Chapter 859: Joint Effort

Lín'àn County.

The territory of the Great Xiukui Monastery, nestled between mountains and the sea and covered in hills, was almost completely isolated from the outside world. The mountains were dotted with monasteries, and temples sprawled across the land. Even though the cultivators in these temples could not leave Lín'àn County, this lineage still adhered to ancient customs, allowing various branches to flourish and govern themselves independently.

The night was pitch black. A streak of bright light approached from the north, drifting towards the central mountain range. Beneath it, dense forests stretched out—this was precisely the mountain gate of the Great Xiukui Monastery.

The light, deceptively slow-moving, quickly materialized in front of the mountain gate, transforming into a man in white-gold robes, with a tranquil expression. Beside him stood a courteous and refined scholar, respectfully.

Li Ximing took a quick look and saw a stele standing before the mountain gate. Two large black characters, written in a fierce, imposing script, were inscribed at the top:

The characters bore no signature and even appeared somewhat dim. Beneath the stele, a young man in black robes waited. Upon seeing him, he bowed respectfully and said:

“Are you perhaps True Master Zhaojing of Wangyue...? Our True Master instructed me to wait at the mountain gate and respectfully await your esteemed presence.”

Li Ximing nodded slightly. Cui Jueyin stepped forward and smiled:

“Please enter!”

The young man led them further in. It was then that they saw the large characters in the center of the mountain gate:

Taihang Pinghai

On either side, base pillars, resembling those of a mountain gate, still remained. The vertical plaques that should have hung on the left and right were now nowhere to be seen. Only two extraordinary stone pedestals were left, adorned with two dimly glowing golden lanterns.

Li Ximing took in the sight and pondered to himself.

He had been to Jiuqiu; its mountain gate displayed 'Taiqiu Nine Paths'. Now, seeing 'Taihang Pinghai', he had a feeling:

‘Perhaps it's similar to the Tongxuan lineage. The Tongxuan lineage liked to prefix everything with 'Xuan'. The Sun and Lunar are one family, so using 'Tai' at the beginning makes perfect sense.’

‘But the Qingchi Sect... I've never heard of it having such a mountain gate... It's very strange.’

As for where the vertical plaques on either side had gone, asking about it would be awkward. He could only pretend not to notice. As they proceeded inward, ancient stone bricks lined the path, exuding an antique charm, and Daoist flags fluttered amidst the light snowfall. Upon reaching the highest point, they surprisingly saw several Foundation Establishment cultivators chopping wood, shoveling snow, and tending to the fields.

The peak of a lineage of this caliber was usually insufficient; they often wished they could squeeze out more space for disciples to cultivate in seclusion. Yet here, a few tea trees were planted, completely devoid of spiritual energy—they were all ordinary plants.

Upon seeing Li Ximing, the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators stopped and bowed. Then, they surprisingly turned back to their farm work. Scattered firewood lay all over the ground, and two Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed as servants quickly came to pick it up.

Cui Jueyin had followed with downcast eyes the whole way. Seeing this, he quickly went ahead to clear the path. In just a few steps, they arrived at the main hall. A True Master in black robes was brewing tea in the snow, smiling as he said:

“Zhaojing, you've arrived at just the right time!”

Li Ximing had always known that Xiukui cultivators were aloof, but he hadn't realized their disdain extended to this degree. Cui Jueyin swept the snow from his seat for him. Li Ximing took the tea, sat down, and smiled:

“You must be Senior Kuiqi. I've long heard of your great reputation. Please, bestow upon me your valuable guidance.”

Kuiqi waved his hand and replied:

“Zhaojing, you've come to lend your aid; it is our Xiukui who should thank you. How could I possibly offer guidance...?”

Seeing Li Ximing nod, the True Master finally brushed the snow from his robes and said with a faint smile:

“Some years ago, when the East Fire Grotto-heaven fell, our family also gained something. From it, we obtained a precious elixir, a relic of Mingyang. Our lineage doesn't specialize in such arts. In a few days, we will send it to Zhaojing as a token of our gratitude.”

Benefits always held the greatest allure. Kuiqi immediately offered an elixir. Li Ximing did not refuse, smiling as he said:

“I truly thank you, Senior!”

As the two discussed the fall of the East Fire Grotto-heaven, the one most pained was undoubtedly Cui Jueyin. His own ancestor's grotto-heaven had been carved up, and the Cui clan hadn't even had a chance to ask a single question. The desolation in his heart was imaginable. At present, he could only lower his gaze, subservient and silent.

Li Ximing understood the implication. He waved his hand, dismissing Cui Jueyin for now.

“Understood.”

Kuiqi said seriously:

“This elixir, True Master Yuandao examined it back then. It's a Mingyang Purple Palace spiritual elixir. One elixir ingested can heal the Dharma body and suppress curse injuries. If used for cultivation and nourishment, it's estimated to significantly enhance one's divine abilities... It's truly extraordinary. Only a few ancient elixirs can surpass it.”

Evidently, Kuiqi offering such an elixir meant that any injuries Li Ximing might sustain in the upcoming battle could be recovered with this elixir, and it would not hinder his cultivation.

‘Significant...’

If Li Ximing had heard this news some years ago, he would certainly have been overjoyed. However, having grown accustomed to fine things overseas, and having just consumed an elixir to boost his cultivation, it wasn't advisable to take another now. Thus, he felt a little disappointed:

‘It's not bad. The remaining two spiritual elixirs weren't originally meant for cultivation enhancement. Having this to substitute them saves wasting precious resources. As for healing... I have my own methods.’

He sighed inwardly. Though he smiled, there was no great emotion in it. Seeing his demeanor, Kuiqi's heart stirred slightly:

‘It seems Li Ximing's knowledge of elixirs is profound... He's certainly not an ordinary, half-baked Purple Palace cultivator. Spiritual elixirs won't easily impress him.’

Whether it could impress Li Ximing was one thing. Given the Great Xiukui Monastery's stature, since they had invited him to battle, offering an elixir was the least they could do. So, he stroked his beard and said:

“Divine abilities of the Purple Palace are difficult to cultivate... Zhaojing... take a look at this.”

Then, he took a golden box from his sleeve and casually opened it. Inside lay a disc-shaped treasure. It was entirely golden-yellow, engraved with eight-directional runes. Around its front edge, a circle of faint white, intricate incantations glowed with a rhythmic, breathing pulse. The center was dazzlingly golden and radiant, as if a small sun had fallen into the box.

‘A Mingyang Spirit Artifact!’

This was enough to make Li Ximing waver. His eyes immediately grew fervent. He cursed inwardly:

‘What a Great Xiukui Monastery! I couldn't even find a trace of this spirit artifact, yet he carries it in his sleeve as casually as a common cabbage... Those with rich ancestors... they truly are different.’

Despite his fervent gaze, spirit artifacts were exceedingly precious. The True Master couldn't possibly be taking it out just to give it to him for free. Li Ximing eyed it with immense longing, but only exclaimed:

“What a magnificent treasure!”

Kuiqi raised his head slightly and smiled:

“This is the Chōngyáng Star-Governing Treasure Disc, a spirit artifact. It's also a registered treasure in our Xiukui collection. It's an excellent spirit artifact, capable of both offense and defense. This time, for the great battle against the Buddhist cultivators, Zhaojing should take it with you first.”

Li Ximing could barely tear his eyes away. He heard Kuiqi say with a smile:

“Look at the front. It depicts the Chōngyáng Star-Governing Constellation map. It can unleash the destructive light of Mingyang. With the Supreme Luminary Star at its head, wielding this disc correctly grants infinite power. If you invert it, so the Supreme Luminary Star is at the bottom and the Yangji Star is at the top, holding the disc upside down grants the power to disrupt stars and free oneself from peril.”

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion and reply:

“This disc was constructed by Su Jun and Chen Xuanli in the past. It symbolized Ning State's allegiance to the Wei Orthodoxy and its use of the Wei calendar for dating. It was once the heirloom of the Su family in Jiangbei. Later, after the Su family's demise, this item eventually came into the possession of our Xiukui Monastery.”

Li Ximing nodded subtly. Kuiqi smiled nonchalantly, implying:

“I've heard that this spirit artifact embodies the essence of 'Crimson Broken Arrowhead' and 'Monarch Treading Peril'. Not only are its divine abilities formidable, but its aid to cultivation is also significant. When the battle with the north begins, Zhaojing can experience it for himself.”

He smiled:

“Li Fire's fierce gathering, neither depleted nor overflowing, holding the fire's true position, neither elixirs nor artifacts. While East Fire is formidable, its paths of elixirs and artifacts are ultimately inferior to others'. Putting aside spiritual treasures, the spirit artifacts that fell from the grotto-heaven back then are actually not as good as this one of ours.”

Li Ximing simply picked up the spirit artifact disc. He examined it fondly, unwilling to put it down. Turning it over, the back was surprisingly smooth as a mirror, reflecting the swirling heavy snow from the sky.

‘If only I could study it a bit...’

Li Ximing still had a long way to go to grasp 'Monarch Treading Peril' and 'Crimson Broken Arrowhead'. But how could he not covet a Mingyang spirit artifact? However, since they stated it was a registered item, it wasn't appropriate to ask for it. He smiled and said:

“It's truly formidable! A single word from Senior Kuiqi is worth ten years of studying Daoist scriptures.”

This wasn't mere flattery. That description of 'Departing Fire' revealed the other party's cultivation level. Li Ximing imbued the spirit artifact with his divine ability and muttered to himself:

‘After the battle, I'll see the artifact's power, then test his intentions. If the price is too high for me, I can try to acquire a spirit artifact from the East Fire Grotto-heaven. Having a spirit artifact is always better than having none.’

Just as he was contemplating this, he saw an old man approach through the snow. Dressed in gray robes, with a sword on his back, he had a gentle expression and an ordinary face. He stepped onto the platform and bowed with cupped hands, saying:

“Fellow Daoist Kuiqi!”

This person's expression was even somewhat unassuming. Were it not for his cultivated divine abilities and imposing aura, one might not even consider him a significant figure. He first bowed to Kuiqi, then turned and said:

“True Master Zhaojing! We finally meet!”

This person was none other than True Master Chen of the Yuyang Chen Clan, one of the three immortal clans of Yue State, known as True Master Yushui!

This True Master was even older than Xiao Chuting. He had cultivated two divine abilities, and his swordsmanship was quite renowned. Li Ximing promptly rose and bowed respectfully, saying:

“Greetings, Senior!”

When Chen achieved the Purple Palace realm, the Li family was probably still just a minor landowning family. Thus, this address of 'Senior' was truly merited. Chen turned slightly, smiling meaningfully as he said:

“We should have met sooner!”

Li Ximing felt quite moved and nodded, saying:

“Indeed... Back when I attained the Purple Palace realm, your esteemed clan's Chen Xuanyu provided assistance. I remember that matter, and our two families have always been aligned...”

Li Ximing's Bright Square Heaven Stone had been acquired from Wang Fu. At that time, Chen had sent Chen Xuanyu to assist him. Though it was merely a conflict of interests, it was hard to say if it stemmed from goodwill towards the Li family. However, with the Chen clan now at odds with the Changxiao Gate, they were undoubtedly a potential ally for the Li family.

Hearing this, Chen sighed:

“Xuanyu is a rare talent in our family. He is currently in seclusion and has not yet broken through. Who knows how many years it will take until he succeeds!”

Kuiqi smiled, waiting for the two to finish reminiscing. He then averted his gaze, stood up, and Chen said in a deep voice:

“I've already inquired. True Master Zhusheng from the Southern Frontier is not in his residence. However, Fellow Daoist Luo is quite enthusiastic and has already gone to Jiangbei.”

Kuiqi was slightly surprised and replied:

“True Master Zhusheng is indeed inconveniently located, likely due to the Beidan family. But the one named Luo actually dares to come? So be it, so be it. It's good he has the courage. These demonic cultivators are just opportunists; they won't be much help.”

His way of addressing them clearly indicated that the other party did not follow the righteous path. In his eyes, they were of the same contemptible sort as Zhu Gong. One must know that the Li clan, tracing its lineage, was imperial descendants of the Immortal Dynasty, now a renowned righteous path. Only after generations of conflict and deaths against Buddhist cultivators did they earn Kuiqi's gentle treatment. How could this unknown demonic cultivator possibly earn his regard?

Precisely for this reason, even though the other party came to assist, they dared not approach the mountain gate of the Great Xiukui Monastery. Instead, they had gone early to Jiangbei to wait. Clearly, they harbored considerable fear and caution.

After hearing the inquiry, Chen shook his head and said:

“They merely wish to curry favor with True Master Qiuhu and are desperate for the Sijia lineage. Those with bare feet fear not those with shoes. When the time comes, they'll just flee south, and the Kongwu Dao won't be able to do anything.”

Kuiqi nodded, indicating his understanding. Li Ximing couldn't help but ask:

“Senior Houfu...”

Kuiqi shook his head and said:

“When True Monarchs battle, the land suffers. Sichuan is experiencing a severe drought, and demonic cultivators from the Western Plateau are moving east. These matters are not originally our responsibility. However, the demonic cultivators of the Western Plateau are descendants of Shaoyang, and our Sun lineage is divided into Shaoyang. We originally have a rule of taking turns guarding the Western Plateau. It's Xiukui's turn, and our sect has ample strength. Houfu is needed there and cannot easily be moved.”

He was clearly somewhat urgent. Immediately after speaking, he said earnestly:

“Time is pressing, so I won't say much more. This time, we have invited Fellow Daoist Lingmei to hold the fort for us. Several True Masters from Jiangbei will also assess the situation and come to assist. Now, taking our Xiukui spirit artifact with us... we must slay a few Buddhist cultivators to consecrate the banners!”

His expression gradually turned cold, and he said in a low voice:

“When the Buddhist cultivators entered Xu back then, there was a battle. Our cultivation drove them to wail like children. We devised a plan to eliminate Jingzhan, who was most actively pushing south. Only then did they restrain themselves for several decades. In the North-South conflict, several Mahas suffered losses but shed no blood, and now they dare to be so presumptuous.”

He stepped forward and soared into the void. His expression was grim. The two followed closely. Li Ximing quietly looked at True Master Yushui Chen. The old man's eyelids drooped, and he seemed to let out a barely perceptible sigh.

Jiangbei.

Overcast skies prevailed, and torrential rain continued to pour relentlessly. The longer the rain fell, the more terrifying it became. Baijiang Stream was somewhat spared, but downstream, the Baiye and Baihai streams had burst their banks and changed course multiple times. Countless common people had perished.

Only the great river flowing eastward, connecting Salt Lake with the East Sea, saw little change in water level, which was why Jiangnan remained unaffected. As the Purple Palace cultivators traveled north, they saw floating corpses scattered everywhere in the Baiye Stream region. This made Kuiqi's expression grim, and his mood seemed to worsen. After observing for a while, he spoke:

“What a calamity! How densely populated Jiangbei once was! Now, in this impoverished state, not a single household is seen; apart from a few aristocratic families, there are no common people to speak of!”

The two naturally dared not interject. Upon reaching the vicinity of Xiaoshi Mountain, they did not reveal themselves. Kuiqi took out several ink-colored jade talismans and performed some calculations with his fingers. He then gestured with his eyes, and Chen crushed a jade talisman, evidently summoning the True Master who had come to assist.

As Kuiqi used his divine ability for divination, seemingly observing subtly, he exhaled and turned back to whisper:

“Soon, we will inevitably encounter Daishe first. This person will be handled by Senior Yushui; swordsmen are always more adept at dealing with him. As for those Buddhist cultivators, they will be Zhaojing's responsibility. One was removed by Zhu Gong, so there should still be four.”

“The one named Luo needs not be considered. Zhelu will certainly send someone out. Unless he acts personally, they are not to be feared!”

He said solemnly:

“Only guard against the Three Retribution Lotus. This precious artifact is no longer what it once was. After years of refining, even I could fall prey to it if not careful. Always reserve a bit of your strength!”