Li Xuanfeng’s appearance had even regained a youthful glow after taking the herb.
Ning Heyuan noticed and felt much more at ease. He then said solemnly, “Brother-in-law, there’s something suspicious about Tuoba Chongyuan’s death!”
Li Xuanfeng certainly understood and responded quietly, “Of course there’s something strange... Perhaps even the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators couldn’t foresee it.”
Ning Heyuan nodded and said, “The spiritual currents in Xu State are in disformation now. The great void is crowded with Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and Maha. It’s impossible to calculate anything clearly! That’s why all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators are playing their games... But how did Tuoba Chongyuan just happen to run into a dragon kin?
“Moreover, Shengle Heaven isn’t some ordinary force. The Tuoba Family must have demons stationed in the great void. Even if the current state of Xu State is obscured in the void, surely they can still sense the vitality of their own juniors, can’t they?”
Li Xuanfeng stared heavily at the jade table. A young figure suddenly appeared in his mind. He had specifically asked about Li Xizhi’s situation, and had once met Dongfang Heyun in the Northern Sea.
Perhaps he was the one who acted... Dongfang Heyun was the first breath exhaled by the Dragon Monarch during his core formation, so his origins are beyond prediction. Once a Dragon Monarch is involved, not even all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators and Maha combined can make accurate calculation s.
But speculation would do them no good at this point. Li Xuanfeng asked, “How is the forging of the dharma artifact progressing?”
“The Murong Family’s heavy armor bears many traces of devil cultivators. It’s hard to smelt, and we still need more than half the allotted time,” Ning Heyuan replied.
He expressed further concern for Li Xuanfeng’s injuries, and soon took his leave. After seeing Ning Heyuan off, Li Xuanfeng returned to his cave dwelling and sat cross-legged. He took out a jade bottle from his robes.
Inside the jade bottle was the Geng Metal Triple Qi Pill bestowed by Yuan Xiu. Even through the precious container, holding it felt like gripping a blade’s edge.
The Chi and Ning families keep checking on my injuries and have sent such a valuable pill... It’s clear they want me to recover quickly, and begin working for Azure Pond Sect again.
Li Xuanfeng paused, then tipped the vial to let the pill inside fall out. Golden light flashed, brilliantly lighting the room in radiant white. The celestial pill hovered gently in the air, as if inspecting its surroundings.
Golden-white light flowed along the pill's patterns, and the cave was instantly filled with a fragrant aroma. The sound of clashing metal echoed loudly, while crimson, earthy patterns appeared on the walls, and gold and silver powder swirled up from the ground.
At this rate, everything in the cave will be turned into metal and stone in no time.
He didn’t hesitate for a moment longer. He picked up the pill and gently placed it in his mouth.
Buzz!
Li Xuanfeng heard a deafening hum in his mind as the world began to spin around him. The moment the pill entered his mouth, it vanished, turning into golden light that coursed through his body and swiftly settled in his qi sea.
He had long cultivated the Engraved Stone technique, so his qi sea was already filled with golden mists mixed with hints of crimson. But the moment this new, distinct golden light entered, it stirred up a stormy surge within.
Engraved Stone was a technique from the Golden Tang Gate. Its qi could break formations, cleave mountains, destroy enemy dharma artifacts, and pierce defenses with precision. The more enemies slain, and the more blood refined it, the stronger it became.
He had perfected the Engraved Stone long ago. As an Immortal Foundation, it empowered his body, turning it to metal and stone, as well as controlled baleful qi in harmony with his Strength to Move Mountains. His spiritual orifices spewed killing force, thus his current renown.
Now, golden energy within his qi sea swirled together, rising and sinking. Lighter essence ascended, and the denser descended. The energies began to reconnect, reforming the Geng Metal Triple Qi Pill anew.
To his surprise, his cultivation, which had seemingly hit its limit, began circulating again. It rose further, breaking past the peak of Foundation Establishment Realm and beginning a new phase of condensation.
This...
A strange feeling arose within him, eerily similar to the sensation he’d experienced decades ago when forming his Foundation Establishment. It felt as if something was taking shape within his qi sea.
Sure enough, the Geng Metal Triple Qi Pill slowly morphed, transforming into a massive golden talisman covered in intricate patterns that radiated bursts of multicolored light.
A realization slowly dawned on Li Xuanfeng, The Immortal Foundation, Heavenly Gilded Helm!
What had appeared in his qi sea was unmistakably a fellow Dao partner of his Engraved Stone. It was another Immortal Foundation of the Geng Metal system, the Heavenly Gilded Helm.
His aura advanced once again, as golden armor-like patterns emerged across his body. Yet Li Xuanfeng’s expression darkened, and he thought coldly, So the Geng Metal Triple Qi Pill was actually a method of completing a Dao Partner...
There were many Dao Partners on the path to Golden Core Realm, particularly within the Metallic Essence system. They complemented one another and were to be cultivated once a Purple Mansion Realm divine ability was achieved.
Cultivating such partners naturally took longer than consuming another’s foundation. Thus, in Jiangnan, it was common for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators to devour Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, something Xiao Yuansi had once warned of.
So even at Foundation Establishment Realm, pills can be taken to add a Dao Partner in the qi sea... This brings many wonders, but it's an act of forced growth. It can impair the mind and make reaching Purple Mansion far more difficult...
Two brilliant lights were intertwining in his qi sea, but Li Xuanfeng opened his aging eyes slightly. He quickly grasped the motives of Daoist Master Yuan Xiu and Daoist Master Qiushui...
Daoist Master Qiushui clearly meant to benefit the Ning Family... I was the best candidate to practice this art... Whether or not Ning Wan breaks through, this act already brings great gain to the Ning Family...
As for Daoist Master Yuan Xiu, I can bring more benefits to Azure Pond Sect with my newfound strength... Both Daoist Masters saw their interests align, that’s why they summoned me together.
Though the Immortal Foundation had taken shape, the Geng Metal Triple Qi Pill’s medicinal power continued to refine and infuse into the Heavenly Gilded Helm, steadily completing its form.
So this is the calculation of Daoist Masters...
Li Xuanfeng felt a cold chill run down his spine. He had never considered the Purple Mansion Realm, especially since the follow-up to his cultivation method, the Heavenly Lustrous Gold Sutra, was held by the Golden Tang Gate. Whether he had the chance or not, pushing himself toward Purple Mansion Realm didn’t serve Azure Pond Sect or anyone else.
But this single pill had forced the path to Purple Mansion Realm to fade into uncertainty. Shock and anger stirred within him, and as his thoughts spiraled, Yuan Su’s face gradually surfaced in his mind.
But I dare not hate...
More clarity slowly emerged in his heart. The mana from the Heavenly Gilded Helm was slightly dim, flowing through his meridians, causing the golden patterns on his skin to grow increasingly vivid.
The Heavenly Gilded Helm, its essence is cold and sharp, skilled at absorbing and emitting metallic energy, drawing golden brilliance. Once activated, the Immortal Foundation manifests a full helm over the body, turning it into a sculpture of stone and metal.
When worn, it grants the strength to tear tigers and leopards, immune to water and fire, resistant to baleful poisons, able to mend wounds with stone and metal. It can even regenerate severed limbs...
Li Xuanfeng’s cultivation continued to rise. He quietly attuned himself to the change. Within his qi sea, as if clouds parted to reveal the sky, something stirred. Another presence began to rise.
The object was radiant and milky-white, its brilliance halting the flow of golden energy. The golden orb receded, all energies condensed, and Li Xuanfeng’s heart skipped a beat.
This pill... has activated the talisman seeds!