Chapter 1060: 玄匣

When ancestor Li Tongya was young, the Lake Isle Market was plundered. He later secretly infiltrated the market and, using water manipulation techniques, retrieved a pale green jade casket, covered in mysterious patterns, from the core of the formation. It was empty.

Although the ancestor never found any treasure inside, he realized the casket's unique material allowed it to store valuable items. He kept it with him, and it was passed down through generations, eventually being used to hold sword manuals.

Li Ximing, unskilled in sword arts, had little contact with the item and should not have recognized it. However, when the Li clan unified Wangyue and dismantled the forbidden formation of Lake Isle, Li Xijun specifically retrieved this jade casket to study the island's formations. Li Ximing, observing nearby, caught a glimpse and thus remembered it.

Seeing a Purple Mansion cultivator carefully and stealthily present the item, Li Ximing was naturally surprised. It was not the right time for detailed questions, so he formed a hand seal, activated his "Tianxia Ming" technique, and an invisible Six Harmonies light immediately gathered at his fingertips, ready for a detailed calculation.

Li Ximing was slightly dazed, but Yan Dushui, unaware, took a black jade tablet from his sleeve and handed it to Li Ximing, whispering, "Please place this talisman on your forehead, fellow Daoist, to perceive the spiritual object... This item is exceptionally strange; were it not for this Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood locking it in place, it would have drifted away long ago, to who knows where." He added, "However, moving this object might reduce some of your fortune... I will take no compensation for the Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood; consider it all yours as a gift!"

Li Ximing, possessing the Immortal Mirror, could see clearly, yet he still solemnly accepted the talisman, applied it, and fell into thought.

The spiritual object before him was incredibly mysterious. Even a mighty Purple Mansion cultivator's divine sense would perceive only empty space on the wooden stake, detecting nothing. It was only when the Six Harmonies light swept over it that a subtle anomaly became visible.

The Six Harmonies light in his hand was Mingyang's unique life-destiny magical power, serving to balance heaven and earth and query the universe. Normally, it could sense the pervasive life-force energy that filled every corner of the world. If observing the world with divine sense was like looking into an empty room filled with various items, then observing it with the Six Harmonies light was like being in a vast ocean, with various items also beneath one's feet; the distinction wasn't significant.

However, within this cave dwelling, while his divine sense perceived emptiness all around, the Six Harmonies light sensed a distinct difference: the space above the tree stump was also empty, but in a way that signaled absence rather than mere void. An ocean without water would surely be even more apparent.

'Degraded Qi can engulf life energy. If this were forged into a weapon, it might pass through someone's body before they even realized it!'

He silently praised it, then opened the jade box and quietly pushed it forward. Of course, he couldn't touch the spiritual object directly with his magical power, so he used the Six Harmonies light to slowly nudge it, and then gently lifted it!

Li Ximing's magical power immediately poured out at an alarming rate, as if he were lifting a mountain forged from profound stone. The Six Harmonies light flickered intensely, yet it only caused the feather to stir ever so slightly.

With that slight movement, Yan Dushui's eyes suddenly brightened, and his heart pounded. "What His Excellency said is indeed true!" he exclaimed. "This item cannot be lifted by magical power, nor detected by divine sense. Only by aligning with the principles of heaven and earth, the origin of all spirits, and uniting heaven, earth, and man, can one perceive it... Fortunately, 'Tianxia Ming' proved useful!"

While Yan Dushui was overjoyed, Li Ximing's expression suddenly changed.

As he manipulated the feather, his own life-destiny magical power rapidly diminished. The Six Harmonies light continuously dwindled, truly eroding his cultivation.

'What terrifying speed!'

For a moment, his scalp tingled as magical power poured in like a waterfall. The feather finally drifted gently into the jade casket. Strangely enough, this spiritual object, which had felt as heavy as ten thousand jun, became as light as a white feather once it settled in the box, utterly weightless.

At that moment, Li Ximing's face was deathly pale, and the talisman on his forehead disintegrated into ash. He forced himself to use the Six Harmonies light to collect the dark qi from the cave dwelling and seal it within the casket for nurturing. He remained in place, regulating his breath for several moments until color returned to his face.

'That was close... If not for this talisman on my brow blocking so much, I might have suffered internal injuries.'

After ensuring he was unharmed, he sealed the jade box and handed it to Yan Dushui, saying, "Congratulations!"

Yan Dushui's eyes were slightly red as he nodded heavily. He pointed to the wooden stake on the stone platform and said, "The Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood is yours to take, fellow Daoist."

Although the Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood could be retrieved with magical power, Li Ximing still cautiously examined it several times. He then reached out and took the item, glancing around to note the various runes. He mused inwardly, 'This place is narrow and long, much like a coffin.'

Suspecting that the qi lingering around was something valuable, he collected some of the black qi into a bottle while observing Yan Dushui. The old man appeared conflicted, looking around with a lingering gaze, as if reluctant to leave or hesitating over something. Finally, he stepped forward.

The incense in the front hall burned brightly, having shortened slightly. The darkness in the main hall seemed to have deepened, becoming so dense that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.

Li Ximing glanced again, noticing another passage on the opposite side. Seeing that Yan Dushui had no intention of leading him further in, he subtly took action. Appearing to walk slowly forward, he secretly activated his immortal artifact once more.

In an instant, the mist before him dispersed, and the patterns on the walls became perfectly clear. The six stone lamps in the other passage materialized before his eyes, extending into the depths, where the passage ended at a smooth stone wall.

The sparse patterns on the wall appeared to depict a sinister small formation, exuding a mysterious aura of shamanic talismans.

'This place isn't very large... merely a residence.'

Li Ximing had no time to study it further. The two crossed the threshold and stepped outside. The cave dwelling was once again enveloped in a murky, impenetrable blackness. When they both exited the area and stepped into the Void, looking back, the location seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Li Ximing's expression was slightly unusual; he had secretly committed the location to memory. He turned to Yan Dushui, who seemed oblivious, holding the casket in his arms somewhat dejectedly, mumbling, "A treasure passed down by our ancestors for a thousand years has now fallen into someone else's hands."

Li Ximing knew that Yan Dushui had to deliver it to Jiuqiu, who had been instrumental in arranging the entire affair. But with Yan Dushui's lifespan dwindling and his descendants proving unremarkable, what else could he do?

"Ancestral treasures are fundamentally meant for descendants to protect the clan... It's not about whose hands it falls into... The opportunity to forge ties with Jiuqiu... is something other families can only envy."

But these were merely polite words. Even Li Ximing, standing beside him, felt little pity at the moment. Instead, his gaze fell upon the jade casket in Yan Dushui's hand. After offering a few words of comfort, a hint of envy appeared on his face as he asked, "This journey has truly been an eye-opener, but... this casket... what is it that it can so easily contain an item of 'Degraded Qi,' which is said to be utterly undetectable?"

Yan Dushui, still agitated, quickly turned to him and forced a smile. "This item was lent to me by True Person Ling Du of Jiuqiu, specifically prepared for this task," he said. "Not only can you not discern its origin, fellow Daoist, but neither can I."

Li Ximing nodded, saying no more. The two walked in silence, tacitly heading towards Jiuqiu Mountain. Only when the mountainside full of red leaves came into view did Yan Dushui say wistfully, "You are right, fellow Daoist. Generations of ancestors tried, but couldn't retrieve this item. Without this jade casket, it would have been like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed, leaving it there in vain..."

As they entered the mountain, Li Ximing noticed that Ling Du was still quietly seated at the table, engrossed in reading a Daoist scripture. It seemed he hadn't moved since Li Ximing's departure, patiently awaiting their return.

Yan Dushui respectfully bowed before the table and smiled, "Your Excellency... Lin Yi has come to visit... I have retrieved the item for you."

Li Ximing had considered the high status of the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage, but never imagined it was quite so elevated; he secretly gasped in amazement. Ling Du, however, was completely at ease, smiling as he invited them to sit, carefully placed the jade casket, and then raised an eyebrow, saying, "You two have worked hard."

The old man did not open the casket. Instead, he drew a ceramic coin from his sleeve, a mere two fingers wide and thin as a cicada's wing. He placed it upon the jade casket; its upward-facing side was glossy black and inscribed with four characters: "Treat death as life."

He then released it, and the ceramic coin, driven by an invisible force, flipped over on its own, revealing four new characters on its underside: "Profound darkness for sanctity."

Evidently, once outside that haunted house, the jade box could no longer be opened. Ling Du had used a special method to confirm the presence of the spiritual object. Satisfied, he put the item away and said to Yan Dushui, "I have inquired myself. Aside from the Chunyuan portion due to you, Zhiyan Peak is willing to forge a connection and provide for three of your descendants, including your grandchildren. Whether they gain magical powers will depend on your family's fortune."

Yan Dushui nodded silently, thanked him repeatedly, and remained silent for a long time. Ling Du, meanwhile, smiled at Li Ximing and said, "Congratulations, Zhaojing!"

Li Ximing had gained significantly this time. Although he had lost considerable cultivation, such losses could eventually be recovered with elixirs. However, the table-sized Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood was a unique acquisition that he would never encounter again.

His thoughts had been entirely preoccupied with the jade casket. Now, with this reminder, he felt a surge of joy: 'Zhou Wei... me... Jiang Qian... Que Wan... Soul lamps are more than sufficient, indeed, it's just a drop in the bucket. I can even cut off two palm-sized portions to return to Minghui. The remainder will still be enough to splurge on... I could even research some life-saving and shapeshifting consumables...'

The Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood was considered extremely valuable, rumored to exist only within a few Sun Daoist lineages, passed down through generations specifically for Purple Mansion cultivators. In the past, Chang Xi of Xuan Yue Sect used jade-seat soul lamps with gold and silver patterns, which were formed through the resonance of Gen Earth and jade treasures, functioning as large life-jades. Magical powers, once cultivated, could endure for a long time without constant nurturing, making them convenient for Purple Mansion cultivators.

He was in good spirits, but Yan Dushui remained wistful and silent. Li Ximing then employed his usual tactic, asking about the mysterious casket again. Ling Du smiled and shook his head, his expression gradually turning solemn as he replied, "If we're truly tracing its origin... this item should belong to True Monarch Taixu."

Li Ximing was startled to hear this, and even Yan Dushui looked up, an expression of disbelief on his face, asking, "It's noble to such an extent!"

Ling Du sighed faintly and replied, "At that time... True Monarch Taixu had not yet attained Dao; he was cultivating in the Mirage Mirror Cave Abode... which was then commonly known as the Green Pine Mirage Realm. After all, the Green Pine lineage has seen three cycles of rise and fall, with many successions, so the specific 'Green Pine Temple' referred to could vary. Legend has it that there were various seats there, and among them, that immortal left jade caskets for his disciples, each corresponding to Xiuyue, Changhuai, Hengzhu, Jianmen, Ziyan, and Qingchi. This item is one of them, specifically True Monarch Taixu's."

He gave Li Ximing a profound look and said, "Your family members have also been inside; they should have seen it."

'Green Pine Isle!'

Li Ximing was even more shaken. 'If that's the case, then which one does the one in my hand belong to!'

Li Ximing pondered deeply, nodding silently. Ling Du continued, "When the True Monarchs opened this realm, there were six of them. Changhuai and Hengzhu's were empty. Qingchi and Ziyan's were lost. Jianmen's was retrieved, and Xiuyue's went to Xiukui..."

He specifically mentioned Xiukui, pausing slightly. Seeing that Li Ximing wasn't surprised, he understood that Li Ximing was also aware of Xiukui's past. He stroked his beard and said, "The lost one was in the hands of a cultivator who inherently possessed a Fire Virtue destiny and exceptional talent. Our Great True Person thought highly of him, provided much care and guidance, and even acted as an intermediary to return the Ziyan casket. Great True Person Zimu received its contents, and this jade casket was then entrusted to me for safekeeping."

Hearing this, Li Ximing was startled, momentarily speechless.

The Li family had been involved in the jade casket affair back then! The "certain True Person" mentioned by the other party was very likely Tu Longjian, who now wisely kept himself safe by hiding overseas!

'It's Senior Junjian!'

'Senior Junjian actually has deep ties with the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage! Not only that, but it was apparently through the guidance of this Great True Person Yuandao that he was able to avoid Jiangnan early on and travel to the North Sea!'

All the clues connected, leaving him silent and grave, his heart shaken. 'When did this happen exactly?' he wondered. 'Does it mean he was a pawn of the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage from early on? When the True Persons collectively sealed the Void, why was he able to escape? It was likely this Great True Person who provided assistance! Only someone with his divine power and cultivation could have quietly protected Senior Junjian right under the True Persons' noses!'

'And was this Great True Person's motive precisely this jade casket?'

He hesitated, his first thought being to wonder if the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage's goodwill towards him originated from Senior Tu Longjian! But looking down at Ling Du, he saw that the latter was completely oblivious, showing no subtle hints in his eyes merely because Tu Longjian had been mentioned.

The old man continued speaking naturally: "This item cannot be called truly valuable; it was originally an ordinary object. However, having witnessed the True Monarchs' attainment of Dao, and imbued with the significance of master-to-disciple transmission, it absorbed a fraction of their revered aura. From then on, it transcended the mundane, and naturally, it has no problem containing rare and precious treasures."

He seemed somewhat emotional, shaking his head and saying, "Purple Mansion cultivators have already achieved magical powers. Most items permitted to circulate in this world cannot escape the 'eye of magical powers.' If a Purple Mansion cultivator cannot discern an item's material or guess its origin, it is almost certainly related to True Monarchs, and ninety-nine percent of those are items True Monarchs have used..."

He sighed with some emotion: "These items, if they haven't truly caught the eye of a Great True Person, won't possess any specific divine mystique. In the hands of minor cultivators, they are essentially useless, perhaps a bit sturdier at best. Even in the hands of someone with astonishing cultivation like a Great True Person, they can only contain a single type of degraded qi."

Yan Dushui, having listened to these secrets for a while, felt his mind calm considerably. He couldn't help but ask, "What if it *does* catch their eye and possesses divine mystique?"

Ling Du turned to him and laughed, "You won't be able to outrun it. By then, your life will be gone. You'd be kneeling and kowtowing, wondering if you're even still alive, let alone trying to pick it up!"