Chapter 692: White Lin's Gift

Ink and Brush Literature, Profound Mirror Immortal Clan!

Li Ximing naturally understood that Floating Cloud Cave was currently trembling with fear, desperate to serve his family. His family's reputation had always been good, and for decades, those from the Veroya Wushan lineage, who had settled by the lake, had sought to serve a Purple Mansion cultivator. This explained their eagerness.

However, even if these individuals wished to pledge their allegiance, Li Ximing was not necessarily inclined to accept them. Taking in cultivators whose backgrounds were unknown, especially without possessing a life-bound divine ability himself, would more likely than not jeopardize significant affairs.

He didn't want the people, but the land in Jiangbei was excellent. So, he asked:

"How is Floating Cloud Cave's territory?"

Ping Wangzi quickly replied, "All lands have been seized and are under guard, awaiting your Excellency's command."

Li Ximing sipped his tea without speaking.

In fact, Li Ximing had long heard of Mount Xiaoshi. The Li family held discreet records of it, dating back even before the establishment of the Three Sects.

During the Great War of Jiangbei, a Daoist Master Kongwu once arrived on the wind, descending upon Mount Xiaoshi. The various Daoist traditions of Mount Xiaoshi immediately scattered in panic, yet one, Daoist Fuyuan, managed to flee all the way to the lake.

This Daoist was injured by the master and soon died. However, his pleas before death revealed a great deal of information, which Li Xuanxuan had recounted in detail to Li Ximing...

A cultivator from Floating Cloud Cave on Mount Xiaoshi had once visited the lakeshore. He was killed by Xiang Pinggong, who wielded a mirror, and a jade pendant was recovered from him... This very pendant was a component crucial for repairing the Immortal Mirror! It was of the same caliber as the one Yu Muxian had once possessed!

It was because of this component that Li Ximing paid particular attention to the name Mount Xiaoshi, personally summoning the two individuals for questioning.

"What's more, coincidentally, whether it's the Baiye Immortal Dao or Cheng Yun and Tang Jin, they have all, without prior agreement, supported cultivators from Mount Xiaoshi to act as puppets in Jiangbei... Could this truly be accidental?"

Li Ximing was already deeply suspicious of Mount Xiaoshi, and since the three Mian Sects all originated from Mount Xiaoshi's Daoist traditions, he now suspected even more that something was amiss internally.

"If we could find other components, that would naturally be excellent, even if only a few clues. Furthermore, with several Purple Mansion cultivators playing out Mount Xiaoshi's schemes in Jiangbei, there must be a considerable profit to be gained."

"Stepping back, the Floating Cloud Cave, located in Jiangbei on the opposite bank, is separated from Wangyue Lake's northern shore by a mere stretch of water. It is, in essence, our own territory. How could we permit others to snore beside our bed?"

He sipped his tea, waved his hand, and replied, "Given the circumstances, let's put this matter aside for now."

The two felt as if they had received a great pardon and quickly withdrew. Li Ximing hesitated for a moment in the hall before taking a jade slip from his sleeve. In a small corner, words were delicately carved:

'Superior Radiance, Subdued Light'

He rubbed the jade slip for a moment, his brow slowly furrowing:

"Zhou Wei is still in Jiangbei... I hope nothing untoward has happened to him. This is not the moment to study cultivation methods; I must first make a trip to Jiangbei."

Meanwhile, the two exited the hall and flew swiftly away from Wangyue Lake, heading towards their own domains. Both felt a profound sense of rebirth. Ping Wangzi was somewhat more composed, but Daoist Wenhu truly felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, overwhelmed with relief.

While both were pawns placed by Purple Mansion forces, given the circumstances, dying at Li Ximing's hands would have been a justifiable outcome. Even if their respective sects were outwardly displeased or inwardly resentful, they genuinely would have little ground to voice their complaints.

Ping Wangzi merely whispered, with a hint of deeper meaning, "Whether the matter is significant or minor, it rests solely on the True Man's thoughts. His Excellency merely stated that the matter is temporarily put aside... he never said it would no longer be pursued. My senior brother, you must be very careful from now on!"

Ping Wangzi could speak with such candor because his backing, the Cheng Yun Gate, already had a relationship with the Li family. However, the Baiye Immortal Dao might not share such ties, and how their True Man would perceive the situation remained uncertain. Daoist Wenhu's future path would clearly be fraught with difficulties.

Daoist Wenhu clearly grasped this point. His look of joy faded, replaced by an expression of bewilderment as he quietly responded, "This old Daoist cannot afford to offend either side. It's like carrying a load across a single-log bridge; I fear one end might become too heavy and I'll fall into the water. Even worse, I fear the load might not be secured properly, causing both ends to collapse. This is simply not a decision I can make."

Ping Wangzi, never one to shy away from a good spectacle, found others' predicaments rather amusing. He pointed out bluntly, "Are you suicidal? Birds choose their forest, and people choose their master. There's no opportunity for both ends to collapse when you've committed to one."

Daoist Wenhu was left speechless. When truly compared, the cultivator from the Baiye Immortal Dao was far more difficult to handle. Moreover, Li Ximing had only recently achieved the Purple Mansion realm; his conduct was more upright, and he had not yet developed the dismissive attitude of viewing Foundation Establishment cultivators as mere trifles.

"Alas..." As he neared his own territory, he fell silent, letting out only a sigh, much to Ping Wangzi's delight.

Jiangbei.

Night had fallen heavily over Floating Cloud Cave's territory. A shadow darted through the mountain forests, where layers of clouds hung. Beneath a shroud of shadow, an old man with a goatee moved cautiously, glancing left and right as he flew close to the ground.

"Li Ximing, a Purple Mansion... simply absurd!"

His face still registered an incomprehensible shock. Yet, such was the situation: the Floating Cloud Cave Master had been killed, and Situ Ku, relying on his magical artifacts, had carefully navigated his way out, not daring to take a single unnecessary step.

Floating Cloud Cave maintained very close ties with the Tang Jin Gate. The Floating Cloud Cave Master, Fu Dou, was supported by the Tang Jin Gate, and Situ Ku, naturally, had been stationed there as the voice of the Tang Jin Gate's main branch. Now, his face was etched with bitter frustration.

"Fortunately, I didn't show my face..."

Situ Ku also understood that Wenhu and Ping Wangzi naturally didn't wish to offend the Tang Jin Gate, nor would they relentlessly pursue him. The best course of action for them, of course, was to pretend not to see him, which allowed him to make his escape...

"What a pity... such a lucrative position, I'm afraid I won't obtain it again in the future."

Situ Ku traveled for a while, emerging from the forest. Before his eyes could even register anything, his spiritual sense suddenly tightened! He had already perceived a youth, clad in golden-white precious armor, seated beneath an ancient pine on a distant mountaintop.

From afar, the youth sat cross-legged, eyes tightly closed. Beside him, a large halberd with a bright golden, curved blade was embedded in the ground. His hands rested quietly on his knees, forming a mudra, completely motionless.

Situ Ku froze for an instant. The youth's eyes suddenly snapped open, his golden pupils piercing through the darkness, directly fixed on Situ Ku. The uniquely shaped halberd beside him began to subtly vibrate on the ground.

"Senior Situ, this junior has been waiting for you for a long time."

A sudden chill surged through Situ Ku, and his mind felt as if it would explode: "Li Zhouwei! Wasn't he supposed to be in the East Sea eradicating demons?!"

The next instant, the Da Sheng long halberd swept across. Even before its radiant light reached him, Situ Ku was drenched in a cold sweat. Terrified out of his wits, several talismans glowed on his chest, a turtle shell floated before him, and he spat a mouthful of vital blood onto the artifact.

"Poof!" "Boom!" Li Zhouwei's great halberd struck the ground directly in front of him, sending a shower of stones flying. The turtle shell, now useless, dropped to the ground. Situ Ku clearly saw that Li Zhouwei was holding a piece of Li Fire in his hand.

'Sun-Aligned Li Art!'

Among the Li family's sixth-grade magical arts, only the Great Li White Radiance was available. However, this art required spiritual fire of the Purple Mansion level for refinement, which the Li family naturally lacked the resources for. Therefore, Li Zhouwei practiced the fifth-grade Sun-Aligned Li Art instead.

This Sun-Aligned Li Fire technique was far from weak; what was even more remarkable was its flexibility and versatility. A fifth-grade art was already a secret, top-tier technique of the Qingchi direct lineage! Li Zhouwei had cultivated it for over a decade, repeatedly relying on it to escape perilous situations.

In an instant, brilliant white solar Li light rose before him, swirling like water waves and transforming into an apricot-yellow hue. The turtle shell simply spun, was flung aside, and became ensnared in the raging inferno, unable to struggle.

"Bang!" Li Zhouwei's hand immediately pressed against the talisman light barrier before him. The entire barrier instantly ignited with raging Li fire, its scorching light piercing towards him. Situ Ku was drenched in cold sweat, his own magical art having just been completed.

"Bang!" Situ Ku knew exactly what kind of formidable individual stood before him. When Li Zhouwei had first broken through to Foundation Establishment, protected by his precious armor, even Daoist Fu Dou himself had only managed to injure him and force him to flee. Situ Ku's cultivation might be comparable to this 'Li Clan White Kylin,' but he was inferior in every aspect—from magical arts and cultivation techniques to artifacts. What was the point of fighting?!

He made a swift decision. The black, mist-like gauze immediately detonated, shattering with a thunderous roar. A thick, grey light erupted, and the magical power of the Xiukui path surged, transforming into a massive, shadowy mountain that crashed downwards.

Situ Ku understood he had only one chance to escape. His entire body's magical power, accompanied by a crimson glow, surged forth, igniting furious magical flames beneath his feet. Like a bird, he shot into the sky and sped away.

Li Zhouwei remained silent. He inverted his long halberd and swung it, sending streaks of brilliant solar illusions from its central curve. These first mitigated the oppressive descent of the shadowy mountain. Then, a small flag flew out from his sleeve.

Yang Li Red Sparrow Flag

"Heavenly Patterns Crosswise, Yang Li Punishing Fire!"

Five hues of Li fire—brownish-yellow, light yellow, goose-yellow, bright red, and vermilion—leaped forth, collectively pushing back against the pitch-black mountain. The long halberd then thrust out again, like a pillar propping up the heavens, supporting the colossal mountain.

However, this was power unleashed by a self-detonated magical artifact. Li Zhouwei had already allowed him to escape for about a li, and seeing that he was on the verge of a prolonged chase with new variables emerging, he merely squinted, estimating the distance, and spoke coldly:

"Illuminate the eight directions, all kings must pay homage to me... Superior Radiance, Subdued Light... Decree!"

A point of brilliant light rose from his glabella. The entire mountain forest briefly flashed, illuminating the surroundings brightly, then swiftly receded into the darkness. In that fleeting radiance, the distant Situ Ku plummeted into the mountains like a bird with broken wings.

In just about ten moves, Situ Ku was dragged, barely alive, before him. The black light, once the size of a small mountain, had been reduced by fire to the size of a mere tabletop.

While factors like the old man's sole focus on escape, his lack of resistance, and the enhancement of his magical arts and artifacts certainly played a part, it also unmistakably demonstrated Li Zhouwei's formidable strength, which now rivaled the might of Tuoba Chongyuan from years past.

After first staunching Situ Ku's bleeding, Li Zhouwei seemed to sense something and abruptly narrowed his eyes.

'Purple Mansion?'

Before him, the void rippled, revealing a man in a white-gold Daoist robe, smiling broadly, his voice filled with delighted surprise: "My Qilin child is truly formidable!"

Li Zhouwei, seeing that the newcomer was Li Ximing, let out a genuine sigh of relief. He cupped his fists in salute and laughed heartily, "Greetings, True Man! With your breakthrough, I couldn't possibly return empty-handed. So... I've captured a member of the Tang Jin Gate to congratulate you!"

"Oh?"

Li Ximing cast an approving glance at him, then realized that the individual on the ground was from the Situ family. Li Zhouwei's gaze subtly shifted, and he whispered, "This is Situ Ku, a guest elder of Floating Cloud Cave. Wenhu and Ping Wangzi allowed him to escape, but I was delayed by half a day, so I waited here for him!"

Li Ximing instantly understood, his gaze burning as he looked at the man. This was clearly not merely a guest elder of Floating Cloud Cave, but rather excellent leverage. He chuckled, "A fine... a very fine congratulatory gift!"

He gently flicked his finger, and a beam of bright light immediately fell upon Situ Ku, binding him. He then took Li Zhouwei's hand, looked around, and said with a sigh, "I have achieved the Purple Mansion realm, and you are safe and sound. There is no matter more crucial than this."

Li Minggong and the others hadn't elaborated, but Li Ximing understood the numerous difficulties Li Zhouwei had faced while traveling through the four realms over the past decade. During this period, he had likely sought considerable assistance, reaching a point where he had to feign a trip to the East Sea to secretly return.

Li Zhouwei merely smiled. Li Ximing glanced at the sky, then, taking him along, stepped into the void and vanished. Only a dozen breaths later, the sky rapidly brightened.

An Siwei escorted the two into the hall, then swiftly returned on the wind. He found a youth casually strolling within the hall, with Li Minggong standing nearby. The spiritual artifacts that had been on the table were already gone, and no one knew who had put them away.

An Siwei merely bowed his head, clasped his hands, and respectfully said, "Second Young Master!"

"Lord An..." The youth appeared fresh and clean, dressed in neat, capable attire. Nothing else about him was extraordinary, except for his pair of golden eyes that fixed on An Siwei as he smiled in response. This was indeed Li Zhouwei's third son, Li Jianglong.

Li Jianglong's four younger brothers were not named according to the Li Clan's central lineage naming convention. No one dared to inquire further, nor did anyone mention it. Li Jianglong, now eighteen or nineteen, had a cultivation level inferior to his elder brothers, being only at the Qi Cultivation stage.

He blinked slightly and smiled, "I heard the lords speaking of this great joyous occasion. I wonder when Father will return?"

"He should be back any time now," Li Minggong responded. Li Jianglong shook his head and said, "That Daoist Wenhu really doesn't know how to give gifts. Perhaps he's never been so embarrassed. The item was a precious medicine that looked like it had been stored for a long time. It was simply tossed in with the confiscated spiritual artifacts and sent to the clan."

An Siwei, of course, understood, and a look of approval appeared on his face as he said in a deep voice, "The Second Young Master is benevolent and far-sighted, always acting with discernment. This is a great fortune for our family."

Li Minggong, familiar with the family's affairs, immediately understood and nodded, "This is a perfect opportunity to renovate the long-neglected Milin Mountain. With the Mount Xiaoshi Mian matters settled, I don't need to return. I can simply stay and help grace the occasion."

An Siwei nodded and exited with her. The Milin Mountain Range by the lake was already adorned with countless golden, floating depictions, and cultivators moved to and fro, creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere.