Chapter 826: Manifestation of Earth and Virtue

Dong'e Wanghai.

Deep within the earth's veins, a profound darkness reigned, broken only by the flickering glow of faint flames. There, a colossal, man-high alchemy cauldron stood upon the primary ley line. Its surface was adorned with intricate patterns, depicting roaring waves and ferocious beasts, and it rested on three ancient-looking feet, exuding a sense of profound antiquity.

Spiritual fires blazed furiously. A vibrant, surging ring of bright flames enveloped the dark cauldron, cradling it, while beneath, brilliant white flames danced.

Li Ximing had been refining this elixir for nearly two years. Although he believed his understanding of alchemy was quite complete, this was, after all, his first time forming an elixir using the 'Heavenly Heart Unification' method. The process had presented several perilous moments, but fortunately, his foundational skills were extremely solid, allowing him to navigate each one successfully.

‘The power of the Three-Watch Xuang Fire was unexpectedly helpful, and the domineering nature of the Heavenly Heart Unification method was equally potent. Without these two, this medicine would have been incredibly difficult to refine.’

‘Everything is progressing well, except for one thing... this cauldron can no longer withstand it.’

The River-Midst Cauldron before him was an ancestral heirloom, acquired by his forefather during the Market Calamity. Though only a Qi Refining-level artifact, its ancient craftsmanship and exceptionally sturdy materials had allowed it to suffice until today.

However, no matter how sturdy, it could not withstand the combined power of a Purple Mansion cultivator's divine abilities and true fire. Such immense energy was enough to melt the cauldron into liquid, and only by his protective divine ability was its form tenuously maintained.

‘Once this batch of elixir is refined, this cauldron will be unusable.’

As the elixir's refinement neared its final nurturing phase, Li Ximing could finally ease his mind. He formed a hand seal and cast a spell, causing the divine ability shrouding the cauldron to glow brightly. Standing up, he brought two fingers together, placed them before his lips, and exhaled a point of purple light.

This spark of Bright Yang Flame, empowered by his divine ability, appeared incredibly vibrant. It darted beneath the cauldron, merging with the Three-Watch Xuang Fire. Li Ximing then chanted:

“Three-Watch True Fire, nurture this treasured elixir, with undivided focus and utmost care, diligently await its glow.”

He then withdrew completely, leaving no trace of his spiritual consciousness, only his divine ability to protect the cauldron. The spiritual fire obediently proceeded with the nurturing process on his behalf.

After all, the Three-Watch Xuang Fire was a spiritual flame praised even by True Person Yuandao, Tantai Lingtong. It had provided immense assistance throughout the elixir's refinement, possessing sufficient spiritual essence to cause little damage. This kind of nurturing work could safely be entrusted to this spiritual flame.

“Phew.”

He instantly felt lighter. Nearly two years of intense focus, blending spiritual materials, and employing an unprecedented alchemy method had left even Li Ximing, now a Purple Mansion cultivator, somewhat fatigued. He couldn't help but exhale a deep breath.

He then took a few spirit-nourishing elixirs to replenish his divine ability. Thirty-six days later, his brow subtly flickered, and a sudden sensation stirred within him. He opened his eyes.

‘Ting Lan from the Purple Smoke Sect has arrived.’

Before coming to Dong'e Wanghai for his seclusion, he had left Hou Fu a jade pendant containing a wisp of his divine ability, setting a meeting point at the junction of the two seas. Now, sensing the breaking of the jade, he knew someone had crushed it.

During the Foundation Establishment stage, spiritual jades and similar items required frequent nourishment to maintain long-distance communication, often losing their efficacy after several years. Now, having achieved divine abilities, a mere touch could maintain a connection for over a decade, proving far more convenient.

He then cloaked the area with an array formation, fortified it with a divine ability for early warning, and then tore through the void to traverse. First, he observed from within the void. Indeed, at the junction of the two seas, a purple cloud carriage was suspended, its golden ribbons fluttering. It was unmistakably a True Person from the Purple Smoke Sect.

He did not approach rashly, first checking for ambushes. Only then did he transform into a streak of celestial light, descending to appear before the carriage.

Standing before the carriage was a pure and lovely woman, who, under the celestial light, revealed herself to be a transformed rabbit demon. She repeatedly bowed upon seeing Li Ximing. Before he could speak, the carriage curtain swished open, revealing Ting Lan, still in her autumn-yellow satin robe, who said with a touch of awkwardness:

“Daoist Zhaojing!”

Li Ximing had narrowly escaped death at Chang Xiao's hands, incurring significant losses. The unfortunate origin of the incident was Purple Smoke Sect's arrangement, and although it was merely a pretext, Ting Lan felt embarrassed. She bowed slightly and said:

“It has indeed been many years... The matter of Xuanyue has concluded. Thankfully, Daoist friend is safe and sound, otherwise... I would truly feel inexcusable...”

Li Ximing harbored little blame for her. The incident was due to his own carelessness, and the Purple Smoke Sect could not have foreseen it. Moreover, now that he was gradually understanding the domineering origins of the Solar Orthodoxy, he felt he had no right to fault Purple Smoke. He replied:

“This matter... Chang Xiao acted unexpectedly; the immortal sect is not to blame.”

Unwilling to draw attention here, and mindful that the elixir in the earth's veins was not yet fully refined, he continued:

“The treasured medicine in the cauldron is not yet complete. I invite Ting Lan to rest at my humble abode for now.”

Upon hearing this, Ting Lan nodded in agreement. The purple cloud carriage immediately headed into the sea, descending all the way to the seabed, where white sands swirled. Ting Lan dismissed her carriage and instructed:

“Wait for me here.”

The spirit beast assented. Li Ximing then activated his Mountain-Shifting Sea-Crossing Tiger, an earthen-yellow light enveloping them, and led Ting Lan deep into the earth's veins. Ting Lan observed:

“The Profound Light Mountain-Shifting Grand Dao indeed possesses some capability. Earth evasion is no small feat. This Mountain-Shifting Sea-Crossing Tiger traverses the earth's veins like an Earth Virtue cultivator, clearly showing the excellence of your orthodoxy.”

Li Ximing, hearing the full name of Xuanyue's orthodoxy for the first time, asked with doubt:

“The Profound Comprehension Orthodoxy... no wonder it's close to the Xuanmiao Temple.”

Ting Lan chuckled and said:

“It can't be called the Profound Comprehension Orthodoxy. Each of those top-tier orthodoxies has its variations and records. The Arcane Veil is somewhat looser, while Profound Comprehension is the most stringent. Daoist Su Mian at least has an ancestral portrait, but Xuanyue has absolutely nothing.”

As Li Ximing descended, he recalled the unseemly Qi Stone Demonic Embryo that Chang Xi had given Su Mian, making no comment. Ting Lan sighed:

“In the Zhulu Sea area, an incident occurred at an island belonging to my Purple Smoke Sect. We've investigated for quite some time, and it's proving to be very troublesome now.”

“Oh?”

Li Ximing asked, and Ting Lan replied with a look of suspicion:

“We initially thought it was due to earth vein shifts or problems with the undersea fire veins. But unexpectedly, after I and another Daoist friend circled the area several times, we discovered traces of Earth Virtue divine abilities. So we asked Zhu Gong to examine it, and she guessed that a cultivator had achieved a breakthrough here.”

Li Ximing frowned and replied:

“Earth Virtue cultivators have truly become more numerous in recent years...”

In truth, most demonic cultivators could be considered Earth Virtue cultivators. However, Li Ximing and others naturally didn't regard these demonic cultivators as significant figures. When referring to Earth Virtue cultivators, they always meant those at the True Person level of the immortal dao. Ting Lan nodded in agreement, her voice gradually deepening as she replied:

“Indeed. And this kind of earth phenomenon somewhat resembles Xuanyu Earth, which is the 'She Earth' path among the later two 'Sheji' Earths, also known as 'She Xian' (Communal Immortal). This matter has troubled me for a long time, and I've discussed it with several fellow Daoists. Their consensus is... the path of She Xian is the foremost among immortal paths, and it’s best not to delve too deeply into it.”

The Earth Virtues were diverse; Li Ximing himself had heard of more than six, vaguely glimpsing how ancient and influential this path once was. The Sheji paths were especially renowned. Although the Green Pine Solar Orthodoxy was noble, its current patrons were either missing or in seclusion, perhaps even making it inferior. No wonder she felt uneasy.

Soon, they traversed into the cave dwelling. Ting Lan's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise:

“What splendid True Fire! This must be... a True Fire from the Three-Watch lineage, isn't it? Truly ancient.”

That single remark fully revealed the insight of the Green Pine Solar Orthodoxy. Li Ximing nodded subtly. His divine ability had already thoroughly protected the cauldron, shielding it completely. Ting Lan swept her spiritual consciousness over it and chuckled:

“Truly, great skill breeds great boldness! For such a top-tier spiritual elixir, a Qi Refining cauldron is sufficient!”

It was essentially a remark about his poverty, though beautifully phrased by Ting Lan. Li Ximing then said:

“This elixir was an inspiration I chanced upon; it isn't fully refined yet. Fortunately, it's now in the nurturing phase. Your elixir requires the Boundless Water-Fire and won't need this cauldron, so there's no conflict.”

Hearing him finally bring up her elixir, Ting Lan folded her arms across her chest and smiled:

“Your array formations even employed mountain-piercing profound nails! I couldn't even find a trace of you. If Hou Fu hadn't received news, I might have had to work for free.”

Ting Lan's words were playful, yet they contained a hint of sincerity. Li Ximing repeatedly apologized and replied:

“Although there was a delay, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. My alchemy cultivation has greatly advanced, giving me much more confidence in refining your batch of spiritual elixirs.”

Ting Lan chuckled, then said earnestly:

“It cannot be delayed any longer. I urgently need this elixir; otherwise, considering your current state, I wouldn't have come all the way to the outer seas in one go.”

“Today, the Heavenly One Pure Essence has been brought, and the Boundless Water-Fire is also with me. As for the cauldron...”

Ting Lan's already beautiful face was full of solemnity:

“Even the spiritual artifact, the Xuan-Crossing View Cauldron, I have borrowed for you.”

‘What a grand display... This elixir is extraordinary.’

Li Ximing now felt very confident in refining the Heavenly One Exudation Elixir, especially with the cauldron and talismanic qi blessings. He nodded slightly and replied:

“Then let's choose a place for alchemy... Your batch of elixir requires the refinement of spiritual materials, which is a time-consuming process. It would be better to start refining earlier.”

He mused:

“To refine such a spiritual elixir, it's best to have a suitable treasured location... I wonder if Dong'e Wanghai has one.”

Li Ximing was, after all, an alchemist. Upon hearing this, Ting Lan began to ponder. Li Ximing glanced at her and smiled:

“How about this: refining spiritual materials is a time-consuming process, but fortunately, it isn't particular about the location. I will refine the materials here first, and Daoist friend can then ride your immortal carriage to search for a suitable treasured spot. Once I've finished refining the materials, we can proceed to the next step of forming the elixir at that treasured location.”

Ting Lan nodded slightly, finding his suggestion reasonable, but she still maintained a cautious approach, replying:

“This method is good, and it's not that I distrust Daoist friend. The Boundless Water-Fire can be left here for you to refine at your discretion. However, the Xuan-Crossing View Cauldron is an item borrowed from the Great Xuan Kui Temple, and it cannot be left behind. We will have to use my Treasure Elephant Cauldron instead, which is a Foundation Establishment-level artifact.”

With his Heavenly Heart Unification elixir nearing completion, Li Ximing's true intention was to get her to leave. After all, the main ingredient of his spiritual medicine was a Yin-aligned spiritual item, and she had once been a subordinate of Yuan Fu, so he feared she might discern something. Yet, upon hearing about the artifact cauldron, he merely muttered to himself:

‘Alright, alright, even cultivators who don't practice alchemy have better cauldrons than mine.’

Whether it was the Treasure Elephant Cauldron or the Xuan-Crossing View Cauldron, either could surpass his River-Midst Cauldron by ten times. He had no objections whatsoever and chuckled:

“No matter.”

Ting Lan then took out a clay pot, no larger than her palm. Its surface was smooth, adorned with numerous gold and white patterns. Holding it, she instructed:

“This Supreme Appearance Pot is also a spiritual artifact, forged by Martial Uncle Zimu back then. This portion of Boundless Water-Fire cannot escape or flee; even if lost, it will return from the void.”

The Boundless Water-Fire was, after all, a valuable item, and her words served as a subtle reminder. As she opened the pot's lid, a ball of light and flame immediately sprang forth. Indigo-blue and cerulean-blue, the two complementary colors intertwined, merging into a single mass. The spiritual energy in the cave dwelling instantly waned, and the Three-Watch Xuang Fire nearby buzzed, its flames rapidly distorting, threatening to ruin the elixir.

Li Ximing, however, gently seized it, and the Boundless Water-Fire immediately calmed down, settling obediently in his hand. Its two colors stabilized, forming a mottled mass resting in his palm.

Ting Lan visibly relaxed, her hand, which had been tensely pressing on the pot's lid, also loosened. She nodded in surprise, saying:

“Daoist friend possesses remarkable skill!”

The Boundless Water-Fire was inherently fierce, and having been forged into an artifact, its essence was intertwined with that spiritual artifact. It could not truly be refined, only borrowed, which added several layers of difficulty to controlling the flames. Ting Lan's repeated reminders earlier were not without reason.

Now seeing Li Ximing exert no effort, she felt that the task was halfway accomplished and was greatly pleased. She took out a treasure box from her sleeve and whispered:

“All the spiritual materials for alchemy are in this treasure box. Most items have two portions. As for the few truly rare ones, if they are ruined during refinement, Daoist friend can make adjustments as you deem fit.”

Li Ximing examined them with his spiritual consciousness, clicking his tongue in amazement, yet growing more cautious inwardly:

‘This is far too important to Purple Smoke Sect. If it succeeds, that's naturally good, but if it fails, it would be both awkward and offensive.’

The female cultivator in autumn-yellow clothes immediately made a gentle gesture, drawing out a colossal cauldron from her sleeve, woven with golden-yellow and ivory-white. It was cast with elephant heads on each of its four sides, shimmering with spiritual light—presumably the Treasure Elephant Cauldron.

Ting Lan transferred this artifact into his hands, as if shedding a heavy burden. Her tone became more lively, and she quickly bid farewell, retreating a few steps out of the Boundless Water-Fire's range, then traversed through the void.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, observed the Boundless Water-Fire in his hand, its indigo-blue and cerulean-blue colors intertwined, feeling a touch of envy:

“This spiritual flame wasn't originally for alchemy. Wielding such a spiritual item in combat would be incredibly advantageous. No wonder Zimu had specifically refined this fire into a spiritual artifact. During evasion, cutting off the spiritual connection means enemies can't suddenly appear around you, and it becomes even more potent when setting ambushes...”

He was not unable to sense the raw, untamed nature of the flame, but with Valley Wind Fire-Guidance, controlling it was still effortless. The Supreme Appearance Pot was ingeniously conceived, a marvel of craftsmanship, granting the Boundless Water-Fire a degree of autonomy. Even though Ting Lan had left with the spiritual artifact, what remained in his hand was not just an ordinary flame, but the Boundless Water-Fire itself.

‘True Person Zimu's work... considering her age, she would be extremely old now. Whether her disappearance is real or feigned, it's hard to say...’

He activated the Boundless Water-Fire, righted the Treasure Elephant Cauldron, and one by one, spiritual materials flew into the furnace.

‘The Heavenly One Exudation Elixir is a troublesome matter; there's enough time for the Three-Watch Xuang Fire to finish nurturing my spiritual elixir!’