Chapter 1023: Mountain Majesty (1+1/2)

"Shan Qing... Shan Qing..."

Li Zhouwei's expression subtly changed. He looked at the old man, who was silently lowering his gaze, and asked, "Could such a figure, whose divine powers are complete, truly disappear without a trace? If there were a breakthrough, the heavens and earth would change, and everyone under heaven would know."

His words carried a hint of probing. Cui Changfu sat stunned for a moment, then left his seat and the hall. He returned to the steps, somewhat hesitant, and replied, "Your Excellency is right. Ancient texts speak of the 'Dui Jin' attestation, which is difficult to achieve: 'There should be early autumn and winter, soldiers should move, and merchants should gather, bringing joy to all.' But if one were to achieve it, who could truly record it, grandly proclaim it to the world, and allow it to be written down by all? Such a person must possess a sincere and revered heart, and such figures are rare..."

Clearly, even if the ancient texts didn't explicitly record someone's enlightenment, his words implied that Daoist Shan Qing had already achieved success and retreated.

"Dui Jin!" Li Zhouwei fell silent for a moment.

Dui Jin was not an obscure Daoist lineage. The Golden Feather Sect, a renowned Immortal Sect that governed a region in the State of Yue, was the orthodox Daoist lineage of Dui Jin, known as the Golden One Lineage! The True Lord of the Golden Feather Sect, who had appeared in the world, was consistently referred to as the master of the Dui Jin fruit-status!

'If that unfathomable Imperial Preceptor had achieved enlightenment back then, and if there hadn't been that 'leap' incident, he would most likely have been a figure of Dui Jin!'

He keenly perceived the old man's meaning: 'True Lord Taiyuan of the Golden Feather Sect... is also an enemy of Mingyang... untrustworthy. If Li Qianyuan were to be revived, he would probably be the first to jump out and stop it!'

The accuracy of this information was debatable; at the very least, it was currently only the Cui family's side of the story. Li Zhouwei sensed that the other party still held many secrets they dared not speak. His expression became serious, and for the first time, he asked frankly, "I have a question: Is Wei Li truly a Daoist lineage of Dou Xuan?"

Although he already had countless pieces of evidence in his heart, he still needed to ask this question to get a clear answer. The old man gazed at him for a long time before replying, "Wei Li to Dou Xuan is like Great Ning to Dou Xuan. If Your Highness absolutely requires an answer, then—yes!"

Li Zhouwei looked at him and suddenly asked, "I'd like to hear about any ancient news concerning Dui Jin."

Cui Changfu quickly shook his head, knowing full well what he wanted to hear, but replying, "I wouldn't dare speak of Dui Jin. This old man has only heard some stories of Golden Virtue... Does Your Highness know about the 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method?"

How could Li Zhouwei not know? When it came to familiarity with the 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method, hardly anyone in the country could surpass his family! His own elders had transformed into spirits through this very Dao and were still unable to leave the sea for even a step!

He nodded silently. Cui Changfu then spoke softly, "Xuan Lei is located in the North Sea, often called the Divine Thunder of the North Palace, but its presence in the other three seas is little known... In truth, back then, the Thunder Palace established thunder Daoist paths in all four seas to suppress demonic cultivators.

"However, after the destruction of the Thunder Palace, the Xuan Lei lineage suffered a severe blow. Most of these traditions became subordinate to other Dou Xuan Daoist lineages. Among them, the East Sea lineage was second only to the North Sea, with the chief disciple of the Yanyan Temple Palace entering the sea to guard and restore order; this became the 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method. The Motong Palace of the Dense Forest lineage appeared, entered the South Sea, integrated the thunder Dao, and was still known as the Motong Key Palace... Only the West Sea thunder Dao was inherently weak and was wiped out on the day the North Sea collapsed, leaving no trace."

Cui Changfu hesitated, then answered, "Behind this 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method, there was also a great figure... His revered title was Revered Master Xufang Tingming Tianting, the last Revered Master to ascend to a thunder position. He was tasked with guarding the East Sea, acted discreetly, and lived until the era when the various suns vied for power... It was precisely through his protection that the last bastion of the Xuan Lei lineage was preserved."

Li Zhouwei listened attentively. Cui Changfu then changed his tone and whispered, "However, when the Great Liang fell, chaos erupted across the land. The Fuqi family rose in the north, and the cultivation of Yue achieved success... After Liang perished and Zhao rose, the world was pacified, but this great figure suddenly vanished. The Thundercloud Temple, where the 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method was established—which was then the Divine Thundercloud Island—sank to the bottom of the sea and disappeared. In the same year, Motong Ling Palace ascended to heaven in broad daylight, the eighteen islands of the South Sea rose from the ground, and the last vestiges of the Thunder Dao era faded away."

Cui Changfu raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Zhouwei, saying, "From that time onwards, this 'Dui Jin' began to absorb the residual thunder."

"So... the 'residual lightning falling upon gold' started then..."

Li Zhouwei understood clearly in his heart: 'Most likely, this was the doing of True Lord Dui Jin... It was he who orchestrated the rise and fall of Emperor Qi, and he who eliminated the residual lightning.' It should be noted that when Zhang Duanyan came to the Li family to issue the immortal decree, he clearly referred to Luoxia as the "Superior Sect," defining the hierarchical relationship between Luoxia and Jinyu... And considering that this True Lord Zhang was a figure of profound mystery, the matter became quite clear.

'The reason Daoist Shan Qing could treat the common people as mere cattle and sheep is likely because behind him was the Way of the State, which opposed the Thunder Palace. Whether it was an alliance or a transaction, perhaps he borrowed the power of the State during this great upheaval, and the matter of the residual lightning became his reward... But if so, why is the Way of the State no longer seen?'

He pondered for a long time, then asked, "Did anyone from Motong Palace ascend to heaven in broad daylight? It looks like a sign of one person achieving enlightenment and even their dependents ascending, not a tragic end."

Seeing his questions delve deeper and deeper, Cui Changfu grew increasingly anxious. Fortunately, this place was under the jurisdiction of the Dragon Clan, which already had a poor relationship with the Thunder Palace and Luoxia. This matter could certainly be discussed, yet he dared not refuse to answer. So, he spoke, gritting his teeth, "Motong Palace... Its master was extraordinarily profound and was once the foremost Daoist disciple of the Nanxiang lineage. At that time, the four secrets of Nanxiang had already declined, and he was hailed as an immortal talent who would revive Nanxiang...

"But when this lineage reached the South Sea, it formally diverged from the Dense Forest... It no longer adhered to Dou Xuan, achieving enlightenment through the paths of Profound Qi, High Shamanism, and Shen Kui... It was a mix of immortal and Buddhist practices, calling itself the Motong lineage."

"Another mix of immortal and Buddhist practices?" Li Zhouwei asked with a frown.

This wasn't the first time. Legend had it that the master of Yanyan Temple Palace fell after unifying immortal and Buddhist practices. The 'Ce Lei Bo Yun' Daoist method was also known as Thundercloud Temple, and now Motong Palace also combined immortal and Buddhist practices—several times in a row. This could hardly be explained by simple reasons.

Questioned by Li Zhouwei, Cui Changfu seemed somewhat dejected and replied, "This matter... is hard to explain. It goes back to even more ancient times, and I don't know the reason. But at least two of the three Daoist lineages known to the world as Dou Xuan are indistinguishable from Buddhist cultivation. Only the North Palace Thunder Dao has clearer boundaries."

Cui Changfu appeared disheartened: "From our perspective as descendants, this doesn't feel like a good thing. It's one thing that Hua Qi was attested by Susikong, but even the original Shen Kui, which was a Dou Xuan lineage, was passed around and eventually ended up in the hands of Buddhist cultivators..." He paused slightly, then belatedly asked, "Does Your Highness know that very few lineages in the world today still know of Shen Kui...?"

Li Zhouwei naturally knew this Zhao Emperor lineage, so he nodded, motioning for him to continue. Cui Changfu immediately offered an apology and replied, "Motong Palace actually left behind a legacy... Over half of the major Daoist lineages in the South Sea inherited from them... like Nanshun Luozhe, Dakonghai Temple... The South Sea Daoist lineages forming their own distinct school originated from this."

These were all familiar names. Li Zhouwei's heart was settled as he listened to Cui Changfu say, gritting his teeth, "Some things I dared not say before, but now it's fine. If I may be so bold... my family also has some history, Your Excellency... Does Your Highness know about the Miao family of Ting Lei Island? They have an ancestor named Miao Dushan, rumored to be a genius who merged the Thunder Dao with demonic practices."

Li Zhouwei paused. Cui Changfu sneered, "I've heard rumors that this Miao Dushan isn't such a formidable figure. There are many geniuses in the world, but absolutely none to that extent! How could he, at such a young age, combine the Thunder Dao with demonic practices, which are as incompatible as fire and water? If he truly possessed such cultivation, he would be sitting on a 'gold position' by now, and we would all be calling him 'Your Excellency.' How could he have repeatedly hit walls within the sea? Several of our families have been spreading the word that he obtained some secret method, which gave him inspiration, leading him to this path. He certainly has some genius, but it's by no means enough to overturn common sense."

Li Zhouwei narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you implying... that he obtained profound Daoist traditions from Motong Palace, dared not spread them, and used them as a foundation to create the methods of Thunder Island?"

Cui Changfu remained silent in thought, implicitly confirming it.

Whether it's Motong Palace or the scandalous affairs of Ting Lei Island, speaking of them separately is harmless. But once connected... their implications are extraordinary! If Miao Dushan truly obtained ancient heritage, from which he was inspired to derive the method of Thunder Dao demonic cultivation, and this ancient heritage was passed down by Motong Ling Palace... What does that represent? Heritage is never aimless. The Daoist disciple of Motong Palace, clearly originating from Dou Xuan, then severed ties with Dou Xuan and ascended to heaven in broad daylight, achieving the status of a True Lord... It's likely that this correlates with the method of Thunder Dao demonic cultivation!

Li Zhouwei's heart trembled: 'Perhaps this former Daoist disciple... if not outright defecting to Tongxuan, at least betrayed the Thunder Palace, achieving enlightenment through unscrupulous means. This is how he carved a path completely contrary to the glorious might of Heaven... From then on, there was a method of Thunder Dao demonic cultivation, and the Miao family and Miao Dushan merely practiced along this discernible path!'

Cui Changfu, facing him, remained silent with downcast eyes, but Li Zhouwei perfectly understood what he intended to convey.

'This figure, seemingly one with Tongxuan, also implies that... the true Luoxia power might very well extend from within the sea to the South Sea... adding another Golden Core-level force...''The might of Tongxuan, how formidable it is...! No wonder the Dragon Clan is so domineering, yet its control over the South Sea is never as overt as over the East Sea, and its presence on the surface of the sea is even somewhat nominal... No wonder the Dragon Clan treats noble descendants like servants and uses divine powers as their claws, yet can only reside in the East Sea!''The fear of the Cui clan... is evident here.'

He remained silent for a long time, while Cui Changfu, facing him, whispered, "As for events after that, my family's records become unclear. After all, our Purple Mansion cultivators were lost one after another, and we no longer had the qualifications to know higher-level information."

Li Zhouwei nodded, took a sip of tea, and asked, "The Cui clan has not had an easy time over the years. My visit this time is not to ask for spiritual treasures or resources. Firstly, it's to inquire about these origins, and secondly, to exchange for your clan's cultivation methods."

Cui Changfu was clearly mentally prepared. He nodded silently and replied, "Our clan's heritage, passed down from Wei Li and Dong Li, originally came from the palace and the army. These items should be returned to their rightful owners; they aren't truly ours, and we wouldn't dare to exchange them."

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes swept over him. "I won't treat you unfairly; accept them boldly. Furthermore,"

A slight smile appeared on his face, his golden eyes seemed to radiate light, and the aura of his entire face suddenly transformed from fierce to majestic: "If your family refuses to accept any compensation, you're worried about following in the footsteps of those who came before." Even if Cui Changfu was utterly deferential, such concerns were ultimately unavoidable. When Li Zhouwei brought it up, he was left speechless. He tried to speak, opening his mouth, but no words came out.

Li Zhouwei was endowed with the destiny of Mingyang, yet his repeated emphasis on the terrors of Tongxuan truly reflected his inner fear of Luoxia. Li Zhouwei's words hit his weak spot: 'If we truly give our full support, and he falls, when the powers on the mountain settle accounts, which Dragon King or great figure in my family could protect us? Even if, for argument's sake, the powers on the mountain don't hold it against us, if he truly shakes Mingyang, wouldn't the Dragon Clan hold it against us?!'

In Cui Changfu's view, Li Zhouwei's action was undoubtedly offering his family a way out. Though he felt an impulse to refuse, he couldn't bring himself to say it. He could only turn his head and lament, "Jueyin, go and fetch everything for Your Excellency."

Cui Changfu's choice of person was astute. Cui Jueyin was considered half a member of the Li family, and without prior instruction, sending him off instantly meant presenting all of the clan's possessions to show nothing was being held back.

Cui Jueyin had listened to the entire conversation, his expression calm. He withdrew from the hall. Cui Changfu then rose from his seat, bowed deeply, and choked out, "Thank you... Your Excellency!"

"Sit down, no need for all these bows."

Li Zhouwei waved his hand and looked at him calmly: "I have never blamed your Cui family. Located in Chongzhou, with millions of clan members dependent on it, decisions cannot be made by one person alone. True Master Yangya... I have also seen him in the Grotto-Heaven. With your current achievements, Chongzhou now has its own master, and you need not be constrained by him."

"Your Highness!"

Cui Changfu was at a loss for words, but fortunately, Cui Jueyin arrived quickly. He bowed before the steps and presented three glowing jade slips and one stone talisman.

Cui Changfu hastily turned, holding one sleeve with one hand and extending the other flat, displaying an extremely humble posture as he introduced them: "This 'Shangye Jade Talisman' is crucial to the heritage of my Cui clan in Chongzhou. It records the 'Shangfu Mingye Scripture' and is also the fundamental treasure of our family, reaching fifth-grade. It contains three secret methods... to achieve the 'Yetian Gate'! It was passed down from an immortal abode back then.

"Precisely because of this, the talisman's quality is extremely high. It's crafted from Purple Mansion spiritual essence and elemental jade, making it a high-grade Foundation Establishment artifact. It won't decay or break, its divine light is contained, and should our clan ever face destruction, it can be carried out by a junior without attracting unwanted attention or being lost due to its valuable nature..."

Li Zhouwei glanced at it but harbored some doubts about its stated purpose. He shook his head and replied, "Your family's understanding of this heritage is skewed... This isn't an ordinary Foundation Establishment artifact. This is a degenerated spirit embryo. If you have achieved divine abilities, having the secret refining method for it would be best. If not, spending thirty to fifty years refining it would still allow it to serve as a protective treasure."

Cui Changfu's heart trembled. He had never imagined his family's treasure had such a function. He was immediately overjoyed, repeatedly expressed his thanks, took the item in his hand, and reverently said, "I wish to offer this item to Your Highness!"

Li Zhouwei merely shook his head. If Li Ximing hadn't shown the 'river,' this item would have been somewhat suitable for his family, but now it was purely a "chicken rib" (something of little value). He simply flipped his hand, pushing it aside, and began to read the 'Shangfu Mingye Scripture.'

'It is indeed the "Yetian Gate," but it differs from our family's "Yetian Gate"... It lacks some of the imperial grandeur, and compared to the "Golden Hall Radiant Yuan Art," it lacks the deadly might of the borderlands, possessing more of the immortal Daoist style of cultivation in an immortal abode...''As for these secret methods...'

Li Zhouwei frowned as he read, sighing inwardly, yet feeling a degree of satisfaction: 'Regardless, these are three secret methods. Keeping them at home for junior cultivators to read and adorn our collection a bit is sufficient.'

This item could be given to younger generations for verification; it would be more suitable for future juniors whose dispositions matched it. Li Zhouwei casually tossed the jade talisman back into his hand. Cui Changfu immediately pointed to another jade slip and said, "This one is the fourth-grade 'Body Suppressing Tiger Pass Treasure Scripture.'"

Cui Jueyin immediately raised an eyebrow: "True Master Zhaojing has already used it, exchanging it for a favor for our clan!"

Cui Changfu paused slightly, nodded, and moved his hand, continuing, "The remaining two... one is the 'Mingyuan Contemplation Leaving Scripture,' left by True Master Yangya when he last returned to the island. It was acquired by the True Master from other cultivators, originating from the East Fire Grotto-Heaven... However, it's of the 'Everlight Stage,' not the 'Emperor Contemplation Yuan' level."

Li Zhouwei calmly took it and glanced at it: 'What a coincidence, our family also has a copy, but it's only Foundation Establishment level. It was sent by the Xuanyue Sect back then... indeed obtained from the East Fire Grotto-Heaven.'

He raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems Yangya didn't just take from you for free; he left something behind after all... It looks like he didn't want to owe you too many favors!"

"Yes... yes..."

Though straightforward, these words were spot on. Cui Changfu felt incredibly awkward. He glanced at Li Zhouwei's expression and continued to introduce the cultivation methods: "All the paths of Mingyang, whether high or low in grade, ultimately share the same origin. Their divine abilities may vary slightly, and their magical power might be higher or lower. However, only the 'Emperor Contemplation Yuan' is different. The 'Everlight Stage' was developed by many ancient sages based on the 'Hebei Dishaishi Libi Sishi' performance personally written by True Lord Shangyao. Their fundamental origins are already different."

Li Zhouwei was very familiar with this. The earliest 'Courtyard Guards' his family obtained were also like this; they appeared to be of the same origin, but in reality, they were not only vastly different but even possessed the ability to command those of lower rank: 'So that's it. Perhaps the Courtyard Guards also evolved from some magical texts of the original owner of Yu Zhen...'

Cui Changfu stepped forward: "This last method is a secret technique of our family, called the 'Sleeve Estate Evolution to Perfection Art.' It's an art from an immortal abode, left behind by the senior who piloted the treasure ship back then. Originally, it was a spell he was borrowing. When problems arose in the country that year, he rushed back, fearing the cultivation method would be lost, so he left it to our ancestors..."

Li Zhouwei finally grew interested. He held the item in his hand and read it carefully: "Hmm." He murmured, "Sleeve Estate Art?"

"Precisely!"

A hint of envy appeared on Cui Changfu's face as he replied, "This is an ancient cultivation technique, also the path of immortals practiced by those who absorb qi and cultivate their nature. One can cultivate a 'mansion' within their sleeve, using it to store treasures, eliminating the need for storage bags. If one's cultivation is profound, with a flick of the sleeve, it's even possible to contain living creatures. This technique also describes that if cultivated to the realm of the person who wrote it, other people's spells, magical light, or even spiritual fire and water, can all be absorbed with a flick of the sleeve!"

Li Zhouwei read with a hint of amazement, yet this reading lasted for over ten breaths, still without reaching an end: 'It's just like those qi-absorbing cultivation methods... incredibly difficult, probably beyond the comprehension of even ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators. To master it... even a Great True Master would struggle! However, the value of this art is extremely high. It's similar to the Grand Void Traveling Arts of the high cultivators from the Northern Grotto-Heavens—rarely encountered, invaluable, and priceless!'

But having his own talismanic energy, Li Zhouwei wasn't deterred by the difficulty of this art. After spending some time memorizing it, he nodded and said, "I'm not deceiving you just because you've reached the Purple Mansion. This is a rare treasure."

Cui Changfu hastily said, "Your Highness, you speak incorrectly. Even if this item were to remain in my family for one or two hundred years, not a single person would be able to even begin cultivating it. Our family has so many Purple Mansion ancestors, yet not one has mastered it! Since it's useless to us, it can't be considered a good thing!"

"Though what you say has merit, it doesn't negate its inherent value." Li Zhouwei shook his head and replied, "When my family first achieved the Purple Mansion, my grand-uncle was also in a tight spot and owed a favor. I presume your family finds this unusable and dares not use it, so I won't prolong this matter here."

He gently flipped his hand, revealing a jade box from his sleeve, and placed it in Cui Changfu's hand, gesturing for him to open it.

Cui Changfu hesitated before opening the jade box. A surge of Mingyang qi immediately assailed him. Inside, nestled on a soft, white brocade cushion, were three wondrous, scale-patterned spiritual elixirs, gleaming and dazzling to his eyes!

'Purple Mansion spiritual elixirs! Purple Mansion spiritual elixirs of the Mingyang path!'

Cui Changfu truly didn't understand the full value of these items, but Li Ximing's extraordinary alchemy skill, and the surges of mystical fluctuations, made his eyes water with desire, mingled with shock and joy, and a touch of panic. He hurriedly exclaimed, "Absolutely not!"

"No need for more words!" Li Zhouwei waved his hand and took out another jade box from his sleeve, saying seriously, "My grand-uncle's favor is worth more than three spiritual elixirs. I have only one request: one of these three elixirs must be given to Jueyin to help him break through to the Purple Mansion."

Cui Changfu's expression became solemn. He raised his hand in a salute and said earnestly, "To be honest, Jueyin is currently the one in our family with the greatest hope of breaking through. Even if Your Highness hadn't mentioned it, I would certainly reserve two of these three elixirs for the younger generation, and one of them would be for Jueyin!"

Li Zhouwei nodded and handed over the jade box: "Here is another cultivation method, called the 'Heavenly Vein Polished Gold Scripture,' of the Geng Jin path. It is also fifth-grade. Gathering qi for it might be a bit troublesome for you; you'll need to search for famous mountain gold mines... but it's already one of the simplest methods. You can also find it on several large islands... Cultivating more different lineages also provides more paths forward."

Li Zhouwei possessed quite a few Purple Mansion cultivation methods, but they were either inconvenient to take out, acquired from others, or required difficult qi gathering that even the Li family struggled with. Only this particular method was originally obtained from elsewhere, was easy to gather qi for, and had been acquired by multiple families, thus holding few secrets. It was perfectly suited to be handed to him!

A Purple Mansion cultivation method that was easy to gather qi for could easily become the foundational treasure of a sect! Moreover, its grade was not low, which could compensate for the family's deficiencies. Cui Changfu's heart trembled with ecstasy. He couldn't resist reaching out to receive it, gripping it like a precious treasure. Li Zhouwei, however, did not stop. He flipped his hand and took out a brightly glowing jade talisman: "This is the 'Dushan Spirit-Inspiring Talisman,' a spiritual artifact for a commandery guard! It's best suited for famous mountains and major continents, and it's also quite suitable for your Chongzhou. It will compensate for your family's 'Sleeve Estate Evolution to Perfection Art' and 'Mingyuan Contemplation Leaving Scripture.'"

As his words fell, mysterious patterns lit up on the talisman in response, illuminating the old man's face with light.

'A spiritual artifact!''This is a spiritual artifact!'

Chongzhou was not without spiritual artifacts, but they had been lost at sea along with the treasure ship, leaving only a mediocre ordinary protective treasure, which then also vanished during the destruction of the Dongli Sect... It had been many years since they had seen such a treasure! Once this item was in hand, with the refinement of a spirit embryo and the consumption of a treasure elixir, he could immediately establish a firm footing in the early stages of the Purple Mansion!

'Your Excellency is so generous! This is the demeanor of an imperial descendant!'

Cui Changfu was already dazed by this string of treasures. He clutched the cultivation methods in his hand as if they were precious, but his eyes were fixed on the spiritual artifact, his heart pounding. His lips trembled, unable to voice a refusal.

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes, however, were not looking at him, but at Cui Jueyin with a slight smile, sighing inwardly: 'After this trip, Jueyin will surely gain the utmost respect. His talent, intellect, and methods are all considerable, and he is often under my command, with great hope of breaking through to the Purple Mansion. When he eventually achieves this breakthrough, this spiritual artifact will ultimately come into his possession...'

His gaze lowered, and he secretly smiled: 'Consider it a token of remembrance.'