Chapter 935: Miaohui Xu

Clatter!

The midday sun shone on the clean desk where a row of wooden slips lay neatly arranged. The old man sat in the courtyard, looking up, and smiled: "How did the True Lord come to visit me?"

Li Zhouwei, standing by, sipped his tea, his expression somewhat somber. Only in Li Xuanxuan's courtyard did he allow a hint of worry to show: "Elder, have you heard the new song from the Guest of Dawn Pavilion?"

Li Xuanxuan was old. Whether addressing Li Ximing or Li Zhouwei, he preferred to use the address 'True Lord.' It wasn't about familiarity or distance, but more about seeking reassurance. Hearing this now, he shook his head and said: "Ever since Ming'er went into seclusion, I haven't listened to 'Hate Flowing Waters.' I'm afraid it would stir up worry and make me overthink. However, I hear this time it's quite different; the lyrics have been changed, adding some novelty."

Although the old man was not in the best spirits, his status ensured he was very well-informed. At this point, he sighed: "I hear the True Lord visited the Guest of Dawn Pavilion. There must have been a guest..."

Li Zhouwei set down his cup and lowered his gaze, saying: "I met people from the North. They weren't really interested in me; they just dropped by to gauge my potential and left after hearing a song. It's understandable, I suppose. I'm an unexpected bonus. I can ignore it for now; if it helps, that's best, and it won't do any harm. It's just that I've been registered by the Underworld Bureau, making it difficult to be taken away, so I'm letting things run their course."

Li Xuanxuan picked up his cup, his expression dimming: "It's the other side that's difficult to explain to."

Li Zhouwei understood that the old man was referring to the Dragon kin. Although the Qilin and Dragon kin shared a past bond, and the Dragon kin had long lifespans, bestowing some benefits, as his strength continuously increased, and he could one day truly contend for the Fruit of Dao, the estrangement and suspicion with the Dragon kin would likely intensify. *Qingyu Qian also said that the Dragon kin didn't genuinely intend to support Li Qianyuan. For thousands of years, the Dragon kin have been single-mindedly pursuing the path of the True Dragon, and they only wish to postpone his downfall and exhaust Luoxia's energy. If they truly wanted to help him escape, they would need to suppress me, prevent my cultivation from growing too quickly, and try their best to give Li Qianyuan opportunities to interact with me. Whether the Dragon kin are afraid or unwilling, their repeated assistance to me clearly indicates other arrangements.* *I myself am the result of the Fruit of Dao's instability, and also a clear chess piece cast out by Luoxia. Luoxia holds absolute initiative. The opponent is too clever, and the Dragon kin are caught between a rock and a hard place.* *As for the four-eared man in white... he's undoubtedly a fox.*

Multiple ears are inherently an outward manifestation of the Great Li Mountain Fox clan's Dao lineage. Combined with his location and the reaction of the other individual, the answer was not difficult to guess.

*First... the Dragon kin... or perhaps Dongfang Lieyun's statement wasn't false, but their stance was clear. The fox clan's words were more neutral... Luoxia's intention—at least on the surface—was that this Mingyang Fruit of Dao wasn't simply for Li Qianyuan to occupy... Furthermore, according to Luoxia, if they hadn't suppressed him, Li Qianyuan's reincarnated self might even have intended to kill me to achieve Dao. This not only aligns with the Mingyang Dao but also represents his most likely path to breaking the stalemate.*

His expression gradually revealed deep thought: *If that's the case... then forcing me to leave the lake and go into seclusion in the East Sea at that time, was that the work of one family? The entire period of the True Lord's reincarnation precisely coincided with my time in the East Sea... it must have been to prevent the reincarnated person from seeing me... it was indeed arranged long ago.*

However, the attitude of the Grand True Lord of Mount Luoxia was truly interesting, prompting speculation in Li Zhouwei's mind: *Silence, a performance concluded... It seemed like his own doing. Passing through this place on his way south, he felt that Luoxia and I clearly had aligned interests. Although he disdained to order me around, he had a certain disposition, disliking gossip, and used the performer's mouth to state his position.*

But no matter how disdainful Luoxia was, or how its Dao path and principles interfered with the situation, it inherently held the qualifications. Li Zhouwei, however, had no right to express an opinion, or even to choose.

*On the surface, the Dragon kin are opposed, even willing to offer me the Golden Essence in the end. But the Underworld Bureau in the South hasn't made its stance clear. How do the True Lords across the land view this? According to Luoxia, the Underworld Bureau merely wants to collect Golden Essence, but who knows if they're laying traps and casting nets everywhere!*

He watched the other party leave, understanding that Mount Luoxia remained aloof, showing little concern. The Dragon kin and the Underworld Bureau each had their own agendas, and even the various Buddhist sects in the North and the maritime forces harbored their own intentions. It wasn't just his personal fate that was uncertain here: *Perhaps in the end, there must be a result that satisfies the vast majority of forces for the Li clan to have a future...*

He was deep in thought, holding his cup in silence. Li Xuanxuan, observing him, understood perfectly. After a long while, he said: "The Four Xi were once the pillars of my Li clan, and Ximing was even more outstanding. Harmonizing with the mundane and radiating light, he possessed his own measure of wisdom. You are the Qilin of our family for a hundred years. He entrusted the great power of the family to you; whatever you decide becomes the will of the clan."

Ever since Li Ximing handed over the Huayang Royal Axe, Li Zhouwei had a sudden realization. At this moment, his eyes gleaming, he softly said: "Minghuang is trusted by his ancestors. Fearing inadequate consideration, and that the North-South conflict might still bring about a deadly catastrophe directly towards our family, he asks the junior to temper his divine abilities, advance his cultivation, until his divine abilities are perfected."

Hall of Shameful Crossing.

True flames blazed fiercely, their colors shifting. Golden fire illuminated the purplish-black furnace walls, making the upper purple and lower black hues even more vibrant. The strange-shaped crows and owls on the walls lit up one by one, spewing black light, and profundity gradually emerged. The five legs of the Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace trembled slightly, simultaneously emitting light. The divine power gradually receded, condensing into points of flowing light. That radiance was as warm as jade; the hand holding the divine ability quickly formed a seal, reining in the flames. Suddenly, the sound of flowing water resounded, and wisps of grey-black light shot out from the furnace mouth. Bound by divine power, they fell one by one into his palm, transforming into round, spiritual pills with undulating landscape patterns. "The elixir is complete!" Li Ximing slowly exhaled, appearing utterly satisfied.

As for alchemy, refining something too difficult was troublesome and mentally exhausting; something too simple was boring and uninteresting. The Huishui Xuandao Powder was of moderate difficulty, and the Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace was extremely useful. Wasn't it a satisfying refinement? Opening the jade box now, he saw two full rows of pills lying inside. "A full seventeen pills!"

The Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace truly lived up to its name as a Purple Mansion spiritual furnace. Its own Xiudao aligned with Kanhsui, yielding a remarkable eight pills in this single batch—undoubtedly the most Purple Mansion elixirs he had ever produced from one furnace. If not for his own Dao lineage being incompatible, he might have achieved an unprecedented ten pills! Although the number of pills produced in alchemy is also related to the elixir formula, for instance, Xuanque Jingxin Elixir is primarily for emergency use, typically yielding three to five pills per batch, with the focus on enhancing potency. The Huishui Xuandao Powder also benefited from its formula: *As the saying goes, 'San' (powder) is used to disperse and treat chronic illnesses, typically yielding five or six pills for common use. Powders naturally produce a few more pills, but it's usually only a difference of one or two. Eight pills is an extremely impressive achievement!*

These two batches combined yielded sixteen pills. Adding the one remaining pill from before, he had a total of seventeen, more than enough to deliver the fifteen to Ding Yangzi. He then picked up the nearby medicine box and saw the pitch-black Cangzhou Huilong scales, shimmering with delicate luster, lying inside. *Cangzhou Huilong Scales obtained!*

Looking at the Xiuxuan Dujing Furnace, he felt a fleeting sense of regret: *It's certainly useful, but unfortunately, it's not mine.*

Li Ximing didn't have much spiritual wealth. After the Chongli Treasure Leaf was used, only the 'Neck Feather' and 'Monk's Feast Silver' remained. Now, adding this new spiritual resource, he carefully put it away, musing: *Sending fifteen over, I can still keep one or two. It's a spiritual elixir after all, useful in critical moments.*

He then looked at the jade pendant Liu Changdie had given him. It had awakened three to five days ago, emitting a faint halo, clearly indicating that the person had already been found. He couldn't delay any longer, so he ceased his cultivation, stood up, and left the hall. The sides were deserted, but True Lord Houfu, dressed in Daoist robes, approached him, smiling: "Seeing the cloud qi stir, I knew the elixir was complete. I didn't expect it to have a touch of Kanhsui's essence. What excellent alchemy!"

Li Ximing demurred a few times, replying: "Senior, you flatter me. I merely warmed the furnace and tested the elixir fire and the aura of this precious land. It's truly a top-tier location; I'm quite envious."

Houfu responded with a few humble words, but Li Ximing then said: "I need to refine an elixir for a friend, and I must also fetch someone to assist. It's a good chance for you to meet them, Senior."

"Go ahead, no problem." The Sun Dao lineage was currently weak, so Houfu was naturally pleased to forge more connections. Stroking his beard, he nodded. Li Ximing then bid farewell and ascended into the air, traveling through the Grand Void directly to Fenkuai Island, following the contact indicated by the jade talisman.

Soon, he passed Fenkuai Island and stopped over a nearby sea surface. He then dived into the ocean, where a silver pavilion stood on a reef. Its eaves soared like dragons, its beams were carved, and its pillars painted, with fish and shrimp swimming through. It looked very magnificent. With a sweep of his divine sense, he knew this was merely a Foundation Establishment artifact, yet it possessed some magical qualities. It was a temporary traveling palace, lacking many other functions, built specifically for enjoyment. He chuckled inwardly: *He's a formation master after all, and he's been in the Southern Barbarian lands for so long; he's quite lavish.*

So he descended into the pavilion. Liu Changdie was sitting cross-legged, his aura fluctuating ceaselessly, as if he had just engaged in a spell battle or used a divine ability. Seeing Li Ximing arrive, he immediately opened his eyes and smiled: "Ximing has arrived!"

Li Ximing suppressed his smile and raised an eyebrow, saying: "This is..."

Liu Changdie waved his hand, indicating it was nothing. He stretched out his hand, smiling as he pointed to the desk. On the desk, a golden-iron box, dark in color, had already been placed. He chuckled: "Ximing, you previously used the Chongli Treasure Leaf. I promised to compensate you for it, so I specifically retrieved this for you. Please take a look; its value should be comparable!"

Li Ximing naturally remembered this matter and knew that Liu Changdie wasn't just paying lip service, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so quickly. Slightly surprised, he tried to politely decline, but was cut off by the other party's few words. He could only thank him with a smile and step forward to open the box.

The box was only palm-sized. Inside, dense flowing clouds, milky white in color, resembled a bowl of sheep's milk, gently rippling. Li Ximing, with his divine sight in his brow, easily saw through this mist, observing a yellowish-white wooden tendril floating in the very center, about an inch long, with finely branched divisions, less than a tenth of an inch wide, slender and delicate.

There must have been another layer of spiritual array within the box, as even after he opened it, the spiritual mist did not easily dissipate. Liu Changdie smiled: "This item is the 'Subtle Wisdom Tendril,' a resource for the path of Wood Gathering. It grows on Xiao Guangyu Mountain in the West Sea, and it vanishes upon being discovered, making it impossible to find... It must be contained using the 'Heart-Locking Cloud,' a True Qi Foundation-building spiritual item, and augmented with formations, otherwise, a single oversight would allow it to escape. A friend of mine once obtained a few portions on the mountain and gifted them to me as resources; now I am re-gifting them to you, fellow Daoist."

He smiled faintly, a bit awkwardly, and said: "This item can heal the Qi Sea Jueque and remove deep Qi. If catalyzed with a divine ability and planted in soil, it can make trees grow and attract birds. Its uses are a bit niche... The Wood Gathering path is not prominent nowadays, and its known uses are just a sentence or two in books. Perhaps you know more about it." No wonder he was embarrassed; this item was truly in an awkward position. They were all at the Purple Mansion realm, so who would use a spiritual item just for their Qi Sea? However, he changed the subject and said: "The West Sea is, after all, far away. It was once the domain of the ancient Lord of Fu Water, and without divine abilities, it's difficult to cross. Upon reaching the Abyss of Weak Water, even with divine abilities, there are significant inconveniences. Therefore, few Purple Mansion cultivators bother to go there. This item isn't considered precious, but its rarity is its strong point."

Li Ximing nodded repeatedly, sighing: "Senior's noble generosity!"

To be honest, niche items like the Subtle Wisdom Tendril certainly couldn't compare to the resources of the flourishing Li Fire Dao, or the Chongli Treasure Leaf, which was useful to Li Ximing in many ways. But to obtain Li Fire, there had to be sacrifices. One Chongli Treasure Leaf was nothing significant. Only Liu Changdie was so generous as to even discuss compensation with him; how could there be any objection?

He himself wasn't well-off, so he sighed with emotion, thanked him, and accepted it. Then Liu Changdie said: "Daoist Qingyan has been searching for spiritual items here for quite some time now... I'll ask him to return first..."

He looked very emotional, then turned to Li Ximing and said: "He also has a hard life. The True Lord of the Qingxuan Dao path fell very early in the North, transforming into a mountain. I heard that his state was unusual at the time of his demise, and he hasn't flourished since. Any spiritual item or spiritual energy often only emerges from that mountain; other places have very little... Yet, Qingxuan is somewhat peculiar. Many techniques and divine abilities urgently require those Qingxuan resources. How could one dare to go North? For so many years, he's been running around, and I heard he only managed to get a few things in Jiangnan. Later, even Jiangnan was gone, making him even busier."

*Jiangnan... the only renowned Qingxuan family is the Yuan clan...* Li Ximing pondered silently, his heart suddenly trembling: *It seems the esteemed Yuan clan of Mushroom Forest Plain has likely had their treasury visited by this demonic creature several times, treated as its own private garden!*

*Since this demonic creature is like this, other Qingxuan cultivators in the world are probably not much different... Yuan Huyuan said that the Yuan clan used up all the spiritual items left by their ancestors back then... It's still unknown whether they were used up or vanished without a trace. Purple Mansion cultivators naturally wouldn't care for Qingxuan's spiritual energy, but how many of those secluded ancestors and accidentally deceased geniuses ended up in its belly! The decline of the Yuan clan was no accident... Their population is still thriving now, but that's because someone in Jiangnan is working for the legacy of Yanyang Temple Palace. As long as the Yuan clan cultivates Qingxuan, there will be despair every single day...*