"Many thanks, Daoist Master!"
Ding Weizeng's voice was filled with respect. He was a bold man with hawk-like brows and a bristling beard. He bowed, speaking no further, yet it sounded far better than a long string of flattery. The old Daoist Master nodded in approval.
After Ding Weizeng paid his respects, Sumian only smiled without speaking. The following conversation was no longer for him to hear, so Li Ximing waved his hand to dismiss him.
Once Ding Weizeng left, Li Ximing said sincerely, "My thanks to Daoist Master Qi. My breakthrough was recent, and my family's teachings forbid me from handling blood qi. Thus, I am unversed in this Dao. Unlike you, whose divine abilities can be wielded with ease, I was unable to deal with such matters."
"Zhaojing jests." Sumian shook his head as he poured tea and replied, "If Zhaojing wished for it, treating such an injury would not be difficult. I merely take advantage of a few divine abilities."
He poured tea for the two of them. Outside the courtyard, a cold drizzle began to fall. Changxi gazed at Li Ximing with a complex expression, pressing a finger against his teacup as if to steady the mood.
He said, "Zhaojing brims with vigor, reminding me of myself more than three hundred years ago. It stirs many emotions."
In truth, Changxi was not only a little over four hundred and fifty years old. Li Ximing had long harbored doubts about the lifespan of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
He paused briefly before asking, "One may still lack transcendence after having attained divine ability, but to think even the joy of a thousand-year lifespan cannot be enjoyed, and cultivation still falls short even after five hundred years?"
Sumian gave a wistful smile. "Zhaojing asks well. I too once posed this question in my younger years. The Dao lineage contains only a few scattered words on the matter, but I can share them with you."
"Longevity is of two kinds, the lifespan of the body and the lifespan of the spirit. The former follows one's nature, while the latter follows one's fate. We Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao cultivators refine nature, which is to say, the body. The soul is imprisoned within the flesh, so the body's years are not exhausted. Yet once fate ends, the soul withers, and death follows."
Li Ximing seemed to grasp a hint of meaning, and Changxi smiled as he spoke, "Look at the monks of the north, who cultivate fate. Their bodily lives are short, but once they expire, they simply change to another body and continue living. Since they refine fate itself, the Merciful One must change bodies every hundred years or so. Though they must rebuild their Dharma body each time, living for over a thousand years poses no problem, until the end of fate itself."
"Correct!" Sumian took over the conversation and said, "So it should not truly be called five hundred years of lifespan, but five hundred years of fate-longevity. Before the ancient cataclysm, such things were recorded in the Underworld's judiciary register—so-and-so cultivator, allotted such-and-such years. I've even heard of cases where bribes were given to the Underworld to add a few extra years of life."
Changxi sighed. "After the ancient cataclysm, the Underworld's judiciary could no longer intervene, and so everyone's lifespan became fixed. Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have five hundred years. Those who refine a Life Divine Ability can live a bit longer, and with possession there might still be opportunities. But as for my Spell Divine Ability... I can only wait for death."
Li Ximing pondered for a moment before asking, "What of the Spiritual Cultivation Dao?"
"The ancient immortal cultivators were naturally well off! Once they achieved a divine ability, both nature and fate were complete, granting them true longevity!" Sumian laughed briefly as he finished, "But how many can truly achieve it? Look at the Wang and Xie Families hiding within their vast grotto heavens. Are there even ten cultivators among tens of millions of mortals? Out of a thousand cultivators, can even one succeed in attaining a divine ability? Even if you follow that Dao lineage, leaving aside whether you can even find the immortal arts, the entirety of Moongaze Lake might only produce one or two children with talent. At best, they can use a bit of mana to summon rain."
Li Ximing nodded in agreement, drank his tea, and replied, "Has the old Daoist Master remained at peace in his domain?"
Sumian immediately understood he was asking about the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao and said, "I have always remained stable by the sea. I have ties with Yuming of the Shen Family, and Minghui of the Lotus Temple in Lu. Even Ye Hui of the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao and Chang Yun of Chengyun Gate have come to pay their respects."
Sumian's meaning was clear. His Xuanmiao Temple harbored no ambitions, and he sought no upheaval in his later years . For him, living peacefully and maintaining good relations with neighboring sects was the true path.
Sumian naturally wanted no part in the present tension between Changxi, the Li Family, and the Immortal Dao of Baiye Capital.
He glanced at the two men and added, "Since I have agreed to support Changxi in overseeing Profound Peak Immortal Gate, I will, of course, keep my word."
Li Ximing was not surprised upon hearing this and considered carefully before speaking, "When I broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm, Daoist Master Ye Hui did not come to offer congratulations. Had he done so later, it would have been fine, but instead he insulted me without cause. I do not know how I might have offended him.
"I also know that the Baiye Capital Immortal Dao is blocked to the north by Chengyun Gate, and Chang Yun is not to be underestimated. To the east lies Xuanmiao Temple, to the south Profound Peak Gate, and to the west the Mifan three sects. They are natural enemies to my family... yet there is no need to bare fangs so soon."
The Azure Pond Sect backing the Li Family was something that could not remain hidden. Not only did Ye Hui know, but it had stirred his greed. Sumian and Changxi were also aware of this.
Sumian exchanged glances with Changxi and sighed. "There is one matter Zhaojing does not know. Ye Hui once obtained an opportunity within the Douxuan Grotto Heaven. At that time, his entry relied heavily on the support of Guo Shentong. Not long ago, during the struggle between the east and west of Crimson Reef Island, some refrained from touching the west precisely because of his ties to Guo Shentong."
Li Ximing finally understood and sighed inwardly, "So it all comes down to the resentment tied to Crimson Reef! No wonder there was no mercy. The conflict between Crimson Reef's direct lineage and my family will not be easily resolved!"
As he pondered this, Changxi's voice dropped, carrying a trace of coldness, "I have heard that the opportunity was meant for Lingshu! This man is vile! He remains a prime suspect in Zhang Lingshu's death!"
Li Ximing found the name Zhang Lingshu strangely familiar. After a moment's thought, he remembered that Li Xizhi's Changtian Peak had lost its line from Zhang Lingshu. In fact, she had originally been the peak master of Azure Pond Peak.
Sumian shook his head somewhat awkwardly and advised, "This matter is hard to untangle. After all, Haiying never actually married Lingshu, so you cannot truly pin it on him."
" Sigh! "
Changxi let out a deep sigh, while Li Ximing was shaken in his heart. Of course, Haiying referred to Kong Haiying, the Purple Mansion Realm seed of the Kong Family who was now in seclusion attempting a breakthrough. From their words, it seemed Kong Haiying had almost become Dao companions with Zhang Lingshu!
This too is a grave enmity. If I were Ye Hui, I would surely invade the Wilderness upon Changxi's death. I would not stop until Profound Peak Gate was shaken, and in the end, I would strike at Profound Peak Gate itself, disturbing Kong Haiying's breakthrough until he failed! thought Li Ximing.
It was a hatred akin to killing one's wife, and Ye Hui himself surely knew its weight. Naturally, Changxi was all the more worried.
So there was still this matter!
Li Ximing was somewhat displeased at having been kept in the dark, but since it had been spoken aloud, showing anger would be untimely. Moreover, his enmity with Ye Hui was now all the clearer and not easily resolved. He could only lower his head and drink his tea.
Changxi had been watching him closely and felt embarrassed as well, so he quickly let the matter pass. Sumian, being several centuries old, immediately added, "Zhaojing, do you know? Ye Hui cultivates the ancient merging Dao lineage of the Capital Guard. It is an old Dao lineage of warding off spirits, guarding mountains, and commanding spirits over waters. Its origin is ancient, and he has mastered three divine abilities within it. He cannot be underestimated."
Li Ximing had only just learned of the Capital Guard Dao lineage. If not for Xiao Ruyu mentioning Xiao Yongling and saying his Eastern Feather Mountain belonged to this Dao, the Li Family might never have known.
Seeking to ease the mood, he asked, "This junior's knowledge is shallow, and I have never seen the Capital Guard Dao lineage before. May I ask for your guidance, Senior?"