Chapter 1796: Dealings (II)

Li Ximing's expression turned solemn, though he sighed heavily inside. He turned toward Chi Buzi, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "Now that you serve under the dragons, Daoist Master, you have certainly found yourself a fine master. We shall see what happens!"

Chi Buzi merely laughed heartily. Disregarding Fuxuan's murderous glare, he transformed into a clear stream of Pristine Water and escaped into the depths of the great void.

Li Ximing flicked his sleeve and followed Chehong deeper into the mountain. His heart sank once more, and he remained silent for a long time.

Is Chi Buzi... still the same man?

The man before him was certainly no longer that half-human, half-ghost Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from back then. Yet after Chi Buzi's encounter with that being, it was impossible for him to have remained completely unchanged... He might already have been possessed by that Immortal Official and merely assumed his former appearance!

What shocked him even more was the vigorous radiance surrounding Chi Buzi when viewed through the Immortal Mirror! The radiance was a hazy gray, yet extraordinarily intense, surging with overwhelming power!

He is the second person whose body shines with radiance when viewed through the Immortal Mirror...

The first was Li Suining, who remained under house arrest in his residence. Li Ximing could see clearly that although the radiance surrounding the two men differed in color, it took the same form and carried an aura that unmistakably originated from the same source!

What does this mean?!

Li Ximing immediately fell silent. Since Chi Buzi had most likely been possessed and become a hidden pawn of the Immortal Official within the Immortal Mirror, or rather, of Heaven Above, could Li Suining back home likewise be part of Heaven Above's arrangements? Or had the opportunity he obtained simply been bestowed by Heaven Above?!

The matter remained unsettled in his mind, leaving him distracted and absent-minded. Only when Chehong stopped before a stone door did Li Ximing abruptly come to his senses.

The white-robed Daoist Master said softly, "Fellow Daoist, please!"

A mirror gleaming with silver light hung deep within the cave dwelling! It measured no more than twenty-seven centimeters across, and was snow-white throughout. Its polished surface was adorned with a pattern of auspicious clouds supporting the moon, while coiling hornless dragons decorated its frame. Though merely hanging high above, it radiated a terrifying aura that bore down upon all below!

A spirit treasure!

Li Ximing raised his brows slightly, unable to suppress his amazement at the treasure's power. Yet something about it struck him as peculiar.

As expected, it is a spirit mirror.

Chehong bowed deeply. Drifting silver light cascaded from above as layer upon layer of osmanthus blossoms accumulated like snow. In an instant, the two of them had entered its depths and found themselves in an entirely new world!

Before them stood a simple table and chair. An old man was standing beside the round table, with his hands clasped behind his back. He was not tall, with long snow-white hair, a broad and rounded forehead, and eyes weathered by the passage of time.

When the two arrived before him, he turned his head slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"

This man was none other than Daoist Master Yuanshang!

Chehong offered a salute and withdrew to one side. Li Ximing hurriedly returned the greeting. "As your junior, I am unworthy of such an address!"

As he offered his salute, he raised his eyes to look at the Grand Daoist Master, who was likewise studying him. This Grand Daoist Master had already cultivated his divine abilities to perfection, yet there was nothing mystical about his appearance. His gaze was exceptionally gentle, carrying a trace of gratified joy. As his gray-black eyes settled upon Li Ximing, the latter relaxed somewhat.

Yuanshang lowered his head and said, "That may not be the proper way to address me... You and I... should be considered family."

Li Ximing was momentarily taken aback. Daoist Master Yuanshang smiled and explained, "When Great Ning was founded, the Xii Family formed a marriage alliance with the Li Family of Ning. My grandmother was also surnamed Li."

Li Ximing had already anticipated something of the sort, but he allowed hesitation to show on his face. "Nowadays, everyone refers to my family as the Bright Yang bloodline of the Li Family of Wei..."

Daoist Master Yuanshang waved for him to sit and said, "The Li Family of Wei may not necessarily descend from the Li Family of Ning, but the Li Family of Ning most certainly descends from the Li Family of Wei. Back then, one branch of the Bright Yang Wei's Li cultivated in the Immortal Mansion. Among them was a great figure who traveled abroad and became a disciple of the rogue immortal Wu Che.

“His surname was Li, and his honored name was Hengqing. He was a great figure who had cultivated [Supreme Yin] to perfection, reached the apex, and attained a Surplus Position."

Li Ximing's breath caught in his chest. After a moment of hesitation, he exclaimed in astonishment, "To think his status was so exalted!"

He had considered many possible origins, but it had never occurred to him that the ancestor of the Li Family of Ning had actually been a True Monarch!

"How did the family... ever fall to such a state?!"

Daoist Master Yuanshang shook his head and sighed. "Later, this True Monarch apparently perished while pursuing the Dao, but he left behind his bloodline. His descendants received an investiture from Wei and were granted lands in Jiangbei, becoming the Li Family of Jiangbei. Over the generations, they produced numerous geniuses, including several who cultivated their divine abilities to perfection!"

"Daoist Master Donghua was one of the most outstanding among them!" Yuanshang turned, his expression growing more profound as he said, "Yuansu... Yuansu knew all along! He protected your family solely because you were the Bright Yang Li Family!"

Yuanshang was somewhat younger. When he began cultivating, the Chunyi Dao Gate was still exceedingly weak, and had yet to be recognized by the Supreme Yang Dao lineage. Even so, he had met both Yuanxiu and Yuansu. How could he not feel deeply about them?

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing rose and said, "So that is how it was..."

The old man's expression dimmed. He turned toward Li Ximing, his lips moving hesitantly before he said, "What happened back then... It was not that we were unaware of it. Fuxuan even went to inquire about the matter! It was just that... by then, Chi Wei would no longer listen to us... And we could hardly go to war over it..."

Li Ximing understood that he was referring to what had happened to his ancestors. Yet having grown accustomed to the coldness of others, he actually felt that Daoist Master Yuanshang was judging himself far too harshly.

He raised his brows and said, "How could senior possibly be blamed for that?"

Daoist Master Yuanshang stepped forward and said, "I am the one who should be blamed!"

His eyes were filled with sorrow, and he even looked somewhat ashamed. His lips moved slightly as he continued, "Back then, the last Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of the immortal Li Family of Ning... Grand Daoist Master Guanyu entered seclusion within our Dao lineage and entrusted the last of the Ning's Li legacy to us. It not only restored most of the techniques our Dao lineage had lost through successive upheavals, but its abundant provisions also carried us through our most difficult period... I should never have forgotten such a debt!

"But at the time, I was still condensing my divine ability... and Fuxuan... did not dare offend that fiend!"

The old man stepped back and bowed deeply. "It was truly my sin."

Confronted with this torrent of words, Li Ximing found himself at a loss. In truth, whether it was Ning's Li or Wei's Li, both were far too distant from him. The Li Family was already buckling under the burden of its connection to Wei's Li. How could it possibly shoulder the karma of Ning's Li as well?

He stepped away from his seat and stood with lowered eyes. "You are being far too hard on yourself, senior!"

Chehong had watched from the side for some time, his heart aching with sorrow. He stepped forward to support the old man and said, "Grand Daoist Master... Did you not also bring out the various texts from our Dao Collection for him to study, give him secret techniques, and present him with the treasured Profound Pill of our lineage? Even if we owed him something, how much could possibly remain unpaid?"

Yuanshang's expression darkened further upon hearing this. He remained silent for a long time, and a long-suppressed gloom gathered in his eyes.

He turned his head and said through gritted teeth, "Ignorant fool... Ignorant fool!"

The old man's expression shifted unpredictably, making it unclear whom he was cursing. Chehong, however, had been rebuked to his face. Looking frightened, he withdrew his trembling hands, no longer daring to support Yuanshang, and cried, "My lord... Please take care of yourself... my lord!"