Chapter 828: Hundred Days to Elixir (1+1/2)

Li Ximing looked at her for a few breaths, and his heart suddenly stirred. "What does this mean? Does Ziyan have clues about Tianxiaming, but is hesitant to reveal them due to some doubts?"

When the Donghuo Cave Heaven of the Dongli Sect fell, countless Myriad Sun Dao lineages scattered and were acquired by various Qing Song families. At that time, the Li family had not yet risen to prominence; they only obtained a 'Runyang' cultivation method through the Dragon Slaying event, benefiting from it to this day.

It is important to know that Yufu Commandery and Dongli Mountain are both located at the border of the Ziyan and Qingchi families' territories. These two families gained even more. It was highly possible that Ziyan had obtained traces of the 'Tianxiaming' life-altering divine ability at that time, which immediately made his heart pound.

Given Li Ximing's character, it was equally impossible for him to make confident and sworn promises. He pondered, then said: "The divine abilities of different Dao lineages vary greatly. Whether one can master them, I believe, depends first on one's heart, and second, on the Dao lineage itself. Zhaojing has not studied the cultivation method, so I cannot make a definitive statement. Tianxiaming is an ancient name; this life-altering divine ability is also called Zhaochexin. Having been revised by various emperors of Wei, Zhaoyuan Immortal Mansion, and Dongli Sect, it likely has aspects that lead to enlightenment and integrity."

Tinglan's gaze shifted away; she seemed to have anticipated Li Ximing's cautious attitude. She calmly stated: "Indeed, there have been significant improvements. The Cui clan cultivated themselves with propriety, establishing Dongli. Though my Ziyan clan was not prosperous then, we had some connections with Dongli. The cultivation method for this particular life-altering divine ability has always been locked away. One could only seek this path through Zifu, but never achieve Zifu through this path."

A somewhat awkward smile appeared on her face; she seemed hesitant to speak. She replied: "This Dao lineage... my Ziyan clan is quite familiar with it. If Zhaojing is interested in the Tianxiaming Dao lineage, after achieving your second divine ability... you can visit the Ziyan Blessed Land."

"As expected, there is news of the life-altering divine ability!" Li Ximing nodded slowly. Although he was puzzled by Tinglan's hesitant and bitter tone, his expression showed little excitement, yet his heart instantly brightened.

The Gate of Heaven's Veneration had already achieved some progress. Once he consumed the elixir refined from Taiyin, the speed of cultivating the Gate of Heaven's Veneration should be incredibly swift. This spiritual medicine also had the effect of breaking through barriers, making the 'Jun Daowei' body-shaping divine ability within reach.

As long as Ziyan was willing to provide Tianxiaming, once 'Jun Daowei' was perfected, Li Ximing would gather the most essential 'body' and 'life' of the orthodox Myriad Sun's three arts, one body, and one life. Once cultivated, along with the Gate of Heaven's Veneration, he could immediately leap to become an outstanding practitioner among the Zifu!

Zifu practitioners of other Dao lineages weren't so fortunate. With both the Cui family and Dongli, the Dao lineage was almost explicitly laid out. One side needed to find clues, the other needed to cultivate potent elixirs. Li Ximing's greatest worry had been the matter of the life-altering divine ability, and now, with an unexpected lead, how could his heart not be filled with joy and light?

"Crossing the Violet is difficult, I have no further desires. If I can wield divine abilities and cultivate my body to control my destiny in this life, my journey will not have been in vain."

He now valued the Heaven's Prime Elixir in his hand even more. The carriage soon stopped, and the rabbit demon in purple robes approached to invite them. The two stepped down from the celestial carriage together, seeing boiling seawater, vast stretches of white sand, and thick smoke billowing from the mountains on the island.

Li Ximing swept his celestial gaze over the area and immediately knew that the island's fire and water veins were complexly intertwined. The entire island was either lava or hot springs, a peculiar place indeed. It seemed to be occupied by a demonic sect, with many black-robed disciples hurrying about. The two simply ignored them. Li Ximing nodded secretly, and Tinglan chuckled: "Finding a temporary place for alchemy was quite difficult. I looked at several oceans nearby, and only this spot was acceptable."

She turned her palm upwards, making a gesture of invitation. Li Ximing stepped forward gladly. Tinglan looked with him towards the mountain in the center of the island, where there was surprisingly a dark, blood-mist-shrouded Qi Cultivation-level formation, which was not bad at all, covering a vast area.

It was important to remember that this place was in the outer sea; the Sea of King Dong'e was already at the very edge. To be able to construct such a formation implied it must be a renowned demonic sect in the local area.

However, this formation was effectively useless to the two of them. With a subtle step into the void, they entered undetected, landing directly in a luxurious council hall, where two demonically-charged protectors stood before the hall's entrance.

When two such radiant True Cultivators appeared before them, the two late-stage Qi Cultivation protectors seemed blind, seeing nothing, allowing the duo to calmly enter the great hall. Li Ximing heard the clamor inside: "We've finally caught a member of the Han family! They're on Changdu Island! Trapped by the grand formation!" "We should launch a full assault now and eliminate the Han family first!"

An insidious voice immediately interrupted, cursing: "That Han Li is cautious and cunning! How many times has he escaped after Han Shihai's death?! We should all go to the island together and annihilate him!" "Nonsense! A mere Qi Cultivator, what's there to worry about?!"

Li Ximing raised an eyebrow at what he heard, but Tinglan, beside him, was uninterested in the squabbles of these small-fry. She casually said: "I'll handle this."

She rolled up her sleeves and pushed the hall doors open with a "creak." Inside, a dark, skeletal demonic throne was visible, seemingly occupied by a burly man in an imposing manner. Li Ximing didn't bother to observe closely. Tinglan pursed her lips and exhaled softly, as if blowing out a candle.

"Whoosh..." A purple wind swept through the entire great hall. Whether it was the sinister and imposing island lord above, or the formidable protectors at the side, all seemed to be illusions, dissipating like a gust of sand. Black, shimmering scales and dazzling, cold blades—all the magical artifacts were sliced into neat, fingernail-sized circular pieces, clattering as they spread across the floor.

The candlelight in the hall, however, remained unaffected, casting a soft glow on the empty seats.

The once-noisy hall was instantly empty, not a single soul in sight, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

It was unclear how many Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation cultivators were instantly annihilated. Tinglan, as if brushing dust from her clothes, casually remarked: "It's a pity none of them followed the righteous path; otherwise, a few could have been spared for errands."

She lightly stomped her foot, and the entire great hall shook violently. A circular hole appeared in the center, from which vigorous fiery malevolence gushed forth. Li Ximing also activated his Mountain-Shifting Sea-Treading Tiger ability to stabilize the mountain's earth veins. Tinglan turned to the rabbit demon and instructed: "Zegui, clean this up thoroughly. Do not disturb the True Cultivator."

Zegui immediately bowed respectfully and withdrew. Li Ximing glanced at the shadows in the great hall; the two protectors at the entrance remained oblivious, faithfully guarding the door.

"This fully demonstrates the profundity of Ziyan's Dao techniques and Tinglan's profound cultivation..." Although he didn't know what divine ability Tinglan cultivated, it certainly wasn't a life-altering one. Her Violet Qi had no control over fire or earth veins, nor did it possess any bewildering properties. All her actions, both before and after, were due to magical arts, not divine abilities.

At that moment, Li Ximing released his divine ability. The Precious Elephant Furnace rapidly expanded as if inflated, thudding down onto the fiery malevolence. The Boundless Water and Fire surged once more. Tinglan then gently beckoned, and a small furnace appeared in her palm.

This furnace was purple on top and black on the bottom. The black wasn't the typical bronze-black of ordinary alchemy furnaces; it leaned more towards a dark, fabric-like color. It was adorned with depictions of crows and owls, a rare five-legged furnace. "The Zifu spiritual artifact, 'Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace'."

The preciousness of this spiritual furnace needed no further elaboration. Zifu spiritual artifacts were already rare, let alone a Zifu-grade spiritual furnace. As Li Ximing laid his hands on the furnace, a profound mystery arose, and an exclamation surfaced in his heart: "What a fine spiritual artifact..."

But his expression quickly froze. Under the perception of his spiritual sense, two imposing ancient seal characters appeared on the bottom of the spiritual furnace: "Great Xiukui Temple has formidable capabilities... Perhaps it was a gift from Xiuyue. It couldn't possibly have been stolen from the north, could it? Grand True Monarch Taiyue is a manifest True Monarch."

Tinglan seemed oblivious. She solemnly took out a bluish-green jade box and gently opened it. Inside, it was filled with pale white spiritual water, and a surge of spiritual energy wafted forth. In the water was a walnut-sized, pure white object, seeming neither water nor solid, full of spiritual essence, tumbling about, occasionally poking its head out of the water as if observing.

Li Ximing's eyes burned with eagerness: "Heaven's Prime Pure Essence!" This object was precisely the core of the Heaven's Prime Elixir, and also the extremely rare Zifu spiritual water, Heaven's Prime Pure Essence!

Among the most renowned Zifu spiritual objects, Heaven's Prime Pure Essence stood in a class of its own, due to its miraculous effect of purifying one's Dao foundation and rectifying imbalances.

In cultivation, the techniques practiced and the energies absorbed create a chasm-like difference in later stages. For rogue cultivators who had reached a dead end, having absorbed impure energies, their life's potential was already visible, and even dreams became difficult. Therefore, in popular tales, nine out of ten stories mentioning this spiritual water feature a protagonist, perhaps severely injured, who either receives it as a gift from a beautiful woman or seizes it from an enemy. Upon consuming it in one go, their injuries heal, and they undergo a profound transformation.

Such stories were common, and thus, throughout generations, from Zifu direct descendants to Fetal Breath rogue cultivators, all had heard of this item's great renown. The Li family itself had heard of it since their establishment, but this was the first time Li Ximing had seen it.

This item was also precious to Tinglan. She carefully held it in her hands and said: "Zifu spiritual water, Heaven's Prime Pure Essence, preserved with the White Partridge Origin Spring water. Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, please!"

She clearly explained how the spiritual water was preserved, obviously fearing it might affect his alchemy. As the subsequent process involved another's Dao lineage, it was inappropriate for her to observe closely. She immediately retreated, closed the great hall's doors tightly, and sat cross-legged outside.

With a thought from Li Ximing, the Boundless Water and Fire immediately parted, and the jade box swiftly flew in. The Heaven's Prime Pure Essence penetrated the water and entered the furnace. "Boom!"

Immediately, the sound of surging floods and crashing waves resounded. Heaven's Prime Pure Essence was yin water, and the alchemy furnace served as a valley. The yin water found its natural use, becoming part of the elixir and fulfilling its original purpose. It was inherently a spiritual water suitable for alchemy. Li Ximing refined it smoothly and comfortably, encasing the Heaven's Prime Pure Essence with refined elixir liquid. With a tap of the furnace, the elixir's aroma changed several times within a single breath, and the Boundless Water and Fire surged.

Immediately, the sound of surging floods and crashing waves resounded. Heaven's Prime Pure Essence was yin water, and the alchemy furnace served as a valley. The yin water found its natural use, becoming part of the elixir and fulfilling its original purpose. It was inherently a spiritual water suitable for alchemy. Li Ximing refined it smoothly and comfortably, encasing the Heaven's Prime Pure Essence with refined elixir liquid. With a tap of the furnace, the elixir's aroma changed several times within a single breath, and the Boundless Water and Fire surged.

A full hundred days passed. Under Tinglan's anxious gaze, layers of dark rain clouds suddenly rose into the sky, ominous but not yet releasing rain. The entire island became humid and stifling. The once-dry sandy soil quickly grew damp, showing faint signs of turning into muddy mire.

"Boom!" Muffled thunder rumbled within the dark clouds; only its sound was heard, not its flash. Tinglan gazed at the sky from afar, a hint of joy on her face. She counted the days and nodded, saying: "Hundred-day elixir formation, also a good omen."

"Creak..." The great hall doors slowly opened a crack. She raised her eyebrows to look, and dense white mist surged out from the opening, spilling down the steps. Surprisingly, it carried no peculiar scent, yet wherever it passed, plants sprouted and insects hummed, a vibrant scene of life.

The True Cultivator, clad in white and gold Daoist robes, stepped out, a smile on his face. He looked up slightly, made a congratulatory gesture, and said: "Congratulations, Tinglan!"

Her eyes sparkling, Li Ximing smiled and said: "The Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace is truly a magnificent treasure. With its aid, all conditions—heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony—were met, and I obtained a total of four elixirs!"

"Excellent!" In alchemy, during the Fetal Breath stage, one furnace could yield about ten elixirs. After Qi Cultivation, it was usually fewer than ten. By Foundation Establishment, it dropped to six to nine. For Zifu spiritual elixirs, three or four was already a good number. Li Ximing had initially promised three or fewer, which was why Tinglan had readily agreed.

Now, with two extra elixirs, effectively double the promised amount, how could Tinglan not be surprised and delighted? She repeatedly exclaimed: "Zhaojing is truly a master of alchemy! Even Senior Xiao would produce only this many elixirs of this grade! You are truly... a brilliantly talented and peerless individual!"

Tinglan's words were truly heartfelt. Li Ximing, barely a hundred years old, was already comparable to old seniors who had diligently cultivated for hundreds of years in this path. How could he not be called a brilliantly talented and peerless individual? But who was Xiao Chuting? Although both were originators of immortal clan divine abilities, Li Ximing himself understood the vast difference. Putting aside other matters, Li Ximing encountered Changxiao upon achieving Zifu, while Xiao Chuting faced True Monarch Tianyuan of the Golden Feather Sect! This Elder Xishang suffered not even a scratch, and not a single direct descendant of the Xiao family fell; only Chen Taojing was lost.

Li Ximing dared not compare himself to him. He earnestly stated: "Fellow Daoist, you overpraise me. If Senior Xiao were here, he would refine at least six spiritual elixirs."

Tinglan was overjoyed; she cared not whether it was four or six elixirs. Watching Li Ximing shake his sleeve, take out a jade box, and gently open it to reveal four sparkling pure white elixirs with gold patterns, she responded: "Good, good, good..."

Li Ximing smiled faintly: "These elixirs were made by me, so I understand them somewhat. Elixirs of yin water must be stored in containers at all costs. Exposure to the mundane world will diminish them, and exposure to the void will cause immediate annihilation. They must be stored with caution."

"Thank you for the reminder, Zhaojing!" Tinglan might have already known, but she politely acknowledged it. Seeing Li Ximing produce a golden alchemy furnace from his palm, she quickly waved her hand and replied: "This won't do. Fellow Daoist, receiving four elixirs is already far beyond my expectations. I should be thanking you. Please accept the Precious Elephant Furnace as a return gift!"

"Oh?" Li Ximing was genuinely tempted for a moment. He didn't have an alchemy furnace himself. Although the Precious Elephant Furnace wasn't an ancient artifact, it was considered a top-grade artifact among its kind, convenient to use. Such a furnace was valuable, yet it couldn't compare to two Zifu spiritual elixirs. Accepting it wouldn't be excessive. He hesitated slightly, but Tinglan chuckled:

"I obtained the Precious Elephant Furnace from the Leiyun Temple Cave Heaven. I don't have my master's great abilities, so while others gained spiritual artifacts and thunder stones, I only obtained some Dao lineages and artifacts." "This furnace was forged after the Leiyun Temple Cave Heaven was sealed, so it's not an ancient artifact. However, its body is excellent, crafted from True Flame Gold Stone of True Fire and Sun Cloud Incantation Fluid of the Sun."

Although these two materials were Foundation Establishment-grade, they were rare spiritual items even among Foundation Establishment cultivators at the time. Now, even Zifu cultivators rarely possessed them. Li Ximing exchanged a few polite words, then gladly accepted it.

He returned the Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace to Tinglan. She then used the Xiangsang Pot to collect the Boundless Water and Fire. The two sat down. Tinglan smiled at him, placed the jade box on the table, and introduced: "The Heaven's Prime Elixir, refined from Heaven's Prime Pure Essence. In ancient times, it could revive the dead and regrow flesh from bones. Now, with souls dissipating first, this elixir cannot save them, but it has no problem healing Zifu cultivation bodies and extending lifespans."

"This item can also resolve all fire-related ailments, neutralize damage from metallic Gengqi, purify impurities in one's immortal foundation, and enhance Dao cultivation. It must not touch the ground, as it will dissolve instantly upon contact with earth."

"This item can also resolve all fire-related ailments, neutralize damage from metallic Gengqi, purify impurities in one's immortal foundation, and enhance Dao cultivation. It must not touch the ground, as it will dissolve instantly upon contact with earth."

"This elixir also has some minor uses, which Zhaojing probably won't need. It can alleviate the post-natal weakness for Zifu cultivators after childbirth and accelerate the gestation of divine abilities after absorbing another's immortal foundation."

She smiled faintly and said: "Purifying impurities in one's immortal foundation sounds enticing, but it's not as powerful as a complete portion of Heaven's Prime Pure Essence. If my Ziyan clan were to use this elixir, we would typically use it like this..." "For example, if one has established their foundation with a third-grade cultivation method and later switched to a fourth-grade method of the same essence, they would take this elixir when breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. This not only increases cultivation and solidifies the foundation but also purifies the immortal foundation."

Li Ximing had the elixir formula, but the origins and lineage of this elixir, as well as the various records regarding its effects after consumption, were clearly only known within the Dao lineage that Tinglan had acquired. The fact that she explained it in such detail was actually related to the unspoken rules of alchemy.

When alchemists successfully produce elixirs, they usually estimate a certain number. If more are produced than estimated, it is often not mentioned, and the surplus is tacitly considered as compensation for the alchemist. Although Li Ximing gave four elixirs, Tinglan didn't believe he had only produced four.

Explaining it so clearly was also a gesture of goodwill. Li Ximing had initially promised three or fewer, but ended up producing four, which was no small matter.

"He probably produced five, and realizing the elixirs' preciousness, he didn't take too many."

This not only gave ample face to Ziyan but also demonstrated his restrained character. It was only then that Tinglan presented the Precious Elephant Furnace as a token of her appreciation.

Li Ximing simply nodded with a smile. "The Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace is truly remarkable. And with my easy control over Boundless Water and Fire, this batch yielded a full six elixirs..." At least one of these six elixirs was thanks to the Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace, and another was due to a stroke of luck from various conveniences. Li Ximing secretly kept only two, also to foster good relations with Ziyan.

For no other reason than that it was, after all, the Solar Dao lineage, and his own life-altering divine ability still depended on others... "Moreover, by letting Tinglan gain substantial benefits this time, she'll surely come seeking me for future alchemy, and after a few more times, my own reserves will be plentiful."

He cherished the Heaven's Prime Elixir greatly. His junior clan member, Li Minggong, had a slightly inferior immortal foundation. With this elixir, it might be possible to find a way for her as well.

After the two had handled the matter, Tinglan pondered for a moment, then said solemnly: "I have something to tell Zhaojing..."

Li Ximing raised an eyebrow. Tinglan replied: "This matter, though important, is not urgent. The reason I came this time was also for this issue. Previously, I was afraid it would affect your alchemy, so I didn't bring it up. Now that the elixir is complete, I should explain it clearly to you."

She stated solemnly: "The True Monarch is about to undergo reincarnation and cultivation in Jiangbei. There is still over a year's time."

"What?!" Li Ximing was stunned, showing alarm. Tinglan quickly explained the situation, comforting him: "This matter is significant, but fortunately, it's not in Jiangnan but in Jiangbei, and the remaining route is also heading north, so it doesn't concern our Jiangnan side much. However, your noble clan once had a presence in Jiangbei, so it's good to be aware."

Li Ximing felt a little uneasy. He shook his head anxiously and replied: "Sigh... How long has it been since the last time? How can such a thing happen again?"

Tinglan listened to his words, thoughtfully replied: "Fellow Daoist, you wouldn't be thinking of returning to the inland sea, would you? That would likely be inconvenient... Even if you were to return, these matters wouldn't be of much help and would only draw the attention of those with ulterior motives. Luoxia still respects Zifu Immortal Cultivators; Zifu-level practitioners usually don't lose face easily. As long as they don't seek their own demise, at most one or two direct descendants might get involved, but it won't jeopardize their very existence."

She sighed softly and explained: "After all... Luoxia must also consider our feelings. If a Zifu clan were truly annihilated because of this, future reincarnations would not be easy. It would cause immortal resentment and popular outrage, which would not look good." "I asked Ye Gui, and he doesn't seem to be rushing back either. That Li Jiangqian is capable, so there's no need to worry."

Evidently, concerning the True Monarch, Ye Gui didn't want to bother with the All-Immortal Dao. Li Ximing, after all, came from an immortal clan and was one of the most lineage-conscious among the Zifu. Tinglan understood this and feared he might act impulsively, potentially losing her elixirs in the end. That's why she chose to speak only after the alchemy was complete. Li Ximing listened to her words and merely mused: "I just hope that the clan manager will be sensible and maintain more contact."

"They wouldn't dare not be sensible." Tinglan seemed to recall something amusing, her lips curving slightly upwards as she replied: "They are far more afraid than noble clans. The True Monarch's reincarnation needs a 'clown'. Being from the All-Immortal Dao and a demonic path, their identity is highly sensitive. Noble clans, who have for generations considered themselves righteous... usually in stories, they are the ones accompanied by beauties. The young lady might be unruly at first, but ultimately she'll have to submit, and perhaps even gain some benefits."

"They are far more afraid than noble clans. The True Monarch's reincarnation needs a 'clown'. Being from the All-Immortal Dao and a demonic path, their identity is highly sensitive. Noble clans, who have for generations considered themselves righteous... usually in stories, they are the ones accompanied by beauties. The young lady might be unruly at first, but ultimately she'll have to submit, and perhaps even gain some benefits."

Li Ximing sighed and shook his head, responding: "I've read more stories than you, fellow Daoist. There's another type that writes: the protagonist is righteous and perceptive, and my family's 'righteous path' is revealed to be ugly, while the demonic sect's demoness is truly lovely. No family comes through entirely clean; if one truly wants to expose faults, where are there none? It's best not to get involved; those small benefits aren't worth it."

Tinglan chuckled upon hearing this: "Fellow Daoist, you have a clear understanding... Speaking of which... that Moon-Gazing Lake..." "Hey!"

Li Ximing dared not let her continue. The True Monarch possessed vast divine abilities; who knew what inspiration might be drawn from such tales? If things truly turned out that way, Ye Gui would laugh his teeth out. He simply hesitated, then began to write a letter. "Although the younger generation in my family is intelligent, there's no guarantee that someone won't be affected by fate. Jiangqian has a talisman seed, so I must write a letter to ensure that the family's power remains in the hands of my Grandfather and Jiangqian."