Chapter 1058: Five Elements Theory

The water of Peacock Sea was vibrantly colored, appearing exceptionally beautiful under the sky light. Li Ximing flew by light, his expression slightly solemn, lost in thought.

He had rushed out, ostensibly to deal with Zhen Tao Mansion; he did indeed need to visit Jiuqiu, but not with such urgency. However, upon seeing the island, his scalp tingled, and he dared not step inside. Fortunately, he had this excuse and immediately brought Li Quewan out.

Listening to Li Quewan's account along the way, Li Ximing could only offer a wry smile. "Things are truly unpredictable," he murmured. "When I invited Senior Liu to the island back then, I had already considered that it might attract trouble. I never imagined it would actually come to pass."

Hearing his telepathic message, Li Quewan, fearing he might blame Liu Changdie, quickly replied, "Lord Liu has been very kind to us over the years, and it wasn't intentional on his part..."

Seeing her misunderstanding, Li Ximing shook his head. "This matter is nobody's fault," he said. "If Senior Liu hadn't been guarding the East Sea, Zhen Tao Mansion wouldn't have been preserved to this day... nor would we have received the 'neck-down feathers' for so many years!"

Zhen Tao Mansion had indeed played a considerable role over the years. The amount of Deep-wall Water collected was immense, gathered pool by pool until its price in the East Sea skyrocketed. Had it not been for True Person Kuang Yu also collecting it in her name, it would have undoubtedly drawn unwanted attention.

Although very little Deep-wall Water could be collected later, over a long period, Li Ximing subtly managed to exchange for two more batches of Profound Interstice Flower Leaves from Jin Yu. After a total of four such exchanges, he still had two 'neck-down feathers' as spares. Moreover, the valuable spiritual resources acquired through these exchanges were comparable to two or three spiritual artifacts.

He only expressed his worry, saying, "I think... his claim about seeking dragon kin isn't without reason. We should just try our best to satisfy him and let these noble descendants fight amongst themselves. The main thing is to get him off the island quickly..."

Li Quewan remained uneasy and replied, "If anything happens, I just hope the dragon kin don't take their anger out on our family. Now that we've seen this, we can only pretend not to have. Caught between the two, if they truly decide to take their anger out, we won't be able to escape it."

Li Ximing looked at her deeply and replied, "They cannot afford to lash out. They won't provoke Minghuang."

Li Quewan nodded thoughtfully. Li Ximing, meanwhile, deliberated for a moment, unsure whether some things should be said or not.

Within the Li family, only Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing truly understood their current predicament. Li Quewan, with her resilient and gentle nature, could still be informed to some extent. However, Li Jiangqian had so many of his own thoughts that Li Ximing hesitated to discuss matters with him, sighing inwardly:

'Let Zhouwei decide for himself,' he thought. 'I will just keep silent.'

He abandoned that thought, but his worries only grew. Even with the excuse, he could only rush towards Jiuqiu. With such an incident, he couldn't possibly settle down. Gritting his teeth, he finally made up his mind:

"I originally didn't want to disturb Zhouwei, but this matter has already jeopardized Zhen Tao Mansion, and might even threaten our very foundation... I'm afraid I still need to see him."

So, he flew with Li Quewan for a while in Peacock Sea. Instead of heading directly to Jiuqiu, they journeyed all the way to Dong'e King Sea. There, they dived under the sea and found a hidden spot, which was precisely where he had refined precious elixirs underground years ago.

He had cleaned up thoroughly back then, leaving no trace of elixirs. Li Ximing casually sealed the place, checked for privacy, and instructed Li Quewan to cultivate there. Then he soared into the air, gracefully heading towards the Heaven and Earth of Sun and Moon in Harmony.

Soon, a patchy golden and white scene appeared before him, and the sight of the sun and moon shining together, along with an extremely stable spiritual aura, re-emerged. Li Ximing descended from the pavilion, finding brightness all around, and saw the man seated on the platform in the courtyard.

Li Zhouwei had shed his armor and was clad in a gray Daoist robe, his long hair uncharacteristically loose. He sat quietly on the platform, resembling an old suanni coiled up and dozing.

Li Ximing then remembered that Li Zhouwei's armor was being repaired in the fiery miasma of Zhijing Mountain. Yet, strangely, without that layer of majestic dark armor, the junior before him seemed even more unsettling.

Li Ximing took another step, and those golden eyes immediately opened, alert. A pool of cold golden light shone from the deep courtyard, falling upon Li Ximing's face.

"Minghuang!"

At this soft call, the white qilin on the platform vanished. Li Zhouwei stood up, gathering his long hair with one hand, and politely asked,

"What are your instructions, Uncle-Grandfather?"

Li Ximing sighed and replied, "Some troublesome matters have arisen! Perhaps you need to go out and take a look..."

He quickly relayed all the information. Li Zhouwei's gaze grew increasingly solemn as he listened. He then stepped forward and his first words were:

"Did Liu Changdie's letter mention Fu Xun seeking an audience with the dragon kin?"

Li Ximing replied, "Yes..."

This made Li Zhouwei nod slightly as he replied, "My recovery from injury is a top secret. It's crucial for the upcoming arrangements, so it's not suitable for me to leave seclusion. If it becomes known, it could very likely trigger an early war between the North and South... it's impossible for me to go out."

His expression was profound as he continued, "And the matter of Zhen Tao Mansion is not difficult to resolve. If Liu Changdie has already mentioned it, then this trip provides you, Uncle-Grandfather, with an excuse. I will immediately write a letter for you to take to Chongzhou and deliver to Hui Yao. Please ask the Sea Patrol Envoy to visit Zhen Tao Mansion. This matter can then be resolved, and our family won't need to get too deeply involved."

He slightly raised his hand and drew a piece of cloth from his sleeve. Conjuring a brush in mid-air, he used his divine power as ink to write golden characters on the cloth, stating solemnly:

"I will use the pretext of arranging my affairs after death and supporting the demon kings to care for my Li family juniors. The White Dragon Scion will not refuse."

Li Ximing nodded with relief. Li Zhouwei then dipped the brush and whispered,

"As for Suining, Uncle-Grandfather, you don't need to be nervous; just pretend not to know. I was going to see Qing Yushi anyway, and I already have a plan in mind: just send him into seclusion for about five or six years. There will be an arrangement by then, and it won't be too late to deal with external matters later."

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing understood Li Zhouwei's determination to achieve divine abilities. He didn't ask what would happen if something went wrong in those five or six years. His initially worried expression gradually calmed down. He raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and replied,

"I will go and seek a Bright True Spirit-Fusion Pill."

Li Zhouwei paused, then finally nodded. Li Ximing quietly put away the handwritten letter, listening as Li Zhouwei reminded him:

"The yin and yang here are balanced, leaving traces on the cloth. Since it's for the dragon kin, Uncle-Grandfather, let it air out after you leave; don't give it right away."

Li Ximing nodded and quickly left. He walked all the way to the steps, hesitated for a moment, and looked back to see the junior already seated on the platform, like a divine statue.

Inside the cave, the fire veins surged. Li Quewan waited a long time before Li Ximing appeared, seemingly stepping out of the void.

The True Person's expression was natural, seemingly much more relaxed. He patted her head and smiled, "Don't worry, everything has been handled."

He then soared with light, flying rapidly outwards. Seeing Li Quewan's face full of doubt, he instead comforted her, saying,

"Even if the Purple Mansion Grand Array is lost, it won't matter since you're not in Zhen Tao. This is the Jiuqiu lineage, and its master is a Primordial Dao True Person, so you must be proper and polite. If anything is discussed, only answer if you are directly asked."

Li Quewan indeed felt a little nervous and nodded solemnly. Li Ximing then chuckled,

"Back then, I fled here severely wounded... You said you were traveling east, so let's go east. This master of Jiuqiu was quite caring towards me and even gave me a spiritual fire. You need to make a good impression. I also want to test things out today. If anything happens in the future and you find yourself stranded overseas, it would be best if you could come here to ask for help."

Li Quewan's originally solemn expression immediately crumbled. She pursed her lips and quietly assented.

After several decades apart, Jiuqiu Mountain was still a vibrant purple-red, with maple leaves rippling like waves in the sea breeze. Li Ximing waited at the mountain gate. When he saw an old man descending from a mountain path, he smiled and bowed.

"Daoist Zhaojing, long time no see!"

This old man was none other than the venerable True Person Lingdu from years ago!

Although this old True Person's cultivation wasn't particularly high, he possessed an ethereal, immortal-like demeanor and a kind face that put people at ease. Li Ximing smiled, feeling a little more settled, and replied,

"Greetings, Senior... In my youth, I was ignorant and caused much trouble..."

Lingdu smiled, shook his head, and invited him up the mountain, replying,

"Nonsense..."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, they arrived under the maple forest. The stone table where Lingdu and Houfo had played chess years ago was still on the mountaintop. Li Ximing sighed inwardly at the sight, subtly took a step aside, and sat down.

Lingdu observed this, shaking his head without speaking. Li Ximing, understanding implicitly, did not bring up the matter of the Solar Orthodoxy. He took the tea offered by the elder and said,

"This time, I've come to inquire about your esteemed sect's Clarity Dew. My family has gained a promising junior who cultivates the Lesser Yin path, and I'm planning for his future..."

Lingdu raised an eyebrow, interested, and asked, "He cultivates the...?"

Li Ximing replied, "Fragrant and Profound."

"Rare!"

Lingdu praised, set down his tea, and smiled. "This isn't difficult," he said, "but if you're seeking a breakthrough in divine abilities for him, then we'll have to reserve a spot for your friend in the pool."

When Li Ximing cultivated in the Fangyin Pool back then, he had already sensed that the place could clear one's spiritual consciousness and was quite helpful for breaking through to divine abilities. However, he hadn't expected the other party to be so generous; he had only sought a portion of the pool water. Hearing this news, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face, and he asked,

"Senior, your generosity is immense! I was only asking for a portion of the wondrous dew!"

Lingdu chuckled and shook his head, then said solemnly, "The Fangyin Pool, where Lesser Yin is heavy and Clear Qi settles, is not a place where just anyone can achieve a breakthrough. The ability to condense spiritual resources like Clarity Dew is inherently meant for cultivators of the Lesser Yin path."

He gently tapped the table. A cultivator hastily walked up, bowed to both of them, and Lingdu instructed,

"Go fetch the Profound Bowl, call your eldest senior brother, wait until midnight for it to thaw, and draw a bowl of Clarity Dew to bring here."

He turned his head and continued, "Clarity Dew inherently cannot be taken out of this pool. However, our lineage has studied it for many years and made some progress. We possess a Precious Profound Bowl, forged from treasures of Lesser Yin and Clear Qi. While holding this item allows for temporary transportation, it still cannot be preserved for a long time."

He smiled. "However, the Precious Profound Bowl is a spiritual embryo that my disciple is currently nurturing. Daoist friend, after you've used this item, please remember to return the Profound Bowl."

"Many thanks! Many thanks!"

Li Ximing nodded solemnly. In earlier years, he would have been amazed by the other party's casual lending of a spiritual embryo. Now, having seen more of the world, he found it quite normal — such lineages, from ancient times to the present, had accumulated countless treasures.

'This journey is long,' he thought. 'I'll just have Guo Nanwu run the errand then.'

However, Li Ximing naturally wouldn't take their things for free. He immediately took out a box from his sleeve and said solemnly,

"This is a Cangzhou Viper Scale and a 'neck-down feather', which I am returning to you as compensation. Firstly, to thank you for the Clarity Dew, and secondly, to express gratitude for your healing grace back then!"

Li Ximing's immediate apology for his youthful ignorance and offense was not without reason. Back then, he hadn't understood how precious Clarity Dew was for enhancing divine abilities, but now he understood clearly. One must remember that Sima Yuanli's Empty-Sleeve Profound Dao Powder, used to enhance divine abilities, utilized Hollow Profound Mulberry—a truly spiritual item!

Given this, the amount the Fangyin Pool could condense must be limited. How could they not know that he had used "Valley Wind to Draw Fire" to absorb more than one person's share back then?

"Daoist friend, you are too polite."

Seeing Li Ximing's actions, Lingdu smiled, gave him another glance, shook his head, and pushed the spiritual resources back, replying,

"Clarity Dew is only useful for enhancing divine abilities when it is within the Fangyin Pool; its greater effects actually lie within the pool itself. Otherwise, why would I give an entire bowl to a junior at the Foundation Establishment stage? There's no need to overthink it."

"As for the Fangyin Pool, Daoist friend, don't view it too highly... While the Fangyin Pool can indeed clear one's spiritual consciousness, breaking through to divine abilities is a natural principle of heaven. When spiritual darkness emerges, the Fangyin Pool cannot dispel it. And facing inner demons is even more so a personal matter!"

Li Ximing suddenly realized, nodding thoughtfully. Not touching the items pushed back on the table, he immediately perceived this as an opportunity. Feigning unwillingness, he replied,

"Spiritual darkness, truly it cannot be removed? Among so many cultivators and great experts, from ancient times to the present, surely there must be a precedent?"

This was clearly a subtle inquiry about his own lineage's secrets, yet done very naturally. Lingdu stroked his beard, paused for a moment, and asked,

"Not exactly. Daoist friend, have you ever heard of... the Wuguan Legacy?"

Li Ximing raised an eyebrow, adopting an interested posture, listening as the elder explained:

"The Three Profound Lineages each have their own doctrines and differing philosophies. In the Douxuan lineage, very, very long ago, there was a great figure named Wuguan. He was one of the first to propose abolishing the Five Virtues theory and establishing the Pure and Profound Six Actions theory. He occupied the Clear Qi intercalary position and was one of the four ancient Demonic Dao ancestors."

"He left behind a legacy, which was formed from the distinct positions beneath him. Those favored by this legacy could gain many profound mysteries, one of which was the ability to reduce spiritual darkness and promote rising yang."

Li Ximing frowned, finding it difficult to understand, and asked, "Abolish the Five Virtues theory? The Five Virtues are principles of heaven and earth. Is there even such a concept as abolishing them?"

Lingdu shook his head and replied, "Fire Virtue, Water Virtue... these are just unified names used by various Daoist sects. But what connection is there between water and fire? Why are the Five Elements collectively called Five Virtues? You've heard that Earth Virtue has five earths, but there's also a sixth earth, Qingxuan, and Qingxuan is also 'Binggu,' isn't that right?"

"Ultimately, it's just how people are accustomed to calling them. In the eyes of higher-ranked individuals, karmic positions are either high or low, some close, some distant, with no single overarching category. Or rather, there might have been one, but Immortals and Immortal Lords did not fully recognize each other's classifications, and so it ceased to exist."

"In ancient times, the world was peaceful; it wasn't a struggle of life and death, but a debate of Daoist orthodoxies. Cultivators exchanged ideas, generously shared their Daoist scriptures, and numerous schools of thought contended. These theories then spread throughout the world."

He looked at Li Quewan behind Li Ximing and smiled with interest:

"For instance, the Quandan (Complete Elixir) lineage refers to the Three Shamans and Two Blessings as 'Plain Virtue,' ranking it as the Sixth Virtue. They claim that Quandan is the primordial embryo of Plain Virtue, and Plain Virtue is the root nature of Quandan, a tradition that persists to this day. Each school has its own theories to better organize their cultivation methods and facilitate later generations' practice. He was also one of the figures who supported abolishing the Five Virtues theory—if you are a Quandan cultivator, using the Quandan Plain Virtue theory to understand the mysteries of heaven and earth and the changes in the nature of things will certainly be more natural than using the Five Virtues theory!"

Li Quewan thoughtfully raised her head, understanding that the elder was trying to enlighten her, and listened as he continued:

"The Purple Gold Dao, without bothering with details, collectively refers to the many orthodoxies outside the Five Virtues and Twelve Qi as the 'Binggu Methods.' While there's no issue with their cultivation, this is precisely a symbol of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao's eagerness for quick results and shallow foundation at its origin."

"It is precisely because of this that Qingxuan, being both the Sixth Earth and Binggu, is not contradictory!"