Chapter 1076: Di Yan (1+1/2)

The South Sea is vast, with turbulent waves. Beyond the Wanli Shitang, a sea area encircled by numerous islands, and through the strait between Songzhou and Tanjung Buro, lies a sea eight hundred li wide.

This sea is dotted with peaks, and to the north, near Tanjung Buro, there are one or two small islets. Guo Nanwu's clan resides here; with sparse family members, they have recruited many rogue cultivators, making the thriving grand formation quite bustling.

Li Ximing did not encounter him there. Past this island, the mountains narrowed deeper inland, constricting into a river, at most a dozen li wide at its broadest points. These continuous stretches are called Nanbo Sea, though it resembles an island more than a sea.

Mount Quyi is located in the Nanbo Sea.

Before arriving, Li Ximing had inquired about the area. The water levels here used to be much higher, similar to the northern Reef Sea. After two drops in water level, it became increasingly island-like, which is why many visiting cultivators now refer to it as Nanbo Continent.

This was Li Ximing's first visit, and his first time traversing the narrow Tanjung Buro. He observed the verdant mountains with a sense of novelty, noticing the presence of many immortal cultivators and Daoists. Most were from Immortal Palaces and Halls, with numerous beautiful female immortals flying about. In the demon-infested South Sea, this place truly seemed like a paradise.

At its very center, Mount Quyi was rugged and winding, with strange rock formations, surrounded by white clouds, and dotted with immortal pavilions. The Daoists entering and exiting all wore dark purple robes, their attire and adornments typical of northern people.

‘Mount Quyi adheres to the Great Dao of Yin-Yang balance, water and fire coexistence, and righteous conduct. Many of its disciples cultivate male-female and yin-yang techniques… truly a scene of immortal cultivation.’

He stopped in the mountains and courteously inquired. Immediately, a white wind swept out from the mountain, materializing before him into a long-robed man with a dignified appearance and a smile in his eyes:

“Senior has found his way here!”

“So it’s Nanwu…”

Li Ximing nodded to Guo Nanwu, but then noticed another person emerging with him. This individual was far more handsome, wearing a dark-patterned Daoist robe over a blue base, with a cinnabar mark between his brows and a black cloud silver sparrow bottle hanging from his waist. He looked dashing and refined, and smiled:

“Long time no see!”

It was True Immortal Xuanyi.

As both were originally from the Quyi faction, their presence here was not surprising. After Li Ximing greeted them, Guo Nanwu smiled:

“Senior, please come in with me!”

Guo Nanwu had been busy working for the Li family over the years, and Li Ximing had always treated him fairly, never making things difficult regarding the elixirs he was supposed to refine for him. Compared to Xuanyi’s politeness, Guo Nanwu showed noticeably more gratitude and familiarity. He immediately led Li Ximing into the magnificent palace.

Black and white pieces were scattered across a jade table, and clear tea wafted with wisps of white smoke, indicating a critical point in a game. Two beautiful women came forward, took the board away, and Xuanyi turned to instruct:

“Nanwu, quickly go and call your sister Xinyu back!”

Guo Nanwu suddenly understood and smiled as he exited. Li Ximing, however, gleaned much information from that sentence and thoughtfully took his seat.

‘The relationship between these families is closer than I imagined… Guo Nanwu even seems like a junior disciple of the sect… Although Xuanyi belongs to the Jingyi Dao lineage, he has considerable influence…’

As they sat, Xuanyi seemed somewhat melancholic. He poured tea and replied:

“Kuangyu is currently in Tongmo, Yuzhou. It will take some time for her to return, so please wait a moment, fellow Daoist.”

Li Ximing questioned:

“Tongmo?”

Xuanyi sighed and said:

“Fellow Daoist, you may not know… The day before yesterday… torrential rain poured down in Yuzhou, causing a massive commotion with swirling waters. The scale was so immense that it covered several areas and required a Purple Mansion cultivator to intervene and stop the celestial phenomenon. Later, we learned that someone from the Chen clan had failed their Purple Mansion breakthrough and perished. What was his name… Chen Xuanyu…”

Li Ximing was suddenly startled. He closed his eyes, as if recalling something, and asked:

“Chen Xuanyu?”

This swordsman had once teamed up with him to kill Wang Fu. Although they had only met once, Li Ximing had an excellent impression of him. He was undoubtedly the foremost leader of his generation in the Chen clan, almost the most outstanding junior in a century. His position within the Chen clan was identical to Li Zhouwei’s former standing in the Li clan; he was recognized as the pillar of his family.

True Immortal Yushui Chen had mentioned him before. Although he didn’t offer many praises, he clearly held him in high regard. His sudden demise was almost a fatal blow. Li Ximing frowned in doubt:

“He has been in seclusion for a long time. Logically, he should have passed the most dangerous period. To perish at this point…”

Xuanyi’s expression was somewhat somber as he shook his head and said:

“It seems fellow Daoist went into seclusion immediately after the great battle… While you were defending the lake against Guangchan, the Shu Kingdom in the west was not idle. A military force emerged from the three counties of Huayan and attacked Yuzhou…”

“The commanding general was True Immortal Sensou from the Sun clan of Miaozhou, one of the nine great clans of the Wu Kingdom. Assisting him was True Immortal Shangguan Mi of the Shangguan clan. True Immortal Sensou and the Chen clan had long been at odds, harboring deep-seated grudges. Taking advantage of his large army, he used the ‘Unrivaled Water and Fire’ technique to shake the Tongmo Grand Void…”

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing already had a good grasp of the situation. Chen Xuanyu had greatly admired Li Xijun, his own brother, and had invited him to be a guest in the past. Unexpectedly, when Li Xijun suddenly died, Chen Xuanyu had come to offer his condolences with great sorrow. From then on, Li Ximing had held a very good impression of the swordsman, and now felt a sense of regret. Indeed, he heard Xuanyi continue:

“‘Unrivaled Water and Fire’ is also a supreme treasure of True Qi, having a greater impact on the Grand Void compared to ‘Boundless Water and Fire.’ Old True Immortal Chen was so desperate that he risked damaging his vital energy to force this person back. Afterward, True Immortal Sensou withdrew without any unusual phenomena, leading them to believe the crisis was over. He even secretly rejoiced, but a year later… that junior ultimately couldn’t hold on.”

“He even managed to hold on for an extra year…”

Li Ximing remained silent, then spoke after a long pause:

“His fate was unfortunate, just like Senior Cheng Gao.”

Xuanyi said no more. As usual, he unfastened the jade bottle from his waist and lightly tossed it, conjuring Bai Yinzi on the spot. Bai Yinzi then held a pot and served tea to both of them. Li Ximing knew that Xuanyi was trying to subtly prove his innocence. He asked a few detailed questions, listening as Bai Yinzi chuckled:

“This humble one is currently busy in the True Immortal’s bottle, collecting and absorbing spiritual energy, divining fortunes, and refining magical light. To be free from worry about my life is already excellent.”

Li Ximing responded casually and then directly asked:

“Is the Old True Immortal in the mountain? I came specifically to pay my respects and express my gratitude.”

Xuanyi was not surprised and said:

“The Elder constantly cultivates in the mountain and does not go out; he is confined within his profound chamber, so it’s difficult for us to see him… Kuangyu needs to invite him.”

“After all, Xinyu is his blood descendant, and some matters concern their clan. I have already left Nanbo Sea with my master and established my own Dao lineage, so it’s not appropriate for me to disturb him rashly.”

Seeing Li Ximing nod and sip his tea, he generously smiled and added:

“Furthermore, the Old True Immortal’s prestige is immense; I… don’t quite dare to disturb him.”

Hearing this, Li Ximing suspected that True Immortal Diyan might not be in good condition. He replied calmly, but before he could speak further, Xuanyi seemed to hesitate for a long time before asking:

“Zhaojing… After Tingyun achieved Dao, has she ever sought you out?”

Li Ximing paused slightly, vaguely sensing something, and sighed:

“Of course not… I believe she is no longer in control of her own destiny!”

True Immortal Xuanyi appeared anxious and said:

“My disciple… Kong Gumo… she never once asked about him. Even after emerging from seclusion, she heard that Gumo had remained silent throughout the overall situation of Xuanyue, and those sent to seek aid were all turned away by Gumo. Enraged, she struck his name from the clan genealogy, wishing that no descendant of the Kong clan would ever see him again!”

When True Immortal Changxi perished, among the many fallback plans he had laid out, one was for Kong Gumo to join the Jingyi Mountain Sect. True Immortal Xuanyi, coveting Mount Yuezhou and being at odds with Ye Gui, deliberately took him in as a disciple.

‘Now it’s troublesome!’

Li Ximing pondered for a moment and asked:

“How did Kong Gumo respond?”

True Immortal Xuanyi shook his head:

“He merely smiled, then discarded the message and returned to his cultivation.”

Li Ximing exchanged a glance with him, raised an eyebrow, and said:

“This is also a matter of friendship. Whatever happens to the Kong family in the end, it should not affect your disciple. I hope, fellow Daoist, for the sake of your master-disciple relationship and the Kong clan, you will protect him well.”

Li Ximing, of course, knew that Kong Tingyun was not one to make such a big fuss. The so-called severing of ties and removal from the ancestral hall were merely means to keep this junior out of trouble. Still mindful of Kong Tingyun’s old ties with his own elders, he spoke to persuade.

True Immortal Xuanyi understood his position. No longer concealing anything, he sighed deeply and replied:

“How could I not see clearly… When Senior Kong came to me back then, he had one request: whether the internal struggle resulted in a sea of blood and corpses or the Kong clan remained safe, he asked me not to interfere and to instruct Kong Gumo to sever all ties. At that time, he even tempted me, saying that by protecting his family’s Gumo, he could contend for the Kong family’s inheritance in the future and disgust Ye Gui… But Gumo has cultivated in my mountain for many years; it’s impossible to say there are no feelings.”

A hint of sorrow clouded his brow as he said:

“I originally intended to help him sever ties, but I never expected that after a few years of hurried seclusion, upon emerging, I would find he had cultivated ‘Convergence of Water’ and reached the late Foundation Establishment stage!”

Li Ximing’s heart suddenly cleared. Alerted, he hesitated and said:

“Fellow Daoist, you mean…”

True Immortal Xuanyi paused, then said with some difficulty:

“Based on my understanding of his aptitude, as the most talented disciple of his generation in the Kong family, he has a resilient character, and there’s hope for him to reach the Purple Mansion realm, though it’s not great. I also don’t have any spiritual artifacts of ‘Convergence of Water’ to give him… But I’m thinking about Kong Tingyun’s side… She might not want Gumo to seek divine abilities…”

“Even if he does seek these divine abilities and fails in his breakthrough later, what will Kong Tingyun think of me? I wouldn’t be able to clear my name; how could she know I didn’t secretly intervene?”

Li Ximing held his breath for a moment, understanding his concerns. True Immortal Xuanyi hesitated for a while, then whispered:

“I was also hoping you could meet with him for me…”

He finally lowered his head, silently sipping tea, his mind heavy with worries. Li Ximing, however, was reminded of Li Xijun because of Chen Xuanyu. The two of them discussed some Daoist theories, and the atmosphere grew subdued.

Fortunately, time flew by swiftly during their discussion of Dao. Suddenly, a cloud of grayish-white mist descended rapidly in the mountains. A woman, riding the wind, landed before the palace building and hurried inside. Her previously troubled expression now held a faint smile, and blue-purple light shimmered in her eyes as she said:

“Ximing is here!”

Li Ximing quickly rose and smiled:

“I’ve mentioned it several times… if I didn’t come now… I’m afraid you’d still blame me.”

Kuangyu smiled upon seeing him, clasped her hands, and said:

“It seems I was being petty.”

Kuangyu had the most lively personality and her words were playful, immediately leaving him amused and helpless. Xuanyi, with his hands clasped behind his back, watched the two, then shook his head with a smile and walked away. Guo Nanwu, who had just stepped over the threshold, looked bewildered as Xuanyi put an arm around his shoulder and led him back outside, leaving only a laughing remark hanging in the air:

“Take your time catching up, both of you! I’ll go check on the grand formation for Nanwu!”

Once they left, Kuangyu naturally led him further inside. Her smile faded, and the worry that had been on her face before entering reappeared. She whispered:

“I just returned from the Chen clan… I presume fellow Daoist already knows, but I also saw Sister Tinglan… She…”

Li Ximing asked in doubt:

“Tinglan?”

Kuangyu pursed her lips and said:

“True Immortal Chen was utterly distraught. I heard he immediately vomited blood when the celestial phenomenon appeared. I happened to be nearby with Sister Tinglan at the time, and we went together, but Old True Immortal Chen… refused to see her, citing his unrecovered injuries.”

This made Li Ximing fall silent. A thought suddenly occurred to him:

‘Tinglan guards Mushroom Forest Plain…’

Mount Dali was a natural barrier between Shu and Song. Mushroom Forest Plain, located behind Mount Dali, could defend Tongmo to the south and connect to Wangyue to the north. Yang Ruiyi had left Tinglan there precisely to provide support to both sides at any time… And the first place Tinglan went to aid was Wangyue Lake…

‘So Chen was left without help…’

Li Ximing felt a bitter taste in his mouth but didn’t know how to respond. He simply walked silently onward, deeper into the mountains, where he saw a high platform emerging from clouds and wind. It had sixteen long staircases on each of its four sides, with water and fire, yin and yang, arrayed opposite each other, emitting a hazy glow.

Kuangyu saluted, holding out a talisman that floated towards the high platform to seek permission. After a moment, a woman descended from the platform. She had a delicate and beautiful face, draped in a misty red veil that subtly revealed her fair skin. She spoke softly:

“True Immortal Zhaojing, please follow me.”

Kuangyu smiled and nodded to her, then stepped aside. Li Ximing had already sensed that something was amiss. He secretly glanced at the woman in front of him and reluctantly followed her forward.

The sixteen steps were ascended in an instant. On the high platform, a middle-aged man was seated cross-legged. He appeared quite handsome, with his eyes closed, seemingly cultivating in silence; he was likely a capable junior.

The great hall was profoundly deep, lit by thirty-two tall, multi-branched bronze lamps, each branch holding two or three smaller bronze lamps that swayed like birds. He took another step forward and looked up closely.

And surprisingly, a young man stood on the main seat at the high end of the hall!

This man was tall and imposing, handsome and refined. He wore no luxurious attire, only a thin white robe, open at the chest to reveal his muscular torso. A long sash was tied around his waist, trailing on the ground like a winding golden snake.

He was focused on adjusting the wicks of the bronze lamps, his profile turned towards the outside of the hall. The light and shadow illuminated his remarkably high nose bridge, and his eyes, dark gold in color, looked as if they were forged from bronze.

Li Ximing was momentarily taken aback.

‘Diyan… this True Immortal is certainly no ordinary person…’

After all, both Guo Nanwu and Xuanyi had referred to him as “Old True Immortal,” painting a picture of a benevolent and aged Diyan with not much lifespan left. Li Ximing had always imagined him as an old man like Lingdu. Now, surprised by the sudden revelation, the young man turned his head, his bronze eyes appearing monstrous in the dim hall, and he chuckled:

“Which Prince are you? Please come in and speak.”

“Junior Zhaojing of Tingzhou, I greet Senior Diyan!”

Li Ximing stepped inside, feeling a slight unease within him.

The place felt like being in a stifling earth vein, where the flickering bronze lamps resembled springs of ground fire, vigorously spewing out radiant light mixed with dense male fire. It was almost tangible, blowing past his cheeks with a clangorous sound like clashing metal.

This True Immortal… cultivated Xiqi, and Xiqi was incompatible with Mingyang, naturally making him quite uncomfortable.

Li Ximing froze for a moment, his heart pounding. Diyan then stepped down from the reddish-dark glow, his eyes, like refined bronze, gazing at him as he smiled:

“The title ‘Senior’… I dare not accept. My surname is Yin, and my given name is Huan. If Your Highness must address me, perhaps just call me by my name.”

Only then did Li Ximing realize that Diyan’s initial address of “Your Highness” was literal. Before he could say more, the True Immortal had already turned and led him deep into the main hall, taking a seat on the steps below the main platform and gesturing for him to sit.

Despite such a magnificent hall, there was not a single jade table or chair. Li Ximing could only sit down with him. True Immortal Diyan smiled and said:

“After so many years, the Imperial Descendant has become quite unfamiliar.”

Li Ximing looked up in surprise. True Immortal Diyan was staring intently at him, and his placid voice emerged from the intense Xiqi light:

“The ancient Immortal Emperor Gong Xu Tu Shuyang obtained his scale armor and two ships, bequeathing them to his descendants who were enfeoffed in Liyue, hence the name Boli. His successors were meritorious in pacifying Xilong, and King Zhou granted them a city in Guanlong, where they led six clans, establishing Wei.”

Intense Xiyang light burst forth as Diyan softly said:

“The Six Clans warred against various states and achieved merit. My Yin clan, descended from Yin Ni, one of the ancestors of the Six Clans, was granted the title of Zhaoming King and cultivated the Xiqi Dao lineage.”

A large part of the doubt in Li Ximing’s heart suddenly dissipated. He remained silent for a moment.

‘So what?’

The Wei Kingdom had perished many years ago. Whether it was Long Wei or Dong Huo, which was not more prosperous than the solitary Li Zhouwei? Those who should have been loyal had long since shown their loyalty! Even the Cui clan, which once held two True Lord positions, had hesitated, and if Li Zhouwei hadn’t personally visited, they would still be observing… What about the other so-called Six Clans?

‘As a True Immortal, he couldn’t be unaware of the schemes between North and South, nor of Luoxia Mountain’s plans. If he were truly loyal, his loyalty would be to the Wei Emperor, so why would it fall upon me?’

In his current situation, encountering former Wei Kingdom acquaintances, Li Ximing felt only caution. Yet, he respectfully said:

“So it’s an old acquaintance of my ancestors. I am deeply grateful that the True Immortal still remembers the old ties.”

Diyan seemed unsurprised, watching him quietly, and smiled:

“It seems the Cui clan makes loud claims but in reality amounts to little… which is normal. Yangya is an unaccomplished coward who would never dare to get close to you, which must have disheartened Your Highness.”

Li Ximing couldn’t discern his intentions and dared not be careless. He stood up and said softly:

“Senior, you’ve misunderstood!”

He said solemnly:

“Mingyang has suffered many setbacks, experiencing three rises and three falls to this day. The Cui clan, loyal and filial, assisted with all their might three times, exhausting their foundation and barely surviving…”

“Even so, when I visited, the Cui clan still generously offered their cultivation methods, which was the utmost benevolence and righteousness! Later, True Immortal Yangya recalled his clan disciples… that was also out of helplessness…”

Li Ximing added a slight remark, hoping to test the True Immortal’s reaction. Unexpectedly, the True Immortal, whose face had been calm as an ancient well, waited until his last word was spoken, then immediately raised an eyebrow.

Diyan’s eyes narrowed slightly, showing a hint of emotional fluctuation. His anger, like surging waves beneath ice, appeared for a mere flicker on his face, and his tone was icy:

“Cui Yushan has quite the ability.”

His words were light and casual, yet they caused the bronze lamps throughout the great hall to flicker faintly. A terrifying aura subtly emerged, sending a shiver down Li Ximing’s spine and making him break out in a cold sweat. A dreadful conjecture surfaced in his mind:

‘I heard this True Immortal transcended to Purple [Mansion] long, long ago. Could it be that he…’

Diyan had already risen, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at him again. His tone was calm yet powerful:

“Dragon Fox, North and South, Wuzhe – none of them are trustworthy. Even the current Yang clan is barely capable of timid compromise, resolving major issues into minor ones and minor ones into nothing. When the situation reaches a critical point, they will not hesitate for a moment to betray the Wei King.”

Clearly, this True Immortal was far from ordinary. Li Ximing had merely made a small remark, yet Diyan easily detected the underlying intention to test him. He said softly:

“Your Highness need not be overly suspicious. The Six Clans have fallen, with no outstanding talents among them. Even the Cui clan, descendants of a True Monarch, has reached its current state. To speak frankly, in this world, I am the only one the Wei King and you can trust.”

He gazed intently, emphasizing:

“Only me.”

Li Ximing looked up, parted his lips, and finally asked the question that had been buried in his heart for years:

“Back then, Hengzhu…”

Diyan said softly:

“Indeed. The Bright Square Heavenly Stone from back then—I sent Kuangyu to deal with it. Without her persuasion, that item would not have fallen into Your Highness’s hands—even if Dragon Slayer Jian had intervened in the end, it still wouldn’t have been the true Bright Square Heavenly Stone that ended up with you.”

Li Ximing abruptly closed his eyes.

He had harbored this doubt for more than a day. While it was true that Dragon Slayer Jian had helped him obtain the Bright Square Heavenly Stone back then, now that he had achieved the Purple Mansion realm years ago, he understood the immense value of a Purple Mansion spiritual item. What Hengzhu Dao said was one thing, but even if it was the righteous path, could they easily allow two Purple Mansion spiritual items to fall into the hands of a Foundation Establishment family?

Li Ximing finally met his gaze and, after a long pause, said:

“What is Senior’s current cultivation level?”

Diyan’s gaze, like iron and radiant light, fixed directly on Li Ximing. His voice was calm and steady:

“When Zhaoming King received his title, the Dao of Xiqi reached grand completion. He begged to replace night with clothing, for Xiyang to join the brilliance of Mingyang, for splendor to be his destiny, for his subject’s heart to revere the Emperor’s ritual, to cultivate stifling hardships for self-reflection, and to cultivate auspiciousness and noble conduct for decrees…”

As his words fell, wave after wave of Xiyang light ignited above his head. Some carried the power of a rising sun, killing cold and stilling water; others had the marvel of crossing yin and replacing night, silently sinking heavenly yang. Rolling colors condensed around him, filling the entire hall, causing the thirty-six bronze lamps to bloom together, transforming everything into an unwatchable brilliant white!

Even though the other party was not targeting him, the power of these four divine abilities was still terrifying. Li Ximing, standing within it, still felt an intense stinging sensation and a sense of crisis rising on his face, but the person before him did not stop.

From that point of brilliant white, an object suddenly emerged: golden-white stone bricks successively condensed, fitting together tightly. A city gate rose high, with profound patterns at its base. All the light receded inward, and within, it sparkled brightly, hazy and indistinct, directly facing a scorching sun. To the right, it was dazzling brilliance; to the left, it was clear formation of a luminary!

Huangyuan Pass!

“With Huangyuan Pass as the Northern Gateway of the Heavenly Dynasty!”

“Thus, the divine abilities were perfected!”

Diyan, standing before him, had already perfected his divine abilities, possessing all five techniques!

In that instant, all Xiqi light suddenly softened, transforming into clouds and mist, becoming aids and complements, all converging into that single Primeval Pass. The stinging sensation on Li Ximing’s face completely vanished, replaced by a sense of intimacy like distant fire.

Even the defiant man seemed to soften, his brass-like eyes staring at him with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Li Ximing’s eyes were filled with profound astonishment. He stood up and said, somewhat incredulously:

“Senior intends to use… four Xiqi and one Mingyang… to prove the Dao?!”