Li Ximing secluded himself atop the peak for several months, comprehending the contents of the Radiant Essence Scripture. It contained a total of nine secret techniques that would be planted into his Immortal Foundation to nurture divine abilities.
At present, I have only managed to cultivate one... thought Li Ximing.
Once he cultivated the first secret technique, Bright Yang, a golden mark appeared on his Radiant Origin Pass, enhancing his mana circulation by half and slightly boosting his overall strength.
Though the nine secret techniques differed slightly, there was no fixed order; any of them could be cultivated first. Since Bright Yang could solidify his mana and was broadly useful, Li Ximing chose to cultivate it first.
While successfully cultivating a secret technique was a good thing, Li Ximing did not pause and immediately started on the second, but his expression soon turned grim.
When he tried to condense the second secret technique into his Immortal Foundation, it clashed with the first, Bright Yang, making the difficulty soar by a full fifty percent!
I thought it would take just over a century to complete all nine... but even centuries may not be enough.
His heart sank. He finally understood why so few reached the Purple Mansion Realm in the mighty Azure Pond Sect, and why cultivators like Li Encheng delayed their breakthroughs until the brink of death...
What's worse, as more secret techniques are cultivated, the repulsive forces will compound, making it nearly impossible to complete even one more! Then I’ll have to bet on a mere five or ten percent chance to break through...
He ceased his spell arts and rose from the jade throne within his cave dwelling, where the spiritual energy was the densest in his entire family. The throne, brought back from Mount Wu, was the finest cultivation artifact.
Its radiance illuminated his face, but made Li Ximing squint slightly. Time had flown like a snap of the fingers, and though he was nearing sixty, his face, lit by the luminous jade, still looked like that of a young man.
Li Ximing examined his train of thought twice before pulling out a jade slip. This jade slip contained nearly a hundred thousand words of insights he had gained while cultivating the Bright Yang secret technique. Li Ximing had initially been greatly ambitious and hoped to master seven or eight techniques, record each carefully, and compile them into a volume to leave behind even if he failed to break through...
But staring at the contents of the jade slip now, he could only mutter, "Reaching the Purple Mansion Realm is not the achievement of one generation. My family rose too late. After several generations of climbing, we’ve only now reached the starting point that the Xiao Family had long ago..."
Li Ximing needed no further thought to understand that countless secret technique cultivation experiences must have been compiled over the generations in the Azure Pond Sect’s Dark Floating Compliant Cloud Sutra and Lucid Marsh Profound Cave Sutra. Figures like Chi Wei, Chi Buzi, and the earlier Chi Family members had long documented all the crucial details.
Zhang Yun and Qing Jifang surely had similar resources. Xiao Chuting’s breakthrough into the Purple Mansion Realm was no accident. Xiao Xianyou must have schemed thoroughly and even acquired legacies from the Lingyu Gate to achieve success.
But time waits for no one! Now is the best opportunity...
Li Ximing was not blind to the situation. The Golden Core Realm cultivators of the Three Sects had yet to reappear. Whether the strife among them had ended was unknown, but all were likely wounded and would not show themselves. The Azure Pond Sect, in particular, had been drained by Chi Wei’s exploitation, resulting in five centuries without fresh talent.
It was even more rare that the Chi Family’s Purple Mansion Realm line was almost extinct, and Suiguan, neither fully human nor ghost, cared nothing for the family's interests. It was the perfect time to ascend to the Purple Mansion Realm, since such chances would vanish once the Three Sects recovered!
He did not believe himself as cunning as Xiao Chuting, who had seized a gap between sects to ascend to the Purple Mansion Realm, leveraging conflicts and sacrifices to force Azure Pond’s consent. Xiao Chuting had risen to become a leading figure among the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, and Li Ximing thought himself not even a fraction as capable as that elder.
"Zhouwei is now only at the mid-stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. Though he is exceptionally talented, he is not like Chu Yi, a True Monarch reincarnated. It will take at least another twenty or thirty years for him to reach the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm... How much time will the great battle at Mount Bianyan leave us? By then, the situation may no longer be favorable...
"I once thought that with diligent cultivation and ignoring worldly matters, there would be at least a fifty percent chance of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm. But now... unless I can obtain a Bright Yang spirit item, there is only a slight chance to fight for it.”
Li Ximing's gaze grew somber, his expression no longer reflecting the usual focus of cultivation. His posture and demeanor shifted, revealing a heavy sense of worry.
"If only I could refine some pills..."
He could be considered a master of alchemy. Although he focused mainly on cultivation and seldom refined pills for others, he had seen and studied many pill recipes, including numerous rare and wondrous formulas.
Li Ximing sat silently, gazing at a wooden slip for a while, until he heard knocking on the door of his cave dwelling. He rose as if waking from a dream when a servant came to report that Li Zhouwei requested an audience.
He stepped out of the cave and saw a youth in a black cloak standing solemnly before the hall. His tiger-like eyes were fierce and his presence imposing. Li Ximing could not help but admire him inwardly, My son should be grown by now. In my race against time for cultivation, I've only seen him three times in over a decade. I feared he has become a spoiled wastrel.
After hearing Li Zhouwei's report and asking a few more questions, Xu Peiyu was brought into the hall. Li Ximing examined the young woman carefully, sweeping her twice with his spiritual sense, and frowned. "Her vitality is severely damaged."
Having refined pills for many years under the tutelage of Xiao Yuansi, he was deeply knowledgeable in this field. After a thorough inspection, although he found nothing obviously wrong, he still took out two pills for Xu Peiyu to consume, which considerably improved her spirits.
"These Vitality Returning Powder and Clarity Settling Pills must be taken daily. Also, bring some spirit items from home so I can concoct a formula to treat her as if she were born with innate deficiencies."
When he saw the unease on Xu Peiyu's face as she timidly peeked at him, Li Ximing reassured her, "Our family possesses an abundance of spirit pills and medicines, rest assured, we can certainly safeguard both mother and child."
Li Ximing then dismissed Xu Peiyu with a wave, raising his brows as he looked at Li Zhouwei and said in a low voice, "I can't fully grasp the situation. We may need to consult Kongheng.
"Firstly, matters concerning unborn children fall more within the expertise of the devil and buddhist Daos. Kongheng has traveled extensively in the north and likely holds insights into such cases. Secondly... his temple once worshiped the Undefeated King of Brightness, who was part of the Bright Yang Dao Lineage. There are many records, and it's necessary to inquire further."
Li Zhouwei gave him a thoughtful glance and responded solemnly. Li Ximing continued his questioning, "Any other news from the family?"
Li Zhouwei naturally understood what Li Ximing was concerned about. He pulled a letter from his sleeve and replied, "A letter from the north, uncle. Please take a look."
Li Ximing took the letter, glanced over it briefly, and his eyes immediately lit up. He exclaimed, "Good, good, good... Finally, some news! Though difficult, it's far better than having no trace at all!"
This letter was naturally penned by Li Qinghong, who reported that the Radiant Sky Stone had fallen into the hands of Yu Fuzi of Changxiao Gate. Li Ximing was filled with immense joy.