Mount Qingdu.
Cold rain fell steadily. The newly budding lotuses by the lakeshore were hit by frost, drooping feebly and plunging into the water to turn muddied and gray.
Li Qinghong cradled a jade box as she ascended Mount Qingdu. She noticed the stone steps had grown increasingly mossy, but a clean path remained because Li Xuanxuan came here every few days. After walking a dozen steps, she saw rows of green stone steles standing tall.
Li Ximing was still nowhere in sight; she knew he wouldn’t be able to come for a while. Only Li Xuanxuan was there, dressed in a gray-blue robe with his sleeves rolled up, holding a stele as he squinted and carved.
When he saw Li Qinghong approaching, the old man asked, "Have the arrangements at the foot of the mountain been settled?"
"Yes. Xijun never married or had children, so there are no troublesome matters," replied Li Qinghong.
Li Xuanxuan blew the stone dust from his hand. The woman stood beside him and softly said, "Perhaps he felt guilty and forbade himself from taking a wife."
The old man turned the stele and set down the stone chisel in his hand, replying, "I’m getting on in years, so let me speak a little more. Qinghong, hear me out."
He sighed and continued, "Among the four Xi’s, Xijun was closest to me, and also the most ruthless. Killing the Meng Family was something he could do... He didn’t care if he bore guilt, or if he was harshly judged. He was willing to eliminate even himself for anything that hindered Ximing from attaining divine power.
"If he hadn’t been born into our family, he surely would have become a cunning and unpredictable figure of the Devil Dao."
Li Xuanxuan propped the stele upright and said hoarsely, "Yuanping told me long ago that Xicheng and Xijun were selfless and heartless to the point of making people uneasy. It was true after all."
Li Qinghong carefully set down the jade box and spoke softly, "Uncle, I’m not as skilled in strategy as my elder brother. This matter with Wang Fu ended up being someone else’s scheme. I..."
Li Xuanxuan waved his hand and replied in a hoarse voice, "You did your best. No need to blame yourself."
Li Qinghong stood silently for a moment, then descended the stone steps. She saw several of Li Xicheng’s children coming up the mountain to pay respects to their second uncle. They respectfully addressed her as 'My Lady’ when they saw her.
Li Qinghong hurried past them, rode a bolt of lightning across the sky, and paused on the island. Once she was inside the main hall on the island, seeing that there was still no sign of Li Ximing, she let out a deep sigh.
But Li Chengliao, who had been waiting for quite some time, stepped forward and said softly, "My Lady, a letter has arrived from Zongquan Island!"
As he handed her the letter, he spoke concisely, "There is news about Chenghui. A few days ago, he took the pills sent from home and broke through to the ninth stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He said that he suddenly felt the urge to break through in the outer sea, where water descends and thunder rises, upon reaching the ninth stage, so he went into seclusion."
Li Qinghong’s brows furrowed slightly as she said, "This child made the decision on his own... The Azure Pond Sect’s reward hasn’t even been delivered yet. We could have still exchanged for a few Essence Gathering Pills. Why wouldn’t he say anything and just enter seclusion like that?"
Li Qinghong knew that spiritual energy could surge at times, and the opportunity for breakthrough could also arise suddenly. Yet she had spent many years on the island and knew that child well, so she still thought to herself, He probably feels he hasn’t contributed much to the family, while most of his siblings died in battle, so he can’t bring himself to speak up...
"Second is Master Monk Kongheng... he’s inquiring about Uncle Xijun." Li Xijun was Li Chengliao’s second uncle, so he was dressed in mourning garb. His eyes carried sorrow as he said softly, "Several months ago, the Master Monk suddenly swore to renounce attainment and coughed up three pints of blood. After much reflection, he believed it had something to do with Xijun but didn’t dare leave rashly. So he hurriedly finished writing this letter to inquire."
Li Qinghong unfolded the letter and saw that Kongheng had written, I once swore an oath to Xijun, owing him a debt I would repay even at the cost of my life. I believe such vows should not be made lightly. I fear Xijun is in trouble... that’s what caused me to cough blood... I beg Your Excellency to investigate with caution!
Li Qinghong silently put the letter away. She hadn’t involved Kongheng in the matter with Wang Fu, feeling like it was dishonorable to begin with. Even though Changxiao Gate opposed their family, she didn’t consider it a matter of righteousness.
The Li Family had never claimed to be overly virtuous. In today’s world, all they could do was treat the people well and avoid blood food. As for seizing spirit items from enemies, that they could do, but Kongheng could not.
He practiced the ancient Buddhist Dao, which emphasized a pure heart. Asking him to do such things, even if he agreed, could easily lead him off the right path. Kongheng had labored tirelessly, repaying the favor of achieving a breakthrough into Master Monk. He had served the family diligently for decades, and naturally Li Qinghong did not want him caught up in such matters.
She held the letter, uncertain how to respond, for a while before putting it away quietly with her lips tightly pressed. Then she saw Li Chenghuai rushing over on the wind.
Li Chenghuai had now reached the seventh stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. By rights, he could attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm with some pills, but he didn’t feel confident and kept delaying. After all, he was still far from sixty and planned to wait for the right pills.
He said quietly, "My Lady, a cultivator has come to the island. He’s from the Northern Sea, practices thunder arts, wears a long sword at the waist, and is dressed in silver-feather thunder robes. His aura is quite fearsome."
"He calls himself... Xi Zikang of the Northern Sea!"
————
Eastern Sea.
Splitreed Island lay north of the Crimson Reef Island sea region. Vast and expansive, its fire vein was especially vigorous. The Azure Pond Sect’s immortal peak stood at the island’s center and had once been guarded by Ning Wan. Thus, it was filled with pine and bamboo, and the forest breezes were tranquil and serene.
Si Tongyi, clad in a red feathered robe that shimmered with iridescent light, flew through the sky like a flaming phoenix and gently landed atop the peak. After a brief moment, a burst of rainbow light shot out from the summit and landed before him, transforming into a dignified man.
The man had a youthful appearance, and his face was like sculpted jade. His features were gentle yet grand, not overly soft. His eyes, however, brimmed with authority. He cast out two sleeves of Heavenly Glow with a flick and came to a steady halt.
"Greetings, Peak Master!"
Si Tongyi noticed how the rainbow mist came and went without a trace. He was inwardly startled, thinking, Li Xizhi’s cultivation has advanced again! Even my perception techniques can’t see through that escape light... The Rainbow Mist lies between water, fire, and yang, and with the Fruition Attainment of Luoxia manifesting in this era, he’s truly formidable now.
Li Xizhi nodded gently. Now that he was overseeing the Eastern Sea and had grown stronger, his age and stature lent him natural authority. All the cups and bowls on the table floated up with a light lift of his hand, and the tea in the jade pot began to boil on its own.
This technique used no visible mana, only a strand of rainbow light, displaying his masterful control of spell arts.
Si Tongyi’s guess was correct; Li Xizhi’s strength had once again increased. On one hand, he’d received rewards and taken treasured panaceas and pills, further perfecting his cultivation. On the other, it was due to his talisman qi, Rainbow Pierce Skyway.
This talisman qi had shown its might several times in pursuit and evasion as it dissolved others’ mana. More importantly, it could be continuously nurtured to preserve one’s life and enhance their spell arts. In his early years, Li Xizhi had focused on studying spells and hadn’t explored it deeply. But now, with his cultivation at its peak and the nurturing of his Immortal Foundation, its effects became more pronounced.