Li Qinghong finished speaking, and Cui Changfu grew suspicious, asking softly, “Fellow Daoist... what kind of spirit item are you seeking?”
Li Qinghong replied softly, “These things are hard to find inland from the Western Sea. They are Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm spirit items such as the Radiant Celestial Stone, Qilin Crow Spirit Husk, or White Blood Sap... No need for anything specific, just one of them will do.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Changfu’s expression eased slightly, and he said with a smile, “A Purple Mansion Realm spirit item? I once had a dose of Radiance Profound Essence... but it’s gone now!”
Li Qinghong was seeking these items to help a younger family member break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. It weighed on her mind. Although Purple Mansion Realm spirit items were hard to come by and she hadn’t held much hope, hearing this gave her a spark of interest. Her expression lit up and she asked, “Has it been traded to someone? Please share any information that you have...”
Cui Changfu finally believed her, this woman was indeed here for a spirit item. He seemed relieved and much less wary, speaking in a low voice, “Our branch... was once sent by Wei State’s Emperor Gong to venture beyond the outer seas, searching for Penglai. Emperor Gong was broad-minded and elegant. His reign was prosperous and generous, so our treasure ship carried many rare items.
“Later, chaos engulfed the sea, the Great Void shattered, and we lost contact. By the time the Qi State replaced Wei State, there was no news at all. The spirit items we had were used up one by one, until only two portions of Radiance Profound Essence remained.”
Li Qinghong listened closely as he continued, “One portion was given long ago to the Dragon family. Dongfang You drank it and gave birth to Dingyuan the Dragon Son. The other portion was sent to Mount Changhuai, where a Daoist Master used it to sire a child, who I’ve heard is called Qing Jifang. It was all thanks to the Radiance Profound Essence.”
Li Qinghong listened for a while and realized both doses had already been used. She was immediately disappointed. Cui Changfu noticed this and said softly, “Don’t be discouraged, Fellow Daoist... When the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven fell, I heard it was overseen by the two Daoist Masters, Yuan Su and Qiushui. That grotto heaven surely contained Purple Mansion Realm spirit items... Even if Chu Yi looted most of it, the Daoist Masters went there afterward. Surely they got their hands on something.”
When Cui Changfu mentioned Chu Yi, his tone grew awkward, his lips quivered slightly and he lowered his eyes. Yet his words were like a bell ringing through a dream. Li Qinghong suddenly understood and her heart lit up with joy, That’s it!
She hadn’t known before that the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven had passed through Yuan Su’s hands. Now that she realized it, he must surely possess Purple Mansion Realm spirit items. And since her second uncle served under Yuan Su, asking for them might not be too difficult.
At the moment, she cupped her hands in thanks and said, “Many thanks, Senior!”
Cui Changfu gave her a close look, stroked his beard, and nodded. Li Qinghong hesitated for a moment but still spoke up, “There is one more matter... My family also cultivates under the Bright Yang Dao Lineage. We are hoping to gather five Immortal Foundations to pave a smoother path for our family...”
Since the request wasn’t an easy one, she lowered her stance and continued softly, “If it’s convenient, I hope to borrow access to your esteemed family’s Dao lineage. We can exchange it with techniques... or dharma artifacts, or even spirit items. Whatever your family desires.
“If you are unwilling, I have no intention whatsoever of prying into your Dao lineage...”
Li Qinghong added a few more apologetic words. Cui Wanqing’s expression remained fairly warm, even slightly moved. But the old man of the Cui Family did not have the best look on his face. Cui Changfu responded in a hoarse voice, “I’m afraid, our ancestral Dao lineage cannot be shared.”
He rejected her firmly. Li Qinghong apologized, then took a spirit flower from her storage pouch and handed it to the two of them, saying softly, “Thank you for the information, Senior. This is the Wanglin Blossom, it can preserve life and ease sorrow. Please accept it as a token of gratitude.”
Fearing her prolonged presence might cause unease, she rode lightning into the sky and took her leave. Cui Wanqing seemed to have a good impression of her and saw her off, gently saying, “Take care, Senior.”
After sending Li Qinghong off, Cui Wanqing returned to the island only to see Cui Changfu still sitting where he was, tapping the table restlessly. His aged eyes were full of unease.
Curious, Cui Wanqing sat down beside the old man and asked softly, “Grandfather... this Senior Qinghong seems like a straightforward person. Her family has quite a few people with Bright Yang Dao Lineage. It’s not like they’re all one-of-a-kind. At worst, sharing one could be mutually beneficial...”
“Sigh...” Cui Changfu stroked his beard and didn’t respond immediately. He said in a low voice, “She may truly be a remnant of Wei's Li descendent...”
He pulled out a jade slip from his storage pouch, examined it carefully, then took out a map and studied it closely. He murmured, “Moongaze Marsh lies in Jiangnan. When Emperor Wu campaigned south, he passed through there... and met immortals within the marsh. Could a surviving bloodline really remain?”
Cui Wanqing was visibly moved and said quietly, “If she’s truly from the imperial family of old, Grandfather, why not help them? At most, it’s just a technique being exchanged... and we’d gain something in return anyway...”
Cui Changfu shook his head and said softly, “Not anymore...”
His expression suddenly became animated, his eyes sharp and piercing as he said, “Wasn’t the pain already enough? When Northern Qi State replaced Wei State, Li Xunquan raised an army in rebellion. Our ancestors crossed the seas carrying precious treasures to aid him, only to have their heads hung over Dianyang City for nine years, never taken down.
“When Li Xuan restored the empire, our great ancestors rushed to his side, taking with him two brilliant great-uncles. The kingdom fell again and they were slain. We lost three dharma artifacts, and even our treasure ship was left behind in Xu State.
“When the Dongli Sect was founded, my grandfather hadn’t even reached the Purple Mansion Realm. He rode the wind to join them, handed over all of Chongzhou Island to the Dongli Sect only for the Dongli Daoist Master to die suddenly. The sect to collapse and my grandfather perished in battle. If Dongfang You hadn’t come seeking a spirit item just then, we would have already...”
He sighed and said softly, “At this point, we truly can’t afford any more turmoil!”
Cui Changfu’s expression grew grim as he continued, “Moongaze Marsh lies in a land torn by four powers. Taiyi to the west, Taiqing to the south and east, and the Seven Releases to the north. What good position is that? Even Li Xunquan had True Monarchs aiding him and Purple Mansion Realm cultivators following him. Yet he still lost and died in defeat...
“This one is at least wise, not driven by greed to openly claim the name of Wei Li... but that’s as far as it should go. Only disaster awaits if we get too deeply involved with them!”
After hearing this, Cui Wanqing could only sigh and nod. Then she heard Cui Changfu say, “We must preserve our remaining lineage, only then will there be a chance to restore what was lost. If we follow any passing branch of the Wei Li bloodline without caution, that would be blind folly, with no hope at all!”
The conversation between the two members of the Cui family in Chongzhou naturally didn’t reach Li Qinghong’s ears. She rode the wind back on her journey, feeling a twinge of disappointment.
She had only made the request in the hope that the longstanding friendship between the Li and Cui Families might help. Even hearing a condition would’ve been something.
But Cui Changfu clearly wanted nothing to do with any karmic entanglements. His tone showed no softness. Li Qinghong saw this clearly, thus she didn’t push the matter and quickly took her leave.
“After all, so many years have passed, and the Cui Family suffered plenty of entanglements. They won’t trust easily...” muttered Li Qinghong.
The last immortal-devil war had ended with the Battle of Pingming Ford. Then Northern Qi replaced Wei, only to fall to Liang, which in turn was destroyed by Emperor Zhao’s father Fu Qiyan and King Yan, Murong Dechang. That was over sixteen hundred years ago. If the world hadn’t changed since, even a True Monarch would have long passed away, perhaps the old bonds had faded with time.
Later, when Dongli Sect was destroyed, many from the Cui Family died too. Showing even a decent attitude when facing someone from the Li Family, whose identity might not even be real... that’s already more than fair.
Thinking this way, Li Qinghong felt the Cui family’s reaction was understandable. She glanced westward and suddenly saw several Dawn Cloudliners tearing through the sky, leaving trails of Heavenly Glow behind.
The cloudliner was massive and radiated colorful light. Having paid tribute to one before, Li Qinghong instantly recognized it as the Heavenly Glow Dawn Cloudliner. Her heart jumped in alarm, Something’s happened inland!