Chapter 932: Descendants

Li Ximing likewise stood amidst the setting sun, transferring the brocade box from his left hand to his right. He weighed it twice, finding it a bit cumbersome to hold, yet unwilling to tuck it into his sleeve. He lowered his brow:

"Why in Jiangbei? To think it would be in Jiangbei." His white-gold Daoist robe fluttered in the setting sun, appearing somewhat dim. He pondered that sentence, murmuring:

"What if it succeeds?"

The two gazed for a while. Li Zhouwei turned his head slightly, looking toward the direction of Shanjie Prefecture. Everything at the Muquan Gate was dark and heavy, and the Ziyan Gate was quiet and soundless. No cultivators were seen ascending into the sky, nor was anyone traveling westward.

The sky darkened rapidly. The two silently landed back on the table. A cold wind blew across the river. Li Ximing first set down the brocade box, exchanged a glance with Li Zhouwei, and simply sipped his tea.

Back then, there were three people from the Kong clan who broke through. After much turning and twisting, only Kong Tingyun remained. Everyone guessed she was in seclusion in the East Sea, and some even suspected she was in seclusion under Xuan Yi, but there was no news for a long time... Now, it was clear.

Now, Li Ximing could only let out a sigh and replied: "It is in Jiangbei..."

Li Zhouwei stared at the brocade box on the table without speaking, but his secret words had already reminded Li Ximing. This True Person Zhaojing put down his cup with some annoyance: "We have already walked too close."

How long ago was it that Li Ximing hoped Kong Tingyun could break through in time, become a True Person, and arrange the Profound Heaven Sect well... But the Profound Heaven Sect had been lingering for so many years and had already collapsed, filling the stomachs of several families—actually, to be blunt, although the Li clan mainly protected the Kong clan's bloodline, they didn't take less than their share of the spoils. Not to mention anything else, even the array on the continent belonged to the Kong clan! And with old friends withering away, things were different now... Kong Tingyun was not a person of shallow schemes; how could she explain this cleanly!

Seeing Li Zhouwei staring at the brocade box, Li Ximing's previous joy had vanished, and he viewed this brocade box like a hot potato... extremely troubled.

"The matter of the Vermilion Palace... at such a critical juncture..."

Li Zhouwei glanced at him, poured him tea, and said in a low voice: "The location is in Jiangbei. Uncle-grandmaster and I cannot go, and the Tinglan Vermilion Palace cannot go either... What exactly is the matter is also unclear. Based on Uncle-grandmaster's judgment, what are her chances of success?"

Li Ximing shook his head and sighed: "Not low... That old man Changxi... has calculations. To be able to sacrifice Kong Haiying and leave a backup in Jiangbei, he must have had considerations!"

Li Zhouwei said in a low voice:

"That side of True Person Vermilion Palace..."

Seeing Li Ximing's bitter expression, shaking his head without speaking, he said in a slightly low voice: "We have to save her!"

Li Ximing's heart tightened, and he calmed down. Li Zhouwei said with a solemn expression:

"If Kong Tingyun succeeds, the matter will definitely not be simple. It is true that all the Zifu cultivators sat down and divided the Profound Heaven Sect that day, but it was Ye Huai who played the villain! As long as the matter is not exposed, the True Person was secretly plotted against in order to protect the Kong family and fled to the East Sea; on the surface, it is at least passable... Ask about the matter of the grand array, and everything still needs to be discussed with Tinglan. To put it bluntly, compared to Kong Tingyun, we still cannot afford to offend the Solar Orthodoxy."

"Behind the Vermilion Palace are Tinglan and Houfu. Everyone is not blind. The Profound Heaven Orthodoxy has already been carved up by the Solar Orthodoxy, and it is clear at a glance. They must also be able to calculate that it is her... If there hadn't been this strange phenomenon, it wouldn't have been a big deal if I didn't lend my blood, and Tinglan would have understood. But now, saying we won't lend blood is instead sensitive."

"Our family already has a good relationship with the Kong clan, which easily arouses suspicion. True Person Vermilion Palace will probably only think that our family has changed its stance and would rather she die sooner!"

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes were reflected in the tea, appearing deep: "Actually, if she dies, she dies; it would be better if she died. It just so happens that Zifu cultivators are tenacious and cannot die easily. At most, she will lose her Dharma body and flee back to the East Sea... By then, hating our family will make one's back feel cold."

Li Ximing sighed gloomily and replied: "It has reached this point now!"

Li Zhouwei turned his cup, his expression somewhat solemn:

"I am only afraid that when Kong Tingyun comes out of seclusion, both the sect and the clan will be destroyed. How can the hatred in her heart be small? The Solar Orthodoxy cannot be offended, but pursuing the Vermilion Palace is a simple matter. If a fight breaks out, we will be in a difficult position."

Li Ximing pondered for two breaths and replied: "In my opinion, we definitely cannot stay out of this matter. Trying our best to ease and delay the intensification of the conflict between the two families is the only thing we can do, and it is also what Tinglan and Houfu hope to see..."

His expression gradually calmed down, and he said in a low voice:

"We must protect Kong Guxi and Kong Xiaxiang; only words coming from their mouths will be useful."

Li Zhouwei nodded slightly and replied:

"This matter depends on Uncle-grandmaster's weighing."

He flicked his finger, spilling the tea in the cup, leaving an empty jade cup. He then flipped his hand, revealing a snow-white jade-like fingertip, which actually faintly revealed a color like white stone.

Following the movement of his heart, a slit cracked open on his fingertip, as if a mouth had opened, revealing a bit of ghastly white bone. After waiting for a few breaths, a drop of pale gold mixed with red blood dripped out.

This blood had just left his body when it became round like an elixir and hard like a stone. It fell into the jade cup, making a crisp sound of ceramic collision. It spun around twice and stopped, motionless.

The brilliance of the Bright Yang Guo Shentong rose and surged in rapidly, dyeing the jade cup a golden-white color. All the divine ability and magic power were sealed within it. Looking closely, it actually looked a bit like a good treasure.

Li Ximing sighed repeatedly and asked with concern: "Is there any damage?"

Li Zhouwei smiled and shook his head. No change could be seen on his face, and he only said:

"It's just a drop of blood. Using the 【Qilin Light-Illuminating Elixir】 to replenish it, it will be fine after spending some time. The essence blood mentioned by the dragon species back then was the most important; at that time, there were Zifu spiritual objects to supplement it. Now, one or two elixirs are enough."

Li Ximing was truly embarrassed. He pushed the brocade box into his hand, took out a few elixirs, and handed them to him to heal his wounds, saying: "I always thought about not dragging you down, but looking at this situation, it is unavoidable..."

"Uncle-grandmaster is joking."

Li Zhouwei shook his head, took out a jade box, and pushed it over along with the brocade box, replying: "Inside the box is the 【Qilin Bright Yang Divine Scroll】 gifted by True Person Tianhuo and obtained by the Golden Feather Sect from the East Fire Cave Heaven. It is also the 【Light-Illuminating Qilin Refining Method】 in the words of the Solar Orthodoxy. The item is useless in my hands; Uncle-grandmaster, please take it."

He pointed out two things in one sentence, making Li Ximing slightly stunned, wanting to speak but stopping. Li Zhouwei, however, stood up with a smile, revealing the 【Huayang King Halberd】, and replied:

"This cannot compare to a spiritual weapon."

Li Ximing laughed in spite of himself and had no choice but to open the jade box. Seeing the four corners of the golden scroll inside painted with patterns, like golden weaving, and densely packed with profound texts, once he touched it, the texture was delicate and soft. He couldn't take his eyes off it and said with some surprise:

"This is a good thing!"

Li Zhouwei did not understand the Dao of Elixirs and did not know the value of the 【Qilin Bright Yang Divine Scroll】. Li Ximing only read it roughly, and his heart suddenly became clear.

The author of the 【Qilin Bright Yang Divine Scroll】 was named Cui E. It was unknown what era he was from. He was truly gifted, and his Dao of Elixirs was astonishing. He also practiced the 'Bright Yang' Orthodoxy and possessed a method of Profound Elixirs.

This item was the lifelong insights he left behind, recording three elixir methods, which were 【Light-Illuminating Qilin】, 【Coming Ritual Shaking Feathers】, and 【Empty Nature Co-Form】.

Among them, 【Light-Illuminating Qilin】 and 【Coming Ritual Shaking Feathers】 were both extremely high-level elixir methods. One utilized the authority of Bright Yang's growth to assist in elixir formation, detailing six types of Bright Yang elixirs and three types of Li Fire elixirs! From healing, cultivation, maintenance... to even elixirs for escaping, all were included.

The other, 【Coming Ritual Shaking Feathers】, used the rules of Bright Yang father and son to form elixirs. Investigating its principles, it was actually similar to the 【Embracing Feathers Harmonizing Heart Elixir】 that Li Ximing refined for Huang Yang in the 【Li Mian Hall】 of the Zhu Luo Kingdom.

However, this divine scroll wrote hundreds of thousands of words, which was much more complex than the 【Heavenly Heart One Intent】 elixir method that Li Ximing calculated for an emergency. It was an attempt to refine a true spiritual elixir that could be presentable, rather than coaxing the monster of that Poluo Duo.

As for the so-called 【Empty Nature Co-Form】, it went a step further on this basis. It actually looked a bit like a simplified Bright Yang version of 【Heavenly Heart One Intent】. Li Ximing glanced at it twice. If he hadn't obtained the 【Heavenly Heart One Intent】 elixir method before, 【Empty Nature Co-Form】 would undoubtedly be extremely valuable, but now it seemed of little use.

When writing this divine scroll, Cui E clearly had little lifespan left, but he still sighed:

"Within the Three Profound, the elixir belongs to Dou Xuan. I once heard that four palaces were established under Wanling, known as the Four Secret Elixir Methods, but they have already become distant and vague. If I could read one of them carefully, I would have no regrets in this life!"

Clearly, Cui E also knew that predecessors had long studied elixir methods like Heavenly Heart One Intent, and he secretly regretted it.

"This Senior Cui E was clearly seeking a higher breakthrough in the Dao of Elixirs, but in the end, it was not as good as the 【Heavenly Heart One Intent】 of the Mifan Sect Orthodoxy."

"The Four Secret Elixir Daos should be the inheritance of the Dou Xuan elixir method... There are two secrets in Jiangnan, Mifan and Mifan, and the rest should be elsewhere."

Li Ximing read it carefully, flipped his hand, and folded the 【Qilin Bright Yang Divine Scroll】. He found that this thing was delicate and soft, and the material was not ordinary. It should also be Zifu spiritual resources refined into the scroll, making it unchanged for a hundred years.

"With this scroll, most of the Bright Yang resources obtained can be targeted for elixir formation!"

He put it away with satisfaction. Li Zhouwei looked at him a few more times and reminded:

"How is Uncle-grandmaster's divine ability cultivation now?"

Li Ximing was slightly stunned and replied:

"These days, there have been no injuries or fighting troubles, just a bit busier. The "Jun Cha Zhao Heart Scripture" has just been taken, and it will be a few years before Foundation Establishment... not to mention refining the Immortal Foundation to perfection."

Li Zhouwei was slightly puzzled and hesitated before saying: "Uncle-grandmaster's cultivation speed was originally extremely fast. I don't know if the Qi Sea was injured by the fight with Helian Wujiang? The Hundred Arts are important, but refining all the life divine abilities early to protect one's life cannot be taken lightly."

He took out the 【Qilin Light-Illuminating Elixir】 sent by the Xiukui Temple a few days ago from his sleeve, kept one for himself, and handed the rest over, saying sternly:

"【Qilin Light-Illuminating Elixir】 is for daily cultivation. It is better to use this elixir than to keep it."

Li Ximing sighed and replied:

"It is really because of the tight situation on many sides. If there is a need, I will earn the resources first, and I am afraid of being injured in a fight, wasting the cultivation, so I have been delaying it..."

"Just wait until I solve the matters at hand, and I will be in seclusion for a few years!"

He smiled and was about to leave on his light, but seeing Li Zhouwei stop him slightly, he transmitted an order in a low voice: "Go and invite the clan younger brother up!"

Li Ximing raised an eyebrow, but saw a handsome man in a red robe fly up the mountain. He saluted on both sides and smiled: "Greetings, Great Father, Elder Brother!"

"Oh?"

Li Ximing had a bit more joy on his face this time. He sipped his tea with a smile and said: "So it is our Fifth Young Master who has made progress."

"Great Father, you flatter me!"

Li Zhouming had actually never seen Li Ximing make any jokes. For a moment, he was not only at a loss but even felt ashamed. He responded dryly. Li Zhouwei, however, smiled:

"Fifth Younger Brother broke through and came out of seclusion, singing while rowing a boat; he has quite a reputation."

Li Zhouming's own vanity was teased by the two True Persons. He rarely blushed, asked a few questions, and said it was not even one ten-thousandth of a True Person. Li Ximing was secretly satisfied and smiled: "I still have a few things to finish. Wait until I have arranged the affairs, and then I will come back to examine you."

Although he was happy, he was afraid that the Kong family would have an accident, so he didn't dare to delay and left early. Li Zhouming wanted to speak but stopped. It was rare to see him, and he felt quite lost, standing there blankly.

"White horse gallops on the west ridge, descendants wait to ascend to immortality..."

Li Zhouwei pondered for a moment, let his clan younger brother sit down, and understood in his heart: "He indeed has good fortune. As soon as Uncle Chengchi left, he immediately went into seclusion to break through, secretly conforming to the Bright Yang way of the father dying and the son advancing. Not to mention having a brother-ancestor with divine abilities, deciding the livelihood of ten thousand people in one word... all are adding help..."

Muquan Gate.

The night was thick, and the mountains and forests were pitch black.

Li Ximing went all the way toward Shanjie Prefecture and soon entered the mountain gate. He found that everything was quiet. He landed on the top of the mountain, and the trees in front of the cave dwelling were also moving, silent.

But on this dim mountaintop, a middle-aged man was kneeling on the steps below. His figure was almost shrouded in the heavy forest, appearing pitch black. Fortunately, the Dharma lamp on the side had already lit itself, shining on his face through the gaps in the forest, instead producing fragmented and mottled light, shining on his eyes burning brightly.

Li Ximing had seen this person a few times. Although he was a bit different now, he recognized him immediately. He stopped his steps slightly, turned slightly, and looked down.

"He is clever."

It was this glance that made the middle-aged man immediately raise his head, but his movements immediately softened. His gaze dared not exceed his knees, and his voice trembled:

"Xiaxiang greets the True Person!"

This person was the youngest generation of Foundation Establishment in the Kong family—Kong Xiaxiang.

The ends of his eyebrows, which used to be arrogant and raised, had become drooping, and the corners of his eyes also had a dejected look. The face that used to be high-spirited, irritable, impulsive, and courageous had completely lost its color, becoming pale and thin, with deep-set eyes.

In just over ten years, life at Muquan Gate had completely worn away his edges and corners. The spirit of the young man had gone forever, leaving only a sorrowful skin draped over terrified bones and flesh.

As a young direct descendant of the Kong family, he naturally undertook marriage and married a direct descendant of Muquan Gate. For so many years, Kong Guxi had been sent overseas most of the time, and he had always been the representative of the Kong family's direct line. Everything was bumpy, and in the end, it would fall on him.

Now, the phenomenon rising into the sky in the north made him both shocked and suspicious. Kneeling in front of the steps at this moment, he was trembling and unable to speak.

Li Ximing glanced at him. Knowing from his complexion that there was no energy to manage the disappearance of the Vermilion Palace and the years of seclusion, the group of guest elders of Muquan Gate had tossed him around quite a bit. He asked: "How is Kong Guxi?"

A flush of red surged on Kong Xiaxiang's face, and he said in a low voice: "Little one... little one does not know."

"What are you doing coming up?"

This man pressed his head to the ground, as if gritting his teeth or crying, and kowtowed extremely hard, replying:

"Little one... is afraid..."

Li Ximing's steps stopped for only a moment, and he continued to pace toward the cave dwelling. As he stepped into the empty cave dwelling, the Dharma lamps on both sides flickered immediately, illuminating the area below the steps. The mountaintop remained silent, with only a faint, deep voice echoing in the air: "Then just kneel here. Once you endure it, you won't be afraid."

Li Ximing entered all the way and found that Tinglan had no trace left. In the cave dwelling, only the leisurely figure of True Person Senior Shan Bai preparing spiritual medicine remained. He stayed out of the matter, looking calm and composed.

And from the empty inner room, the sound of the Vermilion Palace's violent coughing and vomiting blood could be vaguely heard. The bright red petals surged out from the cave dwelling along with the warm wind, whistling endlessly.

The old True Person beside him used his divine ability to fix the wind, his eyes under his white eyebrows quietly watching Li Ximing. Clearly, he had also noticed, and he said in a hoarse voice:

"Tinglan has gone to Xiukui to discuss important matters... Presumably Zhaojing also had expectations, but she instructed me... when you come, let me fully cooperate with you."

Li Ximing smiled faintly, and the old man said quietly:

"After all, the rise and fall of the world are full of difficulties."

Li Ximing shook his head silently, took out the jade cup from his sleeve, placed it on the old man's table, and replied: "Please, old senior... let's end it as soon as possible."

Characters appearing in this chapter

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Li Zhouming 【Foundation Establishment Early Stage】 【Bo Lineage Direct Descendant】

Li Zhouwei 【Zifu Early Stage】

Li Ximing 【Zifu Early Stage】 【Zifu Alchemist】

Zhu○Gong 【Zifu Early Stage】

Shan○Bai 【Zifu Middle Stage】 ===== CHAPTER 933 =====