Chapter 1078: Three of Them

Diyen watched him quietly, his expression calm.

Diyen's words had finally resonated with Li Ximing. With his cultivation, Li Ximing found no fault in anything Diyen said; in fact, the logic flowed perfectly from beginning to end.

‘He single-mindedly seeks alignment. If Zhou Wei succeeds, he will be a righteous path, established in his rightful place. If he fails, he will seek the Dao through peril.’

Li Ximing paused for a moment, then said, "Given this, Senior, you must have invited me here several times for an important matter, presumably to offer guidance."

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance," Diyen replied, stepping forward as the swirling red and golden winds in the hall instantly calmed. "Qu Si has remained overseas to this day mainly because it was not deeply involved in the eradication of Mingyang. Similarly, the esteemed figures in the heavens have tacitly allowed me to meet you because I can help further the Mingyang matter..."

"Ultimately, it's beneficial for them. I have only one thing to convey to the Imperial Descendant: in the current world, I, Yin, and King Wei are on the same path. This matter would be better discussed with King Wei directly, but his White Qilin body is not suited for entry into this Three Suns Imperial Dawn Palace. I do not know when we might meet, so Your Highness must convey it."

His pupils flickered slightly as he continued, "If King Wei is willing to trust me, I have three individuals in mind whom I ask King Wei to pay attention to."

Li Ximing's expression turned solemn, but he did not dare to agree immediately, only replying, "I will certainly convey your words faithfully."

Diyen raised an eyebrow and replied, "First is Yin Lie, the Sheng Bai Dao Master, favored by Western Shaoyang, the monarch of Xiangxiong, and wielder of the Wind Horse Black Banner. I once had a good relationship with him, a friendship spanning a hundred years."

"Although his Sheng Bai Dao is a demonic path, he seeks Shaoyang, and when necessary, he will be an asset to King Wei."

Diyen's voice became much quieter as he added, "Western Shaoyang and Luoxia are at odds, with astonishing animosity between them. Although Western Shaoyang currently feigns submission, if there's any possibility of hindering Luoxia's major endeavors, they will not refuse."

Li Ximing's expression darkened, somewhat surprised. He paused, choking slightly, then replied, "My family almost clashed with the Sheng Bai Dao—even though we haven't met yet, some of my friends were injured by them."

Diyen's expression grew cautious. He solemnly took a step forward and said in a low voice, "It's best to abandon what can be abandoned. Western Shaoyang is currently keeping a low profile; its past audacious actions are gone. It only acts when absolutely necessary. Provoking them is courting death."

The strange scene on Fu Xun's body instantly flashed through Li Ximing's mind, filling him with dread, and he remained silent. Diyen paced anxiously for a few steps, then finally shook his head and said, "The second person is from Western Shu, surnamed Shangguan, given name Mi. He is a junior of my closest friend. If there is a major war between Shu and Song, and he falls into King Wei's hands, please spare his life and make him serve King Wei."

Li Ximing immediately looked up and said solemnly, "With the Grand True Master's favor... Tingzhou will certainly..."

But before he could finish, Diyen interrupted, "It's not just for my sake. The Shangguan family's ancestors originated from Guanlong and were one of the Six Clans, bearing the title Luanfu, loyal subjects of Wei, cultivating Lihuo. Not to mention his own innate talent and profound cultivation at a young age, simply as a former loyal official, if King Wei can secure him, there will be great benefits."

Only then did Li Ximing grasp the implication and quickly asked, "But if two nations are at war, and Xiuwu is supreme, how can a single True Master defect to the other side? Moreover, even if the conflict is suppressed, there's still his entire clan and family within the nation..."

Diyen replied, "That's not difficult. The Shangguan clan is in the three Huayan prefectures west of Tongmo. Should a great war erupt between the two nations, conquering that area would allow you to secure his entire family. As for what you said about Xiuwu being supreme..."

Diyen's lips curled into a sarcastic smile as he answered, "Xiuwu being supreme is true, but who holds the True Qi? That's harder to say. Before that True Qi achieves the Dao, the power of these two emperors is far less terrifying than you imagine."

Li Ximing kept this in mind, not engaging in such a grand topic. Diyen paused, then said faintly, "And finally, there's one more person: my junior, a direct descendant of the Yin family, named Yin Juexi. You've already met him."

Li Ximing immediately understood and replied, "The one cultivating in front of the hall?"

Diyen nodded, his voice soft, "Precisely. He has been cultivating for many years, and this is the time when he seeks divine abilities. Although I don't know the exact day he will emerge from seclusion, by calculation, it should be soon. He can serve as a retainer for King Wei."

Li Ximing felt a mix of complexity and emotion, replying, "How could he possibly serve as a retainer!"

Diyen turned slightly and said, "There is nothing King Wei cannot assume."

Seeing him fall silent for a moment, appearing somewhat wistful and pained, Li Ximing sighed and asked, "Since Qu Si Mountain..."

Diyen shook his head, "It is I, not Qu Si Mountain."

Li Ximing stopped abruptly. Diyen, gazing at the candle flame on the bronze lamp, recounted, "Years ago, when my ancestor Yin Quan was nearing his demise, he left behind a few descendants with shallow cultivation, yet bearing great treasures. Worried, he traveled all the way to the South Sea, seeking out an old friend, Patriarch Qu Jie, to whom he entrusted his life's fortune, his very life, and his bloodline. Patriarch Qu Jie, a righteous ancient cultivator, did not covet a single one of the numerous spiritual treasures. Moreover, he accepted Yin Quan's descendants as disciples and diligently taught them... That is how my family gradually continued its lineage and inherited this Qu Si Mountain."

Li Ximing immediately understood, seeing Diyen's solemn expression. "The Yin family is the Yin family, and Qu Si is Qu Si. Qu Si represents not just three generations of my family's painstaking efforts, but also the legacy and benevolence of our predecessors in the Daoist tradition, which cannot be easily dismissed... For example, Kuang Yu; she is a registered descendant of Qu Si Mountain, so her status is different."

‘No wonder... the cultivators of Qu Si always remained somewhat aloof, yet persistently invited me here to meet Diyen. Ultimately, the matter of Mingyang is a personal affair of the Grand True Master, not only unrelated to the Daoist tradition itself but potentially bringing great danger... That the disciples of Qu Si Mountain not only harbor no resentment but are quite supportive, likely speaks to the immense prestige of this Grand True Master before me.’

With this, all his doubts dissolved. Li Ximing immediately understood why Jingyi Mountain had relocated thousands of miles from the South Sea to the East Sea, and why Xuanyi, despite belonging to a splintered branch of the tradition, treated Qu Si Mountain like a close fellow disciple, acting very much like a senior brother: ‘The split of Jingyi Mountain was highly likely due to fear that the Mingyang matter would spiral out of control and ultimately destroy Qu Si Mountain... This was a contingency measure.’

He had understood, but Diyen seemed to have read his thoughts. He took a step and said, "There's no need to overthink it. Qu Si Mountain aligning with King Wei is not without its benefits. The Nanbo Sea region was anciently known as the Nanbo Water Town, abundant with treasures, rich in water virtue, and dotted with towering immortal peaks. Those few cultivators cannot guard it; they rely solely on the deterrence of my divine abilities."

"Liao Luo has been in the mid-Purple Mansion stage for many years. If he can rely on Tingzhou to slowly progress for a few decades and take that next step, Qu Si Mountain will have some stability in the future... Even if he doesn't succeed, it will save decades of combat and casualties..."

These were originally Qu Si Mountain's reasons for repeatedly approaching Li Ximing. Hearing it now, it seemed to have an element of killing two birds with one stone. However, Li Ximing sensed something amiss and cautiously, nervously asked, "Grand True Master, you don't need to call me Your Highness. I truly cannot bear such an address from a True Master with perfected divine abilities, lest it shorten my life... But regarding Qu Si's matters, Tingzhou will certainly exert all its effort to assist. May I ask who 'they' refers to?"

Diyen softly listed them: "Great Konghai Temple, Nanshun Luozhe, Wusheng Jiu Sect..."

Only after he listed them did Li Ximing voice his concern: "Do these people know the Grand True Master's current state?"

Diyen paused slightly, then chuckled, "You truly imagine my situation to be too difficult!"

When serious, this True Master appeared quite formidable, but when he smiled, his expression softened, making him seem much younger. One could vaguely discern Kuang Yu's easy smile in him. He explained, "There is a spiritual treasure formed by the union of the Three Suns on this dome, called the Yuanxian Xianxi Zun. Taking this object allows me to go outside, but I must return promptly to replenish the Three Suns. It's not impossible to truly engage in combat; it simply risks intensifying the conflict of my divine abilities."

He chuckled, "Besides, there's no opportunity for combat... With my divine abilities perfected, if I simply stand in the Great Void, what petty villain would dare to utter a sound!"

Li Ximing then gave an embarrassed laugh, but inwardly he felt relieved, and even a faint hope began to rise within him: "If the Grand True Master were to take action... perhaps even Wei Xuanyin would not dare to challenge you!"

"Wei Xuanyin?" Diyen's smile widened as he replied, "Xuanlou and I have exchanged blows no less than a hundred times, with victories on both sides. It's just that his 'Bu Ziyi' cultivation is difficult, which allowed me to complete my final path early. It has been a very long time since we last met."

Li Ximing had not expected Diyen to be connected with Wei Xuanyin. He was momentarily startled, then suddenly felt it was only natural—after all, if the Sheng Bai Dao Master could be his friend, another Wei Xuanyin was not surprising. However, to Li Ximing, Wei Xuanyin was ultimately an enemy, so it was best not to elaborate. He quickly took out the crystal-clear pearl from his sleeve and said, "During the battle in Tingzhou, I owe my life to this talisman from the Grand True Master! I've used it up completely, and now only have this empty pearl to return to you..." He added, "That Xuan Niu was truly formidable."

Diyen casually took the transparent pearl, nodding, "This is a treasure passed down by Qu Si; it's a rather interesting little trinket."

Li Ximing thanked him repeatedly. Diyen appeared somewhat weary, took out a palm-sized, paper-thin copper stone, smooth as a mirror and inscribed with complex runes, and placed it in Li Ximing's hand. He said, "This object can sense my presence. Keep it safe. If King Wei has any instructions in the future, just send someone to Qu Si Mountain."

Li Ximing understood his intention but remained lost in profound thought, his heart a mix of emotions. He quietly accepted the item, thanked Diyen, and exited the steps.

The elements of water, fire, yin, and yang still rotated and shone in the hall, but Li Ximing's mood had completely changed: ‘Qu Si...’

He pondered in silence, descending the profound steps, and found Kuang Yu waiting below.

"Fellow Daoist Ximing!" she called out, a hint of tentativeness in her voice. Seeing no abnormality in Li Ximing, she knew the discussion in the hall had gone reasonably well and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She approached to guide him, but Li Ximing, still lost in thought, cupped his hands and said, "I look forward to your guidance in the future!"

‘Huh?’ Kuang Yu was momentarily stunned, then quickly returned the bow, her expression slightly odd. Li Ximing, however, did not notice. He suddenly seemed to awaken from a dream. "I almost forgot about the Golden Land!"

One of his original purposes for coming to Qu Si was to inquire about the Golden Land, to prepare for dealing with Guangchan in the future. But Diyen's revelations had been too shocking, disorienting him and causing him to momentarily forget about Guangchan. Now, he immediately composed himself and asked, "Above Tingzhou, Guangchan's methods are extremely profound, often relying on the Golden Land. I wonder what kind of treasure it is?"

Kuang Yu's gaze shifted as she pondered, then replied, "There's a Great Konghai Temple nearby. Does Ximing know of it?"

"Of course, I know." The matter of the Great Konghai Temple had been brought up by Jiaozhong Zi of Nanshun Luozhe. At that time, the Shi Tu of the Great Konghai Temple was unstable, and its abbot, Jinghai, had specifically sent a precious chime to be broken to stabilize the Shi Tu before undergoing reincarnation. Li Ximing, harboring resentment, had remembered this. He hadn't expected Kuang Yu to say, "Has Zhaojing ever wondered? Even though it's a Dharma Form's Shi Tu, with a Maha residing there and disciples and grand-disciples emerging below, there are precisely a few Mahas and Lianmins, like in this Great Konghai Temple, who do not have a Dharma Form above their heads."

"Ancient cultivators said: 'Through purity, seek profound achievement to form the Golden Land; the Dharma Form is manifested in the Sandalwood Forest.' The Golden Land is where pure sandalwood resides; it is the boundless Dharma Realm, the fundamental law of the Shi Tu. This Great Konghai Temple is, in essence, the Konghai Golden Land! You must understand that even if a Maha cultivates immense power and is nominally the master of the Seven Forms, who doesn't know who the true masters are? Those Dharma Forms are the true masters of the Shi Tu, while these Lianmins and Mahas who manifest in the Golden Land are truly their own masters."

"It's the Shi Tu?" Li Ximing gasped, momentarily speechless. "Guangchan actually possesses such an opportunity! Doesn't that mean he has the potential for a Dharma Form?!"

Kuang Yu also looked reflective, and gravely said, "Zhaojing, let me explain in detail... This Golden Land is a treasure of the Ancient Buddhist Dao. However many Dao paths the ancient Buddhists cultivated back then, there are that many now, either manifest or hidden, with unpredictable patterns. They are capable of sustaining the Shi Tu. The manifestation or concealment of each Golden Land is enough to alarm the Dharma Forms within the Zhandan Forest!"

"It is rumored that the earliest Seven Forms of Shi Tu were each merely a single Golden Land. It was the individuals within them who achieved Dharma Forms, expanded the Dharma Realm, and gathered many other Golden Lands, reaching their current vast and stable state." She continued, "Back then, Jinghai obtained the Konghai Golden Land. Through his diligent cultivation and accumulation of destiny, he ascended from Lianmin to Maha in one go, elevating the Konghai Golden Land. Although I hear there are many limitations, Zhaojing, it's perfectly fine to consider him a minor Shi Tu! He also became a preeminent Maha through great karmic affinity, establishing his own lineage."

The woman's blue-violet eyes blinked slightly as she said, "But Guangchan is different. The Konghai Golden Land originally had no trace; Jinghai quietly became a Maha, gaining autonomous authority from then on. However, Guangchan's Golden Land originates from the illustrious Mingwang, and it has long been under the scrutiny of the Great Mu Dharma Realm. He was supported by others!"

"The Great Mu Dharma Realm's purpose in supporting Guangchan was originally to absorb the Baoya Golden Land—at least to bring it under the Great Mu Dharma Realm's control, making it the Great Mu Dharma Realm's eighth Golden Land! While his future direction is uncertain, Guangchan's chance of manifesting a Dharma Form, though higher than other Mahas, is still very slim, far less promising than the highly sought-after Jinghai of the Konghai Golden Land!"

Li Ximing breathed a slight sigh of relief. After hearing the latter part of her explanation, he looked up, somewhat astonished, and asked, "The Great Mu Dharma Realm has seven paths?!"

Kuang Yu raised an eyebrow, her tone solemn, "Among the Seven Forms, he alone dares to call it a 'Dharma Realm,' and this is precisely why!"