Li Ximing’s words stuck in his throat for a long time, while Xiao Yuansi simply continued to look at him. The old man rested his hand on his shoulder and was lost in thought.
Xiao Yuansi understood clearly that once he left this place, and once Li Ximing entered seclusion, the next time he came to the Li Family would almost certainly be for Li Ximing’s funeral. Attaining divine abilities wasn’t difficult for those in major sects, but for Li Ximing right now... it was not an ideal choice.
To attain divine abilities is to transcend the mundane.
When Li Ximing finally spoke through choked breaths, he sighed softly in his heart. He had exhausted every possible effort to see Li Ximing again.
Xiao Yuansi had noticed that his family’s ancestor hadn’t stopped him from gathering Bright Yang spirit items, but he didn’t believe it meant genuine support from his family's Daoist Master. He didn’t trust him at all. He feared that Li Ximing would have already been forced into seclusion by the time the pill was finished. Xiao Chuting was exactly the kind of man who would do such a thing.
So, he had deliberately disrupted the timeline, even going so far as to injure himself just to finish the refinement early and personally deliver the pill. Xiao Yuansi had treated this meeting as his final farewell. As for Li Ximing successfully reaching the Purple Mansion Realm... he never truly dared hope for it.
Ming’er’s temperament is far too much like that of a mortal! Xiao Yuansi gazed at him deeply and thought, Those throughout history who have attained divine abilities were either pure-hearted and resolute, cunning and ruthless, or so introspective that even grief could not sway them... But Ming’er? When frightened, he panics. When angered, he lashes out. He speaks of the merciless Dao, yet is swayed by family and friends. In detachment, he can sever ties, but upon reflection, he feels pain and regret. When nothing stirs his heart, he hesitates. It is only when the pain becomes real does he realize what ruthlessness means... Of all the sons of the Li Family, he is the most like an ordinary man.
To forge a divine ability, one must pierce the qi sea and ascend through Yang. Endless illusions and countless inner demons will await along the way. What will he rely on to get through them?
Xiao Yuansi looked at him in silence. Li Ximing stood beside the table, exhaled softly, and finally spoke without words of thanks, “Master, you deliberately kept this pill from Daoist Master Xiao. What concern lies behind that?”
Xiao Yuansi hadn’t expected that question. He slowly raised his brows and answered softly, “My family’s Daoist Master... is only doing what he believes is best for your family.”
“I understand,” said Ximing.
Li Ximing stood quietly at his side and said softly, “Daoist Master Xiao wishes for me to leave this pill for the heir. I can guess that and I can see it clearly. Master, rest assured, my family holds the Daoist Master in the highest regard. We have not misunderstood his intentions.”
Xiao Yuansi was not an ambitious man. With the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator Xiao Chuting above him, he was content to spend his remaining years quietly refining pills. He had no reason to stop this disciple of his, and could only offer him this single pill as a parting gift.
When he heard Li Ximing’s words, he finally showed a trace of surprise. After a long silence, he said softly, “You may handle what I've given you as you see fit.”
He coughed twice and finally rose to his feet. Li Ximing respectfully escorted him all the way out. Along the way, Xiao Yuansi looked back at him three or four times, and to his own surprise, a faint glimmer of hope rose in his heart, If he can gather himself and cut his losses... that would be the best outcome.
Li Ximing saw him off and then rode the wind back to Mount Wu. He did not inform Li Xuanxuan about the pill. Instead, he quietly sat down amid the mountain’s drifting white mists.
He took out the jade bottle, but didn’t open it immediately. His spiritual sense pierced through the bottle and landed on the Radiant Violet Pill within. The pill radiated a powerful Bright Yang qi. Its qi was pure and radiant. Li Ximing could detect no flaws within it.
“Though my means of inspection are a joke compared to Xiao Chuting’s... and all Dao lineages stem from the Xiao Family anyway, leaving little I can uncover... Master still made a point to mention Xiao Chuting...”
Li Ximing would never doubt Xiao Yuansi, and Xiao Chuting had no reason to harm him either. Yet Xiao Yuansi's earlier words clearly showed concern about Xiao Chuting. It wasn’t hard for Li Ximing to arrive at this conclusion, It’s just that Xiao Chuting would prefer Zhouwei to be the one attempting to reach the Purple Mansion Realm.
He sat in silence amid the mist, thoughts drifting through his mind, Xiao Chuting’s intentions are good... I suppose the Profound Peak Gate and Kong Tingyun have passed on word as well. All eyes are now fixed on Zhouwei.
It’s not just Xiao Chuting... Every Purple Mansion Realm cultivator friendly to my family hopes that Zhouwei will be the one to challenge the Purple Mansion Realm—not someone like me, whom they see as hopeless.
The rest of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators... they’re probably just waiting, eager to watch me fail.
He gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh, then drew out a pale golden jade slip from his sleeve. Forming a hand seal, he activated his mana to begin cultivating the next secret technique.
Jewel Steps!
————
Kong Tingyun escorted them all the way to the lake, smiling as she saw the group off. Li Qinghong offered a few polite words of thanks, but since Kong Tingyun was in a hurry to return to her gate, she courteously declined the Li Family’s invitation and took her leave with a polite farewell.
After hesitating several times, she tugged on Li Qinghong’s sleeve before leaving and gave a reminder, “Qinghong, you must pay close attention to what I mentioned earlier... Don’t be careless!”
She was, of course, referring to Li Ximing. Li Qinghong could only nod in agreement. Only then did Kong Tingyun smile in relief and depart aboard her spirit boat.
Back on the island, Li Chengliao came to greet them, grinning from ear to ear as he grabbed his eldest son’s hand and examined him closely. Li Zhouwei hadn’t seen his father in a long time. Though he was never one for sweet words, a rare trace of joy surfaced in his eyes.
Chen Yang had changed into white robes and went to the lakeside to pay respects to his father. Li Zhouwei paid his respects to Li Xijun on the island. Kongheng stood in silence by the grave, sighing. Once they returned to the main hall, the space suddenly felt empty.
When the white ape saw Li Zhouwei, his expression faintly echoed the kindly one he once had in years past. His demeanor remained respectful, and he immediately bowed. The group entered the hall together, and Li Chengliao began recounting recent events.
“Senior Yuansi is truly a kind and gracious elder... He came all this way to offer his regards. Daoist Master Xiao has been in the Northern Sea for years now and hasn’t appeared. Even his family hasn’t been able to contact him... yet Xiao Yuansi still made a point to speak with Ximing.”
Li Xuanxuan was deeply grateful. He remembered clearly how many times Xiao Yuansi had lent a hand to support their family. He chimed in with a few more words, fearing the younger generation might bear resentment toward the Xiao Family for not acting publicly on their behalf.
Li Qinghong and the others, of course, wouldn’t do such a thing. They all responded kindly and respectfully. Li Xuanxuan then waved his hand, and both the white ape and Li Chengliao took their leave. The great hall doors closed, and the protective formation began to hum softly.
Still uneasy, Li Qinghong tossed out the Chongming Profound Insight Screen from her sleeve. A screen of light enveloped the hall, adding another layer of protection.
Only then did Li Zhouwei speak, “How have the talisman seeds fared in the two years I’ve been away?”
Li Xuanxuan gently shook his head. “Not as well as we’d hoped... We tested the Celestial Whirl generation three times and only you showed this kind of celestial affinity. As for the Crimson Palace generation...”
The old man stroked his beard and continued softly, “It’s just now beginning to take shape. Jiangqian is barely five, yet already the eldest among the first batch of the Crimson Palace generation. We’ll let him give it a try.”
Li Zhouwei nodded. Talisman seeds had become increasingly rare in recent years, and the cultivation methods attached to them were even more advanced. Most generations now had only a single bearer. He had met several of his brothers; while their innate abilities were slightly better than those of the Radiant Lure generation, the difference wasn’t substantial.