew that Li Jiangchun had reached the stage where he required the aid of spirit items. He asked, "What kind of spirit items do you need?"
Li Jiangchun bowed and replied, "The mystics of Lesser Yin govern water and fire. Among the fires of Fire Virtue, both Dry Fire and True Fire obey its command. Although Merging Fire and Radiant Fire are more distantly related, they can still be used with some difficulty. It fears only Virile Fire.
“Among the waters of Water Virtue, it favors Mansion Water most. Wherever its mystics reach, Converging Water, Pit Water, and Valley Water all submit obediently. It is incompatible only with Pristine Water. Neither can truly be said to restrain the other, but their mystics contend against one another and cannot easily coexist.
"The old elder often asked about my progress and long ago prepared [Gathered Inferior Water] of Mansion Water and [Long Marching Fire Essence] of True Fire for me. I constantly nurture them within my Profound Position to aid my cultivation."
Li Ximing smiled upon hearing this and replied, "Grandfather may be advanced in years, but his experience has only deepened. He understands how Mansion Water corresponds with True Fire. There is more than enough in his knowledge for you juniors to study carefully!"
Everyone nodded obediently, but Li Ximing had greater plans in mind.
If the opportunity arises and the family has resources to spare, perhaps we can find a spirit water and a spiritual flame for him.
Li Jiangchun was certainly incapable of refining Purple Mansion Realm treasures, but if the family truly acquired such resources, Li Ximing could personally seal them within his apertures. They would undoubtedly benefit him immensely.
However, there was no telling whether this plan would come to fruition. Mentioning it in front of his brothers would also seem overly partial, so Li Ximing merely committed the matter to memory and asked, "Has there been any news from Jiangqian?"
Li Jiangchun's eyes brightened as he replied, "Eldest brother emerged from seclusion once last year. I heard that his Dao conduct had improved again. Flames blazed all around him, and his aura was extremely imposing. He had intended to pay his respects to you, Daoist Master, but when he could not meet you, he returned to the mountain to continue cultivating."
Li Jiangchun spoke tactfully without mentioning the secret technique, and Li Ximing nodded in considerable satisfaction.
He turned to Li Minggong and instructed, "Have him come and see me."
"Yes!"
The woman departed, and Li Ximing proceeded to ask each person about their cultivation, offering them ample encouragement. He then rose upon a streak of light and landed on Zhijing Mountain, where he promptly opened the jade box and took out the [Three-Branched Qiuxin Leaf].
The veins of this True Essence spirit item shimmered with spirit light. It had already been missing a corner and should have been refined as soon as possible, but after several years, its spirituality had weakened considerably. Li Ximing harmonized it with Valley Water and Purple Essence, placed it into the furnace, and prepared to refine it into pills using the Heaven's Will Single-Intent Method.
Li Ximing's mastery of alchemy was now profound. As soon as he laid a hand on the pill furnace, he sensed a subtle change.
"Now that [Radiance Under Heaven] is complete and bolstered by this Fate Divine Ability, pill refinement has become far easier... The [Heaven's Will Single-Intent Method] in particular resonates with my Fate Divine Ability, greatly increasing the speed of refinement..."
It had been a long time since he last handled a pill furnace, and he found the experience immensely satisfying. His movements flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in the process. After nine cycles of the sun and moon, the mouth of the furnace began to tremble as a rich fragrance spread in every direction. Six emerald-green pills tinged with purple burst out from within. Li Ximing slowly exhaled and calmly gathered them away.
Refining pills is far easier than cultivating!
The [Three-Branched Qiuxin Leaf] had been missing a corner, after all, and some of its medicinal potency had been lost. Refining six pills from it was already no easy feat.
He took out two, carefully sealed them, and summoned a servant before instructing, "Send these two... to Purple Smoke Gate."
He looked at the four pills remaining in his palm and considered them carefully. Taking out a length of silk, he meticulously recorded their effects and ingredients, then added a few lines:
I heard that senior was injured while seizing the treasure, and have been deeply concerned. These pills will greatly aid in treating your injuries. Should you require anything further, please do not hesitate to instruct me.
He then sealed two pills and said, "Send these to Slaughter Jun Gate!"
The servant hurriedly acknowledged the order, then said cautiously, "Daoist Master... The eldest young master saw flames soaring into the sky above the mountain and did not dare disturb you. He has already been waiting at the foot of the mountain for nine days and nine nights."
1. Previously known as Great Li White Radiance. ☜