The brows of both men rose as someone entered the hall. The young man was dressed in a Daoist robe of white fabric embroidered with golden patterns. His features were upright, carrying a gentle and steady air, and a faint heavenly light flickered between his brows.
Daoist Master Chang Yun froze for a moment, sensing the Bright Yang divine ability radiating from him, and cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing?"
Li Ximing cupped his hands in return and smiled, "Greetings Daoist Master Chang Yun!"
Chang Yun immediately rose from the main seat, smiling as he stepped down. "That fellow Zhong Qian told me you would be paying a visit. I have been waiting and waiting, and at last, you have arrived!"
Zhong Qian not only shared a karmic connection with Li Xuanfeng but had also treated the Li Family with considerable respect, especially when they attained the Purple Mansion Realm. Li Ximing, naturally courteous in return, smiled as well.
Chang Yun gestured for him to sit at the side table, then extended a hand toward Minghui, "This is Daoist Master Zhaojing of the Li Family of Moongaze."
Minghui merely lifted his head, casting a lazy glance before lounging back in his seat. From Li Ximing's aura, it was clear he had only recently entered the Purple Mansion Realm, hardly worth much respect. He thought to himself, Oh... some immortal family... Moongaze Li... Moongaze Li?!
The monk's pupils dilated sharply.
Chang Yun turned toward Li Ximing to introduce, "This is Minghui, the Merciful One of Lotus Temple. He has attained Non-Retrogression on the Way of Virtue, sits beneath the Golden Lotus, and is expected to become a Maha."
Though the Way of Virtue had little direct enmity with the Li Family among the Seven Ways of Buddhism, Li Ximing still felt no goodwill toward the northern Buddhist cultivators. He doubted the monk would show him any either, so he maintained only a veneer of politeness.
Across from him, Minghui fought the urge to turn and flee. The terror churning inside him was beyond words, cold dread shooting up to the very bones of his brow as he thought, Damn it all... the Benevolent Revered One... it's that Li Family!
Years ago, Minghui had gone to Moongaze Lake for a mere divination, and nearly calculated himself to death. He had sacrificed his most precious dharma artifact just to escape and even caused Jinlian to suffer repercussions.
Minghui believed that no one in the world understood the truth of that incident better than he did. Jinlian himself had no memory of it but the merest vague account from Minghui had left him horrified. Minghui, however, had seen it with his own eyes; how Jinlian, the Maha of seven lifetimes, had been rendered as fragile as a mere mortal in the hands of that man.
That incident had not only left Minghui with an unshakable shadow but had also inflicted trauma on Jinlian, severely disrupting his subsequent plans and ultimately causing Minghui's attempt to ascend to Maha to end in failure...
There were only two paths for a monk who had attained the Seven Dharma Forms to advance further, obediently becoming a Merciful One, or taking a great leap to ascend directly to Maha. The former was already exceedingly difficult. One might have a slim chance by currying favor with a Maha and first proving oneself as a Merciful One beneath the lowest Sattva throne, then spending the rest of one's time groveling for favor, inching one's way upward through Non-Retrogression and hoping to secure a vacant seat.
The latter path was even more difficult, and nearly heaven-defying. One needed the blessing of profound karmic fortune, significant contributions to the Dharma, and most importantly, a seat within one's own Pure Land along with the support of an existing Maha. Only then could the road to Maha be attempted.
Jinlian's injury had affected both his soul and divine abilities, which had shaken the foundation of the Maha seat itself. Fortunately, Minghui's foundation was deep, and Jinlian had given him full support from within the Pure Land. Thus, he had settled for second best, first attaining the title of Merciful One beneath the highest Golden Lotus throne. Without this contingency, Minghui's preparations would have been wasted, and he would have lost centuries of cultivation time in vain!
Minghui and Jinlian had long reached a tacit agreement to never dwell on that incident. Minghui had even faintly sensed that Jinlian's wholehearted support carried an intention to pull him into the same camp. Now, standing before Li Ximing, he dared neither be too friendly nor too hostile.
Li Ximing had been prepared for a cold reception, but to his surprise, the monk straightened in his seat and offered a warm, earnest smile. "So it is Daoist Master Zhaojing! This humble monk is Minghui. I have long admired you!"
Li Ximing raised a brow in mild surprise, and Minghui quickly continued, "I was not in the north in my early years, but I once traveled south and crossed paths with the head of your esteemed family several times. I was deeply moved by his brilliance and admired him greatly!"
Li Ximing's expression turned slightly odd, while Chang Yun found the words amusing and explained, "This Merciful One's Way of Virtue gained great benefit after the fall of the Way of Wrath back then. The Buddhist land expanded, though it came into some conflict with the Way of Emptiness, but that was part of the north-south disputes of that time."
Li Ximing understood now that this one had been an enemy of the Way of Wrath and the Way of Emptiness. Realization dawned on him, Although most Buddhist cultivators are vile trash, this one is clearly cut from a different cloth. Moreover, with the potential for Maha, no wonder Chang Yun is willing to meet him.
He nodded slightly, and Minghui smiled. "I had already calculated that a fellow Daoist would visit Daoist Chang Yun today, though he was still half in doubt..."
Daoist Master Chang Yun nodded. He clearly had no desire to bring up the matters he had discussed with Minghui earlier and quickly interrupted, "It seems I underestimated the Merciful One's skill in divination. Fellow Daoist, may I ask what matter brings you here today?"
Li Ximing naturally wanted to inquire about the matter of Mount Xiaoshi, but he feared Minghui might not know and would learn of it unnecessarily, so he said instead, "It concerns the Dao lineage of Brahma Cloud Cave."
Minghui let out a hearty laugh beside them, as if to bolster his own courage, and said, "So it's about Mount Xiaoshi after all!"
Chang Yun smiled at that, poured some tea, and explained, "When it comes to the matter of Mount Xiaoshi, all who witnessed it have a share. The benefits lie within the formation. Since Zhaojing now holds the Dao lineage of Floating Cloud Cave, naturally he is entitled to a share as well. Mount Xiaoshi was conquered by the Way of Emptiness, and its fall was partly due to the Yue Cultivating Sect's retreat and partly due to our own indulgence. Thus, even the Northern Buddhist cultivators are aware of the situation."
Clarity began to dawn in Li Ximing's heart as he asked, "In that case, how is the formation to be opened?"
"Mount Xiaoshi is now a barren land, its inheritors scattered, and we do not wish for that Dao lineage to be rebuilt. Thus, the Mifan three sects came into being, and the key to opening the formation lies within them." Chang Yun sipped his tea before continuing, "Mount Xiaoshi's Mifan once contained five Dao lineages. Three of them form today's Mifan three sects: Floating Cloud Body, Hurricane Ghost Yin, and Empty Response Dispersion. If the remaining two can be gathered, the treasures of Mount Xiaoshi can be stirred."
Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then said pointedly, "Does that mean many of Mount Xiaoshi's Dao lineages have been scattered elsewhere?"
"Exactly!" Chang Yun smiled casually, though his words sent a chill down one's spine. "Zhaojing, your guess is correct. The Mifan three sects are nothing more than bait. The remaining two Dao lineages of Mount Xiaoshi have scattered across the land. Their whereabouts are unknown, though they are likely somewhere in the Eastern Sea.
"As long as these three sects maintain their reputation in Jiangbei and carry the name of Mount Xiaoshi's Mifan, any descendants who have inherited those Dao lineages and attained fruition will inevitably return to seek them out. Whether it is to complete the Dao lineage, to search for kin, out of desperation, or simply to find a background to attach themselves to; no matter whether emotionally and logically, they will come back to meet them. This is bait cast into the river. We need only wait for them to bite."