A fleeting thought crossed Li Ximing's mind, stirring doubt, If that is the case, then the kinship between the two sects and the four gates might be far closer than I had imagined. If Jiangnan's Dao lineage most likely originated from Green Pine, what exactly does that signify?
When I broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm, there were formal congratulations to be received and visits to the three families to be made. Were these matters truly rules and restraints born of Jiangnan's customs, or were they a unique expression of Jiangnan's power?
He pondered briefly and gave a small nod. Thus, Shanji Prefecture, the core territory of Profound Peak Gate, was ceded to the east. Kong Guxi barely had the time to feel relieved that Li Ximing had agreed.
Although Cheng Jinzhu still harbored doubts, it was enough to conclude the internal arrangements. It was not his place to speak too much before a Daoist Master, so he replied, "This spirit artifact was borrowed when the former gate master, Kong Tingyun, accompanied the Daoist Master. The current master is unaware of the details, so perhaps something about it has not yet been accounted for."
Li Zhouwei caught the mention of Kong Tingyun's name and raised his brows, "I wonder what sort of marvel this spirit artifact possesses?"
Cheng Jinzhu paused to think before answering, "I have never seen the artifact's true form myself, but I have heard that its body rests beneath a mountain as an adornment within the Douxuan Grotto Heaven. When it manifests in its original form, it is as vast as a mountain, and pure white and radiant. It can awaken the spirit, enlighten the mind, and bring clarity and calm."
Li Zhouwei noted the information and exchanged a glance with Li Chenghui, then let the topic go and asked, "I once discussed formations with Daoist Master Ling Mei. Do you have any news regarding that matter?"
Several Purple Mansion Realm cultivators Li Ximing had visited mentioned the same matter, so Cheng Jinzhu was prepared and replied, "The Daoist Master has already written to an old friend in the sea, but the reply stated that the friend is in seclusion and will not be available in the coming years."
He paused briefly. After Li Zhouwei dismissed Kong Guxi, Cheng Jinzhu continued, "There is also Daoist Master Tinglan of the Purple Smoke Dao lineage. They excel at formations. Though not capable of personally laying them, they can adapt to local conditions, shift and modify them, and relocate an already established Purple Mansion Realm grand formation. Its power would change, but it would still remain of Purple Mansion Realm."
The moment these words left his lips, everyone immediately understood what he meant.
He is referring to the Profound Peak Mountain Gate!
Li Ximing signaled that he understood, and Cheng Jinzhu took his leave.
After he exited the hall, Li Ximing said, "Minghuang, Wanyu does not seem to be lying about this. I have met Li Mei[1]. Although his views oppose those of Wanyu's elders and he harbors thoughts of reform and renewal, he does not strike me as someone who would resort to such means."
Li Zhouwei responded, "This matter is of little concern to our family, but it should still be clarified as soon as possible. Whether it is true or not, so long as the Sword Gate does not ultimately place the blame on us, that will suffice."
After all, the Li Family could not afford to compensate anyone with a spirit artifact at the moment.
Li Ximing exhaled and said, "That old man Changxi refuses to speak plainly even beyond his death. I shall make a trip to Profound Peak Gate. From the sound of it, this spirit artifact is of Earth Virtue and might be assisting Kong Tingyun in her breakthrough."
Li Zhouwei's earlier mention of Kong Tingyun had indeed pointed toward this possibility. Since Li Ximing had understood, he nodded in farewell, watching as Li Ximing stepped into the heavenly light and tore through the great void.
————
Zhijing Mountain.
The pill furnace before Li Ximing trembled slightly as Pure Essence rose upward. The furnace mouth quivered, and six dusky yellow pills burst forth. He raised his hand to catch them. Each True Profound Heart-Cleansing Pill was the size of a longan, with no distinct patterns, and a delicate fragrance wafted through the air. Li Ximing produced a jade bottle and stored them inside.
Petals rained down with the wind on Zhijing Mountain, scattering like white brilliance across the ground. He admired the sight briefly before he vanished to appear to the south.
The once-small pond in a hollow on Zhijing Mountain had transformed into a mouth of the Earth Fiend Spring. Black-red earth fiend force surged upward, and purple flames rippled within it, bound by white formation lines around the pool, gathering like water within its basin.
Li Ximing lifted his hand gently.
Splash!
The pool suddenly stirred, its surface of condensed purple fiendfire rippling violently. A palm-sized bottle shot out from within. The bottle was a deep crimson-purple and etched with glassy patterns like searing flames. It landed in Li Ximing's hand, and he immediately sensed its nature.
"This bottle was refined by the Bright Yang purple fire and has absorbed Radiant Fire[2]. It is nearing saturation."
This pool had been born alongside Li Ximing's Dao attainment, forming a earth fiend fire vein dominated by Bright Yang fire, Radiant Fire, and earth fiend. Though potent, it was too fierce for alchemy. The Profound Patterned Bottle could absorb the Bright Yang and Radiant Fires from the fire vein and refine them. Every half a year, Li Ximing would retrieve it for use.
Without bothering to check how much flame the bottle held, he circulated the Valley Wind Leading Fire technique along with the Bright Yang divine ability. It took only a brief moment to completely refine the flames inside. Upon inspection, their might was already impressive by Foundation Establishment Realm standards.
"What a most peculiar dharma artifact," muttered Li Ximing.
To this day, Li Ximing could not discern which Dao lineage this artifact belonged to. Even with his refinement using Bright Yang and Radiant Fire, it had yet to reach its limit, leaving much room for further tempering.
"I wonder if it can be forged into a spirit embryo. It would be a shame to waste it. For now, I will continue refining it and use something else in its place."
Things were far from idle at Moongaze Lake while Li Zhouwei and the others held their posts in the Wilderness. Li Jiangqian had mobilized all available manpower to construct a high platform beside Chengqing Gate, one of the six surrounding the lake.
This platform was not without purpose; it was the great refining platform described in the Divine Technique of Pavilion View: Refining Within Fire. Li Ximing had inspected it earlier and found it more than halfway complete.
With matters concluded here, I'll head to Profound Peak Gate first, then make a trip to Chengyun Gate. It's a close neighbor after all, and after delaying this long, I might as well inquire about Mount Xiaoshi, thought Li Ximing.
He tossed the Profound Patterned Bottle back into the pool with a casual motion, then slipped into the great void and sped through it without delay, emerging in the Wilderness.
Li Zhouwei was not in the hall. Instead, Li Chenghui and Kong Guxi were in the midst of a discussion. Li Ximing tossed the pills into Li Chenghui's hands, seized Kong Guxi by the collar, and departed.
Kong Guxi was badly startled, but fortunately, he had once been brought into the great void by Changxi. He steadied himself amidst the heavenly light and bowed, "Daoist Master..."
Before he could finish, the rest of his words were stifled by a single nod from Li Ximing. Moments later, they reappeared in the mortal realm, on Profound Peak Gate in Shanji Prefecture.
The night was deep, and the white radiance above Profound Peak Gate still shimmered in the sky. The outline of the peaks was faintly visible, yet unlike its once bustling state, it now resembled a dead mountain, with no trace of flight light rising or falling.
Bitterness filled Kong Guxi as Li Ximing commanded, "Open the formation."
"Yes!"
He removed the command token from his waist and directed it toward the formation, forming seals with his hands as brown-yellow radiance flared. After a moment, the grand formation before them split open, revealing a gateway beyond, a jade mountain gate, and bright yellow lanterns in the distance.
1. Ling Mei's original name ☜
2. Previously known as Li Fire. ☜