Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Granduncle Ximing has a Li Fire Banner containing five types[1] of Li Fire. How many of them are usable?"
Li Xuanxuan had already anticipated this and took out a red-yellow Li Fire Banner from his sleeve, speaking softly, "I already asked him, though five Li Fires have been refined into it, only Observing Li and Lofty Li match our needs. The other three do not, so we are short two kinds.
"He also gave me an address in the Eastern Sea, saying there is an earth vein of Li Fire there, just right for gathering qi."
Li Zhouwei thought for a moment, then immediately formed a plan. "Do you recall the Yang Nourishing Technique? The family’s only spiritual flame is Granduncle Ximing’s Long Marching Fire Essence, which was originally transformed from Profound Yang Li Fire."
The old man nodded in reply. "Ah, by reversing the method, it can be turned back into Profound Yang. That would give us one of the two flames we lack. Only Heavenly Yang remains, so where could we obtain it?"
"No need." Li Zhouwei shook his head "You may not have read the Yang Nourishing Technique closely, but Heavenly Yang is also included in its transformations. We need only refine it first with Profound Yang, use the Li Fire Banner’s Observing Li and Lofty Li in place, then have someone else transform the Profound Yang into Heavenly Yang, and we can return to continue without further searching."
"Good." Li Xuanxuan nodded in sudden understanding.
Li Zhouwei said softly, "Aunt Minggong cultivates fire arts, so she will have to make the trip to bring An Siwei and a few others to the Eastern Sea. I believe the address Granduncle gave is near the Suzhu Reefs, which should be safer."
Li Xuanxuan, however, felt protective of his juniors and said bluntly, "Minggong and Siwei already work so hard; it seems rather unfair to burden them again..."
Li Zhouwei said in a gentle tone, "Everything will be arranged properly. When the two return, we can take the opportunity to give them the Essence Gathering Pills so they can break through."
"Good!" Li Xuanxuan visibly relaxed at that.
Li Zhouwei had always been decisive in handling family affairs, and was already considering the Grand Unity Pure Mercury as he said softly, "A place where the properties of matter undergo profound change... I have not heard much about such places, but there is one that fits quite well."
Li Xuanxuan, who had been troubled over that for some time, quickly raised his brows to ask.
Li Zhouwei then said in a low, firm voice, "Chengshui Marsh!
"It was once the site of a great battle, and was suppressed by the Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal and transformed into a vast stretch of Pristine Water. Later, with the combined efforts of many from the Purple Mansion Realm, it was altered into Converging Water. It is perhaps the most fitting example of a place where the nature of matter changes.
"As for the Whole Pill treasure... the family has a Mercury Drop of quite high grade. It is normally reserved for Whole Pill Dao cultivators and unusable by others, so it has long been stored away. Now is the perfect time to use it."
Li Xuanxuan was impressed by how effortlessly he had settled the matter and agreed repeatedly.
Li Zhouwei simply said softly, "However, Chengshui Tomb is dangerous. It would be best to have a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in command. Let's ask Senior White Ape and Li Wen to make the trip."
"Make the arrangements as you see fit!" replied Li Xuanxuan.
When the spiritual qi for the two had been settled, Li Xuanxuan felt greatly reassured and left with a cheerful smile.
The hall grew quiet. After waiting a while, Li Zhouwei took out the jade slip containing the Yang Nourishing Technique, gently tracing its engravings as he narrowed his eyes in thought, What a formidable spell... and such an ingenious one...
Li Zhouwei knew this had come from Tu Longjian’s hands, and he even suspected that the Yang Nourishing Technique was one of the Dongli Sect’s most important and vital Dao lineages. His heart trembled as he thought, This thing... why isn’t even a single secret technique locked? How could not even one be secured? And just letting people read it openly like this!
No sect in the world would be foolish enough to leave their techniques without protective seals. Otherwise, the Li Family’s own River Mountain Sutra would not have lain untouched for nearly a century. For the grand Dongli Sect to leave such a vital Dao lineage completely unguarded...
And then there’s the Whole Pill Dao... with Chengshui Tomb, and just the right Mercury Drop. Even if the Mercury Drop proves unsuitable, Hengzhu Dao Gate still has a Purple Mansion Realm spiritual item stored away.
Li Zhouwei did not dwell on it further. He casually approved the documents on his desk, set down the vermilion brush, and only then let a thoughtful expression cross his face, Now Kongheng has been driven away as well. If there’s another setback, things will become troublesome...
The white ape was about to head north to gather qi, and the family that was once rich in Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators was suddenly empty. Li Zhouwei pondered for a while, then summoned Chen Yang.
Chen Yang, now at the fifth stage of Qi Cultivation Realm, cupped his fists in salute. Li Zhouwei spoke softly, "Zongquan Island has been vacant for too long. First, invite Master An to make a trip to the Eastern Sea. If Uncle Chenghui comes out of seclusion, have him return immediately..."
He paused, then added, "If there is any other news, write back quickly as well."
Chen Yang withdrew respectfully. Li Zhouwei sat in silence for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand. The hall doors slammed shut with a deep rumble, sealing off any prying eyes or disturbances from outside.
With the sun high overhead, he took out the stone box containing the Supreme Yang spiritual item, the Hidden Plunder Gold.
Once this item leaves the deep sea, it must not be exposed to moonlight. If it meets the moon’s glow, it will instantly turn into Profound Balance Qi, thought Li Zhouwei.
Pale gray spirit water flowed inside the stone box, reflecting a faint point of yellow light. His spiritual sense revealed nothing, so Li Zhouwei simply roused his mana and lifted the box before him.
He felt a faint heat at the center of his brows, and the small yellow light reflected in the box vanished instantly.
A speck of Radiant Light appeared within his Shenyang Mansion. His spiritual sense burned like fire as he steadied his mind and circulated Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light. The speck of Radiant Light instantly plunged like a falling comet, trailing a searing tail as it shot through the Twelve Chonglou and sank into his Juque acupoint.
Li Zhouwei kept his eyes closed for a long while as shifting light and shadow played at his side. At last, he exhaled a stream of heavenly light, filling the hall with brilliant gold, before opening his eyes. The golden hue in them gradually faded.
"A fine treasure," muttered Li Zhouwei.
The Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light that once lingered sluggishly in the Juque acupoint before slowly rising to Shenyang had now grown several times thicker, and its circulation was a lot faster. It could now surge from the center of his brows in just a few seconds.
Setting aside how much stronger it’s become, this speed alone is now fit for actual combat... thought Li Zhouwei.
Li Zhouwei had not been cultivating Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light for long. Even at peak mastery, most cultivators could only draw it forth in several seconds, but when he refined this dharma light to perfection, he could unleash it almost instantly.
The Hidden Plunder Gold was far more useful than he had expected, putting him in high spirits. Yet he was not content with just this. Leaving the hall, he rode the wind to Mount Qingdu, where he entered the ancestral hall and retrieved two jade slips.
Both spells were appendices to the Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Li Day.
One was the sixth-grade Li Fire Profound Light technique, Great Li White Radiance! The other was the fifth-grade Supreme Yang Li Fire technique, Supreme Yang Resonance Li Art!
My Bright Yang Dao Lineage is closely tied to Li Fire. Cultivating the Great Li White Radiance is much like what Fire Virtue cultivators do... it’s a perfect fit.
As for the Supreme Yang Resonance Li Art... though it’s not a dharma light, it is a Supreme Yang Li Fire technique, and since the Hidden Plunder Gold is a Supreme Yang spirit item, it might even provide an added boon!
1. This might be an author's mistake. The author wrote four types of Li Fires previously and now five. I will check and come back to correct this later on. ☜