Chapter 1683: Undying Radiance (I)

Heavenly light shone through all things as Li Ximing listened for some time without speaking.

After a long silence, Li Zhouwei said quietly, "This matter is far from over. Once the new dynasty is established and the struggle between north and south intensifies, Dongfang Lieyun will come under increasing pressure, and we will still need to placate him... As for the dragons, not only will we ultimately be unable to trust them, but I fear we may even find ourselves on opposing sides."

Li Ximing had finally heard the words he had dreaded. A trace of helplessness crossed his face as he said softly, "Is there truly no place for the Li Family to survive, even beneath the protection of the dragons..."

Li Zhouwei turned his head slightly, shifting his gaze from the other man's face to the cup on the table, then shook his head. "That is not necessarily so. If we succeed, all will naturally be well. If we fail, the main lineage and its heirs will have to be severed, but Quewan and the other lineages could still become another Cui Family of Chongzhou."

A hint of doubt appeared on Li Ximing's face, and Li Zhouwei explained, "That is also why I chose to send Quewan away rather than Jiangqian... She is not a golden-eyed child. If you and I arrange matters properly, and if there is even the slightest chance that she might seek the [Whole Pill] in the future, then there will be something to gain from supporting her. It would not be impossible for her to secure a place in Qunyi."

He emphasized his next words. "After all, the thunder of Lie Sea cannot be taken elsewhere! I have met the lady; she is held in extremely high regard among the dragons!"

After considering the explanation carefully for some time, Li Ximing found that it did make some sense. He sighed and nodded. "I can only hope that aunt's words carry some weight with the Dragon Monarch.

"The Golden Feather Sect, on the other hand... may well cause us no end of trouble in the future!"

Li Zhouwei did not pursue the subject. He merely recounted everything he had seen and heard in Chongzhou, then took out the [Art of Perfecting the Sleeve Estate] and handed it to Li Ximing.

But instead of examining it, Li Ximing suddenly frowned. "I have also heard something of the formidable reputation of that lord of the Golden Feather Sect. Since that is the case... He rose to prominence upon the bones left by Wei's fall, so he certainly would not wish to see the Wei Emperor cling to life. Perhaps he has designs involving you as well... Though whether he intends to help you is another matter..."

However, Li Zhouwei shook his head. "We should not presume to fathom that lord's schemes. Who can say whether Golden Feather Sect's actions toward our family over the years have all been moves in his game? As for saying that he rose upon the bones left by Wei's fall... I do not believe that is entirely true. Judging by what was said of his age, it seems more likely that he already occupied the Exalted Position, and the fall of Great Wei was merely a grand rite he used to legitimize his claim."

Li Zhouwei had spoken so bluntly that Li Ximing fell silent. Looking into his junior's bright, penetrating eyes, he felt his heart pounding.

"A grand rite he used to legitimize his claim..."

He means... The Geng-Dui Transformation...

Since the True Hornless Dragon had dissolved Pristine Water into Converging Water, the transmutation between Geng and Dui had very likely originated with this True Monarch Taiyuan... A transmutation of such tremendous scope, encompassing nearly all the Geng and Dui spirit items commonly found in the present age, was enough to show just how profoundly this True Monarch Taiyuan had shaped the current state of the world, as well as how complete his command over the Fruition Attainment truly was!

The Geng-Dui Transformation... Logically, there should be two figures involved. Since this one represents Dui, the other may represent Geng... There is no telling what era that figure is from...

He dared not say more and hurriedly changed the subject. "You are right. Tianhuo still owes me a favor. I cannot tell whether it was deliberate, but the more I consider it, the more that favor seems like a pretext for him to act on behalf of our family... The attitudes of those who occupy the Exalted Positions... have actually shown signs of themselves for a long time."

His junior likewise let the subject drop and smiled. "There is some good news at the moment."

Li Zhouwei took a box from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "This is [Attuned Purple Intent Essence]."

Li Ximing lowered his gaze and saw layer upon layer of hazy purple qi swirling within the box.

Li Zhouwei explained, "I obtained this from Minghui. It can aid in attaining a divine ability and was acquired especially for you, granduncle.. I estimate that it is not far inferior to the [Bright Truth Harmonizing Divine Pill]. Since you have emerged from seclusion, your Immortal Foundation must be complete. This is the perfect time for you to take it."

"This..." Li Ximing was momentarily taken aback. He picked up the box and examined it, then frowned. "This is a precious item. I wonder whether it can be used together with the [Bright Truth Harmonizing Divine Pill]. They should be kept together to help you cross the Purple Mansion Threshold..."

Li Zhouwei shook his head with a smile. "If circumstances permit, it would be best for the Purple Mansion Threshold to hold me back for a while. It would give me more time to make preparations. I have no need for these things, so you should simply take it and use it. Your own Immortal Threshold is what matters."

"I no longer hope to reach the Purple Mansion Threshold myself!" Li Ximing sighed. "I understand what you mean, but everything depends on how the situation develops on both sides. If they collude to attack the lake, people here will certainly die unless you make your breakthrough."

Li Zhouwei fell silent and did not answer. After watching Li Ximing put away the spirit item, he said, "The exchange between the two sides had already been arranged. Unexpectedly, as soon as I returned to the lake, Daoist Master Liao of [Mount Qusi] arrived. Since you had left the [Crane-Embracing Stone] with the clan, I took possession of the [Attuned Purple Intent Essence] and had him deliver the [Crane-Embracing Stone] in return."

He turned his hand over and revealed a precious pearl. It blazed with golden light and shimmered with the hues of colored glaze, radiating a distinctly mesmerizing power.

The young man smiled. "Now this is a true treasure!"

Li Ximing abruptly raised his brows in surprise as he examined it. "Hm? [Dry Fire]?"

Li Ximing was highly accomplished in the manipulation of fire. He examined it with his spiritual sense, delight showing on his face, and only said after a long while, "It appears to be [Radiant Scarlet Drought-Demon Fire]. It is an orthodox form produced when [Dry Fire] loses its harmonious essence, drawing out the baleful force of terrestrial fire and seizing heat to destroy the body.

“It is an exceptional spiritual flame intended for combat and killing, and is worth a considerable sum... Unfortunately, a Buddhist cultivator has excessively tampered with it, infusing it with dazzling brilliant light and a bewildering aura that detract from its purity."

He asked suspiciously, "Did Minghui give this to you? He must want something from you!"

Li Zhouwei nodded. "First, there is the matter of your [Soul-Tuning Mulberry Wood]. Second, he wants me to spare his dharma body when we march south. However, I do not believe he is being honest. He still has schemes of his own, though I cannot tell what he is plotting."

Those words prompted the Daoist to rise and pace around the mountain twice. Yet he was reluctant to part with the spiritual flame in his hand, and his expression turned solemn. "Nothing this good ever comes without a price. He must be after something, and there may even be some hidden catch involving the [Crane-Embracing Stone]."

Li Zhouwei nodded. "The Lotus Temple has kept itself aloof from worldly affairs for all these years, so it must have plans of its own. However, I considered this long ago. We cannot keep the [Radiant Scarlet Drought-Demon Fire]... Let us first try the [Yang Nourishing Technique]. If we cannot deal with it, we will have to find one or two cultivators of Fire Virtue and trade it for something else."

Li Ximing nodded in complete agreement. He conjured a wisp of divine ability, pinched away a wisp of luminous flame, and balanced the flame on his fingertip. After invoking his divine ability three times and calculating for some time, he shook his head uncertainly.

"The [Yang Nourishing Technique] primarily concerns True, Radiant and Virile Fires. The [Radiant Scarlet Drought-Demon Fire] is a form of [Dry Fire]. I used the [Yang Nourishing Technique] to calculate its nature... Although the Buddhist cultivator's brilliant light interfered with the result, I am still fairly certain. I fear this does not seem like a fire that belongs to the level of arts and spells..."

He withdrew his divine ability and pondered aloud, "We could have asked Daoist Master Junjian about this. He cultivates Fire Virtue and possesses many treasures, making him the ideal person to consult. However, I have inquired after him several times, and it seems he has spent all these years pursuing the Dao in the Plume-Shedding Grounds without returning south... Now that I think about it, he probably wishes to avoid becoming embroiled in the turmoil of Yue State.

"Now that Guo Nanwu is here, we could ask him to consult Huoyang, Poluoduo's spirit sparrow..."

Li Ximing hesitated briefly, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, the Buddhist cultivator altered it too much with those strange arts and left it neither one thing nor another. If we want to alter it again, we will have to pour more spirit materials into it. It would be best to negotiate an agreement. They can take it back to refine it and purge its impurities themselves."

While he fell back into thought, Li Zhouwei asked, "Guo Nanwu?"

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