"Treasure Earth?"
The Earth Virtue Dao lineage was one of the rarest lineages in the world, and Treasure Earth was almost unheard of.
Changxi answered, "Treasure Earth is one of the five Earth Virtues. It's a type of earth that nourishes plants and grain. It is also able to nurture both people and artifacts. It is precisely because of the abilities of this Dao lineage that Daoist Master Qilao had built many ties with cultivators from the north."
Noticing that Li Ximing seemed to be reflecting on his words, Changxi spoke in a deep voice, "In ancient times, the two soils proclaimed by the Twin Immortals of State and Grain had nearly disappeared and were now rarely seen. Wu Earth and Gen Earth were still relatively common, but Treasure Earth was even rarer. It was only natural that Zhaojing would not have known of it."
Li Ximing lifted his head, and Changxi continued, "I had intended to introduce you to him, but now the timing is just right. Bring someone along, and he can conveniently tend to their condition as well."
Changxi had prepared two backup plans for Profound Peak Gate. One was the marriage tie with Xuanmiao Temple, bringing Daoist Master Qilao in as a supporter. The other was to have his direct descendant[1] to be under Jingyi Mountain by the Eastern Sea. Li Ximing's request to have Ding Weizeng treated suited his intentions perfectly.
Although Li Ximing felt that this Daoist Master Qilao of the Sumian Dao lineage[2] sounded like a good ally to make, he still asked cautiously, "What is his background? Which Dao lineage does he belong to? Does he have any notable origins?"
Changxi had long prepared for this line of questioning and replied, "He was born in Zhao State and originally cultivated near Yan Mountain. He obtained a Dao lineage with some unknown opportunity. After that, he ventured to the Eastern Sea and cultivated among the waves until he attained the Dao. He is already four hundred years old.
"The Daoist Master values stability in all things in his old age. He forges ties with cultivators everywhere to ensure the safety of Xuanmiao Temple after his passing. A man like this would never stir up trouble. Moreover, his Dao lineage is a unique branch of Earth Virtue, so naturally, it brings no entanglements."
Having lived for centuries, Changxi naturally understood Li Ximing's concerns and clarified everything. Li Ximing now felt some inclination to form ties with him and asked, "I wonder what level of cultivation he has reached."
"He's at the early stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!"
Li Ximing frowned, while a trace of bitterness surfaced on Changxi's face.
He said with grave earnestness, "For you to understand this better... We are cultivators of Earth Virtue! There are only a mere handful within the Earth Virtue Dao lineage. It is already great fortune for one to reach Purple Mansion Realm, so where can one find companions of the same Dao? Most have no powerful backing behind them... which makes matters even harder."
A look of regret crossed his face. He lowered his head, his expression steeped in weariness as he continued, "There are only a few methods to replenish our Dao lineage. In my younger days, I was arrogant and intent only on seeking Purple Mansion Realm techniques. After more than seventy years of failure, I finally gave up and turned to search for Foundation Establishment Realm techniques instead."
That single phrase, 'search for Foundation Establishment techniques,' might have sounded vague, but Li Ximing immediately understood. To seek Foundation Establishment Realm techniques could only mean resorting to the Profound Method of Continuation, seizing another's Immortal Foundation. Yet Changxi possesses neither a Life Divine Ability, nor attainment in alchemy, nor a profound Dao lineage. Judging from his current state, the attempt had clearly not gone smoothly."
Changxi was already nearing the end of his lifespan, having stretched out these last few years with medicine. Recalling such matters, his face showed deep regret, and a faint pall of deathly gray seemed to seep across his features.
He said, "There was no shortage of Gen Earth Dao, but Foundation Establishment Realm techniques were limited to either Fool's Mountain Chase or substitutes derived from it. After much difficulty, I found two manuals among rogue cultivators, but their grade was far too low...
"Profound Peak Gate had no successors. I could not bring myself to force my disciples to cultivate solely to extend my Dao lineage. All I could do was scatter resources across the Wilderness and Eastern Sea, hoping something might come of it.
"In the end, I had no Life Divine Ability and lacked the recognition of any gate’s or sect's Daoist Master. Perhaps I had recruited carelessly, or perhaps the techniques were too inferior, but no one succeeded. Hardly any even managed to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.
"In over a century, only a handful managed some progress. But I knew nothing of this Dao, relying solely on my own clumsy research... and everything failed in the end. I could only accept them as guest cultivators."
The Profound Method of Continuation was clearly not something easily achieved, especially for a small gate like Profound Peak Gate. Li Ximing did some mental calculations and asked doubtfully, "The Green Pine Grotto Heaven... Senior Tingyun went there, did she not?"
"That's right." Changxi nodded and sighed. "In the old days, I had no qualification to claim even a share from Douxuan Grotto Heaven. Later, fortune smiled when Green Pine Grotto Heaven appeared. I pushed desperately until I managed to send Tingyun inside. She transcribed three techniques at the Three Drums Wall, but all three were broken and incomplete!
"I spent more than half a century revising those scattered techniques, recalling each disciple to re-examine them. At last, I managed to refine one by sixty or seventy percent... yet it was already too late."
A self-mocking smile crossed Changxi’s face. "It is wholly my fault, first for my arrogance, and later for my overreaching. A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Even if I had mastered this divine ability, what difference would it make? Death would still claim me. All I can leave behind is this half-finished technique for future generations. If my Profound Peak Dao lineage endures, those who pick up my path later will spend less than a century before they can cultivate a second divine ability."
Li Ximing felt a chill in his heart. The elder seemed to be hinting at something, subtly using his own example to advise him. Remaining silent, he listened as Changxi went on, "The Three Drums Wall of Green Pine Temple left behind three techniques. If future generations can refine just one more, then in five hundred years my Profound Peak Gate will have cultivators at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. From there, who can say? With future opportunities, they might even find a path beyond and step across the Purple Immortal Threshold."
At this point, seeing that Li Ximing remained silent, he finally offered his advice outright, saying, "After all, we are not of the Green Pine Dao lineage. We cannot cultivate the same way as they do. From the way your family seeks out techniques, the Bright Yang Dao lineage is also incomplete. Take great care."
Li Ximing nodded in agreement. Xuanmiao Temple was indeed worth a visit. Beyond the weight carried by the Treasure Earth elder, his own family's layout in Jiangbei also depended on gaining Xuanmiao Temple's support.
Besides, it was Daoist Master Chuting who suggested seeking out Changxi. He is skilled in calculations, and since he considered it safe, perhaps he even foresaw the possibility of my family establishing a foothold in Jiangbei, thought Li Ximing.
He rose into the air with Changxi, summoned his divine ability, and lifted Ding Weizeng from where he waited below the mountain. The three entered the great void, traveling within its power.
Seizing the moment, Li Ximing glanced at Changxi and asked, "What does Daoist Master think of the Hidden Cloud Cave affair?"
Changxi felt slightly embarrassed. Though Li Ximing's words were polite, to Changxi's ears they clearly meant, My family's forces have already advanced to consolidate Floating Cloud's territory, and have now crossed White River Stream. Where are your Profound Peak Gate people?
He hurriedly replied, "My cultivators have already reached the Wilderness, cloaked with dharma artifacts, and are moving in secret toward Hidden Cloud Cave. Hidden Cloud Cave is merely an outpost of the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao. Ye Hui has no Life Divine Ability and lacks skill in the arts of calculation, he cannot possibly foresee this.
Li Ximing was not overly worried about Ye Hui, but rather about Changxiao. Yet the two of them had little personal connection, their ties lying only in shared interests against his own family.
After some thought, he replied, "Xuanmiao Temple lies but a step away from White River Stream and can still manage its defense. All the more so since both of us happen to appear there at this very moment, he will surely be suspicious in ways we cannot predict."
The Baiye Capital Immortal Dao did have a few notable figures. Yet Li Zhouwei carried the Li Family's hidden trump card, a Purple Mansion Realm talisman, on him. Li Ximing feared the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao might have made preparations to strike down Li Chenghui and the others. Once he heard that the Profound Peak Gate's people were already on the move, he finally felt at ease.
After exchanging a few more words, the two emerged from the great void. A cliff of deep black stone loomed over the sea before them. Waves surged and crashed against it, sending up thunderous roars.
Cultivators moved about the cliff above. A small hill, lush with vegetation, rose a short distance further. There were no pavilions or terraces, only unspoiled natural scenery, save for a single Daoist temple atop the peak.
1. This might refer to direct disciples too. ☜
2. Sumian is the Dao title of Daoist Master Qilao(Chapter 1037). ☜