Li Ximing responded, while Ding Weizeng kept his head low behind him. Every word was a chance for fortune when two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were conversing. He was secretly astonished in his heart, Daoist Master Zhaojing has only just broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm, while Daoist Master Yuan Xiu, a great cultivator of Jiangnan, is already at the late stage. Yet he’s showing such courtesy?
He did not understand the matters of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators or the mysteries of lifespan, only that he must not overthink. So he calmed his mind and listened carefully.
Si Boxiu glanced at him and spoke, "The weakening of Upper Evil Spirit Storage had its cause. First in Jiangnan, when Zipei fell a few years ago, Kan Xuyu was the great achiever of the Purple Essence. Zhaojing, do you know the Dao name of the Metallic Essence of Purple Essence?"
"I would like to hear it in detail." Li Ximing answered with a smile.
Yuan Xiu replied with a solemn expression, "Its full name is Heavenly Cultivation Purple Qi Immortal Origin Metallic Essence."
Li Ximing inferred much once he heard the name. As expected, Si Boxiu continued, "She broke through in a single night and perished, so the effect on the spiritual aura of Upper Evil Spirit Storage can be well imagined. You only needed to see the word 'Immortal'. Since she was a great achiever, the fact that the Upper Evil Spirit Storage did not immediately dissipate was already counted as leniency, credited to the excessive damage from Chi Zhiyun's rain."
The origin of Upper Evil Spirit Storage was the turning point for the Yuan Family’s decline from its former glory. Their ancestor, Yuan Licheng, failed to break through the Purple Mansion Realm and perished in one night, bringing rain across several prefectures. The Azure Pond Sect then secretly maintained the rainfall, disrupting the Profound Balance Atmosphere. It was a shameful act. Yuan Xiu casually brought it up, exposing the disgrace and shifting the blame onto Chi Zhiyun.
From the perspective of the Chi Family, Li Ximing immediately followed up, "The rains were unending, and all beings wailed at that time. My aunt also failed her breakthrough and perished in that rain. She was a member of the Xiao Family..."
In truth, when the Li Family investigated later, the rain had not harmed mortals as greatly as imagined. Instead, it had affected cultivators more, and it was far from reaching the point of excessive damage. Yet neither of the two cared about the truth.
Yuan Xiu smiled. "Now that the miser is dead, Wu State has become peaceful, and Jiangnan has changed. By the look of it, this is the Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity, benefiting antiquity, Immortal Dao, secluded cultivation, and the skillful forging of dharma artifacts. It can suppress spiritual sense, weaken earth, suppress demons, greatly enhance Fire Virtue mana, and harmonize with the Twelve Essences of Clarity."
The Si Family's heritage was extraordinary. Li Xuanfeng had left behind records connecting them to the great northern family, the Sima Family. It was already impressive for an ordinary person to recognize this much. Even immortal sects at most knew the first part, but could never recite so many details.
When Li Ximing heard the many descriptions of the Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity, his heart sank as he thought, Of all things, it turned out to be Earth Virtue. Truly ill fortune. Changxi's Profound Peak Dao lineage was also Earth Virtue. Now with the suppression of earth and demons, the chances of those three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators breaking through in seclusion have diminished even further...
If his own side were to lend aid, they naturally wished for Profound Peak to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. But as it stood, the heavens gave them no support.
Li Ximing did not believe that the Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity was aimed deliberately at the Kong Family. After all, this spiritual aura had been shaken by the deaths of Daoist Master Zipei and Qing Tangyin of Mount Changhuai. Changxi was likely not even considered a relevant figure in the face of those two, let alone someone whose death was calculated into the design.
Li Ximing nodded in thanks, but Si Boxiu secretly observed him and said, "In the past, when I was in seclusion, Si Yuanli managed the sect. I heard Li Xizhi rendered great assistance, and his merits were considerable. I have not yet met him since leaving seclusion. I have only heard that the Yuan Family tried to harm him several times. Is this true?"
The question was abrupt. Li Ximing had not expected it to sound like an attempt to settle accounts with the Yuan Family. But since Yuan Chengzhao was now the Si Family's loyal dog, he only smiled and said, "Not really. Those were all schemes of Chi Zhiyan. The Yuan Family itself was innocent. They were on good terms with my family in earlier years."
Although Li Ximing spent his days cultivating at home, his childhood education had been given according to the standards of a family head. Though he could not compare with Xiao Chuting or Si Boxiu, he would not stumble on matters like this, and words of evasion came smoothly to his lips, "Later, some unpleasantness arose over marriage ties. People below us are fond of gossip, and they add or remove details according to their liking when passing stories around. Such things are common."
Li Ximing shifted the blame cleanly. Si Boxiu nodded in approval at his tact. The discord between the Yuan and Li Families served well as a barrier under Moongaze Lake. He simply said, "The ancestors of the Yuan Family were extraordinary, beyond even my sight. Zhaojing, do not lower yourself to quarrel with them."
Li Ximing could not tell whether this was a threat or the truth. In any case, the Yuan Family was bound to remain, and that was consensus enough.
Then Yuan Xiu smiled and said, "Zhaojing, you hide deeply. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared. Si Yuanli is now in seclusion and could not meet you. But with no main authority within the sect, and since Tantai Jin joined the Azure Pond Sect halfway and cannot command respect, after all considerations, only Xizhi remains suitable."
Yuan Xiu smiled slightly. "Why not let Xizhi become the sect master? It would win the people's respect and show the fairness of our sect."
"Absolutely not!"
Li Ximing did not want Li Xizhi to become sect master. A man's background determined the matters he should handle. It might sound impressive for Li Xizhi to take the seat, but swallowing that meat would mean the Li Family falling under the Azure Pond Sect while also cleaning up after the Si Family. He would never allow it.
With a heavy voice, he said, "Senior, my family has never harbored thoughts of the Azure Pond Sect's authority. My elder brother is not suited to be a sect master. This must not be!"
"Zhaojing, do not be so quick to refuse." Yuan Xiu spoke slowly and unhurriedly, "Leaving aside other benefits, the main seat of the Azure Pond Sect grants access to the Pristine Gui Pool[1], where a Moon Glazed Tree grows within. Eating its fruit provides guidance in myriad arts and often adds chances to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm."
He stroked his beard and continued, "You know my time is limited. Though not as urgent as Changxi's, it grows shorter with each day. If Xizhi is willing to sit as sect master, then the spiritual fruit will naturally include a portion for the Li Family. As for the Azure Pond Sect's Purple Mansion Realm spirit items and spirit artifacts, none will be withheld from you, Zhaojing. When I fall, they can all be handed to the Li Family."
Yuan Xiu smiled warmly as he said, "Your esteemed family is of the sword immortal line. Zhaojing, do you not wish to see the spirit sword, the Frosty Absolute Sword? It lies at the bottom of the pool.
"I also know that the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao and the Changxiao Gate have conflicts with your esteemed family. If you agree to this, Zhaojing, I will immediately act to mediate between the three sides and ensure everything is arranged properly."
Moon Glazed Tree... Li Ximing fell silent for a moment before cupping his hands and saying, "Senior, you worry too much. My family has always shown respect to the upper sect and would never dare such ambition. The Purple Mansion Realm is rare enough, and treasures like this should be left for Si Yuanli.
"Purple Mansion Realm spirit items are too rare to come by, and the Frosty Absolute Sword is even a spirit sword. The Li Family dares not covet them. Moreover, with Daoist Master Suiguan presiding above, all should be decided by his wisdom."
Would Si Boxiu really show such kindness? That old fox had cultivated cunning to perfection. Li Ximing would never believe it. With Chi Buzi outside and Suiguan's whereabouts unknown, could the Azure Pond Sect truly be decided by Si Boxiu alone?
Daoist Master Yuan Xiu was refused, but he showed no anger. He casually poured himself tea and sipped it, saying, "Then so be it. I will trouble you, Zhaojing, to keep watch over the north on behalf of the Azure Pond Sect. If Ye Hui[2] presses you too hard and you cannot resist, you may call upon the sect for aid. Everything I promised before will hold true. It is but a matter of one word."
If I had agreed, I would not only need to meet Suiguan but might even have to enter the Pristine Yu[3] Heaven again. What one-word matter is that...
1. This might be an author's typo, the original raw is 渌葵池 which translate to Pristine Kui Pool, where 葵(kuí) just means plants in the mallow family. But there's already the Pristine Gui Pool that appeared previously in Chapter 725. I will correct things if this is wrong. ☜
2. Daoist Master of Baiye Capital Immortal Dao. ☜
3. 语 (yǔ) means speech, words, language, expression. In this context, it can suggest Heaven's speech, the Dao expressed in words, or revelations that can be 'heard.' ☜