Chapter 1129: First and Last Settled

Li Ximing, riding the wind, returned with great trepidation. He only breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the Fuzhong Sea. He then traversed the densely forested Boruo Mountains, circumnavigated the South Sea, and returned to Song Kingdom. It wasn't until he saw the familiar great lake that he finally set his mind at ease.

'That monstrous thing... thankfully, it didn't cling to me.'

This made his already joyful mood, stemming from a great acquisition, even more pleasant. As he descended into the mountains, he noticed a lively scene!

The Azure-robed True Person was meditating in the pavilion, a scroll resting on his lap. He meticulously examined it while performing calculations. Two people stood beside him: an elder in a flowing robe, stroking his beard contentedly, and a spirited young man with mercury-colored hands.

Besides True Person Qinghu, who had been invited to guard this place, True Person Xianyao and his disciple Chengqian were also present!

"Fellow Daoists!"

These two seemed to be looking for Sima Yuanli. Li Ximing, with a smile, mentioned this, and the Azure-robed True Person immediately stood up. Observing Li Ximing's expression, he praised him:

"To have achieved such gains in such a short time, Daoist, you are truly impressive!"

The West Sea was, after all, far away. Li Ximing had prepared for several months for this journey, and gathering information, refining elixirs, and making arrangements along the way all took time. After Li Zhouwei's return, Li Ximing still had to arrange matters concerning Daomian. By the time he finished and returned, over a year had passed.

Sima Yuanli clearly had connections in the West Sea, and he knew exactly how long it had taken to deal with the demonic creature. With a polite smile, Li Ximing said:

"I spent some time handling personal affairs. I was concerned about being away too long, especially with new movements in the north. I apologize for troubling you to guard our lake."

"No trouble at all... where isn't a place for cultivation?"

Sima Yuanli smiled broadly, clasped his hands together, and said:

"King Wei really hit Qilanyan hard; he's busy dealing with accountability now!"

With three True Persons at the mountain gate, Li Ximing naturally couldn't leave them standing. He led them inside, and they sat down in the mountains. Sima Yuanli chuckled:

"Congratulations, Daoist! I've also heard of that Lynk; he possessed a treasure..."

Li Ximing, already aware of Sima Yuanli's thoughts, smiled faintly and withdrew his hand from his sleeve. In his palm lay a dazzling azure treasure pearl!

It was precisely the Lynk's True Wood Spirit Embryo!

It wasn't that Sima Yuanli lacked spirit embryos; although True Person Yuanxiu couldn't predict the day of his breakthrough and hadn't left one behind, Sima Yuanli now possessed both spirit tools and spirit treasures. Why would he bother refining a spirit embryo he didn't care for?

Li Ximing saw that the crafting method for this item was extremely crude, yet it had endured so long against the Heavenly Raven's conjoined flames, knowing then that the Lynk's True Wood Spirit Embryo was made of exceptionally extraordinary material. Sure enough, he saw Sima Yuanli's eyes light up, and Li Ximing joked:

"If Zhaojing still wants the Mingzhen Divine Unison Elixir, I truly don't have any left!"

Although his words were jocular, they genuinely made Li Ximing pause. Li Ximing then also smiled and said:

"Qinghu's prediction was indeed accurate, what a pity."

Then, smiling but silent, he immediately flipped his hand and put away the spirit embryo.

Whether for array formations or the cultivation of the two younger generations, the Li family still required vast quantities of spiritual materials. However, Li Ximing already possessed a considerable amount of spiritual resources, so there was no rush to trade.

'Spirit embryos will degrade; in five or six years, this item's value will significantly diminish. Yet, it's still too early. The one who should be anxious is Sima Yuanli.'

Ignoring the silent and pensive Sima Yuanli, he turned his gaze and saw Chengqian politely say:

"Senior, did you... see that demonic creature use a treasure basin?"

It wasn't strange that Sima Yuanli might have anticipated this, but Chengqian's inquiry was somewhat odd. A cloud of doubt arose in Li Ximing's mind, yet he smiled and said:

"Such well-informed news."

Chengqian had worked with Li Ximing before and was always intelligent and quick-witted, making him a truly rare junior. Hearing this, he smiled and said:

"It's not Chengqian seeking it, but a friend who inquired. He said he's quite interested in this item, but his identity is special, making it impossible to meet or trade with the Lynk directly, hence the delay in acquiring it."

Li Ximing's mind became clear:

'Buddhist cultivators.'

Evidently, the demarcation between immortal and Buddhist cultivators among these East Sea cultivators was not as clear-cut as in the Sun Dao tradition. Chengqian likely knew many Buddhist cultivators. Li Ximing poured tea and casually said:

"It's in my possession. It just depends on what he offers in exchange."

Chengqian's lips moved slightly, and the sound of a spiritual power transmission clearly and decisively reached Li Ximing's ears:

"This junior is willing to trade for him—how about two portions of Spirit Vessel Xi Hua?"

Li Ximing's heart stirred.

Years ago, Li Zhouwei had obtained a portion of Spirit Vessel Xi Hua at Changxiao Sect. Li Ximing had taken and used it, finding its effects excellent, especially for cultivators like himself who had lower cultivation levels and found it particularly difficult to advance in magical arts. It was quite tempting, but the values of the two items were not equivalent. He smiled and said:

"The item is good, but its material is exceptionally fine; it's still not enough to be an equal trade. Perhaps look for Spirit of Lihuo or other complete elixir materials."

Guangchan's gains had almost all been invested in Li Zhouwei's weapon. Li Ximing naturally thought about future arrangements. These words were not just for Chengqian but also for True Person Qinghu, who was nearby. Li Ximing was simultaneously considering other calculations.

'There's more than one path here. Since a Buddhist cultivator is inquiring indirectly, and Chengqian is so determined to trade it himself, this item must be quite valuable. Wouldn't it be a pure loss if I don't first consult Minghui?'

He pondered in secret, but the master and disciple before him showed no intention of leaving. Chengqian was lost in thought, his brows furrowed, while Xianyao unexpectedly spoke.

He seemed to hesitate for a long time, a bitter expression on his face, and said:

"What a coincidence, running into Zhaojing. I've heard of your esteemed clan's formidable reputation, and there are some personal matters I wish to discuss, though I fear True Person might find me verbose."

Li Ximing gave him a rather peculiar glance, then nodded in assent. The True Person deliberated and said:

"Although Lynk Island wasn't a formidable figure, he had his reasons for establishing himself there. Whether it's the Dongyuan Sect of the Western Prefecture or other True Persons, while they may say nothing, they are certainly displeased. Even those True Persons whose spiritual resource sources were destroyed must harbor some resentment..."

Li Ximing anticipated this remark and smiled, remaining silent. Xianyao then said:

"I also understand that the Immortal Clan is currently short on resources and has obtained the Heavenly Nurturing Urn from His Majesty, which perfectly addresses this shortage. However, traveling thousands of miles to eradicate a divine ability without any prior grievance is indeed rather cruel and hardly good for one's reputation."

The smile on Li Ximing's face faded slightly. He understood the elder's meaning and chuckled:

"There's no logic to your words, elder; please clarify! In those years, the Chi clan used cultivators from Jiangnan to defend the river and satisfy the desires of Buddhist cultivators, yet no one called it cruel. When the Murong clan moved south, they enjoyed blood sacrifices and perfected their Dao, and no one came to question them. I had thought that executing a man-eating demon wouldn't earn a reputation for cruelty. It seems I was mistaken."

Although his words were gentle, they conveyed little agreement. A trace of worry flashed in Chengqian's eyes. Sima Yuanli, as if he hadn't heard, smiled without speaking. Xianyao, however, sighed:

"Forgive this old man for saying some unpleasant things... The common people are common people, no matter how numerous; a divine ability is a divine ability, even if it's just one immortal. Once one achieves divine ability, they are all fellow Daoists. There are many common folk who suffer and die, but there are no divine abilities who are executed without fault. Since he fled to the West Sea, with no prior grudge, at least a modicum of dignity should have been preserved... Killing him would have been one thing, but why capture and torture him?"

"If Zhaojing had secretly taken his blood to nourish spirit treasures, even if it became known, people would only praise your resourcefulness. But capturing a divine ability, consuming his flesh, and using his skin—anyone who hears of it would frown... This time it was a Lynk, what about next time?"

"As for calling him a man-eating demon... while there might be justification for execution... it's also a move that invites chaos."

He looked distressed and cupped his hands, saying:

"Evil demons are indeed evil, but they cannot be executed simply for being evil; otherwise, wouldn't all divine abilities feel insecure? Your Li clan upholds the righteous path, so who can't be killed? This is the Heavenly Administration acting inappropriately according to Douxuan. The world belongs to those who have attained the Dao; governing enlightened individuals with the foolish views of commoners will surely lead to collapse... All past events confirm this."

Li Ximing narrowed his eyes, watching him, as Xianyao softly said:

"My ancestors hailed from Guanlong and received favors from Wei. I am not Situ Huo, who can disregard his ancestors without a care. I must say one more thing. If True Person dislikes hearing this, please, for the sake of an old man soon to die... forgive me..."

He bid farewell, then simply turned and departed, riding the wind. Chengqian, standing by, found himself in a dilemma, unsure whether to leave or stay, and repeatedly apologized:

"The elder is old and speaks some muddled words. Senior, please don't take them to heart!"

Li Ximing nodded and said:

"They are all honest words; I have learned a valuable lesson!"

Chengqian's expression was complex. He cupped his hands, then hurriedly chased after him, catching up to his master in the Grand Void. He sighed:

"Master, why do you trouble yourself so!"

Seeing his master remain silent, he knew it was not the place to speak and held back his words. All the way back to their mountain gate, where clouds floated and immortal mountains stood suspended, he finally urged:

"Back in the Heavenly Martial era, Wanling Sect had the Lin and Li clans, who helped pacify evil and rectify the four directions. Even their own people criticized Wanling for wanting to be the second Thunder Palace. Now, naturally, there is King Wei, and the Heavenly Nurturing Urn's purpose is surely similar. One is willing to strike, and the other is willing to endure... Master, why must you interfere?"

Xianyao's face fell. He remained silent for a long time, standing with his hands behind his back, and said with downcast brows:

"Why bother? I indeed have my personal motives, but King Wei will not succeed! What will be his ultimate fate? Can't I even offer a single word of advice?"

Chengqian knew his master understood everything and was merely being stubborn. He said:

"Since Master mentioned the Situ family, I can't help but add: How prominent was the Situ family during the Wei era? A dignified family that even housed barbarian kings, a great clan from Guanlong. What are they doing now? Why must Master burden himself with past connections? It was one thing to look after Situ Huo for years, but now, why get involved in more matters?"

The old man sat down in his seat and said:

"I know in my heart I shouldn't interfere, but hearing all these rumors, I simply couldn't let it pass without speaking. In the end, I couldn't resist mentioning it. Li Ximing isn't someone who fails to recognize good intentions. Forget it, forget it. Just consider it me accumulating favors for you, as my time is short!"

Chengqian sighed deeply, remaining silent.

After seeing Sima Yuanli off, Li Ximing did not linger. He summoned Li Jiangzong and listened intently to the news from the clan. This direct descendant of the Bo branch, who had managed clan affairs for many years, had become increasingly proficient. He bowed in the courtyard and relayed the information one by one.

"...Yusui is currently being looked after by Suihuan. Third Brother also visited once... I heard he received some order to return to the capital and came to see the lake, but he couldn't meet either of you..."

"And one more thing... when both sirs left the lake, two cultivators were ready for a breakthrough. One of them is our direct descendant, Suikuan, who has been waiting in the mountains."

He presented the information point by point. Li Ximing raised an eyebrow and said:

"This is good news! The Suiyu generation is gradually maturing. He's Suining's brother, isn't he? Let him come up and take a look."

Li Jiangzong respectfully withdrew. Soon, a young man ascended from the mountain. He had a round face, slender eyebrows, and wasn't particularly handsome, but he was well-behaved and earnest. He prostrated himself with both hands, bowing, and respectfully said:

"Greetings, True Person!"

"Rise."

Li Ximing examined him from head to toe.

"Cultivating the Upper Rite?"

"Reporting to True Person, that is correct."

Though brothers, Li Suikuan's appearance and temperament were entirely different from Li Suining's. The latter, a genius in array formations, possessed a cold, even melancholic aura, as if countless matters weighed on his mind. In contrast, Li Suikuan was clear-minded and had resolute eyes.

Li Ximing nodded inwardly, thinking:

'He's truly devoted. Minggong has supported the Eastern Prefecture for so many years; finally, two pillars have emerged.'

He secretly noted the name, bestowed a spirit elixir, and chuckled:

"Since you've been in seclusion, what are your plans after achieving your breakthrough? It's rare for the Eastern Prefecture to have produced both you and your brother. You should be generously rewarded."

Li Suikuan bowed and said:

"This junior does not wish to receive rewards without merit. Having achieved success through destiny, I only wish to accompany the army on the northern campaign, to wield a Northern Scythe for my lord and raise a king's banner."

Li Ximing was genuinely taken aback. He glanced at him again, and as he touched the pad of his index finger, he gently pushed upward, a faint, almost imperceptible light flashing at his fingertip.

'Pure sincerity...'

For the first time, a direct descendant of the Li clan was willing to abandon the comfortable life by the lake and explicitly choose to go north. Li Ximing sighed inwardly, unable to express joy or sorrow. After a moment of silence, he said:

"Very well. When you emerge from seclusion, go find Zhou Da."

Li Suikuan respectfully withdrew and eagerly descended. Li Ximing, no longer in the mood for further questions, stepped into the Grand Void and floated away, descending into his family's great array.

The vast, purple-gold hall remained dark. As Li Ximing arrived on the wind, Li Zhouwei sat quietly at the head of the hall, cross-legged, with both hands protecting his Dantian. In his palms rested a golden cicada elixir, and he seemed to be cultivating a divine ability.

The balance of Yin and Yang offered no benefit to the Crimson Broken Arrow, so Li Zhouwei cultivated on the spot with the Remnant Sun Broken Armor Elixir. Now, he opened his golden eyes and immediately perceived Li Ximing's unsettled state of mind. He smiled and said:

"Uncle-Grand... what's this about?"

Li Ximing sighed:

"The Lynk affair has left my hands stained. Looking back now, it seems like a mixed blessing. Sometimes I wonder if it might have been better without this Heavenly Nurturing Urn."

Li Zhouwei shook his head, understanding that his elder was impressionable and might have been swayed by someone's words. He merely smiled and said:

"Without the Heavenly Nurturing Urn, we wouldn't even know where that spiritual root came from! There's no path of regret; each step has its own way of being taken. Resolving the Lynk matter was a major undertaking."

"The most difficult part of this path has been resolved. The remaining few beasts in the Southern Border now have justified reasons for their demise. Uncle-Grand, you see it as a bad thing... but I see it as a good thing."

He smiled slightly, calming Li Ximing's heart. True Person Zhaojing pondered for a long time, then exhaled and said:

"I truly don't want to delay your time. Since you are cultivating here and also overseeing the lake, I must still consider your weapon."

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle-Grand."

Li Zhouwei nodded, watching the person before him dissipate like light. His golden eyes closed once more, and the radiance in the great hall instantly dimmed. Only the elixir between his two palms pulsed faintly, emitting a warm, red glow.