Li Ximing frowned at Cui Xianye’s words. The Cui Family’s bloodline was not weak, and many of their family’s techniques could allow one to break through into the Purple Mansion Realm. With no external threats and the rich spiritual energy of Chongzhou, surely more than one cultivator should have reached the Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm. This place was an excellent treasured land, and it was unthinkable that they would fail to produce more Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
He had come partly with the hope of seeking allies, so disappointment was inevitable. He asked, "The Cui Family has cultivated here for a thousand years. Surely there should be more than this."
Cui Xianye hesitated, then said respectfully, "To report to Daoist Master, it was not just great-grandfather. His uncle also reached Purple Mansion Realm, but he followed Li Xunquan and perished when the nation fell. My heavenly ancestor too was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, and he brought along two of the most gifted elders to follow Li Xuan, but they also died. During the days of the Dongli Sect, Chongzhou was part of its territory, and all our family members were summoned back, only to be annihilated. As for how many Foundation Establishment Realm or Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were lost, none can say."
He poured tea for Li Ximing and continued, "This junior harbors no other intention, only to offer clarity. I beg Daoist Master’s forgiveness."
These words left Li Ximing at a loss. Although everyone said that Moongaze was descended from the Wei’s Li Family, he dared not openly admit it. He could only sigh and say, "The Cui Family’s loyalty and devotion truly inspire admiration."
Li Ximing’s tone softened considerably, and he said gently, "My Li Family rose as a small family by the lakeside, and our Dao lineage remains incomplete. This time, I have come first to strengthen the bond between our two families, and second to inquire about the Dao lineage in hopes of filling in a few gaps. Naturally, there will be compensation."
Cui Xianye had clearly guessed his intent, since Li Qinghong had already inquired once about the Bright Yang Dao lineage. So he said, "Rest assured, Daoist Master. My family has preserved the Bright Yang Dao lineage. May I ask, which Dao have you cultivated?"
Li Ximing was not afraid to let them know. He tapped his teacup and replied, "The Heaven-Venerating Gate."
"So it is the Heaven Gate divine ability."
By Heaven Gate divine ability, he clearly meant the entire Heaven-Venerating Gate lineage, which included various higher and lower-grade techniques such as the Radiant Origin Pass.
Seeing his expression, Cui Xianye explained, "There are three spells as well as one body and one life ability. The Spell Divine Abilities are the Heaven-Venerating Gate, Severed Crimson Arrowhead, and Imperial Observation Origin. The Body Divine Ability is Sovereign In Peril, and the Life Divine Ability is Bright and Clear Heart."
Li Ximing only knew that Imperial Observation Origin was the same as his own Everbright Platform, and that Bright and Clear Heart was somewhat renowned in the Eastern Sea. He had never heard of the rest.
After a moment to digest the information, he asked, "Do they have other names?"
Sure enough, Cui Xianye replied, "To answer Daoist Master, the Imperial Observation Origin has always been an exclusive transmission within the palace, while only a portion exists outside as the Everbright Platform. Bright and Clear Heart was known in ancient times as Radiance Under Heaven. Only these two have spread widely. As for the countless lower-level Dao foundations, there are many, and I will present a record of them to Daoist Master later."
Li Ximing’s heart surged with joy, and he nodded as Cui Xianye respectfully replied, "The Imperial Observation Origin and Bright and Clear Heart divine abilities may only be personally bestowed by the imperial family, and thus are not available here in Chongzhou. We only possess the Heaven-Venerating Gate and Sovereign In Peril."
The Body Divine Ability Sovereign In Peril!
Li Ximing’s delight grew boundless, as his heart started to burn with excitement. Aside from his greatest desire for the Bright and Clear Heart, his next pursuit had always been precisely a Body Divine Ability.
When Li Ximing had first reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had heard of how formidable such Immortal Foundations were. From the Yu Family’s Jade Court General, to Ning Tiaoxiao’s famed Spring’s Echo, even Sumian could not help but praise Ding Weizeng’s Palace Sun Tiger. Add to that Changxi’s many mentions of the benefits of Body Divine Abilities, and his heart had long been stirred.
In this moment, he felt nothing but gratitude that he cultivated the Bright Yang Dao and could benefit from the legacy of his predecessors, sparing himself the hardships endured by the likes of Changxi.
He nodded with a smile and said, "I wish to study it in detail. What price must I pay?"
Li Ximing knew how precious Purple Mansion Realm techniques were. Back in Hengzhu Dao Gate, the minimum requirement for exchanging Purple Mansion Realm spirit items had always been either Purple Mansion Realm techniques or Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifacts. Chongzhou Island was certainly no place to be taken lightly, especially given its deep ties with his own family.
Cui Xianye hesitated for a moment, and knowing Chongzhou faced no pressing matters, he pondered aloud, "To answer Daoist Master... might you perhaps possess a Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm spirit item?"
Li Ximing had anticipated this very question. It reminded him of his own family’s struggles in the past, and he could not help but say with a sigh, "I too wish I had such a spirit item. Unfortunately, my family fought desperately to obtain one, and it has already been consumed."
Cui Xianye asked again, "May I dare to ask... does Daoist Master possess a Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact?"
He paused briefly before adding, "We would not dare to ask for a spirit treasure, but only a single spirit artifact. We also cannot accept a spirit embryo to refine into one, for my family has no Purple Mansion Realm divine ability and could not preserve it."
Li Ximing sipped his tea and said, "I do possess a spirit artifact, but it does not belong to the Bright Yang Dao."
"This..."
At this, Cui Xianye faltered. Seeing his difficulty, Li Ximing asked, "May I ask, the Dao lineage of Chongzhou’s Heaven-Venerating Gate, what kind of technique is it?"
Although Li Ximing did not have a Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact in hand, he possessed a Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm technique. Trading one for one was not a poor bargain.
Cui Xianye replied, "It is the Upper Mansion Bright Venerating Scripture, a fifth grade technique... with three secret techniques."
Hearing this, Li Ximing grew doubtful.
Kong Tingyun had once asked Li Qinghong how many secret techniques the Li Family possessed. Li Qinghong had answered, "one," to which Kong Tingyun had replied, "that is already perfectly normal." At the time, Li Ximing thought it was mere consolation. Yet when considering his own Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Li Day and Houshu Golden Book, it seemed to him that even if families did not have six or seven, they should at least possess four or five.
But now, seeing that even the illustrious Cui Family had only three, while his Radiant Essence Scripture contained a full nine, his heart wavered. For a moment he did not know how to respond. A single thought flashed across his mind, A blessing and a curse alike.
He remembered Xiao Chuting’s mention of the Dongli Secret Register, where most Bright Yang techniques were catalogued. His own Foundation Establishment Realm breakthrough phenomenon had long been witnessed clearly by others.
And what had he used for his Foundation Establishment Realm? Not the Radiant Essence Scripture, but the Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual. Only later had he switched to this Purple Mansion Realm technique.
Why had Yuan Xiu and the others never seen him as a threat? Surely it was because the Dongli Secret Register recorded the Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual as a fourth grade technique, likely with only one secret technique, if any. His breakthrough phenomenon had been observed by none other than Si Boxiu...
But his later switch to the Radiant Essence Scripture and breakthrough into the Purple Mansion Realm had produced a phenomenon no one could recognize. If he were to trade this technique away now, might the Cui Family have records of it? If someone in their family broke through with it, would it be discovered?
The existence of the Golden Palace Radiant Origin Manual in the Dongli Secret Register proved that the Immortal Mirror had granted that manual to predecessors. In that case, the Radiant Essence Scripture could very well stir up calamity.
The heir’s cultivation in the Eastern Sea cannot serve as a reliable reference...
These thoughts streaked through Li Ximing’s mind like lightning, while Cui Xianye’s heart was equally full of turmoil.
The Moongaze Li Family rose from decline, and though they were fortunate enough to obtain a Purple Mansion Realm technique, it is unlikely to compare with our own Upper Mansion Bright Venerating Scripture, let alone in the number of secret techniques. His silence... only confirms it further, thought Cui Xianye.