Mount Wu.
Moongaze Lake’s Mount Wu was where spiritual energy was the most concentrated. However, at present, a grand formation had sealed it off completely, isolating all fluctuations of qi. White mist flowed down the jade steps of the mountain in thick, milky streams like liquid jade.
The blood pool at the summit had been transformed. Now, it held a small pile of spirit stones, and was soaked in gurgling spirit springs. Wisps of spiritual qi escaped the surface, flowing across the ancient jade floor.
Jade pillars stood in rows. Li Ximing, dressed in his Daoist robe, stood atop the tallest one. With each breath, dense spiritual qi gathered from all directions and flowed into his acupoints. He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a stream of heavenly radiance. It glimmered brightly amidst the mist before vanishing.
A serene lantern lit up within his qi sea, floating above his Immortal Foundation. Its radiance flickered, illuminating everything within the qi sea.
"Heavenly Lantern—successfully refined!"
The Radiant Essence Scripture contained nine secret techniques: Yang Origin, Heavenly Lantern, Jewel Steps, Great Fissure, Reversal, Hundred Arms Arsenal, Imperial Edict, Golden Scales, and Red Cicada, each with its own unique ability. Through secluded cultivation and aided by the Huai River Map, Li Ximing had now refined the second one.
There was no denying Li Ximing’s astonishing talent. Just over sixty years old, and he had already mastered two secret techniques. Now that the Heavenly Lantern was refined, his Immortal Foundation underwent further transformation.
The method of Heavenly Lantern pierces through darkness and purifies the spirit platform, doubling efficiency in scripture reading and spell art cultivation...
Li Ximing was struck with sudden insight, It would be best to start with Heavenly Lantern. Even the simplest Yang Origin technique doesn’t take much time. Focusing on these two first was the right choice... But these secret techniques...
Li Ximing stared at the radiant lantern shimmering within his qi sea and thought to himself, These are truly exquisitely designed. Even among the three sects and seven gates, secret techniques of this caliber are exceedingly rare.
The more he practiced, the more he realized how precious these secret techniques were. Even the most basic Yang Origin contained mysteries that no other spell he had learned could rival.
Except for the immortal arts Reception Method and Sacrificial Ritual Method.
No one in the Li Family had ever understood these two arts. They showed no obvious profundity, produced no spiritual energy, and felt more like calling for rain. Somehow, repeating them simply... worked.
None of the Li Family’s other spell arts aside from those two even came close. Each time Li Ximing practiced one of the secret techniques, it felt like sailing through a vast, boundless ocean. It was so immersive he often forgot to return.
He exhaled deeply. After another half-month of stabilizing the Heavenly Lantern within the formation, he began cultivating the next spell. Suddenly, the formation flickered, and a small message appeared on the jade pillar.
Li Ximing picked it up and glanced over it, Reporting to the lord: The Xiao Family has come to visit. If you have emerged from seclusion, we humbly request your presence.
Li Ximing pondered for a moment. Since the message had been sent to him, it likely meant his aunt was not at home. The Xiao Family could not be neglected, so he ascended in a beam of light and soared out of Mount Wu.
He descended into the island’s main hall and saw that many people were already gathered there. His grand-uncle Li Xuanxuan stood smiling to one side, while the white ape stood on the other like a stone statue.
A middle-aged man with a kindly face and graying temples stood in the center of the hall. Two strands of medicine pouches hung from his shoulders. A gentle smile rested on his face as he looked at Li Ximing with calm, relaxed eyes.
"Master!" Li Ximing knew this face better than anyone. It was none other than his master, Xiao Yuansi!
He had always looked gentle and kind, but age now weighed heavily on him. His eyes carried weariness; his complexion was pale; and it seemed he had recently suffered some minor injuries.
Li Ximing hadn’t expected him to come in person and hurriedly performed a disciple’s salute, standing respectfully to one side.
The man took his hand, his eyes warm. His voice still carried the same rich gentleness it had all those years ago, "You’ve grown so much, Ming’er."
After Li Xijun’s death, Li Ximing had wept only once, and since then had had no room in his heart for mourning. But those words made his eyes sting. He said in a low voice, "Disciple Ximing greets Master!"
"Good..." Xiao Yuansi, though aged, still bore a middle-aged appearance from years of taking medicinal pills. He smiled at Li Ximing, then turned toward Li Xuanxuan and said, "Xuanxuan, we’ve talked enough for now. Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’d like to speak with Ming’er alone."
Li Xuanxuan was the highest in seniority within the Li Family, so only the man before him could address him so casually. Stroking his white beard, he quickly took his leave.
Xiao Yuansi turned to the young man before him, coughed twice, and said with a smile, "Ming’er, come. Let’s go talk at your Mount Wu."
Li Ximing quickly moved to support him, but Xiao Yuansi only chuckled and shook his head. Li Ximing felt nothing but gratitude for this elder. They descended together toward Mount Wu, landing atop its peak.
Xiao Yuansi looked around and said with a smile, "You... you’ve always had the finest things. This Mount Wu is even better than my cave dwelling atop Mount Xianyou."
Li Ximing nodded silently. The two of them sat down at a jade table, and Xiao Yuansi spoke softly, "Your family has not been using the blood pool. Good. My efforts at Tongya weren’t for nothing."
Li Ximing just kept nodding. Xiao Yuansi looked at him and continued, "In this lifetime, I’ve only ever taken you as a disciple. Everything I know of the alchemic Dao, I’ve passed on to you... Ming’er... I know you. Perhaps even better than Xuanxuan does. That’s why I came."
He said gently, "Ximing, if you plan to attempt the Purple Mansion Realm, why didn’t you tell your master first..."
Li Ximing raised his head and saw the familiar smile on Xiao Yuansi’s face. He said, "Xuanxuan might have refused to give you the Radiant Sky Stone. Don’t blame him for that."
"Master... I wouldn’t dare!" Li Ximing stood up in alarm, but Xiao Yuansi pulled him back into his seat, then took out a jade bottle from his sleeve and placed it in his hand with a smile, "Take a look."
The bottle felt warm in his hand. Sweeping it with his spiritual sense, Li Ximing discovered a single brilliant pill inside, etched with five claw-like golden patterns. It was brimming with radiant light, and the entire jade bottle shimmered with concentrated golden brilliance.
Li Ximing cultivated the Bright Yang Dao and was well-versed in alchemy. How could he not recognize it? This pill brimmed with intense Bright Yang mana, with a pure and tranquil aura. Who knew how many Bright Yang spirit items and treasured panaceas had gone into refining it!
"Mas... Master...!" Li Ximing stood frozen in place. Xiao Yuansi chuckled twice, then coughed and said softly, "You... I’ve always known your ambition was great. I had started paying attention to Bright Yang spirit items when you reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. I thought I’d collect them gradually, but you advanced faster than I expected. I could barely keep up.
"Fortunately, I’ve built some connections over the years and have some knowledge of Bright Yang spirit items. I secured two treasured panaceas, the Bright Sea Lotus and the Triple Yang Radiant Qi Fruit. I rushed to the Eastern Sea and, with much effort, finally gathered what I needed."
Xiao Yuansi continued gently, "Spirit items for the Purple Mansion Realm are far too rare, and I don’t have the means for that. But I do have some skill in alchemy. Though I lack a formula to aid in breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, this is pure Bright Yang Origin. It’s called the Radiant Violet Pill, and it should benefit you greatly."
He looked at Li Ximing and said warmly, "It’s a valuable item... I was afraid others might overhear, so I called you into the formation to talk. I kept this from my family’s Daoist Master and did it myself... He’s off in the Northern Sea, so he won’t interfere... you can use it without worry."
Li Ximing couldn’t meet Xiao Yuansi’s gaze. He could only reply, "With all Master has done... this disciple has no way to repay you..."
"Repay?" Xiao Yuansi shook his head, a nostalgic look crossing his face. He laughed heartily for a few moments, then patted Li Ximing on the shoulder. The old man said no more, as if those few pats had conveyed all he wanted to express.