Chapter 591 446: Zhong Qian

After Ning Heyuan finished speaking, the two had a tacit understanding. Li Qinghong then inquired about the treasures within the Cave Mansion, and upon hearing the description, Ning Heyuan softly said:

"I shall immediately send someone to investigate."

Li Qinghong nodded. Ning Heyuan hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Brother-in-law, there has been news from within the sect."

Li Qinghong, grasping his intent upon hearing this, cupped his hands and withdrew. Li Xuanfeng looked at him and heard Ning Heyuan continue:

"The market at the other end of Hetian Sea, beneath the sect... has once again been attacked by that water ape. Brother-in-law, do you wish to wait for the right moment and go there yourself, or shall I send someone to take care of it?"

This matter regarding the water ape had been mentioned by Yuansu Perfected Person. Naturally, Li Xuanfeng could not let Ning Heyuan handle it, and he replied:

"I will enter seclusion for half a month and set out immediately after."

Ning Heyuan was equally courteous; even if he were given several times more courage, he would not dare meddle in the arrangements of a Perfected Person. He nodded in acknowledgment, and Li Xuanfeng handed him the [Changmu Spirit Pill], speaking softly:

"Exchange this for some elixirs for me as well—also ones that aid Foundation Establishment cultivation."

He gazed at him and said in a low voice:

"They must be clean."

Ning Heyuan paused, lowered his eyes, and nodded in response:

"I understand."

Ning Heyuan chose his words carefully, took out a small mirror from his sleeve, handed it to Li Xuanfeng, and spoke:

"That water ape is cunning and adept at concealing its form, very difficult to deal with. This is [Wenliuguang], a magic artifact left here years ago by the Perfected Person, used specifically for probing physical forms."

Li Xuanfeng received it for a look. The mirror appeared blue as jade, palm-sized when opened, crystal-clear, with dharma light swirling within. It was a Foundation Establishment Magical Instrument, exceedingly agile and clearly extraordinary.

Ning Heyuan explained:

"Within this magic artifact nurtures a thread of Divine Skills, capable of perceiving illusions. As long as it is not a concealment art above Zifu, most all such methods... can be revealed with but a single illumination from this artifact."

Li Xuanfeng examined it and nodded:

"An excellent artifact."

Ning Heyuan quietly withdrew, leaving only Li Xuanfeng alone in the Cave Mansion, holding a Jade Cup in his hand, silent and wordless.

Li Xuanfeng waited for the stone door to close and thought to himself:

"A water ape of Foundation Establishment Late Stage... having me travel such a vast distance... Yuansu's intentions are certainly not so simple—is this a test... or an opportunity?"

"With the Qing Song Temple ruins about to open... If Yuansu intends to send people forth, apart from Ning Wan... only my combat strength is highest among his subordinates. Ning Wan, he would never put at risk, so it's most likely that he intends for me to go..."

Not until he had just heard Ning Heyuan's explanation of Qing Song Temple's affairs did Li Xuanfeng finally come to this realization. Perhaps one of the reasons Yuansu Perfected Person took him under his wing all those years ago was precisely for the sake of this Qing Song Temple…

Calculating the timing, it seemed not far off. Li Xuanfeng was silent for a moment, took out several types of Healing Pills from his Storage Bag, chose two suitable ones to swallow, and silently entered seclusion to cultivate.

Li Qinghong only stayed in the market for a few days before the Ning Family soon came knocking. Ning Heyuan arrived in a brocade robe, bringing along two Guest Elders to pay a visit.

These past few days, Li Qinghong had been cultivating his Spear Technique; his hair was bound and he wore light armor, looking quite capable. Ning Heyuan chatted briefly without much elaboration, then took out a few red Jade Stones from his sleeve, arranging them one by one from left to right, and softly said:

"Qinghong, take a look, see which one is most suitable."

The Ning Family was wealthy and extravagant, so each potential Spiritual Object had been prepared. Before departing, Li Qinghong had also checked the cave; now, he pointed to the one at the far left:

"Uncle took me to see it; it was precisely this."

Ning Heyuan remarked regretfully:

"Indeed, from what you and our Taoist Fellow described, it must surely be this [Di Wang Xue Shi]. This item just barely counts as a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. A thousand years ago, it was extremely precious, even coveted by Zifu masters..."

"As for now... though still rare, its value is not high. From the description, it sounded about the size of a desk, so it can barely be considered a treasure."

Li Qinghong pondered for a moment:

"I desire to know more."

Ning Heyuan cleared his throat and explained:

"[Di Wang Xue Shi] is very effective in supplementing and replenishing blood and qi, capable of healing severed limbs and used for cultivating certain special spells... In the past, there were many arts that could not be mastered without this item."

"As for now... blood and qi can be bought in ordinary markets, and there are cheap substitutes available. This spiritual object is no longer in use... at best, it is a supply of higher-quality blood and qi."

"So that is how it is."

A slight smile appeared on Li Qinghong's face, as he thought to himself:

'This thing may be useless to you all, but for my family, it is indeed most precious.'

Ning Heyuan continued:

"As for that palm-sized gold stone, it is most likely the naturally-formed [Tan Jin Stone], which is very tough and is a more highly-graded Foundation Establishment material! It can be used to craft Dharma Shields and the like, only regrettably it is a bit too small."

He smiled:

"This is actually quite common. After all, the three Gold Fruit lodes are all within the seas, and many Spiritual Objects are accompanied by gold stones. I imagine more than fifty percent of your noble clan's mine veins are gold stones!"

'More than fifty percent? My family has three mine veins, all three are gold stones! Even the Xiao Family's [Cuiyuan Copper Essence] nosing at the side is also a gold stone…!'

Li Qinghong muttered inwardly, his face merely smiling and nodding.

He then asked Ning Heyuan for the method of extracting the ore, and waited for Li Xuanfeng to finish his own matters before heading together to Sect Spring Island.

...

The wounds on Li Xuanfeng's hands quickly healed. Though they looked alarming, most were from his body's excessive exertion causing self-inflicted ruptures. With the Talisman Qi's empowerment, such injuries were but a trifling matter.

"[Strength Piercing a Thousand Jun]; these years have brought much improvement."

With the growth of Li Xuanfeng's cultivation level, the amplifications from [Strength Piercing a Thousand Jun] over the years had only increased. Having also ingested many treasures from the Southern Border, he now possessed strength to rival Foundation Establishment demon beasts—and could thus unleash such fearsome might with the Jin Geng Longbow.