Chapter 1123: 臣制

Spiritual energy surged, and mists swirled.

Brilliant light glittered among the leaning jade pillars, and steps, carved seemingly from white jade, shimmered with a clear glow. Li Minggong ascended to the top, then turned slightly, a perfectly poised smile gracing her radiant face.

"Please wait a moment, honored guest. The King of Wei will arrive shortly."

Behind her stood a cultivator, dressed in green robes with a gourd and a scroll at his waist, appearing quite serious. This was precisely the True Master Qinghu, Sima Yuanli.

"Good... good," Sima Yuanli quickly replied, watching the woman descend before he began to pace on the mountain.

He had visited this place more than once, but rarely had the chance to admire it at his leisure. In truth, the Li clan's Zhijing Mountain wasn't particularly powerful; even its array formations were only at the Foundation Establishment level. Yet, it possessed an immense elegance, reflecting the clan's calm composure and grandeur as it rose amidst a chaotic era.

Much like the woman he had just seen.

He glanced around casually, then continued his stroll. As he rounded a corner, he noticed a bright light shimmering on a central pillar. Looking closer, he saw a line of powerful and decisive characters carved into it.

"The city walls in the great desert have crumbled, and gathering energy is exceedingly difficult. When I die, celestial light will converge, sand and smoke will roll, and splendid essence will overflow. I have specially bound it with an array formation, for the benefit of future generations."

"Li Clan Disciple, Ximing."

Sima Yuanli stared blankly for a moment, complex emotions stirring within him. He seemed to understand something. Only now did he realize how ignorant his discomposure had been when he, then overseeing the sect, heard of Li Ximing's achievements.

'On that day, I looked down upon the heroes, thinking them insignificant, unaware that brilliant talents were rising throughout the land, lurking in the depths, sacrificing themselves to make a great leap!'

He was so silent, so flustered, that he didn't even notice the young man stepping through the air and standing amidst the mountains until a moment later. He turned, a respectful smile returning to his face.

"Greetings, King of Wei!"

The young man seemed to have just emerged from seclusion, slowly opening his golden eyes, where a faint flicker of rising flames could be seen, burning brightly.

"No need for formalities."

Sima Yuanli greeted him with a smile, then softly addressed Li Zhouwei: "I've asked the True Master to come for two arrangements."

"First, I intend to travel to the West Sea. Please inform the Grand General to be vigilant against Zhao Shu." If this matter hadn't already been verified by Li Suining, Li Zhouwei and Li Ximing would not have been able to leave Wangyue Lake simultaneously with peace of mind. Even so, all necessary arrangements had to be made.

"Second, I need to borrow the Huaijiang Map."

Almost as soon as he spoke, the True Master Qinghu very naturally unfastened the scroll from his waist, held it in both hands, and without any hesitation or thought, presented it to Li Zhouwei, saying: "Qinghu humbly accepts the King's command."

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes flickered with interest. He realized that the True Master before him had been prepared—perhaps ever since Guangchan's demise, he had been ready for the King of Wei to 'borrow' the Huaijiang Map from him at any moment! Yet, facing such a supreme treasure of the Bright Yang, there was no hint of covetousness in those golden eyes: "Do not worry. Once the task is complete, it will certainly be returned to Fellow Daoist Qinghu—and the due compensation will not be lacking."

He casually took it, holding it in one hand, raising it before him, and gave it a gentle shake.

"Whoosh!"

The thin, silken cord that bound the scroll instantly vanished, revealing a radiant, gentle glow. The spiritual treasure immediately unveiled its true form! Then, surging river waters appeared, endlessly undulating. The brushwork, like waves and dragons, churned the rapids. It wasn't as if a mere painting had been unrolled, but rather an expanse of pure, infinite white. The roar of the mighty river immediately filled their ears, yet a sudden celestial light appeared, and formidable passes rose. Majestic city walls stood firmly amidst the river, unmoving despite all the raging torrents.

Several lines of golden light appeared at the end of the scroll. Sima Yuanli's gaze shifted, as if he had seen something terrifying, a hint of alarm appearing before he quickly averted his eyes to the ground.

This item had been in his possession for decades, and it had always read: "Huaijiang Map, by Cui Yan of Boye, in the 317th year of Zhenghe."

Black characters on white paper, exceptionally clear, without any error whatsoever—it was the handwriting of a True Monarch! It had never changed for centuries! But as the King of Wei unrolled the map before him, unprecedented, dense golden patterns covered the edges of the scroll, and the golden characters at the end of the inscription lit up one by one: 'Huaijiang Map, created by your subject Cui Yan in the 317th year of Zhenghe.'

The clouds and sky were a single hue, radiating splendor.

The darkness of the Great Void abruptly shattered, and a pale yellow light poured forth. From within, a Daoist emerged, strolling casually, his clothes neat and his demeanor utterly serene. He stepped on the shifting, vibrant light of Shaoyang, which rolled and swayed beneath his feet as he drifted to a stop above the sea, smiling.

"Esteemed elder, this is the West Sea!"

Only then did an elder hasten out from behind, his face slightly pale, treading on wind and bathed in snow. His somewhat dim eyes swept across the scene, and he said: "This old man has spent his life mingling in the East Sea, but there are moments of great visual feast. I'll need your guidance, fellow Daoist."

At this, the True Master who cultivated Shaoyang shook his head with a smile and replied: "Elder, you jest. Nanwu has only accompanied a senior brother here once before, so I'm not truly familiar with this place. We'll simply follow whatever arrangements Senior Zhaojing makes."

These two were none other than Guo Nanwu and Yan Dushui!

After Li Ximing settled his affairs, he made a tour of the West Sea, hoping to conduct some alchemy business. He then took out a token and sent Guo Nanwu on a trip to the East Sea. The fact that Guo Nanwu was handling this matter actually startled Yan Dushui.

The Guo family had once sought refuge in the Outer Sea, and the West Curtain Sea, where Yan Dushui resided, was one of the closest locations to it. He genuinely knew Guo Nanwu! 'I heard... he's someone comparable to the disciple of True Master Quyi.' Yan Dushui, despite his age, knew of Mount Quyi! To put it bluntly, this immortal mountain was one of the foremost Daoist traditions in the entire South Sea, subtly backed by ancient heritage. Although it couldn't compare to Jiqiu... it wasn't far off either! Indeed, Guo Nanwu's status was not low; at the very least, it was far higher than Yan Dushui's. This old True Master, who had lived in seclusion for many years, spent the entire journey inquiring about various news from Guo Nanwu, leaving him utterly dazed.

'So Li Zhouwei has received the title of King of Wei... and is already so formidable?'

After hearing all this on the journey, his expression turned solemn. He floated down into the mountain, and seeing Li Ximing approaching to greet him, a few more smiles appeared on Yan Dushui's face as he quickly said: "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, long time no see!"

A warm breeze rustled through the mountain, and alchemy furnaces stood tall, with roaring flames leaping at their bases, casting patches of color. The True Master looked over with a smile, exchanged a few polite words, then showed a hint of surprise and emotion, saying: "Elder Yan... you've toiled hard these past years!"

He had seen Yan Dushui years ago when he visited Jiqiu, and even then, he felt that Yan Dushui had aged considerably compared to their first meeting. Time had flown, and now, seeing him again, there was yet another difference. Although the elder's face hadn't changed much, Li Ximing activated his innate spiritual ability, and as the light of the six harmonies manifested, he realized something was wrong. 'His vital essence is dim, barely clinging to his form; his spiritual powers flicker weakly within his six senses... He must be sustaining his life with some spiritual object... his time is running out!'

Noticing the emotion in Li Ximing's expression, Yan Dushui shook his head and replied: "It is a wonderful thing to see the great seas and famous rivers of the mortal world before one's demise."

After they exchanged pleasantries for a while, he showed a look of remorse: "I promised to help Fellow Daoist back then, but who knew my body would deteriorate so quickly? Now I'm of little use, but I will do my best!"

Li Ximing sighed: "Elder, your Dharma body is ailing. Fighting would exponentially deplete your life force. How could Zhaojing overlook that? Let's not speak of it again!"

This touched Yan Dushui emotionally, but his thoughts became even more muddled. He replied: "Since I have traveled thousands of miles to come here..."

Li Ximing shook his head gravely and asked: "Elder, you mentioned earlier that our two families share an ancient familial connection. Would you be willing to discuss arrangements? Which disciple is cultivating in Jiqiu... so that if I encounter them in the future, I can look after them?"

Yan Dushui had traveled thousands of miles, not merely to see mountains and rivers. Firstly, it was to repay a favor, and secondly, it was for his posthumous affairs. These preceding words were so moving that the elder's eyes reddened, and he said: "Zhaojing... such noble virtue... I only regret not having known you sooner... Now I have nothing to repay you with..."

Seeing Li Ximing wave his hand, he didn't delay and simply said: "My child is named Yan Chuan. He is a disciple of Cao Tingwen, a cultivator at Zhinyan Peak in Jiqiu. Jiqiu will provide him with spiritual materials. If he fails to break through, they will seek out other talents from our Dao to take as disciples. All my life's assets, however, are entrusted to Jiqiu..."

Li Ximing nodded and asked: "If this child achieves spiritual powers, will he be considered a disciple of Jiqiu?"

Yan Dushui was silent for a moment, then tearfully said: "Logically, yes... But according to the rules of the immortal mountain, if one enters Jiqiu, one cannot manage the clan members living below the mountain. Hundreds of thousands of our kinsmen are in the sea; though their lives won't be in danger... their future prospects will likely be beyond our control!" After all, these people were also under Jiqiu's purview, so they wouldn't be seized and devoured by any monsters. However, how Yan Chuan would view his clan in the future was truly difficult to say.

Li Ximing paused, appearing to ponder, and said: "I might have an idea."

Yan Dushui looked up, full of hope, and saw Li Ximing say: "How about finding another retreat for your esteemed clan? I've heard there's a True Master Xie Hu on the Tanping Desert who is upright, highly skilled, and places great importance on his promises. He would be especially suitable."

Yan Dushui had not been without backup plans; indeed, he had arranged for disciples in other places. He had originally thought Quyi would be willing to take a Yan clan disciple, but unexpectedly, an unrelated person had emerged, and what's more, his interest was piqued: 'Being far in the West Sea would be even better... If I could find such a True Master as a backer and bring a few disciples over, that would truly be a good retreat.'

So he sighed: "I am now utterly destitute, with only a portion of Female Water remaining for my descendants. The only thing I have left to offer is this decaying body..."

To prolong his remaining few years of life, Yan Dushui had almost depleted the scattered spiritual resources in his possession. Yet, Li Ximing said earnestly: "I know a True Master Daomian who has quite a connection with Xie Hu. You can seek his introduction and pay him a visit."

The True Master smiled meaningfully: "Do you remember the place where the banished qi spiritual objects are stored?"

Yan Dushui suddenly understood, and said thoughtfully: "This..."

Li Ximing smiled: "That grotto-heaven is preserved by banished qi. No one can find it except with your family's secret method. Even if you lead someone there, they'll forget it as soon as they turn away... Inside, there are not only various Yin energies but also ancient shamanic patterns from the Underworld!"

"This True Master Xie Hu cultivates advanced shamanism; his Daoist lineage essentially lies within the Underworld. Moreover, he is someone with a fervent desire for the Dao. If you tell him about this, how could he not be tempted? Whether it's useful to him or not, he will definitely go take a look. If it truly holds great value, the favor of attaining the Dao would be as heavy as Mount Tai. What's one disciple? Even if you ask him to help you kill someone... there's nothing he wouldn't do!"

Yan Dushui was stunned for a while, silent for a long time, muttering: "True... I am a dying man, so I don't fear him forcing me to reveal the secret method... The Yan family is also under Jiqiu's protection, so we don't fear any of his tactics..."

"And there's only a little of that incense left in the grotto-mansion. Once it burns out, even knowing the secret method won't help him find the place. He won't gain anything by being ungrateful..."

Li Ximing smiled: "You don't need to worry about that. I've been here for a few months and have heard of True Master Xie Hu's reputation. He opened a secret realm with others, and he is a man of his word. A fellow Daoist who accompanied him perished there, yet for a single promise, he was willing to travel thousands of miles to deliver even the Heavenly Unity Pure Essence to that person's descendants."

"Later, I met him again and refined a pill for him. He even meticulously asked me about Mount Wu!"

Yan Dushui, however, didn't trust these rumors, but a light gradually appeared in his eyes as he listened to Li Ximing smile enigmatically: "It just so happens that we can invite him back to tour the East Sea thoroughly and pick the most suitable junior as his disciple..."

"Precisely!" Yan Dushui's expression showed a flutter of excitement, and he said: "Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist!"

Yet, after expressing his thanks, Yan Dushui grew more thoughtful. He didn't believe there was any real affection between their two families. Li Ximing helping him for no reason must mean he sought something in return. The mention of "killing someone" had given him some ideas, and he quietly mused: 'What do I have that he could covet? Nothing more than the favor of True Master Xie Hu.'

So Yan Dushui said: "Fellow Daoist, you are so considerate of me; I must repay this kindness! But as for killing someone... I am old now, and I do not wish to add more enmities for my descendants. If my clan's disciple successfully becomes his disciple, and True Master Xie Hu travels east and gains something, thereby still owing a favor, I will certainly ensure he repays your kindness, fellow Daoist!"

Li Ximing waved his hand and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, you are too polite. If we can truly gain True Master Xie Hu's favor, and the Li clan becomes close to this True Master, how could your esteemed clan's disciples not receive more favorable attention?"

If Xie Hu was truly a man of principle and loyalty, then his disciples would naturally not need any of his favors; it would be better to trade it to the Li family. The two tacitly reached an agreement. Yan Dushui immediately placed this matter in the most important position, solemnly saying: "Shall I go visit him now?"

Li Ximing smiled faintly.

Indeed, this matter could only be accomplished by Li Ximing. Only he and Yan Dushui had entered that place together and understood what lay within... And being from the Solar Dao tradition, having previously associated with the Great Xiukui Temple and the Imperial Descendants of the Underworld, he understood best how precious that grotto-mansion was! 'Aside from Yan Dushui, no one else can find that place. But with the Immortal Insight, as long as I go there once and know its approximate location, I can still find it... Once Que Wan achieves success, it won't hurt to let her take a look.'

He rotated his cup: 'Yan Dushui doesn't have the Dark Incense, so he can only enter one last time. But my family has...'

For some reason, the terrifying scene of Mount Zhongguangyu reappeared before Li Ximing's eyes. Once bitten by a snake, one fears a well rope for ten years; this made him hesitate. 'Many things in this world are better left unknown... As for that place... it would be best to obtain the secret method from Yan Dushui, so I have a complete excuse. Furthermore, once the Dark Incense burns out, the grotto-mansion will dissipate. I can't let him use up the last wisp; only then will I have a chance to continue it later.'

So he took a sip of tea and smiled: "However, if this matter succeeds, I hope Fellow Daoist will leave a bit of leeway and not let this grotto-mansion dissipate. A junior in my family cultivates shamanic arts, and if she can reach the Purple Mansion realm, I hope she can also go inside for a look."

This made Yan Dushui's eyes light up, and he nodded in surprise: "That would be Que Wan, wouldn't it? She's in seclusion at Jiqiu. I've heard the esteemed one mention her. She truly is a genius, a fortunate destiny, a fortunate destiny. I will remember this."

Seeing him eager to forge more connections, Li Ximing chuckled lightly. He then found Daomian and sent the two away. Only then did he quietly pace back into the courtyard, refill his cup with clear tea, and secretly smile: 'There's no need to clash with him head-on, nor to persuade him with heavy gold. If everything goes as planned, I'll even gain a favor from him!'