Chapter 1180: Seclusion Of Chengming (I)

Li Ximing finally remembered the woman before him, Xia Shouyu. She was already so terrified that her legs had gone weak. Judging from her dark, dilated pupils, she looked as though she might die of fright at any moment.

With no other way to ease the tension, the pale face before her cracked open, and a voice spoke, "My young friend... you've finally arrived."

Whose ancient monster's lair have I stumbled into? It's over! That creature's appearance, he must be planning to seize my body!

After all, Xia Shouyu knew she possessed nothing worth coveting. The only thing that might catch the eye of a powerful cultivator was her body. It wasn't her chastity she feared losing, but the horror of having her body taken over for another's rebirth.

She kicked weakly on the ground, but failed to stand. Still, as someone who had carved out a place for herself in the marketplace, she was not without wit.

Trembling, she spoke fearfully, "Gr–great one... I am but a humble rogue cultivator of the Eastern Sea, with nothing of worth upon me, nor do I follow any exalted Dao lineage. If I have trespassed upon your treasured land by accident, I beg your pardon. Should you require assistance, anything at all, please command me. And if you crave blood food... allow me to go fetch it for you."

Li Ximing chuckled in reply. "How could it be an accident?"

Seeing that his mind was clear and that he made no move to devour her, Xia Shouyu felt a slight wave of relief, though her fear still overwhelmed her. Trembling, she stammered, "It... it was my greed that led me to offend your treasured land..."

Li Ximing casually released her, and she collapsed to her knees with a thud. He corrected her calmly, "I reeled you in with my divine ability."

Divine ability? Purple Mansion Realm?!

A chill seeped into Xia Shouyu's heart. She stared at the ground in disbelief; she dared not use her spiritual sense to probe the man whose face was blank and featureless. She could only kneel there, shivering.

"You don't believe me?"

Li Ximing guessed she didn't believe him. Raising his hand, he gestured casually. Xia Shouyu suddenly felt her limbs burn with searing heat, then vanish entirely, reduced to ash. With a dull thump, her limbless body toppled to the ground like a wooden block.

"

Ah?

"

Deprived of her limbs, Xia Shouyu lay on the ground like a wooden stake, staring blankly at the ceiling of the cavern. The faceless visage appeared again above, exhaled softly, and grinned.

"Grow."

A prickling sensation spread through her body. New flesh sprouted from the charred stumps like buds on an old tree. In an instant, her arms and legs grew back, and the warmth of the ground returned beneath her.

Rising unsteadily, she felt the world spin around her. Her newly grown limbs were pale and tender, unfamiliar to her control. She dropped to her knees again with a thud and cried out, "Daoist Master! I believe, I truly believe! Whatever you command, I will obey!"

Li Ximing smiled. "That's more like it. Your body is no more than a weed in my eyes. I have no interest in your mortal flesh. What matters now is the task I'm about to give you. Do it well, and you will gain benefits beyond measure."

Xia Shouyu couldn't guess what he intended. With her forehead pressed to the ground, she waited for his command and heard Li Ximing say, "I am here to suppress a certain thing and cannot leave. I have starved for long, with nothing at hand to nourish me. I need a Valley Water demonic creature at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Since you happened to wander in, bring me one such creature, and I will count it as your merit."

"Me?" Xia Shouyu froze for a moment. Instead of hastily agreeing just to escape, she bowed her head and answered timidly, "Honored one, I am alone and my cultivation shallow. How could I possibly capture a demonic creature for you?"

Seeing her demeanor, Li Ximing knew his earlier display had earned her fear and obedience. Adopting the tone of a Purple Mansion Realm devil cultivator, he said, "Fool! I don't care what excuse you use. Whether it's treasure or spirit items that lure it, as long as you bring it here, even nine lives won't save it from my grasp."

"I understand!" Xia Shouyu trembled, hesitating for a moment before speaking cautiously, "Honored one... I know the territories of a few demon generals. The Valley Water you mentioned should be one of the Water Virtues, but I have never seen such a thing myself, so I cannot be sure."

"......"

Only then did Li Ximing recall how impoverished and ignorant the cultivators of this remote place were. He sighed and explained, "Water flowing through valleys is called Valley Water. It represents what is concealed and not yet released. In the heavens, it manifests as rain-bearing clouds; in man, it is the hidden water of the womb—the nourishing, unmanifest essence."

What in the world... this Purple Mansion Realm discourse, how is a mere Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator like me supposed to understand?

Xia Shouyu said timidly, "I don't understand..."

Li Ximing's expression darkened as he scolded, "Then just find the demon general most skilled in healing!"

"Yes, sir!" Xia Shouyu understood this time, nodding repeatedly.

Just as she was about to rise, Li Ximing spoke again, "Wait!"

He reached out and tapped lightly on her smooth forehead. A surge of divine ability flowed forth, sinking into her Juque acupoint, transforming into a wisp of violet flame as he said, "I can't let you leave so easily. I've planted a divine ability within your body. Should you try to flee, it will detonate and kill you. This is the end of the seas, no one you summon could ever remove it."

Xia Shouyu was not surprised. He was no benevolent monk, and planting such measures was not unusual for a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. Dropping to her knees, she formed a seal with both hands over her precious qihai and declared solemnly, "Having received such great favor, I shall fulfill your will even at the cost of my life! Should I break this oath, may thunder strike me down, my Profound Scenery shatter, and my path of cultivation end forever!"

Thunder striking one down, huh... Truly a backwater place. The Thunder Palace's teachings have long been lost, yet they still add that line to a Profound Scenery spirit vow.

Li Ximing still had some confidence in her and said, "Be careful. If anyone dares to search your soul, the purple flame will detonate and kill everyone involved. If you succeed in this matter, I'll reward you with an Essence Gathering Pill, enough to secure your Foundation Establishment Realm."

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Essence Gathering Pill? Could that be a Foundation Establishment Realm pill?

Though Xia Shouyu had never heard of the Essence Gathering Pill, she certainly understood the words Foundation Establishment Realm. She nodded repeatedly, withdrew, rose from the flames, and flew out of the hot spring. The cold sweat on her back finally ceased.

The night wind swept in, weakening her knees. Lifting her sleeve, she saw the vivid marks on her shoulder and the overly pale new skin of her arm. Everything felt unreal, as if she had lived through another lifetime.

"Is this fortune... or the road to death?" she muttered.