This left Li Ximing speechless. Suspicion stirred at once. The Mountain-Charging Sea-Pacing Tiger in his hand was of mid-grade quality; perhaps it was even elevated to that level while in Changxi's possession.
Yet Changxi immediately cut off his doubts. "I had thought to refine it further in years past, but it was something of a chicken rib to me, neither useless nor truly useful. It required vast quantities of materials, and such things are scarce across the mainland. I received little and used most of it for other refinements."
He pointed to the jade at his chest, which Li Ximing had long noticed. "This is the Essence Stone Devil Fetus. I began refining it two hundred years ago, spending more than half of my life's fortune. Were it not for the spiritual aura of the Dwelling Heart that Charges Profundity restraining me, and the Falling Water Rising Storm of the Eastern Sea, I would never have reached this state."
Li Ximing's heart trembled at the name, though outwardly he only appeared contemplative. Changxi laughed and said, "This technique is a secret of my Dao lineage. It harms the balance of heaven and earth, yet it can extend life. Its reputation is ill, and the drawbacks are many. Even my predecessors who resorted to it did so in secret."
Why is he telling me this?
Li Ximing paused slightly, but Changxi had already turned away, his voice growing heavier, "In truth, the great families guard against Earth Virtue orthodoxy with deep suspicion, especially when it walks the Devil Dao. Other Dao lineages may be overlooked, but Earth Virtue cultivators are regarded as true devil cultivators. The families all harbor fear. Though the upheaval at Thunder Palace brought them gain, none wish to see it happen again."
Li Ximing himself knew only a little of such matters. Though uncertain of Changxi's source, he would not let it pass and pressed further, "I have also studied the art of the Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace. Beyond the Purple Mansion Realm, there is little difference from the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao... Orthodoxy of the Devil Dao... would that be like Tuoba Chongyuan?"
"More or less." Changxi said slowly, "The Diverse Mansion Unified Furnace and the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao are the same in essence, both belonging to the Devil Dao of this age. There were devil cultivators in ancient times too; how else would Kuai Li have become a Devil Monarch? The Tuoba Family itself is a branch of orthodox devil cultivators."
The old man exhaled heavily through his nose, gritting his teeth as he said, "Arts are not lightly passed on, hence there arises orthodoxy. This one is orthodox; that one is orthodox. Those who attain fruition refuse to impart their true techniques and hand down side paths instead. When they fall into our hands, we then use Foundation Establishment texts to bind those beneath us. Is it not all from the same source? Common folk bow their heads before our direct descendants, and we bow our heads before the so-called orthodox. To be treated as playthings, is this not the way of things?"
He seemed to be recollecting the bitter memories of his own One Stick of Incense Clan. Exhaling twice, about to perish, he forced himself to reveal his form upon the dark cliffs and descended toward Xuanmiao Temple with Li Ximing. However, it was not Qi Qiuxin who came forth to meet them, but a pale, beardless middle-aged man, Kong Guxi.
The people of Profound Peak Gate had already arrived ahead of them. Kong Guxi craned his neck, fearful as a plucked quail. His already large eyes bulged wider, making the Daoist robe upon him seem like nothing but an empty garment rack.
He drifted forward, only to be brusquely swept aside by Changxi. Stumbling, he struck the ground with a clumsy bow and burst into sobs. Changxi ignored him, turning only to Sumian, the aged temple master, who stood wringing his hands in unease.
Changxi said, "Which courtyard? Has Fellow Daoist arranged it?"
Sumian hurried to guide him, leading the way to the edge of the cliff. Anxiously, he said, "Fellow Daoist... that thing..."
" Oh! " Changxi removed the Essence Stone Devil Fetus from his neck and pushed it into his hand. "No third person knows of this item."
Li Ximing had been standing quietly to the side, his brows lowered, feigning restrained sorrow, while his thoughts thundered, No third person knows? You just told me!
What does Changxi mean by this? A handle? A hint? The Essence Stone Devil Fetus is ill-reputed and brings many drawbacks... is he leaving me leverage to coerce Xuanmiao Temple into taking the field in the future?
Li Ximing kept his composure and showed no outward reaction. Sumian silently accepted the item and replied, "I will do all I can to safeguard Profound Peak Gate."
By then, they had arrived at the courtyard. Everything within fifty kilometers had been cleared. It had plainly been prepared long ago for Changxi's death. The land was barren and yellow, with only a few weak blades of grass swaying in the spring breeze.
Stones were already falling from beneath Changxi's robe, clattering against the ground and scattering earth and rock. He hastily descended into the courtyard. His robe fluttered, yet he seemed graceless, like a bird hurling itself into a snare, before sitting cross-legged upon the couch[1].
Xuanmiao Temple was plain and simple, and this courtyard was no exception. When he sat upon the couch, it seemed as though even his limbs could not stretch out straight.
"Kong Guxi!"
Changxi called out, and Kong Guxi hurriedly rose into the air, only to tumble down again with a swoosh. He landed before Changxi, unable to care about the humiliation of seeing his family's ancestor sitting in withered silence in the courtyard, craning his head forward in fearful reverence.
Changxi murmured, "Kong Guxi, our Kong Family rose from obscurity and was never destined for the Purple Mansion Realm. A True Monarch was reborn and slaughtered my kin, and thus fortune shifted onto me, forcing me to ascend to the Purple Mansion Realm as nothing more than a stepping stone for others..."
Kong Guxi bowed his head in silence. Li Ximing frowned, while fear stirred in Sumian, who stood beside Li Ximing.
Sumian murmured, "The old man has grown muddled! Such words must not be spoken..."
Changxi seemed suddenly fevered. He stretched his leg, rolled up his sleeves, then seemed like he was about to speak but stopped. He only said, "Obey the orders of Daoist Master Zhaojing."
Kong Guxi nodded again. Changxi could no longer sit upright and fell upon the couch, rolling back and forth as the ground rumbled beneath him.
At last, he said, "Upon my death I shall become a mountain, a kilometer tall. To the north shall rise three peaks, each a hundred paces apart. To the east and south, nine peaks, rich with persimmon trees. The sunny side shall bear much red copper, the shaded side much white gold. Directly south, a spring shall gush with white jade, flowing south to become a stream that empties into Lake Xian. In its waters will dwell vipers and black turtles. My Kong Family descendants may worship from afar, but may not climb upon it."
Kong Guxi wept. "This junior has remembered it all!"
Daoist Master Changxi gave a muffled groan and cried out, "My pain is unbearable!"
His cry was like thunder, and the earth veins beneath swelled like an inflating balloon. Jagged white rock and towering mountains burst forth from the soil, peaks sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain. Kong Guxi could not even stand upright.
His stumbling, choked cry of "Respectfully sending off the ancestor" was drowned completely by the quaking earth. No one heard him as the mountains rose sharply beneath his feet. Red copper, white gold, twelve peaks emerged one after another. Springs gushed forth, trees thickened rapidly into shade, and the faint sound of cicadas filled the air.
Every word of Changxi's prophecy was fulfilled without the slightest deviation.
The courtyard and the old man that sat there moments ago seemed but an illusion. Only a Daoist robe hanging from a treetop remained before Kong Guxi, fluttering lifelessly. The forest lay in dreadful silence, as the branches cast shadows all around.
Kong Guxi carefully pulled the robe down, took two bewildered steps, and finally heard the cries of astonishment and words of praise rising from the Xuanmiao Temple cultivators at the mountain's base.
Kong Guxi thought, There should be laughter as well, should there not?
1. The raw for this is 榻(ta). This can also be known as a long and narrow bed. ☜