Chapter 858: Solar Majesty

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian took a step back and bowed, stating, "By the command of the Venerable Immortal, we shall immediately inform the True Lord."

Kuqi's words had left no room for neutrality; even if they were to decline, Li Ximing himself would have to convey the refusal. Furthermore, the True Lord had stated that if they offered assistance, the Solar Daoist Lineage would remember this gesture. However, if they remained inactive, the other side would remember that equally well.

After speaking, he commanded, "Go and invite the Elder, and bring out the clan's jade token for use."

The Great Xiukui Monastery was renowned for its aloofness and enigmatic Daoist lineage. Neither Hou Fu from years past nor Kuqi currently were known for their gentle dispositions. Li Jiangqian, by humbling his position and using the phrase "by the Venerable's command," caused the True Lord to chuckle. "You are too polite," the True Lord responded.

Despite his words, he was clearly quite satisfied. He took a sip of tea and continued, "This matter will not disadvantage Wangyue and Zhaojing. Zhaojing has only just reached the Purple Mansion realm, and cultivating this divine ability is challenging. He is one of us, and his participation this time will not be a solo endeavor."

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangqian bowed, saying, "Thank you, True Lord. The Solar Daoist Lineage protects Jiangnan, and we depend on its radiance. We are deeply humbled. I shall carefully convey the True Lord's intentions and await the Ancestor's decree."

Kuqi acknowledged him. Li Jiangqian, seizing the opportunity while the True Lord was in good spirits, asked again, "However, the matters in Jiangbei involve many parties, and True Lord Zhugong has already been injured and withdrawn. Without a True Lord presiding, I fear things might be delayed..."

"Jiangbei..." Being situated by the river, unlike the Great Xiukui Monastery far to the south, Wangyue Lake naturally harbored concerns about Jiangbei. Kuqi paused, then said, "There's no need to worry about that. They won't be able to cross the river. It's just a few fated individuals who have been drawn out. If they were born in the south, they would cause you trouble. Earlier, when Zhaojing wasn't here, you might have worried, but once he returns, at most, he can break open the Grand Void and crush them with a single finger."

"Although the south also covets these fated individuals, Tinglan and Ningwan have both gone north. Who could discover them faster than your family could...?"

Li Jiangqian immediately felt much more at ease. After completing the salute, Kuqi stood up, his gaze thoughtfully fixed on the rain clouds, and he mused internally: 'Since these Buddhist cultivators are stirring up trouble, there's no need to show mercy. I'll go back to the monastery, retrieve a spiritual artifact, head to Tongmo Yuyang, and then pay a visit to Daoist Friend Lingmei.'

The Solar Daoist Lineage's reserves were so profound and its network so vast that even the Void Dao only dared to stall those two True Lords, not truly harm them. Kuqi had nothing to fear. He lowered his gaze and said, "When Daoist Friend Zhaojing returns, please ask him to wait by the lake. If he grows impatient, he can also come to Xiukui to find me."

After Kuqi finished speaking, he drifted away. The two prostrated themselves in a deep bow, rising only after a long wait. Li Jiangqian then shook his robes, returned to the hall, and waved his hand, at which point Chen Yang discreetly withdrew.

"It really is the Buddhist cultivators..." He fell silent for a moment. Footsteps gradually approached from both sides. Li Xuanxuan, who had received the news earlier, had been waiting in the side hall. He now stepped forward. Li Jiangqian frowned and said, "Elder, True Lord Kuqi said... the one who harmed Master Xuanfeng was Daisimaha. Have you ever heard of him?"

At the mention of Li Xuanfeng, the elder first paused, then stroked his beard and whispered, "I only heard... it was a dark purple precious alms bowl."

Li Jiangqian exhaled, finally relaxing. He briefly explained the situation, then settled comfortably into the main seat, shaking his head. "In any case," he said, "if the True Lord can return, we won't have to constantly fret, trying to strategize against Purple Mansion affairs with our Foundation Establishment minds. All our arrangements will also have a proper leader..."

Li Xuanxuan's expression remained somewhat worried, but Li Jiangqian was noticeably more relaxed. He softly said, "The Grand Void is vast. Returning from the East Sea will take at most half a day to a day; even if it's slower, it won't be by many hours. Please invite all our sisters and elders back, and prepare to kneel and welcome him in the hall."

"As it should be." Li Xuanxuan, too, accepted the situation. Putting other matters aside, the elder was delighted from the bottom of his heart to see Li Ximing after so many years. He shook his head helplessly and said, "Zhouming has been confined for so long; he's suffered quite enough. Once everything is arranged, we can release him."

"Indeed." Li Jiangqian joined in the laughter, secretly pondering to himself: "The annual sacrifice day is approaching. With the True Lord's return, if we can establish the great formation, we won't have to go through such trouble this time."

To everyone's surprise, no sooner had the commands been given than Qu Bushi arrived in the hall. He saluted Li Xuanxuan, then respectfully reported, "Reporting to the Patriarch, the Immortal Dao Market was attacked. Its formation was shattered and collapsed. Three direct descendants of the Guan family died, and losses were heavy. All cultivators, regardless of rank, sustained injuries, and the guarding cultivator, Song Yunbai, was severely wounded and is missing."

Li Jiangqian raised an eyebrow and asked, "Such heavy losses? Who were they fighting against?"

Qu Bushi respectfully replied, "It was a group of demonic cultivators... connected to the earlier demonic disciple. That disciple was also among them. The north reported that the leader's cultivation was extremely high, having reached the pinnacle among Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even Guan Gongxiao was slightly at a disadvantage in their confrontation... It was also a surprise attack; the demonic cultivators were already retreating by the time the Immortal Dao arrived..."

"Although the Immortal Dao's losses were not catastrophic, their morale was very low. The entire sect, from top to bottom, was deeply worried."

"Demonic cultivators." Li Jiangqian frowned in confusion as Qu Bushi whispered, "It is said that the demonic cultivator cultivates a blood-red precious mirror, whose power is astonishing, suspected to be an ancient magical artifact. The lord from the north warned us to be wary of the wilderness."

Guan Gongxiao was, of course, not so benevolent; his words were merely a reminder of mutual dependence. However, with Li Ximing's return, the Li family would be firmly established. Li Jiangqian casually said, "Go and reply that we appreciate the reminder and will certainly pay attention to the wilderness."

Qu Bushi immediately nodded and withdrew. As the hall doors opened, the hall began to fill with more people.

The news of Li Ximing's return was not publicized. In fact, only a few core direct descendants came to the hall. Had Li Ximing not returned as promised, it would have been a far more dreadful matter, which was why even Li Zhouming was unable to arrive early to welcome him.

As dusk fell, the magical lamps lit up. Everyone waited quietly, while Li Minggong stood solemnly at the front of the hall, the lamplight flickering on his face, casting shifting shadows.

It wasn't until well past midnight that a faint, soft radiance finally emerged from the deep darkness of the lake. All sounds ceased as this ethereal light transformed into a man dressed in platinum Daoist robes.

The man had regular features and a medium build, with a brilliant point of celestial light shimmering between his brows. His hands were clasped behind his back. He did not exude any great imposing aura; instead, as he landed before the hall, he quietly let out a breath of relief.

Everyone immediately prostrated themselves, bowing in unison and exclaiming, "Greetings, True Lord!"

The True Lord then slowly walked up, first helping Li Xuanxuan to sit down before taking his own seat in the main position. He looked around, checking for any missing faces. He glanced at Li Jiangqian, then observed Li Queyuan, and remarked with emotion, "You two siblings have achieved Foundation Establishment. The days of Qi Condensation still seem vivid in my mind, and now you have become pillars of our family."

The two bowed to him. As the brilliant, clear sunlight shone down, everyone felt the ground beneath their feet become more solid.

As a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan, the Li family truly embodied that status only when Li Ximing was by the lake. Only then did everyone, from top to bottom, gain confidence. Perhaps yesterday everyone was still plagued by worry, but with Li Ximing's return, even a simple question from him could bring immense peace of mind, and the entire atmosphere changed.

It was then that they heard Li Ximing ask, "Have you encountered any trouble?"

Years ago, Li Ximing had an agreement with Li Zhouwei, leaving behind several jade tokens, each with a different meaning. Although this particular token merely requested his return, Li Ximing's heart was filled with no small amount of worry and tension.

As soon as he received the news, he journeyed continuously, rushing back along the Grand Void day and night. Before even reaching the lake, he first used his immortal mirror to assess the situation. Seeing everyone waiting safely, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and manifested himself.

At this question, Li Jiangqian stepped forward from the group and bowed, explaining, "True Lords Tinglan and Qiuhu are missing. The Northern Buddhist faction has made a move. It was the True Lord from the Great Xiukui Monastery of the Solar Daoist Lineage who invited you back to assist."

"Ningwan has achieved the Purple Mansion realm!"

Li Ximing was initially slightly surprised, then frowned, questioning, "Tinglan is missing..."

Tinglan's various actions overseas had been quite favorable toward him, and she had also sought to protect the Li family during his disappearance. Although this favor wasn't exceptionally great, Li Ximing still remembered the 'Tianxia Ming' in her possession. For now, he merely asked, "The Solar Daoist Lineage is so distinguished; do they truly have a use for me? And they invited me back? Which enemy faction do they intend to confront?"

Li Jiangqian explained the situation in detail. Li Ximing stroked his beard in silence, then sighed, "Tinglan and Qiuhu are both friends of our family. With Kuqi making such a request, how can I refuse? Our family faces Jiangbei and is backed by Jiangnan; it's impossible to offend the Solar Daoist Lineage... No wonder you invited me back."

He pondered for a moment. While feeling a bit resigned, his eyes subtly brightened, and he thought to himself: 'This is an excellent opportunity to acquire the Tianxia Ming... The focus isn't on Kuqi, but on Tinglan and Qiuhu. This could be a single favor that yields triple benefits.'

'No matter what, the Solar Daoist Lineage possesses countless trump cards. A Daoist lineage established by a True Monarch surely has more than one or two Golden Core-level techniques. Immortal cultivators are not like Buddhist cultivators; as long as I can ensure a swift retreat and avoid significant trouble for myself, this journey promises substantial gains...'

He glanced at Li Xuanxuan and replied, "The vendetta of our ancestors must be remembered. Daisis is already our sworn enemy; the karma of the Eighteenfold Release has been forged and can never be undone. Either our family forces him to retreat back to the north, or one day eliminates him, or he harms me. There is no doubt about it."

"With our existing ties to Tinglan and Qiuhu, it's not surprising that he sought me out."

He pondered in silence, while Li Jiangqian bowed and whispered, "Exactly. From this junior's perspective, this matter is not a bad thing..."

"Daisis is our family's enemy. Our family alone cannot withstand his targeting, nor can we eliminate him. He is not alone in the Void Dao Pure Land; Zhelu is also behind him. The Eighteenfold Release was a loss for the Void Dao. Although Zhelu's hatred for our family isn't as intense as Daisis', the karmic ties still persist."

"The Void Dao is not the Wrathful Dao! This matter remains covert, but if one day they suddenly attack, persecuting our family to obtain the karmic retribution the Buddhist cultivators speak of, and ultimately giving rise to compassion... that is also highly probable..."

"And the current situation in the north is an excellent opportunity—a chance to attach our family's enmity with the Void Dao to the mighty Solar Daoist Lineage!"

As soon as these words were spoken, several individuals pondered and nodded. Li Queyuan then said thoughtfully, "Brother's meaning is... if we can severely wound Daisis this time, new hatred will overshadow old, intensifying the conflict between the Solar Daoist Lineage and the Void Dao, and consolidating our family's relationship with the Ziyan and Ning families. This would be extremely advantageous."

"Precisely!" Li Jiangqian bowed and said, "If the True Lord had not returned this time, with the Void Dao rampant in the north and our family having offended the Solar Daoist Lineage in the south, sacrificing many alliances, how could our family maintain any independent standing in Jiangnan thereafter?"

"Furthermore, the Solar Daoist Lineage is proud, and the Great Xiukui Monastery is aloof. Once this matter concludes, if we face retaliation from the Void Dao, our family will have a legitimate reason to seek aid from the Solar Daoist Lineage! When Father achieves his breakthrough, our position will undoubtedly become even more stable!"

Although Qian Lizi had spoken earnestly for a while, Li Jiangqian remained unshaken. Kuqi's mere words had been enough for Li Jiangqian to dare invite Li Ximing back, which itself implied his own careful considerations.

Li Ximing merely stroked his chin and nodded, secretly thinking: 'I'm not afraid of the disparity in strength in this matter, only of formations or ambushes. Fortunately, I have the immortal mirror. Once I reach the north, a quick check with it will reveal many of the Buddhist cultivators' trump cards and hidden traps.'

"Indeed." He chuckled and asked, "How much impact have these matters in Jiangbei had on the family?"

Seeing his expression, Li Jiangqian knew that Li Ximing had taken his words to heart. He respectfully replied, "Fortunately, there has been no major impact..."

He then recounted the events in detail. Li Ximing nodded repeatedly as he listened, then chuckled, "You see, the cultivators of the Immortal Dao are simply not as capable as our Wangyue; they've ended up in such a state!"

He praised Li Jiangqian, then glanced at the family members present.

Li Queyuan had just broken through to Foundation Establishment, so her cultivation would not change significantly in the short term. Li Jiangqian's cultivation had clearly made great progress and he could attempt to reach the mid-stage. Li Minggong had recently entered the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

The crucial point was that none of the individuals present had likely taken a Talisman Pill!

Li Jiangqian was not far from the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. If he could break through and then take the pill, he should soon reach the cusp of late-stage Foundation Establishment without easily arousing suspicion.

What's more... Li Ximing had returned with the Tianyi Tucui Pill.

'It's quite a coincidence that Minggong has already broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. I'm not sure how this pill should be administered after a breakthrough... I'll have to ask Tinglan later. This Purple Mansion realm medicine, if given to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, will certainly cause a significant increase in cultivation. Combined with a Talisman Pill, we should at least be able to elevate one of our direct descendants to late-stage Foundation Establishment!'

If Li Cheng had not died, he would undoubtedly be in the late-stage of Foundation Establishment by now. But currently, only Li Minggong could be advanced first. She had only just broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and taking such a pill would normally be extremely dangerous. Fortunately, the Talisman Pill had no side effects and could even consolidate cultivation, enabling such rapid progress if taken first.

He tapped on the table, settling the matter. "Then it's decided," he said. "Have Cui Jueyin come over and accompany me to the Great Xiukui Monastery. We'll see how many people Kuqi can gather. You all need not disclose the news of my return; just observe the situation for now."