Chapter 652: Aftermath

**Brush and Ink Literature, Xuanjian Immortal Clan!**

"Heirs." Tianwan Zhenren murmured, her voice low and sarcastic. "What if they are? What does 'heirs' even mean? Did I watch them grow up and develop affection for them? Or do they revere me? Not at all, do they? I emerged from my seclusion only to be greeted by a bunch of old men calling me 'Ancestor'... What does that have to do with me?"

Tan Yunshou sighed. A hint of their old master-servant bond still lingered in his heart as he advised, "But bloodline is ultimately undeniable. Even if you don't have deep feelings for them, they are at least closer than strangers..."

"Closer?" Tianwan Zhenren's voice was filled with furious indignation, her words almost bitten off. "I possess divine abilities! I can see into people's hearts. What they truly think, I see it all crystal clear... Tan Yun! Those women harbor hatred and jealousy for me... What closeness could there possibly be!"

"As for Guo Hong'er... Guo Hongjian..." Her expression grew even colder, hinting at a ruthless resolve. She murmured, "Fine... At least they're not as foolish as Guo Hongyao. They know I can read minds, so they dare not harbor such thoughts when they see me. But once I enter seclusion, they privately indulge in lewd fantasies, schemes of bullying, and desires for revenge through incest..."

"What closeness could there possibly be!"

Tan Yun was stunned into silence by her words, unable to speak for a long moment. He mumbled, "This... this..."

"But!" Tan Yun Zhenren truly didn't know how to defend them this time. Even if Guo Shentong himself were present, he would hang his head in shame. Tan Yun could only stammer, "After all, it's been several hundred years. It's hard for them to feel any kinship... You are untainted, an exceptionally beautiful woman among mortals, and you cultivate the pure, inviolable path of ice and snow. So they harbor some sordid thoughts..."

His voice trailed off as he spoke, wishing he could just grab and kill all those surnamed Guo. Yet, he still tried to persuade her, "My Lady... Ancient texts say that seeing a person's heart is to see their demonic obstacles. This is why cultivators who achieved divine abilities in ancient times were most afraid of going among mortals. Just one glance with their powers, and they would immediately become disheartened, their hearts filled with malice... Thoughts are the hardest to condemn... Who doesn't harbor desires for greed and lust in their hearts..."

Tianwan Zhenren merely watched him quietly. The woman was enveloped in an aura of ice and snow, only faintly revealing a pair of extraordinarily beautiful eyes. She said softly, "Ancient texts often say that once divine abilities are mastered, the world appears evil. Therefore, those in the Purple Palace become ruthless, indiscriminate in killing, because they see everyone as sinful. I now understand."

**Zongquan Island**

Li Qinghong and Kong Tingyun arrived at Zongquan Island by boat. Li Zhouwei, riding a streak of bright light, came forward to greet them, bowing with cupped hands and saying, "Greetings, Ancestor!"

Seeing him, Li Qinghong finally smiled, a gentle expression blossoming on her face. Li Zhouwei then turned to greet Kong Tingyun, bowing with cupped hands and saying, "Greetings, Senior!"

Kong Tingyun smiled and nodded, her round eyes appraising him before she gave a slight nod.

Li Qinghong had specifically instructed Li Zhouwei not to bow down, and previously, she had even kept him from meeting outsiders. There was a specific reason for this: if Li Zhouwei hadn't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, a simple bow with cupped hands to Kong Tingyun, the Sect Master of Xuanyue, wouldn't have sufficed. According to cultivation world customs, kneeling was the proper etiquette. Kong Tingyun was also intelligent, and if he didn't kneel, who knew what she might think. Now that he had achieved Foundation Establishment, and both were cultivators of that stage, there was naturally no need to kneel, thus saving a lot of trouble.

Li Qinghong turned slightly, smiling, "This is Kong Tingyun, the Sect Master of Xuanyue — and this is my family's heir."

"I've long heard of your esteemed name!" Kong Tingyun observed him for a moment before slowly averting her gaze. Li Zhouwei's appearance was indeed remarkable, possessing a charm that made it difficult to look away. She inwardly chuckled, "I heard Wei Yi was handsome, and it's true. Qinghong and Xijun are proof enough..."

Li Qinghong, however, feared that delays could lead to complications and did not intend to linger. She said, "Let's get on the boat first."

The two boarded the boat. Seeing Kong Tingyun beside them, Li Zhouwei decided against mentioning the Dingjiao matter. As they all entered, Li Qinghong, feeling worried, asked, "How is Cheng?"

Kong Heng, who was nearby, answered for him. Li Zhouwei chatted with the two for a while, gaining some understanding of Kong Tingyun, before asking, "Senior Kong... I've always had a question... Items like the Six Ding Conjoined Fire Command and Six Xin United Metal Command seem to be part of a set. Where exactly do they come from?"

Kong Tingyun hesitated for a moment before replying, "These spirit artifacts... they're quite well-known. They should be related to an immortal's dwelling, but I don't know any more than that..."

She spoke vaguely, seemingly unable to provide a clear answer. As they traveled north, the sea wind howled outside the boat. After several days, they arrived at Yuezhou Island, home of the Xuanyue Sect.

This was the Kong family's ancestral home. Kong Tingyun smiled, pointing north, and said, "I forgot to mention to your esteemed family, the Boring Gold Gate has sealed its mountain, losing Jindou Island, which is now in our hands."

"Congratulations!" Li Qinghong offered her felicitations. A disciple of Xuanyue then came to deliver a message. Kong Tingyun read it carefully and murmured, "Zipei Zhenren has indeed perished!"

Li Qinghong was not familiar with Zipei Zhenren, but she was, after all, a great cultivator with a good reputation, so she sighed along with Kong Tingyun, who then smiled and said, "But she might not truly be dead."

Li Zhouwei raised an eyebrow, looking at her with doubt. "Reincarnation?"

"Precisely." Kong Tingyun said softly, "Do you recall a period during the North-South Conflict when the Purple Palace disappeared? It was because traces of Anhuan Tian appeared in the Great Void, and within them were several instances of Heavenly Martial True Qi's ominous properties!"

"True Qi!" Li Zhouwei's heart jolted. A thought flashed like lightning through his mind: "White Ape also possesses True Qi... His breakthrough seems to have occurred very close to that time!"

White Ape's breakthrough was one of the most unexpected events for the Li family. After all, he was riddled with old injuries, many of which had damaged his foundation. The success rates of Li Xicheng and Xiao Guilan were much higher than his... yet he was the only one who succeeded.

"Thinking about it now... it truly was a blessing! It just so happened that the Purple Palace was contending in the Great Void at that time, and the ominous properties of Heavenly Martial True Qi manifested, allowing him to seize that opportune moment."

Li Zhouwei had some doubts about this matter. Although he trusted White Ape, he wondered if someone had tampered with him in the past. Now, he felt much more at ease. Kong Tingyun continued, "That golden nature was obtained by Zipei Zhenren. My family's Zhenren said... with that golden nature, one can freely reincarnate. She must have escaped."

**Wushan**

Wushan is where the spiritual energy of Wangyue Lake is most concentrated. Currently, a grand formation seals the interior and exterior, isolating the qi. On the mountain, white mist, thick as milk, flows down the jade steps, cascading layer by layer.

The blood pool at the summit had long been transformed. Inside, a small pile of spirit stones lay, immersed in bubbling spiritual springs, from which wisps of spiritual energy emerged and flowed across the ancient jade floor.

Jade pillars stood tall. Li Ximing, clad in a Taoist robe, stood on the highest pillar. With each breath, dense spiritual energy converged from all directions, flowing into his acupoints.

He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of celestial light, which shimmered brightly in the clouds for a moment before fading away.

Within his Qi Sea, a faint, bright lamp lit up, floating above his immortal foundation. Its light flickered, illuminating everything in his Qi Sea with a dazzling brilliance.

"Heavenly Lamp cultivated!"

The "Minghua Huangyuan Scripture" contains nine secret techniques, which in order of their presentation are: Yangyuan, Heavenly Lamp, Treasure Steps, Great Rift, Recurve, Hundred Soldiers, Imperial Decree, Golden Kylin, and Red Cicada. Each possesses unique abilities. Li Ximing, during his seclusion, also benefited from the influence of the Huaijiang Scroll, finally mastering the second technique.

It must be said that Li Ximing's talent was exceptional. He had just turned sixty, yet he had already cultivated two secret techniques. Now that the Heavenly Lamp was perfected, his immortal foundation had undergone further changes.

"The Heavenly Lamp technique can illuminate darkness, clarify the spiritual platform, and make studying scriptures and cultivating arts twice as effective with half the effort..."

Li Ximing suddenly had an epiphany: "It would be ideal to start cultivation with the Heavenly Lamp, though the simplest Yangyuan also doesn't take much time. Cultivating these two first is the right approach..."

"But this secret technique..."

Li Ximing gazed at the brightly shining Heavenly Lamp in his Qi Sea, musing to himself, "Its design is truly exquisite. No matter how profound the heritage of the Three Sects and Seven Gates, secret techniques of this caliber are definitely rare."

The deeper his understanding, the more precious he found this secret technique. Even the simplest Yangyuan contained mysteries that no previously encountered spell could compare to.

"Except for the immortal arts 'Receiving Method' and 'Sacrifice Method'."

The Li family members were completely baffled by these two incantations. They could discern no profundity in them, nor did they feel any spiritual resonance when recited. It was as if chanting "rain, rain" twice inexplicably brought rain; the incantations simply worked on their own.

Aside from these two, the Li family's other spells paled in comparison. Whenever Li Ximing cultivated this method, it felt like sailing on a vast ocean, often leaving him with a sense of lingering enchantment.

He sighed with relief. After stabilizing the Heavenly Lamp in the formation for over half a month, he began cultivating the next incantation. Suddenly, he noticed the grand formation flickering on and off, and a small message appeared on a jade pillar.

Li Ximing picked it up, his gaze sweeping over it: "Reporting, My Lord, the Xiao family has arrived. If My Lord emerges from seclusion! Please make an appearance."

Li Ximing pondered for a moment. Since the message was sent to him, his aunt was probably not at home, and the Xiao family could not be neglected. So, he rose on a beam of light and flew from Wushan.

He then descended into the main hall of the continent, where he found many people already standing. His grandfather, Li Xuanxuan, stood smiling to one side, while White Ape stood like a stone statue guarding the other.

In the hall stood a middle-aged man with a robust and gentle appearance, his temples streaked with white. Two strings of medicine pouches hung from his person, and a faint smile played on his face as he looked at Li Ximing, his brows relaxed.

"Master!" Li Ximing was intimately familiar with that face. This person was none other than his master, Xiao Yuansi!

Xiao Yuansi had a gentle and benevolent appearance, but now he showed significant signs of age, with weariness hidden in his eyes. His complexion was slightly pale, as if he had sustained minor injuries.

Li Ximing had not expected him to come in person. He quickly performed the disciple's bow and stood to the side. The middle-aged man took his hand, his eyes softening with warmth, and his voice, as rich as it had been years ago, said, "Ming'er, you've grown so much."

After Li Xijun's death, Li Ximing had cried only once and thereafter had no mind for grief. Yet, this simple address made his eyes well up. He said in a deep voice, "Ximing greets Master!"

"Good..." Xiao Yuansi was also a weathered old man. He had taken many elixirs since childhood, which was why he still appeared middle-aged. He smiled as he looked at Li Ximing, then turned to Li Xuanxuan and said, "Xuanxuan, we've talked enough. Please rest for a bit. I'd like to have a private chat with Ming'er."

Li Xuanxuan was the most senior member of the Li family; only the person before him could address him so informally. He stroked his white beard and promptly excused himself. Xiao Yuansi then looked at the young man before him, coughed twice, and smiled, "Ming'er, come, let's talk on your Wushan."

Li Ximing quickly moved to support him, but Xiao Yuansi shook his head with a smile. For this elder, Li Ximing felt nothing but gratitude. They traveled to Wushan, landing on its summit. Xiao Yuansi first surveyed the surroundings, then chuckled, "You... were born to use the best. This Wushan is even better than my cave dwelling on Mount Xianyou."

Li Ximing nodded silently. Master and disciple sat by a jade table. Xiao Yuansi said softly, "Your family no longer uses this blood pool... Good... Tongya didn't teach in vain."

Li Ximing simply kept nodding. Xiao Yuansi looked at him and said, "I've only ever taught one disciple in my life, and I've passed on everything I could teach you about alchemy... Ming'er... I also understand you, perhaps even better than Xuanxuan does, which is why I made this trip..."

He said gently, "Ximing, you're going to attempt Purple Palace breakthrough? Why didn't you tell your Master first..."

Li Ximing looked up and saw Xiao Yuansi's smile. Xiao Yuansi said, "Xuanxuan might not have been willing to give you that Mingfang Heavenly Stone. Don't resent him for it."

"Master... Ximing wouldn't dare!" Li Ximing rose sharply. Xiao Yuansi pulled him back down to sit, took a jade bottle from his sleeve, placed it in Li Ximing's hand, and smiled, "Take a look?"

Li Ximing felt a warmth in his hand. His spiritual sense swept over it, revealing a dazzling pill lying inside the bottle, adorned with five golden patterns that looked like writhing claws. It was brewing a radiant light, and the entire jade bottle was filled with intense golden brilliance.

Li Ximing cultivated Mingyang arts and was familiar with alchemy. How could he not recognize it? This pill contained potent Mingyang spiritual power, its aura pure and tranquil. It was clear countless Mingyang spiritual items and precious herbs had been used to refine it!

"Mast... ter...!" Li Ximing was stunned. Xiao Yuansi chuckled twice, then coughed, saying softly, "You, my boy... I've always known you have great ambition. When you broke through to Foundation Establishment, I started paying attention to Mingyang spiritual items. I originally thought I'd collect them slowly, but I didn't expect you to cultivate so quickly; I couldn't keep up."

"Fortunately, I've built up connections over the years and know a few Mingyang spiritual items. I took two precious herbs, one being a Sea Bright Lotus and the other a Three Yang Radiant Qi Fruit, then hurried to the Eastern Sea. Rushing as fast as I could, I finally gathered enough."

Xiao Yuansi said softly, "Purple Palace spiritual items are too rare; I don't have the ability to acquire those. But I do have some skill in alchemy. Although I don't have a formula for a pill that directly aids in breaking through to the Purple Palace, this item is purely the essence of Mingyang. It's called the Purple Bright Pill and can offer considerable benefits."

He looked at Li Ximing and said gently, "It's quite a precious item... I worried someone might overhear, so I had you come into the formation to speak. I did this without my family's Zhenren knowing... He's in the North Sea, so he can't manage everything... You can use it without worry."

Li Ximing found it difficult to meet Xiao Yuansi's gaze. He could only reply, "Master's kindness... your disciple finds it hard to repay..."

"Repay?" Xiao Yuansi shook his head, a nostalgic expression on his face. He chuckled softly a few times, patting Li Ximing's shoulder. The old man said no more, as if those few pats had conveyed everything he wanted to express.