Li Ximing himself possessed three spirit trees. The Snake Dragon Fruit tree and the Wanglin Blossom tree had yet to awaken. The last was a spirit persimmon tree he had brought back from Mount Quanwu. Though its foundation was far inferior to the first two, it had already shown faint signs of awakening.
The Profound Horn Treasured Cluster Pine gave no response. Ling Mei quickly explained, "The venerable elder often slumbers. It has made no sound for nearly fifty years. Please do not take offense."
Li Ximing[1] nodded and simply followed him forward.
Daoist Master Ling Mei lifted his sleeve with a smile and said, "This elder has an extraordinary origin. Years ago, True Monarch Taiyu once cultivated on this mountain. His golden qi soared into the heavens, leaving the land barren for hundreds of kilometers where no grass or trees would grow. Thus he planted this senior to conceal his qi. Later, when our gate's founding master, Cheng Liuxing, entered the True Monarch's tutelage, he too had to address this elder as Martial Uncle..."
So it was actually planted by True Monarch Taiyu! Li Ximing was instantly shaken down to his heart. What kind of figure was True Monarch Taiyu? The strength of this ancient tree was certainly unmatched within the Purple Mansion Realm. As long as it stood here, who would dare to attack the Sword Gate?
Ling Mei was clearly proud as he said, "My Sword Gate's long sword pierces the heavens, its golden qi overwhelming. Yet it has never harmed the common folk of Jingchuan Prefecture. That is all thanks to this venerable elder!"
As he spoke, he drew Li Ximing to sit beneath the tree. The table was covered with pine needles as lustrous as jade tassels. Ling Mei brushed them aside with a wave of his sleeve, poured tea, and said with a smile, "Zhaojing's arrival is something I truly did not expect!"
Li Ximing only smiled and spoke politely, "My forebear was renowned as a Sword Immortal, and his name is inscribed within the Wanyu Sword Book of Chenghua Hall. Now that I, Zhaojing, have achieved the Purple Mansion Realm, it is only natural that I come to pay my respects. Not to mention, my family has practiced the sword for generations and shares a Dao lineage bond with Sword Gate. How could I not come?"
"Indeed." Ling Mei nodded, looking pleasantly surprised. His face was somewhat square and his brows and eyes firm, yet his gaze brimmed with admiration as he said, "Our gate's founding master once said that anyone in this world who left their name upon the Sword Book would forever be an honored guest of our gate. Should matters of life and death arise, they may always seek our aid.
"Although many years have passed and the founder has already ascended, our sect still regards the sword immortals of the world as friends. It is a pity... by the time we learned of it, the esteemed elder of your family had already been slain!"
Resentment clouded his face. Li Ximing sighed softly and shook his head as he said, "After all... the affairs of the world cannot be foretold."
Ling Mei did not dwell on the past. He shifted the topic and said gently, "Speaking of which, it seems we are of the same family, Zhaojing."
"Oh?" Li Ximing was slightly taken aback and asked in puzzlement, "Senior, do you not bear the surname Cheng?"
Ling Mei laughed heartily and nodded. "My original name is Li Mei."
He paused slightly, noticing Li Ximing's expression, then stroked his beard and said, "In the Dao of cultivation, when one person achieves the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend, bringing blessings to his descendants. The offspring of cultivators inherit extraordinary innate abilities beyond the reach of mortals. Thus, there exists the grace of lineage that extends across generations among the various sects and families.
"But the innate ability of the sword Dao is not the same. Even the son of a farmer may one day lift a blade weighing a thousand kilograms, while the scion of a Purple Mansion Realm family may not be able to wield a one and a half meter sharp sword. At Sword Gate, we revere attainment in the sword above all. It is common for Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators to become peak masters, and for those at the Embryonic Breathing Realm to be invited as honored guest cultivators."
Li Ximing now understood. Ling Mei continued, "Our sect reveres the righteous Dao, and the direct lines of various surnames are all present. The Cheng Family is the legacy of our founder, so they are respected by all. They often travel outside as direct descendants, and thus the position of sect master has always remained firmly in their hands."
"What a righteous Dao!" Unable to restrain himself, Li Ximing offered praise in disbelief.
Yet Ling Mei sighed with a trace of melancholy, "Not necessarily... there are flaws as well. One's family must bear its own suffering, and the other sects see this clearly. I may as well speak of it with you, Zhaojing.
"In our sect, those outstanding in sword cultivation and virtue are held in the highest regard. Yet cultivators are few to begin with, and it is exceedingly rare for someone to possess both qualities along with exceptional innate ability. Such a figure may not appear even once in a hundred years!
"As a result, those with innate ability were often denied resources, while those of mediocre aptitude enjoyed countless spiritual treasures to advance another step. To obtain such resources, one first had to practice the sword, then descend the mountain to aid the people and prove their virtue. Yet aside from a handful of true prodigies, sword cultivation only deepens with age. By the time many of them attained mastery, they had already missed the prime years for breaking through. Thus, the entire Sword Gate fell into disarray. There were even elders at the Embryonic Breathing Realm who, while living off the sect's resources for a century, perished during their attempt to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm..."
"This..." Li Ximing frowned.
Ling Mei let out another sigh and said, "I come from that very era. Later, I broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm and took command of the Sword Gate. In the name of the founder's grace, I vigorously promoted members of the Cheng Family and managed to correct part of the situation. I carried out many reforms within the gate, going against much opposition. Only then did figures like Cheng Mianfu, Cheng Gao, and Gu Pang rise into prominence...
"Even so, most of our Sword Gate's direct descendants still lack sufficient cultivation today, possessing only a single set of sword techniques, or at most, a show of virtue without true strength. The greater troubles that remain, the countless idle mouths draining our resources, can no longer be reckoned clearly!"
Now, Li Ximing finally understood why the mighty Wanyu Sword Gate, inheritor of a Sword Immortal Dao lineage and scions of a Golden Core Realm cultivator, still could not overcome even Crimson Reef Island or the Chunyi Dao Gate.
They had been dragged into disarray in the Eastern Sea, and his heart grew heavier as he said, "The righteous Dao is hard to walk. It is fortunate that senior appeared at such a time."
"That is not certain." Ling Mei shook his head wryly. "I have not yet changed the fundamental rule of choosing leaders by virtue, yet there are already murmurs of resentment within the sect. If I were to touch this foundation, I fear they would all rush together to Chenghua Hall and beseech the ancestral elder to draw the Sword Book and cut down a heretical disciple like me. How later generations would judge me is still uncertain."
Daoist Master Ling Mei was utterly different from Si Boxiu and Xiao Chuting. Perhaps it was because the Li Family leaned toward the righteous Dao, and because Sword Gate was a family of sword immortals. His bearing was far more earnest, his cultivation in both sword and virtue lending him a steady tone.
"In any case, Zhaojing, your visit has truly aided me. At the very least, there are many stubborn elders in the sect who still recognize the Li Family. Especially since the Celestial Moon Sword[2] revealed his righteous might by slaying Wrathful Aspect with his own life, and because his name has already been inscribed within Chenghua Hall's Sword Book, bringing his great renown. For that, I must thank you, Zhaojing!"
The dignified mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator actually rose from his seat to bow in thanks. Startled, Li Ximing quickly stood to avoid it.
Daoist Master Ling Mei spoke modestly, "However, our gate has long established rules: Purple Mansion Realm cultivators must not interfere in matters of gate rivalry and family conflict. Back then, our venture into Green Pine Temple was solely to retrieve our founder's relic, a deed with rightful cause. Otherwise, we would never have gone. If you, Zhaojing, came with other intentions, I fear you will be disappointed!"
Which Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was not shrewd? Though Ling Mei's words were earnest and sincere, he was well aware of the subtleties behind sect interactions. He had laid the matter bare with a single sentence. Li Ximing's visit might not truly be a help to him, yet he had to find a way to acknowledge it without giving offense.
The thanks, though solemn and formal, carried an air of righteous propriety. Li Ximing could not argue further. His purpose in coming to Sword Gate had been to avoid choosing between Golden Feather Sect and Hengzhu Dao Gate, and he had never truly expected the Sword Gate to ally with his family.
He simply said respectfully, "Senior has misunderstood. This junior has only come to pay respects to the sword intent left by my family's sword immortal. I harbor no other intentions. I only ask for the chance to behold the true face of the Wanyu Sword Book."
1. The raw wrote Li Zhouwei here, but I think it’s an author's mistake. I’ve corrected it. ☜
2. Referring to Li Tongya. ☜