Chapter 866: Si Chuan

Li Ximing had originally finalized the grand formation with Tinglan and suggested modifying Xuanyue's own formation plate. This brilliant light was clearly a result of Tinglan's modifications. Changxi's grand formation, based on the Earth element, specialized in defense and would not have created such a display of light.

Ning Wan seemed to grasp something, perhaps noticing that the traces of the modifications didn't perfectly align with the original Earth-element patterns of the formation plate. Without saying much more, she replied, "There's a master token Tinglan refined inside the formation. Zhaojing summoned it with a divine ability, and it immediately appeared."

Li Ximing understood completely. He gently raised his hand, and a network of golden light briefly shimmered in the sky before an eight-inch long token, purple with yellow markings, dropped into his palm.

He was quite pleased with the formation. As he took out a jade talisman and used a divine ability to engrave it, thereby linking with the formation, he thought to himself: 'Changxi started from nothing, and while their divine arts are unique, they've only accumulated wealth through the mountains they move year after year in Xuanyue. The Xuanyue formation plate itself was never particularly impressive, certainly not comparable to those of the Sun orthodoxies. Still, its current state is quite acceptable.'

After all, when Ye Hui attacked their sect back then, the Xuanyue Sect's grand formation didn't show the slightest reaction, let alone emit any spiritual light.

Li Ximing was in excellent spirits. Just then, Kuiqi slowly surveyed the area from mid-air and nodded slightly. Unlike Ling Mei and Ning Wan, this True Man from the Great Xiukui Monastery was more direct. Instead of offering many congratulations, he softly said, "Zhaojing, if you ever need another grand formation constructed in the future, you can find me in Huyi."

The Purple Gen Guanggu Pillars in Manzhou were now emitting a faint glow. Although there seemed to be no obstruction in the sky, they made it impossible for cultivators circling them to move even an inch. Li Ximing finished engraving the jade talisman, granting access to the outer perimeter of the grand formation. He then summoned Li Jiangqian and casually handed it to him.

"I'm leaving the matters around the lake to you for now. These Purple Gen Guanggu Pillars are protected by the power of a Zifu grand formation to prevent internal damage, making them difficult to approach. Please first plan out the surrounding territory. I will return shortly."

Although Lake Center Continent lay in ruins, such matters could be competently handled by Li Jiangqian and Li Quewan without extensive instructions. Unwilling to keep the True Men waiting any longer, Li Ximing made a gesture of invitation, and the four of them pierced through the Great Void, flying towards the territory of Great Xiukui Monastery.

Their Zifu divine abilities allowed them to traverse the Great Void with astonishing speed, even though Jiangnan's spiritual energy was abundant and the Great Void itself was challenging. They landed within the temple complex atop Mount Huyi, where several Foundation Establishment cultivators were sweeping snow from the long staircase. The mountain was blanketed in vast white snow.

The mountain snow noticeably intensified as Ning Wan approached. Li Ximing glanced at the long staircase on the mountainside. Cui Jueyin was still waiting below the temple steps, standing respectfully amidst the vast white snow. He had likely remained motionless for several days, appearing as a thumb-sized black dot among the various snowdrifts.

"Zhaojing!" Ning Wan called out. Li Ximing took a seat and accepted the tea. Kuiqi, with his sharp eyes, had clearly witnessed the scene. He shook his head and chuckled, "After all these years, the Cui family remains unchanged. It's a shame that after several sea crossings, their courage slowly broke. One rarely sees Zifu cultivators on Chongzhou Island anymore... After all, they all seek the path of Mingyang. How can one succeed on such an upright path if they feel shame and fear towards Mingyang? They'd be better off cultivating something else."

Li Ximing sighed inwardly, unsure how to respond. Kuiqi might have been speaking out of sentiment, but Ling Mei, noticing Li Ximing's discomfort, inverted the Great Snow Edge in his hand and handed it to Ning Wan. He then said, "It was an honor to wield such a spiritual sword. I must thank Qiuhu."

While Ning Wan wasn't worried about Ling Mei keeping the sword, she felt a greater sense of reassurance once it was back in her hands. She thanked him as she accepted it. Kuiqi then quietly gave a few instructions, dismissing someone, before turning serious and stating, "The situation in Jiangbei is currently paramount. Tinglan is injured, Purple Mist Blessed Land is temporarily unmovable, and Zhu Gong's whereabouts are unknown. It seems Qiuhu will have to oversee the affairs along the river."

"After all, 'Entering Clear Listening' is a fated divine ability, and now, we can only rely on you."

Ning Wan seemed to have anticipated this. She softly replied, "I'm not afraid to take on this responsibility, but I haven't long achieved this divine ability, making it difficult to significantly influence the situation across the river. If the North has any schemes, I might not be able to cope with them immediately."

"These monks are relentlessly scheming!" Kuiqi sighed, finally revealing a hint of displeasure. He replied, "Zhelu won't dare to cause mischief for a while. You should also be more cautious on your own and not go too far. Those bald monks are helpless against Zhaojing, who is here on the riverbank and can provide aid at any moment."

At this point, he specifically turned to Li Ximing and said, "Zhaojing, you needn't involve yourself too deeply. You've only just returned inland, so you must be especially wary of others' plots. Do not touch the True Master's affairs; simply observe the movements of the Northern Buddhist sects."

"After all, Zhaojing's Gate of Heaven's Veneration is effective. If anything should happen, we will arrive swiftly. Just ensure you don't stray too far from Jiangnan."

"Alright!" Li Ximing, naturally disinclined to get involved, agreed readily. Ling Mei, meanwhile, sipped his tea with a serene expression and softly added, "There's also the Great Konghai Temple in Qingchi's South Sea. While True Man Zhusheng and the Snow Ridge Pine Listening Raccoon managed to handle it, Qiuhu is overextended. If Zhaojing has the ability, please lend a hand to ensure no mishaps occur."

Ning Wan softly replied, "If possible, that would be ideal. I've already lent a wisp of my divine ability there."

Li Ximing looked up, slightly puzzled. Ling Mei then whispered, "The Great Konghai Temple seized the South Sea. Qiuhu didn't have time to intervene. Two True Men from the Southern Frontier, out of consideration for True Man Yuanxiu's friendship, stepped in. One, a cultivator of Jade Truth, made transformations appear real, while a demon cultivating Cold Qi blocked Baoqing. Sensing that something was amiss, Maha immediately retreated."

"With the South Sea now taken, the Abbot of Konghai Temple is content. However, Baoqing, with his karmic ties to the Three Yuan and his personal vendetta, will undoubtedly seek revenge..."

Ling Mei sounded somewhat emotional as he replied, "Although that demon's words were fierce, this karmic connection cannot be severed..."

The sword cultivator's expression was complex as he softly said, "You've only seen Yuan Wu in his declining years. Back then, he was incredibly arrogant. As the senior disciple among the Three Yuan, he donned iron-winged silver robes, wielded the Quanguang Pagoda, and wore black brocade boots embroidered with gold. In front of hundreds of cultivators in Shitang, he literally stepped on someone's face, forcing them to declare that Buddhism was inferior to Immortals."

"Yuansu and Yuanxiu were already fiercely at odds then, to the point of being complete opposites. Baoqing, not knowing any better, foolishly provoked them. Yuanxiu even scoffed, 'One talisman is enough,' and used his golden talisman to crush Baoqing. Had the Abbot of Konghai Temple not personally intervened to save him, with Yuansu also present, Baoqing wouldn't even have had a chance to reincarnate."

Kuiqi, standing nearby, frowned deeply but could only sigh. "While I dislike Yuan Wu, that act truly released a lot of pent-up frustration at the time. My master, True Man Louxing, even praised him for it. It's simply that arrogant individuals tend to be drawn to each other, which explains why Yuan Wu would associate with Situ Tang."

Li Ximing had few memories of Yuan Wu, recalling only Yu Muxian, who served under him. At the time, Yuan Wu and the Tang family had exerted immense pressure on the Li clan. He had never imagined that this person could have been so brazen in his youth. He sighed, "Year after year, so many prodigies emerge."

Kuiqi turned his head slightly and saw a woman approaching through the snow, holding a black treasure box.

Kuiqi casually accepted it, placed it before Li Ximing, and smiled, "This is a Lin Guangzhao Yi Pill, an item from Donghuo Grotto-Heaven. It's a spiritual elixir that was once consumed by Mingyang Zifu. My old ancestor examined it and confirmed that this pill can repair the Dharma body, radiating light throughout. It's incredibly useful for contemplation, healing, and cultivation alike."

"However, this elixir primarily serves for gentle nourishment, excelling in its sustained and endless effects. It is not suitable for use during combat, so Zhaojing, please keep that in mind."

Li Ximing quickly nodded, naturally overjoyed as he wasn't currently in need of elixirs for combat. He gently took the box, opened it, and found three golden elixirs inside, each adorned with white, qilin-like patterns. Despite the passage of many years, their excellent preservation had kept them vibrant with spiritual energy, and they presented a remarkably fine appearance.

"Donghuo's alchemy methods are truly impressive... possessing a unique elegance and opulence."

Li Ximing murmured his admiration. Ning Wan, seeing Kuiqi produce the elixir, paused briefly before softly saying, "Speaking of that... I also heard my ancestors mention that back then, there was a spiritual flower in Donghuo Grotto-Heaven, known for 'blooming and withering on its own annually, its petals transforming into spiritual insects.' True Man Qiushui obtained it then, and it's now with Jinyu, along with a Light-Illuminating Qilin Refining Method... This must be the Lin Guangzhao Yi Pill."

Li Ximing's eyes gleamed with envy upon hearing this. Donghuo Grotto-Heaven had yielded so many extraordinary Mingyang artifacts back then, yet his own family had not received a share. Unable to help himself, he asked, "There were many Mingyang spiritual artifacts in Donghuo Grotto-Heaven. Do any of you know how they were distributed at the time? Which families did they end up with? I haven't acquired a single suitable spiritual artifact since my breakthrough, and I should obtain one or two."

Kuiqi seemed to have anticipated his question. He softly said, "Regarding the Donghuo matter back then, I was overseeing fellow cultivators in the Great Void and did not personally participate, so my gains were minimal. The primary beneficiaries were the Jinyu and Qingchi families. Changhuai, Ziyan, Chunyi, and the Chen clan also acquired some items. Xuanyue Chijiao, controlling several sea entrances, managed to secure some scraps."

Most of these names were unsurprising, but the inclusion of Chunyi Dao and the Chen clan made Li Ximing slightly doubtful. Ning Wan, who was more knowledgeable on the subject, added, "All Three Sects and Seven Gates sent disciples in to claim some shares, but what they acquired were largely insignificant items. The truly important gains were the remnants after the True Master took the main peak, along with several crucial side peaks."

"They obtained three spiritual artifacts and two spiritual embryos. The spiritual artifacts were divided among Changhuai, Qingchi, and Jinyu, while one spiritual embryo went to Chunyi, and the other remained with Ziyan..."

'In Qingchi's hands?' During Yuanxiu's seclusion, Qingchi had sent True Man Yuansu, which meant the item must have fallen into the Ning family's possession. Li Ximing's eyes instantly brightened. He then secretly wondered, 'Tinglan has one too? She never mentioned it.'

Qingchi possessed a spiritual artifact, whereas the spiritual embryo in Ziyan's hands still required nurturing, naturally making it a less immediate gain. While any spiritual embryo refined by the Cui family would undoubtedly be superior to anything Li Ximing could haphazardly produce, wouldn't a spiritual artifact be even better? He quickly pressed, "This spiritual artifact..."

Ning Wan shook her head with a hint of awkwardness. She replied, "My ancestor obtained a Mingyang spiritual artifact, but it wasn't suitable for practical use and didn't align with my Cold Qi. So, they traded it to King Nanshun Luozha of Songzhou, in exchange for my current protective treasure."

Spiritual artifacts, after all, carry a certain degree of secrecy. While Ning Wan didn't explicitly state it, having inherited Yuansu's legacy, she possessed many valuable items. She paused, then added, "Sister Tinglan's spiritual embryo is good, but it's not of the Mingyang lineage. Since Ziyan had the first choice, they naturally selected what was most suitable, leaving the Mingyang one for Chunyi Dao."

Li Ximing felt no regret. Yuansu, on the verge of demise, would undoubtedly have made all necessary arrangements, not keeping any spiritual artifacts for herself. Since they were all traded, knowing their whereabouts was all that mattered. He then murmured, "So it's one of the three: Jinyu, Songzhou, or Chunyi..."

The Jinyu Sect possessed a plethora of treasures, but Li Ximing felt he had nothing to offer that would entice them. The items held by Songzhou and Chunyi, however, seemed more amenable to negotiation. He asked, "King Nanshun Luozha... what kind of person is he? And what tradition does he cultivate?"

At Li Ximing's question, Ling Mei stroked his beard before answering, "I know him. He is a Zifu Mid-stage cultivator, the Supreme King of Songzhou. In recent years, his power has expanded tremendously, becoming a serious threat to Tinlei Island. Were it not for his cultivation of the Witch Talisman path, which the Miao family's lightning cultivation slightly restrains, Tinlei Island would have already been annihilated. You might consider approaching him."

"As for Chunyi Dao... Chunyi considers itself the orthodox lineage of the Taiyin and adheres strictly to its rules. Mingyang items are not particularly suited to them, and a spiritual embryo is less valuable than a spiritual artifact. In my estimation, it might even be easier to acquire from them."

The connections of the Sun orthodoxies were, naturally, far beyond what Li Ximing's solitary lineage could match. With an introduction from Kuiqi and the others, it might prove much easier to obtain. Li Ximing nodded repeatedly, replying, "I will have to trouble you all then."

He paused, then politely added, "In that case, if a spiritual embryo isn't available, do any of you fellow Daoists possess any ancient Mingyang artifacts that I might study..."

Li Ximing had a plan. He had acquired "Refining in the Fire of the Pavilion" from Changxi, and the high platform on the shore was also completed. Regardless of whether he obtained a spiritual artifact or embryo, his own refining process would surely succeed. Therefore, he needed to carefully consider the spiritual embryo, as an ancient artifact would undoubtedly be the best material.

This statement somewhat surprised the others. After all, cultivators of these Sun orthodoxies typically chose ancient artifacts during their Foundation Establishment stage and continued to use them all the way to Zifu. For example, if Li Zhouwei were to break through to Zifu, he could begin refining the Great Ascent Halberd into a spiritual embryo...

But no sooner had he finished speaking than all three almost simultaneously nodded. Kuiqi even raised an eyebrow, chuckling, "Huiyu, retrieve the ancient Mingyang artifacts from the treasury!"

The black-robed Daoist, who had been wiping his magical sword on the highest stone steps, immediately rose and bowed. Kuiqi nodded and said, "Ancient artifacts were indeed stored then. My family likely possesses a good number, three in total. Zhaojing, please choose one. There's no need to be polite!"

Since Kuiqi spoke so quickly, Ning Wan and the others had no choice but to concede. However, ancient artifacts were not like common magical tools; they were limited in number, and even between Zifu cultivators, there was no custom of casual gifting. Li Ximing was instantly surprised and shook his head, saying, "There's no reason for me to accept Xiukui's things for free..."

Kuiqi laughed heartily, stood up, and with a joyful expression, said, "Since all fellow Daoists are present today, I won't mince words. I certainly won't shortchange you. Not only will I let you choose one item, but I will also gift you a spiritual essence, a resource of Mingyang..."

A keen glint flashed in his eyes as he said seriously, "My Xiukui... desires Fei Qingya."

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing finally understood. The Li family had, by association with the True Monarch, brought back Fei Qingya. While currently a source of trouble, once the True Monarch departed, she could very well become a valuable asset. Xiukui was clearly interested!

Li Ximing had an epiphany. Ling Mei remained unsurprised, while Ning Wan, having only recently achieved Zifu, looked thoughtful, unfamiliar with the underlying details. Kuiqi, meanwhile, chuckled, "I originally thought she would cultivate Purple Qi if not Cold Qi. I didn't expect that with you two fellow Daoists held up in the North, she would serendipitously cultivate Kan Shui... Xiao Chuting is also in the North Sea. This promising talent... it seems she is truly destined for my Xiukui!"

Great Xiukui Monastery commanded numerous Daoist temples beneath it, not only cultivating Xiukui but also specializing in Kan Shui and Witch Talismans. Li Ximing immediately began to ponder the implications.

If Fei Qingya were not killed, keeping her within the clan would be highly inconvenient. Though she currently held a favorable impression of the Li family, she was, after all, surnamed Fei and had the potential to reach Zifu. Furthermore, the Fei family was entangled with issues concerning the Sima family. Once her cultivation advanced, there was no telling how many complications would arise.

More importantly, Xu Xiao had left too profound an impression, and Li Ximing remained wary. His own talisman seed and Dharma mirror were major secrets. If an outsider Zifu like her emerged, too much would become impossible to conceal. Should the Fei family develop their own ambitions, they could waver between friend and foe, or even seek independence.

As for a marriage alliance, Li Ximing had considered it, but she was the True Master's woman. If she were to marry into the Li family, it would be an insult to the True Monarch—perhaps the first such act in history...

Conversely, sending her to a Sun orthodoxy could also forge a good relationship with a future True Man. His only fear was that if she were to reside within Xiukui and achieve significant cultivation, and then the Fei family sought her assistance, dealing with a Sun orthodoxy would prove even more detrimental. Li Ximing had his reservations, but with Kuiqi having already stated his intentions so clearly, he could only sigh, "It's not that I'm unwilling... I just fear that her worldly attachments would be too difficult to shed, preventing her from focusing on cultivation after entering the mountain, thereby pointlessly expending your esteemed sect's resources."

Kuiqi caught the underlying meaning and chuckled, "Zhaojing, set your mind at ease regarding that. Our Dao has a clear vow: 'to sever worldly ties and enter the monastery, to enlighten the mind and prove the Dao, never letting familial connections lead one astray.' As for the Fei family... my Linhai Prefecture is replete with mountains, and there's no shortage of suitable locations for a family or clan. They can be moved to Linhai, settled in the deep forests according to custom, and established as a monastery."

Clearly, though the main True Men of Great Xiukui Monastery were all surnamed Lin and their clans were deeply rooted under their rule, the Daoist temples scattered across various regions were not merely for display. Li Ximing nodded, considering his words carefully. "That would be fine... It's just that she is, after all, from Wangyue Lake. My family, as is customary, sends some resources annually. I wonder if your esteemed monastery has any regulations regarding accepting such offerings."

For the Li family, this was a way to solidify goodwill, but it also clearly demonstrated the extent of Xiukui Monastery's regard for Fei Qingya. Kuiqi, however, simply raised an eyebrow and readily declared, "No problem at all!"

Li Ximing realized that the Lin clan had its own formidable cultivators, and Fei Qingya would merely be an added bonus. He relaxed significantly. Beside him, the black-robed Daoist had already approached, carrying a jade plate.

On it lay three treasures: a ring shimmering with celestial light, a slender and elegant long spear, and a magical ruler resembling green jade.

The black-robed Daoist presented the three ancient artifacts, bowing respectfully. He first pointed to the ring, which was made entirely of golden jade and gleamed with three points of light. He reverently explained, "This is the Outer Frontier Ring, an ancient artifact obtained by the Great True Man from the Northern Buddhist sects in his early years, dating back to the early Liang Dynasty. It can dissolve magical power, allowing one to transform into light and escape. The three points of light on the ring can also materialize into three beams of celestial light to ward off enemies."

This ring, capable of both offense and defense, was exceptionally ornate, clearly an auxiliary artifact carried by the imperial nobility of Wei. The Daoist then picked up the spear, reverently explaining, "This is the Heaven-Measuring Bright Spear, acquired from Donghuo Grotto-Heaven. Its age is uncertain, but it predates the Liang Dynasty, dating from after Emperor Gong's reign. It can transform into light, piercing and wounding enemies with considerable power, though it does require a certain skill in wielding artifacts."

The remaining jade ruler, over a foot long, was engraved with patterns of mountains and rivers, feeling warm and gentle. He stated, "This piece is the Shikuan, also from Donghuo, and is even older, likely predating Emperor Gong of Wei. It can summon mountains and rivers to cover an area, empowering oneself within, allowing one to travel on celestial light, and even sense the movements of enemies."

Li Ximing scanned the items. As expected of the Great Xiukui Monastery's collection, none of the three were ordinary. The Daoist had only provided brief descriptions, but each possessed far more profound mysteries. As a practitioner of Mingyang, Li Ximing could already discern much of their true nature with just a glance.

'That ring is likely the most valuable, very comprehensive in its functions, and highly useful for Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, I have already cultivated divine abilities, and even if I were to refine it into a spiritual embryo, many of its functions are already inherent in my own abilities... so it doesn't particularly stand out.'

'This spear is an offensive weapon, but its use is tied to weapon mastery rather than divine arts. While it might allow me to practice some spells, I've had no particular fondness for spears or swords since childhood. To start training with them only after reaching Zifu... though my divine abilities are clear and perhaps no worse than those of ordinary cultivators, it would seem laughable at the Zifu level.'

"This ruler is conventional but possesses a grand aura, with some minor overlap in its mysterious functions with the Gate of Heaven's Veneration..."

He surveyed the items, naturally quite critical from his Zifu perspective. Hearing Ning Wan's admiring tone, he knew that even Qingchi's treasures couldn't surpass these. He then picked up the Shikuan.

Kuiqi sipped his tea and casually explained, "This Shikuan is of a very high standard. It was likely a plaything of an imperial descendant vying for the throne, hence its abundant intricacy but limited divine power. Once refined into a spiritual embryo, it can certainly be put to good use."

"It measures one foot two inches long, eight fen thick, and one inch two fen wide. Its material is Guanchuan Green Jade, now extinct, making it exceptionally fine. The tail is engraved with 'Yangji,' the head with 'Shangyao,' and it depicts mountains and rivers without divine figures. It is only a single step below the specifications for a Wei Crown Prince's artifact."

He clearly possessed a deep understanding of the artifacts within his treasury. He gazed at the Shikuan with a hint of reluctance, sighing with emotion. "When I was tasked with guarding the treasury back then, the Shikuan lay on the third platform to the left. I often wondered then if its original owner had ever managed to take that final step... The wielder of such an elegant artifact should have ushered in a long period of peace for the state of Wei."

Li Ximing nodded. No wonder the magical ruler felt unexpectedly heavy in his hand. Since its material was superior to the other two, it also indicated a higher potential, making it more qualified to become a spiritual embryo. This acquisition instantly filled his previous sense of regret. Feeling comfortable, he smiled, "Many thanks, fellow Daoist, for making this possible!"

Kuiqi smiled, waved his hand dismissively, then turned and instructed, "Go bring up the spiritual essence."

The black-robed Daoist immediately departed. Li Ximing, caressing the Shikuan and enjoying its warm, gentle feel, found himself liking it more and more. The styles of Wei Li were typically one of two: either domineering and fierce or calm and grand. The Shikuan clearly embodied the latter, making him quite attached to it.

'This will be my very first Zifu spiritual embryo!'