Chapter 1225: Nine Mounds (I)

Pale light reappeared within the pitch-black cavern as ripples spread across the azure pool on the ground. The young man opened his eyes, and everything that had been blurred gradually came back into focus.

Drip.

Chi Buzi lifted his brows slightly and stood silently where he was. His eyes still held a mixture of disbelief and delight. He looked around the cavern as if waking from a dream, hands folded into his sleeves.

The Intercalary Position of Valley Water...

He stood there dazed for a long time, still feeling like the few questions he had asked Zhen'gao were worth far more than the lives of two Purple Mansion Realm demonic creatures. One sentence, “Pristine Water and Valley Water are intercalated,” and another, “cultivate Morning Cold Rain to seek the Intercalary Position of Valley Water;” what kind of privilege was that?

Even among the Wang and Xie Families... or even the Luoxia Dragon Clan, do they enjoy such treatment? When the scions of those powers reach a bottleneck and personally visit a True Monarch, can they receive such direct guidance?!

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Four Pristine Waters and one Mansion Water combine to seek Valley Water; what an astonishing concept! Yet it had sounded as casual as idle chatter after tea from that Immortal General Zhen'gao's mouth... What kind of cultivation insight was that? What sort of Dao lineage inheritance? Could any other True Monarch have reached such a deduction so easily?

Chi Buzi's expression shifted as he thought,

Impossible... Even the True Monarchs of today, after cultivating for so many years, have only produced Jade True. My determination to pursue the Dao may be firm, yet ordinary Golden Core Realm cultivators could never possess such a power to turn decay into wonder...

The gap was far too vast. For a moment Chi Buzi even doubted what kind of place the Outer Heavens truly were, and whether other realms even existed. If everything he had witnessed was real, then the being commanding such a terrifying Heavenly Palace must rule this world as easily as a child's game.

Chi Buzi was suspicious by nature and never indulged in idle fantasies. Instead, he sought the most reasonable explanation and thought to himself,

Such insight into Dao lineages must come from a Middle-Age heritage at the very least...

He sorted out his thoughts, gradually grasping the crux of the matter as his eyes narrowed slightly,

Those words might have been intentionally instructive. A Golden Core Realm cultivator whose Dao lineage borders that of Valley and Pristine Waters might conceive of such an idea. But thinking of it is one thing; producing a genuine Golden Core method is another.

That Golden Core method would also be anything but simple. No five-element seeking gold or void-reality seeking gold will suffice. All those ancient orthodox arts are useless; what's required is one personally tailored to me. To craft such a method, so absurd and dreamlike, would be harder than forming the core myself...

It was only Zhen'gao's words that gave him enough confidence to believe even a little. The joy and anxiety in his heart subsided as calm composure rose to the fore.

The Golden Core method isn't in my hands yet; it would be best to keep a measure of doubt. For now, I should continue capturing demonic creatures. Since there's nothing to cultivate at the moment, I may as well hunt these creatures... I'll get that cultivation art first and see for myself.

In excellent spirits, he rode the wind upward and burst from the sea. The world felt vast and open, and the sea breeze crisp and clean. Lifting his gaze to the distance, he saw the heavens and stars glittering one by one.

"One must always plan ahead. I'll make a trip to Shiqi, visit the various Dao lineages, leave a good impression with that Madam, and study more of the Valley Water Dao Collections."

————

At the end of the sea.

The island continued to bake beneath a scorching sun. Not a trace of moisture lingered above the sea; instead, a stifling heat pressed down. The sky stretched endlessly blue and cloudless, so bright and clean that the crops across the island had wilted under its glare.

Upon a great rock by the shore sat a man dressed in a white-gold Daoist robe. A faint heavenly light shimmered between his brows as he quietly gazed at the sky.

After capturing a demonic creature and refining an Essence Gathering Pill, Li Ximing had sent Xia Shouyu into seclusion. He secluded himself at the end of the sea for three years, taking two True Profound Quintessence-Gathering Pills while he continued to diligently cultivate. He had completely suppressed the flames within his Juque acupoint.

His injuries were now ninety percent healed. The few remaining surface wounds were merely burns from a battle of spells. It would be easily mended in due time, and his return to peak condition would be effortless.

Only one of the seven True Profound Quintessence-Gathering Pills remained. Li Ximing tucked it carefully into his robes for emergencies.

"If I weren't an alchemist myself, I'd still be stuck hiding in that wretched place. And who knows, I may have to duel that unscrupulous old fiend again one day. Best to keep this one pill; if I get struck by his spell again, it might just save the day."

With most of his wounds healed and Xia Shouyu having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Li Ximing decided it was time to leave the end of the sea and head for Peacock Sea.

The Dry Fire Immortal Foundation is complete. Rain clouds disperse, and cold turns to heat; just as the texts described.

Li Ximing's insight was no longer shallow. Since White Thorn Heart corresponded to Dry Fire, the thorn must be tied to the luan-bird lineage. The luan controlled fire, with Dry Fire as its sovereign element, meaning White Thorn Heart's strength should not be underestimated.

His timing was precise. After two more breaths, brilliant light burst from the island temple and crimson flames soared skyward, accompanied by the clear, melodious cries of birds.

The chirping drew closer as the white-and-crimson flames streaked through the air, transforming into a graceful young woman with a rosy complexion and slender arched brows. Smiling faintly, she knelt before him in a reverent salute and said, "Shouyu pays respects to the Daoist Master. I have not failed your expectations. My Dao foundation is complete, and your precious pill has not been wasted..."

Li Ximing smiled and nodded, raising his hand to lift her up. "It is not solely the pill's merit. Few could cultivate so diligently in such desolation and reach the Qi Cultivation Realm early. Further, meeting me shows your fate is blessed indeed."

Xia Shouyu nodded repeatedly as Li Ximing continued, "Let's look around the temple together. Once you've settled matters here, we'll set off for home."

Xia Shouyu's heart filled with excitement. She immediately bowed again and replied, "Your grace and kindness, my lord... I shall remember them always and never forget!"

The end of the sea lay countless mortal oceans away from the Eastern Sea's edge where Peacock Sea lay. Even as a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, Xia Shouyu would need years, or perhaps decades, to cross by flight. Moreover, once she reached the coast, the Nine Mounds Immortal Mountain might ignore her, but the peacocks surely would not let her go.

Though life at the end of the sea was free and she could easily dominate the region, her cultivation would eventually stagnate and wither away. The prosperous inland seas and the Unison Sea were worlds away, and before her stood a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, a true mountain to rely on!

Li Ximing had already walked forward. Master and disciple reached the temple gates, where rows of people were kneeling in reverence. He did not enter but spoke casually, "Take care of everything."