Chapter 944: Heirs

Li Ximing also stood in the setting sun, shifting the brocade box from his left hand to his right. He weighed it twice, finding it difficult to hold, yet unwilling to tuck it into his sleeve. He lowered his brows. "How did it get to Jiangbei? It's actually in Jiangbei."

His platinum-colored daoist robe fluttered in the dimming sunlight, appearing somewhat faded. He pondered the phrase, then whispered, "What if it succeeded?"

The two gazed for a moment. Li Zhouwei turned slightly, looking towards Shanjin County. Everything at Muquan Sect was dark and silent, just like Ziyan Sect. No cultivators ascended into the sky, nor did anyone arrive from the west.

The sky quickly darkened. They silently returned to the table. A cold wind rustled from the river. Li Ximing placed the brocade box down, exchanged a glance with Li Zhouwei, and simply sipped his tea.

Three individuals from the Kong family had achieved breakthroughs back then, but eventually, only Kong Tingyun remained. Everyone had speculated that she was in seclusion in the East Sea, even suspecting she was in seclusion under Xuanyi, with no news for a long time. Now, everything was clear.

Li Ximing could only sigh now, replying, "She's in Jiangbei..."

Li Zhouwei stared at the brocade box on the table, saying nothing. However, his unspoken thoughts already alerted Li Ximing. The True Monarch Zhaojing put down his cup, somewhat troubled. "It's already too close."

There was a time when Li Ximing hoped Kong Tingyun would achieve a breakthrough in time, become a True Monarch, and properly manage the Xuanyue Sect. But Xuanyue Sect had barely survived for years, now completely collapsed, filling the coffers of several families. Frankly speaking, although the Li family was the primary protector of the Kong lineage, they also received a significant share of assets. Not to mention, even the formation arrays on the continent belonged to the Kong family!

Old friends had passed away, and circumstances had changed. Kong Tingyun was not a simple-minded person; how could she explain everything cleanly?

Seeing Li Zhouwei staring at the brocade box, Li Ximing's earlier joy vanished. He now regarded the box as a hot potato, finding himself in an extremely difficult position.

"The matter of Zhu Palace… is at a crucial point..."

Li Zhouwei glanced at him, poured him tea, and said softly, "The location is in Jiangbei. Uncle-Grandfather and I cannot go, nor can Tinglan Zhu Palace. The exact matter is unclear. In Uncle-Grandfather's judgment, what are her chances of success?"

Li Ximing shook his head and sighed, "Not low... That old man, Chang Xi, is calculating. To sacrifice Kong Haiying and leave a contingency in Jiangbei, he must have a plan!"

Li Zhouwei whispered, "As for True Monarch Zhu Palace..."

Seeing Li Ximing's bitter expression, shaking his head without speaking, he said in a slightly deeper tone, "We have no choice but to save her!"

Li Ximing's heart tightened. He composed himself. Li Zhouwei said gravely, "If Kong Tingyun succeeds, things will become extremely complicated. True, many Purple Mansions sat down to divide Xuanyue back then, but the one who played the villain was Ye Gui! As long as the truth doesn't come out, True Monarch was ambushed while trying to protect the Kong family and fled to the East Sea; at least it's plausible on the surface. We need to inquire about the grand array and discuss everything with Tinglan. To put it bluntly, compared to Kong Tingyun, we still cannot afford to offend the Sun Dao Orthodoxy."

"Behind Zhu Palace are Tinglan and Houfu. Everyone isn't blind; the Xuanyue Dao Orthodoxy has been completely divided by the Sun Dao Orthodoxy, visible for all to see. They must also have calculated that it belongs to her. If not for this phenomenon, my not lending blood wouldn't be a big deal, and Tinglan would understand. But now, refusing to lend blood would be sensitive."

"My family and the Kong family already have a good relationship, which easily raises suspicions. True Monarch Zhu Palace might only think my family has changed allegiance and wishes her an early death!"

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes, reflected in the tea, appeared profound. "Actually, if she died, it would be fine. But Purple Mansions are tenacious; she can't truly die. At most, she'd lose her physical body and escape back to the East Sea. If she then harbors hatred for my family, it would send shivers down one's spine."

Li Ximing sighed heavily, replying, "It has come to this!"

Li Zhouwei twirled his cup, his expression grave. "I fear that if Kong Tingyun emerges from seclusion, both our sect and family could be annihilated. How profound would her hatred be? We cannot afford to provoke the Sun Dao Orthodoxy, but investigating Zhu Palace is a simple matter. If a conflict breaks out, we will find ourselves in a difficult position."

Li Ximing pondered for two breaths before replying, "I think we definitely cannot stay out of this matter. Our only course of action is to try and ease, or at least postpone, the escalation of conflict between the two families. This is also what Tinglan and Houfu wish to see..."

His expression gradually calmed. He whispered, "We must protect Kong Guxi and Kong Xiaxiang. What they say will be useful."

Li Zhouwei nodded slightly, replying, "This matter will be handled according to Uncle-Grandfather's discretion."

He flicked his finger, spilling the tea from the cup, leaving it empty. Then he turned his hand over, revealing fingertips as white as jade, which subtly took on the color of white stone.

With a thought, a slit opened on his fingertip, like a mouth, revealing a sliver of eerie white bone. After a few breaths, a drop of pale golden, reddish blood fell from it.

As soon as the blood left his body, it became perfectly round like a pill, hard as stone. It dropped into the jade cup with a crisp clinking sound, rolled around twice, and then stilled.

The radiance of the Mingyang divine ability rose, surging quickly into the jade cup, dyeing it golden-white. All the divine power was sealed within. Upon closer inspection, it indeed looked like a valuable treasure.

Li Ximing sighed repeatedly, asking with concern, "Are you hurt?"

Li Zhouwei smiled and shook his head, his expression unchanged. He simply said, "It's just a drop of blood. A Lin Guang Zhao Yi Pill and some time will restore it. The essence blood provided by the Dragon clan back then was the most crucial. At that time, I also had Purple Mansion spiritual items for replenishment. Now, one or two pills are enough."

Li Ximing felt a genuine sense of embarrassment. He pushed the brocade box into Li Zhouwei's hand and then took out several pills for his recovery, saying, "I always try not to burden you, but seeing this situation, it's unavoidable..."

"Uncle-Grandfather, you jest."

Li Zhouwei shook his head. He took out a jade box and pushed it along with the brocade box towards Li Ximing, replying, "Inside the box is the 'Lin Guang Hui Yang Divine Scroll,' gifted by True Monarch Tianhuo and obtained by the Golden Feather Sect from the East Fire Grotto-Heaven. It is also known as the 'Radiant Qilin Refinement Method' in the Sun Dao Orthodoxy. These items are useless in my hands, Uncle-Grandfather, please take them."

He mentioned two items in one breath, causing Li Ximing to pause slightly, about to speak but hesitating. Li Zhouwei, however, smiled, stood up, and displayed the Huayang Royal Axe, saying, "This cannot compare to a spiritual artifact."

Li Ximing chuckled wryly and opened the jade box. Inside, he saw a golden scroll with intricate patterns on its four corners, resembling golden embroidery, densely filled with esoteric characters. Upon touching it, he found its texture delicate and soft, and his eyes could not leave it. He said, somewhat surprised, "This is truly a good item!"

Li Zhouwei was not versed in alchemy and did not know the value of the Lin Guang Hui Yang Divine Scroll. Li Ximing, after a quick read, immediately understood its significance.

The author of the Lin Guang Hui Yang Divine Scroll was Cui E, a figure from an unknown era. He was truly exceptionally gifted, astonishingly skilled in alchemy, and practiced the Mingyang Dao Orthodoxy, mastering a profound alchemical method.

This scroll contained his life's accumulated wisdom, recording three alchemical methods: "Radiant Qilin," "Phoenix Arrival," and "Empty Form Co-existence."

Among them, "Radiant Qilin" and "Phoenix Arrival" were both extremely advanced alchemical methods. The former utilized the authority of Mingyang's generative power to aid in pill formation, meticulously recording six types of Mingyang pills and three types of Lihuo pills! These included pills for healing, cultivation, maintenance, and even escape.

The other method, "Phoenix Arrival," used the Mingyang father-son principles for pill formation. Its underlying mechanism was similar to the Embracing Feather Harmony Pill that Li Ximing refined for Huoyang in the Limian Palace of the Zhuluo Kingdom.

However, this divine scroll contained hundreds of thousands of characters, far more complex than the emergency method Li Ximing derived from the "Heavenly Heart Unified Pill Method." It aimed to refine truly presentable spirit pills, not merely to appease the demonic creature from the Boruo race.

As for the so-called "Empty Form Co-existence," it was a further development based on the previous methods, somewhat like a simplified Mingyang version of the "Heavenly Heart Unified Pill Method." Li Ximing glanced at it; if he hadn't previously obtained the "Heavenly Heart Unified Pill Method," "Empty Form Co-existence" would undoubtedly be extremely valuable. Now, however, it seemed of little use.

When writing this divine scroll, Cui E evidently had little lifespan remaining, yet he still lamented: "Within the Three Profundities, alchemy belongs to Douxuan. I once heard that four palaces were established beneath Wanling, known as the Four Secret Pill Methods, but they are now distant and obscure. If I could meticulously study just one, I would have no regrets in this life!"

Clearly, Cui E was also aware that predecessors had long researched methods like the "Heavenly Heart Unified Pill Method," and he secretly regretted not having access to them.

"This Senior Cui E was clearly seeking a higher breakthrough in the Dao of Alchemy, but ultimately, it was not as profound as the Heavenly Heart Unified Pill Method of the Mifan Sect Dao Orthodoxy.""The Four Secret Pill Dao should be the inheritance of the Douxuan alchemical methods. Jiangnan has Mifan and Mipan, two of the secrets; the others must be elsewhere."

Li Ximing read it carefully, then flipped the Lin Guang Hui Yang Divine Scroll over. He found it delicate and soft, of exceptional material, likely refined with Purple Mansion spiritual resources into the scroll to ensure its preservation for centuries.

"With this scroll, most of the Mingyang resources I acquire can be specifically refined into pills!"

He put it away with satisfaction. Li Zhouwei, however, watched him for a few more moments and reminded him, "Uncle-Grandfather, what is your current divine ability cultivation?"

Li Ximing paused slightly, then replied, "I haven't had any injuries or combat troubles these days, just been a bit busy. The 'Juncha Zhaoxin Scripture' has only just taken effect, and I'm still a few years away from Foundation Establishment... not to mention perfecting the Immortal Foundation."

Li Zhouwei was slightly puzzled and hesitated before saying, "Uncle-Grandfather, your cultivation speed is inherently very fast. I wonder if Helian Wujiang's combat harmed your Qi Sea? While the Hundred Arts are important, fully refining life-saving divine abilities early to protect oneself should not be overlooked."

He took out the Lin Guang Zhao Yi Pills that Xiukui Temple had sent a few days prior. He kept one for himself and handed the rest over, saying earnestly, "Lin Guang Zhao Yi Pills are for daily cultivation. It's better to use these pills than to store them."

Li Ximing sighed, replying, "Things are really tight on many fronts. I need to first acquire resources, fearing that I might get injured in combat and waste my cultivation, so I've been postponing it... I'll go into seclusion for a few years once the matters at hand are resolved!"

He smiled, preparing to depart on light, but saw Li Zhouwei stop slightly and quietly instruct, "Go invite our clan brother up!"

Li Ximing raised an eyebrow, then saw a handsome man in a red robe fly up the mountain. He bowed to both of them and smiled, "Greetings, Grandfather and Elder Brother!"

"Oh?"

Li Ximing now showed a greater degree of visible delight. He sipped his tea with a smile and simply said, "So, our Fifth Young Master has made progress."

"Grandfather, you flatter me!"

Li Zhouming had never actually heard Li Ximing make a joke. For a moment, he was not only flustered but also somewhat mortified, responding awkwardly. Li Zhouwei, however, chuckled, "Fifth Brother, after breaking through and emerging from seclusion, you've gained quite a reputation for singing while punting a boat."

Li Zhouming, his bit of vanity teased by the two True Monarchs, uncharacteristically blushed. He exchanged a few pleasantries, claiming he was not even one-ten-thousandth of a True Monarch. Li Ximing was secretly pleased and smiled, "I still have a few unfinished matters. Once they're settled, I'll return to examine you."

Though pleased, he ultimately feared something might happen to the Kong family and dared not delay, departing early. Li Zhouming, wanting to speak but hesitating, felt a profound sense of loss, having rarely seen him. He stood blankly to the side.

"White horses gallop across the Western Ridge, descendants await ascension to immortality..."

Li Zhouwei, after pondering for a moment, invited his clan brother to sit. He understood inwardly, "Indeed, he has good fortune. Uncle Chengzhi's departure immediately led to his seclusion and breakthrough, secretly aligning with the Mingyang principle of a father's death leading to a son's advancement. Furthermore, having a powerful older brother and ancestor, whose single word decides the livelihood of thousands... these are all adding to his aid..."

Muquan Sect.

Night deepened; the mountains and forests were pitch black.

Li Ximing traveled towards Shanjin County. He soon entered the mountain gate and found silence all around. He descended to the mountaintop, where trees swayed near the cave dwelling, utterly still.

However, on this dim mountaintop, a middle-aged man knelt on the steps below. His figure was almost enveloped by the dense trees, appearing dark and indistinct. Fortunately, the nearby dharma lamp had illuminated itself, casting fragmented, mottled light through the gaps in the trees onto his face, making his eyes burn brightly.

Li Ximing had seen this person a few times. Although he looked somewhat different now, Li Ximing recognized him instantly. He paused his steps slightly, turned sideways, and glanced down.

'Clever, indeed.'

That single glance made the middle-aged man immediately lift his head. However, his movements quickly softened, his gaze not daring to rise above Li Ximing's knees. His voice trembled, "Xiaxiang greets True Monarch!"

This man was Kong Xiaxiang, the youngest Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Kong family.

His once arrogantly raised eyebrows now drooped at the ends, and his eyes appeared disheartened. His formerly fiery, irritable, impulsive, and bold face had completely lost its color, becoming pale and gaunt, with deeply sunken eyes.

In just over ten years, life at Muquan Sect had completely worn down his edges. The youthful spirit was gone, leaving only a sorrowful husk draped over fearful flesh and bones.

As a direct descendant of the Kong family's younger generation, he naturally entered into a marriage, marrying a direct descendant of Muquan Sect. For many years, Kong Guxi had mostly been stationed overseas, making Kong Xiaxiang the representative of the Kong family's direct lineage. Whatever difficulties arose, they ultimately fell upon him.

He watched the soaring aura rising from the north with a mix of shock and doubt. Now, kneeling before the steps, he trembled, unable to speak.

Li Ximing glanced at him. Judging by his complexion, he knew that during Zhu Palace's disappearance and seclusion, she had no energy to manage things, and the guest elders of Muquan Sect had likely given him a hard time. He asked, "How is Kong Guxi?"

A flush immediately spread across Kong Xiaxiang's face. He said softly, "This humble one... this humble one does not know."

"Why are you here?"

The man pressed his head to the ground, appearing to be gritting his teeth and crying at the same time, then knocked his head down with great force. He replied, "This humble one... is afraid..."

Li Ximing's steps paused for only an instant before he continued into the cave dwelling. As he entered the empty dwelling, the dharma lamps on both sides immediately flickered, illuminating the area below the steps. The mountaintop remained silent, with only a faint, lingering voice echoing in the air: "Then just kneel here. Once you endure it, you won't be afraid anymore."

Li Ximing proceeded further inside and found no trace of Tinglan. The only figure remaining in the cave dwelling was True Monarch Shanbai, leisurely preparing spiritual medicines. He appeared detached, looking completely at ease.

From the empty inner chamber, faint sounds of Zhu Palace's violent coughing and spitting blood could be heard. Bright red petals, carried by a warm breeze, surged out of the cave dwelling, swirling endlessly.

The old True Monarch beside him used his divine ability to still the wind. His eyes beneath his white brows quietly watched Li Ximing, evidently having sensed something. He said in a deep, aged voice, "Tinglan went to Xiukui Temple to discuss important matters... I suppose Zhaojing had anticipated this. She instructed me... to fully cooperate with you when you arrived."

Li Ximing smiled faintly. The old man said quietly, "After all, in the rise and fall of worldly affairs, there are always difficulties."

Li Ximing silently shook his head, took the jade cup from his sleeve, placed it on the old man's table, and replied, "I'll leave it to you, Senior... Let's conclude this as soon as possible."