Chapter 1842: Beyond The Utmost Limit (II)

With the matter settled, Li Ximing broke into a delighted smile and hurriedly pulled a pile of objects from his sleeve.

First, he lifted a gleaming golden pagoda and exclaimed, "We've struck it rich!

"When I went to the Wilderness just now, I made a point of asking about it. Guangchan's pagoda was made by blending [Radiant Sky Stone] with [Chongming Golden Quintessence] of [Radiant Fire]. It may look like a Buddhist treasure, but its materials are worth a fortune!"

He hurriedly set it down and raised the long spear next. "And this Radiant Fire spear is no less impressive. Half a portion of [Heavenly Radiant Crimson Gold] went into its shaft, and its head even contains some [Heavenly Yang Colored Copper]. The concentration is very low, but it is there!"

Li Ximing’s voice suddenly turned serious. "When the Imperial Monarch reincarnated as the [Radiant Fire Spear], it was made with [Heavenly Yang Colored Copper]! This material is comparable to [Heavenly Origin Essence]."

Li Zhouwei merely looked at the treasures with a smile and said, "His materials were even better than mine."

Li Ximing's smile broadened. "Yang Ruiyi mentioned it as well. Guangchan was an unusual man. He never fundamentally converted these treasures to the Buddhist Dao, merely giving them a framework. He then used his own Immortal Dao attainment to blend in Buddhist techniques and complete them. If we spend some time breaking apart the golden pagoda, we can recover eighty to ninety percent of its raw materials!

"The spear's materials are mostly fused together. Even breaking it apart would not make them easy to rework. It will need to be refined for quite some time."

Li Zhouwei was taken aback, a look of surprise crossing his face. "Why did this monk... go to such roundabout lengths?"

Li Ximing sneered. "Yang Ruiyi saw through him at a glance. He said Guangchan still intended to return to the Devil Dao, so naturally he had prepared a way back!"

Li Zhouwei fell into thought.

The Valley Water glazed lotus throne had shrunk to the size of a palm. Holding it in his hand, Li Ximing said, "This is a fine treasure as well, fashioned from a Valley Water spirit item. Unfortunately, the alterations went too far. Some Buddhist cultivators probably gave it to him, since its materials have already fused together. Unless we find a true master of artifact crafting, restoring it to its original form will be difficult."

Only then did he take out the kasaya and the profound drum with its white hide and golden rim. "These two are somewhat inferior, and you battered them as well, but they are still fine treasures by Buddhist cultivators' standards!"

Li Zhouwei glanced at them and smiled. "That should be easy enough. The old Daoist Master of Mount Qusi is a grandmaster of artifact crafting. Granduncle, please make a trip there and discuss it with him. There will surely be a solution."

Li Ximing nodded. "We had the same thought. Besides that old Daoist Master, Daoist Master Liaoluo is skilled in this field as well! If we cannot trouble the elder, we can seek him out instead."

Li Zhouwei's smile faded. He took a jade box from his sleeve and set it on the table. "Since you mentioned the spoils, granduncle, I happen to have made quite a few gains myself."

He then recounted his visit to Mount Dali. As Li Ximing listened, his smile faded considerably. He repeatedly seemed about to speak, only to stop himself in the end.

Only after a long while did Li Ximing say, "Senior Liu may have chosen his allegiance out of self-interest, but who does not? Our friendship across generations, the many times he has helped us, and even his defense of the Eastern Sea today cannot be discounted. His feelings seemed genuine, not feigned."

"I understand." Li Zhouwei gave him a moment to collect himself before nudging the jade box forward. "As for this... Qingyu Qian called it [Final Culmination Sunken Origin], also known as [Essence Beyond Yin's Utmost Limit]."

"[Final Culmination Sunken Origin]?"

Li Ximing gave it another look as Li Zhouwei continued with a complicated expression, "[Supreme Yin Moonlight] represents Yin's utmost limit. This substance is Yin beyond that limit, found where Supreme Yin has fallen or withdrawn into concealment. It accords with both Yin and its nature, making it a substance of utmost Yin. As an embodiment of deathly, sunken Yin, it cannot be absorbed by anyone. Swallowing this essence brings instant death."

Li Ximing silently considered what this meant, while Li Zhouwei continued, "But when it encounters Yin and Yang qi, it manifests the principle of Yin seeking transformation at its utmost limit, turning into something of another Dao. It is immensely useful in pill refining and artifact crafting.

“In Qingyu Qian's words, 'Ancient cultivators flocked to obtain it. Anyone fortunate enough to acquire a portion would keep it and devote a lifetime to devising a single formula, hoping to leave a name for posterity and earn the reverence of countless people!'"

Li Ximing's eyes lit up as he asked, "What does 'turning into something of another Dao' mean?"

Still filled with wonder, Li Zhouwei replied, "Qingyu Qian gave me the most famous example... There was once an ancient True Monarch titled Zuoyuan. Before attaining the Dao, he cultivated a Supreme Yin Dao lineage, but his divine abilities fell short, so he settled for pursuing Veiled Yin instead. He struggled to find a suitable weapon, until he fortunately obtained a portion of [Final Culmination Sunken Origin].

"He sought out Sikong You, a grandmaster of artifact crafting renowned throughout the world at the time. Upon seeing the [Final Culmination Sunken Origin], Sikong You knew his chance to be remembered for a hundred generations had arrived. He sacrificed his life to his craft, forging the [Secondary Aspect Great Bow Star] for the then Daoist.

"They say this treasure was neither utmost nor veiled, neither full nor waning. It stood between Supreme Yin and Veiled Yin, yet possessed both aspects. Its unfathomable transformations drew the attention of the entire world. Daoist Master Zuoyuan then used it to ascend to a Veiled Yin position and become a True Monarch!"

Li Ximing gradually grew thoughtful as he listened. Li Zhouwei sighed. "I hear that the Golden Position this True Monarch attained was highly unusual. Although he attained the [Veiled Yin] position, his celestial position lay close to the [Supreme Yin] celestial domain. To repay Sikong You, he suspended the [Secondary Aspect Great Bow Star] in the heavens as a minor star in the Tail position, making its significance known to the world."

"From then on, the [Secondary Aspect Great Bow Star] became one of the stars revered by craftsmen. They often divine through it the artifact that will earn them lifelong renown. It is among the most important stars of all!"

Li Ximing remained silent for a long time, seemingly pondering the mysteries behind the tale. At last, he said, "I understand! What an extraordinary treasure! To make proper use of it... would demand the utmost in crafting skill, and perhaps even Dao attainment!"

With a complicated expression, he looked at the little jade vial inside the jade box.

A treasure like this... and there are still four more vials in the Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance!

The two exchanged a glance, finally grasping the staggering implications.

A single portion could offer a chance to pursue a Golden Position. How many immortal merits could it be worth?!

That lord who may be Li Jiangqun... had five whole vials... And those are merely the unused half of the box. What did he use the other half for?

Both fell silent and left the subject unspoken. Neither dared place the treasure in a storage pouch anymore. They carefully put it away, intending to return it to the Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance. Only then did Li Zhouwei take out the second thing he had obtained during his visit to the mountain, an immensely heavy, gleaming golden spirit scroll.

[Great Void Primordial Order Profound Administration Construction Art]!

The work was enormously long, densely covered in golden characters. Any single symbol entering their spiritual sense unfolded into ten thousand words of profound exposition. Even Li Ximing, a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, found himself overwhelmed and dazzled. Only with the aid of his Fate Divine Ability's perception could he read it clearly.

Li Zhouwei sighed and said, "I have grasped the essential outline. It is indeed extraordinarily valuable. We were right to accept that Pure Essence spirit item from Si Boxiu. It can resolve a major difficulty, but even that accounts for only a small part of the challenges involved."

Li Ximing carefully put it away and said, "I understand how precious this is. There is no telling how long gathering the necessary spirit materials will take. We must wait until Quewan emerges from seclusion and discuss it together."

Although the family's circumstances were favorable, they were still far from being able to construct a secret realm in the great void. They also had two juniors nearing the Purple Mansion Realm, which would entail another considerable expense.

Li Zhouwei therefore said no more about it. He took the green jade obtained from the Capital Immortal Dao out of his sleeve, handed it to Li Ximing, and said with a smile, "Take a look, granduncle. I obtained this from the Capital Immortal Dao... It was lodged deep within the earth veins, being refined through the fortune generated by the destruction of the gate."

There was no need for caution here. With a turn of his hand, Li Ximing took out the jade slip. Looking at it, he said in surprise, "[Cloud Capital Dao Entering Secret Manual]? This is..."

Li Zhouwei shook his head with a smile. "Read it carefully, granduncle."

Li Ximing spent some time reading it, then remained silent for a long while before saying, "It seems to be... a secret art for entering some grotto heaven... Only half of it, though... It also requires some kind of profound token. It is exceedingly complicated. This half alone is of no use to either of us..."

That made Li Zhouwei laugh. "Yehui enjoys playing these games. It seems... he understands the situation quite well... and has plenty of plans of his own..."

Li Ximing fell briefly silent. After examining it for a while, he asked in puzzlement, "What... does this mean?"

Li Zhouwei smiled and said, "Yehui has a profound Dao attainment and is a deep schemer. Why would he casually risk leaving something in the mountain? And why would this particular object respond to my dharma body and reveal itself? I was already suspicious. Once I saw the pool of Wall-Sinking Water inside the token, I had an inkling...

“He... deliberately left this for me. Of all the things he could have placed inside, why choose Wall-Sinking Water?... It is a hint, and a demonstration of his capabilities! He knew I would take the Capital Immortal Dao mountain gate! And he knew our family desperately needs Wall-Sinking Water!"

Li Ximing fell silent for a moment, then asked, "This half of the [Cloud Capital Dao Entering Secret Manual]... is it a token of his goodwill?"

Li Zhouwei nodded and said, "Do you remember how he rose to prominence, granduncle?"

Understanding immediately dawned on Li Ximing. "Douxuan Mountain... [Chuyi Grotto Heaven]! So this is the profound token?!"

Yet doubt soon crossed his face, and he said quietly, "Yehui has offered such a tempting prize... Surely he wants something in return? What does our family possess that would make him offer so much?!"

Li Zhouwei shook his head and smiled. "Our family has little for him to covet... But the struggle between north and south offers him plenty! Situ Huo is considering defecting to their side. Does that mean no one is considering coming over to ours? This man is far too proud to join the Buddhist Dao, yet the Buddhist cultivators covet his cultivation. How could he rely on them for support?

"Think how many Dharma Masters belong to the north's Seven Dharma Forms. Having already claimed [Brilliant Essence], the foundation of [Capital Guard], how could they tolerate his pursuing [Capital Guard]? And [Capital Guard] is a great Dao that presides over mountains and awakens spirits, frequently dealing with ghosts and supernatural beings. Would joining the Underworld's judiciary not suit it perfectly?"

Li Ximing understood everything at once. "So that is it... So that is it! What audacity!"

Still finding it hard to believe, the Daoist Master said, "I heard that Wei Xuanyin treats him exceedingly well and entrusts him with important responsibilities. Yet he has shown no regard for those ties at all. He has been plotting betrayal from the very beginning!"

Li Zhouwei smiled. "Personal ties? How could they outweigh a Golden Position? He wants to win over the Underworld's judiciary, not True Essence, so he needs to bring about a major change in the situation. He has been planning this since the day he joined the north.

“I once wondered why, if he intended to join them, he first came to save you, granduncle, and why he visited our family's mountain to say those things... His talk of helping each other was utter bullshit. Declaring his ambitions was his way of making clear that he would not join the Buddhist Dao, laying the groundwork for this day!

"Yang Ruiyi excels at defense rather than offense; he will not lead a campaign for long. Situ Huo might turn around and sell him out. Our family alone had caught his attention early, and he knew we would inevitably come under the south's sway. Making arrangements with us in advance... was his safest course.

"Moreover, ours is a clan that cares for its younger generations. This grotto heaven is ideal for helping them advance, and it even contains [Wuguan's Legacy]. He need not fear that we will find it unappealing!"

Li Zhouwei's eyes shone like brilliant stars. "There is one more point, of course. He does not know whether his defection falls within the calculations of the great figures on either side... Can Yang Ruiyi be trusted? Would he accept the uncertainty Yehui represents? But my response is certain. The King of Wei will never pass up a chance to deal the north a crushing defeat, and will gladly welcome an unexpected change!"

"There is one thing you were right about, granduncle." Admiration entered the King of Wei's expression as he said quietly, "Such courage and ambition... are truly rare in this age!"

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