Dingjiao stowed the jade box away and hesitated for a moment, seemingly distracted. He spoke less, and after another hour, Li Zhouwei rose to take his leave. The white-horned Dragon Son accompanied him out of the hall, his expression solemn as he said in a low tone, “This visit may have lacked in hospitality, please don’t hold it against me, Brother Minghuang.”
Li Zhouwei thought briefly, then shook his head and said, “Why say that, Brother Dingjiao? Once I have news, I’ll send it down through Huiyao.”
Two demonic creatures escorted him out. The white serpent dragon turned and reentered the hall, frowning with a hint of regret as he said, “Wupian, I fear this white qilin was sincere in wanting to befriend me. Yet I tried to win him over with a spirit artifact... His family has declined, so he’s naturally cautious. I fear I acted poorly this time.”
The fire luan also reined in her smile. Dingjiao sat down, sipped his wine, and soon relaxed, speaking softly, “Uncle Heyun once mentioned the Li Family. Coincidentally, the Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling has a Li Qinghong. Who's to say it wasn’t a subtle nudge from him? If possible, it wouldn’t hurt to befriend this white qilin.”
“Dongfang Heyun...” Wupian shook her head with a smile, asking curiously, “What exactly is Dongfang Heyun’s position in your family? I’ve heard he’s temperamental and difficult, but also that he’s gentle and cultured. Why such opposite impressions?”
“Heyun...” Dingjiao organized his thoughts and shook his head. “His standing with the Dragon Monarch is quite high. Since he’s connected to the birth of a True Monarch, he possesses many exceptional and mysterious abilities. Still, we Dragon Sons can summon him at will...”
He added quietly, “My mother said, once the Dragon Monarch swallows thunder, Uncle Heyun will reap unimaginable benefits. It’s not just about attaining divine powers, so now is the time to strengthen ties with him.”
————
Li Qinghong flew eastward. She had just exited the Moongaze Lake territory and entered the riverside wilderness, when she suddenly noticed the sky turn a deep shade of purple.
A cluster of drifting clouds had shifted into a pale violet hue, as the setting sun in the distance tinted the clouds gold above and purple below. They then floated across the crimson-violet sky.
She rarely saw such a spectacle and guessed that someone might have ascended to the Purple Mansion Realm, or perhaps fallen from it. She decreased her altitude and swiftly flew through the wilderness, continuing to head east.
The territory of Profound Peak Gate lay around Lake Xian. Li Qinghong arrived on lightning and asked briefly at the formation's edge. When the disciple heard she was from the Moongaze Li Family, he rushed into the sect to report her arrival.
After only a short wait, a woman in a riverland robe flew out on the wind, landed nearby, and anxiously checked on Li Qinghong. Seeing her in fair condition, she approached with some unease and whispered, “Sister Qinghong...”
“Sister Tingyun,” Li Qinghong responded politely. Knowing this wasn’t the place to talk, Kong Tingyun quickly led her through the formation and flew toward the main peak.
Li Qinghong rarely visited the interior of Profound Peak Gate, let alone ventured this deep. As they ascended toward the main peak, she saw bizarrely shaped mountains on either side, each emanating distinct auras. Some had fire veins rising skyward, and others had lakes within a kilometer or two that had clearly been relocated here.
She glanced around and noticed the sky above Profound Peak Gate was also a wash of violet and crimson, with purple-gold clouds drifting slowly overhead. Li Qinghong murmured, “Judging by this celestial sign, has some Daoist Master passed away?”
Kong Tingyun heard the calm in her tone and sighed in relief, then answered softly, “It was Daoist Master Zipei of the Purple Smoke Gate. A few days ago, our sect’s Daoist Master went to witness her advancement. Judging from the sky, it's nearly certain she failed and perished.”
Daoist Master Zipei!
Li Qinghong certainly remembered that Daoist Master. She had likely been the most powerful cultivator across both Jiangnan and Jiangbei ever since her breakthrough after Shangyuan. But now, after several years, she still failed to achieve the Golden Core Realm like True Monarch Shangyuan.
Kong Tingyun hesitated briefly and then said softly, “My sect’s elder once told me that this Daoist Master... nearly became Dao companions with Daoist Master Donghua. But fate had other plans, and they eventually turned against one another...”
“Hmm...” Though the Daoist Master was most likely dead, Li Qinghong didn’t dare comment further. Kong Tingyun, also reluctant to speak too much, casually changed the subject, “With Purple Smoke Gate weakened, there’s no longer anyone in Yue State who clearly stands above the rest.”
Once they entered the cave dwelling, she spoke apologetically, “Qinghong... I had planned to help with the matter of the Radiant Sky Stone, but the situation changed so quickly, and the information I gave turned out wrong. I truly feel sorry.”
Li Qinghong hadn’t blamed her at all. She shook her head and said, “You meant well, sister. I understand.”
Kong Tingyun gently shook her head and replied, “Some things are simply beyond my power. Still, both messages of the battle at the riverbank and the Radiant Sky Stone came from me. So I can’t deny responsibility.”
She pointed to the stone table where two jade boxes rested, and said softly, “I felt guilty, so I brought two spell arts. They can’t make up for the matter with Xijun, but at least they show my sincerity...”
Li Qinghong initially refused and pushed them back, but Kong Tingyun quietly said, “If you refuse, it would mean you’re holding a grudge.”
Li Qinghong had always gotten along well with her and knew she wasn’t to blame. She finally nodded, and Kong Tingyun smiled, picked up one box, opened it, and introduced, “This is a third-grade cultivation method, the Bright Origin Observation and Separation Technique. If fully cultivated, it forms the Everbright Platform Immortal Foundation!”
She took out the rather aged jade slip and said softly, “It comes from the Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. Though hard to master, this Immortal Foundation can turn light into fire, transform into countless forms, entangle and bind, shield the user, or become a penstroke of light that stuns the spirit with fire...
“This technique isn’t of high rank by today’s standards, but its name was different in ancient times. In the main branch of the Wei's Li lineage, it was a higher-grade method known as Imperial Observation Origin.”
Imperial Observation Origin.
Li Qinghong committed everything to memory and thought the ancient name sounded more fitting. After all, the Wei's Li True Monarchs were emperors, and their Immortal Foundations would naturally reflect such transformations.
She replied, “Thank you, sister!”
But Kong Tingyun shook her head and replied softly, “It’s just a third-grade method. Though from a grotto heaven, it’s extremely hard to cultivate and difficult to gather qi. It’s rather tasteless, honestly. I wouldn’t use this alone to brush you off.”
She picked up the other box and smiled. “But this next item was obtained directly from a Daoist Master. It’s truly worth mentioning, since it is a top-tier fourth-grade spell art. My Daoist Master obtained it from Xu State long ago, and now it returns to its rightful heir!”
Li Qinghong accepted the jade slip and noticed it had a faint golden hue, with small characters carved into the corner.
Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light.