Li Ximing stepped out of the great void on Zhijing Mountain. Once he heard Li Wen's report, he asked about news from Profound Peak Gate.
"Daoist Master, there was a tremor at midnight in Shanji Prefecture, and the skies turned gloomy. Profound Peak Gate claimed to the outside world that it was a Daoist Master moving a mountain."
The phenomenon of Earth Virtue cultivators was tied to the earth veins, and the celestial signs revealed little. Profound Peak Gate also had a Purple Mansion Realm formation, so Changxi's claim of moving a mountain served as a cover. Outwardly, it was merely an extra peak. Yet from within the great void, it was clear that someone had failed a breakthrough.
Li Ximing asked, "Where is Minghuang? Who is managing the household right now?"
Li Wen replied, "Daoist Master, the family head has gone to White River Stream. Currently, the eldest young master oversees household affairs."
Upon hearing that Li Jiangqian was in charge, Li Ximing asked, "When I emerged from the great void, I saw crowds gathered on the lake. What's happening?"
Li Wen answered, "Daoist Master, the eldest young master moved declining families from the island to the lakeside, placing them under the six gates. He also brought the direct descendants at the Qi Cultivation and the Foundation Establishment Realm back into the island."
Li Ximing nodded and asked about Li Zhouwei's sons. On the surface, the eldest, Li Jiangqian, managed the family. The second son, Li Jianglong, had gone to Profound Peak Gate. The third, Li Jiangxia, handled affairs on the eastern shore. The fourth, Jiangliang, had just left the residence and was cultivating.
"What of the youngest young master? Is he the same as his elder brothers?" After hearing no mention of Li Jiangnian, Li Ximing asked carefully.
Li Wen answered dully, "The color of the youngest young master’s eyes fades as he grows. His heroic bearing is lesser than that of the other young masters."
Li Ximing had never seen the fifth son, Li Jiangnian, but for Li Wen to speak so bluntly, it was not something that could be summed up with a mere 'lesser than'. He understood the implication and dismissed Li Wen.
He had only been sitting at the table for a short while before Changxi's mana manifestation appeared in the great void. Although the Li Family lacked the Purple Mansion Realm formation that allowed direct entry, Changxi still halted outside in advance, offered polite greetings, and only then entered.
The old Daoist Master appeared as a man in his middle years, with jade at his chest and a ruddy, vigorous complexion. Yet even without skill in divination or physiognomy, Li Ximing could see that his divine abilities were leaking, agitating the earth veins until they grew unnaturally restless. He was clearly at death's door.
No one dared provoke him now. Li Ximing spoke gently, "Senior, you have come. I heard the earth veins within Profound Peak Gate's domain have become unstable. May I ask what has happened?"
Changxi sat opposite him, his expression calm as he replied, "Fu En has perished. There is simply one more mountain within my domain."
His indifference left Li Ximing unsure how to respond. After a moment of silence, Daoist Master Changxi said, "Zhaojing, I will be gone soon and become a mountain. Have you considered where this mountain should fall?"
Li Ximing immediately realized that Changxi's condition was far worse than he had imagined. Perhaps he had suffered a severe blow, or perhaps the Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity was nearing its peak. Regardless, the old man could no longer endure for two more years.
Fortunately he was not wandering outside, nor had he gone to Shiqi Island... If Changxi had suddenly collapsed, it would have caused serious trouble.
He let out a breath and began to contemplate Changxi's final arrangements.
According to his words, he will become a mountain after death. Since he's a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, this mountain would surely be extraordinary, a treasured land.
Li Ximing had little interest in preserving Shanji Prefecture, nor did he have confidence in holding Profound Peak Gate. It would be best for Changxi to pass away sitting beside the lake, for his family would then gain an additional stable mountain[1].
But I cannot very well say... it would trouble me if senior were to die within my domain...
Such words could not be spoken aloud. Since Changxi had asked, he must have more to say.
Li Ximing could only reply, "Has senior made arrangements? Everything shall proceed according to your will."
Changxi glanced at him and nodded. "Zhaojing, even if you did not say it, I understand. Shanji Prefecture cannot be preserved, and my own gate may not withstand the coming storm. I cannot strengthen the enemy for nothing. Xuanmiao Temple is also of Earth Virtue, and Daoist Friend Sumian has invited me to White Sea Stream for discourse. I have calculated that my end draws near, and so I invite you to come along."
Changxi drew a jade box from his sleeve. It continued a round white pearl, glowing with fine radiant light and carved with the image of a tiger glancing back. Its brilliance lit up the surroundings.
Changxi said, "Take this, Zhaojing."
This mid-grade Stable Earth[2] spirit artifact, the Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger, after being passed back and forth, had finally fallen into Li Ximing's hands!
Li Ximing no longer declined. He reached out to take it, and a chilling Earth Fiend chill spread from the pearl. The carved patterns were sharply distinct, even prickly to the touch. As Changxi withdrew his divine ability's mana from the artifact and relinquished its control, Bright Yang divine ability seeped into it.
The Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger was a spirit artifact more formidable than the Chongming Profound Insight Screen once refined by the Li Family. Without Changxi's voluntary transfer, refining it would have taken untold time. Yet now, the moment it entered his hand, Li Ximing naturally comprehended its powers with his divine ability.
The Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger possessed protective Stable Earth energy and was an excellent defensive artifact. It could release the Mountain-Charging Profound Veil to shroud the body, and it also bestowed a Stable Earth spirit infusion upon Li Ximing , lessening the damage from all divine abilities except those of the Twelve Essences and Fire Virtue.
It also contained a wondrous earth-escaping technique, the Sea-Pacing Profound Escape, which allowed him to sink into the ground like an Earth Virtue cultivator, traversing earth veins at a speed beyond mortal reach.
Lastly, it held the Stable[3] Tiger Dao, which transformed the artifact into a Stable Tiger that roamed the great void. Though it lacked combat ability, it possessed concealment. Unless the great void had a formation that could entrap it, most Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities would merely brush by it before it slipped deep into the void. It was nearly impossible to intercept.
The artifact contained many other intricate Earth Virtue marvels. As a Purple Mansion Realm Stable Earth symbol, if Li Ximing's cultivation deepened, he could employ it to freely cast spells. Just as Sumian had once borrowed Li Ximing and Changxi’s energy to treat Ding Weizeng, leaving the Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger nearby would serve the same purpose without Changxi.
What a fine spirit artifact... though Changxi never bore much renown in his life, he kept a great many treasures stashed in his chest. This artifact is truly useful, thought Li Ximing.
Though the pressure upon him was now greater, Li Ximing was deeply satisfied with the Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger.
He sent someone to inform Li Zhouwei, then rose with Changxi. The old man accompanied him into the great void, speaking in a leisurely tone, "Zhaojing, though the Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger resonates more closely with the divine abilities of Sumian and I, it does not hold any exceptional abilities, and many overlap with ours. We discussed it, and decided it would be better for you to wield it. If a direct clash with Purple Mansion Realm cultivators comes, we will mainly rely on your Heaven-Venerating Gate."
Though he spoke thus, Li Ximing knew it was not truly about divine abilities. The Heaven-Venerating Gate indeed leaned toward a combat Spell Divine Ability, but in the end it was because he and Ye Hui stood on opposing paths.
Thus Li Ximing answered, "I understand."
Changxi continued, "The Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger also bears the common traits of earth spirit artifacts and may be counted as a tool of the Devil Dao. It can not only be maintained with a divine ability, but refining it with blood qi or resentment qi brings even greater benefit. Over long years, it may even undergo wondrous transformations."
1. In the raw, Gen (艮) was used here, I am using 'stable' to match with Stable Earth. The meaning of Gen (艮) is the trigram of mountain and stillness, and when paired with Earth it denotes the Mountain aspect of Earth, symbolizing stability, firmness, and the unmoving strength of endurance. ☜
2. Previously known as Gen Earth. ☜
3. In the raw, Gen (艮) was used here, I am using 'stable' to match with Stable Earth. ☜