Chapter 923: Neck Feathers

Li Ximing immediately rose and descended onto the white pool in the center, filled with anticipation. As he stretched out his hand, his spiritual sense connected with the grand formation:"Rise!"

The water in the white pool immediately rippled. Faintly, the two characters "Hua Yu" at the bottom of the pool glowed brightly. Six streaks of light shot out from it, vying to land in his palm, transforming into six pure white, long feathers.

Each feather was six inches long and entirely white. Although called feathers, each white plume was a single, integrated piece, as if cast from pure silver, with extremely sharp edges. Under the faint magical glow of the cave mansion, the surface of the feathers shimmered with fine, fragmented scales, like rippling water.

A Fu Shui Violet Palace spiritual resource: Neck Feathers!

Li Ximing immediately took out a jade box and eagerly placed the six neck feathers inside. He then drew up a piece of Bichen Water and carefully put it into the box to nourish the Violet Palace spiritual resources.

Strangely, as soon as the Bichen Water left the pool, it became clear and transparent, illuminating the six feathers in the box, making them shimmer even more brightly, their surface rippling as if alive.

With the six neck feathers in hand, Li Ximing felt even more at ease. Although he did not cultivate Fu Shui, the neck feathers were undoubtedly Violet Palace-grade spiritual resources, and six of them was certainly a considerable number.

He lowered his gaze and silently calculated:"Six white feathers account for six hundred years, and the Bichen Water in the pool takes up seventy percent, which means seventy years. A total of six hundred and seventy years... Six hundred and seventy years ago, the Yuan family fled to Jiangnan, and the Green Pond Sect had just been founded... To think there was a Fu Shui cultivator of such profound cultivation!"

He stepped over the pool and connected with the grand formation. Crisp, crystalline sounds echoed all around, and six magnificent doors appeared on the smooth walls surrounding the main hall, each facing a different direction.

These were the other side halls!

Li Ximing stepped inside. The first area was a long corridor, revealing a different realm within. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed sixteen small chambers for storing spiritual items. They were all spacious and clean, with traces of bottles and jars in the first chamber. The remaining areas were locked and spotless, making it unclear if they had ever held anything or if they had been emptied long ago.

Li Ximing could only push open the door to the first chamber and tidy it up. In the end, he only found two boxes of White Partridge Yuan Spring. This Foundation Establishment-grade Fu Shui was skilled at nourishing other items; back then, Tinglan's Tianyi Chunyuan was preserved using this. Now, it was empty, clearly indicating that the preserved items had been taken away.

"It seems the owner of the Zhen Tao Mansion had no disciples or descendants. They preferred to create sixteen storage rooms for spiritual items, using only one themselves, and there wasn't a single cave mansion suitable for low-level cultivators to practice in..."

"However, now that it's in our hands, once our people arrive, we can modify it. These sixteen spiritual storehouses can be converted into cave mansions for the younger generation to use."

He stepped out to the side, where a wave of heat immediately assailed him. This was a forging area made of dark stone and black bricks. In the center stood a forging furnace, with various spiritual tools hanging all around. Pure black Fu Shui flowed down with a gurgling sound, following the patterns on the ground.

To the side was another small pool, clearly used for quenching. The Bichen Water within it was strikingly different from that in the main hall of the cave mansion, being clear, transparent, and even faintly blue.

"It is indeed a Fu Shui forging method. This black liquid is Wu Ye Spiritual Water, which is used outside for cultivating spells and for storing in spiritual bottles and artifacts to defend against enemies..."

Li Ximing didn't know much about forging, so he naturally couldn't understand it fully. He quickly scanned the area and finally discovered an ink-colored long blade in the quenching pool nearby.

With just one glance, Li Ximing understood:"An ancient artifact, most likely a degenerated spiritual embryo."

He put it away and secretly pondered the Fu Shui Violet Palaces in Jiangnan. After much thought, he quickly came up with an idea:"Senior Chen cultivates Fu Shui. Although his Dao lineage is broken, there are no other Fu Shui Violet Palaces. I must go see him!"

He quickly moved on to the next area, which was the rear hall of the Zhen Tao Mansion's owner.

Compared to the opulence of the main hall, this area seemed simple. Although spacious, it was merely the size of a courtyard, mostly paved with plain blue bricks. The furnishings were ordinary; there was no bed, making it more like a study. Only a common ink brush lay on a desk, atop a piece of paper.

Li Ximing's gaze swept over it, seeing the elegant brushstrokes:"In harsh winters, the weak lie dormant; in flourishing waters, capacity is stored—these are the phenomena of Fu Shui. With the cold Qi and Yin Water already present, why would Fu Shui not be proven? It's only regrettable that the Yu snatched the abyss, and the Xuan Yuan lost its vastness, making their natures incompatible thereafter!"

The calligraphy was pure black, without a trace of luminescence. This piece of white paper, of unknown material, having absorbed this passage, resembled white jade, with a halo emanating from its curled edges.

The desk was otherwise empty, save for the brush and paper. Directly in front of them lay a jade slip, unsecured and unlocked. It contained only a Qi Condensation cultivation method. Li Ximing's spiritual sense scanned it, and he found it incredibly familiar:"The River-Ocean Qi Art" — for achieving the Immortal Foundation of Vast Ocean!

Li Ximing quietly studied the handwriting. Silently, he took out a jade box from his sleeve, picked up the white paper, which resembled a jade tablet, and placed it inside the box, gazing at it for a long time:"'Why would Fu Shui not be proven? It's only regrettable that the Yu snatched the abyss, and the Xuan Yuan lost its vastness, making their natures incompatible thereafter!'"

Vast Ocean was achieved by Li Tongya, the first Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li family and his ancestor. Not only Li Ximing, but every cultivator in the Li family could recite it fluently:"'Kan Shui Vast Ocean, anciently known as Jing Dragon King... This must be that Vastness!'"

"'Yu... So one of the Kan Shui aspects was Yu. The books state: 'In the streams and ridges of Jiangnan, water shoots inch-long bow worms, attacking human shadows with their qi, killing them without cure.' That certainly fits...'"

Kan Shui referred to the turbulent waters of streams. Li Ximing had long been accustomed to this and hadn't thought much of it. But now, looking at it again, he felt something was off:"'Why change the name? How could Kan Shui be known for its vastness? There must have been a variable. Fu Shui represents lakes and marshes, and now the lakes and marshes are withered, directly corresponding to the loss of their vastness...'"

"'It's just that I haven't heard of any clear strong-weak subjugation between Kan and Fu elements. I only know that He Fu can be harmonized with Qi Jin, but there's no way to harmonize Kan Shui and He Shui.'"

He secretly felt startled. Although his cultivation level wasn't very high, he secretly understood a great deal:"'Kan Shui seized the vastness of Fu Shui, the Vast Ocean... With the domineering and autocratic nature of the dragon lineage, how could they tolerate another Dao lineage calling itself Vast Ocean? If Senior Xiao wants to prove Kan Shui, then the dragon lineage might also be a problem!'"

His gaze shifted slightly, finally settling on the jade slip before him."'The River-Ocean Qi Art'... Even if it's not directly related to the Lingyu Sect, it's connected to the Chen clan of Ningguo... Coincidentally, Chen also cultivates Fu Shui. Although these two Chen clans are not the same family, it's still a match!"

This matter silenced him. The Xiao family and the Chen clan had an ambiguous relationship, with many ancestral ties. Everything seemed to have an ancient origin. He vaguely foresaw how many difficulties Xiao Chuting would face on her path, and silently, he left the hall, quietly heading towards the next area.

Of the remaining three areas, one was extremely spacious and empty. On the ground was a circular altar-like decoration, adorned with water patterns, and it too was empty. Li Ximing pondered it silently and a conjecture formed in his mind:"This place once cultivated a spiritual tree, which the owner of Zhen Tao Mansion must have taken with him before leaving..."

Another area was a scripture pavilion. Although beautifully decorated, the cave mansion's owner was clearly perfunctory here. Not only was the space small, but the shelves were also completely empty. It didn't look like things had been taken, but rather that nothing had ever been placed there.

With nothing found in these two places, Li Ximing finally arrived before the mysterious gate symmetrical to the forging hall, pushing it open with eager anticipation.

It was indeed the Alchemy Hall!

This place was exceptionally vast, adorned with Fu Shui patterns. In the center stood a blue-gold alchemy furnace, towering like a pagoda, reaching high up. Each of its six corners featured a roaring Xuan Yuan effigy, each three to four times the height of a common person, their mouths facing the furnace and emitting a faint glow.

As he stepped in, the surroundings immediately brightened. The lamp holders emitted light that rippled like lake water, interweaving and illuminating the entire Alchemy Hall with shimmering water-like light.

"What a magnificent alchemy furnace!"

Li Ximing's eyes immediately lit up. He stepped forward, placed a hand on the alchemy furnace, and carefully sensed it."It is indeed a Fu Shui alchemy method..."

This central alchemy furnace, named Vast Lake, was not a mere artifact. Rather, it was constructed from several separately crafted artifact components, stacked and pieced together to form its current immense size. It was linked to the formation, forming a complex alchemy array system embedded within this place.

The roaring Xuan Yuan effigies at the six corners were also part of the overall structure. If Li Ximing guessed correctly, once the alchemy furnace was activated, these six Xuan Yuan effigies would immediately spout Fu Shui from their mouths, connecting to the central furnace to assist in the refining process.

"If the cave mansion's owner used a Fu Shui alchemy technique, this furnace would likely be comparable to a Violet Palace-grade one. As for ordinary fire alchemy, it would be much inferior, but still incomparable to the Precious Elephant Furnace."

He circled it dearly, observing the configuration of the Vast Lake alchemy array, feeling nothing but astonishment in his heart:"Is this cave mansion the territory of more than one Violet Palace expert? Unless one is born with innate knowledge, how could someone possess such profound mastery in both alchemy and forging simultaneously!"

He then strolled away, thoroughly satisfied, suppressing the urge to light a fire and test the alchemy furnace. He was secretly delighted:"Although this alchemy furnace is of the Fu Shui element and probably difficult to harmonize with Kan Shui, making it hard to gain further leverage against Ding Yangzi, it will certainly be useful in the future..."

He returned laden with findings, pushing open the door from the Alchemy Hall and re-entering the main hall. Although the spiritual energy here was not as abundant as in the Sun-Moon Brilliance World, it was already extremely luxurious for the cultivation of the younger generation in his clan!

Now, he arrived before the pool, smiling, and contemplated the rippling Hua Yu Pool for a while."The miraculous spirit storage can condense Bichen Water. A full pool will condense over a hundred years, transforming into Violet Palace-grade spiritual resource: Neck Feathers."

His expression became thoughtful. His figure vanished from the spot, transforming into a streak of light that entered the forging hall, emerging moments later. He had already retrieved the Bichen Water from the quenching pool, condensing it into a ball of water held in his palm.

Li Ximing flicked his finger lightly, and the Bichen Water immediately sank, all pouring into the Hua Yu Pool!"Do I have to wait for it to condense on its own? Can't I collect Bichen Water myself and pour it into the pool!"

Indeed, as the pool water continuously rose and gradually filled, its color gradually faded. The transparent, clear Bichen Water, upon entering, immediately transformed into a pure white color. The formation within the cave mansion also began to operate rapidly, the Xuan Fu foundation condensed, emitting various wonders that influenced the water in the pool.

Based on the feedback from the formation, Li Ximing estimated that it would only take one year for this batch of neck feathers to successfully condense!

He was instantly overjoyed, looking at the water beneath his feet with excitement:"So this is how it's used! Otherwise, who could wait a hundred years? How many hundred years does a Violet Palace cultivator even have left!"

"This is the real money tree... It's equivalent to a Violet Palace spiritual tree, constantly producing Violet Palace-grade spiritual resources. Even a Violet Palace spiritual tree might not be able to produce one Violet Palace-grade spiritual resource every year! This is the true power of this miracle, this is its true usage!"

"It just can't be generated from thin air; one needs to collect a considerable amount of Bichen Water. Over time, prices will surely rise. The main thing is to find sources of large-scale production... But how wonderful is it for low-grade spiritual materials to transform into Violet Palace-grade spiritual resources?! As for Bichen Water, in the past, I found it took up too much space even in my storage bag!"

He watched contentedly for a while, then studied the entire cave mansion inside and out again. Finally, he was willing to leave. Standing before the cave mansion, as the stone door gradually closed, he pondered the three characters "Zhen Tao Mansion."

"The connection with the Chen clan of Ningguo cannot be severed. But no matter what, our clan's forces should be stationed on Changzhou Island."

After all, this Violet Palace grand formation was set up based on the terrain and absolutely could not be moved. Even if all the formation masters of the Sun Dao Lineage combined their efforts, they probably couldn't guarantee that its wonders would still function if it were moved. They could only send people over.

"Moreover, outside there's a Fiend Lake, which isolates spiritual energy and acts as a natural barrier against Violet Palace cultivators."

He transformed into a streak of light and traversed, not forgetting the eye of the Earth Fiend Cold Spring within the Fiend Lake. He entered the water and indeed saw thick black ice forming at the bottom of the Fiend Lake. The Kan Shui Qi, transformed by the wondrous power of the Kan trigram, was like swirling gray winds, constantly blowing across the surface of the black ice, converting the Earth Fiend Cold Spring into Nether Seal Fiend Fluid.

But with this observation, he realized that the so-called Xuan Fu foundation of the Xuan Yuan Zhen Fu Spirit Formation was precisely where the Earth Fiend Cold Spring eye was located! Its water veins, earth veins, and spiritual veins had merged into one. The Earth Fiend Cold Spring and the Fiend Lake were also products of this Xuan Fu foundation!

"It wasn't because there was a natural Fiend Lake here that the formation was established. Rather, it was through the profundity of this formation that the Fiend Lake was born a hundred years later... This spirit-void Fiend Lake barrier was already part of his calculations!"

"Moreover, with the three veins merged into one, if anyone forcefully breaks this formation, the cave mansion will inevitably collapse. Let alone the Dong Lu Xuan Water, even the few great halls inside won't be saved! The art of formations is truly miraculous!"

Li Ximing observed this Xuan Fu foundation in disbelief, secretly sighing with emotion:"This is the work of a heavenly figure! Not to mention others, even True Person Zimu, the highest-ranking cultivator in Jiangnan, might not be able to arrange a formation so perfectly integrated and naturally formed!"

He thus glanced around, and with a sweep of his spiritual sense, estimated that there were three or four portions of Earth Fiend Cold Spring beneath the black ice, but no discernible treasures. So, he transformed into a streak of light, traversing through the earth veins, and in a short while, emerged from the ground.

Outside, the night wind was strong, the sea was pitch black, and scattered lights dotted the island. His mood greatly improved, he ascended on a beam of light, and set off back.

His original pretext for coming out this time was to go to the Southern Border to search for traces of spiritual fire. Naturally, he couldn't return to the lake so hastily. With ample time remaining, he entered the Void, circled southwest, and flew towards the Southern Border.

Characters appearing in this chapter:Li Ximing: Early Violet Palace Stage, Violet Palace Alchemist.