Chapter 849: Yin Zhi's Change

Li Ximing scanned the array of cultivators below, his brows furrowing. He knew that with more and more Purple Manor cultivators entering seclusion here, it was gradually becoming inconvenient. After all, if they could cause trouble today, tomorrow they might disturb him enough to force him out of seclusion, leaving everything in others' hands.

*It's not that I don't trust Xiukui or Jiuqiu... White Sands Island can serve as a place for messages, but I can no longer cultivate in seclusion here. It's better to find another location.*

With this thought, he no longer had any intention of staying on White Sands Island. He glanced at the motley crowd of cultivators below, frowning inwardly.

"If I simply leave, this area will suffer again in a few years. Whether it's the immortal sects of Xilian Sea or the surrounding factions, they might not dare to come for a while, but tests are inevitable."

If he continued to stay, things would only escalate. Not to mention the Dragon Clan, even the Great Copper Temple of Peacock Sea, upon hearing that a Purple Manor power had emerged in the neighboring sea region, would likely send people to inquire. Those monks were sly; there was no telling what trouble they might cause.

He paused slightly, then finally spoke:

"I have traveled through various seas and happened upon this place. I didn't expect you all to gather on this island and receive my protection. Now I am leaving this sea; our karmic connection is complete."

The cultivators below, hearing his words, finally felt that they wouldn't be pursued. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But hearing he was leaving, they grew fearful again, bowing tearfully. Li Ximing simply said:

"The demon creatures are rampant in Dong'e King Sea. Since I have come, I cannot just stand by and watch these demons cause mischief..."

If Li Ximing were a formation master, modifying the White Sands Island formation would be most suitable. Unfortunately, he knew nothing about formations. Pills, on the other hand, would cause them to turn against each other. He could only take out several jade slips from his sleeve.

These were several scrolls of cultivation techniques and spells from the inner seas. No matter what, they were far superior to the common goods these cultivators possessed. Li Ximing tossed the jade slips onto the table and shook his head, saying:

"What kind of miscellaneous cultivation methods are you all practicing? You can't even defeat a few demon creatures. Pass these around... For the next decade or so, no demon creatures will dare to come. Rely on your own cultivation to pass down your legacies."

"I will first go to Xilian Sea. When I return, I will give some guidance to the few cultivators on the sea who have a chance to establish their foundation, and then I will resume my travels through various seas."

The cultivators were both startled and delighted. They then saw the old man move two steps forward, weeping as he said:

"May I know your esteemed name, sir?... The people of Dong'e King Sea... are eternally grateful..."

*My name?*

Li Ximing couldn't be bothered to give these people a chance to exploit his reputation. Nor did he want any future incidents to be blamed on him. Could he possibly expect these penniless rogue cultivators to produce a few outstanding late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators? Or even a Purple Manor cultivator?

Since he didn't expect anything, leaving his name and forming a karmic connection with their lineage would only invite trouble in the end. He turned to leave, casually saying:

"What use is a name? If you people just refrain from resorting to violence and bloodshed, that would be the best repayment to me."

He vanished into the void, leaving behind a group of people who still dared not look up. Hearing just that one sentence, over ninety percent of the cultivators broke out in a cold sweat. They looked towards Daoist Wu, who was leading them.

The old Daoist continued to kowtow incessantly. Now that the crisis was averted, he relaxed completely. He mused inwardly:

*Good thing... several of my juniors in the Wu family are just the right age. And that kid surnamed Han has also gone west for training... In this way, my Wu family will benefit the most...*

Spiritual energy was sparse in the distant seas, and traversing the void was extremely fast. Li Ximing traveled for only half a day, crossing several seas, and soon reached the region known as Xilian Sea.

The seabed of Xilian Sea was remarkably high. Along the way, the average depth was less than a hundred zhang from the surface. In shallower areas, many islanders waded into the sea to dig for reefs, and there were quite a number of them. Most were robust, at least well-fed. Occasionally, some would drown while digging for reefs, their bodies floating up. Those nearby showed no great sorrow, their expressions mostly of reflection and surprise.

Achieving this under immortal rule was not easy. Observing the expressions and demeanor of the common people, who didn't seem to suffer much under the rule of the "All-Encompassing Immortal Sect," Li Ximing gained some understanding. He continued west and soon saw an immortal mountain at sea and several islands.

He didn't need to waste much time. The cultivators on the entire island were already in a panic, gathering at his feet. Li Ximing, however, frowned inwardly:

"How sharp... This sect is no ordinary lineage, nor is it some rogue immortal who achieved enlightenment overseas. Just by this reaction, it's already comparable to the lineages within the seas..."

As expected, he looked up slightly. Several streaks of light shone on the immortal mountain not far away, swiftly approaching. They transformed into two young men with flowing robes, who bowed together and said in unison:

"The Zhao clan of Jishan respectfully greets the True Lord!"

"True Lord, may we know... why you have graced us with your presence... and if you have any instructions?"

Li Ximing was slightly puzzled. He thought he had found a prominent family under the All-Encompassing Sect, so he asked:

"Is the All-Encompassing Immortal Sect located here?"

The two young men exchanged a glance, a strange look in their eyes. One of them respectfully said:

"If the True Lord is looking for the All-Encompassing Immortal Sect, then that would undoubtedly be our Zhao clan of Jishan."

As soon as he finished speaking, a person emerged from the void. He was dressed in white feather robes with a teal short robe underneath. His face was aged, a stark contrast to Li Ximing. His cultivation was merely at the early Purple Manor stage, perhaps even less than Li Ximing's.

Such an elderly man, who had broken through to Purple Manor in his twilight years, naturally greeted Li Ximing courteously. He cupped his hands and smiled, saying:

"So it is True Lord Zhaojing who has arrived. I am Lin Yi of Jishan. Please, come inside so we may speak further!"

Hearing him utter his Daoist title, Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Fellow Daoist... you have very well-informed news."

True Lord Lin Yi, seeing his question, immediately smiled and said:

"It was True Lord Jiuqiu who guided me, and that's how I learned your Daoist title. Hearing that you were cultivating in Dong'e King Sea, I went there to look around. It just so happened that I encountered the White Sands Island incident, and then I knew it was very likely you."

Hearing Jiuqiu's name, Li Ximing's guard relaxed slightly. To be honest, Jiuqiu's reputation was far more useful than Ziyan's or Xiukui's. He nodded gently and replied:

"Any nearby place will do."

The old True Lord understood. The two traveled through the void and landed in a nearby pavilion. Lin Yi, likely having a request, appeared very courteous. He had tea brought, and a maidservant carried a gleaming tray with two small purple fruits on it.

"Zhaojing, please..."

Lin Yi said with a smile. Li Ximing, who didn't have a very good impression of him, merely nodded in acknowledgment and said:

"Fellow Daoist, what matter do you seek me for? Let's discuss it first."

The True Lord then said earnestly:

"Fellow Daoist, you don't need to call me by my Daoist title; my family doesn't really use them. You and I can be considered to have a shared origin. My surname is Yan, and my given name is Dushui. You can simply call me Dushui."

Seeing his sincere expression, Li Ximing said:

"I wonder... what is this shared origin?"

Yan Dushui nodded and said:

"Fellow Daoist is a descendant of Ancient Wei, and I am a descendant of Ancient Yan. In ancient times, there were indeed marital ties with the imperial lineage. At that time... carriages departed from Yan Mountain, heading south in a mighty procession..."

This indeed surprised Li Ximing. He looked at him again and asked:

"Ancient Yan..."

Yan Dushui didn't know if he believed it. He raised his eyebrows wistfully and said in a hoarse voice:

"Yan and Wei assisted each other until Wei unified the north. Our Yan state then maintained balance with the Sixteen Barbarians beyond the pass. Later, both our families were shattered by the Hu and Jie Buddhist cultivators. My family fled with the Yan lineage all the way here... Only today have we finally met..."

"Counting now, it has been hundreds of years since we last saw any Wei descendants. My family cherishes the past, and even these islands and mountain ranges are named after places from our former country. Moreover, large numbers of our clan members changed their surname to Yan to commemorate the past."

Hearing this, Li Ximing felt no particular closeness in his heart. Instead, he silently shook his head.

The first half of Yan Dushui's words might have been true, but the latter half became increasingly fabricated. Wei had indeed been restored at some point, and there must have been Wei Li descendants who spread out years ago, so it was impossible that none could be found...

The descendants of Yan were clearly not as close as the Cui clan. They might not have been willing to submit to Wei's rule in the end. Now, with Li Ximing having become a Purple Manor cultivator, they came forward only after hearing about it from Jiuqiu... Clearly, there wasn't much genuine affection.

He merely cupped his hands and said:

"It is often said that my family are survivors of Wei Li, but in truth, my family does not know its ancestral origins. It's simply that I, Mingyang, happened to achieve the Dao, and so various families have made this speculation..."

"I understand!"

Yan Dushui nodded knowingly and replied:

"My family doesn't flaunt itself externally. When our dynasty fell, we escaped with a group of immortal sects. By the time we reached this place, almost all that remained were members of the royal family. We also borrowed the names of these immortal sects, and when we go out, we call ourselves the All-Encompassing Immortal Sect..."

Yan's reputation was clearly not as great as Wei's, which carried such significant karmic ties. This group of people had only come along half-heartedly over the years. As soon as Li Ximing fell silent, the old man immediately continued:

"This time, I invited an old friend because I indeed have a request..."

He said gravely:

"My family coincidentally discovered a precious item in a certain area and has been waiting for many years. It requires the assistance of Mingyang's divine ability... Previously, we also consulted True Lord Yangya of the Cui clan in the West Sea..."

"But his meaning was that whether it's the East Sea or the inner seas, he will no longer interfere. He wants to settle the karma of his ancestors. Our matter clearly involves the Cui clan's ancestors, so he was unwilling to help."

Li Ximing had also heard of True Lord Yangya. This person was a member of the Cui family, but their branch had separated and moved to the West Sea, maintaining little contact with the main lineage. He didn't expect the separation to be so clean-cut. He hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"What kind of treasure is it?"

Yan Dushui's voice grew softer as he spoke solemnly:

"A trace of Banished Qi."

Li Ximing questioned:

"What kind of treasure is that?"

The other party paused, then refrained from speaking further. He smiled and said:

"Fellow Daoist only needs to offer a little assistance. After it's done, please keep it confidential for my family, and Jishan will certainly offer a generous reward!"

He smiled faintly and replied:

"This item grows on a Listening Soul Mulberry Wood. After the matter is concluded, I will take the treasure, and the Listening Soul Mulberry Wood where it resides can be given to you, Fellow Daoist. Any other requests can be brought up again."

Although Listening Soul Mulberry Wood was only a Foundation Establishment-level spiritual item, it was exceptionally precious due to its extreme rarity in the current world. Most of it was found in Grotto-Heaven Secret Realms, with a small portion obtainable in Southern Xinjiang.

This item could be used to craft soul lamps of excellent quality. These lamps could largely prevent Purple Manor divine abilities from affecting the manifestation of life and death.

One should know that this was a material only used for the soul lamps of the Three Sects' cultivators. If one's own family possessed a piece, the predictions of fortune and misfortune for direct descendants would become much more accurate, making it a considerably important spiritual item.

Li Ximing remembered that Minghui of Lotus Temple had asked him to search for this spiritual item. If he had extra, he wondered if the monk would accept it. However, Li Ximing had always had a poor impression of monks and remained wary, so he merely stroked his beard without speaking.

After a few breaths, Li Ximing deliberately said:

"I still hope Fellow Daoist will explain clearly to me. If I don't even know what kind of treasure it is, or if it might cause trouble, how can I agree?"

It was unclear what Jiuqiu's people had told Yan Dushui. The old man seemed to trust him greatly. He hesitated, then nodded and whispered:

"Then I won't hide it any longer..."

"The Twelve Qis originate from Pure Qi; under the Profound Wind, all Qis are born. Yet, one Qi's karmic position was seized at its very inception, falling into the endless netherworld, becoming a hazy and unseen path."

"That was an extremely ancient matter... This Qi was locked away, its karmic position falling into the netherworld, forming various transformations, becoming increasingly rare in the present world. It is said that at that time it could still be reclaimed, but it was exceedingly difficult, and no one was willing to tackle such a hard task."

"Only ancient immortal cultivation still practiced it slightly. As this Qi increasingly merged with the netherworld, in turn nourishing it, the Qi in the present world became scarcer and its lineage soon vanished... thus rarely manifesting in the present world."

"In ancient times, this Qi still had a name, but as its traces became scarcer, people also called this event the 'Yin Banishment Transformation'. That name was also obscured in historical records, and in more recent times, it came to be called 'Banished Qi,' a term that has persisted to this day, so even if one knows of its existence, one can only refer to it as Banished Qi."

He clearly hoped Li Ximing would participate in this matter, speaking in detail. His face filled with emotion, he replied:

"Today's Listening Soul Mulberry Wood, Nine Refined Spirit Souls... these are all manifestations of this Qi. One could say they are of immortal Dao, but if one were to be precise, they only bear imperceptible traces of it..."

"And the reason why crushing jade talismans, tokens, and other items for warning is feasible today can also be traced back to this Banished Qi's karmic position..."

Li Ximing nodded thoughtfully. Yan Dushui's gaze was profound as he softly said:

"The Yin Banishment Transformation also provided a shortcut for a certain Venerable to seize another karmic position. It even involves the secrets of several Daoist lineages, alas! The matters within are intricate and complex; the more recent the era, the less can be spoken of them. Please forgive me..."

Yan Dushui quickly fell silent. Li Ximing then asked softly:

"If that's the case... Fellow Daoist truly has some fortunate encounters, to even be able to reach items from the netherworld."

Yan Dushui shook his head heavily, sighed, and replied:

"That's not exactly how it is. My ancestors fled here and cultivated for dozens of generations. We were fortunate enough to form a connection with a figure from the Underworld. This item was a treasure he left behind before his departure, but unfortunately, my family has no means to move it... We could only watch in helpless anxiety..."

"It wasn't until I reached Purple Manor and visited Jiuqiu several times, seeking their respectful guidance, that I learned the method to retrieve it. However, it requires the assistance of Mingyang's divine ability, 'Clarity of All Under Heaven,' or the ancient divine ability 'Emperor's Response,' or a state-founding Daoist lineage... only a manifestation of a divine ability is needed."

Li Ximing remained relatively calm. He didn't have too many doubts about the request of the man before him. Firstly, the benefit of the Listening Soul Mulberry Wood wasn't tremendously great; it was merely rare. For cultivators within the seas, it could be found in Southern Xinjiang, and its rarity might even be discounted.

*If they are truly trying to lure me... the reward offered is far too unappealing. Furthermore, 'Clarity of All Under Heaven' is still a long way off for me...*

From this perspective, it was likely just a simple favor. Moreover, Jiuqiu was acting as guarantor. True Lord Yuandao, 'Three Envoys Guarding Profound Fire,' had given his word very readily. He had also clarified the lingering issues from the Peacock matter. This left a rather good impression on Li Ximing, making him willing to trust them.

Yet, he smiled faintly, nodded, and said:

"Fellow Daoist truly overestimates me. 'Clarity of All Under Heaven' is such a profound life-bound divine ability; not only have I not cultivated it, but I don't even possess the cultivation method. How then can I help you, Fellow Daoist?"

Yan Dushui shook his head repeatedly, a hint of carefree amusement on his face, and replied:

"The East Fire Grotto-Heaven has manifested, so Mingyang's cultivation methods should be abundant everywhere. With Fellow Daoist's talent, achieving divine abilities at such a young age, how far off could 'Clarity of All Under Heaven' be?"

"No matter, I still have a hundred years of lifespan; I should be able to see that day... If I cannot wait until then, we can discuss it again."

Li Ximing knew where his confidence came from. Most likely, in the old man's mind, it was impossible for Li Ximing not to use the 'Continuity Path' wondrous method. As long as there were Foundation Establishment cultivation methods, it would be enough. And it was impossible for him not to cultivate a life-bound divine ability when the three divine abilities of the Purple Immortal Threshold were laid out before him. Thus, 'Clarity of All Under Heaven' was only a matter of time.

He pondered for a moment, then replied:

"Since Fellow Daoist has waited all these years, there's no hurry. I still have one or two elixirs to finish refining. Would it be alright if I made a detour to Jiuqiu and then returned to find you, Fellow Daoist?"

The only potential loophole in the other party's words was possibly borrowing Jiuqiu's name. Li Ximing naturally wanted to inquire to put his mind at ease. Yan Dushui showed no surprise; he nodded with a smile and replied:

"It's fine, I'll wait for you here, Fellow Daoist... As for Jiuqiu... you don't need to make the trip. Senior Lingdu is nearby; just fly a little further west, and you'll meet him in person."

"Oh?"

Li Ximing's heart stirred, and the smile on his face deepened as he replied:

"Haha... To think Senior is here! In that case, it would be rude of me to go back and refine elixirs now..."

Almost as soon as Yan Dushui finished speaking, Li Ximing immediately grew suspicious:

*I doubt it's Yan Dushui who wants to retrieve this Banished Qi; it might very well be Jiuqiu instead... Can it be such a coincidence?*

Yan Dushui, however, laughed and said:

"There is an excellent hidden treasure in Xilian Sea, and Jiuqiu sends people to this sea region for training every year. This year, Senior brought people, and it just happened to coincide with the opportune time."

Li Ximing smiled in response, then rose into the air as instructed. He sighed inwardly:

*Is Xilian Sea truly your Jishan's, or Jiuqiu's? To have the hidden treasure of Xilian Sea retrieved by their people... that's quite a grievance for you.*

It was clear that Jishan, while not as destitute as the Cui family, had survived all these years by being subservient to others. It was possible they had been vassals of Jiuqiu many years ago. If not for Yan Dushui, who had achieved Purple Manor, their situation might have been even more miserable!

As for whether Yan Dushui achieved Purple Manor at Jishan or at Jiuqiu Mountain, that was even harder to say...

*So the scope of Jiuqiu's Daoist lineage... has reached this far. Indeed, True Lord Yuandao's lifespan seems inexhaustible. What kind of waves could Yan Dushui, or any other vassal for that matter, possibly stir up?*

He flew silently onward. Soon, he saw a pillar of light extending to the zenith. An old man stood smiling on a flying boat. Upon seeing Li Ximing, he raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled, saying:

"Zhaojing? To think I'd meet Fellow Daoist here."

"Greetings, Senior!"

Li Ximing actually had a good impression of Senior Lingdu. Seeing him, he temporarily suppressed the doubts in his heart, bowed, and replied:

"Junior was entrusted by Jishan to retrieve some kind of Qi. They said the information came from you, Senior. Junior dared not delay, so I came to inquire on my way."

Lingdu suddenly understood, invited him onto the boat, and shook his head, saying:

"He pleaded earnestly about this matter for a long time. I thought it would also be beneficial to you, so I revealed a little. I merely mentioned that you cultivate Mingyang, but I didn't expect that fellow to be so quick-witted. Combining the details, he probably figured out your identity right away."

Li Ximing nodded slightly, seeing Lingdu sigh and say:

"You've met him... I suppose he's told you a lot... Perhaps he's a bit too eager for quick success, but if this matter, now that he's spoken of it, cannot be resolved by him, his descendants might not have a chance to survive."

He glanced at Li Ximing, seemed to understand his concerns, and smiled, saying:

"You should know, this item, in his hands, cannot be dealt with nor publicized; it truly needs to be delivered to my Jiuqiu. However, for Jiuqiu, the item won't run away if left there. Whether he retrieves it now, or my Jiuqiu retrieves it in the future, it's all the same."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ximing immediately understood.

Clearly, Jiuqiu did not know about this valuable item in Jishan from the start. When Yan Dushui made his request, Jiuqiu understood. Although the item was precious, it wasn't an urgent matter for Jiuqiu. Yan Dushui was old; if he retrieved it, he would naturally present it. If he didn't, and he perished, Jiuqiu would still have the opportunity to take it.

But for Yan Dushui, offering it himself versus having it seized after his demise carried entirely different implications!

Li Ximing stroked his beard and nodded, his doubts suddenly clearing. He saw Lingdu sigh and say:

"After all, we've had many years of acquaintance, and I wouldn't like to see him fall to such a state. Setting aside my identity as a member of the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage, on a personal level, I still hope he can have a turning point... That's why I revealed a bit. Please forgive me, Zhaojing."

"Junior understands."

Li Ximing's heart instantly brightened. Lingdu had spoken so clearly, evidently valuing his own family greatly. And for Li Ximing to receive this information was akin to directly understanding the other party's bottom line. As long as the request wasn't too excessive, it wouldn't cause him to offend too many people, and he could even ask this Purple Manor cultivator for help!

If True Lord Yuandao's help was possibly to demonstrate the style of Jiuqiu, then the deliberate care shown by Senior Lingdu before him was even more apparent. Although the Jiuqiu Daoist lineage never spoke of offering aid and disliked getting too deeply involved, their favoritism towards their own was always subtly present, leaving Li Ximing both pleased and concerned.

After all, the assistance of such a prominent Daoist lineage often came with a request or a subtle guidance...

Even so, everything thus far bore traces of goodwill. He still nodded silently, bowed to the True Lord of Jiuqiu, and replied sincerely:

"Thank you, Senior!"