Chapter 1792: An Invitation (II)

Li Jiangxia understood what he wished to ask. He bowed slightly and replied, "With the blessing of Tianwu, I cultivate True Essence arts as though I were a true cultivator. Once True Essence is bestowed upon me, all manner of arts and techniques come naturally, depending on my temperament and attainment in the Dao. It is not due to any ability of my own!"

Li Jiangxia held nothing back, and explained each of its various mystic properties in detail. At last, Li Ximing asked the most crucial question, "Buddhist cultivators draw upon the light of the Buddhist land. If their connection to the great void is severed, they become like water without a source and are greatly weakened. Does Tianwu's True Essence... suffer from a similar limitation?"

Li Jiangxia shook his head slightly and replied, "The light of Tianwu is bestowed through the Star of Cultivation and Martiality; it has nothing to do with the great void. Unless one trespasses into the domain of certain True Monarchs or enters some place beyond the reach of Cultivation and Martiality, it will not be diminished..."

Li Ximing took a step forward and praised, "Impressive..."

When a [Profound Holder] elevated their Shenyang, they possessed the might of a divine ability, though it had no specific mystics. They still possessed all the other powers over water and fire within the great void. Li Jiangliang had once compared them to Merciful Ones, yet although the two were similar in strength, their fundamental natures were quite different.

The cultivation of a Merciful One involved establishing their position within the Buddhist land's realm of Non-Retrogression. When it came to immortal cultivators, their Shenyang resided within the Buddhist Land. Thus, no matter how their physical body perished, they would always have a path of retreat unless their connection to the great void was severed.

On the other hand, a Profound Holder's Shenyang Mansion never left their physical body. Instead, it resonated with the Star of Cultivation and Martiality, causing a mystic to descend from the heavens and surge into their Shenyang.

If Merciful Ones were tenant farmers of the Buddhist land, then Profound Holders could generously be described as retainers under its patronage, or less generously as personal troops. They were not merely another's private property and therefore enjoyed greater freedom, but if they fell, they truly died. Their mystic would immediately be reclaimed by the star in the heavens, then bestowed upon the next person appointed by the Emperor of Song, with almost nothing lost in the process.

Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. Thus, for this very reason, Li Jiangxia could even return the profound radiance and resume cultivating a divine ability of his own!

Although Li Ximing had praised it aloud, inwardly he remained noncommittal. He sighed to himself and pondered, The [Relying Heavily on External Profundities] that Daoist Master Diyan mentioned must refer to this path... It seems to offer no hope of attaining the Dao.

The two had only spoken for a short while when a white-robed cultivator drifted down among the mountains. Divine light gleamed brilliantly in his eyes, and he possessed a distinctly spirited air. It was none other than Chengqian!

Daoist Master Chengqian had not come alone. Beside him, another Daoist Master emerged atop the clouds. He wore a robe patterned with waves and crescent moons, with a jade belt of pale silver silk around his waist.

Strikingly handsome, he bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Fellow Zhaojing... I have long heard of your great name!"

Li Ximing swept his spiritual sense over the man, and discovered that he was wreathed in the aura of [Supreme Yin]. His heart immediately stirred. A Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the [Supreme Yin] Dao!

This was the first time he had encountered a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the Supreme Yin Dao!

His family had risen from humble beginnings by relying upon the Immortal Artifact that continuously released [Supreme Yin Moonlight] day and night. It was very likely a supreme dharma relic of the Supreme Yin Dao. Li Ximing naturally felt a certain affinity toward this Dao lineage, and even found the man before him more agreeable.

After a brief hesitation, he returned the bow and asked politely, "And this Daoist Master is..."

The young man raised a hand, his face breaking into an exceptionally cordial smile. "I am Chehong of the Chunyi Dao Gate!"

Li Ximing's suspicions were immediately confirmed. He returned the greeting. "So you are a fellow Daoist from the [Chunyi Dao Gate]!"

Although this was their first meeting, the atmosphere between them was harmonious. Li Jiangxia tactfully stepped forward and bowed. "Daoist Masters, please attend to your important affairs. I have been ordered to defend the Shamanic Kingdom, and my army is still on the road, so I shall not linger."

He withdrew from the group, but Chengqian wore an odd expression as he asked, "Is he the Profound Holder from your family? A son of the King of Wei, I presume, since he has golden eyes."

These words made Chehong turn his head in surprise. Li Ximing had no wish to elaborate and brushed the matter aside with a few words. Chehong quickly noticed his reluctance and said with a smile, "I suppose I share some affinity with your esteemed family! Years ago, Qi Qiuxin and I were keeping watch over a Purple-Gold devil cultivator by the sea when we unexpectedly encountered someone from your family. She was... the one who commanded thunder..."

Li Ximing had once heard Qi Qiuxin mention this. He immediately understood and replied with a smile, "That was indeed my aunt. She belonged to the Qing generation, and her name was Hong! She is now enshrined within the Thunder Pool!"

Chehong visibly froze and stood stunned for several breaths before exclaiming in shock, "She... She is the Profound Pool Thunder Maiden... To think there was such a connection! I am Xii Chang. The Thunder Maiden should still remember me..."

Li Ximing merely smiled, while Chehong looked deeply remorseful. After a long moment, he sighed. "I have offended you!"

Li Ximing shook his head without responding to that and merely asked, "What brings you here this time, Daoist Master?"

Only then did Chehong come to his senses. He rose from his seat and took out a white scroll patterned with cassia branches from his sleeve.

Holding it solemnly in both hands, he recited, "Looking up to the First Manifestation of the Marsh, we cultivate the Dao of Chunyi[1]. As his descendants, we dare not neglect vigilance. Our Dao's Grand Daoist Master, of the Yuan generation and bearing the title Yuanshang, now seeks consummation. We respectfully invite fellow practitioners of the Origin Mansion to witness the profundities, that this legacy might be left to future generations..."

The two men in the mountains both froze. Chengqian immediately stepped aside to avoid facing the scroll directly and exclaimed in shock, "The Grand Daoist Master is seeking attainment of the Dao!"

Yuan... shang?

Although Li Ximing had never heard this man's name, his Dao title alone revealed that he was an old Daoist Master.

Li Ximing rose from his seat almost instantly and exclaimed in astonishment, "This..."

Chehong said solemnly, "Please accept it!"

Li Ximing composed himself and bowed with great solemnity. He accepted the white, cassia-patterned scroll from Chehong, and untied it to have a look. It contained over a hundred eloquent words, ending with an invitation addressed to [Daoist Master Zhaojing and Daoist Master Minghuang of the Moongaze Marsh Esteemed Clan in Jing State].

By the customs of the Origin Mansion, his family was indeed considered one of its subordinate clans. It was merely that this relationship was no longer respectable to speak of, and no one had mentioned it for many years. The sight filled him with mixed emotions.

He put away the scroll and asked, "The Grand Daoist Master cultivates..."

"Supreme Yin!"

Li Ximing had heard of the customs followed by the Supreme Yang Dao lineage in Jiangnan. Whenever a Grand Daoist Master sought to attain the Golden Core, many cultivators would gather to witness the occasion. However, by the time he himself broke through, the Supreme Yang Dao lineage had already begun to decline. Throughout all these years, Yuanxiu was the only one who had made a proper attempt at attaining the Golden Core.

Yet Daoist Master Yuanxiu had employed an unusual secret technique, and as his breakthrough approached, he had become unable to restrain his dharma body. His breakthrough had come so suddenly that he had sent out no invitations. Thus, this made Yuanshang the first!

Hope rose in Li Ximing's heart, accompanied by a measure of anticipation. He said with great sincerity, "May the venerable senior attain the Golden Core, ascend to his rightful position, and become an immortal of heaven and earth!"

Chehong pursed his lips and nodded. "According to the customs of old, you may bring one or two juniors to witness the ceremony. This was... also intended to foster ties among the younger generations..."

Li Ximing's eyes lit up, and two candidates immediately came to mind.

For the Supreme Yin Dao, Jiangchun is the most suitable! I can also bring Quewan, who is about to enter seclusion... This will greatly benefit them both! It is only a pity that Zhouwei cannot come... He needs this opportunity most of all...

He nodded repeatedly, then glanced at Chengqian and found the Daoist Master's face full of envy. As an outer-sea cultivator, Chengqian naturally was not qualified to attend the ceremony.

Li Ximing only had a single concern, and said, "But... I was ordered to defend this mountain. It would be improper for me to abandon my post without permission..."

Chehong smiled faintly and replied, "The Yang Family is aware of this. They should already have sent a cultivator to guard the mountain in your place."

Li Ximing immediately understood and thought, That explains it... Two Daoist Masters were already more than enough, so why else would they send Li Jiangxia as well?

Delight immediately welled up within him, and he replied, "I will collect my juniors and depart for Chunyi Dao Gate immediately!"

Chehong smiled and said, "Please make haste... Daoist Master Chen Yin has already arrived at Chunyi and asked about you three times in succession. He has been pressing me to invite you over!"

Li Ximing readily agreed, his thoughts becoming perfectly clear. That Supreme Yin Great Pill of mine has been sitting in the clan for so many years. I can bring it with me, and perhaps sell it to the Chunyi Dao Gate for a fine price. The timing could not be better!

1. It means Purity and Unity. ☜