Li Qinghong accepted the feathered robe and thanked Chu Minglian. Though the old man had been sent by the Ning Family and his compensation would be handled by them, Li Qinghong still took out a storage pouch from her sleeve and slipped it into his hand.
Chu Minglian naturally refused, but Li Qinghong softly said, "Senior Chu’s artifact forging skills are superb. My family may have further need of your expertise in the future. Our families have also long been connected. Please, accept this."
Chu Minglian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately tucked it into his robe, and took his leave. As Li Qinghong escorted him out of the hall, golden light rippled twice in the northern sky before gradually fading.
She calculated the direction; it was exactly where the ancient ruin had descended. She thought, The ruin has most likely already been divided, and the scraps others couldn't be bothered to carry are now left for the ordinary disciples of the various sects.
It was not just Li Qinghong, this was something all the nearby cultivators had grown used to. Year after year, whenever a grotto heaven appeared, it would always be divided among the major sects, and common cultivators would never get a share.
She looked closely and saw that the golden light flared up at that spot, streaking through the air with a trailing blaze, gradually growing larger as it neared, until it stopped before her. It was a woman in a Xiang-style robe, her Dharma robe shimmering, holding a golden orb in her hand.
She stopped before the formation and said with a smile, "Is Qinghong within the formation? Kong Tingyun of Profound Peak has come to visit!"
"Sister Tingyun." Li Qinghong paused only slightly before understanding, Profound Peak must have had a stake in the unidentified ruin as well. Now that Kong Tingyun had reached the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, she had naturally been sent there.
Kong Tingyun had just returned from the north, yet her aura was steady and her attire neat. She looked nothing like someone returning from a battle. Rather, she seemed like someone who had just broken through in cultivation.
As always, she was warm and friendly. She landed inside the formation and spoke with a sweet smile, "I had sect duties here, and when I heard that you were stationed nearby, I came to see you as soon as my tasks were done."
Li Qinghong dismissed the others, pulled her inside the cave dwelling, and said, "It's been years since we last met. You've truly changed a lot, Tingyun."
Kong Tingyun now carried a more dignified and refined air. Perhaps she had just emerged from secluded cultivation, for while her brows and eyes still danced with a smile, her clothing and the glow of her mana emanated a sharp intensity.
"I did come upon a fortunate opportunity, but my feelings haven't changed. Qinghong, don't treat me as an outsider." Kong Tingyun smiled and shook her head, sitting beside her and lowering her voice, "There were too many people earlier, so I couldn’t speak freely. I said it was sect business, but in truth, it was that fallen Dongning Palace. I saw many people and many things inside... It was just a few months, but it felt like years."
Li Qinghong nodded gently, and Kong Tingyun continued, "My family's power once lay between Xu State and Ning State. It was only after our family's upheaval that we moved to Jiangnan, so I know a bit about such matters. I gained some benefits in Dongning Palace, and heard a few things as well."
She spoke in a low voice, "Qinghong, do you still remember Wrathful Maha Fahui?"
When Li Qinghong heard that name, her expression turned solemn as she replied, "Of course I haven't forgotten."
Li Tongya had died because of him. Li Qinghong was not the only one who still remembered, but who in the Li Family didn’t remember?
Kong Tingyun continued earnestly, "He had cultivated through nine lifetimes, and was just one step away from attaining the Dharma Master, but he fell at Mount Bianyan. Wrathful Dao already had a scattered lineage, and it swiftly declined afterward...
"But while I was there, I encountered a monk and gathered some information from him... He said that in he earlier years, Wrathful Dao had a loyal Merciful One who returned from Mobei. He had been ambushed and seriously injured, but he had managed to escape and vanished."
Li Qinghong sharply met her gaze, her heart skipping like a lightning strike, Was this truly gathered intel? Or is Changxi using Tingyun’s mouth to send me a warning?
Either way, it made little difference. Changxi had tried to show goodwill to her family more than once. Li Qinghong quickly expressed her thanks, but Kong Tingyun waved her hand and said gravely, "No need to thank me, Qinghong. That’s not the only issue... there’s more trouble.
"First, a monk of the Way of Emptiness fled into your family's territory and was slain. He was one of the Five-Eyed Merciful One’s Arhats... someone who was valued greatly. Taking a life is the primary karmic tie... I fear they may come seeking trouble because of it.
"Second... there’s a Merciful One in the north; his Dharma name is Nuzi. He seems to have set sights on Senior Xuanfeng. He’s silently observing from the shadows. Though there are many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators around, so he dares not act, but it’s still unsettling..."
Taken together, this meant that three Merciful Ones had their eyes on the Li Family. Li Qinghong felt a heavy weight in her heart and bowed in thanks, "Many thanks for the sect’s warning... This favor will be remembered."
Kong Tingyun waved her hand and replied, "There’s also good news. Years ago, your family inquired with mine about the Bright Yang spirit item. I hadn’t heard anything, until now. I finally came across a Bright Yang Purple Mansion Realm spirit item, the Radiant Sky Stone, in Dongning Palace!"
The Li Family had inquired about spirit items several times. The Cui Family had initially pointed them to the Ning Family's channels. Li Xuanfeng asked once and had indeed acquired a certain item called Suyuan Hua in the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven.
But he had long traded that spirit item to Daoist Master Pu Yu from the outer sea in exchange for Winter Cold Qi to help Ning Wan with her breakthrough. That item had then fallen into Daoist Master Pu Yu’s hands, whose sect was elusive and untraceable, leaving them with no further leads.
Li Qinghong was instantly invigorated. She quickly met King Tingyun’s eyes and asked, "Did it fall into your hands, sister?"
Kong Tingyun shook her head regretfully and spoke in a low voice, "I was in a dangerous situation at the time and only caught a brief glimpse. The hexagonal white stone shimmered brightly, with light and flame intertwining around it, making the surrounding mist glow orange from the heat. It was definitely the Radiant Sky Stone.
"The Radiant Sky Stone was fiercely contested, but in the end, it fell into the hands of Yu Fuzi from Changxiao Gate."
Li Qinghong fell into silence, while Kong Tingyun raised her brow and said quietly, "This person has some strength, and he also bears a grudge against me. But right now, I have no idea where he is..."
Kong Tingyun's meaning was faintly revealed, but Li Qinghong’s heart sank.
Relations between the Changxiao Gate and Profound Peak Gate were far from cordial. In fact, Li Qinghong herself had killed a member of Changxiao Gate before, though it had yet to be discovered.
Kong Tingyun clearly hadn’t considered retrieving the item through trade as she likely believed the Li Family had nothing that could tempt Yu Fuzi. Yet Li Qinghong couldn’t just follow along with that view and remained silent.
Kong Tingyun said softly, "Yu Fuzi is a direct descendant of Changxiao. That sect has two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, and one of them is likely watching from the great void... It will indeed be difficult. I've passed on the message; if your family has allies who might be able to try, you'll have to judge for yourselves."
Li Qinghong softly thanked her. It was clear that Kong Tingyun was referring to Xiao Chuting. But the Xiao Family had become increasingly low-key in recent years and rarely appeared in public. Xiao Chuting had long been absent from Jiangnan, and the Xiao Family tended to avoid entanglements. So, it was very unlikely that they would offer support.
After chatting a little longer, Kong Tingyun took her leave on the wind. Li Qinghong escorted her out, then returned to her cave dwelling. After some thought, she quietly began to write a letter.