Li Ximing broke through the great void above Zhijing Mountain, descended, and sent someone to summon Li Zhouwei. He took a seat at the table, while Cui Jueyin did not dare sit and instead stood respectfully at his side.
He asked Cui Jueyin about matters concerning the outer-sea. After only a few exchanges, while Cui Jueyin was answering respectfully, he noticed someone coming up from the mountain below.
The newcomer was tall and well-built, strong yet not excessively burly. At a glance, he seemed difficult to provoke, though nothing about him appeared unusual, except for his golden eyes, which struck fear in all who looked into them.
But when Cui Jueyin saw those golden eyes, his mind became muddled for the first time, "An imperial descendant? The Moongaze Li Family carries the orthodox bloodline!"
The Cui Family might mistake other lineages, but the blood of Wei's Li Family could never be mistaken. The man before him might not match the late Crown Prince Li Xunquan, yet he stood on par with Li Xuan, the leader of the restoration.
Overwhelmed, Cui Jueyin dropped to his knees and respectfully declared, "I pay my respects, your highness!"
Li Zhouwei seemed to be in a good mood. Though he did not recognize the man, he lifted his chin slightly and gave a brief acknowledgment, his gaze filled with curiosity.
Li Ximing smiled and explained, "Minghuang, this man is a Cui Family direct descendant."
Li Zhouwei understood immediately and replied with a nod, "So it is a member of the Cui Family. There is no need for such formality."
Cui Jueyin respectfully withdrew to the side. Another man then appeared from behind Li Zhouwei. He was massive in stature, broad-shouldered and barrel-waisted, with two golden hammers in his hands.
A hint of joy showed on Li Zhouwei's face as he said, "Reporting to Daoist Master, Li Wen has successfully broken through and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
It was none other than Li Wen, who had been cultivating in seclusion within the spirit jade mine of the Helin Mountain Range. Li Ximing raised his eyebrows and said with a laugh, "What remarkable fortune!"
And how could it not be so? Li Wen was the one who benefited most from heaven's timing, the land's advantage, and human support in his attempt at Foundation Establishment Realm. Li Ximing had examined him before and judged his chances far inferior to the late Li Chengliao. Yet against all expectations, Li Wen had succeeded.
Li Ximing looked on with emotion and said, "You cultivate the Jade True Dao, and your innate ability is nearly the same as An Zheyan's. By fate, you were never meant to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm. Yet while you were still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, a True Monarch attained the Dao, causing jade stones to flourish across the land, and you gained a sliver of opportunity.
"So you entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough. At the same time, your family benefited from the Northern and Southern conflict, gaining ample Essence Gathering Pills that were once impossible to obtain. Later, you discovered the spirit jade mine in the Helin Mountain Range, a place filled with spiritual energy. Even the direct descendants of the Azure Pond Sect do not enjoy such fortune.
"You remained in seclusion for seven years, so your Foundation Establishment Realm must have been extremely difficult. But when the cultivator of Mount Changhuai fell, the aura of Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity was released. It benefited both the Ancient Merging Dao and Immortal Dao, as well as secluded cultivation. Since the Jade True Dao is itself an Ancient Merging Dao, you truly seized every advantage."
Li Wen was a simple and honest man. He only knelt and nodded, while Li Ximing laughed heartily and said, "With so many blessings gathered, how could your Foundation Establishment Realm possibly fail?"
Li Zhouwei nodded with a smile, while Li Wen rumbled in his deep voice, "I, Li Wen, relied only on luck. It is Daoist Master who deserves congratulations. With a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator rising over the lake, that accomplishment surpasses a hundred men like me."
Li Wen was already an old man. Li Ximing had seen him standing by Li Yuanping's side since childhood. When his father died, the old man had wept bitterly, and Li Ximing had never forgotten it. Remembering all this, he felt deeply gratified and praised him with repeated words of approval.
Cui Jueyin, standing to the side, observed carefully. Though he believed this rough-looking man would not last fifty exchanges against him, he silently took note of Li Wen's closeness to Li Ximing.
Li Ximing asked, "Jueyin, what kind of cultivation techniques do you practice? What scriptures have you studied, and what spell arts have you trained in?"
Cui Jueyin quickly replied, "I practice the Everbright Platform, which is based on a fifth grade cultivation technique. I have read most of the volumes from my family's Bright Yang records. I have trained in spell arts, radiance lights, perception technique arts, and footwork techniques. These are required for all members of my family. I rank in the top three among my peers on the island.
"In combat, devil cultivators and rogue cultivators pose no concern. As long as the Dao lineages are not in conflict, I can hold my own even against mid or late Foundation Establishment Realm opponents. I can also stand toe to toe against noble demonic creatures of the sea with equal cultivation."
Li Ximing nodded in satisfaction and instructed Li Wen, "Take this young lord of the Cui Family below and arrange proper lodging for him on the island."
Cui Jueyin accepted the order and rose, but could not help glancing once more at Li Zhouwei. Li Ximing chuckled and said, "Once all matters are settled, you may sit and speak in detail with Minghuang."
The two of them quickly left. Only then did Li Ximing withdraw his smile and say, "This journey has indeed yielded no small harvest."
He recounted the harvests of this journey, took out the Scripture of the Body Guarding Tiger Pass for Li Zhouwei to read, and finally said, "Cui Jueyin is not one to boast. Since he claimed he could withstand them, his strength must truly be comparable. He has trained in many spell arts and possesses deep cultivation. In our family, perhaps only you can suppress him. Chenghui and Weizeng would at least fall into disadvantage if they fought him for a hundred rounds. If the fight dragged past a hundred rounds, they would be in danger."
Cui Xianye had clearly not treated the matter lightly. Though this was not the same as the strong support once given by Li Xunquan or Li Xuan, he had still sent one of his family's finest disciples.
Li Zhouwei nodded. "The Cui and Li Families both hail from Wei State. Of the four True Monarchs of Wei's Li, two belonged to the Cui Family. Their loyalty through generations is beyond question. Though their line has also perished, with only one branch remaining, it still carries the same blood and character."
The Chongzhou Cui Family was a traceable branch of the Cui lineage, unlike the Li Family, which openly denied its past. Their situation was far better. Li Zhouwei drew a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Ximing. It was about the matter of the Mifan three sects, entrusted by Li Chenghui.
Li Ximing read it carefully, feeling somewhat stirred in his heart, Since the Mifan three sects have a legacy, could it be that they also possess...
He was naturally referring to the mirror fragment. Their family had once taken such a piece from a Mifan cultivator. But he didn’t need to voice it; Li Zhouwei already understood and replied, "We must not act based on a single side's words when it comes to matters of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. This affair may not be as simple as it appears. Our family already has many pressing concerns. Such a spirit artifact is not something gained in just a year or two. We should watch and wait.
"As for Wenhu... since he holds the Hidden Cloud Dao lineage, we cannot rashly kill him. I've placed him under gentle confinement and allowed him to recover. I'll slowly gather information from him. If this matter proves true, our family will not be left without a card to play."
"Go ahead and handle it boldly," replied Li Ximing.
Li Ximing felt assured with Li Zhouwei in charge. He then brought out the Divine Technique of Pavilion View: Refining Within Fire that Changxi had given, and instructed Li Zhouwei to begin planning the construction of the high platform.
He then asked, "How goes the Jade Court needed for Dust of the Court?"
The Aged Courtly Path Scripture of the lake was also a Purple Mansion Realm technique, but Dust of the Court required the construction of a vast Jade Court. It was the very purpose of the Li Family's mining in the Helin Mountain Range.
Li Zhouwei replied, "We had already gathered enough jade years ago, and the mining in the Helin Mountain Range has since been halted. But our family has been overwhelmed with troubles in recent years and had no mind to build such a Jade Court. The heaps of jade stones mined remain in the Helin Mountains, most never transported back. Moreover, the Jade Court is an immense undertaking that drains people and resources."
Li Ximing understood. When it came to moving mountains and stones, who could compare to their neighbor, Profound Peak Gate? It was merely a matter of giving a nod. He said, "This matter is easily handled. Write a letter to Kong Guxi and ask him to send some Earth Virtue Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators to transport the jade for us. Then use the Immortal Foundation to construct the Jade Court. We should aim to finish as much as possible with these three years.
"Also, ask Kong Guxi for a handwritten letter from Changxi so that we may relocate our Foundation Establishment Realm spirit root to the island."