Li Ximing entered the treasure vault alongside the red-robed disciples of Hengzhu Dao Gate. Chen Xuanyu walked ahead with him, while Li Qinghong quietly followed a step behind, somewhat lost in thought.
Though Hengzhu Dao Gate was considered orthodox, Li Qinghong dared not fully trust it. Still, whatever she needed to exchange, she could only go to Hengzhu Dao Gate and no other. There was no other reason; her family’s spirit item taken from Wang Fu belonged to the Ancient Merging Dao lineage and had already been revealed before the Hengzhu Dao Gate cultivators, who practiced the same Dao. There was no hiding it now. With Bi Yuzhuang’s desire plainly written on her face, Li Qinghong had no choice but to go along with the flow.
But when she thought more deeply, suspicion crept in, Could the Ancient Merging Dao spirit item Wang Fu brought out be part of Hengzhu Dao Gate’s plan? This journey was far too easy. Why did the Profound Peak Gate urge my family to make this trip? Surely, their motives lie elsewhere.
After this journey, Li Qinghong felt as though she had been led by the nose. Deep down, she already understood that what her family wanted and possessed had long been laid bare before all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.
My family is not like the Xiao Family. We have no Xiao Xianyou laying a foundation for three hundred years, nor the scheming of Xiao Chuting. Ximing has cultivated Purple Mansion Realm secret techniques, but can the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators see it? If they can... hiding it is pointless.
Now, only one thought filled her heart, Whether my family can break through to the Purple Mansion Realm depends on whether the various Purple Mansion Realm cultivators will allow a cultivator surnamed Li among them. Even if it was allowed, it would be just a trial, the chance of success may still be pitifully low.
Even as she remained deep in thought, Li Ximing had already come to a stop up ahead.
A red-robed Daoist retrieved a small crimson-yellow flag from the spirit shield. It was embroidered with a red sparrow and had five rays of red light drawn around it. He introduced it, "This item was acquired by our Hengzhu Dao Gate from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. It is called the Yang Li Red Sparrow Banner and possesses abilities to spew spiritual flames, dispel spell arts, vibrate with separation light, and impact spiritual sense.
"This treasure comes from a grotto heaven, so its materials are naturally excellent. Unfortunately, it was forged during the later years of the Dongli Sect and is not of ancient make. It's a few notches inferior in comparison."
When he saw that Li Ximing looked tempted, he reminded, "This dharma artifact’s flames are ferocious. It is best suited for cultivators of the Li Fire Dao. If your cultivation method clashes with it, you likely won’t be able to use it. Even if it is unrelated, the dharma artifact may burn the wielder... If the method isn’t of Li Fire, it’s best to at least be of Fire Virtue."
Chen Xuanyu glanced at it carefully, then softly said, "The Bright Yang Dao seizes light and captures flame. Its fire arts are just below the Five Fires. This piece would serve well in hand."
Though Chen Xuanyu had not seen Li Ximing act much earlier, he had already witnessed the power of the Radiant Origin Pass and now spoke kindly, "Ximing’s cultivation method excels at suppression. Li Fire can be used to refine items. Its incinerating power is just below True Flame, but it's more enduring and burns fiercer with time. It suits Ximing’s Immortal Foundation quite well."
Li Ximing nodded, set the item down, and continued browsing the vault. The three dharma artifacts from Wang Fu were all extraordinary. Naturally, Hengzhu Dao Gate would not bring out standard-issue dharma artifacts.
However, there was only one of the Bright Yang Dao among those currently displayed. This dharma artifact was a flask used to suppress enemies, and clearly too similar in effect to Li Ximing’s Immortal Foundation. There was also a powerful sword of the Cold Essence Dao, but since Li Xijun already had Han Lin, taking it would be redundant.
After careful consideration, Li Ximing still decided to take the Yang Li Red Sparrow Banner. Though it was a Li Fire dharma artifact, it came from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven of the Bright Yang Dao Lineage, and was thus suitable for Bright Yang practitioners as well.
Li Ximing turned to look at Li Qinghong. After she nodded, Chen Xuanyu took out a treasure pagoda and stored the artifact. He showed no joy, likely because his own arsenal was already complete. This item was probably destined as a reward for others.
The three of them took their dharma artifacts and went together to bid farewell to Bi Yuzhuang. The red-robed woman seemed to have received some news, and came forward with some hesitation, looking only at Chen Xuanyu as she softly said, "Fellow Daoist, please take this White Wan with you and help escort Qinghong and the other back to the Li Family. I leave the spirit veil in your care for now; someone from our Dao Gate will retrieve it later."
She revealed a swathe of white silk in her hand. It was clearly the concealment dharma artifact used earlier when ambushing Wang Fu. Chen Xuanyu did not ask further. He simply took the silk, bade her farewell, and departed with the two.
The red pavilion was suddenly quiet. Bi Yuzhuang sat down by the table, finally showing a trace of guilt. She let her head sink into her hands, unease creeping into her heart, Qinghong must think I sent Xijun away on purpose... harmed him... I was clearly helping her. How did it come to this?
She had a good impression of Li Qinghong. She had just praised Li Xijun, yet now found herself blamed for his death. Her heart was a tangled mess. When the red-robed Daoist stepped forward to report which dharma artifacts the two families had taken, she couldn't be bothered to listen and simply waved him away.
True, trading with an early Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator for a Purple Mansion Realm spirit item is an unbelievably good deal, but such things can’t be measured like that...
Bi Yuzhuang paced the room twice. That silver-white box still sat on the table. She gazed at it for a moment and silently thought, Let me hold onto it for her... If something happens in the future, this gives the elder a reason to lend a hand.
————
Penglai.
Penglai was said to be an immortal mountain above the Eastern Sea, appearing and disappearing at will. Most of the Three Sects and Seven Gates regarded it as a grotto heaven. Very few had ever set foot inside, and the cultivators within were scarce. There were only a scattered few dozen silhouettes across the vast white expanse.
The sky here was snow-white, with neither sun nor moon, yet quietly infused with radiant light. Mountain ranges undulated beneath the sea, which was itself white. Small islands dotted the water between the two vast white expanses.
Spirit fish swam within the sea, and reefs and spirit trees of all colors adorned the sea with vivid contrast. Two cultivators in ancient Daoist robes, their hair bound in ceremonial crowns, walked upon the water, chatting merrily.
A young man in white stood before them, hands clasped behind his back, curiously observing the scenery. Yet the two Penglai cultivators seemed not to notice him, walking straight toward him without hesitation.
The youth in white did not move aside; his form seemed illusory. The two Penglai cultivators passed straight through him as though he weren't there. He remained where he stood, gazing out at the sea as he sighed, "So this is Penglai..."
Lu Jiangxian had long been curious about this place. Strictly speaking, he had not truly entered it. He was watching a reflection within the mirror, a scene projected by the Immortal Mirror’s core, which, through talisman seeds planted in the great void, was channeling images back through the jade box that held Li Xijun’s soul.
Having been trapped inside the mirror for over a hundred years, Lu Jiangxian had endured immense psychological torment. Even watching these illusory visions returned from afar, he still conjured a physical form to walk through them—if only for a sliver of solace.
Though Li Xijun’s soul had left his body, the talisman seeds remained linked to him.