The Mirror Legacy - Chapter 1467: All Matters Settled (II)
Chapter 1467: All Matters Settled (II)
At the moment, Li Zhouwei possessed two treasures from his Foundation Establishment Realm days: [Da Sheng] and [Yuan’e]. One was a weapon, the other armor; both were suitable for nurturing a spirit embryo.
Da Sheng will definitely be used first, but [Yuan’e] no longer serves much purpose when worn. It should also be refined. Spirit embryos consume divine ability, so it would be best to integrate them with spirit artifacts.
He dismissed Chen Yang and stepped through the great void to the Viewing Pavilion. With a light toss, he set the dharma artifact onto the high platform while continuing to think, Should I invite Hengzhu Dao Gate… or Golden Feather Sect… and how would I even afford the cost?
In moments, the burly old man in red had arrived on the platform. Chu Minglian was far less at ease with Li Zhouwei than with Li Ximing and bowed timidly.
Li Zhouwei activated his divine ability, and golden light instantly filled the platform, enveloping the dharma artifact. He glanced aside and noticed a young man standing beside Chu Minglian. The youth looked proper and composed, yet now appeared somewhat excited as he bowed and said, “Greetings, Daoist Master!”
This young man was naturally Li Jiangzong. Li Jiangqian had long arranged for him to study under this master artifact smith, sparing Li Zhouwei the need to instruct further. Looking somewhat ashamed, he bowed deeply and said, “Your handwritten letter cured my father’s lingering affliction. I am deeply grateful!”
Li Jiangzong did not fully understand his father’s obsession with his granduncle Li Chengqi. As his own cultivation rose and he entered the center of power, advancing steadily and gaining trust, he naturally valued the family’s support. Yet his father’s actions caused him great distress, like a thorn at his back. Still, there was no clear fault to point out, so he could only endure Li Zhoufang’s turmoil.
Fortunately, once Li Zhouwei’s writings had been delivered to the grave, Li Zhoufang had spat out a mouthful of blood and finally steadied himself. Li Jiangzong, who had been overwhelmed day after day, was finally relieved and grew even more admiring of his uncle, now a Daoist Master.
Li Zhouwei glanced over him, somewhat satisfied, asked about his cultivation, and said softly, “Work diligently and reach Foundation Establishment Realm soon.”
As his words fell, Ding Weizeng leaned in and whispered, “Daoist Master, a direct descendant of Great Xiukui Temple has been waiting at the lake for quite some time. He insists on meeting a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the lake before he will leave.”
Li Zhouwei frowned slightly and asked, “Must he see a Daoist Master?”
Ding Weizeng nodded, and Li Zhouwei said, “Then let him come up.”
After all, Great Xiukui Temple had just lost a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, and Li Zhouwei still held some respect for them. Once he agreed, a black-robed man arrived on a gray wind, led by Qu Buzhi who patrolled the lake.
He bowed before him and said respectfully, “Greetings, Daoist Master Minghuang! I, Lin Ya of Great Xiukui Temple, has come under my Daoist Master’s orders to pay respects and offer congratulations!”
Li Zhouwei had not held a banquet, though the gifts on the mountain had already been accepted. He frowned and said, “Daoist Master Zhaojing is healing, and I have been in seclusion stabilizing my cultivation. We have not been active on the lake, so we have kept your side waiting.”
“I would not dare!” Lin Ya quickly declined, not daring to speak at length. He immediately took out a golden box from his sleeve and said softly, “My Daoist Master heard of Daoist Master Zhaojing’s injury and was deeply concerned, so he sent me with two spirit pills to express goodwill between our two sides.”
He gently opened the lid with mana, revealing two radiant white pills with patterned markings inside. They were [Qilin Radiance Illumination Pills].
The [Qilin Radiance Illumination Pill] originated from Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven and was primarily used to enhance cultivation and repair the dharma body. It was clearly a commonly used pill among Purple Mansion Realm cultivators of Eastern Fire Grotto Heaven. The Supreme Yang Dao lineage possessed the most of them. They had once obtained three, and Li Ximing had already consumed the last one.
Li Zhouwei himself had taken one of these [Qilin Radiance Illumination Pills] when he broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm, so he was very familiar with it. Its ability to heal the dharma body was highly coveted, not to mention that it aligned with the Bright Yang Dao.
He initially declined, but the direct disciple of Great Xiukui Temple immediately showed alarm and expressed their sincere goodwill. Only then did Qu Buzhi step forward and present the pills.
After offering the pills, Lin Ya quietly let out a breath of relief and said respectfully, “My Daoist Master asked me to inform the lake that the Gao Family’s Daoist Master has already left Chengyun Marsh. Chengyun Gate has now placed itself under the Huai River Dao, submitted its name to [Pavilion of Profound Order], and acknowledged itself as a sect of Zhao State.”
“Oh?” Li Zhouwei raised a brow. But after a moment’s thought, he found it unsurprising.
Lin Ya continued, “It is said that the Bolie King has gone to the Capital Immortal Dao and is meeting Daoist Master Yehui at the mountain gate.”
There was no need to say more. With Chengyun Gate setting the precedent, it was surely about affiliation and recognition. Li Zhouwei nodded and replied, “I understand. Thank you for the reminder.”
As he watched Lin Ya depart on the wind, Li Zhouwei stored the box in his sleeve and pondered inwardly, Yehui’s judgment is not wrong, in fact it is quite precise. The Gao Family’s cooperation with the Buddhist cultivators heading south is a classic pairing of soft and hard approaches…
As for the [Qilin Radiance Illumination Pill], Great Xiukui Temple has made it clear that the formula lies with the Golden Feather Sect. They still rely on the [True Profound Heart-Cleansing Pill]. Though convenient and cheap, it cannot compare in healing the dharma body. It would be best to obtain it from the Golden Feather Sect.
After thinking for a moment, he glanced at Qu Buzhi and said softly, “Any movement on the northern shore?”
Qu Buzhi quickly replied, “Daoist Master, there has been no major movement in the north. Only occasionally, a few Master Monks head south to harass, attempting to bypass the lake for reconnaissance. They have clashed several times with the stationed cultivators on the northern shore, but there have been no major casualties.”
Li Zhouwei was not in a rush to cultivate. He was mainly focused on refining several spell arts, so he had no strict requirements for a cultivation location. He nodded and said, “I will go guard the northern shore.”
Yet beneath that decision, a deeper concern lingered in his heart, If Mount Luoxia intends to meet me, it would be best if they do not enter my formation, or even approach the central island or the southern shore… it would spare a great deal of trouble.
————
Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance.
Inside the pavilion, stone lamps cast rings of cool radiance. Li Ximing sat within, slowly opening his eyes and exhaling a stream of white breath.
The [Qilin Radiance Illumination Pill] was a spirit pill used to heal the dharma body, and his damaged body had been recovered through Yehui’s favor, making the restoration a hundred times easier.
With the support of the spiritual qi in the Realm of Sun and Moon Radiance, it took just half a year for his dharma body to no longer be a concern. As he rose to his feet, he felt at ease throughout his body. The earlier stiffness was finally gone.
With a shift of thought, he appeared within the lightning-wreathed [Glazed Pagoda Of Unrestrained Boundary]. Outside the great hall, he found a woman in red seated cross-legged, cultivating as she quietly waited.
It was Li Minggong, who had just returned from Lacquer Marsh.
Hearing the movement, she immediately opened her eyes and said respectfully, “I have returned from Lacquer Marsh and have important matters to report!”
With his dharma body restored, Li Ximing was in high spirits. He nodded with a smile, raised his hand, and a field of Radiant Light lifted her up. With a single step, he arrived atop the mountain.
Zhijing Mountain remained as before, with white blossoms and the jade table. He could see the Viewing Pavilion in the distance, shining with intense Bright Light and blazing Radiant Light. It was clearly in the process of forging a spirit embryo. As Li Ximing arrived, he noticed several chests of treasured panaceas at his feet.
“What is this…” muttered Li Ximing.
Li Minggong quickly replied, “These are spirit items sent by various cultivators to congratulate Daoist Master Minghuang. He instructed that they be given to you for alchemy.”
Li Ximing clasped his hands behind his back and examined them carefully. He immediately sensed something off and cursed, “A bunch of opportunists. What, now they know how to give gifts?”
Li Minggong was sharp and understood his meaning at once. She had handled the congratulatory gifts back when Li Ximing had achieved divine ability. Though they had also been boxed, the treasured panaceas were far inferior to what lay before them now. She lowered her gaze and remained silent.
Fortunately, after grumbling, Li Ximing let it pass with a smile. He gestured for her to sit and asked, “How did it go?”
Li Minggong quickly replied, “The Daoist Master was overjoyed and offered repeated praise, saying your alchemy skills are nothing short of miraculous. He immediately had items prepared and personally wrote a letter of thanks for me to bring back to you.”
“Oh?” Li Ximing was not surprised.
When she took out two jade boxes and a letter, he flicked his finger and drew the letter into his hand, reading it carefully. “…Your alchemy, fellow Daoist… is something I have never seen in my life… a peerless talent… the quality of this pill is unprecedented. To refine a Pit Water pill with Bright Yang fire… none but a great master could achieve this…”
The entire letter was filled with praise. The more he read, the stranger it felt. He could not help but laugh and teased the woman in red beside him, saying, “This is no fun! It must be ghostwritten! Master Dingyang is rigid and stern. How could he say such things? He must have told some smooth-talking disciple to write it for him.”
How could Li Minggong dare laugh at a Daoist Master’s teasing? She shrank to the side like a quail, eyes lowered, silently pleading for mercy. Yet as Li Ximing joked and glanced around, he suddenly froze.
It turned out that at the end of the letter, the fellow made another request, swearing there would be a reward and enclosing spirit material with the letter in hopes of obtaining a treasured pill…
“So he’s had a taste of the benefits and is now scheming for more!”
With a flick of his finger, the jade boxes beside him opened. One contained auxiliary ingredients, which he ignored. The other revealed three gleaming black scales, none other than [Cangzhou Serpent Scales].
“This Master Dingyang must have some connections in Cangzhou!”
Li Ximing was startled, then burst into laughter. Last time he had helped refine a spirit embryo, but this time he could openly demand compensation. He immediately took out brush and paper, writing as he said, “Tell Master Dingyang that Bright Yang and Pit Water are in conflict. The last portion I sent was out of gratitude for his help in refining my spirit embryo. I acted generously and used my own secret techniques, even supplying a large amount of Pit Water spirit items to produce six pills. How can it be like that every time? If he wants six again, that will not happen!”
Li Minggong nodded at once, understanding that he was bargaining. Li Ximing shook his head and continued, “Just tell him this. For these three [Cangzhou Serpent Scales], I will give him at least twelve pills. If I have to draw from my own reserves, at most fifteen. He can decide how he will repay me.”
“Yes!”
Li Minggong responded respectfully, took the letter he had written, and immediately departed on True Fire. Li Ximing’s mood improved. He called Ding Weizeng up and asked, “Where is Minghuang?”
Ding Weizeng quickly bowed and replied, “Daoist Master, he is currently guarding the northern shore.”
Li Ximing nodded and rose on light. Closing his eyes, the scene within the grotto heaven reappeared before him. He vaguely saw the sea and sky as one, with chains of scattered reefs stretching across a vast expanse of blue.
Qunyi Strait!
