Great void.
Lu Jiangxian’s divine sense roamed through the void for some time, lingering around the Purple Smoke Gate’s territory.
Ever since he’d gained the ability to travel the great void with his spirit, he had never dared intrude upon the core gates of immortal sects. He mostly observed from a distance. But this recent Purple Mansion Realm breakthrough within the Purple Smoke Gate was the most thorough and complete event he had ever studied.
He had even seen the person from the Underworld involved and caught their entire conversation from afar.
Zipei has fallen.
Contrary to the speculations of many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, Daoist Master Zipei, Kan Xuyu, was dead and her soul entirely annihilated. There was no reincarnation to speak of!
The Shen Family and the Purple Smoke Gate sending people everywhere to search for Zipei’s reincarnation is likely just for show...
Zipei had been incredibly powerful. A figure with innate Metallic Essence who had disappeared after 'reincarnation'; such ambiguity actually served both the Shen Family and the Purple Smoke Gate well.
The other Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, Daoist Master Zimu, disappeared long ago. If the Purple Smoke Gate wants to maintain its current standing, some schemes and trickery are inevitable.
Yet Lu Jiangxian had observed the entire Underworld ritual from beginning to end and confirmed there was no trace of the True Essence of the Metallic Essence. This meant Daoist Master Zipei had never used that treasure at all!
Where could such a precious item... possibly be?
Lu Jiangxian couldn’t find a clue for now. He could only set the matter aside and keep an eye on it. Instead, another thought rose in his heart.
The Dragon Clan devours thunder...
Lu Jiangxian had been keeping close watch on the Dragon Clan devouring thunder. He had even secretly witnessed the meeting between Dongfang Heyun and Li Xizhi in the Eastern Sea. The Supreme Yin Profound Light had already locked onto that spirit cloud; if anything suspicious happened, he would have no choice but to strike first and kill.
Though nothing had ultimately happened, doubts still lingered in his mind, How strange... Dongfang Heyun seems to hold Li Xizhi in high regard and has always been courteous to Li Xuanfeng. Where did this sentiment even come from? And that Dragon Son, Dingjiao, is especially generous toward Li Zhouwei... it almost seems like the entire Dragon Clan has taken a liking to the Li Family. Could it really be because of Wei Emperor Gong?
Lu Jiangxian didn’t believe Dingjiao’s words at all. The Li Family had risen and fallen repeatedly. If the Dragon Clan truly had deep ties with Wei's Li lineage, it wouldn’t have been hard for them to protect a few branches, given their lofty standing.
He circled once through the great void, confirming that no Purple Mansion or Golden Core Realm cultivators were spying nearby. Then he returned, landing atop Mount Wu. Within the formation, he observed for a moment and saw Li Ximing was currently cultivating the secret technique, Jewel Steps.
"The Moongaze Li Family offer clear wine and humble food, cold meats and sacrifices, in devout prayer for the Profound Light Dharma. May our children follow the Dao in reverence and peace, fulfilling the rites in season, honoring their vows, and ascending beyond the Supreme Yin through these sacred talismans."
The sound of this chant reached his ears, drawing his divine sense back from the great void to the lake. Screen light concealed the interior of Pingya Island’s grand hall, and murmured prayers echoed softly, yet no human figure could be seen.
Lu Jiangxian activated his divine sense records and immediately understood what was happening. He swept his awareness across the lake and let out a breath of relief, muttering, "After all this waiting, the Crimson Palace generation has finally come of age. It’s time to bestow those Purple Mansion Realm techniques..."
Among the many Purple Mansion Realm techniques, Lu Jiangxian’s favorite was undoubtedly the Whole Pill Dao technique. The Houshu Golden Book was a proper sixth-grade technique. It was one grade higher than the Li Family’s own Radiant Essence Scripture.
Radiant Essence Scripture is truly an oddity... thought Lu Jiangxian.
Radiant Essence Scripture contained nine complete secret techniques, yet had only reached a basic fifth grade among Purple Mansion Realm techniques. This made no sense by conventional standards. How could something so comprehensive be so low-ranked? But then again, Lu Jiangxian had relied on immortal arts and Metallic Essence to 'cheat' his way through its creation.
In terms of breakthrough potential, the Houshu Golden Book couldn’t compare to the Radiant Essence Scripture, which had been created with Bright Yang Metallic Essence and immortal techniques. Still, it wasn’t far behind. It had five complete secret techniques, and mastering them all would raise one’s chances of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm by twenty-five percent.
Besides, the Whole Pill Dao is an ancient lineage. Though not suited for combat arts, it enables cultivators to produce countless times more goods than their peers at the same level, especially those trained through a sixth-grade method.
The Whole Pill Dao far surpassed modern spell arts in areas like transformation, healing, formation-breaking, and stealth. Qiushui of the Golden Feather Sect was a renowned practitioner of this Dao, possessing divine abilities that earned the respect of all.
Its only flaw was its overly high grade which made it a bit too flashy. But once future generations of the Li Family achieved their own Purple Mansion Realm breakthroughs, its presence would draw less attention.
As for who should receive the talisman seeds... Born under ominous stars, Li Jiangqian clearly possesses immense talent. He must be restrained with a talisman seed. Leave him unchecked, and chaos will inevitably follow!
Even an empire as vast as Wei's Li, with multiple Golden Core Realm cultivators guarding it, couldn’t prevent palace bloodshed. How could Lu Jiangxian take that risk? He had long prepared a talisman seed for the boy, to collar the beast before it turned.
I've already decided. He’s not suited for the Whole Pill Dao... and he must not study Bright Yang either. The more he cultivates it, the more twisted he’ll become. One day, he might suddenly awaken, shatter worldly illusions, and burst forth with a Red-Eyed White Cicada from within, taking flight with terrifying force. That’s no laughing matter...
Lu Jiangxian wasn’t imagining things; this was a real possibility. As Li Zhouwei’s cultivation grew stronger and eventually crossed into the Purple Mansion Realm, the effect on his second son, Li Jiangqian, would only intensify.
His elder brother, Li Jiang’ao, on the other hand, lacked sentience and couldn’t cultivate. Any transformation he might undergo was still centuries away. It was not an urgent concern.
With the precedent of Wei State etched in his mind, Lu Jiangxian had devoted great attention to the brothers Li Jiang’ao and Li Jiangqian. He had already considered every possible scenario the moment they were born.
It would be best to give him this Li Fire technique acquired from a grotto heaven, a sixth-grade fire technique. Bright Yang and Li Fire are deeply entangled, and complement each other perfectly. There's nothing more suitable!
This sixth-grade Li Fire technique was called The Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Li Day[1]. Once it was mastered, it would establish an Immortal Foundation known as the Great Li Codex. That it had once been accepted into Anhuai Heaven spoke volumes of its potency and status.
It contains four secret techniques and offers an additional twenty percent success chance, which surpasses the vast majority of Purple Mansion Realm spells from Jiangnan.
He imbued The Heavenly Scripture of the Dimming Li Day into the talisman seed prepared for Li Jiangqian, but didn’t hand it over immediately.
His divine sense roamed along the lakeside until it located a certain household in Lijing Town, one he had noted from memory. The house was spacious and was clearly once prosperous, but the red paint on its doors had nearly peeled away, exposing mottled brown wood. The stone lions flanking the entrance were covered in dust, as if untouched for ages.
Though the family no longer held prestige, it was evident that strict discipline remained. Everything was neatly arranged and in order, showing that the owner still held themselves to high standards.
Lu Jiangxian’s divine sense passed through the doorway and soon found a little girl in the central courtyard. She had rosy lips, white teeth, and was dressed in a lined winter robe. She looked about six or seven years old.
Judging by the days, the timing is just right.
This girl was the one Lu Jiangxian had chosen to receive a talisman seed, the candidate to inherit the Whole Pill Dao. She was actually a descendant of the Li Family. He had taken note of her since the day she was born, and had merely been waiting for the Li Family to finally request a method from him.
Through his divine sense, he could see that a spiritual orifice was slowly forming at the center of her brow. It was like a third eye, silently absorbing and exhaling spiritual qi.
Lu Jiangxian praised, "An orifice at the brow shows that her soul is far beyond the average. At last, a child capable of cultivating the Profound Shamanic Spells has appeared. And this pairs perfectly with the sixth-grade Houshu Golden Book... The ancient Whole Pill Dao shares great affinity with shamanic spell arts. This is an ideal match!"
1. Li Day (离日): A traditional Chinese inauspicious day that falls before each solstice or equinox, marking unstable shifts in yin and yang. ☜