Chapter 794: Purple Mansion's Forethought

"Its length is about 180 ren, with a circumference of three zhang and two chi!"Li Zhouluo calculated that the main hall on the island was 318 chi long. This single Purple Gen Guanggu Earth-Piercing Mystic Nail was four times the length of the main hall, and if stood upright, it would be taller than twelve Chengqing Gates. Its circumference, measuring three zhang and two chi, was equivalent to the size of a small house. Moreover, this Purple Gen Guanggu Earth-Piercing Mystic Nail surely wasn't made of common metals; it must have been blended with spiritual materials. The quantity of materials required was simply astonishing!

Li Xuanxuan was clearly startled. He took the scroll with both hands, looking at the dense list of spiritual materials. A chill went down his spine, though he maintained a calm expression. He asked, "What are the main materials for these thirty-two Earth-Piercing Mystic Nails? And what is their cost?"

Wen Wu bowed and replied, "The main bodies are just refined iron and refined copper. These are abundant in the East Sea. Our Ziyan sect has a market in the East Sea and several small mining islands. They will be delivered in batches, so you don't need to worry, venerable elder. As for the cost, it's not expensive. Refined iron and refined copper can be processed with human labor, and noble families can even refine them themselves. The runes, formations, and forging are all handled by our people for your family. Only the other spiritual materials need to be procured by your family. We estimate... around ninety spirit stones."

He paused, then added, "For one."

Li Xuanxuan meticulously reviewed the scroll, picking out several spiritual materials that were required in large quantities. He said in a deep voice, "There's no need to trouble the blessed land with everything. Many of these spiritual materials can be sourced right here on our lake. Dark Azure, Wuhui Spiritual Molybdenum, and Ni Water Cold Iron are all minerals abundant at the bottom of the lake, with vast yields and reserves, often excavated over the years. White Copper, Fufu Glazed Iron... these eight types are all produced on the west bank, and the east bank also has Azure Origin Refined Copper and similar items. Most of them can be used as substitutes."

He didn't manage the household anymore, so while he knew the list, he wasn't aware of the exact quantities of these materials, which varied in stock. There was also Hidden Rainbow Stone, produced on Zongquan Island, but its quantity wasn't large, and Zongquan Island wasn't openly known, so Li Xuanxuan didn't mention it to him.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhouluo had already done his calculations. He nodded slightly and replied, "We have production of these items at home, which could bring the remaining cost down to sixty to seventy spirit stones. And... please wait a moment, sirs." He took a jade slip from the desk, compared it to the purple-gold scroll, and with a slightly strange expression, replied, "There are some... relics left by our ancestors, and some spiritual materials collected from the wilderness. These match perfectly. I'll give you the list shortly, sir..."

Wen Wu nodded cheerfully, seemingly unsurprised. He bowed and said, "These thirty-two Purple Gen Guanggu Earth-Piercing Mystic Nails are very troublesome, especially the materials. Large-scale procurement will cause prices to soar, so we cannot rush. It might take three to five years. I must ask the family head to designate a resting place on the island for our blessed land cultivators. Many cultivators from our sect will be traveling in the vicinity or commuting between the sect and this location, so we will need to trouble your noble family. However, please rest assured, noble family. Everyone from our sect has taken spiritual oaths and are elites. They will definitely maintain secrecy. Not only will the formation patterns be drawn separately and the components forged individually, but they won't even know the names of any of the components or the formation itself."

"Nonsense, it is our Wangyue family who should thank the blessed land."The two exchanged pleasantries. Wen Wu also had spiritual items and elixirs to deliver to Li Quexi's family. Since there were no arrangements for the Ziyan cultivators on the island, they retired early. The hall doors closed tightly, and Li Xuanxuan frowned, asking: "Zhouluo, what are these ancestral relics and wilderness spiritual materials? How can one or two portions of those be used for such a huge quantity of Earth-Piercing Mystic Nails? And how much could that possibly save?"

Li Zhouluo no longer concealed the strange expression on his face. He whispered, "Elder, this alone can save at least twenty spirit stones! Twenty per nail, for thirty-two nails, that's six hundred forty spirit stones!"

Li Xuanxuan was startled and asked, "Where did this come from!"

Li Zhouluo looked a bit embarrassed and quietly replied, "This... Elder, you wouldn't know, but back when Xuanyue was collapsing and Kong Guxi moved the mountains into the wilderness, he deposited a large number of spiritual materials with our family because he feared being raided and emptied by the Baiye Duxian Dao... Later... the wilderness also disappeared, and Kong Guxi brought his valuables to the East Coast. The items remained with our family as usual. Finally, when the Xuanyue lineage perished, Kong Guxi didn't want to take back the large quantities of Embryonic Breath and even Qi Cultivation spiritual materials. He only packed the precious elixirs... The remaining items were either gifted or sold cheaply to many factions as favors... Most of these items were in huge quantities, and selling them all at once would fetch a very low price. Selling them in batches would take five to ten years to finish... After all, no single family was willing to take them all, so he half-gifted and half-sold them to our family as a favor."

Li Zhouluo's expression was a mix of surprise and doubt. He whispered, "Now, after reading this scroll and comparing it, I've found that nearly eighty to ninety percent of the items listed are products or stock from Xuanyue. This is even after Xuanyue's mountain gate was lost and Kong Guxi took a batch of spiritual materials back. If we could have fully obtained all of Xuanyue's resources, it's possible that forging these thirty-two mystic nails wouldn't have cost a single spirit stone!"

Only then did Li Xuanxuan understand. He hesitated for a moment, then sat down in the hall and looked up, saying, "This matter was arranged beforehand by the True Person. Xuanyue's current situation is probably also clear now; otherwise, where would such a formation suddenly come from..." The elder's expression suddenly grew more doubtful. He whispered, "The matter of the Purple Gen Guanggu Earth-Piercing Mystic Nails must be kept secret. That name must not be revealed. Since Ziyan is keeping it secret, it's even easier for us. Don't mention 'mountain,' don't mention 'gen,' and it's best not even to mention 'mystic.' If anyone asks, just say they are the 'Thirty-Two Prefecture Purple Vast Spiritual Needles'."

Li Zhouluo respectfully assented. The elder coughed and continued, "Let Jueyin handle both the spiritual materials and the blessed land matters. His cultivation is profound, and he handles things clearly; he's more capable than anyone else on the island." After giving instructions for a while, the elder left the hall, took out a carp-shaped wooden box from his sleeve, went to an empty side hall, sat down, and opened it.

The first box contained Li Quexi's letter. The child had clearly studied diligently in the sect, as her handwriting was much more elegant. The letter generally inquired about family matters, expressed concern for Li Xuanxuan's health, and was three pages long. At the end, she added: "The Ziyan sect has many rare spiritual items. I received rewards in the grand competition and also have a share for requests. If the family is short of anything, you can ask me."

The elder put down the letter. Li Queyi's letter was noticeably thicker. Unlike her younger sister Li Quexi, who had Wen Wu personally deliver her family letter, Li Queyi had bundled all her letters for various family members here. Li Xuanxuan picked out his own letter. The girl sent her regards and specifically asked if her father, Li Zhoufang, was still seeking protection daily. The rest of the letter, after much subtle phrasing, asked if the family could send her three types of resources.

Li Xuanxuan read for a while. He had two of the three types of resources in his own storage bag, and the remaining one would not be difficult to gather; he could simply supplement it himself. He also retrieved many elixirs, packed them together, and wrote a reply, sending it back. He distributed the remaining letters to their respective recipients, put both sisters' letters into his sleeve, and returned alone to Qingdu via the side corridor, thinking to himself: "Life is truly topsy-turvy. Queyi, diligent and having achieved Qi Cultivation early, instead entered Ziqi. If she had been a bit lazier in her youth and a step slower, the Matriarch would certainly have wanted her... Quexi, high-minded and reserved, with her talents unrevealed, born two years later, has instead entered the Matriarch's service. Wen Wu knows how to teach and is willing to teach, and Quexi seems willing to learn... With her emotional shortcomings filled, and her resources and background now abundant, she's poised for a meteoric rise..."

Li Xuanxuan was old and had witnessed many things. He had a faint premonition about the future, and seeing the letters from the two sisters filled his heart with profound complexity.

Li Xuanxuan returned to Qingdu, while Pingya Isle was bustling. Li Zhouluo quickly arranged everything, sending the Ziyan sect cultivators onto the island to reside in the eastern part, and instructed that Cui Jueyin be called over. For a time, lights blazed, and there was a great commotion. However, the courtyard on the west side was quiet and dim. Ding Weizeng was descending on the wind back into the courtyard. The burly man with a swallow's jaw and tiger's beard seemed a bit anxious. Seeing the maidservant at the gate, he asked, "How is my wife?"

The maidservant lowered her head and replied, "Madam has had a poor appetite these past few days and often complains of stomach pain..."

Ding Weizeng's wife, Madam Ma, was from Jiangbei. At that time, Ding Weizeng was merely a minor Qi Cultivator. Later, he joined the Zifu Immortal Clan, and his status rose significantly. He was often offered noblewomen in marriage, but Ding Weizeng consistently refused, choosing to remain with Madam Ma. It was already difficult for cultivators to have children, let alone when both parents were cultivators. They had finally conceived this one child, and with his wife three months pregnant, the man cherished her immensely.

He went in to visit his wife, helped her recuperate, and immediately prepared to return to Qingdu. However, his nephew came up to report, saying: "Wang Quwan requests an audience."

Ding Weizeng was momentarily stunned. There were currently no tasks assigned by the clan, and his current duty was to patrol the lake and protect Li Zhouming and his son, moving irregularly. Logically, they shouldn't have run into each other. He immediately wondered, "What a coincidence?"

His nephew replied, "Sir Wang has been coming daily for some time now, but since you said you wouldn't see anyone, the message was never delivered. Sir Wang seems to have an urgent matter and has been waiting for you on the island for a while."

"So that's how it is." Ding Weizeng, who preferred not to get involved in factional disputes and typically refused all visitors, considered Wang Quwan an exception. This man had also been promoted by Li Ximing and was quite important, so he said: "Then let him come up."

Before long, a middle-aged man with an extraordinary demeanor stepped into the courtyard from outside. He had a blue-golden treasured sword at his waist and looked spirited and heroic. Ding Weizeng smiled, saying: "Daoist Wang, you're here! I haven't had a chance to congratulate you... That 'Jingxi Qing' sword has made the cultivators of Funan in Jiangbei incredibly envious... Everyone now hails you as the foremost sword cultivator in Jiangbei!"

"Senior, you flatter me... It was merely by the True Person's favor that I seized an early opportunity... and simply came out on top." Although Ding Weizeng now addressed him as "Daoist," Wang Quwan still politely performed the junior's bow, respectfully saying: "Senior, your matters are important, and I do not wish to further delay clan affairs. However, I have encountered a particularly tricky and perplexing matter, one related to Jiangbei, and have come specifically to seek your guidance."

Ding Weizeng indeed did not want to waste time. He made a gesturing invitation, and Wang Quwan said in a deep voice: "After junior broke through to Foundation Establishment and paid respects to many seniors on the lake, I received a clan order to guard Jiangbei. After I crossed the Funan territory, I heard considerable unrest among the cultivators below. Upon further inquiry, a rumor surfaced... It's said that a fortuitous opportunity will appear in Jiangbei..."

"Haha, I thought it was something serious." Ding Weizeng shook his head and explained with a laugh: "No matter where you go... as long as there's spiritual energy, aren't there rumors every few days? Quwan, have you actually found out any specific news?"

Ding Weizeng, himself from Jiangbei, was naturally very familiar with his hometown. During the past North-South conflict, countless cultivators had fallen in Jiangbei. When he was young, every ten days to half a month there would be rumors of certain cultivators acquiring the legacies of others; it was a common occurrence. Wang Quwan was highly dependable and wouldn't bring something up without solid evidence. Upon questioning, Wang Quwan indeed subtly said: "The Wang clan moved to Jiangbei during the Ning Kingdom era, and our relatives are widely spread. Although my family has declined and I was born into humble circumstances, I still have two relatives further north..."

Ding Weizeng's eyes sharpened. He interrupted, "Is it Tangjin Gate or Duxian Dao?"

Wang Quwan whispered, "Chengyun Gate!"

Seeing Ding Weizeng nod thoughtfully, Wang Quwan continued, "I heard... two cultivators from overseas sought refuge with Chengyun Gate and brought news that there's an underground palace in Jiangbei, belonging to the former Wanling Upper Sect, located beneath Chenshui Lake. This palace is intricate and has many entrances and exits... They have three mystic stone tokens, which are the key to activating its formation..."

"Oh?" Ding Weizeng looked at him intently, asking only one question. Wang Quwan took something from his sleeve and whispered, "This is what I obtained from intercepting a demonic cultivator."

Wang Quwan lowered his gaze and saw he was holding a small and exquisite token. It had ink-wash black and white patterns, and the two ancient characters "Wanling" were carved on it. He gently flipped it over, and on the back were three characters: "South Seventh."

He offered the token to Ding Weizeng with both hands. The burly man picked it up and examined it, feeling it cold to the touch. He squeezed it hard with his five fingers, but the token remained completely still. The token didn't appear to be a powerful magical artifact, yet its grade was unfathomable. It secretly contained a divine aura and was extraordinarily durable. Ding Weizeng gently placed the token on the desk and whispered, "My position prevents me from moving, so naturally, I have no opportunity to step away. If Quwan intends for me to accompany you, then I must disappoint you... I wonder what Quwan's intention is..."

Wang Quwan, however, stood up and bowed, respectfully saying: "I ask senior to please submit this to the master family for me, and let the esteemed lord handle it!"

Ding Weizeng was stunned for a moment. He frowned and said, "This is your fortuitous opportunity..."

Wang Quwan shook his head and replied, "One should only undertake what one is capable of. I am merely a minor character who has just broken through to Foundation Establishment; how could I possibly participate in the struggles of such ancient lineages? I only hope to offer it to the master family, so that it may gain a greater advantage in the various family struggles. That would be its best use." Ding Weizeng remained noncommittal to his words. Wang Quwan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and sword cultivator, had been personally promoted by the True Person. As long as he didn't foolishly try to seize Zifu-level interests, it wouldn't be difficult for him to make a substantial profit. Ding Weizeng suspected this was a strategic retreat for advancement, so he replied: "Wangyue is not a stingy master family. If this is truly a fortuitous opportunity you acquired, no one in the lake will try to seize it... At most, I'll go up and inquire about this matter for you, preferably to investigate some details to facilitate your journey north."

His words indeed surprised Wang Quwan. After all, he was just an external Foundation Establishment cultivator, and if he offered this opportunity, it would either go to one of the young masters or Ding Weizeng himself; he hadn't actually considered that it could involve himself. He paused, then replied, "This..."

"What 'this'?" Ding Weizeng held the token, smiling as he looked at it: "The lake has always been most fair to those of other surnames, guest cultivators, and protectors... You don't stay on the island often, so you might not be aware, but even a dignified direct descendant of Zifu wouldn't dare insult a Qi Cultivation guest cultivator without reason. I certainly have no intention of taking your fortuitous opportunity... Let's go to the main hall together; that way, you won't overthink it!"