Chapter 1641: Profound Incense (I)

Zhijing Mountain.

Heavenly light shimmered. Seated within it was a Daoist Master in white-golden robes, while waves of white blossoms billowed around him. Across from him sat a middle-aged man in azure robes, silently holding his cup.

Seated in the place of honor, Li Ximing smiled at him. "Fellow Daoist Qinghu, you're certainly in a leisurely mood."

Inwardly he sighed, Unlike the way he hurriedly left Moongaze Lake a few days ago... he's completely calm and composed now. It seems he's found backing from the Underworld's judiciary.

Li Zhouwei had only just departed from Moongaze Lake. Less than two hours later, Si Yuanli had arrived. The timing was far too convenient to be mere coincidence, so Li Ximing naturally waited for him to speak first.

Si Yuanli looked at him with a smile. He was clearly in high spirits, though he let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Zhaojing, you flatter me. It's hardly leisure or elegance. These days, I don't even have a mountain gate to call my own. With nowhere else to go, I could only come take a stroll by the lake..."

Li Ximing set down his cup and said with a smile, "A mountain gate? Why would someone of your ability worry about that?"

Si Yuanli's mountain gate had always been the Azure Pond Sect. Where else could it have been? By claiming he no longer had a mountain gate, he was simply hinting that he had already entered the Yang Family's service and no longer needed to join the Pristine Gui Pool!

It was clearly good news, and Li Ximing's teasing struck exactly the right note. Si Yuanli immediately stroked his beard and laughed. "I'll gladly accept your kind words, fellow Daoist... As for my ability..."

He let out a quiet sigh before continuing, "It isn't my own ability. It's the legacy left behind by those who came before me. Every gain and every loss was decided long ago."

Li Ximing raised a brow and asked, "And how is Fellow Daoist Ning?"

At the mention of Ning Wan, a trace of amazement crossed Si Yuanli's face as he replied, "She, too, has a path forward. Senior Yuansu made arrangements for her long ago. It may not necessarily save her life, but if she can endure until the day the new dynasty is established, her peril will immediately turn into safety..."

Though somewhat surprised, Li Ximing was also relieved. Si Yuanli then changed the subject with a smile. "A few days ago, I met Xunhui and asked how he'd been doing. Now that Jiangnan is gradually settling down, he intends to return to Yue State to serve. I wonder... how does Queyi intend to arrange things?"

It was only to be expected. The Si Family had long since declined in talent. Although Si Tongyi was capable of managing affairs, his innate ability was lacking. The family's only truly outstanding figure was Si Xunhui. Not only was he of distinguished birth, but his master's wife was also a member of the Yang Family. There was naturally every reason for him to return.

The Li Family's situation was quite different. At the very least, Li Ximing was now on good terms with Kuangyu, and intended to grow closer to the Purple Mansion Realm circle of the Southern and Eastern Seas. The Li Family also occupied a very different position from the Si Family, so he had no intention of calling her back.

Thus, Li Ximing sighed. "Xunhui is a fortunate child. Naturally, it would be good for him to return. But Queyi is deeply valued by Kuangyu. If she came back, there would be nowhere suitable for her to establish herself. As elders, we shouldn't put her in such a difficult position."

Si Yuanli understood perfectly well and thought to himself, Not putting her in a difficult position? What you really mean is not putting yourself, Zhaojing, in one.

Still, he nodded. "Although they'll have to live apart, it's best for each of them to pursue their own path. The Yang Family is extending its influence far and wide, and they place particular importance on the Southern and Eastern Seas. There will be plenty of opportunities for them to stay in touch."

"Oh?" Li Ximing smiled and asked, "In what way do they value them?"

Si Yuanli paused, ran through the matter in his mind, and decided it was hardly a secret. Shaking his head, he replied, "It's all because of Stone Pond... The Azure Pond Sect has been kept alive by a single thread of hope. They've delayed shutting down the sect all this time because of Stone Pond. Once Fellow Daoist Zhusheng's affairs are settled, the Southern Sea is bound to undergo major changes."

Once Daoist Master Zhusheng of the Southern Sea was mentioned, Li Ximing instantly understood. Back during the struggle over the Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum, Daoist Master Suiguan had specifically instructed Ning Wan to lure him to Jiangbei, ensuring he became deeply entangled in the affair... Once the Underworld's judiciary secured such a powerful ally, dealing with Stone Pond would become far easier!

Li Ximing nodded without changing his expression, while Si Yuanli inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, Fortunately, I acted decisively and settled Xunhui's affairs early. That makes things much easier now. Once the news from Simin Prefecture spreads, Chen Yin will surely come looking to strengthen ties as well.

The Li Family has always placed great importance on bloodlines, and they're clearly keeping Li Quewan in reserve. If Chen Yin wants to forge a marriage alliance with someone of real standing in the Li Family, he may well have no choice but to marry a daughter into Bright Yang's line... That will give him quite the headache.

Although Li Zhouwei was a formidable figure, his future was uncertain. Marrying a daughter into Bright Yang's line might not be a blessing at all. Thinking this, Si Yuanli felt rather pleased with himself and smiled. "With the new dynasty about to be established, a new political order will naturally follow...

“This dynasty will be founded upon the True Essence Dao. As cultivation along the True Essence Dao advances further and enhances the effects of divine abilities, securing one or two official posts for the younger generation would likely be of tremendous benefit to their cultivation!

"What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

Li Ximing naturally understood what he was getting at. Although the idea interested him, he was hardly enthusiastic.

The core members of my younger generation all possess talisman seeds. There's no need to send them into the imperial court, and besides, who knows what the consequences would be? At most, I might send three or five talented juniors who haven't received talisman seeds into Simin Prefecture and let them try their luck.

He deliberately refrained from taking the initiative. Chuckling softly, he replied, "Everyone has their own circumstances. We're all on the same side to begin with. As long as the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators remain on good terms, how could there be any serious disputes among those below?"

Si Yuanli shook his head with a sigh. "That's hard to say. Things are peaceful now, but who can predict the future? Even if the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators remain harmonious, there's nothing wrong with the younger generation competing for their own interests...

"I can only blame my own clansmen for failing to measure up. I sent so many of the younger generation in, yet in the end only Tongyi managed to contribute a small measure of strength in the mountains by relying on his ties to the Immortal Sect... We simply can't compare with you, fellow Daoist... If the time comes when we need a helping hand, I'll have to trouble you again..."

Li Ximing had no desire to become entangled in the Si Family's affairs. With Li Zhouwei yet to return, he still could not gauge the Li Family's standing in the coming dynasty. He simply shook his head and sighed. "That's hard to say... Jiangliang has never been one to put the family first. Looking at the current situation, who would he even dare openly support? My family only sent him alone. We don't have much influence there, so this isn't something I can speak up about."

"And besides..." He smiled and countered with a question. "Aren't all the people under his command your people now, fellow Daoist?"

Si Yuanli let out an awkward laugh and promptly changed the subject. "I've actually come this time... to ask you about one more matter, fellow Daoist."

Li Ximing raised a brow as Si Yuanli continued with a smile, "An elder of my family has an old friend named Pingyan, who cultivates in Yinzhou. Recently, he passed along a request. It seems someone of high standing from Lotus Temple asked me to act as an intermediary in exchange for a treasure belonging to your esteemed family."

Li Ximing was somewhat surprised, though a hint of delight welled up in his heart. He asked, "Could it be Great Master Minghui?"

Minghui was the sort who changed his tune as easily as turning a page. Lotus Temple also had the closest ties with the immortal cultivators among the Buddhist sects, serving as an intermediary in several alliances between the two Daos. Li Ximing had met him once before, when the monk sought to trade for the many Buddhist artifacts the Li Family had seized!

Later, however, the conflict between north and south had intensified to the point where Chengyun Gate, the only link to Minghui, ended up deep within northern territory. They had promptly severed all contact. Li Ximing had not expected the monk to be resourceful enough to track down Si Yuanli instead.

Sure enough, Si Yuanli nodded with a smile as he said, "Precisely! I imagine you'd already guessed as much, fellow Daoist!"

Li Ximing nodded slightly, though an inscrutable look crossed his face as he asked, "I've heard Yinzhou is the heartland of the dragons. Daoist Master Pingyan must have close ties with them. How did he manage to establish contact with the Buddhist cultivators of all people?"

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